Love is not rude...

Rudeness is becoming a way of life in our country.  There seem to be fewer and fewer cultural boundaries on how people treat one another.  The freedom to express oneself regardless of how it makes others feel, is perceived to be a right of the individual.  And women are just as bad as men.  TV shows and movies are full of rudeness.

This is the definition of rude in Webster's New Dictionary:

Being in a rough or unfinished state: crude; primitive, undeveloped, simple; lacking refinement or delicacy; ignorant, unlearned, inelegant, uncouth; offensive in manner or action; discourteous; uncivilized, savage; coarse, vulgar; marked by or suggestive of lack of training or skill; inexperienced; forceful, abrupt.

 Can we change our culture?  I don't know.  But, we can be loving instead of rude.  We can teach our children to be loving instead of rude.  We can respond to rude people with love instead of our own version of legalistic rudeness.  We can be loving instead of giving ourselves an out because of a personality or temperament weakness.  God will hold us accountable for how we treat others.  And He can because even though He is treated the most rudely by humans, He is the most loving being of all.  He has set an example for us to follow.  How are we (me included) doing with that?  Just sayin'...


Fly Lady

Thursday is Errand Day.  I don't have any errands to run today, so I will keep working on my menu.  Today, I plan on separating recipes according to calorie count then making lists of recipes and snacks in categories of number of calories.  My honey doesn't complain about a mess in the kitchen, but this morning he asked what was taking so long in making a menu (I've had stacks of recipes and cookbooks spread out on the kitchen counter all week).  So, I told him about my plan.  He told me he appreciated all the work I was doing to prepare healthy meals.  If I do this right, I will have a master plan for menus.  Then, when I find a new recipe I want to try, I can plug it into the plan.  I'm hoping to spend less on groceries, too.  Has anyone else noticed how expensive groceries are getting?!

Keep calm and carry on!  There's a lot going on in our world, but don't let yourself get distracted.  A daily routine brings a calmness to your home.

Make your bed.
Get dressed down to your shoes.
Swish and swipe your bathroom.

Love is not proud...

Interestingly enough, the Greek word used for proud in our passage in I Corinthians 13 means puffed up, haughty, inflated, sense of blowing.  It carries the connotation of someone who thinks more of themselves than they ought and they don't mind stretching the truth a little...or a lot...to make themselves look good.  Love does the opposite - it causes us to think of others.

Don't be selfish; don't live to make a good impression on others.

Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourself.

Don't think only about your own affairs,

but be interested in others, too,

and what they are doing.

Philippians 2:3-4

Fly Lady

Wednesday is Anti-Procrastination Day.  I'm still working on my menu.  This is turning into quite a project!  More on that later...

Make your bed?

Get dressed down to your shoes?

Swish and swipe your bathroom?

Today's Recipe - Stuffed Mushrooms

I got this recipe from Kathy Thiessen when we lived in Arizona.  That seems like such a long time ago...

12 - 1 1/2" mushrooms

3 slices bacon, chopped

1/3 cup shopped green onions

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp pepper

2-4 drops Tabasco

1 Tbsp flour

1/4 cup whipping cream (I used 1/2 & 1/2)

2 Tbsp grated Cheddar cheese

Wash the mushrooms.  Remove the stems and chop them fine.

Place mushroom caps on paper towel and microwave at medium high for 1 minute.  Drain and set aside.  Place bacon in medium bowl.  Microwave at high until crisp (2-3 minutes).  Drain.  Add mushroom stems, onions, salt, pepper and Tabasco.  Microwave on high until tender (2-3 minutes).

Blend in flour and cream.  Microwave at medium high until thick (2-3 minutes) stirring once or twice during cooking.  Stir in cheese.

Fill mushroom caps and microwave on high until heated.

I made these for the Super Bowl and was so busy I didn't get a picture of the cooked stuffed mushrooms before they were gone!  They are delicious!

Love does not brag...

Take a look at the definition of "brag" in I Corinthians 13:4:

To boast in things one has, 

one who shows himself above his fellows; 

one who takes revenge on others for pleasure; 

to be drunk with pride and set against men and God; 

insolent wrongdoer.

