Roasted Artichokes

I was talking to Liz a couple of weeks ago about getting SPINACH and LETTUCE at the commissary. She noted I had several artichokes in my cart and told me they were "iffy". I agreed, but told her we loved them. She shared how they roast and sell them on the street in Italy. With garlic cloves and olive oil....and so.....I found THIS recipe.  We ate them before I snapped a photo. It looked a lot like this one. ::snort:: 

via Google Images

Makes 4 Roasted Artichokes

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour, 30 minutes

Total Time: 1 hour, 50 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 whole large artichokes
• 2 lemons, halved
• 4 cloves garlic, peeled, left whole
• 4 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp salt

Preparation:

Using a serrated knife, cut off the stem of the artichoke where it meets the base. Turn the artichoke around and cut off 1-inch of the top. Quickly rub each artichoke with a cut lemon so they don't discolor.

Tear off 4 large square pieces of heavy-duty foil. Rub a few drops of olive oil on the foil and place an artichoke stem side down. Stick a clove of garlic into the center and push down an inch or so. Sprinkle over 1/4 tsp of salt. Drizzle 1 tbsp olive oil over the top. Finish by squeezing the half lemon over the top. The lemon juice will "wash" the salt and olive down in between the leaves. Gather up the corners of the foil and press together on top to tightly seal the artichoke (like a chocolate kiss). You can wrap in a second piece of foil if you don't think you have a tight enough seal. 

Repeat with the other artichokes. Place in a roasting pan and bake at 425 degrees F. for 1 hour and 30 minutes. Let rest for 20 minutes before unwrapping and serving. 

Arielle and Stacia split one. Nolan tried it. Michael and I liked it. I ate it without butter and it was another vegan treat. LOL 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Taste of "Home" - Philippine Style

Marvie surprised me this a.m. if I was still vegetarian. Then she asked me to come to her home at 4:00. She said she'd teach me to cook vegetables...since I'm still vegetarian.  THAT'S a true friend.  She showed me how to cook Chayote.  As she fixed it, we talked about her childhood in the Philippines - the memories and conversation were sweet.

Saute Onions, garlic, add chayote a bit of broth, cilantro - top with fried tofu....

Serve with rice.....and for dessert...Halo Halo

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Yes We Can

Push...push...push...we CAN DO THIS, YES WE CAN! Yep - today we finished 1 1/2 days of school. Tuesday we'll have PWOC/PCOC and Wednesday we'll do 1 1/2 days of school.  Normal days on Thursday and Friday. We'll see if we can do this. 

Serving the children at PWOC  (PCOC) has become a family service project. We've been looking for a service project besides the nursing home for the younger kids to participate in....never expected to be doing PCOC...pre-school isn't really "my thing"....but we are excited for tomorrow. I can only attribute it to either 1. God or 2. latent Old Woman genes kicking in. ::snort:: 

Today Zander and Stacia helped me with all the cutting for tomorrow's crafts.....

We cut out shirts, eyes and noses for puppets, little Bible verse cards, and I created a little "name plate" for our "PCOC bags".  The younger two cut them out and glued them on. We'll add names on them in the morning and put the kids take home things in the bags.

Michael is home early as the thought is he may be called back in to the base tonight. I took the kids (plus 2) to PYOC (Youth).  

Busy day - WE know we did a lot - but it's not a day that looks like a lot to others. ::grin:: 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Encouragement to My Younger Mom Self

Last year at the first MOPS meeting (she always gets the First meeting - I seem to be in the Feb Sex slot) Mary, fellow Mentor Mom, shared the top 10 things she would tell her Younger Pre-school Mom self.   I was thrilled when she closed this year by sharing them again (this time without the charming stories).  I've seen so many, "Letter to my younger self" and have though it may be fun to try....but MARY did it so well and I want to capture her thoughts. I found several of the points are appropriate regardless of the season of mothering you are in.  

1. It gets easier - at least physically. 
2. Make sure you find a place to be fed spiritually. 
3. Read the experts, talk to others - but trust yourself. YOU are the expert on your child. 
4. Do something that stays done more than 2 seconds (i.e. mow the lawn). 
5. Get affirmation for something you do outside your family. 
6. Recognize it's not your job to raise perfect children. 
7. Your child will not die of malnutrition. 
8. Let Dad be Dad, for the sake of your marriage and children. Only intervene if there is imminent danger of physical damage.
9. Taking care of yourself - emotionally, spiritually, physically - is not selfish.
10. Some days are a success if you just make it to the end with all alive. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Taking the Plunge

Mary, a fellow MOPS mentor mom, did a superb job at MOPS last week.  This year's MOPS International theme is, "Plunge: Love as if your life depended on it."  Theme verses are I Peter 4:8-11. 

