tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89479957519751675192024-03-27T13:44:16.159-04:00Screw Lucy ReviewsI've been Screw Lucy since my 20's (I have a screw loose...). I've been in sales for over 20 years and all my reviews are NOT sponsored--I choose the products, services, etc, independently so everything I say is completely honest--and sometimes funny. I am a progressive Christian, a mother, a wife, and an estate broker. I believe in what Zig Ziglar said: you can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-33411619698964142912020-02-20T11:21:00.000-05:002020-02-20T11:42:36.793-05:0043 CBDelightful I enter sweepstakes from time to time (by that, I mean for hours at a time daily) so earlier this month, I won a prize pack from <a href="http://43cbd.com/">43CBD.com</a>, a retailer from Colorado who distributes various CBD products. I was psyched to hear the news, since I've tried CBD products one other time last year from <a href="https://www.apismercantile.com/">Apis Merchantile</a>. Our super friends the Beckers know that I struggle with generalized anxiety, so they gave me a jar of CBD honey (their nephew owns the company). I've known for years that the THC in marijuana could help immensely with pain, depression, and appetite (among other things) but I was interested in investing in products that could help with health without the high of THC.<br />
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The experience went something like this an hour after my husband and I took a heaping spoonful:<br />
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<b>Chuck: (standing in front of me with his hands on his hips) "Do you feel something? I feel something. Something's different."</b><br />
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<b>Me: "Man, I was just about to say the exact same thing. I feel chill. Do you feel chill?</b><br />
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<b>Chuck: "Man, something's different."</b><br />
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<b>Me: "Man I know. Right on, you know?"</b><br />
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I'm on a low dose of Clonapen for anxiety and on this occasion, I felt like the CBD helped more than the medication. So I wondered, would all CBD products have a similar effect?<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Here's the Deal</u></b></span><br />
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I won the Full Spectrum 500 MG Hemp Oil Tincture, 750 MG Cannabidiol Vegan Capsules, and the 300 MG CBD Salve.<br />
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So...one of the first things I learned about this product was its price point, since I didn't buy it. I literally cussed out loud when I visited the oil products because the first one I saw was $150 and the last thing I spent more than $100 on was a smart TV and that's because my husband absolutely insisted we have one. I can have a hard time letting go of money. I noticed that the oil I won was at a price point of $45, which would be affordable if I felt it was a great benefit to me. I checked Amazon and Google and observed that this price point is competitive with a number of oils on the market. The capsules were $65 and the salve was $45 although they sell higher strength salves for $75. </div>
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Initially I felt like <a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-vs-thc">if you blaze up</a>, it would be a more thrifty advantage to just stick to your gonja, unless you really need a solution for your health problems while you're at work or caring for children or operating heavy machinery, or...you know...getting a drug test. Of course, some people who are pro-marijuana cannot smoke, like one of my family members who just had heart surgery. Others I know who smoke pot have teenage or young adult children who suffer from anxiety that could benefit from the products, assuming they are potent. So in thinking it through, I decided there are a number of circumstances where CBD would be advantageous compared to smoking marijuana.<br />
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So, is it worth <a href="https://naturalwellnesscbdoil.com/blog/average-cbd-oil-prices/">the cost</a>? Polling Facebook friends, I received a lot of feedback ranging from "not worth the money" to "changed my life." Everyone has different experiences with different products. I, for instance, had a profound experience with vitamin B6 earlier this year. I started a regime, as it was recommended for depression, and within a few weeks, I began to notice a substantial difference. I was getting up early, putting on makeup, doing chores...showering regularly. The nurses at my grandmother's nursing home didn't even recognize me, and I've been going there almost daily for three years. Would everyone have that experience? I have no idea. You know what they say--different folks, different strokes. I still cannot believe there are people out there who don't think "Forrest Gump" was a truly amazing movie...<br />
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For me, if I have heard that a product has helped tremendously with <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/inner-source/201901/cbd-oil-mental-health-should-you-take-it-too">mental health</a>, I have a hard time not investing more time in investigating the claims and recommending the products. My young cousin, who is in her twenties, has struggled with severe OCD and anxiety for years. I remembered her saying something about using CBD last year, so I contacted her to ask her about her experience. The following is her testimonial:</div>
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<span style="text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i style="background-color: white;">I began using CBD to help me with my <b>withdraw from Xanax.</b> I was put on a large amount of Xanax for my anxiety and I was finally tampering off when I heard about CBD. The first CBD product I tried was a 5mg frog gummie. After eating it I immediately felt a sense of calm that I havnt felt in a while because of the Xanax withdrawl. I bought some more gummies and decided to also try some CBD capsules. They helped tremendously with my <a href="https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20190521/could-cbd-treat-opioid-addiction">withdraw</a> and anxiety. From then on I began using CBD everyday from oils, to gummies, to vape juice. I became a much calmer Person and I was able to finally get off of Xanax. Not too long ago I tried the flower, and it was such an amazing feeling. It gives me a <b>sense of calm and euphoria</b>. I was recently diagnosed with panic disorder and I can manage it because of CBD. I feel like CBD came into my life for a reason and it came into it at the perfect time. <b>CBD literally saved me."</b></i></span></span></div>
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Reading the reviews on 43CBD's web site, I noticed similar stories of alleviating anxiety and pain. My cousin pays around $80-$100 a month for her CBD regime and she advised me that it is totally worth it.<br />
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I have <a href="https://www.projectcbd.org/cbd-for/bipolar">bipolar disorder </a>and I'm on the lowest dose of Seroquel daily and Clonapen as needed. Since taking the vitamin B, I haven't needed the Clonapen as much and I honestly cannot remember the last time I refilled it. Although I'm used to the Seroquel now, it used to knock me out at nights. Now, I can go to sleep if I choose to, but I can also stay up late and work.<br />
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The biggest difference for me was taking the oil. The first night I took the maximum dose, expecting a relaxing feeling, and began to work on various projects on my laptop around 11:00 PM. I am usually up until 2:00 AM on nights I work. Within the hour, I had an overwhelming feeling of needing to pass out. I didn't even make it to the bathroom to brush my teeth--I was just out. I tested this a few other times and decided that if I wanted to stay up late, taking the oil was probably not the best idea. I also tested it during the day when my husband came home early in case it had the same effect. I only noted that I felt very mello and calm, but didn't feel at all drowsy.<br />
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I've always been good at sleep (I wish they paid you for that kind of thing), so while I don't feel like it would be something I need, I know a number of people who struggle with sleep and I feel hopeful that it would benefit them. They've tried melatonin (it can give you nightmares), magnesium, and a variety of other natural aids to no avail and won't try prescription drugs because of the side effects (my husband took Ambien and once showed up on the neighbor's lawn at 3 AM with a giant stuffed gorilla). After experiencing this oil, I feel that it's something I could legitimately suggest to loved ones to <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-2018082414476">help them rest.</a><br />
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I didn't have the same experience with the capsules. I passed them out to several friends who also said they didn't feel a significant difference, although one friend did say it helped them to feel relaxed. One afternoon after taking 2 capsules, I did have a peaceful and calm feeling, but I don't feel like I could 100% contribute that to the capsules.<br />
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I used the salve on my husband's back one night. He said he felt like it was relaxing, but one draw back to the salve is that it smells like marijuana, so I wouldn't use it and go to work or out in public. I've read testimonials that say it helps with aches and pains, but my husband and I only have injuries that flair up from time to time and didn't get a chance to use the salve for ailments.<br />
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I know that some people don't give any credit to natural remedies but my experience has been different. Once at a festival, I bought <a href="http://www.thunderridgeemu.com/">emu oil</a> (I have no idea why I did this except...well it was emu oil...what is that even?). One of the claims it made was that it was good for burns. Don't you know a week later, I burned my finger on the stove and it really hurt. I remembered the emu oil and grabbed it from the cabinet. I swear, it instantly made the pain go away. It was absolutely amazing. Since then I have been less skeptical of holistic treatments. I've never had a drug problem, but with the opioid crisis going on (and personally knowing some addicts) I believe that it would be beneficial for people to learn how food and natural plant products can help them with a variety of health issues. My mother cut out gluten and inflammatory foods from her diet a few years ago and it eliminated snoring, restless leg syndrome, and joint pain.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>If the Company was a Person</u></b></span><br />
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I am the type of person that feels if they invest any amount of money on a product, they should research that product and know who they're dealing with and what they offer. I've been in sales and customer service for over 20 years and I own my own business, so when I buy a product or service, I am the customer who will ask questions, browse the website, and read reviews. I travel a lot, so I often use <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/harbor-inn-seafood-lynchburg">Yelp</a> to provide feedback after a hotel stay and 9 times out of 10 I will take the time to give feedback on a restaurant. It gives me joy to offer high praise--especially for a locally owned or smaller business. Of course, I also enjoy giving lower ratings because, generally speaking, the reviews are hilarious and they totally deserved it. I'm definitely a mic drop person.<br />
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I take surveys weekly for cash and one of the questions that is typically asked across the board is something like,"If this business was a person, what personality traits would they have?" Then they give you a list of traits to choose from. On 43CBD's website, the owners encourage customers to call them with questions. I found that impressive, since I own a small business and I don't like to encourage customers to ever call me under any circumstances (just kidding...kind of...). I corresponded with the marketing director on more than several occasions, and he was super helpful.<br />
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Plus one of the owners names is Dontje, and if I can't pronounce someone's name, that automatically makes them cool. I feel like the owners have seen "The Big Labowski" more than a couple of times, that they care about their customers, believe in their products, and that they might like Ben and Jerry's ice cream. I'm not sure what their favorite flavor might be. I'm going to guess Pistachio, Pistachio, because it's green.<br />
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Their website offers a lot of information for people who may be hesitant or skeptical. That includes <a href="https://www.43cbd.com/lab-results">lab results</a>, <a href="https://www.43cbd.com/testimonials">testimonials</a>, and a <a href="https://www.43cbd.com/blog/">blog</a> about different subjects (<a href="https://www.43cbd.com/product/500mg-furry-friends-formula/">pet health</a>, <a href="https://www.43cbd.com/cbd-oil-for-arthritis-pain/">arthritis</a>, <a href="https://www.43cbd.com/cbd-journey-psoriasis-arthritis-anxiety/">psoriasis</a>, <a href="https://www.43cbd.com/athlete-recovery-how-cbd-oil-and-cbd-salve-are-changing-the-game/">athlete recovery</a>, and the <a href="https://www.43cbd.com/what-is-the-difference-between-cbd-and-thc/">differences </a>between CBD and THC). I enjoyed browsing the web site because it was thorough, included a variety of information, and I felt like it was down to earth. It was kind of like a Tinder profile where the person just posts perfectly normal, yet attractive photos without making themselves look like a super model and then they also have a sense of humor about themselves in their blurb. Not that I cruise Tinder or anything but I've heard stories...<br />
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I also learned that it's a product you can give pets who are suffering from anxiety. If they don't eat wet food, you can put it on a treat or administer it directly. We have owned pets who suffer from anxiety, especially during storms or traveling.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>The Summary</u></b></span><br />
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Although it might not be an immediate need for me, my experience with CBD oil is that I would recommend that friends and family try it for anxiety or a sleep aid and--total transparency--we will probably be inviting people over who we know may need it to have them try it. That's what we do with just about everything we buy. I feel like it's kind of a big deal to have us as friends...<br />
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Have something you'd like me to review? Inbox me at adrnlize@aol.com. I know, I know...an AOL account...I still wear Jncos...</div>
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-88217486623806880402020-01-14T16:33:00.003-05:002020-01-14T16:33:46.804-05:00Sees CandyMy family used to buy Sees Candy for Christmas during the holidays when I was a little girl, but since then, I haven't tried their candy, although I have pleasant memories.<br />
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Sees has been around since 1921 starting with Mary See's own <a href="https://www.sees.com/about-us/sees-family/">homemade recipes</a>. We decided to try the <a href="https://www.sees.com/chocolate/fudge/chocolate-walnut-fudge/200884.html?cgid=fudge">chocolate walnut fudge </a>from Mary's original recipe. For the chocolates, we selected the "create your custom mix" option, where you can <a href="https://www.sees.com/build-a-box">choose your own box</a> from a pound to five pounds (and a one pound box in a heart shape--great for Valentine's Day). There are 70 different candies! The selection process was tough, but I'm a nutty woman, so I was leaning towards anything with nuts, although I did choose a few fruit options that were new ideas to me. Here is a list of our mix:<br />
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<ul class="customMix-list" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 0.85em; letter-spacing: 0.5px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Blueberry Truffle</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Almond Square</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Milk Peanut</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Milk Pecan Bud</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dark Almond</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dark Walnut</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Apricot Delight</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Kona Mocha</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dark Raisin</span></li>
<li class="flavor-row" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: block; overflow: hidden;"><span class="flavor-qty" style="box-sizing: border-box; display: inline-block; min-width: 50px;">10%</span> <span class="flavor-name" style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dark Cocoanut</span></li>
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Sees offers a variety of chocolates including milk, dark, and white chocolate. You can select nuts and chews (nuts are my favorite), truffled and soft centers, candy bars, and sugar free options. They also sell brittle and toffee, lollipops, and red and black licorice, and an assortment of other specialty treats, nuts, and fudge. I decided to throw in a bag of their red licorice medals because I enjoy Twizzlers so much.<br />
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Here's a fun fact: the famous "I Love Lucy" episode where Lucy and Ethel get a job at the candy factory? That's Sees! After we got our shipment, I was jealous of their predicament!<br />
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I ordered our shipment on December 31st. Our delivery arrived January 9th in the afternoon via UPS. We took our chocolate over to our friend's house to gift them the fudge and to try the chocolates together.<br />
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Since I'm the nut fan that I am, I was very surprised when my favorite turned out to be the Apricot Delight and the Blueberry Truffle was not far behind. The descriptions really follow through on the promise of their name. The Kona Mocha really tastes like coffee and the Almond Square was made with vanilla caramel, which really came through. We really tore into the box after dinner and after that, it didn't last more than a week!</div>
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I'm very tempted to order again or very strongly hint to my husband that I would like another box for Valentine's Day. </div>
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I would like to share a bag of the red licorice medalions with you! In order to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Junk-Email-Reviews-103370111202136/?modal=admin_todo_tour">enter</a>, join my blog and like, share, and comment on my Sees Candy Facebook post to let me know what else you would like to try! </div>
<br />Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-81682994597196958632017-06-11T17:35:00.002-04:002017-06-11T17:35:37.155-04:00Three Whores and a Gentile Walk Into a Bar...<div style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">
On the umpteenth anniversary of my attempt to read through the Bible I would like to repost this entry I made six years ago on myspace. In short, there are only 4 women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ. One seduced her father-in-law, one was a prostitute, the others an adulteress and a Gentile who were detestable to the Jews. I appreciate this blog on varying levels:</div>
