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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Chicken Lime Kabobs (or not)

Ava, Gracie (age 15-1/2 months), and Mrs. Cowling, May 2011
When I was a student at Hyles-Anderson College, I took a cooking class taught by Mrs. Frieda Cowling.  She is a wonderful teacher!  I also took How to Rear Children under her and Understanding Your Husband under her husband, Dr. Pete Cowling.

Mrs. Cowling had her cooking students pair up and cook new recipes every week.  This recipe is probably my favorite one that we did.  I remember that it was the first time I'd ever had anything to do with jalapeno peppers.  Shooo-wheee!  They were hot, but SO GOOD!  It's a shame I had to wait until I was 32 years old to find out I liked hot stuff!

For nearly 30 years, the Cowlings have traveled with the Songs of Praise summer tour group.  I've been blessed to have seen them last week as well as last year.  They usually do not go to the same church two years in a row, so it was a wonderful surprise for them to come both years.

Chicken Lime Kabobs

Ingredients:

Marinade:
1 large can of frozen orange juice (thawed)
1-1/4 cup lime juice
1 cup honey (or to taste) -- did not use
4-5 jalapeno peppers, chopped
10 garlic cloves, minced*
3 T ground cumin
2 T grated lime peel (did not use)
1 t salt

*I used about 1/2 tsp chopped garlic and about 2-3 T of garlic powder.  I can't really remember how much garlic powder I used, but that seems about right.  I didn't know I was almost out of garlic, so I had to improvise.

2 pounds boneless chicken cut into 1-1/4" cubes
4 medium peppers, mixture of red and green, cut into 1" pieces
1 large red onion, cut into 1" pieces
3 small zucchini, cut into 3/4" pieces (did not use)
3 medium limes, cut into wedges

Directions for Kabobs:

1.  Mix marinade and separate into two ziplock bags, one for chicken and one for veggies.

2.  Marinate 8 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.

3.  Drain meat and veggies.  Reserve veggie marinade for basting.  Discard chicken marinade.  Thread chicken and veggies onto skewers.  If using wooden skewers, soak them in water for at 1/2 hour.

4.  Grill uncovered over medium heat 4-5 minutes on each side.  Continue turning and basting 10-12 minutes.

Directions for "or not":

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Dump veggies and marinade into a 9 x 13" baking dish.  Use a slotted spoon to get chicken and place on top of the veggies.  Discard chicken marinade.

Cook in oven for ~45 minutes.


I had planned on making this last Tuesday but was not feeling my best all week.  It was Friday before I prepped the dish.  Then, it was Sunday afternoon before I cooked it.  It turned out really good!  Robert said it was great the way it was, then said that he would like to try it with the addition of sweet and sour sauce.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Blog Post Roundup (5/12/12)

Here are some posts I thought y'all might enjoy.









On Forcing Children to Share (and Socialism) @ Smockity Frocks

7 Simple Ways to Connect with Your Pastor @ Pastor Paul Chappell

Dear God, Please Let My Children Get in Trouble @ I Can Teach My Child

More on Sharing @ Doorposts of Your House

Is the Culture Forcing Children to Grow Up Too Fast? @ The Better Mom

Now I See @ Valerie Write Now

8 Tips to Take Better Travel Pictures @ Digital Photography School

A Gift in the Mundane {Parenting in the Now} @ The Incomplete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking

Making it Easy to Make it Right @ Encouraging Words from Carey Schmidt


Saturday, May 5, 2012

Blog Post Roundup (5/5/12)

Here are some posts for you to enjoy.










Comfort @ Valerie Write Now

Small Story, Big Lesson @ Valerie Write Now
Zacchaeus @ Everyday Grace  (These two posts go well together!)

Because Jesus Triumphed, I Am... @ Pastor Paul Chappell

The Difference Three Days Can Make @ The Better Mom

For When It is Time to Tell Your Child, "I'm Sorry." @ The Better Mom

Concerns and Hopes for Older Preachers @ Pastor Paul Chappell

Be a Supermom! @ Learning God's Lessons


Wonderful Works @ Everyday Grace

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Book Review: Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick




Where the Lilacs Bloom is a fictionalized account of the life of Hulda Klager who spends her life growing developing new varieties of lilacs.  Although she had just an 8th grade education and many duties as a housewife to a farmer and mother of four children, she worked on developing over 250 different varieties of lilacs including some with 12 petals and different colors not thought possible.  She is a woman of faith and uses that faith both in her personal life when various tragedies strike and in trying to accomplish her dreams.  She was a generous woman, giving away her flowers to others and wanting to be a blessing to them.

I enjoyed this book even though it was quite different than any I've read before.  Jane Kirkpatrick has a very unique voice in writing; I'd noticed that before in other books that she's written.   She put just enough horticulture information to help with understanding how Hulda did her work, but it wasn't so much that one got bored with it.  I found it be rather interesting.  This is one of the very few books I have read where the main character is a middle-aged woman (with the exception of sequels of books about the same person).  That also gave a unique perspective.

Here is one of my favorite quotes from the book, "God gave us flowers for a reason.  I think so we'd pay attention to the details of creation and remember to trust Him in all things big or little, no matter what the challenge.  Flowers remind us to put away fear, to stop our rushing and running and worrying about this and that, and for a moment have a piece of paradise right here on earth.  God offers healing through flowers and brings us closer to Him."  Also, in regard to giving flowers to others, "A moment of joy is no small thing to give another."

Jane Kirkpatrick Links


Reviews on Blogging for Books can be reviewed and ranked by others.  I would love it if you would visit my review on the Blogging for Books site and rank my review.  Upon ranking my review, you will be entered in a drawing to win your own copy of this book!  Don't worry, you won't hurt my feelings if you give me a bad review.  I'd rather have an honest bad review than a dishonest good review.  "Faithful are the wounds of a friend: but the kisses of an enemy deceitful." (Proverbs 27:6)


FTC Disclaimer:  I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.”  I was not required to provide a positive review.  All opinions expressed are my own.