She spoke on taking the plunge into motherhood.  Plunges can be refreshing or overwhelming as in drowning.  She shared a story from her daughter's "first swim". At our table a couple of us really weren't in the "pre-school SOS" mode and found this applied to us more in other areas. Great thoughts and I don't want to lose them. The take aways were: 

1. Don't compare yourself to others
2. You don't need to go it all alone
3. Jump in - don't stay on the sidelines
4. Keep paddling
5. Don't take your eyes off your Father

During table time I shared how closely these lessons  mirrored  Stacia's near drowning experience. I added my memory of Michael doing all he could to swim across the pool and reach her, yelling, "Get the Baby!" each time he took a breath. We added a sixth point:

 

    6.  Don't forget your Father is doing all he can to get to you and certainly has His eye on you! 

These were just so good I wanted to capture them. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

My Boys

What a fun way to begin the week. Check out these photos Josiah took of the "bros" shopping. It's a wonder they weren't thrown out of Costco.  I give all my friends permission to  give them the mama look if you run into them while out grocery shopping. LOL

Not sure WHY Jamin has developed high blood pressure

Note WHERE Jared is in this photo! Josiah wrote, "I tell you leave Jared alone for two seconds....... When asked,he said, "I always wanted to do that but mom wouldn't let me." lol

You bet your BIPPY Mom wouldn't allow it. ::snort::  Close scrutiny of the contents of their cart tells me they have reached an eclectic lifestyle of eating...oats and pineapple YES....We'll allow some bachelor food since all are working and in college/ grad school.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Adult Gherkin Update

Woot! Fantastic Skype with  Krista this a.m. It seems an appropriate time for an "adult Gherkin" update. 

I can't tell it as well Krista - but - she's been hired at the local school district....she starts Monday - makes $2+ more an hour, more hours AND full benefits.  She'll be a one on one aide for an elementary school student. She is very excited. We are too. 

She had interviewed previously with the school district. Several with teaching degrees applied. The head of the district's special ed called her Friday a.m. while she was subbing at another school. He told her he'd just listed another position and asked if she was interested and if she could at least work for two weeks as a sub. while they interviewed for the position. She agreed....but told him the hours she works at the college library.  She got another call asking her to go get a pre-employment drug test. She thought that a bit odd to substitute. She's been subbing for a year and not been asked for a drug test. When she was there they told her she needed a physical too. Hmmm..... curious-er and curious-er.

Then she was sent to HR and given paperwork and a badge. She asked if the badge was for subbing. They said she could use it for anything...but then they kept handing her more paperwork. She finally asked, "Have I been hired?"  

"Oh, did we forget to tell you?"  ::snort:: They decided since she'd interviewed before, they need someone NOW for this transfer student and she was a good fit. 

God has graciously taught Krista to be content and happy where He placed her...but now he's moved her on......She will work for the school district and continue to be the Children's Pastor at Lively Stone Fellowship. Here she is in VBS garb  - authentic from Afghanistan. 

BREANNE has been able to quit her job at Taco Bell  this month and go full time as the Children's Pastor at Calvary Open Bible. I know it was hard for the girls to continue in "burger flippin" jobs after college...but God has used that time for His kingdom, they went through college debt free,  are moving on.  

Bre loves her job as a children's pastor, where she gets to rope her grandparents into joining the fun...

And transform sanctuary's in OR to Babylonian Gardens

Josiah was invited back to work at Chick Fil A - better hours, more pay....he'd worked at the bank a bit over 6 months. He realized he really doesn't LIKE an admin job and it would bore him to death. He's back at Chick Fil A - the plan is for him to pursue owning in a few years...he's happy, making more money, enjoys the challenge of people a bit more than bank ledgers....Josiah has begun his MBA. 

Shelby continues her studies at ASU.  She has won a National Video contest and  is currently storming the East Coast for the awards ceremony. 

Astute readers should be wondering when we added a Shelby to our line up. ::wink:: I am authorized to share  Josiah and Shelby are dating. She's a doll and we enjoyed meeting her at his graduation from ASU last December.  

Jamin has started his Junior/Senior year. This is a frightening photo of Jared's first day of college....

Jamin had the best team time at the first race of the year.  I  wish the college would figure out how to give a walk on athlete financial aid. He may have to cut back on running as he has to WORK to pay for college. LOL  He's still enjoying Olive Garden.

Jared has begun his Freshman year. He's bought a car, received his household goods and is settling into life. He has been selected to serve on the student Senate at ASU and is working at Olive Garden. 

*Note Jared insists the movers UNMADE his bed when they  delivered his household goods.  *I've* never seen this in all our military moves... ::snort:: 

Random photos I snatched from Facebook and want on the blog so they get printed. LOL 

Brother Nate and family visited the boys in TX  this summer

Sisters....Sisters...Lord Help the Mister....

Jamin and Cody - Josiah's Dog

Jamin never DID learn to walk - has been running since before he was 1

Stinkin Cute! 

Krista's been working out and impresses us with her strength

Krista (middle) with friends on the OR Coast

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...