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One of my mom's favorite sermon's was about the four women mentioned in the genealogy of Christ.</div>
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I've always been partial to the acknowledgment, specifically because I've been a bad girl most of my life and have always felt that God almost sort of preferred me that way.</div>
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Here's the repost from a few years back. Hope you glean something from it. If you're not one for reading that much or just aren't interested, at least do me a favor and read what's after the bold print at the bottom. It's one of my all time, favorite true stories:</div>
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A. Tamar</div>
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Her story—unknown to most of us—is found in Genesis 38. Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah who was the son of Jacob, grandson of Abraham. All you need to know is that Judah had a son named Er who married a Gentile woman named . . . Tamar. Er died and his brother Onan rose up to do his brotherly duty by marrying Tamar. But he, too, suddenly died, leaving Tamar both husbandless and childless—a kind of twin curse in those days. So because she was impatient and unwilling to wait for God to supply her need, she hatched a scheme to cause her father-in-law Judah to sleep with her. Her plan was simple: Dressing up as a shrine prostitute, she seduced Judah into sleeping with her, whereupon she became pregnant and gave birth to twin boys—Perez and Zerah. When she confronted Judah with the truth, he said (rightly), "She is more righteous than I." Indeed, no one looks good in this story, which reeks of greed, deception, illegitimacy, prostitution, sexual lust, and even the hint of incest. Whatever you can say about Judah (and it's not very good), you cannot by any stretch of the imagination make Tamar look good. She's only less-bad than her father-in-law. But what she did was evil, wrong and immoral. She truly acted like a prostitute even if she wasn't one by trade. That's all we know about Tamar. There really isn't a happy ending to this story. She's just a footnote in biblical history—and an unsavory one at that. The story of her encounter with Judah is a story of human frailty and weakness—of the sinfulness of human flesh. That people like Judah and Tamar would be included in the line of the Messiah sends a strong message about the pure grace of God. Neither one deserved it, but both are on the list.</div>
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B. Rahab</div>
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We pass now to the second woman on the list—Rahab. Most of us know more about her. In fact, she is almost always mentioned by a certain phrase in the Bible, a phrase most of us know by heart: Rahab the harlot. But that's not all. Rahab was also a Canaanite—who were the hated enemies of Israel. Her most exemplary deed was the telling of a lie. Think about that. A Harlot, a Canaanite and a liar. You wouldn't think she would have much chance of making the list, but there she is.</div>
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Her story is tied in with the larger story of Joshua's conquest of the walled city of Jericho. When Joshua sent spies into the city, Rahab hid them in her house. In exchange for safe passage out of the city, they promised to spare her and her household when the invasion took place. All she had to do was to hang a scarlet cord from her window so the Israelites could identify her house. She agreed, hid the spies, and when the king of Jericho sent messengers asking her to bring out the men, she lied and said they had already left the city (they were hiding on the roof). She let them out of a window with a rope, whereupon they returned to Joshua.</div>
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It's a great story with many lessons, but we mustn't miss the point that Rahab was a harlot. That was her "trade." The men hid there because people would be accustomed to seeing strangers come and go at all hours of the night. We also can't deny the fact that Rahab told a bald-faced lie. Is there anything good we can say about her? Yes! She was a woman of faith. You don't have to take my word for it. Hebrews 11:31 says, "By faith Rahab . . ." She was a believer! And her lie was motivated by her faith!</div>
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When the invasion came, she was spared and in the course of time became the great-great grandmother of King David. A harlot . . . a Canaanite . . . and a liar. Also a woman of faith. She made the list and she's a part of Jesus' family tree.</div>
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C. Ruth</div>
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The most significant point about Ruth is that she, too, was not a Jew. She was in fact from the country of Moab. And that takes us back to Genesis 19 and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. On that dreadful day Lot escaped Sodom with his wife and two daughters. His wife was turned into a pillar of salt, but Lot and his daughters found refuge in a cave. His daughters evidently had been badly affected by their time in Sodom because they conspired to lure their father into sleeping with them. On successive nights they got Lot drunk and slept with him. Both sisters got pregnant and gave birth to sons - one named Moab, the other named Ammon. Those two boys—born of incest—grew up to found nations that would eventually become both incredibly evil as well as bitter enemies of Israel. The Jews hated the Moabites and Ammonites and wanted nothing to do with them.</div>
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The book which bears her name tells of the romance that blossomed between Ruth the Moabitess and Boaz the Israelite. They were a very unlikely couple but in God's providence they were brought together in marriage. They had a son named Obed who had a son named Jesse who had a son named David, making Ruth David's great-grandmother. And that's how a person from the hated nation of Moab entered the line of the Messiah.</div>
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D. Bathsheba</div>
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The last woman is not mentioned by name. She is however clearly identified as the woman "who had been Uriah's wife." The story of Bathsheba's adultery with King David is so well-known that it need not be repeated here. Suffice it to say that adultery was only the beginning. Before the scandal was over it included lying, a royal cover-up, and ultimately murder. As a result the child conceived that night died soon after birth and David's family and his empire began to crumble.</div>
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Eventually David married Bathsheba and they had another son—Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived. Quite a result for a union that began in adultery. There's dirt all over this episode. But don't miss the main point: Bathsheba made the list. Her name isn't there but she is mentioned nonetheless.</div>
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Tamar: Incest, immorality, feigned prostitution, a Gentile</div>
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Rahab: Harlotry, lying, deception, a Canaanite</div>
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Ruth: A woman from Moab—a nation born out of incest</div>
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Bathsheba: Adultery</div>
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Four unlikely women:</div>
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Three are Gentiles</div>
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Three are involved in some form of sexual immorality</div>
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Two are involved in prostitution</div>
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One is an adulteress</div>
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Why would God include women like that in this list? But it's not just the women. Think about Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David. They were sinners, too. Why include people like that?</div>
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I think there are three answers to that question:</div>
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1. He did it to send a message to self-righteous people.</div>
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Matthew was written especially to the Jews. Many of their leaders (the Pharisees in particular) were self-righteous and judgmental toward others. They truly thought they deserved eternal life. What a shock it would be to read this genealogy because it is filled with liars, murderers, thieves, adulterers and harlots. Not a pretty picture. Not a "clean" family tree. This list was a stinging rebuke to that kind of judgmental self-righteousness.</div>
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Do you know what this means? Jesus was born into a sinful family. He came from a long line of sinners.</div>
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2. He did it so that God's grace might be richly displayed.</div>
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If you come from a family like this, you can't exactly boast of your heritage. Sure, your ancestors were rulers and kings, but they were also great sinners.</div>
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Question: Can a prostitute go to heaven? Yes or no? Can an adulterer go to heaven? Can a murderer go to heaven? Can a liar go to heaven? You'd better say yes, because Rahab and David are both going to be in heaven—and Rahab was a prostitute and a liar and David was an adulterer and a murderer.</div>
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When you read the stories of these four women—and of the men on the list—you aren't supposed to focus on the sin, but on the grace of God. The hero of this story is God. His grace shines through the blackest of human sin as he chooses flawed men and women and places them in Jesus' family tree.</div>
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3. He did it so that we would focus on Jesus Christ.</div>
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Many people are intimidated by Jesus Christ. They hook him up with a lot of religious paraphernalia—big sanctuaries, stained glass, beautiful choir, pipe organs, formal prayers, and all the rest. When they look at the trappings, it's all very intimidating to them. To many in the world today, Jesus seems too good to be true.</div>
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This genealogy is in the Bible to let us know that he had a background a lot like yours and mine. He called himself "the friend of sinners," and he said he didn't come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.</div>
Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-84377216832641456562017-05-10T15:02:00.000-04:002017-05-10T15:02:34.326-04:00Sally: Part 2 <div>
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">As Sally finishes her timeline, we come to a question that will apply to all of us, regardless of the various levels of opinions or thoughtful input we might have about her truths and lies. It is one we've all considered at some level at a point in our lives:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>When did "It" become Sally's fault and how is she responsible for her own suffering?</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">We have all sat with a Sally at any given point in our lives. Sally may be a parent, a spouse, a friend, a church member. We have listened within a moment of time hearing Sally's problems and we have either thought or said,"It is your fault. You need to get over it. You are causing the problems in your life."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">No reasonable person would look at seven-year-old Sally and tell her that her poor choices caused her suffering. But she could've called 911. She could've confided in a teacher. If she would have done those things, then perhaps she wouldn't have had to raise her siblings. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Then what? Foster care? Parental retaliation? It would seem that in the timelines of many there are the "what-ifs" that cause the most frustration either because we'll never know what might have happened or we acknowledge that in choosing another path, suffering was inevitable either way. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Let's go back to the original question--was Sally responsible for the care of her younger siblings? Factually, yes she was. She became the caretaker. Intrinsically, was she responsible? No one would ever put the responsibility of other children primarily upon their siblings, but it was a difficult choice made by a fearful seven-year-old. As we are forced to consider her timeline we recognize that she was betrayed by her parents, that she must have lived in constant anxiety of someone finding out what was going on at home, and as the caretaker of her siblings often neglected her own needs. She would have also had to rely on her parents in some measure as she could not pay bills, buy food, or operate the washing machine, stove, or any other number of appliances. Instead they often went to school hungry and dirty, welcoming ridicule and more suffering. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">What lie did Sally internalize at a young age? <b>I am responsible for my siblings</b>. I can't buy food. I can't wash clothes. It is my fault they are hungry and dirty and when they are bullied, that is my fault too. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">As Sally details her timeline, she recalls other painful moments that stem from the years of neglect. The helplessness that arrives when you cannot stop an adult from molesting you or your siblings. The anger and outrage in the aftermath when it is your own mother who welcomed in the abuser and denies the abuse occurred. The guilt and disgust felt when you are faced with betraying a parent's secrets or revealing them only to endure the terrifying unknown. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">When lies produce negative emotions, these emotions solicit more negative emotions that help feed the lie. They also produce unhealthy oaths that we use to reinforce the lie's destructive path. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sally's negative emotions caused by years of neglect and abuse were fear, helplessness, anger, depression and outrage. As a result, the oath she made to help protect herself became close to her as her only ammunition in a world of chaos and disorder:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b>I will never allow anyone to hurt my siblings like that again.</b> </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">This oath gave Sally a feeling of empowerment. She was older now. She received praise from her teachers concerning her academics. She was smart--too smart to allow drugs and alcohol to overtake her life and hurt the ones she was supposed to love. She could work and take advanced classes--just like she could mother young children and still go to school and get good grades. She would show everyone. She would prove that she was capable.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">And Sally did achieve great things. She never did drugs. She never got pregnant. She earned her scholarships. She married a man who did not abuse or abandon her. These are tremendous accomplishments given Sally's history. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">So why is Sally almost 30 years old and still terribly depressed and unfulfilled?</span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sally at 30 shares her frustration, anger, and sadness. It falls on deaf ears. Why is an adult woman still caring for her adult siblings? We would readily give love and compassion to the seven-year-old who lived in constant fear and neglect. When Sally the adult comes to us with her brokenness, it is time to tell her she needs to leave the past behind and move on. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Sally believed the lie and made the oath. Therefore when her siblings continue to make mistakes and suffer, she relives the failure--and all the emotions that accompany them. If Sally does not accept her brother at 3 AM, drunk and on a methadone binge, he might get arrested. He might crash his car. He might find more drugs and overdose. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">And it would be all her fault. She knows that it disrupts her family, which causes more guilt. In her anger as a child and young adult she vowed she would never let them feel that pain again. Now she is hurting the people who love and need her the most--the ones who need her in a healthy, appropriate context. She is failing everyone, including herself. And she is isolated because no one really understands. They reinforce what she already knows--it's all her fault. No matter what she does, she can't win. She is tired of the failure. She is ready to finally give up as depression, uncertainty, and hopelessness take hold.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is why as we write our own timelines, <b>we will be asking God to show us through each word, each event, each struggle and moment of pain, what lies we believed, what oaths we may have pledged, and rely on Him to mend our brokenness.</b> It is God who has seen each moment. It is God alone who can address the most painful wounds we carry for ourselves or on behalf of others. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">This is also why as we journey with one another through healing and restoration, <b>we will never have to address how Sally or anyone else is to blame.</b> Each will be accountable for their own journey. Each will focus on their own pain and suffering, their own shortcomings, and their own sin. As we seek God to deliver us from the issues we have failed to address, we will allow Him to direct and guide us through our own faults, and rely on Him to show us where forgiveness, repentance, confession, and truth meet practicality. <b>We will trust God to address our wounds in love and compassion. </b></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Our role in the healing and restoration of others is not to establish blame and punishment--it is to pray, to encourage, and to ask God how our own attitudes are blocking our opportunities to help other broken people find wholeness. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">Questions:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">If Sally renounces the lies in her past to embrace the truth, what do you think she would say to herself as a 7-year-old? As a 17-year-old? What compassionate, encouraging words would she have for herself now?</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">What do you think is more difficult for Sally--to realize the lies she's believed about her mother or the truths? What are the lies and what are the truths? What are the judgments? </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="background-color: white;">What are some of the lies we believe about forgiving others? What are the emotions we experience as we consider forgiving the people who have caused us the most pain or who have caused pain in the lives of loved ones? </span></span></div>
Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-59574388456588096312017-05-10T13:14:00.001-04:002017-05-10T13:14:16.762-04:00Sally: Part 1 Sally is the oldest of four children. As she began to construct her personal timeline, she was asked,"Start at the beginning--whatever the beginning is for you--and as far back as you can remember, begin documenting the events that were meaningful in your life. It's important that you don't follow the direction that others might feel are important--a graduation, a marriage, a birth. It's important that you recall what events or circumstances were important to you."<br />
