Woman Does Not Live By Bread Alone!

Well, the first weekend of my official new lifestyle is almost over and I have to say, suprisingly, that it hasn't been awful. Fact is, there's something about eating healthier that makes me feel good about myself. Last night was a real challenge. I had friends over for supper and when I entertain I always try one up myself and wow my guests. This usually involves a lot of butter, sugar and assorted "white" foods. Last night, however, I did a healthier version of chicken piccata including whole wheat pasta and it got rave reviews. I'll post the recipes in my other blog. Try them, they were really good. I was especially concerned about dessert. I decided to do a mixed berry and fruit cup and top it off with a dollop of mango Greek yogurt. Hmmmm, not exactly decadent but I knew I'd knocked it out of the park when my, 6'4", 280 pound dinner guest gave it two thumbs up. Men can't be fooled when it comes to their desserts!

Since woman does not live by bread alone, I have to tell you about this morning's worship. The sermon was taken from Daniel 3. I'm sure you know the story of Shadrach,Meshach and Abednigo. Remember them, they wouldn't bow to the king's mega idol, a golden replica of himself and found themselves thrown into a furnace so hot it burned up the soldiers who threw them in, that's hot. Anyway, as the king looked on, he notices there were four men in the furnace not three. Yep, God was in the fire with his children and apparently, they were having a grand ole time.

As I pursue Entertain With Jane, I often times find myself majoring on the minors. I forget that it's not about me, it's about Him. I was made for God's purpose and the gifts and talents he's graciously given me are for him. In the quest for culinary stardom, sometimes, often times, my focus is on myself and this morning, God used his word, to show me, yet again, to refocus my heart. The "quest" may not go smoothly. I may not ever be on national television but that's okay because it's all about Him,not about me. The temptation to bow down before idols is very real and all around me, but I hope and pray I'll be faithful and like Shadrach, Meshach and Abedigo...yeah, I might find myself in the center of a firey furnace but you know who'll be with me! And we'll be having a grand ole time!

Every meal may be a party when you entertain with Jane but all of life is a celebration when you focus on Jesus!

The Party's Over...

I knew sooner or later "Entertain With Jane" would have to go on the wagon. I knew my weight has been steadily climbing for about 10 years and that some day, SOME DAY I'd have to change my eating habits. Well, guess what? SOME DAY is today. The party is over. I'm on the wagon. And...I'm not any too happy about it. I've been telling myself for quite a while that "even though I'm fat, I'm still purdy!" Over the past few years I've learned to avoid mirrors,perfected my chin tilt at that certain angle for pictures, wear clothing that "hides" my pudge, and just generally act as if size doesn't matter. Know what? Turns out size does matter.

The reckoning came about mid morning today, just after I ate my usual breakfast of champions, a pack of nabs and an ice cold diet Pepsi. I'd been dodging my doctor's calls for about two days when she finally caught up with me. D@#% EMAIL! Yes, I got an email from my doctor's office this morning and instead of her telling me how great my blood work was, she told me how I have 3 months to lose weight and get healthier or she's going to put me on cholesterol meds. "CRAP!" If there's one thing I don't want to do is take more medication than I already do. And truth be known, at least 1/2 of my medication is probably the result of my packing on the pounds through the years. So...

THE PARTY IS OVER...it's time to get serious about my weight and overall health.

Here's what I'm NOT going to do:

1 I'm NOT going to Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, or NutriSystem.

2 I'm NOT joining a gym.

3 I'm NOT giving up the foods I love.

4 I'm NOT going to play the martyr.

5 I'm NOT going measure my success by my weight.

6 I'm NOT going to weigh myself obsessively.

7 I'm NOT going to promise myself to excercise every day for an hour.

8 I'm NOT going to beat myself up WHEN I fall off the wagon.

I'm sure I'll add to my list but for right now, that's all I can think of.

Here's what I AM going to do...

1 I'm going to eat healthy.

2 I'm going to learn more about nutrition.

3 I'm going to excercise until I learn to enjoy it.

4 I'm going to dance, do my own housework, and walk more.

5 I'm going to drink more water.

6 I'm going to change my lifestyle.

7 I'm going to create HEALTHY recipes and versions of the foods I love.

So, as I blog about this new adventure, feel free to join my journey,make comments and by all means feel free to pray...especially for my husband. I'm one mean woman when I'm hungry.

Expect to Succeed!

Every time I enter a contest, submit a resume, audition for a cooking show, I expect to win. Hummmmmmmmmm. I have to wonder what this says about me as a person. Am I deluded? Do I think more highly of myself than I should? Am I so self centered that I don't realize my limitations? I guess some would say "yes" to all of the above but I don't think so. I'm simply optimistic and I also have faith in the God who made me.

In grade school, I wanted to be the president of a club or a committee, I don't remember exactly what it was. However, the lesson I learned the day we voted, I remember very well. Time came for the vote and just as I was about to cast my vote for the other person, someone asked, "Should someone vote for himself?" The teacher answered by asking the class this question, "Who do you think the president of the United States votes for in an election, himself or the rival candidate?" She went on to explain how silly it would be for the president of the United States to vote for his advisary and not only silly but what would it say to his potential voters if he didn't believe in himself.

That lesson has followed me through life. Rest assured, when vote time comes, I've always voted for myself! Furthermore, I expect to succeed because I believe in myself. Sure, I know I have limits but I also know I am created with gifts and talents to use. I wouldn't enter a phyics tournament (if there is such a thing) and expect to win but as I've realized my own strengths and gifts, I expect to succeed as I seek to use these gifts for His glory.

Expect to succeed! You have God-given talents, gifts, and abilities and He will allow you to use them. The key is "through Christ". "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"!

