November 20, 2024

At Home with GCH: Mac and Cheese

April 1, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Mondays are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  This week we are going to bake a yummy mac and cheese that is loaded with veggies, and low on the calories by reducing the amount of cheese.

macncheese

Mac and Cheese. C’mon, who does not like Mac and Cheese?  I read a poll, and Mac and Cheese was voted overwhelmingly as ‘favorite comfort food!’  Now I am hoping that your favorite version does NOT come out of a blue box 😉 but, if it does, perhaps you might consider my recipe and see if it does not convince you to try it instead of the blue box version in the future. 🙂 

This version of Mac & Cheese has lots of veggies snuck in there.  Some of the pasta is made with pureed carrots and tomatoes, and there is butternut squash throughout the cheese sauce.  I love this because it makes the cheese sauce even more colorful (ORANGE)  causing the eaters to ‘think’ it is more cheesy!  Also, there is only 6-ounces of shredded cheese in the whole dish which helps to keep this recipe in our ‘healthy-but-oh-so-yummy!’ category.

Have you ever made a white, or bechamel, sauce?  Well, today you will!  It is very easy, and a great technique to add to your repertoire!  In a future post, I will share some recipes that need a white sauce, and by then you will be a pro at making it!

The following recipe makes an abundantly filled 9×13 pan…enough to feed 6-8 hungry folks, )or, if you have a husband who LOVES leftovers like mine does, lunch for 2-3 days.)  This recipe is easily doubled, and I always make a double batch.  A menu suggestion:  Mac & Cheese, steamed broccoli, grilled ham steak.  A big, delicious salad is often our only accompaniment.

Macaroni:
1#box small macaroni (shells, penne)
12oz box veggie pasta (i used penne made with carrots and tomato) *2012-11-03 19.21.38

Cheese Sauce:
1/2 small onion, diced
2T butter
2T flour
1c 2 percent milk
1c chicken or vegetable broth
2 (10-ounce) packages frozen pureed winter squash, thawed
1/2c part-skim ricotta cheese
4oz sharp Cheddar, shredded (about 1+1/3c)
2oz Monterey jack cheese, shredded (about 2/3c)
1tsp salt, 1 tsp fresh ground pepper
1tsp ground (dry) mustard

Topping:
2 slices stale bread, crumbled into fine crumbs
2T freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1tsp olive oil

Preheat your oven to 375.  Coat a 9 by 13-inch baking pan with a small amount of  butter.  Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add 1 tsp of salt and the macaroni; cook  according to package directions.  Drain in a colander and place back into the cooled pot (this is where you will mix the macaroni and all that cheesy goodness together!)

Meanwhile, over medium heat, melt the butter in a medium saucepan, adding the  diced onion. cook ‘til the onion is soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes.  Then sprinkle the flour over the cooked onion and, using a whisk, stir constantly for one minute.  Adjust the heat to very low, and cook for 2-3 minutes to get the starchy taste out of the mixture.  Do not let the mixture brown.   Increase the heat back to  medium and immediately slowly pour in 1/4 cup or so of milk while whisking briskly.  Just keep stirring!  As this is absorbed, continue to slowly add the balance of the  milk in a steady stream, followed by the broth; stirring constantly as the liquid  becomes absorbed.  This will take about 3 minutes.  Adjust the heat lower again and  let this mixture simmer slowly for another 5  minutes, stirring occasionally.  (You  have now made a white, or bechamel, sauce; congratulations!!!)  At this point, add in the thawed  butternut squash, stirring ‘til it is incorporated, allowing the mixture to come back  to a simmer.  Remove the saucepan from the heat.  Stir in the ricotta, and the  other cheeses, along with the ground mustard, and salt & pepper.  Carefully taste (it’s hot!) the  cheese sauce, adjusting for seasoning.

2012-11-03 20.00.28

Pour cheese mixture over the macaroni in the large pot and stir gently to combine.  Transfer the macaroni and cheese to the 9×13 baking dish and bake for 20 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Adjust the top rack in the oven to a higher position, and turn  the broiler on.  Combine bread crumbs, parmesan cheese and oil in a small bowl.  Mix with your fingers; get a little messy!  Then sprinkle over the top of the cooked mac and cheese.  Carefully place the baking dish back in the oven and broil for 3  minutes.  Keep your eye on it; you want the breadcrumbs to brown but not burn and  for some of the macaroni to get just a little crispy (my husband loves that part!).  Again, carefully remove from the oven…and you are ready to serve!

*Here is a link to the type of veggie macaroni I used.  Check it out!
http://barilla.com/content/prodottobarilla/veggie-penne-freshly-pureed-tomatoes-and-carrots

 

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen, in regards to this blog, please email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com.