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Sally's father left when she was seven and her mother started abusing drugs and alcohol. Sally recalls getting up for school one day, while her mother was passed out with a stranger, and her two younger siblings were on the kitchen floor eating dog kibble from the pet bowl. That was the first of many days she would be responsible for dressing herself and her younger siblings, fixing breakfast and school lunch (when there was food in the house), and ensuring the babies had a bottle and were changed before getting on the bus.<br />
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Let's stop here to ask a few questions about Sally's timeline:<br />
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<i><b>Was she responsible for the care of the younger children?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>What do you think was her inner dialogue as a seven-year-old child during school hours?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>What was her inner dialogue concerning the truth about her parents? How did it relate to her and her siblings specifically? How did it inform her decisions?</b></i><br />
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Fast forward ten years and Sally has not only "assisted" in raising her siblings but is about to graduate High School with several scholarship offers to universities. As she constructs her timeline she recalls her graduation, not just because it is a life-marker for most of us, but for her it is a unique demonstration of her hard work and effort despite all odds and statistics.<br />
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Several years prior, Sally's mother entered a drug and alcohol program which was successful. She got remarried to a man who, although not perfect, was supportive to her mother as well as her brothers and sisters. At a glance, we are happy for Sally's accomplishments given her revelations about her childhood.<br />
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Let's stop here to ask a few questions about Sally's timeline:<br />
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<i><b>What has been Sally's dialogue about her mother during all the years she has raised her siblings?</b></i><br />
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<i><b>How has that inner dialogue colored her perception of her mother's ability to raise the remaining siblings? </b></i><br />
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<i><b>What emotions did Sally internalize in her youth that are still her personal truths as she considers graduation and leaving home?</b></i><br />
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As Sally continues her timeline she shares some of the struggles in her first semester. She places a marker on her timeline near the end of her second semester because that is when her younger brother got into trouble at school, endangering another youth to begin a lengthy record he would continue to have with law enforcement.<br />
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Sally left college to go home and intervene. She never returned.<br />
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Sally had finally earned the opportunity to go out on her own and enjoy the rewards of her hard work. She was free of the stressful circumstances at home. College would be difficult, but certainly could not be as difficult as a child alone, raising other children.<br />
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<i><b>What lies did Sally believe that would cause her to interrupt her life in order to leave behind an open door to freedom and opportunity?</b></i><br />
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Sally recalls meeting her husband at age 25. She finally met someone that loved her for who she was and was joyful that her oldest sibling Mary was her maid of honor. He realized she had some family problems, but remained supportive for the most part. She got a decent job working at a bank and they started talking about having their own family.<br />
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It is now four years into their marriage and Sally's husband, who already has an elementary age child from another relationship, is frustrated by the continual drama her siblings initiate but is even more hurt and confused when Sally drops everything to run to their assistance. She's an intelligent woman--why can't she see that her youngest brother has a drug problem and that it's affecting their marriage? He's stolen money from them (which Sally tried to hide from her husband), he's brought drugs in the house. The police have shown up at all hours of the morning when he has to be up at 6 AM. How does she think they will have a baby and continue to enable the bad behaviors of her family? Can't she see that she's compromising his relationship to his own existing son?<br />
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Sally makes the last tick on her timeline. She and her husband have separated.<br />
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From the minimal examples listed before, what is the most likely to be Sally's inner dialogue at this point in her life and why? Feel free to make up your own:<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"Why do bad things always happen to me?"</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"People like me don't deserve to be happy."</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"If (a person or people) would just do this (whatever "this" may be), I could have a normal life." </b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"It's my fault that (parents, children, spouse, etc) are suffering. They would be better off without me."</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"No one ever listens to me."</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"It's too difficult to try to change now."</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"If I forgive (parent, spouse, abuser, etc) they will get away with what they've done and my pain will continue without vindication." </b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"People never love me as much as I love them."</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"If I wouldn't have made that mistake, my life would be different. My suffering is my fault. I have gotten what I deserved."</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"You can't trust anyone because people will just hurt you."</b></i><br style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;" /><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b><br /></b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"></span><i style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px;"><b>"If I don't take care of it, no one else will."</b></i><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white;">Based on what we know of Sally so far from her timeline, what are the possible "truths" accepted by her siblings, her mother, her peers, and her husband about her? </span></span><br />
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<br />Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-73045055434643578472017-05-10T11:29:00.002-04:002017-05-10T11:29:43.237-04:00Just Getting Over ItAt some point in our lives, all of us have likely heard or said this phrase:<br />
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<b>"Just get OVER it!"</b><br />
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If you're on the receiving end of this phrase, regardless of what "it" may be, you're probably aware of how damaging those words can be.<br />
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More often than not, we do not have the capacity to "just get over it." Because it is painful. It is angering. It is wrong. And it won't go away.<br />
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The It is a wound. People, events in our past, and even our own beliefs that stem from It then start to contribute to the It as if it were a pet. It is fed. It grows. It takes up more space. It metastasizes and even becomes part of our identity so that the idea of parting with It is even more frightening than living with It the rest of our lives.<br />
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We all have our version of It. It robs us of our self esteem. It causes problems in our marriage. It makes us angry and resentful at family, friends, and God. It has taken control of our thoughts, beliefs, and actions and has left part of us in a cage.<br />
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As we begin to construct our own timeline of our lives, we'll begin to make discoveries. Our goal is to not only document and consider the facts about what have happened to us, what we've done, or what we haven't done, but to thoroughly attain a deep understanding of the underlying emotions, consequences, and wounds that are still affecting our ability to obtain freedom.<br />
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<b>What lies have we learned and embraced as we've navigated life within our own unique circumstances and experiences? </b><br />
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It is inevitable that whether we are a group of 5 or 25, we have shared several life experiences that have caused wounds: grief, suffering, anger. <b>We all have an inner dialogue.</b> It may sound something like this:<br />
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<i><b>"Why do bad things always happen to me?"</b></i><br />
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<i><b>"People like me don't deserve to be happy."</b></i><br />
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<i><b>"If (a person or people) would just do this (whatever "this" may be), I could have a normal life." </b></i><br />
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<i><b>"It's my fault that (parents, children, spouse, etc) are suffering. They would be better off without me."</b></i><br />
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<i><b>"No one ever listens to me."</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"It's too difficult to try to change now."</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"If I forgive (parent, spouse, abuser, etc) they will get away with what they've done and my pain will continue without vindication." </b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"People never love me as much as I love them."</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"If I wouldn't have made that mistake, my life would be different. My suffering is my fault. I have gotten what I deserved."</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"You can't trust anyone because people will just hurt you."</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>"If I don't take care of it, no one else will."</b></i><br />
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<br />
If you can relate to one or more of those inner dialogues, then this study and support group will share tools collectively that may be a conduit to healing from the brokenness and wounds of your past and present.<br />
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As you begin to construct your own timeline you may:<br />
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<i><b>Share or keep private any of the information that goes onto it.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Focus on timeline events at your own pace.</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Feel free of guilt or pressure if there are some events or circumstances you are not yet able to face.</b></i><br />
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<i><b>Commit to participation on your own terms.</b></i><br />
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We ideally would like to meet as a group, but if you are unable to do so we still want you to be able to get the help and support you need. We will offer online forums and you may set aside times of discussion within the group.<br />
<br />
<i><b>Our ultimate goal will be to discuss and consider several issues or questions:</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Is "hate the sin, love the sinner" a Biblical principle?</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Who are the people I hate/am angry with/fear/hurt me the most?</b></i><br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>What are the Biblical truths about the emotions I experience and how do they relate to my life in a tangible way?</b></i><br />
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My next post will be about how to construct the timeline of your life, what it may look like, and how it may be used to help you answer tough questions and begin a journey to freedom from the <b>lies that play over and over in our inner dialogue. </b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><br /></b>
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<br />Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-344743466860291202017-04-26T14:57:00.002-04:002017-04-26T14:57:35.674-04:00Discount Yoga Pants (Lucy.com) <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Part of the joy of reading Woman's Day has been keeping the back issues to check for sales on the ads. In the February 2017 edition under the style section <i>Feel-Good Clothes, </i>I noticed a pair of <a href="http://www.lucy.com/shop/studio-hatha-legging-lu%3A0a373x%3A5fd%3A1x%3Areg%3A1%3A">Studio Hatha Leggings</a> from Lucy.com.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Usually what I do is wait for a month or several months to pass, then I go back to check which styles or items have gone on sale since advertised. <b>Typically, brand name fashion items will sell through another major department store like Macy's, Belk, or Dillards, or in this case, a sports retailer like Dicks or <a href="https://www.rei.com/rei-garage/product/116767/lucy-studio-hatha-leggings-womens">REI</a>.</b> I always check those stores to compare prices or availability (you can also buy cosmetics through the same avenues--always use a search engine to type in exactly what you want). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Often I find the brand's own website (for instance, Aerosoles) has a cheaper price than major retailers. Sometimes this is not the case, like another pair of shoes I found in Woman's Day from Mia Shoes. <b>Always check your venues to determine who has a better price with discounts and shipping.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These athletic pants from <a href="http://www.lucy.com/">Lucy.com </a> were by far, one of the best deals I've seen. My last pair of favorite yoga pants developed a hole in the seam so I needed a good pair (I will expect them to arrive May 2). Lucy.com offered 25% off clearance prices plus an additional 10% off for signing up as a first-time customer (sign up for their email at the bottom of their site). The pants were on sale for $29.97 so with free ground shipping before tax the total came to $20.23. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unfortunately, either by a system error or a mistake of my own, the order went through twice (the initial order they cancelled was the higher-priced identical order) and in the midst of attempting to clarify what had gone wrong, I discovered that not only did they cancel the first order due to incorrect stock, but also the second order during the duration of my live chat with the customer service representative.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having worked for J. Crew direct for a total of 10 years, I realize that sometimes, through no fault of the associates, this can happen because of returns and computer inaccuracies. I was able to call the customer service number to reorder another size (which will hopefully be a better fit after looking at the size charts) at the same price. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So instead of paying $93.45 (with tax) I paid $21.30--a savings of $72.15 PLUS <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/">Swagbucks</a> shopping program allowed me to earn 2 points per dollar which comes to 41 points (the equivalent of $0.41). </span></div>
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-89853064410499968202017-04-14T13:32:00.000-04:002017-04-14T13:59:46.196-04:00How to Start Healing From Religious Rejection (And the Rest of Them)<br />
<br />
As I continue to go through a therapeutic journey, I repeat the scenario in my mind,"How would my life have been different if I stayed in Bible College (like I felt I was supposed to all these decades--deep down, or within denial, or in other contexts)?" The underlying foundation of truth supporting this returning question can also be presented in one specific inquiry: Why would God ask an incapable teenager to remain in a place that was lonely, full of rejection, misery, and darkness? <br />
<br />
<br />
I have mulled over this question the last few days during depression--a time when I am incapable of doing much more. God has asked,"What have you repeated as truths you learned about yourself during that time of your life?" <br />
<br />
<br />
This is easy because Bible College was one of the first traumatizing experiences in my life. I went down the list:<br />
<br />
<br />
1. No good man can ever love a girl like me.<br />
<br />
<br />
2. I look and act weird. Even though my behavior is correct, if I don't look and act a certain way, I'll never be accepted by religious leaders.<br />
<br />
<br />
3. Godly leaders accept people based on the way they dress and act, regardless if behind the scenes, they are committing the sins that I'm accused of because I do not dress and act a certain way.<br />
<br />
<br />
4. Religious leaders are cruel to my mother and want me to accept that cruelty as righteous behavior.<br />
<br />
<br />
5. People who are like me will be targeted and punished. People who are superficially spiritual will be rewarded and promoted even when they are committing any number of transgressions behind closed doors--or sometimes out in the open, because not all sin is equal. My sin is worse than the sins of these people.<br />
<br />
<br />
I am still processing this. But God did address the first truth I learned. I thought about a guy I had not recalled in probably 9 or 10 years. <br />
<br />
<br />
He was from a very religious, pure, Dugger-like family. He was enigmatic although strange and outlandish. He was funny, all the guys liked him. He wasn't afraid of what people thought of him and that especially flowed over into one specific category: his love for me. <br />
<br />
<br />
I was involved at the time, long distance, with one of the worst boyfriends I've probably ever had. This guy was your prototype Christian male--he was a virgin, committed to purity, he had never dated, he worshiped, read the Bible, quoted Scripture. Yet he loved me. Many of the guys at Bible College warned him about me (even though I myself was still a virgin I was considered sullied). He didn't listen and also defended me. <br />
<br />
<br />
He snuck up to the women's dorms once and wrote on the dry erase board on my door. And I remembered a conversation that we had in the laundry room. Why I hadn't ever thought of this during years of bad relationships, I thought to myself, I'll never know. But then, of course, I knew: I accepted the lies of others about myself--people who were intended to protect me, love me, and guide me--as truths instead of recognizing their own short-sighted, prideful neglect.<br />
<br />
<br />
I accepted the lie as truth. <br />
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In the laundry room that day, I attempted to dissuade his arguments for why I was worthy--your parents would never accept a girl like me. I smoke. I'm in a relationship. I've done drugs.<br />
<br />
<br />
