Pizza Anyone?

July 22, 2014 A Labour of Love 3 Comments

One thing I miss about eating gluten free and rice free is pizza. On occasion I will eat a gluten free pizza however, due to the rice flour I usually pay for it. One of my friends suggested a crust made out of zucchini. Since I have an abundance, I gave it a try.

The crust was yummy and the pizza definitely hit the spot. I have to yet figure out how to be able to hold it, although using a fork was just fine.

Zucchini Pizza Crust

Shred zucchini and sprinkle with salt in a bowl. Let sit for about 30 minute until the zucchini has lost much of its liquid. I used about 2 cups which made a huge pizza.

Cut up some garden fresh basil, pineapple, prosciutto, onion, mushroom, olives, spinach, goats cheese, and another cheese of choice.

When the liquid is drained out of the zucchini, add in two eggs, 1 – 1 1/2 cups of Almond Flour, and a dash of salt. Mix well. Spread out on a heated pizza stone that has been sprinkled with GMO free organic corn meal and bake for 10 minutes until lightly browned. Once the crust is browned, add your tomato sauce and toppings and bake another 15 minutes at 400 degrees or until cheese is bubbly and vegetables and prosciutto are cooked to desired tenderness.

Cut, plate, serve and enjoy! 🙂

Following in Faith

Past vs. Present

July 14, 2014 A Labour of Love 4 Comments

I admit it, I’m a bible thumper. I enjoy being in church and when we travel I miss fellowship with those who are dear to my heart, my church family. I enjoy learning about the history of the gospel, the truth of God’s Word and the approach of which we should all be living out our lives if we are truly sheep of His flock. I am continually held accountable through conviction of my own sins and am blessed by the knowledge that I will never be perfected in Christ until my redemption through death.

I remember the day I sought out His will for my life and that of my unborn child. The day I wept in prayer seeking forgiveness for a life spent looking for happiness and “fun”. Oh, it has been a journey and sanctification can be long and sometimes difficult. Attending a world wide bible study with over 17 denominations, yes there are many, I learned about reading the bible and how to study scripture. I learned about how to be a wife and a mother as God intends, a friend, a servant and a daughter to an almighty sovereign Father. I learned about forgiveness and the blessings that follow and learned about the toll bitterness can take on one who does not seek it. I have been encouraged in times of trouble, I have been comforted in times of darkness, and I have listened hearing words spoken that I had not before understood. I remember feeling as Saul must have felt when the scales were removed from his eyes and he became a servant. I felt as if I had been blind and was finally seeing colors and shapes as they had never been seen. Things have over the years become clearer and the journey has not been easy. Taking me from being a nominal christian in the worship of several different denominational churches where my stirring heart to hear truth in a way I could not explain was not satisfied, to the community of which I call home. A community of like minded believers that see things as I see them. Where truth comes from God’s most holy word, through teaching that is scripturally sound and thoroughly studied. Christ has led this sinful mind, body and soul to a place of humbling grace surrounded with unconditional love and forgiveness. I praise God that I have been led out of darkness and into the light. I praise Him for His continued watchful eye over my family, grabbing hold the hearts of my husband and children so that generations will share in His kingdoms glory, serving Him together for an eternity.

As we sat in church this morning, I once again felt that society needs to hear truth. Truth spoken from a pulpit that does not focus on “bringing in the numbers” by pleasing the people, yet a pulpit that seeks to honor the Father on His day with truth from His own book. Do people really understand why we have the family platform we have? Do they understand that it was not a man made concept that just took off in tradition? How many people understand that the bible is the most widely read book in the world? What is taught on Sundays and any other day of the week for God’s faithful should not just be left at the door step of the building as they leave, it should be carried through out their week and taken seriously. Hell is real. Heaven is real! (And no, I do not watch movies that try to tell me it is, I know it because I read it in God’s spoken word in the scriptures and I feel it in my heart.) We live in a corrupt world of deception that tries to destroy families and what they stand for. We as believers in truth and followers of Christ need to stand up for what we believe in and teach our children to be strong in their faith, protecting the Word as God would have us. He will overcome!

Therefore, I am posting today’s message spoken from the pulpit. This is a subject dear to my heart as I teach my children about marriage, expectations in relationships and the honor and glory commitment is to our almighty sovereign God. To Him be the glory!

I pray that you are blessed by the message and that you will be given the ears to hear it as God intends. If you are a sinner seeking forgiveness, I pray that this gives you hope. If you are a parent, I pray that it gives you a clearer vision into the scriptures to teach your children.

