Hawaii $20 Bill

I came across a rare bill through work this week, and thought I'd post the wikipedia article about the Hawaii $20 bill. The story is on facebook.

Hawaii $20 Bill Link

Creamy Pineapple Coleslaw

Creamy Pineapple Coleslaw is what I made with some of my cabbage this week. Aaron also made his Portuguese soup with some of the cabbage, but I still have a head of cabbage to use up. Anyone have ideas for using cabbage?

Red Bell Pepper Recipe

I found this recipe on foodnetwork.com when I was looking for an idea for what to do with my red bell peppers, since I'm the only one in my house who likes peppers.

Crudite with Roasted Garlic and Red Bell Pepper Dip

Recipe courtesy Emeril Lagasse, 2002

Prep Time:

30 min

Inactive Prep Time:

1 hr 15 min

Cook Time:

10 min

Level:

Intermediate

Serves:

about 2 cups dip

Ingredients

• 2 red bell peppers
• 1/4 cup Roasted Garlic, recipe follows
• 1/2 pound feta cheese, drained
• 1/4 cup, plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano leaves
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley leaves, garnish

Crudite:

• Zucchini batons
• Jicama sticks
• Mushrooms
• Baby carrots
• Sliced European cucumbers
• Blanched asparagus spears
• Sliced fennel

Directions

For the peppers: Roast the peppers by placing them on an open gas flame, turning them frequently with tongs until all sides are charred black, 7 to 10 minutes. Place in a plastic or paper bag, and cool for about 15 minutes. Peel the peppers, remove the seeds and stems, and discard. Coarsely chop the peppers.

Transfer the peppers and garlic to a food processor and process until smooth. Add the cheese and process until smooth. With the machine running, add 1/4 cup of the extra-virgin olive oil and lemon juice in a steady stream through the feed tube. Add the basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and 1/4 teaspoon salt, and process until smooth. Adjust the seasoning, to taste. Transfer to a decorative bowl and refrigerate for 1 hour. Before serving, drizzle with the remaining 1 teaspoon of extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkle with the parsley. Serve cool or at room temperature, with assorted crudite for dipping.

Roasted Garlic:

2 heads garlic, upper quarter removed

2 teaspoons olive oil

Salt

Ground black pepper

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Place the garlic on a foil-lined baking sheet and rub 1 teaspoon of oil into the top of each head. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper and place, cut side down, on the baking sheet. Bake until the cloves are soft and golden, about 1 hour. Remove from the oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Squeeze each head of garlic to expel the cloves into a bowl. Mash into a paste. Set aside until needed.

Note: Each head of garlic makes approximately 2 tablespoons of roasted garlic.

Yield: 1/4 cup

Homemade Lemonade!

So we got our bountiful basket today and I made lemonade from scratch for the first time ever (I've always used the country time mixes). It's so yummy!

Recipe:

Make a simple syrup (1 cup water + 1 cup sugar) by combining the sugar and water and boiling until the sugar is dissolved (I did it in a microwave in a glass measuring cup to save time).

Squeeze 1 cup lemon juice (about 4-6 lemons)

Add 4 cups ice cold water to the above ingredients and stir, then serve.

I am planning on probably doing some sort of lemon chicken recipe later this week, using the 2 other lemons I have in my fridge.

Recipes

I've decided I am going to try and share what I've fixed during the week or will be fixing based on what I'm trying to use from my bountiful basket or leftovers in the fridge. I have leftover cream cheese in my fridge from making homemade quick bread cinnamon rolls from scratch, so I'm going to make crock pot cream cheese chicken.

I will be picking up my bountiful basket tomorrow (thank goodness, my fridge is depleted of all fresh produce).

I made zucchini bread and muffins this last week with my yellow squash (since I'm the only one who eats it in my house).

I made chocolate chip banana bread because I had very ripe bananas to use.

I also made delicious whole wheat bread thanks to Tara's awesome recipe she shared:

Tara's No-Fail Whole Wheat Bread is what I'd like to call it since I've failed every other recipe but this one.

