The storm...

Sometimes God
calms the storm...
sometimes He lets
the storm rage and
calms His child.

O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
You understand my thoughts from afar.
You scrutinize my path and my lying down,
and are intimately acquainted with all my ways.
Even before there is a word on my tongue,
Lord, You do know it all.
You have enclosed me behind and before,
and laid Your hand upon me.
Psalm 139:1-5

Decor

I really wanted to have this lampshade done yesterday, but I spent too much time at the car dealership waiting for my car to be fixed.  And I have to take it back today so they can replace the broken part with the new ordered part. Yeah...didn't plan on that.  So, I went to plan B!  I got up this morning and finished the project after my honey left for work. Yesterday, I went to Hobby Lobby to get crystals for the center of the muslin flowers.  I quickly found what I was looking for in the scrapbook section.  There were several different items, all the same price, that would work - plain round crystals, pearls or these gemstone brads that I purchased.  They are perfect as flower centers! 

After pushing the brads through the center of each flower, I bent the ends flat to secure the brads. 

I plugged in my glue gun and began gluing the flowers on the lampshade, starting with the flower I liked most on the front of the lampshade.  Then I glued one directly across the lampshade, then one on each side between the front and back flowers.  It was easy to fill in the spaces with the remaining flowers.  A custom lampshade for $3.  I like it!

Today's Recipe - Simple Nutritious Snack

I've been eating more celery because it helps with inflammation in the body.  So, it was easy to come up with this simple but nutritious snack.  Spread one wedge of Laughing Cow cheese onto two pieces of celery.  I really like the garlic and herbs flavor and it is especially good in celery, but you can use whatever flavor you like.  A satisfying snack for 35 calories!

The Land of Israel...

Check out this website - www.landofisrael.com

There's video of a popular Israeli TV show and blogging on this site.  Their goal is to show the positive things that are happening in Israel. Very interesting!

Crafts

Remember that lamp from Pier One?

I finally got started on decorating my own lamp shade with muslin flowers.  I used a stencil to help  make the patterns for the three different sizes for the flowers.  I didn't want the petals as deep as the stencil flowers so I modified them.  I then traced the patterns on the muslin, cut them out, marked the center of each small flower, using a zig zag stitch on my sewing machine to sew the flower layers together on each center mark.

The next step was to spray the flowers, front and back, with water then squish them up in my hands and roll them like I was rolling cookie dough. The edges frayed perfectly.  I unrolled each one and flattened them somewhat, just so you can tell there are three layers.

This picture shows the difference between the flowers, before and after spraying and rolling.

Now I will let them dry overnight.  Tomorrow, I need to make a trip to Hobby Lobby to get the crystals for the centers.  Then I will glue them to the lampshade and take a picture to put on tomorrow's post.

Today's Recipe - Oven-Roasted Vegetable Combo
Eating Well for Optimum Health - Dr. Andrew Weil

4-5 cups eggplant, cut in 1/2-inch dice
2 cups yams, peeled and cut in 1/2-inch dice
2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
sea salt to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F.  Toss the vegetables in the olive oil and salt.  Spread the vegetables in a single layer on a baking sheet.  Bake for 15 minutes, remove from oven and flip as many pieces as you can with a spatula.  Bake for another 8 minutes.  Makes 4 servings - 175 calories per serving

One of those days...

Thursday was just one of those days and Friday was a full day, so I am writing on Saturday to complete my mission for this week.  I found some interesting things about the Israeli-Palestinian issue.  Former President Jimmy Carter has written a book in which he claims he has an answer to this problem.  I watched an interview in which he talked about his 30 year work on this situation.  The hairs on the back of my neck went up when I heard him say, "We've got now a man that can bring peace to the Middle East and that man is Barak Obama."  Hmm...

Have you heard about the International Quartet?  That is the name United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon has given to the four representatives that come from the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations as the powerhouse that claims they will solve this issue.  Their goal - divide Israel into two states.  The book of Joel describes the judgment that will come upon nations that divide the land.  Um...wait a minute.  The United States is one of those countries that is part of this quartet.  Could this have anything to do with all the natural disasters that we have been experiencing this year?  You know - the floods, droughts, wild fires, tornadoes, hurricanes.  What about the ongoing financial difficulties here and around the world?

