Peace in the midst

Last night, I had a fairly restless night.  I've been falling asleep early, waking up around 1AM, and being wide awake.  Once my body gets up, my mind starts to run away and sound sleep feels far from possible.  I read once that counting backwards by 3, starting at a high number like 500, can help to quiet thoughts, but nothing seemed to help. 

I had a fascinating experience in the middle of tossing and turning.  For some reason, I was trying to recall a passage of scripture that describes Jesus resting.  The ones where he slips away to pray came to mind, but did not seem to ease my racing thoughts. 

A little while later, I was reminded of Jesus in the boat with the disciples.  A great storm arises, the ship is beginning to sink, and they are distraught to find Jesus sound asleep below deck.  (Found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.)  What captured my mind was that even in the midst of a great storm, Jesus is resting.  Though the wind and the water create violent disruption, the world quite literally turning upside down, He is able to remain at peace and rest. 

This site gives insight into the power of this experience, that it clarifies the humanity of Jesus, that the significant work of ministry accomplished daily requires powerful rest and renewal.  Even Christ our Lord was able to quiet His mind enough to be at peace, even in the midst of surrounding storms. 

How am I clinging to what I can control, what I feel so led to think through and process, rather than surrendering daily my hopes, dreams, agenda, plans, ambition, and pride to the one who is more than able to care for every need.  How many verses speak to the need to cast our cares upon the Lord, for he cares for us...to share His yoke, which is light.  May I remember always that sleep at night is just as necessary for fruitful ministry as anything I do during the day.

This week!

Fun flowers we (Buddy and me) saw on our walk

It was a fun week cooking in the Stewart house.  The day after Easter I was zonked.  I went to Trader Joe's, after having planned out a few meals...and when I went to check out my cart was OVERFLOWING.  Like - bigger than I've ever filled one before (granted TJ's carts are small).  And I had a big watermelon inside.  But still...stopped me in my tracks.  Mostly because we were planning to leave for a week and already had food at home.  I thought, "there's no way we'll eat all of this."  So...in my zombie-esque stumbling I went back around and put several things back. 

I must also say - I had about 3-4 mini-cups of coffee - I'm spoiled by TJ's free coffee!

I then swung by The Fresh Market (a sucker for free coffee!) - and had fun staring at grains, sauces, and such.  It is good to just explore and get a feel for prices and random ingredients. TFM has anything yuppie-ish you may need for a fancypants recipe. 

Anyhoot, my friend Sarah's been cooking up a storm lately and is re-inspiring me.  She sent me this cool link - Hungry Happens - some great ideas that are healthy and many are gluten-free or vegan or easily adaptable!

Mike loves watermelon - and I mixed in some basil and goat cheese (could have been feta) and didn't have any limes - but tried with lemon.  Lime would have been better!  Here's the inspiration!

Of course, I had to enter the EPA Pie Contest.  I didn't know what to make, so I googled "Ree Drummond Pie recipes" as my mom suggested her as a great resource.  I stumbled upon the "Pie That'll Make You Cry" - and went for this one.  Basically her re-visiting of traditional pecan pie - but I don't know what she changed!  I did read before that the key to keeping pecan pies from being too runny is the egg yolks - so don't short-change yours.  I agree with her that its hard to gauge just how long to bake.  Ours ended up being about 1 hour!  I did use TJ's frozen pie crusts, a cashier said they were really good back when I made Mike a blueberry pie for his birthday last month.  She instructs you to put all the pecan pieces at the bottom, and then pourover the liquid - the pecans rise to the top.  I agree with her that you use the chopped pecans because when you cut the big pecans, the fold into the pie and it gets even more messy than it already is!  Mike suggested making something chocolate, and it wasn't til AFTER that I remembered a Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie I made before for Thanksgiving!  Oh well!

mmmm pie. 

For Mike's mom's birthday, we had Lemon-scented Crispy chicken Thighs!  It took me most of Friday to find a "14" Oven-proof Skillet" - spoiler alert: they don't exist in Cary!  But I did find a good one at Target that was 12".  I ended up making chicken thighs, breasts, and two legs.  TFM didn't have bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs, which I think would have been better.  But I still got a good sear on the meat.  The meal was hearty and a good "center of the plate" dish.  I served it with some bread and salad.  Works well with my in-laws who like to all eat at the same time (in other words - the make-your-own-pizza night wasn't as well-received).  The recipe calls for fresh-made croutons, but I cheated and got pre-made ones that looked awesome - also at TFM!

Btw - her cookbook Kitchen Confidence is super fun and I recommend it!

Mike's mom, Joanne, also loves molten cake!  So I attempted personal chocolate molten lava cakes.  I used Ree's recipe again - using powdered sugar.  I read in her blog that an extra yolk makes it even more runny.  I liked the blend of bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolates - it was very rich but good.  And the 13 minute bake time was right on!  Made for a very nice birthday cake!  Fortunately we found a candle hidden in the drawer :-)

New Schedule

Mike and I have been having fun new culinary adventures.  We've really gotten into watching cooking shows together, which makes it difficult to not want to snack after dinner!  But we've learned a lot about food just from watching others' techniques and gleaned inspiration from others' creations. It is hard to work full time and also make time to cook - and harder yet to blog about it.  But I still feel a pull to want to - a hobby I suppose! 

Note the 'crunchified' burger!

