Five Ingredients or Less: West Virginia Jalepno Poppers

I got this recipe from Woman's Day and thought I would add my own twist!

Ingredients:

4 oz. cream cheese

2 oz sharp cheddar cheese, finely shredded

12 small jalepnos

2 large egg whites

3/4 cup corn meal

3/4 cup groundhog meat (if you cannot find road kill, sausage will do)


Directions:

1. Heat oven to 425°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the cream cheese, groundhog and cheddar. Spoon into a resealable plastic bag and snip off one corner. Cut the jalapeños in half lengthwise, then remove and discard the seeds. Pipe the cheese mixture into the pepper halves.
3. In a second bowl, beat the egg whites until frothy. Place the cornmeal in a shallow bowl. Dip each pepper half in the egg whites, then in the cornmeal, turning and pressing gently to help it adhere. Place the halves cheese-side up on the baking sheet.
4. Bake until the peppers are just tender and the cornmeal is a light golden brown and crisp, 12 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

 SLAP YO PAPPY!

It's a matter of Preception

"The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart." --Psalms 19:8

February is National Heart Month. What a fitting description of a month the celebrates love. This month Woman's day goes in depth about heart disease with risk factors you may or may not realize.

I have already broken some of my resolutions (including writing every day--where does the time go, seriously?) but one that I have kept so far is not smoking. As of today, I am 33 days clean, since I quit on New Year's Eve. I am going to focus on that positive before disclosing (to you and myself) the other risk factors.

It's pretty commonly known that wine, in moderation, is good for your heart. Is it ironic that for smokers, drinking it often a foyer into smoking? The good news is, I have had wine this entire month and I have not succumbed to temptation.

Often we think of God's commandments as a burden. I lived through my twenties ignoring most of the Bible's wisdom. Today, I was sick and stressed, and above of physically drained. I decided to stay in bed and let the day pass by.

Then I thought again. I was tired physically but even more tired of not pushing myself to improve and move forward. I decided the first step was to get up; the second step would be to put makeup on and to perform a few basic errands. By the end of the day, I felt good about myself. I felt good about myself because I did the right thing.

I grow weary of our nation's emphasis on happiness. The banner waved is so often "whatever makes you happy." Whatever happened to "do what's right and eventually the joy in your life will replace old habits and desires?"

Life is hard. The pay off for making good choices is not as immediate. Instant gratification is easier.

I look back at the list of avoiding heart disease: eat right, stop smoking, exercise, use restraint. I think of the Lord's precepts: be honest, work hard, love your enemies, persevere.

I would like 2012 to be a year where my heart, all around, is the strongest ever.