"I will bless those who bless you 
and the one who curses you, I will curse..."
Genesis 12:3

In this chapter of Genesis, God is telling Abraham how He is going to make him the father of a great nation that will be the source of great blessing for all the families of the earth (through Jesus).  That great nation is Israel and God's promise is pretty clear that those nations that bless Israel will be blessed and those that curse Israel will be cursed.  And God gave specific boundaries for the land, as well.  It includes a lot more land than Israel currently has.

Well, Abbas turned in Palestine's application to be recognized as a state and become a member of the United Nations on Friday.  He then addressed the assembly and was warmly accepted with standing ovations and much applause from the many countries that support their bid for statehood.  A half an hour later, Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke and said that United Nations resolutions would not solve the problem in Israel.  He called for Abbas to meet with him while they were both in New York so they could negotiate peace.  I haven't heard if that meeting happened or not.  I will keep you posted or you can read about it on Joel Rosenberg's weblog. 

Then there is Ahmadinejab - he spoke before the assembly and watched as many delegates walked out during his speech because of his normal tirades against Israel and the United States and his insistence that the holocaust didn't really happen.  King Abdullah of Jordan thinks that Israel is to blame for Iran's nuclear program because of the injustice against the Palestinians and Jerusalem and says, "If you start taking those cards off the table, then Iranian influence on the Mediterranean through Hezbollah and Hamas in Gaza diminishes or becomes non existent."  That is interesting considering Ahmadinejab says that Israel should be wiped off the map and has threatened any Arab nation that sides with Israel. 

Wow...what a mess - all because Abraham wouldn't wait on God's timing. One last thing before I close this post.  I've read and heard it said that Israel is occupying Palestine.  I even heard that on KLOVE.  Really?!  God gave that land to Abraham and his descendants through Isaac.  They were there a long time before any Palestinians moved into the land after many of the Jews were taken captive by other nations.  So, the Palestinians are the ones who are occupying ancient Israeli land. 

So interesting...

President Obama addresses the assembly...

I don't know if you got to see the President's speech to the general assembly at the United Nations this morning or not.  If you didn't, you can probably find it on the Internet.  It was an interesting speech, but the part I was waiting for was when he talked about the Israeli-Palestinian issue.  He said he was for a sovereign Palestinian state but not at the expense of Israel's security.  It sounds really fair, but the Bible is pretty clear about God's desire that the land not be divided.  The President was meeting with Netanyahu and Abbas sometime today.  The outcome of that meeting should be very interesting.  Israel called up its reservists on Monday.  They are expecting violence this week.  Pray for Israel and the safety of its people.  Pray, too, for the Palestinian Christians who are persecuted by their own people.

President Obama also talked about the peace he now believes is available to the world through democratic governments developing around the world.  The Bible talks about a false peace that will be pushed on the world in the end times.  Let's think about this - record natural disasters around the world, wars and rumors of wars, financial institutions around the world on the verge of collapse - I don't see real peace happening any time soon. In fact, the Bible says we won't enjoy worldwide peace until Jesus is ruling over all the earth.

I am SO glad that God is in control!  None of this is any surprise to Him and He must shake His head at all our hollering and finger-pointing.  As Christians we do not need to be frightened, but study His Word and be informed.  We live in an incredible time of history.


Today's Recipe - Acorn Squash w/ Applesauce
Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book
This is one of my fall favorites.  Acorn squash is also delicious with butter and pure maple syrup.

Cut an acorn squash in half and scoop the seeds out; bake cut side down in a shallow pan at 350 degrees F for 35 - 40 minutes.  Turn cut side up; salt and brush with butter.  Sprinkle with brown sugar and fill each half with 1/2 cup of hot applesauce.  Bake for 20 more minutes.  

Israel and the United Nations...