 

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He Is…

March 30, 2013 by

How can one ever fully define all that our Lord, Jesus the Christ, is?  God has bestowed upon His Son many, many names.  There are a vast number of prophecies in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled…and was allocated the glorious Name associated with these prophecies.  Below is a very small list of the names of our Lord as they pertain to us.  I pray that as you read them and consider them, your heart will be lifted in praise..and thankfulness to Almighty God for all that He has provided for us in Jesus our Lord!

He is the Messiah 
He first sought out and found his own brother Simon and said to him,
We have found (discovered) the Messiah!
—which translated is the Christ (the Anointed One).
John 1:41

He is our Master 
And you must not be called masters (leaders),
for you have one Master (Leader), the Christ.
Matthew 23:10

He is our Savior
For to you is born this day in the town of David a Savior,
Who is Christ (the Messiah) the Lord!
Luke 2:11

He is the Way, the Truth and the Life
Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life;
no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
John 14:6

He is our Advocate 
My little children, I write you these things so that you may not violate God’s law and sin.
But if anyone should sin, we have an Advocate with the Father
—Jesus Christ [the] righteous.
1 John 2:1

He is the Friend of Sinners
The Son of Man came eating and drinking [with others], and they say,
Behold, a glutton and a wine drinker, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!
Matthew 11:19

He is the True Vine 
I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser.
John 15:1

He is the Good Shepherd 
I am the Good Shepherd.
The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His [own] life for the sheep.
John 10:11

He is the Bread of Life
Jesus replied, I am the Bread of Life.
He who comes to Me will never be hungry, and he who believes in and cleaves to
and trusts in and relies on Me will never thirst any more (at any time).
John 6:35

He is our Righteousness 
In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely:
and this is His name by which He shall be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.
Jeremiah 23:6

He is our Deliverer
God exalted Him to His right hand to be Prince and Leader and Savior and  Deliverer 
and Preserver, in order to grant repentance to Israel and to bestow forgiveness
and release from sins.Acts 5:31

He is the Lamb of God
The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, Look! There is the Lamb of God,
Who takes away the sin of the world!
John 1:29

He is the Prince of Peace 
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called…Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

He is the Author of Life
But you killed the very Source (the Author) of life, Whom God raised from the dead.
To this we are witnesses.
Acts 3:15

He is the Light of the World
He said, I am the Light of the world.
He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.
John 8:12

He is our Mediator 
For there [is only] one God, and [only] one Mediator between God and men,
the Man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself as a ransom for all…
1 Timothy 2:5, 6

He is Emmanuel 
Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son,
and they shall call His name Emmanuel
—which, when translated, means, God with us.
Matthew 1:23

He is the Head of the Body, the Church.
He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning,
the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything
and in every respect might occupy the chief place.
Colossians 1:18

He is the Resurrection 
Jesus said to her, I am [Myself] the Resurrection and the Life.
Whoever believes in Me, although he may die, yet he shall live;
And whoever continues to live and believes in Me
shall never [actually] die at all. Do you believe this?
John 11:25

He is our High Priest
Inasmuch then as we have a great High Priest 
Who has [already] ascended and passed through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession [of faith in Him].
Hebrews 4:14

He is the King of kings, and LORD of lords 
And on His garment and on His thigh He has a name inscribed,
King of kings and Lord of lords.
Revelation 19:16

He is the AMEN 
These are the words of the Amen, the trusty and faithful and true Witness,
the Origin and Beginning and Author of God’s creation:
Revelation 3:14

One final name that we all love to call our Jesus is—King.  Please listen to Dr. S.M. Lockeridge as he exalts the name of our Lord Jesus as King…may your praises ring out as loudly as Dr. Lockeridge’s.

Praying for each of you!

♥  coleen

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If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.

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At Home with GCH: Spring Salad Side Dishes

March 25, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Mondays are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  This month we are spotlighting vegetarian dishes.  Each Monday will actually be a Meatless Monday!

So, I was talking with my dad about what to make for our family’s get-together on Easter Sunday.  Now, something you should know about us—every event is a food event. 😉  Is your family like that, too?  My contributions this year will be for dinnertime.  By request, I have been relegated the side dishes.  Two of them will be vegetarian salads: Broccoli-Craisin Salad and New Old-Fashioned Carrot Slaw.  Both fit into our healthy but-oh-so-yummy! category nicely!  Yes, there is a good amount of mayonnaise in the broccoli salad, but I think that you will find it balanced out by the rest of the healthy ingredients.  Plus this recipe provides 6-8 servings.  And in the carrot slaw, fat-free greek yogurt is substituted for the majority of the mayo that traditional ‘old-fashioned’ carrot slaw usually contains.  Enjoy!