Someone who wants to be known as a loving person simply does not do these things.  Enough said!

Fly Lady

Tuesday is Plan and Play Day

Our New Habits:

Make your bed

Get dressed down to shoes

Swish and swipe the bathroom

I have been trying to get my two week menu done...trying being the operative word!  I decided to go through all my recipes and clean out any recipes I am not using.  I also decided to rewrite all the recipes written on slips of paper or sticky notes onto recipe cards.  That took a while to finish.  Then, I still had to put back all the recipes I had pulled out for the holidays.  What a mess!  But it is an organized mess...really...

I found some recipes that I had forgotten about that will definitely be going on the menu.  And a lot of them already have the calories listed.  Yeah!  That will save me some time.  I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the menu tunnel!

When I was at the grocery store the other day, I found this magazine and began thumbing through it while I was waiting to be checked out.  There were so many great recipes, I decided to buy it.  And...the nutritional information is included.  I'm kind of excited!  I might end up with a menu for one month when it's all said and done.

Love is not jealous...

Jealous - 1a: intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness

b: disposed to suspect rivalry or unfaithfulness:

apprehensive of the loss of another's exclusive devotion

2 hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage

3 vigilant in guarding a possession

4 distrustfully watchful

Ok, most of this definition of jealous was familiar to me and what I expected to read.  However, the second definition, hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage, struck me as a definition not much spoken of but plainly a common occurrence in today's world.  Just watch an episode of any of the Real Housewives of__________ (fill in the blank).  

Or read about the Arab Spring or the increasingly dangerous talk between Israel and Iran...

But what about in our homes, our churches, our workplaces?  Do we see it there?  Are we a part of the jealousy?  Something to ponder...because it isn't love.

Fly Lady

Monday - Home Blessing Hour!

Make your bed, get dressed down to shoes and, this week's focus, swish and swipe your bathroom every morning - just a quick surface cleaning of the vanity and toilet.  You can do it!

Middle East Update

I have spent most of the afternoon on the Internet studying the situation between Israel and Iran.  The jumping off point was Joel Rosenberg's weblog, of course!  Here are a few quotes from what I read:

"Khamenei (Iran's spiritual and most powerful leader)...promised (at a conference youth event) that human history is on the verge of a great event and that soon the world will realize the power of Allah."   Reza Kahlili

From an article written by Alireza Forghani (analyst and strategy specialist in Khamenei's camp):

"Because Israel is going to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, Iran is justified in launching a pre-emptive, cataclysmic attack against the Jewish state."

"On Friday (February 3, 2012), in a major speech at prayers, Khamenei announced that Iran will support any nation or group that attacks the 'cancerous tumor' of Israel."

"Iran now has intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capability.  Western analysts didn't believe this would happen until 2015.  Historically, orbiting a satellite (which they recently did) is the criterion for crediting a nation with ICBM capability."

"In order to attack Iran, Israel needs the approval and assistance of America, and under the current passive climate in the United States, the opportunity must not be lost to wipe out Israel before it attacks Iran."

"Israel could be destroyed in less than nine minutes and Khamenei, as utmost authority, the Velayete Faghih (Islamic Jurist), also believes that Israel and America not only must be defeated but annihilated."

Reza Kahlili writes of the Iranian secret documentary "The Coming is Upon Us":

"This documentary clearly indicates that these radicals believe that destruction of Israel will trigger the coming of the last Islamic Messiah and that even Jesus Christ, who will convert to Islam (really?!), will act as Mahdi's deputy, praying to Allah as he stands behind the 12th Imam (the Islamic Messiah)."

So that is why Israel is so nervous about Iran getting a nuclear bomb!

My honey and I are going to a Precept Bible study on Jeremiah and have learned amazing things that explain what's going on in today's world, especially with Israel.  The nightly news makes things look rather ominous for Israel, but God has made a promise to them and we can count on Him to be faithful to His word!

Behold, I will bring to it (Jerusalem) health and healing, and I will heal them; and I will reveal to them an abundance of peace and truth.  And I will restore the fortunes of Judah and the fortunes of Israel, and I will rebuild them as they were at first.  And I will cleanse them from all their iniquity by which they have sinned against Me, and I will pardon all their iniquities by which they have sinned against Me, and by which they have transgressed against Me.