The recipe is as follows:

Whole Wheat Bread (from Elaine Andelin)

Combine these four ingredients and mix well:
6 cups warm water (if you are using wheat that hasn't been freshly ground, you want to be sure the water is warm to hot)
2/3 cup honey
2 tbsp yeast
8 -9 cups whole wheat flour

Add:
1/4 c. applesauce
1 egg
2 tbsp gluten (optional, very fine powder; $1.85/lb. at Good Earth)
1 tbsp vinegar (optional)
1/4 c. oil
2 tbsp. salt

Mix well, then add additional flour until dough pulls away from the sides and begins cleaning off the sides (approximately 9 to 10 cups). Be careful not to add too much flour. Let machine knead the dough for 8 to 10 minutes. Roll out on oiled surface* and put into four greased loaf pans. Fill the pans half full so they have room to rise. Smash the dough in with your fingers and then flip it to the other side. Push sides down and tuck in ends to make look pretty. Cover loaves. Let rise until double (approximately 30 minutes). Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place bread in oven carefully with space between the loaves. Bake for 40 minutes or until golden. Remove and enjoy!


....... This recipe makes four loaves. When I made it I halved the recipe - it made one regular loaf and the three mini loaves.

*She recommended an oiled surface instead of a floured surface, because if you add more flour it can dry out the bread.


****I found that if I halve the recipe I can make two 9x5x3 loaves.

CrockPot Cream Cheese Chicken Recipe

CrockPot Cream Cheese Chicken Recipe

The recipe I've linked above is the reason why I got the idea to make my own cream of mushroom soup. I've tried Cami's delicious crock pot cream cheese chicken recipe and have been craving it since. So... I am going to make some for dinner next week.

P.S. Cami: if the recipe I linked above is totally different than your recipe, please share it so we can all enjoy :o) Thanks!

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup CrockPot Recipe

Homemade Cream of Mushroom Soup CrockPot Recipe

I am not a huge fan of mushrooms, but I've decided I may very well make the recipe from the link above the next time I get a package of mushrooms in my bountiful basket rather than donating the mushrooms. This recipe sounded very yummy.

Day 21

Scripture: Read the story of Joshua and the crossing of the river Jordan in Joshua 3 and 4.

Challenge:
1. Either figuratively or literally, gather 12 stones. Assign each stone to represent a blessing that you have recognized in your journey toward Christ.
2. Share these blessings with your family. Testify how you are coming to know the Healer, the Master, the Son of God, even Jesus Christ. What are the stories you can tell about how He has strengthened, enlightened, comforted, or otherwise blessed you?

Day 20

Scripture: Read the account of the disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, found in Luke 24:13-32.

Challenge:
1. Learn to use the scriptures to receive personal revelation from the Lord.
2. Take some time today to find a scripture that speaks to you.
3. Let His Spirit abide in your heart by reflecting on that scripture throughout the day.

Day 19

Scripture: Read the account of Mary Magdalene in John 20:1-18.

Challenge:
1. Examine your life. What is your greatest need?
2. Sometime today find a new way to seek the Lord. Find in Christ the answers you long for. Dare to reach a new level of understanding.

Day 18

Scripture: Read Ether 12 and look for the blessings

Challenge:
1. Remember, grace comes after all you can do. Take time today to analyze a trying situation in your life. After you have done all that you can do, place it at the feet of the Lord. Keep a written record of the greater things and the unspeakable gifts that will come as He leads you to the promise.

Day 17

Scripture: Read the account of the rich young man in Mark 10:17-22 and the widow's mite in Mark 12:41-44

Challenge:

1. Think of someone you know who has given all in service to the Lord. What lesson can you learn from that person? How can you be more like him or her?

2. Commit today to give all you have in your service to the Lrod. Choose one area where you feel you could give more. What changes will this require in your daily routines?

Day 16

Scripture: Read the account of the pleading father in Mark 9:17-27

Challenge:
1. Take time to identify and write down an area in which you feel you are not enough. This could include challenges that are physical, temporal, spiritual, or emotional.
2. Take it to the Lord. Plead your case in prayer. Don't be afraid to acknowledge your weakness and ask for greater faith. Then be still and listen to the promptings that will come.

Day 15 (sorry it's really really late)

I was gone from 6 am to 11 pm yesterday and didn't get a chance to post before I went to bed so I could be to work by 6:30am today....