Broccoli-Craisin SaladIMG_0196

dressing:
3/4 cup good mayonnaise
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons white balsamic vinegar (red wine vinegar also yummy)
freshly ground pepper, to taste

salad:
3 heads broccoli crowns, cut up into small florets – no stems
1/2 cup finely chopped red onion
1/2 cup sunflower kernels/seeds
1 cup craisins (dried cranberries)

Combine dressing ingredients in a small bowl.  Mix together ‘til emulsified;  set aside.

In a salad bowl, toss all salad ingredients ‘til well distributed. Pour dressing over and stir ‘til everything is nicely coated.  Put completed salad into a storage container or bag and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours to meld the flavors together (overnight is optimum).

Notes:
The smaller you chop the florets, the nicer this salad will be.  Takes a little time…but so worth it!  I use less mayo than most recipes call for; feel free to add more if you desire. ALSO, for your meat-loving family members, you can add 2-3 slices of crumbled, crispy, cooked bacon; makes for a nice addition!

New Old-Fashioned Carrot SlawIMG_0200

dressing:
1 container lemon greek yogurt
2 teaspoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
freshly ground black pepper, to taste

salad:
2 cups julienned carrots *
1/2 cup fresh pineapple, cut in 1/2″ cubes
1/4 cup sliced or slivered almonds
1/4 cup golden raisins

Combine dressing ingredients together in a small bowl; set aside.

Mix all the salad ingredients together in a large bowl, and then pour on the dressing; mix together well.  Place in a storage container or bag; refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight so that the flavors can blend together.

Notes:
I buy bagged ‘matchstick’ carrots; usually available with the baby carrots in the produce section of your grocery store.

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God loves you! ♥ (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥ coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this series, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.

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Jesus, Our Lord, Loved To the End

March 23, 2013 by

The Lord God Almighty, our Heavenly Father, had it in His heart to provide a Savior for all mankind.  A Redeemer who would save us from eternal damnation and would be THE Way to eternal life and grace for all time.  God purposed throughout mankind’s history to bring His plan into existence.  Nothing ever thwarted or deterred our God from bringing His perfect plan—a plan of love and grace—into fruition. And His Son, our Lord, willingly sacrificed Himself to execute His Father’s plan.

From early in His earthly ministry, Jesus told His disciples about this.

…but there is One Who has come down from heaven—the Son of Man
And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert [on a pole],
so must [so it is necessary that] the Son of Man be lifted up [on the cross],
In order that everyone who believes in Him [who cleaves to Him, trusts Him, and relies on Him]
may not perish, but have eternal life and [actually] live forever!
For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world
that He [even] gave up His only begotten Son,
so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him
shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
For God did not send the Son into the world
in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world,
but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him.
John 3:13-17

God’s Son came to the earth and lived His life on this earth single-mindedly to do His Father’s Will.  God’s plan was one of Love, and Jesus’ life was all about Love—Love to the end.

[Now] before the Passover Festival began, Jesus knew (was fully aware)
that His hour had come to depart from this world and return to the Father.
Having loved those who were His own in the world, He loved them to the end.
John 13:1

Jesus purposed to share a final last meal and communicated many important things with those closest to Him.  The Gospel of John records just some of Jesus’ words to them (and to us) that He spoke during this Last Supper just prior to His betrayal, His persecution, and His death.  He spoke to them (recorded in chapter 13) about loving one another in the same way that He had shown His love to them (verses 2-19), and demonstrated it through the lowly task of washing their feet…He clearly pointed out exactly who His betrayer was (verses 20-31)…He again commanded them to love one another (verse 34).

In chapter 14, Jesus shares with them about the Comforter—the holy spirit—Who He was sending to take His place.

In chapter 15, Jesus shows the importance of dwelling with Him and abiding in Him.  He talked with them in so much detail about His and the Father’s love…and how our love toward Them is proven by our obedience.

In chapter 16, Jesus is deeply concerned that they will be prepared for His leaving.  He communicates, with encouragement as well as admonition, as He tells them again about the Comforter.

And in chapter 17, Jesus prays for them.  We ‘hear’ as He speaks with the Father of His great concern and love that He had for them.  How beautifully and compassionately He asks the Father to care for them.  He truly loved them to the end.