We are going to take a little break this week from the marriage tips because of what will be happening at the United Nations.  Hopefully, you are aware of the ongoing feud between the Palestinians and Israel (we have talked about the history of Israel on this blog).  Well, it is coming to a head this week.  The Palestinians will be coming before the United Nations to ask to be recognized as a sovereign state with Jerusalem as their capitol.

Israel has said time and again that they will sit down with the Palestinians and negotiate an agreement.  The Palestinians deny this and have circumvented negotiations to seek recognition by the United Nations.  They say if they are recognized by the United Nations, there will be peace with Israel.  That is a smoke screen.  What they really want is the obliteration of Israel.  And they are rounding up allies, like Iran and Turkey, that are becoming more hostile towards Israel. Iran has called for the destruction of Israel. Turkey recently expelled the Israeli ambassador from their country and cut off trade with Israel. 

The Iranian leader, Ahmadinejad, The Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, and Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel will all be addressing the General Assembly of the United Nations this week.  

I'll post updates this week (information from Joel Rosenberg's weblog).  Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!

Decor

I recently saw this lamp at Pier One Imports:

What caught my eye was the lampshade.  It is simple but so cute and feminine.  One of the lamps in my craft room has an unadorned lampshade.  I think I will use this application on that lampshade with some scrap muslin that I have.  Pictures will be coming...

Today's Recipe - Spinach Elegante
Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book

2 10-oz packages frozen chopped spinach
3 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 6-oz can sliced mushrooms, drained (1 cup)
1/4 tsp dried marjoram, crushed
1 cup dairy sour cream
1/2 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

Cook spinach according to package directions.  Drain well; spread on bottom of 10x6x1 1/2-inch baking dish.  Arrange bacon and mushrooms over spinach.  Sprinkle with dash pepper and marjoram.  Bake at 325 degrees F for 15 minutes.  Cover with sour cream and cheese.  Return to oven 5 minutes or till cheese melts.  Serves 6 

Fruit of the Spirit...

Marriage Tip # 20 - Practice the fruit of the Spirit in your attitude towards your spouse.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23

I don't know if you noticed the first word in the passage above - but.  That signifies that this passage is a contrast to the previous verses that describe the sinful nature of mankind.  The evidences of the sinful nature are nasty and mean and the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit.  It wouldn't hurt to read them and ask yourself which set of verses best describe the attitudes that are evident in your relationship.  It is very eye-opening! 

Thank God He has provided us with the Spirit so we don't have to be stuck in the sinful nature of our flesh.  He gives all of us a fresh start when we ask Him for help and gives us the Spirit to help us learn how to be loving spouses. 

Decor

I saw this idea on Pinterest.  What do you know...I had a small faux pumpkin and an extra candlestick!  Cute!

Today's Recipe - Baked Sweet Potatoes
Better Homes & Gardens New Cook Book

Scrub sweet potatoes.  Bake at 375 to 400 degrees F for 70 minutes.  Serve with butter, salt and pepper. 
These are yummy with pure maple syrup, too.

Love is...

Marriage Tip # 19 - emulate the list of qualities in I Corinthians 13 and you will have a great marriage!

Love is patient, love is kind, and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.

I Corinthians 13:4-8a

Hmmm...we might have to do a study of each phrase some time.  You would be amazed what these verses mean in the original Greek.

Craft

The baby shower my daughter gave for her friend had a music theme, so naturally she made a cake to go along with the theme. The inside was colored to match her shower colors. How cute is this guitar amp cake?!  She doesn't have regular cake pans so she used four throw away square pans that she bought at her grocery store to bake the cake. 

For the details, she dipped graham crackers in chocolate to make the corners and the handle, then dipped the ends of the handle and the marshmallow knobs in white chocolate. 

She noted this tip - "I figured out that I used the bottom of the last cake for the top of the cake.  The crust is easier to frost.  So I leveled it and flipped it over."  Then she frosted the cake before adding the details, dragging a fork across the front two different ways to create the mesh. After the frosting had dried a little, she pressed a paper towel on the cake to give it a leather look.  So creative and it was her first cake, too!