I recalled a conversation from 1999 in which this epitome of a good, Christian man rebuked every word and action I wielded to reject him: "My parents will love you because my love for you will demand that they do so. I'll help you stop smoking, because I don't want you to do anything that damages your body. You're in a relationship with a man who treats you poorly and doesn't recognize what you're worth. I know my family would disagree, but I really don't think pot is that bad." <br />
<br />
<br />
I could not accept him because I could not accept the truth--the real truth--about myself. I left college after my second semester. I can honestly say I have either rarely or never thought about him or those moments of pure, unique affection since they happened. <br />
<br />
<br />
We had to return a book to Liberty University's library yesterday. We passed the chapel and I had a flashback to praying there after work one night with a very nice-looking, homosexual young man who always wore a suit to work and rarely spoke to anyone. I am certain I have never thought about the event until yesterday. But it came back to me. We had worked the same department one night while I was still part time and for some reason, he opened up to me about some problem he was having. <br />
<br />
<br />
I can't imagine what would've possessed me to take him to LU's chapel and pray with him and in his standoffish behavior and dignity I cannot fathom why he accepted the invitation. But he did. I don't remember his name or the problem, but what I do remember is his face after the prayer. He looked at me with genuine love and affection. <br />
<br />
<br />
I'm not quite sure why I thought of that moment. God has asked me,"How would things have been different if you had been the person you are now? How would Bible College have affected you?"<br />
<br />
<br />
It's an obvious answer to me. I would've known how to act in order to be accepted. I would've seen the same people do the same things but it wouldn't have mattered. I would understand that they are flawed human beings and I would've done the work and accepted the opportunities and ignored the imperfections because people don't change until it is imperative they do so--or a miracle occurs. <br />
<br />
<br />
"So did you change because it was imperative that you do so or because a miracle occurred?"<br />
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<br />
Oh. I see where this is going. Kind of.<br />
<br />
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"I changed because it was imperative that I do so and before You ask why, it was because I had to stop the pattern of rejection by men in my life, I was getting older, and I was still unmarried and childless which I had always assumed was my purpose."<br />
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"So if you were the same person you are now and went back in time to Bible College, you would've used what you've learned so far to become married and have a family?"<br />
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I thought about the wonderful guy who said all those powerfully gracious and intuitive things to me, about me. Would I have wanted to marry him? <br />
<br />
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The answer is no. I wanted the truths he spoke to me. I wanted to recognize and accept the value and worth of being loved for who I was.<br />
<br />
<br />
"Then note number 6: you accepted the lie that being unmarried and childless for all these years was a failure at being who I've wanted you to be." <br />
<br />
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When I was 26 years old I stood in my office at work and resigned myself to the fact that my life had not turned out as I had planned. I spent the next decade just accepting the loss of identity, half of which I did through the worst kinds of trauma: death, betrayal, loss of lifetime comforts, rejection. Wash, rinse, repeat.<br />
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<br />
I was warned by spiritual people who loved me not to come back to Lynchburg. But I did it, I suffered, and here I am now. They said there were bad people living here who would hurt me. Did that happen? Yes. If people who served God (allegedly) rejected me, then I would forgo the purity and aversion to certain behaviors and embrace the ones who accepted me. <br />
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Did I suffer? I suffered immensely. I can only imagine that had I stayed in Bible College I would've suffered as well. There may have been ways that I would've avoided troubles that I brought upon myself by participating with the wrong people and things, but the problem was within. It had to be fixed. What did my life teach me?<br />
<br />
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All people are hypocrites who hurt others because of their own refusal to accept the truth about themselves. I became a receptacle for all kinds of garbage from people of all walks of life. <br />
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If the me now was back in college, I would've told that young man that I simply did not want to get married. I could have accepted his love but added,"I want to get a degree. I want to write and travel. I won't be able to do that and invest entirely in marriage and family." <br />
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I could not say that unless I loved the person I am now. And I wouldn't love the person I am now unless I had suffered. Believing lies causes suffering, regardless of your reality or circumstances. You can thrive in sports, activities, and grades throughout High School and college. You can marry the right person. You can be promoted in the right jobs. You can look fit and healthy and have great kids who do all the right things. Painful circumstances result in suffering. But if you believe in a lie--even lies that put you in good favor--they will cause you to suffer. <br />
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Which brings me to another truth. Often God wants us to suffer. We have to accept that as not only a Biblical truth that is evident in Jesus, but one that is necessary as the outcome of sin and iniquity. Have I been mad at God? Absolutely--especially over the last 9 years. Is He silent at times? Often. <br />
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It is the truth that I do love who I am. It is not enough. I must search for excellence. I have to become whole.<br />
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<br />
One of the major disappointments we all share is not being able to accept we did not get what we wanted from people who were supposed to give it to us. Close to the core of that are failures that are rooted in our lives (or the lives of loved ones) because things did not turn out the way we knew they should. When people talk about grief, this is a grief that causes wounds that often go unrecognized. Death is obvious loss; dreams that continue to go unrealized after decades of trial and error, faithfulness and perseverance--these are grievances that cost us so much yet continue perpetually as they are ignored, stuffed down, and unrealized because of the threat of unbearable pain and mourning. <br />
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Don't be afraid. If you start to realize the truth about yourself--all of the yous from infancy to now--what happened to you through no fault of your own, what you've done to others, what you've lost, how people who are close to you have hurt you or continue to hurt you--you will start to see. You will begin to have insight, let go of destructive behaviors. You will become whole. <br />
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This is a new and lengthy journey for me. I am pleased that throughout my depression--a depression I am genuinely thankful for since it allows me the time and stillness to truly give these issues attention--I have been helpless to recognize these issues except for the grace and freedom to ask and actually endure the answers. Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-64847681078233812972017-04-02T18:58:00.000-04:002017-04-02T18:59:26.799-04:00Synergy SoupThis is the recipe I used in 2014 to encourage the termination of sugar from my diet. I ate it for breakfast and lunch in various forms which resulted in a 20 pound weight loss in 3 weeks. My personal experience is that you can feel the soup as soon as it enters your bloodstream. It's a soothing, energizing sensation, due to super foods like vinegar, garlic, and turmeric.<br />
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You can really include any types of vegetable you like. If you want to make a carrot-based soup I recommend boiling the carrots first to make them soft and adding chicken stock. I more often make an avocado base because of the <a href="http://avocadosfrommexico.com/avocado-nutrition/">health benefits </a>. If you use a tomato base alone, it can turn out as a <a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/articles/the-best-gazpacho-recipes">gazpacho</a>.<br />
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1 tbl olive oil<br />
1 cap full <a href="http://www.bragg.com/">Bragg</a> Apple Cider Vinegar<br />
1/8 of a small red onion<br />
1/2 clove garlic<br />
1 small avocado<br />
1 small tomato<br />
1 cucumber, unpeeled<br />
1/4 cup cilantro<br />
dash of cinnamon<br />
dash of <a href="http://turmerics.org/top-five-turmeric-products/">turmeric</a><br />
salt to taste<br />
pepper<br />
1/4 cup <a href="http://usa.fage/">Fage</a> 2% Greek yogurt<br />
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I top it off with a healthy dollop of Greek yogurt and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepita">pepitas</a>.<br />
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Alternative/extra vegetables to add/replace:<br />
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kale<br />
spinach<br />
carrots<br />
peas<br />
peppers<br />
parsley<br />
celery<br />
cooked squash<br />
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<br />Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-70457328323821515412017-01-06T17:36:00.002-05:002017-01-06T17:45:16.539-05:00Crowne Plaza, Houlihan's, and Hooligans (Review and Giveaway)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I work all over the Eastern United states and that means mainly the <a href="http://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/virginia/northern-virginia">Northern Virginia</a> and <a href="https://www.visitrichmondva.com/">Richmond</a> areas. It sounds more important to add on states though, so I count that I've been to them and gloss over the rest.<br />
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I found myself near <a href="http://www.virginia.org/Cities/Herndon/">Herndon</a> December 28th after traveling almost 9 hours. By that time, I had tired myself by standing in the cold and watching two men move a heavy cabinet for me. It's really hard being in the Jeep that long and having to sit in traffic and go over bridges with water or that still look like <i>The Jetsons</i> to me. So tiring.<br />
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My husband would rather drive 5 hours at night and get home at 11 PM than stay in a hotel. I would rather stay in a hotel because I don't feel guilty for neglecting to tidy up (I don't feel bad about that at home either) and I work too much to go on vacation. Working is my vacation. Vacation to me consists of eating at new places and staying in hotels. I understand some people go to the beach and think it's the best thing in the world. My aversion to heat, crowds, filthy water, and tourist traps limit my choices in that vein and I'm nowhere near Alaska or Maine (I haven't been up the ENTIRE East Coast ok?) which is where I really want to go. When I get there I'm going to embrace the cold, sit in a hotel, eat seafood, and watch bears or moose.<br />
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(puffins and I understand one another)</div>
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One time my mother and I went on a tour of the Shenandoah Valley and 4 bears crossed the road in front of us, three of which were babies, and she urged me to please get out of the car and take photos. I hope this explains the money I've invested in therapy.<br />
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Speaking of my therapist, she told me to write more often so I am. I'm not calling this a review, which it is more or less, but more of a commentary and observation of my relationship with the world around me and since I've recently married, my observation of how my husband compliments everything that is probably very wrong with me but I enjoy thoroughly and have no plans to change.<br />
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I'm am a member of both <a href="http://hotels.com/">Hotels.com</a> and <a href="http://swagbucks.com/">Swagbucks.com</a> so I booked through both sites to get points from both (if you're interested, I've made $175 in cash in the last 30 days from <a href="http://swagbucks.com/">Swagbucks.com</a>--cash in bank--and used it for 4 years but please allow me to send you a promo link) so we parked at a local McDonald's (great for free, fast WiFi) I found the first hotel that looked nice and affordable, and less than 10 minutes later we were at <a href="https://www.ihg.com/crowneplaza/hotels/us/en/herndon/washv/hoteldetail">The Crown Plaza</a> in Herndon, VA.<br />
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Now here's one thing you have to understand: I almost always look like white trash, I'm overweight, and I have no concept of caring about how other people perceive me based on this alone. My last job before self-employment was at a retail call center and although I started off looking fashionable and damn sexy, my mental health and overall high esteem for comfort unraveled that cocoon of image as I sauntered into work in sweat pants and baseball caps (and always on time). The people who model perfection get the raises and promotions: the people who don't give a shit either stay where they are or own the business one day. I'm sure of it.<br />
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Since I've added Chuck to my entourage, I have become more self-conscious but that is mainly due to his unruly and embarrassing behavior. I haven't really determined if it's really me that's embarrassed or that sometimes I don't want other people to be embarrassed just so I can selfishly continue to be entertained. I'll let you know when I arrive at a conclusion.<br />
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We we get there with a 5x7 <a href="https://www.yelp.com/biz/u-haul-moving-and-storage-of-lynchburg-lynchburg">Uhaul </a>attached to our Jeep and it says "valet parking" and I'm all like,"Oh my god, will they valet a trailer?!" It's a huge pain to drive a trailer, especially when backing up or trying to understand where it's legal to park. Not that I hardly ever drive it. But still.<br />
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Then when we got into the lobby they tied a Christmas tree to a space thingy like it was levitating into a supernatural trance of heavenly hosts that resembled hoop earrings.<br />
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Everyone up here is foreign and by "up here" I mean not Lynchburg, Virginia or any of the surrounding counties who voted for Trump. </div>
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Drat. I swore I wouldn't bring politics or controversy into a simple review/this-is-what-my-life-has-become blog, but what I'm saying is, it's so refreshing to see people of color (and by "people of color" I mean more than just black) having jobs and speaking foreign languages all without the obligatory harassment by an obese man wearing camo, spraying spittle into their faces, sputtering something about pressing one for English. </div>
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So a lovely (I'm guessing French) young lady checked us in and offered to upgrade the room without us asking. The marker of a good hotel is always a hostess who will upgrade a room which you booked through Hotels.com without you making veiled threats and causing a huge scene. And she gave us free TOOTHBRUSHES (yea...I know), while the manager of the restaurant shamelessly flirted with the other clerk who was Iraqui (I tried to tell her she was from the Czech Republic but she insisted she was from Iraq and that perhaps I had heard of a war in the nineties).</div>
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The room was nothing to write home about, but it was clean and had a desk and that's mostly my requirements besides having a tub, but I do always notice how many toiletries they offer and this time I really enjoyed this little spa packet by <a href="http://www.templespa-usa.com/">Temple Spa</a>.</div>
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This relaxation packet included Repose, an overnight moisturizing cream, Quietude, a calming mist for the air and bedding, and AAAHHH, a stress relieving massage gel for aching muscles. They are all made with essential oils, including the spray, which contained patchouli which smells like a dirty hippy but can also do an adequate job of masking cigarette smoke in a non-smoking room. </div>
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(scraping the lettering off a smoke because I wasn't paying enough attention to him)</div>
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I did have a hard time trying to figure out how to turn on the lights. I unplugged the heating unit and it still kept working, and then I kind of figured it out, and then I woke up the next morning at it was -7 degrees in the room which isn't actually a huge problem because I stay hot all the time due too being fat and probably some terminal illness that I have yet to discover.</div>
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They had phone charger outlets and that made me more happy than I should be, then I realized I'm poor and simple so it all made sense.</div>
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So let's talk about dinner.</div>
