The bigger the boat (company, board, etc.), the slower the turn (change, pivot, decision, etc).
Keep things small.
Photo via DollarPhotoClub
RECIPE: Healthy Pumpkin-Carrot Pudding
What started out as an experiment has become a staple. As in a small helping every day in her lunch box to school.
Last fall, we found ourselves with an abundance of carrots. Angela’s birthday was coming up and I wanted to fix a dessert dish that wasn’t a carrot cake (she fixes that for my birthdays).
I’ve been asked about it often – here it is, Angela’s Healthy Pumpkin- Carrot Pudding (with Thick Topping):
Angela’s Healthy Pumpkin-Carrot Pudding
Ingredients – Pudding |
Ingredients – Thickening |
| 4-5 Carrots (or 3 cups quartered) 1 can Pumpkin (15 oz) 1-2 Bananas 1.5 cups Almond Milk 1 Tbs Cinnamon .5 Tbs Nutmeg Ingredients – Topping 1 can Chilled Coconut Milk (separated) |
1 cup Coconut Sugar 1 packet Gelatin 1 cup Hot Water |
Instructions – Pudding and Thickening
- Boil or Steam Carrots until Fork Tender. Drain. Place into a large bowl.
- Add 1 large banana or 2 small bananas.
- Add Pumpkin.
- Mash (by hand using fork or potato masher)
- Have Almond Milk ready for blending.
- Using a blender, add mashed mixture along with milk (or with a bullet, blend three equal portions of mash mixture along with 1/3 amount of milk).
- Using a hand mixture or blender, bring to a puree.
- Boil water for Thickening
- In separate bowl, combine Gelatin and Coconut sugar dry.
- Add cup of boiling water, whisking as you add water until sugar and gelatin dissolve.
- Add thickening liquid to pudding and use low mixer speed for one or two minutes until completely mixed.
- Pour pudding into shallow container and chill 2 hours or more.
Instructions – Topping
- Refrigerate overnight, one can of Coconut Milk. This separates the milk from the water, creating a thick and creamy base for your topping.
- Strain 1-2 cups of Greek Yogurt, thus separating the liquid whey and creating an additional creamy base – almost like a cream cheese texture.
- Peel a banana.
- Mix on low speed until smooth
- Chill for two hours.
Shopping List – Brands I Use
Almond Milk (any brand) – Unsweetened Vanilla
Coconut Sugar – Madhava (Organic) Found almost anywhere, including Walmart.
Knox Gelatin Envelope (available everywhere, see baking aisle near Jello products)
Thai Kitchen Coconut Milk (not lite) – (available almost anywhere, see Oriental Foods aisle)
Oikos Greek Yogurt – Plain
Print out the PDF – RECIPE:_ Angela’s Healthy Pumpkin-Carrot Pudding
Perfect Makes Practice
An engaging and educating conversation with a young girl of four:
Girl: Perfect makes practice.
Me: Isn’t it, ‘Practice makes perfect’?
Girl: No. The first time I try something new, after that I know I’m going to need lots of practice to get better,
Smart thinking.
“Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they’re looking for ideas.” – Paula Poundstone
Hello World! Again.
Just Keep Editing.
Paths change. With them, purpose may also pivot. Sometimes, the purpose causes the pivot. Each step is a new step never taken before. Let’s see what’s around the bend.
Here we go …
How Does the Back of Your Baseball Card Read?
Sometimes, during introductions at a church meeting, we trade data. History, job title, family size. Stats not spirituals. Like the back of a baseball card.
I’ve had the opportunity to visit churches all across the United States. On weeknights and weekends. In church house, school house, and under tents. Different denominations, worship music, and dress codes.
One thing seems to be similar across the board. Unfortunately, it’s not Jesus Christ. It’s human beings.
I hold to a belief that every church gathering is perfect … until I arrive. At that point, I’m showing my own human frailties – and I notice ’em in other folks, too. They wouldn’t have seen mine and I would’ve never known theirs if I hadn’t gone. Perfect, until I get there.
At some level and for the sake of understanding the world and people around us, we tend to meet new folks at church and judge, compare, and label (JCL). Not so much for bad reasons, but to organize our brain.
One way we begin the JCL process is to ask secular questions such as:
- What kind of work do you do?
- Where are you from?
- Family?
- Just visiting?
It’s like an examination of the back of my baseball card. The data. The history. The stats.
Look at the front of the card, or at least deeper into one’s life. Like what is God doing with my life (a testimony), what kind of Kingdom work am I doing or looking for (a ministry), or how would I like to use my gifts (a talent).
