A few weeks ago I began a study on faith, what it is to walk in the Lord's way and the role faith plays in this journey. When asked if I had faith I thought: Sure I have faith! I'm a Catholic for crying out loud. And then I began to read Hebrews 11:1 "Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen." Well duh! I don't see God so obviously...boy was I in for a surprise.
In order to understand what faith is I had to rule out what faith IS NOT.
Faith is not positive thinking or believing (oops!, big scratch on my definition of faith)
Faith is not a hunch (really? Then how else does God speak to me?)
Faith is not hoping for the best (what do you mean? If I trust God shouldn't I hope for the best?)
Faith is not cognitive knowledge ("I know you can do it" type thinking)
Faith is not just having faith
So what is faith?
Join me in this journey of faith. I will be blogging about it regularly as I grow in mine.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Saturday, April 27, 2013
April recipe challenge: Tempeh Chile Colorado
Chile Colorado is perhaps my default recipe when I'm craving beef. It is a simple recipe but a slow cooking process brings out the flavors of this dish. I typically make this recipe with 1lb of stew meat and I add either beans, greens, or both to make it go further. Stew meat is inherently boneless and quite lean, so most of the flavor comes from the sauce. It was therefore quite simple to veganize. The original recipe is simmered for up to 4 hours (or overnight!) depending on the cut of meat used. This version was on the table in less than an hour from start to finish. So, without further ado, here it is:
Tempeh Chile Colorado
Ingredients
2 packages of organic tempeh, cut into 1 inch cubes
6 to 8 Guajillo chiles
1 large onion, quartered
10 garlic cloves
2 cups of chopped tomatoes (tomato sauce works too, but refrain from using canned tomatoes)
1/4 cup dry red wine
1TB Olive Oil
2 cups of boiling water
1qt of high quality vegetable broth
1tb Mexican oregano
Salt and pepper
Optional: 1 large bunch of Dino kale, chopped
Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or dutch oven and brown tempeh on all sides. Pour in vegetable broth, cover and bring to a slow simmer. Turn heat way down.
2. In a small skillet toast chiles until fragrant. Immerse in boiling water and let sit for 20 minutes.
3. Blend together chiles (reserve soaking liquid), tomatoes, onion, garlic, wine, and oregano until smooth.
4. Pour mixture in with the tempeh and bring to soft boil. Lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add Dino kale and taste for seasoning. At this point you may add the chiles soaking liquid if you feel the dish is too dry. It shouldn't be a soup but there should be plenty of sauce. Add salt and pepper as needed.
6. Serve with beans, fresh chopped cilantro and tortillas.
Enjoy
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Tempeh Chile Colorado
Ingredients
2 packages of organic tempeh, cut into 1 inch cubes
6 to 8 Guajillo chiles
1 large onion, quartered
10 garlic cloves
2 cups of chopped tomatoes (tomato sauce works too, but refrain from using canned tomatoes)
1/4 cup dry red wine
1TB Olive Oil
2 cups of boiling water
1qt of high quality vegetable broth
1tb Mexican oregano
Salt and pepper
Optional: 1 large bunch of Dino kale, chopped
Directions
1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or dutch oven and brown tempeh on all sides. Pour in vegetable broth, cover and bring to a slow simmer. Turn heat way down.
2. In a small skillet toast chiles until fragrant. Immerse in boiling water and let sit for 20 minutes.
3. Blend together chiles (reserve soaking liquid), tomatoes, onion, garlic, wine, and oregano until smooth.
4. Pour mixture in with the tempeh and bring to soft boil. Lower heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add Dino kale and taste for seasoning. At this point you may add the chiles soaking liquid if you feel the dish is too dry. It shouldn't be a soup but there should be plenty of sauce. Add salt and pepper as needed.
6. Serve with beans, fresh chopped cilantro and tortillas.
Enjoy
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
April 26th, 2013
Thankful that my honey is able to coop at our sons school and that he enjoys it so much. As an added bonus Isaac's teacher likes having him. In her words: "he keeps a tight ship" I'm not surprised.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
Monday, April 22, 2013
Dazed and confused...about diet, exercise, body image and more
I haven't written a personal entry on this blog in quite some time. I'm feeling a bit more private these days, but also I'm super challenged finding time to do all that I want to do, so blogging has taken a back seat. I'm motivated to write this post because I need thinking space, a sounding board, or to let out a simple rant if you will. It is on the long side so bear with me...
I've been fighting demons in my head for quite some time (different demons!). Today I came to the realization that I don't know what to believe anymore and this makes me very uneasy. For years I've been following a healthy eating plan, exercising regularly, and keeping a good balance in life. I love food and I don't like the idea of being restricted of any one thing. I find that all things in moderation are fine, assuming you don't have a life-altering autoimmune or chronic disease that would prevent you from it. I haven't battled my weight in years. Before children I actually quite liked the way I looked (I will get to the post children effect). I still don't consider myself to have weight issues, but I've started to question everything I eat and the way I exercise. Since both of these are such an important part of my life this confusion has me in pins and needles. And with good reason!
If you have known me for any period of time you know that I don't subscribe to isms. We eat a well balanced diet, plant based would be a good way to describe it, but we enjoy some animal protein as well. On a given week we will eat 3 or 4 vegan meals. These typically consist of grain, legumes, and vegetables. Both my husband and I agree that our bodies feel better this way (in our past life we could ingest a cow a week if allowed). This way of eating also goes in line with our values for sustainability and conservation. I don't know if you have seen my husband recently but he's looking hotter than ever. He has slimmed down and his energy levels are up. My weight has been consistently the same but I feel "lighter" both inside and out. I feel my best when I eat less meat. Period. But since I'm anemic I can't completely cut it out, and quite honestly I don't want to. Food is a big part of culture for me and I would hate to miss out but restricting any one food group from my diet.