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<a href="http://www.houlihans.com/">Houlihan's</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">is a </span>Leawood, Kansas<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">-based </span>American<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> casual restaurant & bar with locations operating throughout the country, 60% of which are franchised (I totally ripped that from Wikipedia). I was hungry and wanted a martini which was, by the way, not good, and the bartender appeared to have an attitude but this is because I am fiercely judgmental about my martinis because only 15% of restaurants ever get them right. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Our waiter was Ken Jeoung and by that I mean he looked and acted like him and I thought I was in "The Hangover 4" for about 2.5 seconds and started looking for a tiger. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I ordered the mushroom appetizer since it seemed to be famous (it was pretty impressive) and then split a fish and chips meal with Chuck. Not too bad for the cost. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Houlihan's is also part of the <a href="https://recork.org/">Recork Project</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">The next day, after Chuck made sure everything was nailed down, we took a little tour of the hotel. Since it was before New Year's Eve, we took pictures of the regular AND Christmas decor and Chuck said and did embarrassing things within earshot of strangers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">At breakfast they offered a buffet, but I hate buffets, so I ordered a turkey sausage sandwich with Gouda and fruit and I'm pretty sure our waiter was also French but Chuck very loudly called him Iranian within earshot and then when he left our check, Chuck yelled something to him in French which, when translated, meant,"Are you going to the mountain?" The elderly couple behind us were appalled by more than several things he did, including but not limited to bringing in his portable coffee cup and refilling it 10 times, loudly asking if the buffet were free, and farting.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Then I had to do a little work so Chuck disappeared for about half an hour (never a good sign) and apparently found things that were not nailed down.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I won't need shampoo until spring. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">In summary, some of the good things about The Crowne Plaza are:</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Guests enjoy complimentary 24-hr access to Life Fitness lifecycles, elliptical machine, treadmills, dual cable cross machine, free weight equipment, and medicine & stability balls. While exercising, watch your favorite show on the Flat Screen TV.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Restaurant and bar attached (obviously, the most important besides free WiFi)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Valet parking</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Airport Shuttle</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Languages I've never heard of are spoken here</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Business services like copiers and printers (we learned that when we got the corporate rate)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">There's an <a href="http://travel.usnews.com/rankings/travel-rewards/hotel-rewards/ihg-rewards-club-points/">IHG</a> club (the brand of hotel) that has pretty high ratings if you travel</span></span></li>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">There is a giveaway involved and I know you didn't read that blog that I spent 3 hours writing just so you could get to it. So here it is:</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">You will win a $25 gift card (by mail or email) and a sample of Temple Spa's products (by mail). </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">1. You must go to www.screwlucy.com (which is not pornographic and I'm sick of having to say that) and join my brokering site on Facebook to qualify.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">2. An added entry is commenting on one of the items for sale.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #252525; font-family: sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">I don't require you to tweet or like anyone else on Facebook because these companies give me nothing and I review them completely for free without any compensation. You'd realize that if you read my reviews on Yelp.com because a lot of them are deservedly mean and totally hilarious. </span></span></div>
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-20004236271027137942016-09-05T16:29:00.001-04:002016-09-05T16:29:30.564-04:00Celebrating Hispanics with Unstable Emotions and EatingIn celebration of Hispanic History Month I couldnt dream of a better way to celebrate than to eat, watch movies, eat while watching movies, and possibly wear boarderline racists outfits while eating at restaurants, underscoring my ignorance of Hispanic history, yet also making me look endearingly enthusiastic and eager to celebrate.<div>
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Now, I'm going to be very transparent with you here, I have only technically seen three of these films, but I am still impressed by that fact simply because I used to have far less time on my hands to watch Netflix so if I was willing to watch a foreign film during that down time, then that, by default, makes me a smarter and more interesting person. It does.</div>
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1. Biutiful</div>
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This movie was nominated for two Oscars. I actually did watch 10 minutes of it. The scary guy in "No Country for Old Men" is in it and it's probably good. And also sad. </div>
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2. Entre Nos.</div>
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This film was inspired by a true story and is basically about how hard life is for illegal immigrants, single moms, minorities, and basically everyone else who isn't a white male. I essentially cried sporadically throughout the entire film and then especially at the end because of the whole children, poor people, minorities being shat upon thing. But techincally, it does have a happy ending and that's also why I cried.</div>
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3. Pan's Labrinth </div>
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This is a scary film that, I think isn't exactly horror but...ok. It takes place five years after the Spanish Civil War and centers around the main character, a child, who doesn't exactly have the best home life and continues to enter through a portal into a fantasy reality of challenges and creatures.</div>
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It's frightening and visually stunning (I would caution that it was also violent--too much so for me but I was already too far in). I also sporadically cried through this film. </div>
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4. Nostalgia for the Light</div>
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If you've every heard Sting's "They Dance Alone" and wept openly and you didn't even know why, don't even attempt to watch this film, which also made me cry through the entire thing.</div>
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This is a documentary about searching for life in the Cosmos and the lingering effects of Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship in Chile. </div>
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Who even considers making that? Genius.</div>
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5. The Sea Inside</div>
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Ok I did actually watching this, but it was over probably a 3 day span. It's a true story and even though it was kind of super depressing I didn't cry. It's about euthenasia and I probably ended up not crying because he may have reminded me of an ex boyfriend. </div>
Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-40400094926552532442015-10-03T18:14:00.000-04:002015-10-03T18:14:00.432-04:00What's for Dinner: Stewed Tomatoes and Eggs<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Whenever I hear "stewed" I think about Southern cooking. I'm not sure why, since stewing didn't originate in the South, but I guess I suspect that all the blue-haired women I know who attend little country churches have stewed tomatoes in their pantry that they canned from their garden.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I hated tomatoes as a child. It's strange what you remember. When I was six I had a Cabbage Patch doll and a <a href="http://craftandopinion.blogspot.com/2013/11/retro-friday-cabbage-patch-kids-sticker.html">baby book</a> that went along with it. I recorded on her "likes and dislikes" page that she didn't like tomatoes. Then I considered that I just marked out all the things I didn't like and reconsidered that maybe I should make her a separate entity. So I decided she liked tomatoes after all.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Never underestimate a child's cognitive skills. They are thinking so much that would amaze and astound you.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9t1xqQWS4sg/VgrTTRh68fI/AAAAAAAABZY/IuHiiODZ3Fg/s1600/cabbagepatch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9t1xqQWS4sg/VgrTTRh68fI/AAAAAAAABZY/IuHiiODZ3Fg/s320/cabbagepatch.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tonight's meal was the best because the leftovers make an easy breakfast.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<h3 class="recipe-section-header" style="background-color: white; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(221, 221, 221); box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-style: italic; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.03em; line-height: 1.2; margin: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: uppercase; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">INGREDIENTS</span></span></h3>
<div class="recipe-ingredients-group" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 25.6px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<ul class="recipe-list recipe-ingredients-list" style="box-sizing: inherit; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; width: 310.781px;">
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">2 tbsp. olive oil</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 medium onion, chopped</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 red bell pepper, quartered lengthwise, then sliced crosswise</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 orange bell pepper, quartered lengthwise, then sliced crosswise</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">kosher salt</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">black pepper</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 cloves garlic, finely chopped</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 (28-oz.) can whole tomatoes</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">8 large <a href="http://www.egglandsbest.com/">eggs</a></span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chopped cilantro, for serving</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">4 slices toasted bread</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">DIRECTIONS</span></span></h3>
<ol class="recipe-list recipe-directions-list" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; counter-reset: li 0; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 25.6px; list-style-position: outside; list-style-type: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; width: 405.984px; word-spacing: 0px;">
<li class="recipe-directions-item" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 0px 15px 45px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Heat the oil in a large skillet, add the onion and cook, covered, for 4 minutes. Add the peppers, season with 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper and cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until just tender, 6 to 8 minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 0px 15px 45px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Crush the tomatoes with your hands and add to the skillet along with their juices. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the mixture has slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.</span></span></li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item" style="box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; line-height: 1.6; list-style: outside none none; margin: 0px 0px 15px 45px; position: relative;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make 8 small wells in the sauce and carefully crack an egg into each one. Cover and gently simmer for 6 minutes. Uncover and cook until the whites are set and the yolks are cooked to desired doneness, 6 to 7 minutes for slightly runny yolks. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro, if desired, and serve with toast.</span></span></li>
</ol>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bQGoZfeC1Y/Vgr7wi66tWI/AAAAAAAABZs/s8YzvalCp6s/s1600/Stewedpeppersandtomatoeswitheggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bQGoZfeC1Y/Vgr7wi66tWI/AAAAAAAABZs/s8YzvalCp6s/s320/Stewedpeppersandtomatoeswitheggs.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span></div>
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<div class="recipe-ingredients-group" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: inherit; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia,Times,serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 25.6px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: black;"> I turned it into a bruschetta (pronounced "bru-sketta") with olive oil, cilantro, and garlic garnish. </span></span> </span></span><br />
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-78562871863634222892015-10-01T08:22:00.002-04:002015-10-01T08:22:47.933-04:00Harvest Time<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">"<i>They rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest." --Isaiah 9:3</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">The gospel brings joy with it. Those who would have joy, must expect to go through hard work.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">Do you ever think about the reasons why we aren't where we want to be in life--why we aren't getting what we want? We've gone through 3 quarters of the year--have you met the goals you set at the beginning of the year? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Did you want to be thinner? More successful? Were you prepared to find true love? </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Did you fail? Do you think you're alone? You're not.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Often we become discouraged from the goal because we have neglected to realize the connection between toiling and joy. It is easier to eat a doughnut than prepare a healthy breakfast. Working extra hours is tiring. And at the end of the day, you feel too fat and tired to go out and find Price Charming...or Prince Good-Enough.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Preparation demands focus and time. Distractions are immediate and familiar. A portion of the hardship that arrives with preparedness is uncertain expectations: we know there is peace and joy and comfort in a calling or even something as simple as a completed task but at times, we're uncertain of the results. The terms of the journey may be unclear and the goal itself may be ambiguous.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> You've worked so hard, often without recognition or an expression of gratitude. The odds are against you, yet you've been faithful and kept going. You don't know why your efforts aren't working. You're weary of the labor, the drudgery. You're guilty and ashamed of failure and loss.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rS2wNwzuQlM/Vg0lflWONFI/AAAAAAAABaE/YqGT2j_-q84/s1600/abayan-golden-harvest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rS2wNwzuQlM/Vg0lflWONFI/AAAAAAAABaE/YqGT2j_-q84/s320/abayan-golden-harvest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><i><b><span class="text 1Cor-3-10" id="en-NIV-28421">"By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.</span> </b></i><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422"><i><b>For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ." --1 Corinthians 10:10-11</b></i></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422">Today I drove a friend to a doctor's appointment out of town. On the way back home, she recalled working at nursing homes in the city. There are so many patients who don't have family to come visit. They can't speak or walk or understand what's going on around them. Yeah, it's depressing and sad.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422"><i><b> </b></i></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422">There is joy in the toil. Often the hardest part of the toil is the waiting, the changing, and the hurting. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422">But God does the work. </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422">So many Scriptures about joy are related to fruit and harvest. As you keep working towards your goals this last quarter be mindful that the harvest is a community effort, but so is growing the fruit.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422"><br /></span></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline ! important; float: none; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 20px; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span class="text 1Cor-3-11" id="en-NIV-28422">We are a society of individualism. Whether your community is a church, a club, or another source, regroup this last quarter and find joy in the harvest. </span></span></span></span>Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-73155306368279722732015-09-01T20:54:00.000-04:002015-09-01T20:56:00.014-04:00What's For Dinner: Corn and Clam ChowderSeptember is here! And I'm having <a href="http://www.womansday.com/food-recipes/food-drinks/recipes/a12464/corn-clam-chowder-recipe-wdy0414/">clam chowder</a> for dinner while listening to Ween's 1997 album, The Mollusks (it just fits). You have to have a certain kind of taste for Ween because they are no other and you'll also require an appetite for seafood; it's the kind of dish that solicits a strong reaction from consumers. People are either devoted to their aquatic affinities or they make retching noises and run away screaming.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/hIE2ZoeFZtA/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/hIE2ZoeFZtA?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
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I have a passion for seafood which includes all varieties of the afore mentioned album--especially raw oysters. And I love anchovies on my pizza. </div>
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<h3 class="recipe-section-header">
Ingredients</h3>
<div class="recipe-ingredients-group">
<ul class="recipe-list recipe-ingredients-list">
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
2 tbsp. olive oil</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
2 slice bacon</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
1 large onion</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
kosher salt</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
Pepper</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
2 clove garlic</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
2 tbsp. all-purpose flour</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
2 can chopped clams in clam juice</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
1 bottle clam juice</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
3 c. whole milk</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
1 lb. medium red bliss potatoes</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
6 sprig fresh thyme</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
1 package frozen corn</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
cooked crumbled bacon</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
Chopped parsley</li>
</ul>
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<section class="recipe-directions"><h3 class="recipe-section-header">
Directions</h3>
<ol class="recipe-list recipe-directions-list" itemprop="recipeInstructions">
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Place
the oil and bacon in a Dutch oven or large pot and cook over medium
heat, stirring occasionally, until the bacon is crisp, about 5 minutes.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Add
the onion, season with 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper and
cook, covered, stirring occasionally, until very tender, 8 to 10
minutes. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Sprinkle
the flour over the onion and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Drain the
canned clam juice into the pan (reserve the clams), add the bottled clam
juice and stir to combine.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Stir
in the milk, then add the potatoes and thyme and bring the mixture to a
boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat and simmer for 12 minutes. Add
the corn and clams and cook until the potatoes are just tender and the
corn and clams are heated through, about 3 minutes.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Discard the thyme and serve the soup with crumbled bacon and parsley, if desired.</li>
</ol>
<br />
As you know, I'm a fan of initiating variations on the dishes I make, so I have a few suggestions for a creamier base: use cream (shocking revelation). I love oysters--I loathe oyster stew. The first time I had it, I swore the cook made a mistake. Hot milk soup? I'm retching and running away.<br />
<br />