If you make this cake and want it to have a "guitar cord", you could make the cord with black licorice rope and use fondant or a rolled gum drop to make the plug for a guitar. The "cord" would be attached to the cake by the knobs -  google Fender amplifier for a picture.

Today's Recipe - Baked Potatoes 
I got these instructions from the manager at our local Jason's Deli.

Big baking potatoes - scrubbed, poked with a fork and wrapped in foil

Bake at 350 degrees F for 3 hours.  If you need more time - Bake at 225 degrees F for 6 hours.

A quarrelsome wife...

Marriage Tip #18 - Be sweet to your spouse so they will enjoy living with you.  Pastor Jimmy Evans says, "You can be right or you can be happy!"  Hmmm...

Better to live on a corner of the roof
than share a house with a quarrelsome wife.
Proverbs 21:9


Decor

Along with the beautiful paper roses my daughter made for shower decorations (see yesterday's post), she created paper poms for "flowers" and three pieces of artwork (her gift for the new momma), pulling items from around her house to decorate for a unique shower for the little boy's music themed nursery.

Today's Recipe - Quick Creamed Peas
Better Homes & Garden New Cook Book

Combine one 4-oz carton chive whipped cream cheese, 1/4 cup milk, and 1/4 tsp salt.  Heat and stir over low heat just till warm.  Pour over cooked peas or a combination of cooked peas and tiny new potatoes.  Stir gently to coat.

A prudent wife...

Marriage Tip #17 - Wives, be a gift from the Lord who makes her husband's life better.

...the contentions of a wife are a constant dripping...
but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
Proverbs 19:13b, 14b

Two definitions are helpful for understanding these phrases:

contentions - contest, quarrel, brawling, discord, strife
prudent - careful, cautious, intelligent, guides wisely, skillful, expert, consider, understands, wise, instructs, behaves

Contentious?  This wife is annoying and can drive her husband and children crazy (constant dripping).
Prudent?  This wife is a gift from the Lord and makes her husband's and children's lives better.

Crafts

My oldest daughter recently threw a baby shower for a good friend.  She's the artist of the family so the decorations, gift and food were creative and wonderful.  One of the first things she made for decorations were scrapbook paper roses. She found the idea on Pinterest.  So cute!

Today's Recipe - Company Cabbage
Better Homes & Garden New Cook Book

 2 Tbsp butter
8 cups finely shredded cabbage
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 cup sour cream
1 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp vinegar
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp caraway seed (optional)

Heat butter in large skillet.  Add cabbage, garlic, and 1/4 cup water.  Cover tightly and steam over low heat 10-12 minutes.  Blend next 4 ingredients; stir into cabbage.  Heat through but do not boil.  Sprinkle with caraway, if desired.  Serves 6

Building the house...

Marriage Tip #16 - Keep in mind that you are either building up your relationship or tearing it down.  It's natural to think about what you want out of your marriage.  But what would happen if you stopped and thought about the effect your wants and desires have on your relationship.  If you are selfish and don't consider what is best for your relationship, you will tear down your marriage. It's pretty simple - if something doesn't build up your marriage, don't do it!  I know...I know.  Easier said than done.  Look, we all blow it at times.  Apologize and prove yourself trustworthy.

The  wise woman builds her house,
but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.

Proverbs 14:1 

Decor

Our daughter's living room just needed a little tweaking.  We rearranged the furniture after we decided on a color scheme (blue, green and little pops of pale yellow) and moved accessories around until it all made sense.

Before:

We rearranged the furniture and added new lamps that we found at Marshall's.

The table on the right was her great grandmother's that we took to her and the "table" on the left is stacked objects that she had - a vintage suitcase, a leather trunk and a vintage leather hat box.  Then, my honey installed floating shelves that he made for her.  The top right painting moved to the wall on the right.  The middle painting went to the dining room and the large painting was moved 8 inches to the left.  While her dad was putting up the shelves, my daughter pulled out a large gold initial and spray painted it her accessory turquoise color.  We rummaged through her boxes and came up with the items for the shelves, from a favorite children's book to some antique cameras that were a gift from one of her brothers-in-law.  The room truly reflects her personality.  She now feels quite at home!

