Food Glorious Food!

Joel always laughs at me because I hate working out, but I LOVE food! Cooking and baking helps me relieve stress. Some people sit in front of the TV to go into no-man's-land, I cook. And I'll be the first to admit that I eat what I cook. (I'm one of those girls.) So, in order to keep my girlish figure, I've been working out. (boo!)

Here is just a sample of what I've been cooking recently.

Homemade Lasagna -It looks a bit different because I layered the cheese, sauce, and noodles differently this time. Mom's suggestion to make it "prettier" when you cut into it. It worked. Definitely pretty.


Homemade Rolls


Homemade Peach Cobbler- It was yummy! It looks like cinnamon rolls because you take dough, roll pecans, sugar, and butter in it, and put it on top of the peach mixture. Of course, I served it with icecream. :)


Mandarine Orange and Almond Salad with Poppy Seed Dressing


Garlic Roasted Chicken- This is my first attempt to cook a whole chicken. My observations, 1.) It takes forever to thaw, 2.) I don't know how I feel about taking the insides out myself, 3.) I think it's gonna be worth the price...$5.87. The before picture is to show everyone how proud I am that I trussed it myself :)


The finished product. We didn't actually eat this one. We gave it to a family who just had a baby. We get ours on Sunday! MMM.

Rock of Ages

1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;
let the water and the blood,
from thy wounded side which flowed,
be of sin the double cure;
save from wrath and make me pure.

2. Not the labors of my hands
can fulfill thy law's commands;
could my zeal no respite know,
could my tears forever flow,
all for sin could not atone;
thou must save, and thou alone.

3. Nothing in my hand I bring,
simply to the cross I cling;
naked, come to thee for dress;
helpless, look to thee for grace;
foul, I to the fountain fly;
wash me, Savior, or I die.

Wash me Savior or I die. Wash me Savior or I die.
Wash me, Wash me, Savior or I die.
Wash me Savior or I die.

Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
let me hide myself in thee;

Wash me Savior or I die.

more thoughts

"This is a very central concept if we are to have any understanding or any real practice of the true Christian life or true spirituality. I can take lists that men make and I can seem to keep them, but to do that my heart does not have to be bowed. But when i come to the inward aspect of the Ten Commandments, when I come to the inward aspect of the Law of Love, if I am listening even in a poor fashion to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, I can no longer feel proud. I am brought to my knees. In this life I can never say, "I have arrived; it is finished, look at me-I am holy." When we talk of the Christian life or true spirituality, when we talk about freedom from the bonds of sin, we must be wrestling with the inward problems of not coveting against God and men, of loving God and men, not merely some set of externals."- Francis Schaeffer.

The inward aspect of the of Law is coveting. It is the negative to the positive, love the Lord with all your heart. Our desires become coveting/sin when they fail to include the love of God or men. We find ourselves in this struggle daily.

Coupon Day

Well folks. I'm sorry to day that my total percentage was 10% savings on my groceries yesterday. I had a coupon for most everything I bought. So, I'm wondering how those ladies do it...I have a friend or two that I think I'm going to ask. I am a bit bummed and a lot determined. Couponing is shaping up to be a fine hobby, which is good because I'm in need of one.