Half and half is a solid foundation for a bisque or in this case a chowder. <a href="http://www.edwardsvaham.com/category/bacon">Bacon</a> and parsley become your <a href="http://www.thekitchn.com/7-healthy-soup-garnishes-13589">garnish</a> but really, you could use anything from homemade croutons (which is suggested) to olive oil, chives, or roasted walnuts.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YtX9LbyTuE/VeXXcbXwecI/AAAAAAAABYg/XhEgben5okI/s1600/20150824_180653%257E2_resized-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4YtX9LbyTuE/VeXXcbXwecI/AAAAAAAABYg/XhEgben5okI/s320/20150824_180653%257E2_resized-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</section><section class="recipe-directions"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
So I was thinking...</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you wanted to get really fancy with this, you could make a Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit bowl to serve this in. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXxusXAGu60/VeXZNzJAa_I/AAAAAAAABYo/7hEXmwvff1U/s1600/Bacon-Broccoli-Cheddar-Bread-Bowl-600x350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lXxusXAGu60/VeXZNzJAa_I/AAAAAAAABYo/7hEXmwvff1U/s320/Bacon-Broccoli-Cheddar-Bread-Bowl-600x350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
</section><section class="recipe-directions"><div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Or if not so much, maybe a seafood-themed tureen. I'm obsessed with dishes. Especially crustacean-centered pieces, which is weird since I'm not a fan of the beach.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Giuseppe Dovis makes an affordable <a href="http://www.virginiabornandbred.com/Pottery/products/1034/">blue crab collection</a> as does <a href="http://www.emersoncreekpottery.com/blue-crab-ceramic-pottery.shtml">Emmerson Creek</a> out of Bedford, Virginia. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ASgjrrjs7HY/VeXdCW_9YyI/AAAAAAAABY4/Ku6XDQ-iPMw/s1600/VA-Emerson-Creek-Pottery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ASgjrrjs7HY/VeXdCW_9YyI/AAAAAAAABY4/Ku6XDQ-iPMw/s320/VA-Emerson-Creek-Pottery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
</section></div>
Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-48487685087074041912015-07-01T21:56:00.001-04:002015-07-01T21:56:22.024-04:00What is Piccata? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The WHAT:<br />
<br />
Piccata is a dish in which the meat (typically veal or chicken) that is butterflied, tenderized, battered and incorporated into a pasta dish.<br />
<br />
Typically shallots, capers, garlic, and lemon--and of course olive oil and butter--will also be used in the dish.<br />
<br />
I used Ronzoni gluten-free spaghetti. <a href="http://www.ronzoniglutenfree.com/index.cfm">Click here</a> to get a coupon for $1 off. My preference for gluten-free pasta is rice based. Corn tends to overpower a dish.<br />
<br />
I would recommend adding more ingredients to this dish. More capers, artichoke, and maybe olives. As you can see I also used fresh Parmesan and enjoyed it with <a href="http://hortonwine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=36&Itemid=69">Horton Petite Mansing</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1fK6wgZx2U/VZSWYYWln2I/AAAAAAAABX4/H2Yns71Jyzc/s1600/chickenpiccata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-z1fK6wgZx2U/VZSWYYWln2I/AAAAAAAABX4/H2Yns71Jyzc/s320/chickenpiccata.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="recipe-ingredients-group">
<ul class="recipe-list recipe-ingredients-list">
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients"> 8 oz. multigrain spaghetti </li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
1 c. fresh flat-leaf parsley</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
1 lemon</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
kosher salt</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
Pepper</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
2 tbsp. olive oil</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
4 clove garlic</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
1 tbsp. capers</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
0.50 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" itemprop="ingredients">
0.50 c. dry white wine</li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Directions</b></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Cook the pasta according to package
directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta and
return it to the pot; then toss with 1/2 cup parsley and the lemon zest
and juice.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Meanwhile, thinly
slice the chicken crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick pieces and season with
1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large
skillet over medium-high heat. Add half the chicken and cook until
golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side; transfer to a bowl.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Reduce
heat to medium, add the remaining oil and chicken and cook for 1
minute. Turn the chicken, scatter the garlic, capers, and red pepper
over the top and cook 1 minute more. Return the first batch of chicken
to the skillet and toss to combine.Add
the wine and simmer for 1 minute. Remove from heat, sprinkle the
remaining parsley over the top, then toss with the pasta (adding some of
the reserved pasta water if needed).</li>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-86832363228555534832015-04-02T18:30:00.002-04:002015-04-02T18:37:49.252-04:00What IS Curry?A few years ago I lived next door to neighbors from the Middle East. I can't tell you how many hours I spent trying to devise a plan to incorporate myself into their daily dinner routine--their delicious, curry-spiced food delighted the neighborhood. Well...it delighted everyone except the habitually troublesome neighbors upstairs--they complained about the "suspicious smells" coming from the Middle Easter neighbors. I left a stack of McDonalds cheeseburgers at their door with a fan to remind them of the traditional flavors of 'Merica.<br />
<br />
Curry is prepared in a variety of ways either with or without a sauce, vegetarian or including poultry, fish, beef, or any other meet. While curry powder is largely a Western invention, the spices we find in most American Indian restaurants contain a combination of 3 staple spices: coriander, cumin, and turmeric.<br />
<br />
There is such a thing as a curry tree and you can include their <a href="http://spicely.com/products/organic-curry-leaves?gclid=CPGPpte418QCFUIR7AodnEQAsg">leaves</a> in any traditional curry. Curry leaves are a mild flavor and should be added at the end of the cooking process so as not to lose their flavor. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/10/18/turmeric-health-benefits-curcumin_n_5978482.html">Turmeric</a> is a sunny yellow flavoring known for aiding rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OpnMGGkXJ6g/VR0fJNo-UfI/AAAAAAAABXA/YScmS8oTttY/s1600/turmeric.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OpnMGGkXJ6g/VR0fJNo-UfI/AAAAAAAABXA/YScmS8oTttY/s1600/turmeric.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
You'll recognize <a href="http://wellnessmama.com/5607/cumin-herb-profile/">cumin</a> from your chili-prep stash. It is also a spice native to the Middle East and you'll find references to it in the <a href="http://biblehub.com/isaiah/28-27.htm">Bible</a> (along with what many people feel is oregano--referred to as "hyssop"). Cumin is a powerful antioxidant. Most spices are--that's why they are encouraged in diets from the <a href="http://www.thecandidadiet.com/">Candida Diet</a> to the <a href="http://www.danielplan.com/">Daniel Plan</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
The third seasoning, coriander. <a href="http://theepicentre.com/spice/coriander/">Coriander</a> is cilantro seed. Cilantro is a plant that usually polarizes the population. People either love it or hate it. I personally LOVE cilantro--others feel it tastes like soap!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<section class="recipe-info"><div class="recipe-info-item recipe-info-total-time">
<span class="recipe-info-label">Total Time: </span>
0:25</div>
<div class="recipe-info-item recipe-info-prep-time">
<span class="recipe-info-label">Prep: </span>
0:20</div>
<div class="recipe-info-item recipe-info-difficulty">
<span class="recipe-info-label">Level: </span>
Easy</div>
<div class="recipe-info-item recipe-info-yields">
<span class="recipe-info-label">Yield: </span>
4 servings (cost per serving of $1.76)</div>
<div class="recipe-info-item recipe-info-serves">
<span class="recipe-info-label">Serves: </span>
4</div>
</section><br />
<h3 class="recipe-section-header">
Ingredients</h3>
<h3 class="recipe-section-header">
</h3>
<div class="recipe-ingredients-group">
<ul class="recipe-list recipe-ingredients-list">
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1 c. long-grain white rice</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1 tbsp. olive oil</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1.50 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1 small onion</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
3 clove garlic</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1 tbsp. ground ginger</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1 small apple</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
0.25 c. golden raisins</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1 tbsp. curry powder</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1 c. light coconut milk</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
1 c. low-sodium chicken broth</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item">
Chopped cilantro</li>
</ul>
<br />
<h3 class="recipe-section-header">
Directions</h3>
<h3 class="recipe-section-header">
Cook the rice according to package directions.</h3>
<ol class="recipe-list recipe-directions-list">
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Meanwhile,
heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the
chicken and onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is
just beginning to brown, 5 to 6 minutes.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Add
the garlic and ginger and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the apple
and raisins, sprinkle with the curry powder and cook, tossing, for 1
minute.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item">Stir in the coconut milk,
then the broth and simmer, covered, until the chicken is cooked through
and the apples and onions are tender, about 5 minutes. Serve over the
rice and top with cilantro, if desired.</li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IWcwocBUmGU/VR3EsRiSrpI/AAAAAAAABXQ/h_SJee6bk14/s1600/54ef937dbecc6_-_coconut-chicken-curry-recipe-wdy0214-s2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IWcwocBUmGU/VR3EsRiSrpI/AAAAAAAABXQ/h_SJee6bk14/s1600/54ef937dbecc6_-_coconut-chicken-curry-recipe-wdy0214-s2.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<ol class="recipe-list recipe-directions-list">
</ol>
</div>
</div>
Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-40212019717760097532015-04-01T05:18:00.000-04:002015-04-01T05:18:41.252-04:00Gluten Free Broccoli Rollups For a great alternative to a Hot Pocket, these broccoli and cheddar roll-ups are easy for travel, filling for lunch, and versatile for health benefits. Although it may be more convenient to pick up a roll of <a href="http://attitudesforsale.blogspot.com/2015/03/an-interview-with-wheat.html">Pillsbury</a> Crescent Rolls, the benefits of preparing your own, gluten-free pizza dough.<br />
<br />
You can find the original version of this recipe on <a href="http://minimalistbaker.com/the-best-gluten-free-pizza-crust-sauce/">The Minimalist Baker</a> website:<br />
<br />
<div class="ERSIngredientsHeader ERSHeading" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.625; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">INGREDIENTS</span></div>
<ul style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.bobsredmill.com/">3 cups gluten free flour blend</a> (1 cup white rice flour + 1 cup brown rice flour + 1 cup tapioca flour + 3/4 tsp xanthan gum)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 tsp salt</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 tsp baking powder</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">3 Tbsp sugar, divided</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Tbsp yeast</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 1/4 cup warm water, divided</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1 Tbsp olive oil</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup lemon/lime soda</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">1/2 cup <a href="http://www.stonyfield.com/">Greek yogurt</a></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" itemprop="ingredients" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: disc inside; margin: 0px 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px;">1/4 cup fresh organic chopped <a href="http://www.marksdailyapple.com/oregano/#axzz3W2zz6DUa">oregano</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.75px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="ERSInstructionsHeader ERSHeading" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; clear: both; color: #333333; font-weight: 700; line-height: 1.625; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">INSTRUCTIONS</span></div>
<ol style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #222222; line-height: 22.75px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Preheat oven to 350 degrees.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a small bowl, combine yeast and 3/4 cup warm water - about 110 degrees. Too hot and it will kill the yeast! Let set for 5 minutes to activate. Sprinkle in 1 Tbsp of the sugar a few minutes in.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">In a separate bowl, combine gluten free flour blend, salt, baking powder and remaining 2 Tbsp sugar. Whisk until well combined.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Make a well in the dry mixture and add the yeast mixture. Add the olive oil and additional 1/2 cup warm water before stirring. Then stir it all together until well combined, using a wooden spoon (see photo).</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lightly coat a baking sheet or pizza stone with non-stick spray and plop your dough down. Using your hands and a little brown rice flour if it gets too sticky, work from the middle and push to spread/flatten the dough out to the edge (see pictures). You want it to be pretty thin - less than 1/4 inch.</span></li>
<li class="instruction" itemprop="recipeInstructions" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 0px; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; list-style: decimal; margin: 0px 0px 0px 30px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Put the pizza in the oven to pre-bake for roughly 25-30 minutes, or until it begins to look dry. Cracks may appear, but that's normal and totally OK.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="color: #222222;"><span style="line-height: 22.75px;"><br /></span></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<h3 class="recipe-section-header" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #333333; font-family: bodoni_m, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 1.6875rem; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.03em; line-height: 1.2; text-transform: uppercase;">
INGREDIENTS</h3>
</div>
<div>
<ul class="recipe-list recipe-ingredients-list" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">6 oz. broccoli crowns, thinly sliced (about 2 1/4 cups)</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">1/2 medium onion, thinly sliced</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">1/4 c. fresh flat-leaf parsley</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">2 tbsp. olive oil</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">Kosher salt</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">Pepper</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">6 oz. extra-sharp <a href="http://www.tillamook.com/">Cheddar</a>, coarsely grated</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">Flour, for the work surface</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">1 lb. pizza dough, thawed if frozen</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">2 tbsp. <a href="http://www.terrapinridge.com/mustards/caesar-dijon-mustard">Dijon</a> mustard</li>
<li class="recipe-ingredients-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; padding-left: 13px; position: relative;">Green salad, for serving</li>
</ul>
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<h3 class="recipe-section-header" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(221, 221, 221); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 2px; color: #333333; font-family: bodoni_m, Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 1.6875rem; font-style: italic; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: 0.03em; line-height: 1.2; text-transform: uppercase;">
DIRECTIONS</h3>
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<ol class="recipe-list recipe-directions-list" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; counter-reset: li 0; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 25.6000003814697px; list-style-position: outside; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="recipe-directions-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px 45px; position: relative;">Heat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px 45px; position: relative;">In a large bowl, combine the broccoli, onion, parsley, 1 tablespoon oil, and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Fold in the cheese.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px 45px; position: relative;">On a lightly floured work surface, shape the pizza dough into a 14-inch circle, spread with the mustard and cut into 8 triangles. Divide the broccoli mixture among the triangles (about 1/3 cup per triangle). Starting at the wide end, roll dough around the filling.</li>
<li class="recipe-directions-item" style="font-size: 1rem; line-height: 1.6; list-style: none; margin: 0px 0px 15px 45px; position: relative;">Transfer rollups to the prepared baking sheet, brush with the remaining tablespoon oil and bake until golden brown, 20 to 22 minutes. Serve with a salad, if desired.</li>
</ol>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-3zoIkgTF0/VRu2YaMSz0I/AAAAAAAABWk/I3XFVK_8M6M/s1600/broccoli%2Broll.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9-3zoIkgTF0/VRu2YaMSz0I/AAAAAAAABWk/I3XFVK_8M6M/s1600/broccoli%2Broll.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-35480053602933720992015-03-28T16:29:00.000-04:002015-03-28T16:29:32.830-04:00An Interview with WheatWheat has 3 parts: the bran, the germ, and the endosperm.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H6MFDOht-Hw/VRbPbbjIFVI/AAAAAAAABWQ/osiU50aZMT4/s1600/wheatdiagram.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-H6MFDOht-Hw/VRbPbbjIFVI/AAAAAAAABWQ/osiU50aZMT4/s1600/wheatdiagram.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've invited them all here today to tell you a little bit about their contributions. Introduce yourself guys.</div>
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Bran: "I have the most fiber and became a diet fad in the 1980's."</div>
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Germ: "I'm full of nutrients like iron and I'm responsible for sprouting the new wheat plant. I'm kind of an important guy."</div>
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Endosperm (munching a bag of Cheetos): "I'm the largest part of the kernel and I'm mostly starch. (Clears throat, licks fingers and looks at Germ condiscendingly) I'm responsible for a little thing called white flour. You know--Sunbeam, Wonder, Pillsbury and Sara Lee anything--the best thing since 'white bread?'"</div>
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Bran: "I think that's sliced bread..."</div>