The finished room:

Today's Recipe - Easy Baked Beans
Better Homes & Gardens
4 slices bacon
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 - 1 lb cans pork and beans
2 Tbsp brown sugar (you can substitute pure maple syrup)
1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp prepared mustard

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Cook bacon till crisp; drain, reserving 2 Tbsp drippings.  Crumble bacon.  Cook onion in drippings until tender; add with bacon to pork and beans.  Add sugar, Worcestershire sauce and mustard; mix well.  Bake uncovered in a 1-1/2 quart casserole at 325 for 90 minutes.  Makes 6 servings

 

A fool loses his temper...

Marriage Tip #15 - Control your temper.  Figure out before you become angry different ways you can diffuse your temper before it blows.  Then let your spouse know what you've come up with so they know what's going on.

A fool always loses his temper,
but a wise man holds it back.

Proverbs 29:11

Decor

When my daughter moved into her new place, she flipped her colors in her living room and bedroom.  The decor and especially chair covers no longer worked in her dining area.  Here's the before look:

She spray painted the cross on the right wall in her new favorite turquoise accent color along with some extra frames she had.  She pulled out a storage box and found two mirrors she had purchased at a garage sale, a small plate that brought out the circle pattern in a piece of art that we took from the living room that our oldest daughter had painted for her, and some crosses (we hung two of them over the top of the frames using longer nails).  We replaced the two red place mats with some turquoise place mats we found at Target.  She replaced the centerpiece with a square decorative plate and candle that she had.  The finishing touch was new chair pad covers from a curtain panel we bought on sale at Pier One that had a pretty paisley pattern in the new colors she's using in her living area.  There's even enough fabric left to make several pillows or napkins or...

Tomorrow:  Floating shelves for her living room. 

Today's Recipe - Grilled Eggplant
Barbecue Biscuits & Beans - Chuck Wagon Cooking

1 eggplant, sliced 1-inch thick
1 1/2 cup olive oil
1 Tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 Tbsp coarsely ground black pepper
1 Tbsp salt
1 tsp cayenne pepper
2 garlic cloves, minced

Combine oil, vinegar and seasoning; mix well.  Brush eggplant with mixture; let stand 30 minutes.  Grill over mesquite coals, 12 to 15 inches above coals, for 10 minutes.  Turn, grill 10 minutes until tender.  Serves 2 

Abandon the quarrel...

Marriage Tip # 14 - Make your home a safe refuge for your spouse and your family.

Better is a dry morsel and quietness with it
than a house full of feasting with strife.

The beginning of strife is like letting out water,
so abandon the quarrel before it breaks out.

Proverbs 17:1, 14

Are you naturally quarrelsome?  You don't have to break that habit alone.  God is for your marriage and wants you to have a healthy relationship with your spouse.  Ask Him to help you make your home a refuge.  Write the above verses on a 3x5 card and tape it to your bathroom mirror as a daily reminder. 

Decor

Our daughter has a narrow patio by her front door and it wasn't very inviting.  So, we went to Lowe's to see what patio furniture they had on clearance.  We walked out with two comfortable chairs and a table for $30!  The table is actually a children's table that had an odd swirly pattern on the top (didn't get a picture) but had white sides and legs that matched the chairs.  Simple solution:  she painted the top with turquoise spray paint.  We found two silver metal lanterns at Lowe's for $2.50 total that she also painted turquoise (the glass sides came out easily before painting) and added candles inside to make cute accessories. The colors are a hint of what visitors will find inside (pics next week). She wants to find some cute outdoor pillows for the chairs and add some plants and flowers to cozy up the patio.  She's looking forward to enjoying coffee and devotions on her newly furnished patio.