Confessions of a Procrastinator

As I sit here writing this I have to admit a certain amount of loathing for myself. You see, I am a habitual procrastinator. For example, I've been pushing to the side an article that must be written for a local magazine for at least 2 weeks. I've got the idea and the gist of the article all mapped out in my head but I simply haven't put it to "paper". Knowing me I'll wait until I hear from the editor via text message asking something rather pointed like "article?". I'll then jump on my computer and peck that sucker out in about 30 minutes. I don't know why I procrastinate. I may have ADD. I may not. I may be lazy. But I'm really not lazy. Heck, my wheels spin all the time. I may be unmotivated. Nah, that's not me either. I may have "too many irons in the fire". That may be true, but who doesn't? Truth be known, my procrastination is probably simply a dirty little habit I've cultivated like a well tended vegetable garden for most of my life. I mean, really, why do it now when I can do it later? "Sigh".

The Rocky Road to Righteous Culinary Stardom

Now, that was a mouthful, wasn't it? I was thinking this morning as I do quite often about keeping the spiritual and the physical balanced. As a follow of Christ, you'd think it wouldn't be that hard but it is. On one hand, I long to be the next culinary wonder and on the other hand, I struggle with my motives. I know that the gifts I have come from Him...no problem. I know He is pleased when I use them...no problem. I know my gifts are to bring Him glory...no problem. The problem I have is keeping the balance between my passion for Him and my passion for the gifts He's given me. I happen to believe that at no time should the use of the gifts supercede the true focus...Him. Practically speaking, what can I do? I tend to get carried away quite easily and focus of any kind is a true problem for me. Here's my plan. Hey and if you've got any suggestions, feel free to chime in. I'm open to hearing what He may have to say through you!...okay Jane FOCUS...back to the plan.

Start each day with prayer.

Attempt to stay in communion with Him moment by moment.

Recognize as I use the gifts they come from Him.

Spend more time in His word, ie, the Bible.

Watch for how God is at work around me.

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

"heavy sigh"...the journey continues.

Cyber Stalking?

Recently, as I was perusing a famous television chef's Facebook page the thought came to me that I may be a "cyber stalker". I have to admit I felt a little weird going on his page several times a day posting what I deemed to be interesting little tidbits of information trying to entice him to notice me as an up and coming culinary genius. I "liked" his comments and made my own comments where I thought appropriate. I even uploaded or is it downloaded? a video of myself cooking for him to see. Come to find out, I did get his attention because when I showed up for a cooking class at his world famous restaurant, his restaurant chef looked at me when I introduced myself after class and said something like "Oh Chef _____ said you might be here today." And with my mouth somewhat gaping open I said, "You know who I am?" Said the famous restaurant chef, "Oh yeah, we know who YOU are." It wasn't so much what he said but how he said it and how he looked at me as he said it. Ugh...not what I was going for! I sheepishly turned and left the restaurant. My only consolation was that I hadn't acted like a total freak in the class and believe you me, I certainly didn't look the part of a half crazed, middle aged cyber stalking, culinary wanna be!

Needless to say, I haven't posted very much on The Chef's Facebook page lately. I'm still slightly mortified to THAT think HE thinks I'm a total nut case. I do admit, though, I am a little nutty but you and I know, I'm completely harmless. But geesh, how do you convince a famous chef who attracts all kinds of real nuts, that you aren't one of the REAL NUTS?

"Heavy Sigh" It's a fine line between passionate and crazy. I'm walking that line, though...sometimes gracefully and sometimes not!

BTW, just in case I end up in jail for cyber stalking, promise me you'll come see me, will ya?

It's Greek to Me!

Let me tell you about some good food...I mean some lip smackin belly huggin good food. Not long ago I came up with my version of a slider. You know, those little burgers everyone has on their menu these days. Well for some reason, I've been on a Greek food kick. I've fallen in love with tzatziki sauce, olives, honey and almonds. And so, I've created a Greek slider. Of course, you have to have a good dessert after several of my sliders so, I came up with what I call a Greek Almond Sundae. Yummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Here are the recipes:

Greek Slider with Tzatziki Sauce

1 lb whole pork tenderloin
1 to 2 T curry powder
salt and pepper to taste

Salt and pepper the tenderloin. Rub with curry powder. Roast on 350 until barely done. Set aside to rest under a foil tent.

Jane's Tzatziki Sauce

1 c sour cream
1 c Greek yogurt (drained)
1 T curry powder
1 T fresh dill (minced)
1 small seedless cucumber (finely diced with peelings)
pepper to taste

Mix sour cream and yogurt with curry, dill and cucumber. Add pepper to taste.

To assemble the slider:

Split rolls in half and brush a little olive oil on the inside of each roll. Lightly toast.

Cut tenderloin into medallions. Please one medallion on each roll.

Pour about 1 heaping T of sauce onto pork.

Top with several arugula leaves or spring mix.

Place top of roll onto slider.


And now, for the Greek Cookie Sundae:

Greek Butter Cookies

3/4 c sugar
1 stick salted butter
1 egg
2 1/4 c plain flour
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 t almond extract
1/2 c chopped almonds

Cream sugar, butter, egg and flavorings together. Mix almonds into flour. Pour the flour and almond mixture into the sugar mixture a little at a time until well blended. Shape into 2 to 3 inch round cookies and place on ungreased cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake at 375 until bottoms are golden brown.

Cool cookies slightly. Assemble sundae as follows.

Place a quarter size squirt of honey on a dessert plate. Place cookie on honey. Top with one scoop of premium vanilla ice cream. Drizzle honey on ice cream. Top with lightly toasted almond slivers.

Uh ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Now, don't y'all tell me I can't cook anything but fried chicken and grits! Moma has gone to the Greek Isles!