And, wondrously, He even spoke of us:

Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request],
but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me
through their word and teaching,   That they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You,
that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced
that You have sent Me. (verses 20 and 21)

Our Lord, Who knew exactly what was transpiring and how His betrayal was imminent prayed these final words for them:

I in them and You in Me,
in order that they may become one and perfectly united,
that the world may know and [definitely] recognize
that You sent Me and that You have loved them
[even] as You have loved Me.
Father, I desire that they also
whom You have entrusted to Me [as Your gift to Me]
may be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory,
which You have given Me [Your love gift to Me];
for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.
O just and righteous Father, although the world has not known You
and has failed to recognize You and has never acknowledged You,
I have known You [continually];
and these men understand and know that You have sent Me.
I have made Your Name known to them
and revealed Your character and Your very Self,
and I will continue to make [You] known,
that the love which You have bestowed upon Me
may be in them [felt in their hearts]
and that I [Myself] may be in them.
(verses 23-26)

Perhaps this coming week as we are contemplating and considering just what it took for God to fulfill our redemption through our Lord’s suffering and death, you could read the Gospel of John, chapters 13 through 17.  Nowhere else in the Scriptures, is so much communicated to help us know beyond a shadow of a doubt of our Father’s and our Lord’s unconditional love for us.  Our Lord’s entire life was all about love…and He truly and completely and perfectly loved us to the end.

Praying for each of you!  May we each recognize the love of our Lord, and all that Jesus accomplished for us, and sing our praises to Him!

♥  coleen

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At Home with GCH – Meatless Mondays – HashBrown Crusted Quiche

March 18, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Mondays are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  This month we are going to spotlight vegetarian dishes.  Each Monday will actually be a Meatless Monday!  This week we are making quiche!  Oh, yum!  But in light of our healthy but oh-so-yummy inclination, we are substituting a shredded potato crust for a pastry crust.  So delicious…so easy…so nice and crispy!  I took a peek at a few similar recipes, and calorie counts on ingredients like those below will add up to approximately 250-300 for each wedge of this quiche.  This along with a simple salad (we had spinach-strawberry salad with ours) makes for a filling yet light supper.  You certainly can exchange different veggies and cheeses for the spinach-tomato-fresh mozzarella combination in this recipe.  During the spring and summer, we often have quiche once each week on our menu.  It is quick and nutritious; and, if I prepare different varieties from time to time, no one gets bored!  I would love to hear about your quiche if you make a different variety!  Enjoy! 

IMG_0184

Caprese Quiche with Hash Brown Crust (makes 4 generous servings)

Crust:
3 cups frozen hash browns, thawed
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preheat oven to 425. Thaw hash brown potatoes, and blot between paper towels to remove excess moisture.  Combine in mixing bowl with melted butter, Parmesan cheese, and seasonings.  Lightly grease 9″ glass pie plate.  Pour potatoes mixture into pie plate and press down onto bottom and up sides of pie plate…go all the way up to the rim.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until lightly browned; do not let burn!  When done, remove from oven.  Place on a cooling rack and allow to cool slightly.  Reduce oven temp to 350.

Filling:
1 medium sweet onion, diced
2 teaspoons olive oil
good-sized handful (12-14 grape tomatoes), chopped
1/2-3/4 cup fresh spinach leaves, sliced 1/4″ slices
1 heaping tablespoon chopped garlic (I use jarred)
Heat olive oil in medium-sized saute pan over medium heat.  Add diced onions and cook for 6-7 minutes until softened but just slightly browned.  While onions are cooking, chop tomatoes (drain away any excess juice).  To slice spinach, stack a number of leaves, and then just carefully slice down through them into 1/4″ slices; repeat until all spinach is sliced.  When onions are ready, add tomatoes, spinach, and garlic.  Saute for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, until spinach has wilted.  Remove from stovetop and allow to cool.IMG_0189

Egg Custard:

4 large eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup 2% milk
1/2 cup ricotta
dash of Kosher salt
1/2-1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1/4 cup breadcrumbs
1 cup fresh mozzarella balls, rough chopped
To the eggs, add the milk, ricotta, seasonings, and breadcrumbs; whisk together until smooth.

To assemble:
Once baked crust has cooled slightly, layer in filling ingredients and then pour the custard on top.  Add chopped cheese and swirl with fork to evenly distribute ingredients.  Carefully place in middle of 350 oven, and bake until eggs are set and cheese is slightly browned, approximately 30 minutes or so.  Let stand for 10 minutes to set up and finish cooking.  Cut into four wedges.

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God loves you! ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥ coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this series, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.

