Monday, February 1, 2010

COMMIT - AND YOU WILL WIN THE PRIZE

Have you ever felt defeated?  That is exactly how I feel right now.  It is almost 11 PM and I came out here at 9:00 p.m., and have been writing ever since.  I was about to sign off when "whish - ever thing was gone."  IT shows a "draft" with nothing in it. Tonight I had written my heart out - and had given you two great recipes!  As I sit in this wonderful room that Travis built in 1998 - and look at the pointed ceiling covered in beautiful knotted pine- and to be honest - see mistakes he would never make today - I see a room full of memories.  At the top of the walls - before the ceiling accends 12 ft up - he built me a shelf - I call it my "Memory Shelf"!  It holds special things like the little train and a jar of marbles his Mom saved for him from his childhood - (He says he was the champion marble player -however that was played), a to-scale log truck that someone made for him, a little black doll with braided pigtails and ribbons in a little pull-wagon that my aunt and uncle made me when I was decorating "country", a US flag waving Santa that my long-gone friend Cyndie made for me one Christmas, and a picture I loved of a country goose an aunt bought for me and several other things she gave me before she left this world - a bitter old woman - and a teapot from my Mom that she had early in her marriage.  Such memories -- do you have a "Memory Shelf" -- if not - start one!!!!  I watched the cute little show "The Bachelor" tonight with all of the beautiful women - "with feelings" for the same cute, handsome guy - that is "attracted to all of them!"  Attracted - isn't that something we have all felt one time or another?  But does that build the basis for a marriage that will last?  He (Jake) is suppose to choose his wife - his lifetime partner- from one of these attractions!  Realistic - I don't think so! So you ask - "Well - what about a long time ago when the father picked the husband and their life together lasted 50 or more years - until one died??" Well - yes - times were different - but don't you think the marriage lasted because of a commitment - whether forced or desired?  A commitment says that no matter if you hurt my feelings, I don't feel loved today, or I don't like you for that - you go to God and ask him to help you love the person you are married to - and you look back to the day you wanted to marry that person and you see what you saw then - and realize  COMMITMENT is "YOU STAY MARRIED" unless there is something there that God forbids or grants you the right to uncommit! 
I dare to say we all have had our "I don't likes" and "hurt feelings" and "I don't like you right now" - but look around and see the people that have been married 25, 45, or 50 plus years - and mostly you will see Godly people loving one another!
 I bet you are saying to yourself - "I thought this was a Cooking blog - where did all of this "Moral stuff" come from?"  Well - it did start out to be a "Cooking Blog" but as I wrote I thought about - Cooking and how it could fill an empty stomach, but not an empty heart, could fill a hollow tooth - but not a hollow life, could fill a plate, but not a life. It takes much stronger food than meat and potatoes to do that - it takes love and Jesus is Love and with Him - we can all find that fulfillment!  So - I trust you will stick with me - and you will get some great (well I think they are) recipes to cook and enjoy - but with God's help - some recipes to an abiding life in Him as well.

Super Bowl is nearing and the HYPE is growing.  Here is a recipe that is so easy - and so good!  It disappears nearly as fast as you can cook it.  Thanks to Shellie Arnold with Azalea Bell Catering - here is DATES STUFFED WITH FETA CHEESE that she served at my Mom's 90th birthday party!  She was married to my dad over 50 years before he passed away.

DATES STUFFED WITH FETA CHEESE
Pitted Dates
Feta Cheese
Bacon - strips cut into thirds

Split the dates on one side and stuff with Feta cheese. Wrap with bacon and fasten with toothpicks.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 18 minutes or until bacon is done.  Make as many as you need - but just remember - people will love them - so make plenty!!!

Another easy and favorite recipe!!
SPICY TORTILLA ROLL-UPS
1 -8 oz. package cream cheese, softened
1 (2 oz.) can chopped black olives
1 (4 oz.) can diced green chiles
1 (4 oz.)jar sliced pimentos, drained
2 green onion, minced
3 Tablespoons hot pepper sauce
3 Tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
10 -10 inch flour tortillas

In medium size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, olives, chiles, pimentos, green onions, hot sauce and fresh cilantro.  Spread the mixture onto tortillas.  Roll the tortillas up and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.  Slice the rolls and serve with salsa for dipping.  Delicious!

NOTE:  You can put just about anything with the cream cheese and roll them up -- but this is very good!!!

Well - what a night -- I'd better get off before something bad happens again -- or I fall over on my computer and delete it myself!  Take care - cook something good - and COMMIT to love the one you love until death do you part.  If you are not there yet - don't say "I do" until you can!  God Bless!!!

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