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Endosperm: "No one asked you, Bran. Moving along, I'm mass-produced, commercially processed, and practically void of any nutritional value unless you count sugar as a nutrient. I'm put through steam rollers and pampered with a <a href="http://www.grainstorm.com/pages/rant">chlorine bath</a> (to perfect my starchy whiteness). Bleaching flour is an industry standard.</div>
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Germ: "Of course the real reason that no one can eat any commercial bread is because it's bathed in <a href="http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/real-reason-for-toxic-wheat-its-not-gluten/">insecticide</a> before it's even processed."</div>
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Endosperm: "Shhhhhh...then no one will even want to eat YOU guys."</div>
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The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): "We define chlorine gas as a flour-bleaching and aging process that is a powerful irritant. Alloxan is a biproduct of bleaching. It intentionally causes diabetes in lab rats so researches can study cures. It's highly toxic."</div>
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Endosperm: "No one invited you. You're not even a component of wheat."</div>
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Dr. Harvey Wiley: "I'm dead now but in 1906 I was a consumer advocate and head of the Bureau of Chemistry which eventually turned into the FDA. I went to the Supreme Court trying to stop the bleaching of food because I was so convinced of it's dangers. A law was passed that wheat couldn't be altered but it wasn't enforced. Later on I resigned out of frustration when big food corporations like Pillsbury and advocates for big farming beat out any effort to keep poison out of our food."</div>
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Endosperm: "Dead people can't talk."</div>
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Bran: "Neither can food."</div>
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Endosperm: "This is why no one likes you, Bran--you like getting things stirred up."</div>
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-6231620253955758462015-03-22T20:51:00.002-04:002015-03-22T21:09:12.135-04:00The Top Five Aerosole Facts a Shoe Diva Should Know1. They let you host parties.<br />
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This is a stellar idea, mostly because I thought of it years ago for local businesses, but never thought it could be a thing for a national business.<br />
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My understanding is they bring you shoes, you drink wine and eat cookies and try them on, then they give you a percentage of your sales. If you own a salon, you get to give massages while you host. Who doesn't want to do this???<br />
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The only catch is, you have to live within an hour of the store so if you don't live in a metropolitan area, you can go over to your friend's house and still have wine and cookies, but you'll have to settle for trying on her shoes.<br />
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2. Old people shoes are so ugly, they're cute.</div>
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I'll apologize beforehand for calling these shoes elderly but please look at the next picture:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BWrGNOhLcuo/VQ9a4-k8vrI/AAAAAAAABUo/2bQV3SkBU_g/s1600/4-give.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BWrGNOhLcuo/VQ9a4-k8vrI/AAAAAAAABUo/2bQV3SkBU_g/s1600/4-give.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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If you haven't seen an old person wearing this shoe, you're a liar. My Grandmother owns a pair and they were designated to the "old lady shoe" area of the shoe department when I worked for Macy's along with <a href="http://www.naturalizer.com/">Naturalizers</a>, <a href="http://www.lifestride.com/">Life Strides</a>, <a href="http://www.easyspirit.com/">Easy Spirits</a>, <a href="http://www.hushpuppies.com/US/en">Hush Puppies</a>, and <a href="http://www.grasshoppers.com/en/home">Grasshoppers</a>. </div>
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That said, I kind of like them now. One, because I managed in the ladies shoe department at Macy's for six years in non-elderly shoes and two, I'm at that age where it feels ridiculous to wear junior shoes. It's very interesting how at age 30 or so you start to transition from the person who wore short skirts and pierced body parts to the woman who walks into the break room at work, observes an inappropriately dressed young lady, and says to herself,"I wonder if she realizes she looks like a hooker?" with absolutely no malice or jealousy--just concern that the young lady on her cell phone with the tattoo on her thigh realizes what she's done to completely disregard any success she may have in the future with her dyed green hair and ill-fitting clothing. </div>
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All of that sounds judgmental and it totally is but in a nice-but-sounds-mean-and-condescending way.</div>
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To summarize, my feet hurt and I'm old.</div>
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That said, <a href="http://www.aerosoles.com/store">Aerosoles</a> can be so cute that they're ugly--the same kind of ugly that brought me joy in my teens as I found my mom's 1970's sandals fit and that guided me to bell bottoms made out of carpet in college. </div>
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Here are a few samples of my favorite ugly/cute Aerosole shoes. I like how the last example looks like someone was like,"Oh my god look at that fabulous fabric on a sofa from Goodwill! I must put it on my feet and add laces!" </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IBK_7NhTG8/VQ9edGu8k0I/AAAAAAAABU0/zf68Ybv1djg/s1600/937-Aerosoles-Plushed-Together-Heels-in-Floral-Combo-for-Women-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0IBK_7NhTG8/VQ9edGu8k0I/AAAAAAAABU0/zf68Ybv1djg/s1600/937-Aerosoles-Plushed-Together-Heels-in-Floral-Combo-for-Women-1.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nC5WekYands/VQ9eh8bes9I/AAAAAAAABU8/V22YW0WDsRY/s1600/f445a16ef57b66f1084f24a35c17cab3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nC5WekYands/VQ9eh8bes9I/AAAAAAAABU8/V22YW0WDsRY/s1600/f445a16ef57b66f1084f24a35c17cab3.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IPODt9QsooU/VQ9ejAmTWVI/AAAAAAAABVE/PNPgPcQd-Wc/s1600/BIG-BEN~855~AV1~508PX.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IPODt9QsooU/VQ9ejAmTWVI/AAAAAAAABVE/PNPgPcQd-Wc/s1600/BIG-BEN~855~AV1~508PX.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zrdUzaLYwcI/VQ9elFhEbLI/AAAAAAAABVM/-f-0lRZobZw/s1600/img-thing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zrdUzaLYwcI/VQ9elFhEbLI/AAAAAAAABVM/-f-0lRZobZw/s1600/img-thing.jpg" /></a></div>
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I would wear every single pair of these as some acceptably unaware young person will think to herself,"Look at those ugly shoes on that slightly overweight, middle-aged person." And then I'll kick her in the face with my ugly shoe and run.</div>
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3. Diamonds are a girl's best friend.</div>
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Here are some really attractive women my age explaining how Aerosoles are basically the NASA of footwear with their fancy stitch-and-turn with diamond sole design. If I were in a nursery rhyme and I lived in a shoe with a bunch of children, I would want it to be an Aerosole.<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3TrQ-KyScPI" width="560"></iframe></span><br />
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4. If you lay around in bed long enough, you can figure out their coupon codes.</div>
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I have a compulsion to figure out how to know things I shouldn't know. One of them involves coupon codes for any number of businesses. The last pair of shoes I bought just had to come down in price. There were no adequate coupons available so I noticed they have a VIP program that provided a 15% discount on your birthday. Having worked retail most of my life, I assumed a coupon code would be involved and I knew that the powers that be wouldn't spend a lot of time on making them creative. So after half an hour, I cracked the code. You would've thought I won the lottery. </div>
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5. They have a VIP program.</div>
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As you may have noticed from reading number 4, Aerosoles has a rewards program. Every $150 you spend will earn you a $10 gift certificate. They also give you 15% off on your birthday or every month if you're a con artist like me. </div>
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Although I would never pay full price for anything, I watch the styles I want and buy them six months later when they are usually available. The best way to shop is to get a few friends on board and buy in bulk so you get free shipping and accrue the rewards points. Just explain to your friends that anything under $30 is not refundable for anything but a credit. I haven't found a better price for Aerosoles than on their website if you're looking for clearance. You can get shoes for as little as $16.99--that's better than their vendors including Macys, Sears, and JC Penney. But always check the department store web sites first! You can usually find their full price or moderately priced items for less.</div>
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-67469514694924689382015-03-22T14:49:00.000-04:002015-03-22T14:51:40.688-04:005 Things I Learned About Peppadew1. They were discovered when I started High School.<br />
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This one time back in 1993, a rich guy was wandering around his enormous South African back yard and he saw a tall bush with some fruit on it. Considering it was impossible for anything bad to happen to him since he was rich and white, he bit into one of the ripe red fruits and--VOILA!--peppadew was born. The name originated from the fact they look like a pepper (mostly because they totally are) and the gentleman's affinity for Mountain Dew, which he discovered while traveling the exotic mountains of West Virginia. I made that up, in case you have no humor or common sense.<br />
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2. Peppadews are patent.<br />
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Afore mentioned white guy, Johah Steenkamp, trademarked his discovery shortly thereafter and patented his "secret preparation." That means you can secretly sell your stash along with your other crops.<br />
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3. Peppadews are raised in <a href="http://www.peppadewfreshvineyards.com/">New Jersey</a>.<br />
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But I wouldn't travel there to buy them because <i>people</i> from New Jersey are also raised there.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kJTDf6PaaZA" width="560"></iframe></div>
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4. You might find peppadew products in a grocery store near you.</div>
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<a href="http://www.yanceysfancy.com/peppadew">Yancey's Fancy Artisan</a> Cheese partnered with the producers of the peppadew brand to make several varieties of cheese. You can find their selections at your local Kroger. <a href="http://www.silverspringfoods.com/products/view/26/peppadew-mustard">Spring Silver</a> makes peppadew mustard, and <a href="http://www.robertrothschild.com/product/product-details.aspx?prodid=121&name=Peppadew%C2%AE+Pepper+Cocktail+Sauce">Robert Rothschild</a> makes peppadew cocktail sauce which you can usually find at your local specialty foods store. Wegmans's sells the direct brand of peppadews and salsa. </div>
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5. Peppadew shows at the Annual International Las Vegas Pizza Expo.</div>
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I can't think of a better way to eat pizza,drink beer and hang out with managers from pizza fast food chains all over the United States. I could make some very derogatory remarks about the guy who ran the pizza place I used to work at but then I'd have to admit I worked there.</div>
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-54469857638985814352015-02-20T12:51:00.000-05:002015-03-28T10:37:25.880-04:00Kit and Kaboodle: The Top DIY Gifts for Your Man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Do guys really want an expensive shaving kit? Is he really <i>that</i> concerned with the shine of the dress shoes he only wears twice a year?<br />
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Some kits are the pits, some are pretty super, and you may or may not have known they existed. Here are my top picks for kits:<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Homemade Debauchee Kit</span></b><br />
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While the tools in this kit can be used in making wine and beer, if you've already perfected the art of an exact blend of grapes and just the right hop combo for your brew, it's time to move on to another subdivision of drunkenness and beverage/food pairing. Strike up the grill this spring and serve a little saki with your stir-fry. Your friends will be impressed that you've learned a new skill and on birthdays and holidays you can pair it with a saki set for a unique, gift presentation.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXYYraSlH90/VOdeyhZSr9I/AAAAAAAABTI/RJKva4H3XrI/s1600/Sake_Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SXYYraSlH90/VOdeyhZSr9I/AAAAAAAABTI/RJKva4H3XrI/s1600/Sake_Kit.jpg" height="320" width="288" /></a></div>
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(Sake Making Kit, Scountmob, $57)</div>
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<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/asian_gift_package/set?.embedder=13145215&.svc=copypaste&id=150076735" target="_blank"><img alt="Asian Gift Package" border="0" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/lQI1dcoWMgr5LD9VEPqCw/cid/150076735/id/Ugo3ARy55BG0VrqUtfvecw/size/c600x332.jpg" height="332" title="Asian Gift Package" width="600" /></a></div>
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<small><a href="http://www.polyvore.com/asian_gift_package/set?.embedder=13145215&.svc=copypaste&id=150076735" target="_blank">Asian Gift Package</a> by <a href="http://aslnspaw.polyvore.com/?.embedder=13145215&.svc=copypaste" target="_blank">aslnspaw</a> on <a href="http://www.polyvore.com/" target="_blank">Polyvore</a></small></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Paranoid Prepper </span></b></div>
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We all have those individuals in our lives that stick around to remind us of all the bad things that could possibly happen. The pessimists, the hypochondriac, the practical naysayers all do us a favor and yank our fluffy little heads right out of the clouds in order to lend us a hard dose of reality: bad things happen--often and in large quantities.</div>
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That's why the gift of preparation is so much better than a rash-causing sweater that reminds him of his weight gain or a gadget that, studies show, trigger premature balding and probably cancer.</div>
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Just add water! If you can still find water in the inevitable Apocalypse (courtesy of <a href="http://www.thereadystore.com/emergency-preparedness-supplies/survival-kits/ultimate-72-hour-kit">The Ready Store</a>).</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Pyromaniac</span></b></div>
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Red Dragon torches are advertised as an environmentally healthy alternative to using pesticides in your garden.</div>
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What they don't advertise is how great a <a href="https://www.flameengineering.com/custom-projects.php">Red Dragon Kit</a> can be when you want to see stuff explode. Some of their satisfied customers include Boeing and The City of New York. Can you say "<a href="http://heavy.com/news/2014/07/malaysian-airlines-flight-17-conspiracy-theories-info/">conspiracy theory</a>?" </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Tech Guy</span></b></div>
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I'm not even sure what happens with this but I feel like it has something to do with building robots or being the Antichrist. If you pair it with the prior two gift guys, I think what you might have is a little roll playing game I like to call "Compound." Buy yours at the local<a href="http://www.radioshack.com/electronics-learning-lab-kit/2800055.html#start=1&sz=12&srule=Top+Rated"> Radio Shack</a> before they go the way of the Blockbuster.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Tree Man</b></span></div>
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I dated a Tree Man once. You can easily identify them as they always look kind of dirty, they always have some sort of hard labor job, and they take pride in loving the simpler things in life like shooting wildlife, drinking beer, and proving every aspect of their masculinity to everyone, all the time, every day while retaining the "good heart" that doesn't allow you to run screaming from the latest carcass they've dragged home (literally and figuratively).</div>
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These types of men love wood burning kits. You can search "wood burning" on Pinterest and observe any number of impressive projects. Your man will not provide one of these for added income but--if you're lucky--he won't burn anything into his own skin and he might present one of these on Valentine's Day. </div>
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-36653806276374581702015-02-02T14:41:00.001-05:002015-02-02T14:41:08.502-05:00<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-84619055325167193962015-01-01T19:41:00.001-05:002015-01-01T19:43:25.779-05:00Tomatillo Chili Out of all the culinary items I've discovered throughout my Woman's Day cooking journey, those that stand out the most are <a href="http://attitudesforsale.blogspot.com/2012/12/men-can-be-lot-like-children-at-times.html">capers</a> and smoked paprika. In short, capers are a marvelous little flower ball thingy found near the olives in the pickle aisle and are most def in the pickle/olive/artichoke flavor range and smoked paprika is not at all like regular 'ol shake-this-ruddy-flavorless-color-on-my-deviled-eggs paprika. It's smokey--hence the name.<br />
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This is my fourth year cooking from Woman's Day recipes and I'm all biggety about knowing how to cook but still I come across items and I'm all like,"What is that and where do I get it?"<br />
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This time I was trying to make my <a href="http://www.womansday.com/recipefinder/vegetarian-chili-recipe-120262">New Year's Day Vegetarian Chili</a> and the recipe called for tomatillos. In my mind, what that meant was either some sort of vegetable in a can or some sort of tamale in a can. I searched the aisles of the ethnic cuisine at Kroger to no avail. What I did find was this:<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NtnIlPsiYaw/VKW42SULvmI/AAAAAAAABRw/_42UAaZYgsI/s1600/tomatilloverde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NtnIlPsiYaw/VKW42SULvmI/AAAAAAAABRw/_42UAaZYgsI/s1600/tomatilloverde.jpg" /></a></div>
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All I saw was the word "tomatillo" and that's all I needed. I was tired of looking.</div>
