Monthly Archives: February 2015

Thai Coconut Soup

19 Thursday Feb 2015

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There is a Thai restaurant in Kansas City that has the BEST Thai Coconut Soup. Liz and I would go there probably once a week when I lived there. And I always got the soup. Its amazing. This is a very close reproduction. Although with the panang curry paste I used, it comes out a bit more red in color than the original. Still. It is delicious. I love it so much. I’ve already made two batches this week because it is freezing cold here and soup is a wonderful thing to have when you’re cold!

Thai Coconut Soup

42 oz. coconut milk (I used 1 14 oz can regular, and 28oz of silk coconut milk)
4 cups vegetable broth
1 pound chicken, shreaded
1 large lemongrass stalk, chopped into 1-inch pieces (I didn’t find this at the store so I skipped it)
2 Tbsp ginger, freshly grated
3 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp curry paste (I used panang curry paste)
3 Tbsp soy sauce
8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
3-4 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped
salt or soy sauce to taste

Add more curry paste if you want it spicier

Add 1T of honey if you want it sweeter

1. Place all ingredients, except the fresh cilantro and mushrooms, into the slow cooker, and cook on high for 3-4 hours, or on low for 6-7. I did this in a dutch oven on the stove. I don’t have a crock pot.

2. Add the mushrooms during the last 20 minutes of cooking, and top with cilantro when serving.

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Valiant

19 Thursday Feb 2015

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A friend recently challenged me to pick a word for my year. A word that would help keep me on track and help point me towards my goals. I’ve been thinking about it for a few weeks. It seems like a big deal. How do I know how the whole year will go? How do I know if my word will still be relative six months from now? Nonetheless, I started making lists. That’s how I am. A list person. I asked myself some questions.

1. What do I want to achieve?

2. What am I doing badly or poorly?

3. What can I improve?

And I just started writing. I want to live boldly. I don’t want to waste time. I want to do things for the right reasons, not because I feel bad or think I’ll make someone upset. I’ve been a people pleaser my whole life and I’m pretty sick of it actually. I want to break free from bondage. I want to live my life to the fullest. I don’t want to worry about other people’s opinions. I want to boldly take control of my life. I want to accomplish things. I want to do things that matter.

Then I started looking at a thesaurus and a dictionary. Freedom. Boldness. Break free. Fullness. …

Valiant

Valiant: Possessing or acting with bravery or boldness; carried out with courage or determination. To be of worth. To be strong, stalwart & brave.

So this is the year that I will be valiant. I will act with bravery and boldness. I will have courage and determination. This is the year I publish my book. I will value myself, because I have worth. This is the year I run my first race. I am strong, and I am brave. This is the year I travel to places I’ve always wanted to go.

What’s your word?

I’m not a breakfast person

14 Saturday Feb 2015

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I have been trying to stick to the paleo diet for a few weeks now. That means no dairy, grains, or sugar. I’m being super strict about it at home, but not so strict when I go to people’s houses or out to eat. Although going out to eat isn’t so difficult if you know what to look for. I think because I love cooking and baking this is a fun challenge for me. Trying to make up or discover recipes that are free of dairy, grains and sugar is like a scavenger hunt or a weird science experiment. Some things turn out horrible, and some amazing. I’ll try to share my favorite recipes. But for today, here is my first big realization while living the paleo lifestyle.

Realization #1: I am not a breakfast person.

While people blog about their many wondrous breakfast discoveries. I look at them and try not to gag. Sweet potato for breakfast? avocado with an egg in it? Vegetable stir fry? Seriously? Give me a cup of coffee and I’m good until 2pm. And I don’t care if Mr. Paleo doesn’t want me to drink coffee. I’m never giving it up. (maybe that is my realization #2. I’m a coffee addict) This morning (who are we kidding, it was 11am, but that’s when I got up, so it was breakfast) I sat down with two beautiful fried eggs, a piece of crispy bacon on a weird grain/dairy/sugar free taco shell/crepe/pancake situation, all topped with fresh chopped cilantro and drizzled in siracha. Sounds amazing right? It was beautiful. I ate less than half of it. Gag me. My stomach revolts at that much rich flavor in the morning.

So I’m officially giving up breakfast. No more of that junk for me. I mean this is my life right? I’m not going to be a legalistic diet follower. I need to do what works for me. Maybe I can work in a smoothie or some juice or a piece of fruit in the morning, but no more of this sweet potato avocado brussels sprouts pepper zucchini ridiculousness. I’m happy if that works for you. But for today I am officially declaring I’m NOT a breakfast person! 

