Thursday's Thoughts: Mind Reset

Thursday's Thoughts: a taste of what I'm thinking

The more often you repeat something the more likely it is to stick in your mind. I mentioned a while back that I'm participating in a scripture memory group this year which involves memorizing two Bible verses a month.  I was enthusiastic and persistent in January with my first two verses.  I kept a card out where I could see it and worked on the verse most days.  Today is the last day of February and honestly I haven't done nearly as well this month on my next two verses.

Committing something to memory involves mindfulness, repetition, persistence and frequency.  It does not just happen by osmosis.  I looked at my verses a few times this month, but didn't put in as much effort as I did in January.  Ideally I'd be committing the new verses to memory as well as reviewing the past ones.

  Whether it's studying for a test or memorizing verses, repetition has always worked for me.  But in order for that to work, I have to actually do it not just think about it.  Good intention must be followed by action.  So, in order to get these verses into my head in as many ways as possible, I'm going to type them out for today's post.  Here are the verses I've chosen so far, starting with the most recent.

Those who live by the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires, but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. -Romans 8:5-6

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  -James 3:17

He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. -Deuteronomy 8:3

Whatever is pure, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is true, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me- put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. -Philippians 4:8-9

Food for Thought: "The difference between try and triumph is just a little umph." -Author unknown (possibly Marvin Phillips)

Random Recipe Wednesday: Cauliflower Casserole

Let's talk about impulse purchases again.  The good thing about food is its short shelf life, meaning there's less chance to accumulate clutter.  Cookbooks, on the other hand, have a very long shelf life.  In fact, they spend most of their life on the shelf.  As my cookbook collection continues to grow I must be very careful about what I allow to live on my shelves.  A friend of mine recently introduced me to The New Moosewood Cookbook by Mollie Katzen.  She received it from her grandma as a wedding gift and has been enjoying it ever since.  I was immediately drawn in by the unique recipes and new ideas.  However, I was determined that no matter how much I wanted to finish reading it, I wouldn't go home and impulse buy a copy. (Why yes, I do read cookbooks like books, thanks for asking.)

In order to delay my purchase I decided to first check out a copy from the library and see if it was truly shelf-worthy.  After paging through and noting numerous recipes I couldn't wait to try, I was on the verge of a decision.  Is this cookbook really unique and inspiring enough to deserve a spot on my shelf?  While teetering on the edge of this decision, I found a used copy at a second hand store.  You may remember I'm a sucker for a good deal.

Tuesday's Twist: Sweet Potato and Squash Soup with Citrus and Sage

Tuesday's Twist:  A basic recipe with a fun twist.  In other words, just another excuse for me to play around with weird recipes I've been dying to try.

The great debate over creamy vs. crunchy peanut butter is a cousin to the soup conundrum.  Generally I prefer a chunky soup with a variety of textures, but one sip of this silky smooth soup and had me swooning for another spoonful.  Now that I've mentioned peanut butter and used far too much alliteration let's begin.  I'll start by warning you that I was in a terribly indecisive mood while planning this pot of winter warmth.  You know, the kind of mood where I just want to add everything instead of keeping it simple.  Yeah, too many options and I get carried away.

A spoonful of creamy velvet was the one thing I was sure about here.  But our soup must be silky soft without using heavy cream.  Enter two secret ingredients, cauliflower and Greek yogurt.  After making a version of this cream-free cream of mushroom soup, I was sold on using cauliflower and Greek yogurt for a thick and creamy, ultra-smooth soup with extra protein but without the fat.  Lately there's been multiple versions of baked potato soup using the cauliflower trick for low-carb creaminess.  If it works with potato soup, why not sweet potato?

Mindful Monday: Untangling Thoughts

Mindful Monday: On Monday's I'm going to share what's been on my mind. I by no means have any of this figured out, I'm just thinking out loud here.

It's been a while since I've really thought out loud here.  Monday's and Thursday's posts have been full of verses, thankful lists or random facts, but nothing in depth or too thought provoking.  I was pondering just why that is and came to a few conclusions.  During those glorious warmer months I went on long walks most days.  A few hours each day of fresh air, sunshine and nature gave me plenty of time to unwind and digest my thoughts.  During the winter I'm wrapped up in my cocoon of a blanket wishing I had an excuse to just hibernate until spring.  My thoughts stay wrapped up too, and I take less time to untangle them.  My mind could use a good spring cleaning.  Come to think of it so could my room, but that's another story.

Perhaps my avoidance is related to contentment.  Some of the thoughts I've delayed untangling relate to issues I keep hoping will untangle themselves given enough time.  But isn't that part of the problem?  If this, when that, as soon as ____, then, yes surely then I'll get to that.  But what about now?  What if "then" is just an unreachable, ever-increasing ideal that never materializes?  I must learn to be content with the now, to enjoy the moment whatever it may bring or not bring.  Because dwelling too much on the  maybe's, what if's, or what could have been's, results in missing the fullness of the present.

And that reminds me why I often avoid untangling my thoughts, it's messy and confusing.  It takes time, patience and thought.  What's that? You say thought is required to think things out, who would've thought?  Surface level is easy, or at least cleaner and faster.  It's much safer to tell you there are 11-1/2 bananas sitting on my counter than to hash out my perspective on a topic I'm not too sure of.  That being said, this is not always the place to share those thoughts.  However, I do need to be more mindful by untangling them in one way or another.  Okay, now that I've untangled some thoughts about thoughts, I think I'll wrap it up here before I tie my tongue in knots.

Food for Thought: "Life is so urgent it necessitates living slow." -Ann Voskamp

Flashback Friday: Old-Fashioned Lemon Pudding Cake

Flashback Friday: Revisiting a recipe from long ago

Pudding cakes are just that, cake and pudding.  During baking the the cake layer rises to the top while a pudding forms on the bottom.  Whipped egg whites float to the top of the batter and form a light, delicate cake.  Underneath this sponge cake is a soft, silky pudding similar to custard.