Please read these first and then listen to the audio. (If you do not own a bible, please google the verses in ESV.)

Psalm 30:2-3, Proverbs 5:1-14, Ephesians 5:22-33 and Exodus 20:14

http://crbc.us/media_events/976-The-Seventh-Commandment

(Courtesy of CRBC.us, and with permission to post.)

memories

A Mothers Joyful Heart

July 8, 2014 A Labour of Love 5 Comments

Psalm 127:3 (ESV) Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

I can still remember the feeling of my children when I was pregnant for them. I remember the movement they would make, the hiccups that kept them jostling around in consecutive rhythm, and the elbow or knee that would poke out under my rib that kept me from being able to bend forward. I remember the glorious feeling that God had chosen me to be their mom on this earth. That he chose me to carry two of His children so that I could raise them up in His word and teach them what I know of Him. What a blessing, what an honor.

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

My daughter and I had the opportunity to spend some time together a week ago leaving the boys home to meander doing “boy stuff”. The true test of how much I am healing. From not being able to drive at all, to driving the 8 hours one way to our home away from home. The drive back home 4 days later was more of a challenge, yet we made it safely and the memories of our time together will be a blessing for many years.

We cooked, shopped, took apart old watches and made bracelets out of the gears, and began working on quilts from the material we found at the quilt store. We also drove around one day with our cameras and took some photographs of nature and the beauty that God provides. I think many people go through their days not noticing what is around them. Not us, we embraced the moment with two lenses, one lens being the eyes of youth and the other being the eyes of age. We laughed and discussed how glorious God is that he has found favor in us to have given us the ability to see beauty in the things around us. From the flowers blooming in the garden of a older woman, to the trees in the forest lining the road way. We saw deer, a skunk, an eagle, and the black squirrels jumping from limb to limb playing tag. Our weekend was not short of excitement.

My highlight was spending time with my daughter, and watching the doe with her fawns that visited our yard each day. Sometimes more than once. At one point I opened the upstairs window to capture a clear shot and I heard one of the fawns honk as he/she communicated with his/her mom. I nearly cried. I watched as mom looked in all directions before she led her babes across the street, and watched as she led them to the greenery teaching them to forage for food. I also watched the babes chase one another around the yard jumping and running at full speed. It was beautiful and for a moment I felt a connection with the doe. We were both teaching and spending time with the blessing of our womb.

I hope that you find favor in the site of the Lord and that you can see the beauty that is around you. No matter where you are, what you are doing, what affliction tries to carry you away, I pray that you can and will cry out for the eyesight to notice the creations of the Lord. Enjoy the pics, we sure enjoyed taking them.

And the surprise out my bedroom window at 5:30 a.m.

Big, fluffy white coat and a tail that swirled and swayed as he ran into the woods (when I tried to take the screen out to get a better picture) … If only it didn’t smell! 🙂

Celtic Fun, Why?

Kincardine Highland Festival

July 6, 2014 A Labour of Love Leave a comment

Here is a glimpse of how we spend our weekends. Here is the band competing in Kincardine.

Courtesy of Weekendsinontario.

Menus / Recipes, Why?

Healthy Meal Idea

July 1, 2014 A Labour of Love 1 Comment

A friend of mine recently wrote about her Strawberry Mango Salsa and I was drooling. Okay, not literally drooling, I was salivating in thought. It reminded me of a salsa that I used to make years ago, allowing a few summers to pass without it blessing our table. So, while my daughter and I were away we decided to make fish tacos with our Mango Salsa. We’ve now enjoyed two meals with it. 🙂

Mango Salsa

2 ripe organic Mangos

1/2 organic yellow sweet onion

1 small organic red pepper

1 bunch organic cilantro

2 garlic stalks

Chop all of the above and put into a bowl.

Add:

1/2 tsp. Organic Balsamic vinegar

1 TBS. Lime juice

1 TBS. Apple Cider Vinegar

1 TBS. Coconut Sap

Salt

Mix all ingredients well, cover and let sit in the fridge for at least 2 hours before serving.

The fish I used was a thick white fish (any that are wild caught). I cut them into squares and seasoned them, placing them into a cast iron pan with coconut oil. I cooked them just until they were done.

We loaded the fish into the taco shells (organic is best), then added fresh cut organic red cabbage and placed the mango salsa on top.

The following day we broiled some Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon with some dill and placed it over a bed of garden fresh lettuce with a sliced avocado and some 6 bean salad. Who needs dressing for the salad when you have Mango Salsa. 🙂