And it shall be to Me a name of joy, praise, and glory before all the nations of the earth, which shall hear of all the good that I do for them, and they shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the peace that I make for it."

Jeremiah 33:6-9

Love is kind...

Kind in this passage (I Corinthians 13:4-8a) means to show oneself useful.  Wait, what?!  That carries the connotation of action, doing something for someone else.  I thought being kind was just being nice to someone - the opposite of being mean.  Ok, let's go to Webster's Dictionary to get a clearer picture.

Affectionate, loving, of a sympathetic nature; disposed to be helpful and solicitous, gentle, of a kind to give pleasure or relief, agreeable; showing or having a gentle considerate nature.  Interesting!  Being kind is so much more than just being nice.  Three words really stand out to me - useful, helpful and considerate. 

So, today's question becomes:  If love is kind, would my spouse, family and friends say that I am useful, helpful and considerate?  Hmm...


Fly Lady

Friday is Paper Work and Miscellaneous Day. 

Did you get dressed and make your bed first thing today?  Next week we will add another great habit so you can Finally Love Yourself!

Note:  Please realize that you can change the schedule to suit your own lifestyle.  Since it is now only my honey and myself, I do laundry on Fridays.  If you need to run your errands on Mondays, by all means change the schedule.  The point is to have a schedule.  It takes the guesswork out of housework and things get done!

To share an example:  I really thought I would get my menu done a couple of days ago.  Things have happened that have knocked me off schedule and it hasn't gotten done. Yet. 

I mentioned that I found a framework to build on.  I thought I would share it with you today along with some thoughts about healthy eating.

The calorie count goal (I know, I know...) for me is 1,350 and 1,450 for my honey.  He is an engineer and MUST have a solid plan that includes counting calories or his eating gets out of control quickly.  For me, I would be fine just eating a real serving size; not filling my cereal bowl or my plate along with that whole not eating until I'm stuffed thing which I avoid now because it is really uncomfortable.

Breakfast - 300 calories 

(my honey would get 100 more)

Snack - 100 calories

Lunch - 300 calories

Snack - 100 calories

Dinner - 450 calories

Snack - 100 calories

Now I am going to come up with a list of snacks that are 100 calories, breakfasts that are 300/400 calories, lunches that are 300 calories and dinners that are 450 calories.  Tomorrow.  I'm going to do this tomorrow...

Once I have these figured out, putting together a two week menu and a shopping list will be a breeze. 

I have learned that I can't eat as many carbs as most "balanced" diets call for.  I'm a protein gal.  I can't even handle more than 2 servings of fruit a day.  And I do best if I only have 1-2 servings of grains a day.  That leaves protein, dairy, nuts and vegetables.  Because I no longer have a gallbladder, I have trouble eating a lot of raw veggies.  Are you kidding me?!  This is way more complicated than it should be!

It comes down to listening to your body and eating a variety of real foods (eliminating as many processed foods as possible) in real serving sizes.  Need some inspiration?  Clean Eating magazine is a wonderful source of great ideas and recipes with all the nutritional info included.

I WILL finish my menu tomorrow!  It may take me all day... 

Love is Patient...

Ah, patience...it is indeed a much desired virtue, but it seems to be developed only by learning to...wait!  Ugh!  The Lexical Aid to the New Testament states that patience (long suffering) is as opposed to being given to hasty anger or punishment."

Have you ever noticed yourself rolling your eyes, growling or bursting out with angry words because someone is not doing something as quickly as you would like them to?  Ouch...  That, my friend, is not patience!  So therefore, we can conclude that those actions and words are not loving.  This has been a long lesson that I am still learning...

I am getting more patient.  I definitely have to rely on God and let His Spirit work in me and give me the strength to be patient and therefore loving. 

