Everything by Mary DeMuth

I'm reading Everything by Mary DeMuth so periodically I'm going to be posting bits of the book that speak to me. I hope they speak to you too.

Our need for control shoves away God's ownership in our lives, and keeps us at the helm. In relinquishing control, growth flourishes. We learn to trust the sovereign One with our lives, to no longer micromanage even our relationship with Him. That type of journey thrives from the inside out.

Pumpkin Soup

I thought this was pretty tasty. I drink it out of a mug, rather than spooning it out of a bowl.

CINNAMON SPICED PUMPKIN SOUP
15 ounces pumpkin
14 ½ ounces low sodium chicken broth
1 cup unsweetened almond milk
1 T. brown sugar

1 TB Splenda
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
dash salt

Stir together pumpkin, chicken broth, and milk n a large saucepan. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Heat just to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes. To serve, sprinkle with chives, if desired.
Yield: 4 servings. Per serving (over 1 cup)= 64 Calories; 1g Fat (10.8% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 12g Carbohydrate; 4g Dietary Fiber; 0mg Cholesterol; 323mg Sodium.  

 

Hot Spinach Dip

I made this at work today in a 2 quart crock. We gobbled it up! It was very tasty!

Hot Spinach Dip

10 3/4 oz can reduced fat broccoli cheese soup
8 oz light cream cheese
1 tsp onion powder
10 oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained

Combine all ingredients in 2 quart crock and cook on high 2-3 hours, until can easily be combined and has no lumps.
Yield: 8 servings. Per serving (about 1/2 cup)= 97 Calories; 6g Fat (50.2% calories from fat); 5g Protein; 7g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 17mg Cholesterol; 437mg Sodium

Apples in a Bag

I had this with a little Cool Whip Lite. yum!

Apples in a Bag

1 small apple
1 packet of Splenda
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon water

Core and slice the apple. Place in freezer-quality plastic zippered bag along with remaining ingredients. Seal bag and shake well to mix ingredients. Reopen bag just a touch to vent. Microwave on High for 2 minutes– longer if you use a big apple.
Carefully (it will be HOT and steamy) open bag and pour over plain or cinnamon-sugar pita chips, flour tortilla chips, oatmeal or ice cream.

Nutritionals: Serving Size 123 g 
Calories 59 
Total Fat 0.2g 
Fat 0.0g 
Cholesterol 0mg 
Sodium 2mg 
Total Carbohydrates 16.7g 
Dietary Fiber 2.9g 
Sugars 11.0 g 
Protein 0.3g

Impossibly Easy Breakfast Pie

This WAS easy and I got to use my tiny fiestaware pie plate!

Impossibly Easy Breakfast Pie
2 oz pork sausage, cooked
1 TB diced green chilies
1 slice reduced fat cheese
1/3 c. reduced fat Bisquick
1 egg white
2 TB water

Preheat oven to 375*. Spray small pie plate with cooking spray. Place cooked sausage in bottom of pie plate; add chilies. Top with cheese. Combine Bisquick, egg white and water; pour over meat. Bake 15 minutes, or until lightly browned.
Yield: 1 serving= 417 Calories; 25g Fat (54.9% calories from fat); 17g Protein; 29g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 41mg Cholesterol; 997mg Sodium.

Applesauce Bread

This had a pretty good flavor, but I think it needs more sugar. I think I'd add a 1/2 cup of Splenda. And maybe another 1/2 cup of applesauce.

Applesauce Bread

Easy   Yield: 1 loaf

1 TB butter

1/4 cup brown sugar
2 cups reduced fat Bisquick
Dash  teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup applesauce
1 large egg
1 egg white
 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8 by 4 by 3-inch loaf pan.  Combine the butter and brown sugar. Add the remaining ingredients. Mix well until blended. Pour into the loaf pan. Bake for 60 to 65 minutes.

 Yield: 10 servings. Per serving= 145 Calories; 3g Fat (19.8% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 26g Carbohydrate; 1g Dietary Fiber; 22mg Cholesterol; 328mg Sodium.

Rut Climbing?

Rut Climbing?

      Are you bored?  Or maybe stuck in a rut? Boredom is defined as tedium.  To me, boredom is a having nothing to do. I don’t often feel like that, but sometimes I feel like every day is the same and every week is the same. I’m in a rut and don’t want to do any of the usually fun things I can think to do.

      The house I grew up in was on a dirt road so I know about ruts.  Every time it rains and cars and trucks drive down the muddy road they leave deep ruts. The longer it’s wet and the more vehicles drive down the road the deeper the ruts get.  How do you get out of a rut like that? 

     Sometimes life can become too routine.  We need some spontaneous diversions.  Maybe take a road trip to someplace new or not often seen.  I love to drive to a little town near me known for its antique stores.  I can browse the stores and see if they have items to add to my collections.

     Hobbies are also a fun diversion.  A new hobby just might help you out of that rut.  We like having something to feel excited about.  (Sometimes why marriage goes bad—we no longer feel excited about our partner and we feel excited about someone else.)  Is there a hobby you haven’t had time for lately?  Dust that hobby off and make time for it.

     Volunteering can also get us out of a rut. Focusing on someone else brings to light our own blessings. 

      Using our spiritual gifts can give us something to feel excited about.  What are you good at?  What do you enjoy? It may be related to your spiritual gifts.

     Goal setting can pull us out of a rut. Is there a list of things you want to accomplish this year? Start planning the steps you need to take to meet those goals.

     Learn something new.  Take a class. There are online classes you can take at your own speed and if there is a vocational school near you, they may have cooking classes, computer classes, foreign language classes—you get the idea. They are fairly inexpensive and you also have the opportunity to meet new friends who share your interests. Something new is definitely the opposite of boredom and ruts.

     What are you thankful for? Counting our blessings can help us out of a rut by reminding us of all for which we have to be grateful.

     There are lots of ways out of a rut. What is your favorite way to get out of a rut?