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Seeking Him by Coleen Hayden – Jesus

March 16, 2013 by

In our current series, Seeking Him, we have looked at the joy of having a dedicated, purposeful devotional time—your quiet time alone with God.  Over the past ten weeks we have considered the importance and deep value of seeking Him by intentionally removing ourselves from distractions and quietly being in His presence.  This week, as we conclude the series, we will consider our greatest example—our Lord Jesus.

Throughout the Gospels, we read of many times when Jesus purposefully withdrew from His disciples, and from ministering to the needs of the people, and went to pray.  We see how valuable it was to Him to be alone with His Father, seeking Him and spending time in His presence.

And in the morning, long before daylight,
He got up and went out to a deserted place, and there He prayed.

Mark 1:35

And after He had taken leave of them, He went off into the hills to pray.

Mark 6:46

 But He Himself withdrew to the wilderness (desert) and prayed.

Luke 5:16

 Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray,
and spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12

Within the context of each of these glimpses into Jesus’ life, we observe that He:

  • before even beginning His day, went and prayed
  • in the midst of trying circumstance, went to be alone with God
  • in preparation for important decisions, got alone with His Father and prayed
  • after much time ministering to the people and teaching them, He left and sought God and prayed

How much more do we need to emulate His heart and actions in recognizing our own great need to be alone with our heavenly Father seeking Him and praying?

Perhaps the most poignant example that Jesus left us is His time seeking His Father in prayer  just prior to His betrayal and arrest in the garden of Gethsemane.

Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told His disciples,
Sit down here while I go over yonder and pray.
And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee,
He began to show grief and distress of mind and was deeply depressed.
Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved,
so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me.
And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying,
My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me;
nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.
And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter,
What! Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour?
All of you must keep awake and watch and pray,
that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
Again a second time He went away and prayed,
My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your will be done.
And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were weighed down with sleep.
So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, using the same words.  Matthew 26:36-44

Words escape me to express how deeply I recognize my Lord’s awareness of His need of His Father at this incredibly stress-filled, sorrowful time!  But my heart is convicted and reminded of my own need to do the same!  If Jesus, the Perfect Man, who was totally without sin and always able to rise above any temptation, so needed this time seeking His Father…then I am without excuse to ever think I do not need the same…and more!

How very blessed we are to know that this is God’s Will…that He desires us to seek Him…that He is always available to us…that our yearning hearts will always be welcomed into His presence.  How very thankful we are to know that through His suffering, persecution, death and resurrection, Jesus—our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord and Master—has broken down any barrier between us and Almighty God, and made it available for us to approach His Throne of grace!

But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were [so] far away,
through the blood of Christ have been brought near.
For He is [Himself] our peace (our bond of unity and harmony).
By abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the enmity [caused by] the Law
with its decrees and ordinances [which He annulled]; that He from the two
might create in Himself one new man, so making peace.
And He came and preached the glad tidings of peace to you who were afar off
and [peace] to those who were near.
For it is through Him that we…now have an introduction (access) by one [Holy] Spirit
to the Father [so that we are able to approach Him].
Ephesians 2:13-18

“You are beautiful beyond description, yet God crushed You for my sin
in agony and deep affliction, cut off that i might enter in
who can grasp such tender compassion?
who can fathom this mercy so free?
You are beautiful beyond description, Lamb of God, Who died for me”

<3

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Keep seeking Him and enjoy your quiet time with your Lord!  As you seek Him, He will be found…He promises!

Jeremiah 29:12,13
Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me,
and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Praying for each of you!  I know that the Lord will answer your heart’s cry as you are seeking Him with all your heart!

♥  coleen

If you are interested in contacting Coleen in regards to this blog, please email her at: Coleen@GirlfriendsCoffeeHour.com

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At Home with GCH: Meatless Mondays – Broccoli & Garlic White Pizza

March 11, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Mondays are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  This month we are spotlighting vegetarian dishes.  Each Monday will actually be a Meatless Monday!

One of my favorite veggies is BROCCOLI!  What is your favorite way of preparing broccoli?  Mine is simply steaming it!  A pinch of salt and a grind or two of pepper…yummy!  I have been known to forsake utensils and use my fingers to eat it, too. IMG_0178

This week’s recipe is for Broccoli-Garlic White Pizza…ever had it?  Oh, I do l-o-v-e  a yummy, tomato-y, cheesy traditional pizza—but—equally love pizza of this genre!  This recipe fits our healthy but oh so yummy! category because 1) it has lots of healthy, no fat, few caloried, full of nutrition broccoli, 2) there is a tiny bit of olive oil on it, and 3) the calories contributed by the cheeses total approximately 850 for the whole pie!  Now divide that by the 3-4 servings this pizza offers, and you’ve got healthy…check!  Yummy…check!