It’s different than what we’re used to doing. It’s deeper, spiritually. How many times do you go deep? (Wait, that’s a back of the card number).
Photo on Pixabay by ruthclark
Kick ‘Em: America’s Funniest Failings and Foul-ups
Maybe it started in the in the early 90’s with America’s Funniest Home Videos. The hit television series has run for 26 years, and became a hit before Reality TV and crowdsourced voting became popular.
We watch others falling down, getting hurt, and making errors. Since then, our society has become quick to kick people when they fall and foul-up. Laughing out loud while they roll on the floor in pain.
I don’t get it.
We can’t blame AFV, really. They simply recognized something popular with the people and presented it for all to see. Though I don’t watch the show, I’m sure they share empathy after the laughter subsides.
In this generation of failure as a spectator sport, what would the priest, the Levite, or the Good Samaratin (Luke 10:30-37) do today?
Human failings can lead to human successes. Instead of mocking and kicking, shouldn’t we practice and speak with encouragement and edification (Eph 4:29)?
Funeral for a Friendly Neighbor
Maybe you’ve seen a game of tag among the neighborhood squirrels. I think it’s a game they play. Sometimes, there is much noise and it seems at times some tempers flare when things get a little rough. When the birds join in, it can get kind of ugly.
As I was driving home recently, I saw one of our furry friends in the road, run over. I paused on the quiet road. I watched as other squirrels came over to the one that passed. Birds landed and watched from the sidewalk as other squirrels gathered on the street.
It was like a service for the one that passed. Those that played and fought stopped for a moment. Something to behold. A funeral for a friendly neighbor. It’s as if the birds supported the squirrels with Rom 12:15 in heart.
I looked up from my teary eyes and saw a lady standing still along the sidewalk, her dog sitting at her side.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
If the animal kingdom can do this (squirrels and birds and dogs together), can’t we too, we people?
Remembering My School Days – and My Mom
Maybe it was because of recent graduations. Perhaps it was remembering my Mom’s upcoming birthday (Arrivederci, Mama). It was probably a home video of my childhood, sent by my younger brother.
The video includes many scenes from my early childhood, back when we kept waving because there was no sound and we were taking moving pictures. Included were a few birthday shots with cake and cousins. And my Mom.
From the video, I captured a still of me and my cousin, Al, posting it on Facebook. That’s probably how the rapid flood of memories began. A few friends from decades ago caught a glimpse and liked the picture. The reconnecting began.
I remembered a certain girl from early childhood. I didn’t know what a crush was back then, but my Mom told me I had one. I connected with my first “crush” on Facebook. There is gladness in my heart for this memory. She is still a beautiful girl. She is also part of a Facebook group from our graduating High School Class. I joined in (with permission).
My face was painted with smiles, then tears. Sorrows, followed by laughter as I went through the posts. Remembering places and faces.
I’ve never been too nostalgic, until this past weekend. I no longer have possession of any of the photos or documents from my past. I have the memories. While hesitant to re-connect with some classmates who hurt me – or with those whom I had hurt – I began to realize how important each and every one of these people and memories are in my life.
I’m glad the reconnecting has begun. I’m glad to look back on these school day memories as valuable. I’m glad for these people and how they’ve grown.
Facebook, to me, is as much a prayer list as anything else. As I scroll through updates, I find myself praying for the person rather than reading their update. I’m grateful my prayer list just got bigger.
Special people, those I grew up with. And my Mom.
What I’m Looking For In My Church
I’ve been in plenty of boring church services. I’ve probably led my share of boring church services.
With as much traveling and moving as I’ve done in life, I’ve visited churches all over the country, coast-to-coast and border-to-border. Recently, we attended five churches in five different states, in five consecutive weeks (busy month).
I’ve seen and overseen many different styles of church services. I know what I want in a church service I’m attending. I want the same thing Christ wants. It’s His church.
That’s what He says in Matt 16:18:
“…upon this rock, I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
He brings me to a place. It’s not my church. The church belongs to Jesus.
If I’m not getting fed … if it’s not my style of music … if someone was a bit aloof or obtuse … if the preaching wasn’t positive … I’ll turn my attention, worship, and prayer to my Lord and heavenly things. As for my presence and attitude, I pray my behavior and conversation is contagious to attract others to Christ. Nothing less.
The church is Jesus’ bride. If I love Jesus, I’ll love the church. Each one I enter. Today, it’s in South Dakota.
Photo on Pixabay by cgcowboy