Anyone else feel this strongly about breakfast? Any great tips or ideas? Let me know!

What kind of writer am I?

10 Tuesday Feb 2015

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I am happy to tell you that I have my writing team assembled! I am so excited because I have some pretty amazing people backing me up and helping me on this journey! Week 1 is done and on to the next!

One of my writing assignments this week is to determine my field of expertise. I had to ask my team what kind of expert they see me as, and then ask a few others to describe what kind of writer they view me as. I thought who better to ask than the people who read my blog.

Why do you read my blog? Why do you listen to me? What kind of writer do you view me as? And what kind of expert do you think I am?

So far I’ve gotten some pretty humbling answers. It’s always hard to ask for feedback about yourself but when you have people telling you that they think you are an amazing expert at _____ its humbling. This assignment has been an exercise in humility but also a huge encouragement and boost that is really helping me to feel like I CAN write this book. I CAN do this!

Thanks for your feedback!

Story of God

09 Monday Feb 2015

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My sister and her husband are embarking on a new journey. Colton is going to be the audio/visual manager for the amazing group of people performing The Story of God. He made this teaser trailer and I just wanted to share it with all of you. They will be touring the country starting in April and I am so excited for them. It is going to be beautiful! Check it out!

http://www.storyofgod.com

in a different light

09 Monday Feb 2015

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The property manager at my apartment complex is a grump.

She is never helpful. Never kind. Never available. She is very frustrating and I hesitate to ask for work to be done in my apartment because I just don’t feel like dealing with her. The other day I went into the office to ask her to put in a work order for something and she was her normal grumpy self. But I sat down and asked her how her weekend was going and she talked for 20 minutes. I didn’t even say anything. She just talked and talked and talked.

Now whenever I even enter the building she lights up, waves, yells hello.

Guys. What a change! As I was walking out of the laundry room today after a brief happy conversation with her, I had a crazy thought, I was nice to her ONE time. I sat down and listened to her ONE time. And she is completely changed. She was so hard to get along with. So grumpy. I was so resistant to even talking to her. I judged her for her bad attitude while all the while I was also having an unforgiving and equally bad attitude. All it took was 20 minutes for a complete turnaround. We’re almost friends.

How often do we miss these opportunities? How often do we grit our teeth and say “that person is so grumpy” or “that person is so hard to get along with” and we don’t even try to be pleasant or listen to what’s going on with them. I’m not saying this will work in every circumstance. But I think I need to start going a bit out of my way to reach out and be nice to people. You never know what will happen.

author launch

04 Wednesday Feb 2015

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Well friends, today is the day it starts! I signed up for a writing class and I am stoked! It is already a bit overwhelming, but I can’t wait to get started. The end goal is a finished book and I am looking forward to having people keep me on track and push me to actually publish my first book! The homework for this week is to assemble a team. I need to find a dreamer, a writer, an editor, and a marketer. I’ve been brainstorming some ideas but I am still trying to figure out who I need to be on my team. The point of the team is to have a group of people who encourage me and can provide feedback and constructive criticism while giving me ideas and pushing me to be a better writer! I feel like choosing these people is hugely important. If you have any great ideas for me let me know! I’ll keep you updated on my progress! On my way to becoming an author!

come as you are

02 Monday Feb 2015

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Since Passion two weeks ago this song has been swirling around in my head. I just love the line Earth has no sorrow that heaven can’t heal. It’s a promise I’ve been clinging to. Through hard times, we can lay our burdens down at Jesus’ feet. We can come as we are. We can be rescued, and healed. We can find hope and joy.

Come as you are…

Come out of sadness
From wherever you’ve been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are

There’s hope for the hopeless
And all those who’ve strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There’s rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t cure

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There’s joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can’t heal

So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You’re not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are

Take Me To Church

02 Monday Feb 2015

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1 bajillion answers to prayer here. New blog from my brother who just ran into Jesus.

petedimartino

  • Today marks the 5th Sunday in a row that I have gone to church willingly ever in my life. 2015 is the year that I have begun to no longer live for myself. I have been running away from God my entire life. I got to my lowest point (or so I thought) around the end of December. A series of events, conversations and realizations got me to the point that brought me back to God. I felt like such an idiot that it took as long as it did for me to figure out that my unhappiness stemmed from my resistance to God. But I started out 2015 with a renewed sense of hope and an optimism that I haven’t had in a very long time.
  • From 2004 – 2014 I read right around 3 books, I had about 5 conversations with God, I went to church 3 times…

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