Also you will see that I don’t make my own dough…I stop by my favorite pizza shop and purchase 1 pound of their dough!  (I already know how good it is!)  And it only costs me…$1.  Here’s my only suggestion for baking your pizza: use a pizza stone.  They are relatively inexpensive ($8-15 range, I would say) and can be bought in just about any big box store or kitchen goods store.  Mine came from Pampered Chef.  If not using a pizza stone, you will need a round pizza pan, or a large enough baking sheet to handle the size of your crust.

OK!  Here we go!  Pizza Pizza!

Broccoli -Garlic White Pizza (serves 3-4)IMG_0174

1 (1#) package of pizza dough
2-3 tablespoons of flour to handle the dough
2-3 tablespoons of cornmeal
2 heads (no stems) of broccoli, chopped into florets (about 3 cups)
3+ tablespoons chopped garlic (I use the jarred variety)
15 ounce container of part-skim Ricotta cheese, let come to room temp
1+1/2 cup shredded cheese (Mozzarella, Provolone, Monterey jack—or a mixture)
3 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
1 tablespoon olive oil
salt, freshly ground pepper, to taste
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

Choose the pizza dough of your preference.  If making from scratch…you better get going! If  purchased from your local pizza shop, you are set to go!

If using a pizza stone, get it into the oven so that it can heat up!

Preheat the oven to 500.

Heat 2-3 cups water in a medium saucepan to boiling.  While the water is coming to a boil, fill a medium-sized mixing bowl with very cold water and a few ice cubes; set aside.  When the water in the saucepan comes to a boil, add the broccoli florets.  Cook for just 3-4 minutes, no longer; watch carefully. When the broccoli is ready, it will still be bright green and still crisp. It is better for it to be undercooked than overcooked. Remove from the heat and drain. Then immediately place the cooked broccoli into the ice water to stop the cooking process; then drain again. Blot the broccoli with a couple of paper towels. You don’t want to add wet broccoli onto your pizza crust!  Extra moisture = soggy crust!

When you are ready to shape the dough, put a couple of tablespoons of flour onto a large cutting board (or your scrupulously clean countertop). Coat the dough ball with flour all around. Flatten the ball into a disc. Then with your fingertips, work your way around the edges, stretching it all out as you go. You can also put your fist in the middle of the growing circle and raise it off of the board, letting the sides stretch down. Then work your fingers around the edge of the circle one more time.  I find it easier (safer) to keep my dough flat and just keep working it.*

When your crust is ready, sprinkle a little cornmeal onto a large cookie sheet.  You will use this to transfer the pizza onto the VERY HOT pizza stone.  Carefully slide the formed pizza crust onto the cookie sheet.

Spread the olive oil all over the pizza crust, even onto the rim.  Use just the 1 tablespoon; remember, extra moisture = soggy crust!

Add the ricotta onto the crust and using the back of a spoon, spread the ricotta evenly over the pizza. Then sprinkle the garlic all around.  Arrange the broccoli pieces over the surface evenly. Sprinkle with the Mozzarella and Parmesan. Season with salt and pepper.

Bake 10-15 minutes. Watch carefully. If the cheese starts to brown too quickly (before the crust has had a chance to brown), reduce the heat to 475 or so. When the cheese and the crust are just starting to brown, remove from the oven and let cool for 2 minutes. Then slice and serve immediately.

Another veggie topping we like on a white pizza is Caramelized Onions and Mushrooms.

Easy-peasy!IMG_0177

2 tablespoons olive oil
½ good sized onion, sliced thinly
6-7 medium to large Baby Bella mushrooms, cleaned and sliced

Place a medium-sized saute pan on medium heat; add olive oil. Add onions and mushrooms to pan, and cook until they are lightly caramelized, approximately 6-8 minutes.  Remove from heat; allow to cool slightly.

Then proceed with the above recipe adding the onion/mushroom mixture in place of the broccoli.  That’s all!

*There are lots of videos that you can watch to give you tons of tips and tricks how-to make a perfect pizza crust…check ‘em out!

————————————————-

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this series,
you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com, or leave a comment below.

