My own birthing

 

My mind was trying to listen to the

Xmas eve sermon. So tired. 

Fr Mike talking of Mary’s giving

Birth to Jesus and its significance. 

Somehow my mind wandered to

my own conceiving and creating 

my now grown up daughters. 

WOW did I really create them?

Feeling of awe overwhelmed me. 

OMG. For once I appreciated the

miracle of creation. Reminded of

it on the eve of the greatest creation of

all. A child born of Mary for Him to be.

with us to show His love and how to love. 

Tofu Teriyaki

 

Easy peasy tofu teriyaki. One pan preparation yet so good. Add to your rice bowl or eat as is. 

Tofu Teriyaki

15 oz firm tofu drained and cut into cubes

Teriyaki sauce

6 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons syrup

1 teaspoon garlic, onion syrup 

1/2 teaspoon ginger powder 

1/2 teaspoon ground pepper 

1 tablespoon cornstarch in 2 tablespoons water. 

Mix soy sauce, syrup garlic onion and ginger in a saute pan and mix. Add the tofu and allow the sauce to boil and then add cornstarch water slurry. Allow the mixture to boil till tofu is covered with sauce. 

Peanut Butter Coconut Rice Chex Bites

These little bites are addictive. I almost ate the whole thing. My picky taster, my husband, loves these too. He was surprised that something I prepared healthy is actually decadent. 

 Peanut Butter Coconut Rice Chex Bites

1/2 cup peanut butter

6 dates, chopped 

1 1/2 cup coconut flakes

2 cups Rice Chex cereal, crushed coarsely 

1-2 tablespoons maple syrup 

Place all the ingredients in a bowl, mix with your hands and shape into balls. I prefer that the Rice Chex are not pulverized. 

Shirley Temple Bourbon Milk

 

This is a non alcoholic version of a popular Italian dessert drink which I adapted from Giada’s.site https://giadzy.com/blogs/recipes/bourbon-milk. I also have my alcoholic version in this blog. https://lulucooksandtells.blogspot.com/2021/12/bourbon-milk.html

I found this even better than the alcoholic version. Try it. 

Shirley Temple Bourbon Milk

1 serving 

1/2 cup oat milk or other milk

1/2 teaspoon maple syrup 

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

1/2 teaspoon rum extract 

Mix all the ingredients and enjoy. You will still be happy even without the booze.

Paula’s prayer meeting

 

https://youtu.be/iO7ySn-Swwc

Mary’s yes

 1.  Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to continually say yes to You. Help me not be afraid to trust You and Your will for my life. I want to experience everything You have for me

2  meditation 

https://youtu.be/WLTkxWoQt-4?si=I62xvvDkOD0vmYwU

3. Song

https://youtu.be/CihO7vA_ps4?si=jt_27YuGozaizMEi

4. Narrative 

She was much perplexed by [Gabriel’s] words and pondered what sort of greeting this might be.
—Luke 1:29

Religious obedience means a willingness to let go of the consequences on some level and to trust a Bigger Picture. This is what we see Mary doing here in the great annunciation scene. In the obedience of faith we do something because it is true at a deeper level, we feel called at a deeper level perhaps, and not because it immediately works, makes sense or shows likelihood of “success.” Often, we have to let go of the immediate consequences to trust larger or longer-term consequences. Mother Teresa loved to say: “We were not created to be successful but to be obedient.” Obedience is to be true to our deepest voices, which is the only way God can speak to us. But that means we have to have some deeper voices! We have to be practiced in prayerfully listening to our unconscious, to others and even “entertaining angels who usually come unaware” (Hebrews 13:2). How else could Mary have been ready for Gabriel?

Sooner or later we all have to say, “I have to do what I have to do,” as did Franz Jägerstätter, the Austrian peasant who almost single-handedly opposed Hitler. Have you ever been caught that way by the Word of God? “I just know I have to do it. My family doesn’t understand, my friends criticize me, but I know it is the Word planted in my heart for me at this time.” One must feel very lonely and filled with doubt at such times. Yet, after all is said and done, the will of God, more than anything else, is the feverish desire to do the will of God. People who are centered in God instead of themselves always hear larger voices. Such people will know what they must do without being able to prove it. They have the passion to carry through on what must be done. Blessed Franz Jägerstätter was not supported by his church, church teaching, his bishop, his parish priest or even his wife (she told me so personally, with tears in her eyes!).

Mary’s “yes” was said in the darkness of faith. She was not certain, nor assured by any Scripture quote, doctrine or pope. She just heard what she heard, and did what God asked her to do, accepting the consequences. She had enough inner authority to not need a lot of outer authority.

Reflect

In what way do you have a feverish desire to do the will of God?

5.  Meditation 

https://youtu.be/rc5MGwHtQGs?si=rg0EpTY0QwLTivzD

6.  Sharing 

7.  Prayer and intentions 

God, you are my ever-patient creator.
You are my abundant invitation. 
Help me to respond to the layers of my life with a Yes you have heard before. Help me echo the Yes that Mary gave in these places of my life…

8.  Song

https://youtu.be/OUey6ytEXqY?si=iD_W4735hcOnl24n

Vegan Pf Chang Inspired Tofu Lettuce Wrap

This was inspired by this site https://damndelicious.net/2014/05/30/pf-changs-chicken-lettuce-wraps/ which used chicken.  I substituted tofu for the chicken to make it vegan. I was happy. The sauce made it.  

Vegan Pf Chang Inspired Tofu Lettuce Wrap

Inspired by this site  https://damndelicious.net/2014/05/30/pf-changs-chicken-lettuce-wraps/

INGREDIENTS

• 16 oz firm tofu drained and shredded 
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 onion, diced
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated ginger
• 1 tablespoon Sriracha, optional
• 1 (8-ounce can) whole water chestnuts, drained and diced
• 2 green onions, thinly sliced
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
•  lettuce leaves 

INSTRUCTIONS

• 
  In a sauté pan, add the shredded tofu, garlic, onion, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ginger and Sriracha and cook at medium heat until onions become translucent and the tofu has absorbed the sauce   Add chopped water chestnuts and green onions and stir. Season with salt and pepper to taste. 
  To serve, spoon tablespoons of the mixture into center of lettuce leaf and roll if you like. 
• 
  

Instant Pot Lo Mein

 

If you are using spaghetti as the noodles for Lo Mein, the instant pot approach is for you. One step is used. 

Instant Pot Lo Mein

8 oz spaghetti uncooked 

2 cups water

3 tablespoons soy sauce

2 tablespoons oyster sauce

1 teaspoon sweetener

1 teaspoon garlic powder

1 carrot cut in small pieces 

1 green pepper sliced wide julienne 

Add the water at the bottom of instant pot. Add the soy sauce, oyster sauce, sweetener and garlic powder. Mix thoroughly. Then add the spaghetti and vegetables. 

Close the Instant Pot lid and set the valve to Sealing position.

Press the "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" button and set the time to 2 minutes. 

When it finishes cooking, let the Instant Pot naturally release the steam for 10 minutes then quick release using the venting position.

Mix the noodles and vegetables. Serve with green onions and douse with 1 teaspoon sesame oil and sesame seeds if you like.

Microwave Cocoa Banana Oatmeal Cookies

 

Microwave Cocoa Banana Oatmeal Cookies 

2 ripe bananas 

1 1/2 cups oats

1/4 cup cocoa (1 packet Starbucks cocoa)

Mix the ingredients  Place 1 tablespoon mixture around a plate.  Microwave for four minutes. 

Repeat with the rest of the mixture.  

Makes 12 cookies.