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Of course, in reality a tomatillo is a vegetable that I could've found in the produce section, it obviously resembles a tomato, and had I read the recipe I might have realized that. But isn't this way more fun?</div>
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I dumped the entire 12 oz jar of sauce in my chili. I also added cilantro and 2 squares of Lindt chili dark chocolate. It was delicious.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtHuLlEX39I/VKW6PA3G2ZI/AAAAAAAABSE/dgUSlrlz7-0/s1600/2014-12-30%2B19.02.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TtHuLlEX39I/VKW6PA3G2ZI/AAAAAAAABSE/dgUSlrlz7-0/s1600/2014-12-30%2B19.02.23.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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Chili is the ultimate January meal in my opinion. Every year, my church used to host a special speaker and celebrate the new year with a chili cook-off. I obviously won on at least one occasion and gained possession of the coveted Chili Pepper Wreath for the year. </div>
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In 2012, I also hosted a chili cook-off for small businesses to raise money for the winner's charity of choice. Our local bison farm earned the most votes and all the contestants took home hot sauce. Our runner up enjoyed a "chili" cake made by a local cake artist.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9jDvKrQXa0/VKW-ugY5LZI/AAAAAAAABSY/PSFTVuUBjZE/s1600/chilicake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v9jDvKrQXa0/VKW-ugY5LZI/AAAAAAAABSY/PSFTVuUBjZE/s1600/chilicake.jpg" height="281" width="320" /></a></div>
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(Our Chili Cake...or IS it??)</div>
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Chili is really a community experience. I imagine my friends and I, out on the farm for a hearty cowgirl night, sipping cold fresh milk with spicy bowls of chili--all from our own secret recipes. There would be sides of cilantro, brown sugar, sour cream, and cheddar cheese with a selection of oyster crackers or rosemary bread. We'd all have our own special bowls and sit around the campfire. Maybe someone would bring a guitar and at the end of the night we'd smell smokey just like a ranch hand.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TRgGOM1-fxw/VKXmg4NYKWI/AAAAAAAABSw/PQc4HTk7OFo/s1600/chili%2Bbowls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TRgGOM1-fxw/VKXmg4NYKWI/AAAAAAAABSw/PQc4HTk7OFo/s1600/chili%2Bbowls.jpg" height="277" width="320" /></a></div>
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These chili pots are hand crafted by <a href="http://davidnortonpottery.com/default.htm">David Norton</a> out of Round Hill, Virginia. I want the blue one for myself and I'd love to attach a recipe to each of the other three and give them to friends with a promise to host a Cowboy Campfire.</div>
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I'd place a tomatillo in each one. </div>
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ingredients</div>
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<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">3 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">tablespoon(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">olive oil</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">cup(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">diced onion</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">tablespoon(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">minced garlic</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">medium </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">red bell pepper</span>, diced</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">medium </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">green bell pepper</span>, diced</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">cup(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">thinly sliced carrots</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/4 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">cup(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">chili powder</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">tablespoon(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">ground cumin</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">teaspoon(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">salt</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/8 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">teaspoon(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">ground red pepper (cayenne)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">8 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">ounce(s) </span>(1 1/2 cups) <span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">fresh tomatillos</span>, husked, rinsed and cut in big chunks</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">medium </span>(1 1/2 cups) <span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">zucchini</span>, halved lengthwise and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">can(s) </span>(19 ounces each) <span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">black beans</span>, rinsed and drained</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">can(s) </span>(28 ounces) <span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">tomatoes in purée, tomatoes coarsely chopped (see Note)</span>, undrained</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/2 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">cup(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">chicken or vegetable broth</span>, or water</li>
</ul>
<div class="header" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/bg-border-gradient.png) 0px 0px repeat-x rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 18px 0px 0px; text-transform: lowercase;">
directions</div>
<ol class="directions instructions" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #5787f5; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 33px;">
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Heat oil in a 3 1/2- to 4-quart Dutch oven over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until onion starts to soften. Add red and green bell peppers and carrots and cook 5 to 6 minutes, stirring often, until carrots</span></li>
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Add chili powder, ground cumin, salt and ground red pepper and cook and stir 1 minute.</span></li>
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Add tomatillos and zucchini and cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, until tomatillos start to soften.</span></li>
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes.</span></li>
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Uncover and simmer 10 minutes longer, stirring occasionally, or until sauce has thickened and vegetables are tender.</span></li>
</ol>
<div class="header" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/bg-border-gradient.png) 0px 0px repeat-x rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px; font-stretch: normal; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 18px 0px 0px; text-transform: lowercase;">
tips & techniques</div>
<div class="tips_wrapper" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<div class="tips" style="border: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<b>Note:</b> To chop canned tomatoes, snip them directly in the can with kitchen scissors.</div>
</div>
Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-8833534144394248822015-01-01T14:21:00.001-05:002015-01-01T14:21:09.129-05:00Behold!<i>Old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." --I Corinthians 5:17</i><br />
<br />
I made one <a href="http://attitudesforsale.blogspot.com/2014/01/happiness-is-in-your-pants.html">New Year resolution</a>, and that was to live in the present.<br />
<br />
That IS to live in the present?<br />
<br />
There are regrets--dwelling on them causes sorrow, anxiety, hopelessness. The future is uncertain so the potential for worry nears the surface in a race against doubt and fear.<br />
<br />
This is what I have--I am making choices now. I'm choosing to reconsider my thoughts and produce action in this moment. This moment will be past. This moment will be forgotten more than likely. I have learned from the past and I've established goals. I am ready to just do.<br />
<br />
I looked at my empty bowl of chili and found myself scooping up the remainder of the pot for seconds. I've eaten enough food in the past to know that eating seconds can lead to weight gain. If I wait, I may not be hungry after the first round settles.<br />
<br />
In that moment I had more, I wanted more, and I could have more.<br />
<br />
I put the remainder of the batch in a plastic container and I sat down to write this blog. I'm not going to spend the rest of my life making up for what I chose to do in the moment.<br />
<br />
I'm thankful I had the money, time, and energy to make that chili. I enjoyed it, I gave thanks for it. <a href="http://attitudesforsale.blogspot.com/2012/01/dinner-tonight-fortune-cooking.html">I'm still hungry</a>. And I can accept and I will accept it.<br />
<br />
We fool ourselves planning for what we will do every day. <a href="http://attitudesforsale.blogspot.com/2013/01/what-comes-before-everything.html">I will just do</a>.Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8947995751975167519.post-32877434935959265362014-10-01T15:26:00.000-04:002014-10-13T15:12:27.065-04:00Shrimp and Grits: The Truly Southern "Meal"I know a few Southern chefs and restaurant entrepreneurs (entreprawneurs...I am full of the pun dickens today) who will chase me down and slice me up for this recipe blog but I have taken it upon myself to keep the public informed and informed they shall be.<br />
<br />
The truth is, there is simply a lot of danger involved in eating seafood. It's full of bacteria, mercury, chemicals, and the industry is overwrought with environmental destruction and human rights violations. The Old Testament forbids the consumption of pork and shellfish. Well...there's probably a good reason for that according to health sources including <a href="http://dherbs.com/">Dherbs.com</a>, distributor of various body cleanse supplements:<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">"Shrimp is a scavenger that thrives off of eating the flesh of dead creatures.</span><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><br style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">If you eat shrimp, you should be aware that you might be eating feces as well. The dark-colored tube on the shrimps back is the intestinal tract of the shrimp and it harbors bacteria. If you enjoy eating shrimp, you should remove the intestinal tube by running a small pick down the back of the shrimp until the tube falls out."</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">According to Greenpeace, tropical shrimp farming is harmful to the environment as well. And our grocers aren't doing an excellent job of keeping toxic fish and other seafood off of our plates either. I was dismayed to realize that Kroger barely escaped Greenpeace's fail grade because of "<a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/oceans/seafood/red-fish/">red listed</a>" seafood. The red list primarily addresses seafood sustainability. But what about health?</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/riIn4RSwYGE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">("...even if they are labeled organic.")</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Don't worry! I'm not here to completely rain on your parade! I'm not saying never eat seafood again. I am, however, encouraging you to know your source of seafood.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">I am blessed to live in the best Southern Commonwealth ever where "our fish are clean before you ever take a knife to them." Virginia offers blue crab, sea trout, clams, and so many other varieties along with <a href="http://www.vaseafood.org/the_trade/foodservice/factsheets/index.htm">species fact sheets</a> and suppliers directories. If you're going to buy shrimp for your grits, I would recommend that they hail from <a href="http://www.great-alaska-seafood.com/alaska-seafood-nutrition.htm">Alaska</a> or if you're also a Virginia native, you can buy shrimp from any number of aqua-farms:</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>"Virginia <a href="http://aquafarmers.com/">Aqua-Farmers</a> Network is a <b>Virginia based co-op</b> comprised of 25 member/owner aqua-farmers. Our farmers raise chemical-free, sustainable channel catfish, rainbow trout, hybrid striped bass, and freshwater shrimp (prawns). All of our products are farm-raised <b>without the use of chemicals or hormones</b>. Our products are raised in <b>all-natural environments</b> with quality being our number one priority. Our products are only harvested when orders come in to ensure absolute freshness to our consumers. All of our farmers practice <b>sustainable aquaculture</b> while limiting their impact on the environment. If you want the best quality and the ultimate in fresh fish and shrimp then we are right for you. Virginia Aqua-Farmers Network, Raised Right…Raised Here, in the USA!!"</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6FFUOaOCKI/VDwe-subUeI/AAAAAAAABQg/e6LfeNQ-sb0/s1600/cajunshrimpspinachgrits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6FFUOaOCKI/VDwe-subUeI/AAAAAAAABQg/e6LfeNQ-sb0/s1600/cajunshrimpspinachgrits.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>(Chincoteague Virginia Shrimp and Grits)</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-transform: lowercase;">ingredients</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; text-transform: lowercase;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ul style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; list-style-type: none; margin: 4px 0px 10px 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">cup(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">quick-cooking <a href="http://ansonmills.com/biographies">grits</a></span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">tablespoon(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">olive oil</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 1/2</span> <span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">pound(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">large peeled and deveined shrimp</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">teaspoon(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cajun or blackening seasoning (no salt added)</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"></span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Kosher salt and pepper</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">tablespoon(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">fresh lime juice</span></li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">2 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">clove(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">garlic</span>, thinly sliced</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">cup(s) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">frozen corn</span>, thawed</li>
<li class="ingredient" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/wd-sprite.png) 0px -488px no-repeat; border: 0px; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px 10px 0px 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0px 14px;"><span class="amount" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">1 </span><span class="unit" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">bunch(es) </span><span class="name" style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">spinach</span>, thick stems discarded</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="header" style="background: url(http://www.womansday.com/cm/womansday/site_images/bg-border-gradient.png) 0px 0px repeat-x rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 20px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px; margin-top: 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 18px 0px 0px; text-transform: lowercase;">
directions</div>
<ol class="directions instructions" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #5787f5; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 33px;">
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cook the grits according to package directions.</span></li>
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Meanwhile, heat 1 Tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with the Cajun seasoning and 1/4 tsp salt and cook for 2 minutes. Turn and cook until opaque throughout, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove the skillet from the heat, add the lime juice and toss to coat. Transfer to a plate.</span></li>
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Wipe out the skillet and heat the remaining Tbsp oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until golden, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the corn and cook until heated through.</span></li>
<li style="background: none; border: 0px; margin: 0px 0px 15px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: black; font-size: 13px; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">Add the spinach and 1/4 tsp each salt and pepper and cook, tossing, for 1 minute. Return the shrimp to the skillet and toss to combine. Serve over the grits.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="header" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 8px; margin-top: 10px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
Nutritional Information<br />
<span style="border: 0px; color: #666666; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">(per serving)</span></div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="nutrition" style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Tahoma, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 17px; margin: 0px 0px 7px 8px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; width: 158px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">Calories</td><td align="right" class="calories" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;"><strong style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;">384</strong></td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">Total Fat</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">9g</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td class="sub" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 2px 10px;">Saturated Fat</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">1g</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">Cholesterol</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">214mg</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">Sodium</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">452mg</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">Total Carbohydrate</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">44g</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td class="sub" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 2px 10px;">Dietary Fiber</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">4g</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td class="sub" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 2px 0px 2px 10px;">Sugars</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">--</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">Protein</td><td align="right" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(179, 179, 179); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-width: 0px 0px 1px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">29g</td></tr>
<tr style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px;"><td style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">Calcium</td><td align="right" style="border: none; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 4px 0px;">--</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Screw Lucyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15226588230671242333noreply@blogger.com0