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Seeking Him – Thankfulness

March 9, 2013 by

We are continuing to look at one of the joys of a relationship with our heavenly Father—our ‘quiet time’ with Him.  Each Saturday in our current series, Seeking Him, we have been considering some of the more important aspects of a dedicated, purposeful, intentional, devoted quiet time.  Over the past few weeks we have thought about a few of these aspects, such as:

  • reading the Scriptures
  • singing our praises
  • being intentional—seeking Him
  • physically expressing ourselves: cry, kneel, raise hands, etc.
  • speaking out our ‘love’
  • praying
  • quietness
  • having a quiet heart

This week we are remembering the importance of being thankful and expressing our gratitude to our Father.  Truly, can you think of anything else that can so change your heart’s attitude more than being thankful?  Websters 1828 Dictionary (one of my favorite references) defines thankful as ‘grateful; impressed with a sense of kindness received, and ready to acknowledge it.’  Hmmm, sounds vaguely familiar…similar to a praise the Psalmist wrote:

Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever!
Who can put into words and tell the mighty deeds of the Lord?
Or who can show forth all the praise [that is due Him]?
Psalms 106:1 and 2

I think  Mr. Webster’s definition clearly shows that thankfulness is both thought and action—you ‘sense’ being blessed AND you ‘acknowledge’ it.  Here’s a great example:

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come before His presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God!
It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]!
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving
and a thank offering and into His courts with praise!
Be thankful and say so to Him,
bless and affectionately praise His name!
For the Lord is good;
His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting,
His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.
Psalm 100

The Psalmist was confessing—remembering—just a few things he was grateful for, AND voicing his gratitude.   To remember is ‘…to bear in mind; to keep, consider, meditate.’ We can—we should—do the same!  We have oh-so-very-much to be thankful for, amen?  We have so very many memories of God’s abundant goodness to us, true?  We can sing…

I will thank Yahweh with all my heart;
I will declare all Your wonderful works.
Psalm 9:1

Listen to the some of the things that David remembers the Lord did for him and the beautiful way he voices his thankfulness here in Psalm 30:

I will extol You, O Lord, for You have lifted me up
and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O Lord my God, I cried to You and You have healed me.
O Lord, You have brought my life up from Sheol (the place of the dead)
Sing to the Lord, O you saints of His, and
give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
By Your favor, O Lord, You have established me as a strong mountain;
You hid Your face, and I was troubled.
I cried to You, O Lord, and to the Lord I made supplication.
Hear, O Lord, have mercy and be gracious to me! O Lord, be my helper!
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me;
To the end that my tongue and my heart
and everything glorious within me
may sing praise to You and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

In your quiet time (but not ONLY in your quiet time!), tell Your Father how very grateful you are for His goodness, for His protection, for His healing, for His deliverance, for His provision, for His admonition, for His guidance, for His love, grace and mercy!  And give Him much thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIIyteDj9Wc&feature=share&list=AL94UKMTqg-9C-EDJmkbADvooPEeYisXsC

Keep seeking Him and enjoy your quiet time with your Lord!  As you seek Him, He will be found…He promises!

Jeremiah 29:12,13
Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me,
and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Praying for each of you!  I know that the Lord will answer your heart’s cry as you are seeking Him with all your heart!

♥  coleen

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

At Home with GCH: Veggie Stuffed Peppers

March 4, 2013 by

Here on our At Home with GCH blog, Mondays are always focused on healthy but oh-so-yummy! recipes.  This month we are going to spotlight vegetarian dishes.  Each Monday will actually be a Meatless Monday!  Now that we are <finally!> out of the winter months and moving towards S-P-R-I-N-G, we will have many more seasonal veggies available to us.  I’m thinking asparagus, baby salad greens, oh and my onion-of-choice, the Vidalia, has it’s best offerings in the spring! IMG_0164

This week we are making Veggie Stuffed Peppers!  This dish allows you to use the veggies that you already have in your refrigerator and the ones that you know your family will enjoy (and eat!).  We have these rice-stuffed peppers regularly in our meal rotation because they are so adaptable, and the variety keeps them from being boring.

Consider using red and yellow and orange (or even purple, if you can find them) bell peppers rather than plain green ones as their taste is much milder than traditional green peppers.  If you are having the stuffed peppers as your main dish, plan on 2 halves per hungry adult; but if serving as a side dish, then half of a pepper will probably suffice.  The proportions in this recipe are for four whole peppers.

Veggie Stuffed Peppers (makes eight halves)

cooked rice  (see recipe below)

olive oil
5 big red, yellow, or orange bell peppers
1 green bell pepper
2 medium Vidalia onions, diced small
5-6 good-sized Baby Bella mushrooms, diced small
3 tablespoons chopped garlic (I use jarred)
2 cups (your choice) chopped veggies*
½ of a 10 ounce box frozen chopped spinach–or kale! (defrost)
Kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper
2 teaspoons herbs (thyme, basil, tarragon)
1 cup (or more) shredded cheese, plus 1/4 cup to finish
4 cups cooked rice (see below)
1 cup vegetable broth (or water)
1 cup seasoned tomato puree or sauce

Get the rice cooking…wash your veggies…preheat oven to 425.  Lightly coat a large baking sheet with a small amount of olive oil.  Take (4) of the brightly colored peppers and cut in half, down through the stem.  Important to keep the stem on so that the peppers hold their shape during cooking.  Remove seeds and any whitish parts of the insides.  Place the halved peppers, cut side down, on the baking sheet and roast for 15 minutes…just ‘til they start to get a teeny bit browned.  Remove from oven to cool.  Reduce oven temperature to 350.