Today's Recipe - Summer Squash Casserole
Barbecue Biscuits & Beans - Chuck Wagon Cooking

3 pounds yellow squash, cut in thin rounds
1 1/2 pounds zucchini squash, cut in thin rounds
2 cups chopped yellow onions
1 large red bell pepper, seeded and choppped
1/2 cup water
1 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
5 ears corn, kernels cut and scraped from cob
3 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 tsp salt
2 cups sour cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large Dutch oven, cook the squash, onions and bell pepper in 1/2 cup water over medium heat, until tender.  Drain liquid and mash with a potato masher.  Add the cheese, corn, jalapenos, salt and sour cream.  Stir to mix well.  Pour into a buttered 12-inch cake pan or 9x13-inch baking dish.  Sprinkle cheese on top.  Bake until bubbly or starting to brown.  Serve immediately.  Serves 12-14 

 

Pleasant words...

Marriage Tip # 13 - Be pleasant with your words to your spouse.

Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. 
Proverbs 16:24

Do you still talk as sweet and pleasant to your spouse as when you first started dating?  Just sayin'...

Decor

My daughter had purchased a TV cart at a garage sale.  It was pretty beat up, but is sturdy and works for her budget.  So, after she picked out the paint for her new floating shelves (more on that next week), she decided to paint her TV cart so it would look nicer and coordinate with the shelves.  I have to say it is an improvement!

Before:

After:

The girl has learned well!  Tomorrow I will show how she began to beautify her home with a can of spray paint in the perfect turquoise blue...


Today's Recipe - Fresh Green Chile Hominy
Barbecue Biscuits & Beans - Chuck Wagon Cooking

4 - 15 oz cans white hominy, drained, reserving half of the juice
10 thick slices bacon, diced
2 cups diced onions
1 cup sour cream
1/2 pound sharp Cheddar cheese, grated
8 fresh green chiles, roasted, peeled and diced

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Crisply fry bacon in medium skillet; remove.  Saute onions in bacon drippings until soft.  Heat hominy in saucepan.  Add reserved juice to hominy; add sour cream and half of the cheese.  When cheese melts, add onions, half of the chiles, and half of the bacon.  Mix.  Pour into 9x13 baking dish.  Sprinkle with remaining bacon, chiles, and cheese.  Bake 15 minutes until cheese melts.  Serves 10 - 12

A gentle answer...

Marriage Tip #12 - Be kind with your words when answering your spouse.

A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
Proverbs 15:1

Ok, I have to be honest here.  More than once I have inferred that my honey is not too bright by how I respond to questions he asks me.  I don't mean to...really.  That's not what I'm thinking...most of the time.  I feel bad every time he calls me on it and I apologize, but it's too late to take back the offensive words.  He processes things more slowly than I do and I find myself being impatient and that's when the harsh words come out of my mouth.  So, basically, I'm finding fault in something he can't help.  Bottom line:  I need to be a safe place for my honey and not a source of anger by giving gentle answers to his questions...even if he just asked the same question 10 minutes before.  That would be the loving thing to do! 

Craft

I love pretty packages!  They can be so easy to put together and can be as simple or layered as you like.  My youngest daughter's birthday was last week and we bought her a hand mixer.  I found this pretty green and white graphic wrapping paper at Target and wrapped the box.  Then I pulled out this spool of wedding tulle and wrapped it around the box to determine how much I needed.  Holding the tulle at that point, I folded back the tulle four times going end to end then cut the tulle off the spool.  I cut open each folded end, wrapped the tulle around the box and, using a clear rubber band, held the tulle together on the top of the box.  I pulled the tulle straight up and cut across the top of the tulle, making the ends all the same length.  The last step was pulling the ends apart, making a pretty fluff on the top of the package.  

Note:  Hobby Lobby has lots of different colors of wedding tulle.

Today's Recipe - Wild Texas Rice
Barbecue Biscuits & Beans - Chuck Wagon Cooking

2 cups long grain rice
1 cup wild rice
6 cups chicken stock
1 tsp salt
2 Tbsp butter

Combine all ingredients in large saucepan with tight-fitting lid.  Bring to boil and stir.  Reduce heat.  Cover tightly and simmer 45 to 50 minutes.  Remove from heat and let rest 10 minutes.  Serve piping hot.  Serves 12-14