Get close to God first before getting close to anyone else. God without man is still God, but man without God is nothing.

Cooking Fun

I have to say, much to my delight (really, who would have thought?), I have been enjoying cooking as of recent. I have never been particularly interested in cooking, but I rather like the feeling of success as a dish I try turns out to be really good! 

I thought I'd share some pictures and recipes of some of the things I made last week, as well as today. 

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Scalloped Potatoes.

So delicious, and really easy to make, too! 

Scalloped Potatoes:
Serves 4
- 4 cups thinly sliced raw potatoes, peeled
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup clean, raw cashews
- 1/4 cup chopped onions, or 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1/8 teaspoon paprika

1. Process cashews in about 1 cup of the water in a blender until very smooth.
2. Add remaining water and other ingredients, except paprika, and continue blending until smooth. 
4. Place a layer of sliced potatoes in the bottom of your sprayed baking dish.
5. Pour a small amount of your blended mix over the potatoes to cover them, and keep layering and pouring until finished.
6. Cover with tin foil and bake at 375 F for 1 hour.
7. Remove cover, sprinkle with paprika, then return to oven and continue baking until browned (about 10-15 minutes). 

Side note: Doubling the recipe will fill a rectangular baking dish like pictured above. 

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Vanilla Pudding Pie

I used just a vegan pudding mix we had over here for the filling, but you can probably use anything you like. 

The crust was a graham cracker crust, really easy and quick to make, as well.

Homemade Graham Cracker Crust:

- 1 ½ c. graham crackers – 1 package of 9-10 crackers

- 1/3 c. sugar

- 6 Tbs. butter, melted

- ½ tsp. cinnamon

1. Crush your graham crackers until really fine. You can put them into a sealed plastic bag and crush them with a rolling pin.

2. Mix all the ingredients together. 

3. Using a the back of a spoon, press your mix into a pie pan. Make sure to press it up the edges as well, making it nice and even all across.

4. Bake your pie crust for 7 minutes in a pre-heated oven of 375°.

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Same pie, but with a really yummy strawberry sauce! The filling ended up being a little bland, so this was perfect to add to it!

Berry Sauce:

Ingredients:

- Berries of your choice (+/- 3 cups)

- 1/4 cup of sugar

- 1/3 cup of water/juice

- 2 Tbs Corn starch

Defrost berries in a saucepan, and when they are warm, add the sugar. The berries should form their own juice as they defrost, but you can add a little extra juice or water if you wish. Mix the cornstarch in a little bit of water/juice in a separate cup until dissolved, and then add it to the berries once they reach a boil. Stir until thickened and remove immediately from heat to cool. 

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Finally, today's quick throw together! Potato Poppers! These things are surprisingly easy to make, considering I had no idea what I was doing initially. They are super yummy though!

Potato Poppers:

- 1 cup mashed potatoes

- 1 cup cooked brown rice

- 1 cup whole grain bread crumbs

- 1/4 cup chopped onion

- 1/2 tsp. salt (or more if potatoes are not salted)

- 1 Tbs. tomato sauce

1. Simmer onion in a small amount of water

2. Combine all ingredience and form into 1.5 inch balls

3. Bake at 375 F until browned--roughly 15 minutes. 

Hope you enjoy!! =)

God's Love

Proverbs 8:17 

I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently, find Me.

He loves us. May that love always be mutual! ♥

Happy 4th of July to all of you Americans! 

Went downtown chattanooga with some family friends this evening, to watch fireworks. It was a short display, but still pretty nice. =)

I recently picked up the book "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" by Joshua Harris. I know many have premonitions about this book, fearing that it will condemn them for dating and/or having relationships in general, and I think like most people, I perhaps felt a little bit like this for a while (alas never picking it up until now). Upon paging through the first, second, and third chapters, however, I have to say, it has been a blessing and a very encouraging book. 

More than just a book about our human "relationships" (or...the lack thereof?), it's really showing me that our focus should be on developing a relationship with our Heavenly Father. The author isn't about bashing relationships, but rather he encourages the relationship we have with God as a precursor of sorts for our friendships and relationships with others. That's just from the first three chapters though, and I'm excited to read the rest of it! 

In other news, my weekend was kind of nice and relaxing. I went to Chattanooga First SDA Church on Sabbath, which was a blessing. The young man who spoke was really good and made some profound points in his sermon entitled "I'll believe it when I see it". One thing that really stuck out to me was the fact that the blind men that Jesus healed couldn't see him, yet they followed Him and had faith that He could heal them. 

Sometimes I wonder to myself...do I follow Christ the way I should, even though I can see everything He has done for me throughout my life? Why do I doubt Him so often? He is God after all. I could probably work on that a bit, but only by His wonderful grace.

Anyhow, after church, I went for a drive up to what they call "Raccoon Mountain" over here in TN. I have to say, it is SO beautiful out here! Where I go to school in Walla Walla, Washington, it is just so dry and one big farmland in comparison. We have so many trees and rivers and nature out here in Tennessee and it's wonderful, I'm totally enjoying myself! God is really a wonderful creator and artist... 

Every New Day

I think it's been more than long enough since I have posted on my somewhat-abandoned blog! I am now at home for the summer, enjoying a bit of a slower pace after a year in Washington. I am still doing school, however, taking Applied Statistics and Jewish-American Literature online. It's not all easy stuff, but I will be glad when it's done. Anyhow, I will leave you with a thought before I go to bed.

Each day we are given is a gift courtesy of our loving Heavenly Father, and a new opportunity to live to our fullest potential! 

                                               Make the most of it!  =)

Becoming A Woman Of Excellence

A woman of excellence

Is what I long to be

Filled with your godly wisdom

So it is part of me

A woman of integrity

No matter what I face

Standing up for righteousness

And for your saving grace

A woman of destiny

Living out your plan

Knowing where you’d have me walk

Being guided by your hand

A woman of promise

Standing on your word

Holding on to all the truths

While carrying out your work

A woman of compassion

For the ones in the dark

Those that do not know your love

And have darkness in their hearts

A woman that will never

Compromise the faith

With what the world may offer

But will keep the narrow way

A woman who loves Jesus

And will only follow Him

Gladly to give up the world

So His light can shine within

Lord this is my earnest prayer

As a daughter by your grace

Grow in me these qualities

As I walk with you in faith

~ M.S.Lowndes