Cut the other two peppers (one brightly colored, one green) in half, remove seeds, and chop into ½” dice.  Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large saute pan over medium heat, then add onions and chopped peppers. Saute for 5 minutes; then add mushrooms, along with any veggies that need a little precooking (i.e., carrots, zucchini).  Cook for an additional 5 minutes or so.  Stir in other veggies of your choice along with the cooled rice; mix together well.  Season with salt, pepper, and herbs. Stir in shredded cheese.

Using your hands, scoop up rice/veggie/cheese mixture and stuff firmly into precooked pepper halves, mounding up slightly.  Distribute all mix among the pepper halves.  Place filled peppers into a 13X9 baking pan, filled side UP.  Pour broth inside the bottom of the baking pan.  Lastly, pour the tomato sauce over the tops of the filled peppers.  Cover tightly with aluminum foil.  Bake for 20-25 minutes.  Remove foil and sprinkle with just a bit more shredded cheese.  Place back in oven for 5 minutes ‘til cheese is melted.  DONE!  Serve immediately.

*zucchini, carrots, cauliflower and/or broccoli florets, butternut squash, corn, baby peas, grape tomatoes, etc.IMG_0165

Cooked Rice
1 teaspoon butter or olive oil
1+1/2 cups rice (lots of choices out there!)
3 cups water or broth
salt, pepper

Easy-peasy!   In a medium saucepan, heat the butter or olive oil.  Add the rice and stir for one minute making sure all of the rice is coated.  Add 1 teaspoon each salt and pepper along with the water or broth.  Raise heat and stir well.  Bring to a quick boil, and immediately reduce heat to very low; cover pan.  Cook until water is completely incorporated into the rice.  Remove from heat, give a quick stir to fluff; set aside to cool.

 

God loves you!  ♥  (Don’t ever forget that!)

♥  coleen

_________________________________

If you would like to send a personal message to Coleen concerning this series, you may email her at: Coleen@girlfriendscoffeehour.com

Filed Under: At Home w/ GCH Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,

Seeking Him – Quietness

March 2, 2013 by

This week in our current series, Seeking Him, we continue to look at one of the joys (and privilege!) of our relationship with our heavenly Father—our ‘quiet time’ with Him.  Each Saturday we have been looking in-depth at some of the more important aspects of a dedicated, purposeful, intentional, devoted quiet time.

Over the past few weeks we have thought about a few of these aspects, such as:

  • reading the Scriptures
  • singing our praises
  • being intentional—seeking Him
  • physically expressing ourselves: cry, kneel, raise hands, etc.
  • speaking out our ‘love’
  • praying

In addition to each of these, I do believe that quietness is required as a major component of a dedicated, purposeful, intentional, devoted quiet time.  Actual physical-absence-of-distracting-noise quiet…and perhaps even more important…quietness in our hearts.

Our Lord recognized His need for quiet.  If He, in His perfect sinless life, needed quiet time alone…we do also and even more so!  His example speaks clearly to us.

And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a deserted place,
and there He prayed.

Mark 1:35

…and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities.
But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.

Luke 5:15, 16

There is also another type of quietness—a quiet, peaceful heart.  Isn’t this something that each of us yearns for?  Truly I believe it can only be found as we seek Him.  There is a incomparable quietness that we are promised as we trust in our Lord.

Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself upon Him;
fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way,
because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.
Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
fret not yourself—it tends only to evildoing.
For evildoers shall be cut off,
but those who wait and hope and look for the Lord
shall inherit the earth.

Psalms 37:7-9

Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah.

Psalms 46:10 and 11

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened,
and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]

Matthew 11:28

Keep seeking Him and enjoy your quiet time with your Lord!  As you seek Him, He will be found…He has promised!

Jeremiah 29:12,13
Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me,
and I will hear and heed you.
Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity]
and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Praying for each of you!  I know that the Lord will answer your heart’s cry as you are seeking Him with all your heart!

♥  coleen

Filed Under: Women's Ministry Tagged With: , , , , , , , , ,
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