Through watching shows, however, we realize that Bobby Flay is the core of all that is Food Network.  I'm amazed by 'Beat Bobby Flay' where a cook comes and brings his/her best dish, and on the fly Bobby Flay can create a unique twist on that dish (e.g., crab cakes, mac and cheese, burgers) and beat the competitor!  Pretty incredible. We love watching Damaris - the newest FN Star - and "Southern at Heart."  She's so funky and quirky.  I love Kelsey Nixon - and from getting her newest cookbook, I'm excited to gain 'Kitchen Confidence.'


So as this post states -we have a 'new schedule,' or two really.  One involves our meals, and the other involves shopping!  We are doing: Meat-less Mondays, Taco Tuesdays (anything in a wrap/shell!), Wacky Wednesdays (since I'm at work, Mike is free to go wild!), Take-out Thursday (where I generally still cook something - ha!), and Fish Friday.  We haven't pinned down Saturday/Sunday - but often we'll go out and have some sort of burger (fish, veggie, beef, turkey, chicken...). Yum-O.  Makes it much easier at least for now to have some sort of 'plan' when I need to meal plan!

So good!

I've also gleaned new ideas and energy just from walking through Trader Joe's, where I tend to go on Mondays.  I particularly like walking along the frozen food aisle and seeing the many options, especially ethnic foods.  I've told many people about this pilaf (someone else's blog and thoughts!).  It's super good!  Love the flavor in it - and it was really quick to heat up.  It is great to know that TJ's now has so much that is organic - a growing trend I sense.  

Anyhow, I've also enjoyed perusing other grocery stores.  I know life would go on, but I'd be less inspired were I not to live in such a great location for food stores.  In addition to Trader Joe's, I also love a weekly visit to The Fresh Market, which seems to be popping up more and more.  They caught my attention with their $2.99 Tuesdays - where chicken breasts go on a great sale.  The chicken is the best tasting we've had - and I suppose it's one notch below full 'Organic.'  Their produce tends to be equal/less than other stores I've found.  The meat and seafood is also incredible - pre-prepped poultry dishes always make my mouth water. Generally the 'other' parts of the store (most everything else) is fairly pricey.  And they don't have an incredible selection...but what they have is great quality.  You could find almost anything obscure there!  Mike loves their kaiser rolls. 

I also tend to make it to Harris Teeter within a given week - their sales coming on Wednesdays and Fridays - and usually if there's something that I find a particularly good deal on (milk, toilet paper) I'll drop in.  But generally not otherwise.  They have just redone the larger HT near us (yes I'm spoiled with THREE within reasonable driving distance).  There's a new hot Asian bar where you can buy prepared asian foods fresh out of woks'.  They also have a full out pizza bar with decent looking gourmet slices - I know Mike would love that!

I sound like I should be a grocery store reviewer!  What I do love is that at the above three places, you get free samples!  TJ and TFM give small cups of coffee (refillable, of course!),

Smells amazing

and HT has a fun bread section, generally testing something I've not tried before.  Walking through these spaces helps my mind relax and focus on something else...and yet drives me to get to cooking.  My fridge and pantry is generally way more full than anything we'd ever be able to eat. 

I am hopeful to start a project that's been brewing in my mind - and maybe by writing about it, it will come to fruition.  Like I said, I look to Kelsey Nixon for inspiration.  Her show, Kelsey's essentials, focuses on what the basics are of cooking.  I am envisioning a book that is 'Amie's Essentials', the basic recipes that I turn to on a regular basis - my mom's cookies, my aunt's banana's bread, my friend's tuna steak, and others.  But I'd also like some good 'go-to' and quick meals for during the week.  I find those are the hardest to dream up on the fly, especially when I need to plan meals quickly.  Though obviously I don't find it hard to have a reason to pop in a grocery store multiple times a week. 

Anyhow, I have a white binder and some dividers that I imagine creating sections for various ideas - almost like a 'scrapbook' of my greatest hits.  I do hope to get this going over the summer, on top of all my aspirations for a season that's already chock full!  More to come!

Excited to turn 31!

I am thankful for this new year of life.  30 was a great year - so much happened, and I learned a lot about myself.  But in this new year, I anticipate even greater things to abound. 

I know it seems silly to think I'm "older" - even as I serve alongside folks who are in their mid-90's!!  But I feel I'm starting to gain a bit of perspective.  And one of the most important lessons is the value of time.  It seems to be the one resource that is not renewable.  Each day comes and goes - and the necessity to make it count becomes ever more urgent.  I am trying to slow down and take it all in, but the moments are ever fleeting. 

One thing that seemed to 'haunt' me in the past few months was the desire to capture these moments - perhaps because they are so fleeting.  A special event.  A well-made meal.  A new insight.  A new friend, even.  I am hopeful that in this new year, I'll take time to record these moments of gratitude.  Much of life is to be lived, and memories made to cherish.  But recording how these special highlights affect my perspective is an invaluable investment of time and energy. 

There are certain things now that I am starting to enjoy even more now. 
- An incredible sunset, where the sky seems vast, colors flow in and out and change with the rising and setting of the sun. 
- Escaping into time with music, and allowing words, tones, bass notes and beautiful voices to carry me into vastness. 
- Walking along paths through the trees, whether on harder rock or soft sand, taking time to appreciate each step and the surroundings. 
- Recognition of voices, loving the familiarity of friends' unique laughter, speech, and hearing certain stories over and again.

As I begin to trade in my running shoes for a yoga mat, I'm thankful for the centeredness it is bringing to my life.  And I hope that each day continues to center around the grace found in Jesus.  The redemption that comes with surrendering ambition and being hopeful and assured that renewal follows.