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!

Uhhhhhhhhhh What Do You Do when Tuesday Is Monday?

Huh, yeah, you heard me. I feel like today is Monday and it's really Tuesday. AND I HATE MONDAYS! I know it's a shame to hate any day of the week but if I'm honest, I have to admit I dread most Mondays and when TUESDAY turns out to be Monday...well, that really bites. Today I feel tired, over wrought, discouraged and unfulfilled. I really don't like feeling this way. If you know me, you know I'm usually pretty upbeat (maybe even disgustingly so).

It's days like today that drive me to God for help and hope. No, I don't always go to Him...sometimes I just suffer through it. But somedays, I acutally have the sense to run to Him and his word. Today, I found this in the book of Joshua:

After the death of Moses the servant of God, God spoke to Joshua, Moses' assistant: "Moses my servant is dead. Get going. Cross this Jordan River, you and all the people. Cross to the country I'm giving to the People of Israel. I'm giving you every square inch of the land you set your foot on—just as I promised Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon east to the Great River, the Euphrates River—all the Hittite country—and then west to the Great Sea. It's all yours. All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. In the same way I was with Moses, I'll be with you. I won't give up on you; I won't leave you. Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors. Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going. And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed. Haven't I commanded you? Strength! Courage! Don't be timid; don't get discouraged. God, your God, is with you every step you take."

I think today I may have stumbled on the key to success. Sigh...God is amazing.

Isn't God Amazing?

Duh, of course God is amazing. He's God. However, I find myself amazed by Him over and over in ways I never imagined. Let me share the latest...

Tonight after returning home from a the wake of a dear, dear friend; I found myself thinking about eternity, life after death, Heaven. You know, the usual thinks we think about when we lose someone we love. I have to admit, and I'm going to be truthful here and I'm sincerely sorry if it shocks you, I found myself thinking what if this life is all there is and Heaven isn't real. Like, what if, we just go to sleep or just simply cease to exist. As a Christian and someone who has based her whole life on Jesus and His resurrection, these thoughts were very disconcerting so I thought I'd do a little web search. My web search led me to the website of Don Piper who wrote 90 Minutes In Heaven. As I read his sight, I found myself being reasured that Heaven is indeed, a real place and a place to look forward to.

After making my peace with my wonderings, I started looking around his website and came across a link to a fellow I'd never heard of. I thought maybe this guy had had a Heaven experience, too and so, I clicked on his link. What I found amazed me because he's an agent and his blog tells about getting published as a Christian writer. What's so amazing about that? Well, those of you who know me, know I've always wanted to write a Christian devotional book. Lately, I've sort of put the idea on the back burner (no pun intended) and have been cooking up a storm with my show and Entertain With Jane ventures. Ha! What amazes me about God is that He always leads His child back to the most important things in life. He always leads me in one way or another back to that first love, His love for me and gently reminds me to continue writing to help people come to know Him and believe in Him.

I'm amazed! I really am!

Soul Food! It really is more than just collards and peas!