Scripture: Read the story of Zacchaeus found in Luke 19:1-6

Challenge:
1. First, find your sycomore tree, or the quiet place you can go to focus on the Lord.
2. Second, make haste and invite the Lord into your home. How will you prepare to receive Him?

Day 14

Scripture: Read the story of Martha found in Luke 10:38-42

Challenge:

1. Remember who you are. What are you best at? What gift can you offer? How can that gift bring more joy to the people around you?

2. Choose to give the better part today. Find one way that you can use your gift so serve someone else's need.

Day 13

Scripture: Read Isaiah 50:10-11

Challenge:
1. Write down some ways you that you have been able to turn to the Lord for direction and support.
2. Write down some of the ways you have learned to trust Him.
3. Today find one way to share your testimony of these two principles with someone who is struggling.

Day 12

Scripture: Read the account of the lepers in Luke 17:11-19.

Challenge:
1. Identify a change that you would like to make in your own life. It could be something amiss in yoru family, your work, your relationships, or an individual weakness. Write down a plan that will enable you to make that change. Approach the Lord in prayer and ask for His help.

Day 11

Scripture: Read the accounts of Peter's focus on Christ in Matthew 14:22-33 and John 21:1-19.

Challenge:
1. Today remember to focus on Christ. Allow Him to become part of your conversations, your celebrations, your teaching moments, and your thoughts. Long to be near Him.

Day 10

Scripture: Read Luke 22:31-32

Challenge:
1. When you see the battle raging, where do you see yourself in the fight? Consider your church calling, your role as a parent, or your role as a friend. Do you give some, or do you give all?

2. Find one way that you can strengthen someone today.

Day 9

Scripture: Read the account of King Benjamin's address in Mosiah 2 and focus on verses 5-6.

Challenge:
1. What counsel do you remember most from the last general conference? Glance through the Ensign or visit www.lds.org to help you recall some of your favorite talks.

2. Write down the counsel given and place it somewhere that you will see it often. How can following that counsel strengthen your testimony of Jesus Christ?

3. What is one way you can apply inspired counsel to your life today?

Day 8 (Late!)

Scripture: read the parable of the Good Shepherd in John 10:1-18.

Challenge:
1. Think about how you have learned to recognize the voice of the Shepherd. How has His "voice" come to you? Make a list of the moments when you have heard that voice and have heeded the call. Some ideas may include going to the temple, visiting someone in need, attending church, studying the scriptures, preparing a lesson, praying with a special purpose, or listening to the prophet.

2. Find one way to "hear" His voice today.

Day 7

Scripture: Learn to recognize the steady rhythm of the One who accompanies you along the race by reading Moroni 7:26.

Challenge:

1. Ponder the five characteristics of prayer given in this verse. How will remembering these make your prayers more meaningful? Choose one step that you would like to focus on.

2. As you kneel to pray tonight, thank your Heavenly Father for His Son, Jesus Christ. Share with Him the reasons why you are grateful for the Savior. Let Him know what your knowledge of Christ means to you.

Day 6

Scripture: Read the story of the blind man found in John 9:1-38

Challenge:
1. Attempt to analyze through different eyes a situation that has been troubling you. Pray that the Savior will touch your eyes so that you will see what you need to do differently.

2. Now take some time to write down some of the good things that have come to you through Christ. How does recognizing these blessings bring you hope?

Day 5 (sorry it's late again)

Sunday was kind of crazy for me. I overscheduled myself and did not get everything done I was hoping to, including reading my scriptures and working on the 21 day challenge. But I will get better with practice.

Scripture: read the account of the Samaritan woman in John 4:1-42

Challenge: Prepare to receive a simple learning moment, a "pearl in the field," as you go through your day. Let your search be constant. Try to discover, "in every hour," some heavenly blessing that will bring you closer to Christ. A treasure---God's gold.

Day 4

Scripture: Matthew 9:18-26

Challenge:
1. Think back on a time in your life when you had to search for the Savior to find strength beyond your own. Try to remember the process you went through in that search. Was it scripture study, more meaningful prayers, or another avenue that led you to Christ?

2. Stretch again. Apply one of those principles today.