So this takes me to my next point. I don't know if you have noticed but as of late everything that we thought was "good" for us is being questioned by "science." All of a sudden grains, legumes, dairy, beef, and even seafood are killing us. They are promoting inflammation, causing leaky guts, depriving us from nutrients, and thus, should be avoided at all cost. What??? So, what can we eat? I don't know about you but if dare put myself on a lettuce diet I will be chopping someone's head very soon. On a given day I am bombarded by messages that tell me to stop eating grains (Paleo) to cut out meat and dairy (veg news) and that running is affecting my hormones so I should stop that too. Ah! I try to dissect the information I hear. I look for the things that benefit me and I push all other info aside. I've been doing this for about a year. But then...
I'm not feeling so good about myself these days (violin plays in the background). No, seriously. My health is very good, my energy levels better than ever, my anxiety levels are for the most part under check (I work on this consistently!). But I don't like the way I look. There, I said it. My weight is not the problem, my belly is. I have the full on mommy pooch and I hate it. I've had to cut out most abdominal work lately because of a condition called diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles) that was causing me a lot of back pain. I exercise regularly, I eat well, but I just can't seem to get rid of this pooch, and I probably never will. So! Then I begin to question all that I eat and drink. I eat most things in moderation and my body seems to like my diet. So why am I doubting? Because I'm being bombarded with conflicting messages and I can't shut the noise out anymore. I'm at the end of my rope with this. Short of shutting myself from all outside influences I need to learn to work with my resources.
I'm looking for a sympathetic ear, a person (or group of people) with like-minded views on food and nutrition. I know you are out there! If you believe that food is a sacred gift from God, specifically that grains and legumes aren't lethal. That you eat these in moderation as well as most other food groups, I'd love to hear from you. I need to stop obsessing about this flaw of mine and start loving my body once again. It is a powerful machine. It so amazes me sometimes and I should never take it for granted. I need your help.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
I've been fighting demons in my head for quite some time (different demons!). Today I came to the realization that I don't know what to believe anymore and this makes me very uneasy. For years I've been following a healthy eating plan, exercising regularly, and keeping a good balance in life. I love food and I don't like the idea of being restricted of any one thing. I find that all things in moderation are fine, assuming you don't have a life-altering autoimmune or chronic disease that would prevent you from it. I haven't battled my weight in years. Before children I actually quite liked the way I looked (I will get to the post children effect). I still don't consider myself to have weight issues, but I've started to question everything I eat and the way I exercise. Since both of these are such an important part of my life this confusion has me in pins and needles. And with good reason!
If you have known me for any period of time you know that I don't subscribe to isms. We eat a well balanced diet, plant based would be a good way to describe it, but we enjoy some animal protein as well. On a given week we will eat 3 or 4 vegan meals. These typically consist of grain, legumes, and vegetables. Both my husband and I agree that our bodies feel better this way (in our past life we could ingest a cow a week if allowed). This way of eating also goes in line with our values for sustainability and conservation. I don't know if you have seen my husband recently but he's looking hotter than ever. He has slimmed down and his energy levels are up. My weight has been consistently the same but I feel "lighter" both inside and out. I feel my best when I eat less meat. Period. But since I'm anemic I can't completely cut it out, and quite honestly I don't want to. Food is a big part of culture for me and I would hate to miss out but restricting any one food group from my diet.
So this takes me to my next point. I don't know if you have noticed but as of late everything that we thought was "good" for us is being questioned by "science." All of a sudden grains, legumes, dairy, beef, and even seafood are killing us. They are promoting inflammation, causing leaky guts, depriving us from nutrients, and thus, should be avoided at all cost. What??? So, what can we eat? I don't know about you but if dare put myself on a lettuce diet I will be chopping someone's head very soon. On a given day I am bombarded by messages that tell me to stop eating grains (Paleo) to cut out meat and dairy (veg news) and that running is affecting my hormones so I should stop that too. Ah! I try to dissect the information I hear. I look for the things that benefit me and I push all other info aside. I've been doing this for about a year. But then...
I'm not feeling so good about myself these days (violin plays in the background). No, seriously. My health is very good, my energy levels better than ever, my anxiety levels are for the most part under check (I work on this consistently!). But I don't like the way I look. There, I said it. My weight is not the problem, my belly is. I have the full on mommy pooch and I hate it. I've had to cut out most abdominal work lately because of a condition called diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles) that was causing me a lot of back pain. I exercise regularly, I eat well, but I just can't seem to get rid of this pooch, and I probably never will. So! Then I begin to question all that I eat and drink. I eat most things in moderation and my body seems to like my diet. So why am I doubting? Because I'm being bombarded with conflicting messages and I can't shut the noise out anymore. I'm at the end of my rope with this. Short of shutting myself from all outside influences I need to learn to work with my resources.
I'm looking for a sympathetic ear, a person (or group of people) with like-minded views on food and nutrition. I know you are out there! If you believe that food is a sacred gift from God, specifically that grains and legumes aren't lethal. That you eat these in moderation as well as most other food groups, I'd love to hear from you. I need to stop obsessing about this flaw of mine and start loving my body once again. It is a powerful machine. It so amazes me sometimes and I should never take it for granted. I need your help.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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