Sunday, June 22, 2014

Remembering the Lord in all things



The most important thing to do to prepare for any disaster is to be spiritually prepared.  So many think they don't have time to give the Lord.  Think about your cell phone.  How many of us drop everything to answer a call or text. 
We bend over backwards to keep our cell phones fully charged.  Think of being spiritually prepared as keeping your phones charged.  Plug into Spiritual power and get recharged by reading scriptures and praying.
  Be as faithful to these recharges as you deal with your phone and you will be prepared to face any disaster coming your way. 

Spiritual prepping is the most important thing you can do.  Major disasters  has proven that those who are spiritually prepared and spiritually strong survive when the weak give up.  So stay Spiritually strong so you can survive what ever comes your way.

Blessings,
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com

Monday, June 16, 2014

A Few Gluten Free Meals

Several have asked me for my favorite GF recipes.  So today I will bless you with a few I have tried and my family loves.
Mexaroni and Cheese
1 package about 2 cups  Gluten Free Pasta
1/2 cup Sour Cream
1 cup Milk
1 Tablespoon Corn Starch
4 ounces Green Chili, Chopped
9 to 12 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2 Tablespoons Butter
1/4 cup Sliced Black Olives
1 small jar Pimentos, Optional
Salt to taste

Cook pasta in lightly salted boiling water for 6-9 minutes or until done. Drain and set aside. Melt butter in saucepan. In small bowl, mix cornstarch with milk. Add cornstarch mixture to butter and cook until thickened, stirring constantly. Add cheddar cheese to sauce and cook slowly until melted, again stirring constantly. Add sour cream, green chilies, olives and pimentos and salt to taste.

Combine sauce with pasta. Dot with butter. Bake at 350 degrees until lightly browned, about 30 minutes.

Serves 4


Maui Luau Salad

1~8 oz box (2 cups
 1 Tablespoon
2 Tablespoons
2/3 cup
2/3 cup
2/3 cup
1/3 cup
2 Tablespoons
2 Tablespoons

Ancient Harvest GF Pasta
            
Butter or margarine
Brown sugar
Ham, cubed 1/4"
Pineapple chunks, undrained
Cheddar cheese, cubed 1/4"
Seedless Grapes, halved
Mayonnaise
Sour cream
 
In medium saucepan, melt butter and brown sugar. Add diced ham and sauté until ham is lightly browned. Drain and quarter pineapple chunks, reserving 3 tablespoons liquid. In large bowl, combine ham, cheese, grapes and pineapple. Cook pasta and add to bowl. Toss lightly. Combine mayonnaise, sour cream and reserved pineapple juice, blend well and pour over pasta mixture. Toss lightly. Serves 5.

You can use many of your own recipes by making a few adaptions to them.  Like in a recipe that has a flour based thickening.  Using Corn starch to thicken instead of flour works well.  Like my family loves Beef Stroganoff so at the end I use cornstarch mixed int the beef broth I add at the end instead of using the flour it calls for.  A rule of thumb is to use half the amount called for in flour to replace with corn starch.  Like if it calls for 1/2 cup of flour, then you would use 1/4 cup of corn starch.  You can not add corn starch to a pan with butter to thicken.  It must be dissolved into a cold liquid then added.  


 Mexican Night in the Bell home:
If you want to go vegetarian like we mostly do, then you need to learn to use beans more.  When we have taco night, I use a 3 bean blend of red beans , pintos and black beans.  I mash them lightly and add the taco seasoning and heat.  We all love this blend for our taco filling instead of beef or other meats.  I mash pinto beans and blend with some cheese and heat for refried beans.   I make Mexican Rice using 1 Tbls. oil, 1 Tbls. butter, 1/4 cup finely chopped onions or onion powder if you don't have fresh onions and 3 to 4 minced garlic cloves.  Saute until soft and then add 1 1/2 cups rice and 1 chopped tomato, 3 cups vegetable or chicken broth, 1 tsp. salt.  Simmer for 20 minutes.  

Hope this helps some of you!  Remember those who are allergic to gluten are almost always allergic to soy also.  If you are making a GF meal for a friend, DO NOT use margarine or vegetable oil as these are soy products as is shortening.

Blessings!
Cherlynn
brchbell@yahoo.com