Take driving, for instance.  Have you noticed that there seem to be more people that are doing stupid...um...not smart things with their vehicles.  It used to drive me crazy until God caused me to extend grace to them.  I have no idea what is happening in their lives to make them so distracted.  Maybe they just found out they have cancer.  Maybe a loved one died and they just can't concentrate.  Maybe they were served divorce papers that morning and they are so lost in their thoughts that they don't even know where they are.  I could go on, but I think you get the point.  Instead of calling them names, I say a prayer for them.  I practice patience. 

This picture is from my Kelly Rae Roberts calendar.


Fly Lady

Thursday is Errand Day.  I sure got a lot done today.  After my honey and I walk, I'm ready to sit down and eat dinner then rest.  But I don't feel like the day was wasted.  I was supposed to get my hair done today, but my stylist called and said she had to take her daughter to the doctor - she was having trouble breathing.  So, I'm going tomorrow.  No big deal.  I will just have to be a little more organized tomorrow. 

Make your bed?  Get dressed down to shoes first thing this morning?  Ah!  Feels so grown up!


Middle East Update

I'd like to bring two things to your attention today.  First, Apple Inc. has announced it is going to open its first research and development center (outside of its Cupertino, CA, headquarters) in Israel.  The Israeli center will be focusing on developing semiconductors.

Second, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta "believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June," according to David Ignatius of The Washington Post.  On that note, I thought it was interesting that FEMA came to my honey's copper refinery and did a presentation on preparedness.  Hmmm...   More on that to come.

I would encourage you to read Joel Rosenberg's weblog for more information.  He compared our government to the government of Nebuchadnezzar in Bible times.  Very interesting!

Love is...

February is the month we celebrate love.  So, of course we are going to look at the "love verses" from the Bible!

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

Fly Lady

Wednesday is Anti-Procrastination Day.  Have you started a list of the projects around the house that you need to get done?  If you haven't made your list yet, maybe that's where you need to start today.  Just get your list started.  Set your timer for 15 minutes and walk around the house with paper and pen.  When the timer goes off, you are done for today.  

The item I worked on today was getting a two week menu started.  Ugh!! Why is this so difficult?!  After some time on the internet, I finally came up with a framework that I will be able to plug foods and recipes into.  So much easier!!  I'm very thankful for the healthy delicious recipes I've gotten from Clean Eating magazine.  You will see more of their recipes posted here at Nanna's Kitchen!

Don't you just love your made bed?  It's so much prettier!  Isn't it amazing how much more you are getting done just by getting dressed down to your shoes first thing in the morning?  

FYI - Fly in Fly Lady stands for Finally Loving Yourself.  Cute!

Today's Recipe - Stir Fry Steak and Peppers

My honey and I are big fans of Pioneer Woman on the Food Network on Saturdays.  Having grown up on a ranch, it really brings me back to my roots.  And Ree Drummond puts together the most delicious meals.  So, I hopped on her website to look at the recipes.  She had a recipe that was similar to this one, but I didn't have all the ingredients.  So, I used what I had and came up with this recipe, which is scrumptious if I say so myself!  My honey said it's a keeper.  I served it with diced cucumbers and tomatoes sprinkled with Tony's Creole Seasoning.

1 lb. steak, cut in thin strips
1/2 cup soy sauce

3 Tbsp red wine vinegar

2 Tbsp brown sugar, packed

2 Tbsp cornstarch

1 tsp ground ginger

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp canola oil

1 yellow onion, thinly sliced

3 bell peppers, thinly sliced (red, yellow, orange)

Gather the ingredients to make the marinade - everything but the steak, onion, peppers and oil.  Whisk the ingredients together and set aside.

Cut the steak into thin strips and put into a shallow dish.

Pour the marinade over the steak strips and toss to coat the strips.  Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

 About 1/2 hour before your meal, get your skillet hot then pour in the oil.  Stir fry the onions and peppers just until edges begin to turn golden.  Set aside.

Yep, I cheated and used a bag of frozen onion and peppers slices!

Use a slotted spoon to get the meat out of the marinade. Save the marinade,  Stir fry the meat for four minutes. 

 Add the onions and peppers to the meat and pour the reserved marinade over the top.  Gently stir to coat veggies and meat.  Cover and cook over low heat until meat is done.  Serve over pasta or rice.

Serves 4