Lilypie Waiting to adopt Ticker

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Tonight's wonderful Indian Dinner (if I do say so myself)!

Ok- I set out to make an actual recipe for dinner, and it was amazing!

Here are the recipes if you're interested: It took 40 minutes or so to make. It's based on a recipe from a cookbook called "Indian" put out by Parragon Publishing (yes, 2 r's). My kids both loved it. Start the rice first, and let it cook while you prepare the shrimp.


Lemon-laced Basmati Rice (I just had american long grain):
I put 2 cups of rinsed rice in the rice cooker with the water called for on the package. Then on top of it, I put 1 tsp salt (or to taste), 1/2 cup cashews, and a generous squirt of lemon juice.
Then, in a saute pan:
2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 tsp mustard seeds
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin
After these have sauteed together for a minute or two, pour the hot, fragrant oil into the rice cooker (or pot) and stir it up. Close the lid and cook per directions on rice package.


Goan Shrimp Curry with Hard Boiled Eggs
*And don't say eww eggs... just try it!
*Also, for a vegetarian option, try it with baby bella mushrooms instead of shrimp.
4 Tbsp Olive Oil or butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 tsp minced ginger (or 1 tsp ginger powder)
2 tsp minced garlic (or 1 tsp garlic powder)
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp chili powder (or according to how spicy you want it, less or more)
1/4 tsp pepper
2 Tbsp water
1 can diced tomatoes
1 cup coconut milk
1 tsp salt, or to taste
4 hard boiled eggs
1 lb peeled, deveined raw shrimp
Juice of 1 lime
3 Tbsp chopped cilantro leaves

Instructions:
Start a pot with water and boil 4 eggs.

1. Get a large stock-pot and put in 4 Tbsp Olive oil or butter and 1 large onion finely chopped. Soften the onion for 2 minutes or so over medium heat then add the garlic and ginger and cook for a minute or so. While this is cooking, get a small bowl and combine the coriander, cumin, turmeric, chili powder and pepper. Add 2 Tbsp water to the spices to make a paste. Reduce heat to medium/low and add the paste to the onion mixture. Reduce heat to low and cook for 3 minutes.

2. Add half of the can of tomatoes, cook for 2 minutes, add the other half. Then add 1 cup coconut milk and bring to a slow simmer for 6-8 minutes stirring frequently.

3. Shell the eggs while that is cooking, and using a sharp knife, slice 3 slits in each egg lengthwise but don't cut all the way through (this will keep it together for those that may not want to eat the egg, and for presentation).

4. Add the eggs and the raw shrimp, increasing the heat to medium or a little higher and cook for 6-8 minutes.

5. Stir in the lime juice and half of the cilantro. Remove from heat and transfer to serving dish. Garnish with remaining cilantro and serve over the cashew rice. AMAZING.

Monday, October 05, 2009

unwavering faith

I started thinking about the sermon that was preached at our church on Sunday and thought I'd process while I type- and send it into cyberspace for contemplation. It was on Abraham and Sarah- and on the hope that we could be like Abraham where we would become unwaivering in our devotion to God. When the speaker started in on this point, he reminded us that earlier in Abraham's history and walk with God, he brazenly bargained with God on something... when God was going to destroy Sodom. Instead of Abraham saying 'Yes, Lord,' or just standing by while God did His thing, Abraham bargained with God over and over (Genesis 18- and honestly it sounds to me like Abraham was on the Price is Right... REALLY pushing it with God.)

22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city?...

26 The LORD said, "If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake."
...
...
...
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32 Then he said, "May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?"
He answered, "For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it."

33 When the LORD had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.


But
yet later, when God asked Abraham to sacrifice his only son- Abraham didn't argue, didn't plead, he got his son and some firewood and headed for the mountain...

WHAT?

As you read further in the story, you see that Abraham says to his servants as he's about to head up the mountain with Isaac 'WE will worship and then WE will come back to you (ch 22).' I see that you could look at this as if Abraham is not wanting to point out to others that he's going to go sacrifice his son- OR you could see it through his eyes of faith- that 2 will go up and 2 will come down... that GOD WILL PROVIDE...

So, I internalize this story a bit and think about this adoption we're in the midst of... Why should I doubt that God is going to provide not only the finances to get us through the 'process of adoption' but also the heart, love, home, and ability to parent all of our children to His glory... of course He will.

My prayer is that I'm able to remain in this place of hope and faith with God- and not go back to bargaining and questioning Him. :)