My Thanksgiving Turkey Soup

   Turkey soup is a comforting sort of soup. It's also a great way to use those turkey bones from your Thanksgiving turkey or from other winter holidays (I like to make a turkey for New Years). A few years ago I started to jot down what I did to make my own turkey soup--without any gluten containing products.

    Everyone who ate this raved about how great it was.  That's usually how I know I'm on to something.  With any soup like this it's easy to add your own vegetables and even a few more spices.  Enjoy!

My Thanksgiving Turkey Soup

1.  Prepare turkey:  You can either make this recipe with the carcass of your turkey or with some turkey legs and thighs. If you're using the turkey carcass, remove larger pieces of turkey meat and put into a container so you can add them in the last half hour or so.  
(1)  Put the carcass in a large soup pot fill the pot with water. 
(2)  Add 2 T of rice mirin or 1 T of lemon juice to help release the nutrients from the bones.  
(3)  Bring to a boil and then put on medium-low.  As the soup cooks, skim off any foam and discard. Meanwhile prepare the vegetables. 

 2. Prepare vegetables:  

(1)  Cut up 5 stalks of celery

(2)  Slice 3 carrots in half moons or just chop them up.

(3)  Chop up 1 onion.

(4)  Chop up 2 T of fresh parsley. 

3.  Prepare soup: 

(1)  Add the chopped vegetables to the water and turkey. 

(2)  Add the following spices:   1  T salt,  1 tsp. pepper, 2 T chicken bouillon  (Taste and see if your pot needs it or not!), and 1-2 T Costco's Organic No Salt Seasoning (or anything similar). Taste after 1 T and see if it's okay.

I made this turkey soup on
January 2, 2017.  I had to smile when
 after a few bites my youngest
  granddaughter said,  "So yummy!"

(3)  After the water comes to a boil, lower it to a simmer and cook for 2-3+ hours. Add additional turkey meat last 30-60 minutes.  Remove the bones.  If you want to have noodles, cook them in a separate pot and add them to each bowl and then cover with soup. 

(4)  Before serving, taste and adjust the seasonings.

List of My Favorite Soups, Chili & Stew Recipes: 

Beef 

Grandma's Favorite Beef Stew  (My mother-in-law's delicious recipe!)

Just Like Home Ukrainian Borscht   (A Polish student  said this tasted like his mom's!)
Mouth Watering Italian  Sausage Soup   (This is my friend Debbie's recipe)

Poultry

This is the Best Gluten Free Minestrone Soup!   (A recipe my son modified)

Mexican Fiesta Chicken Soup   (A recipe I got years ago from a Mexican cookbook)
My Thanksgiving Turkey Soup  (My very own special concoction!)
Gary's Incredible Gluten Free Arkansas Gumbo  (Given to me by a Bible study friend from Arkansas)
Jeannie's French Market Soup  (A friend from when my kids were little)
Southwest Turkey Soup  (From my Syre School cookbook)

Fish
Northwest Salmon Chowder  (From my Heritage School cookbook)
Almost Like Ivar's Clam Chowder (From my Come & Dine Cookbook)

Bean & Legumes
Vi's Best Chili  (A  Bible study friend's great recipe)
Bethany's Crowd Pleasing Tortilla Soup  (One of my daughter's friends special soup)
Country Style Lentil Soup   (From my Heritage School cookbook)
Kathy's Texas Chili & Chips (From my Come & Dine cookbook)
Spicy Cuban Black Bean Soup (From a store recipe card)
Marilyn's Make It From Scratch Chili  (From my mother-in-law)
Lisa's Red Lentil Soup - From my friend Lisa

Vegetable

Downright Delicious Potato & Kale Soup  (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
A Great Fall Soup - Make it From Scratch Corn Potato Chowder  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
French Pumpkin Soup  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Asian
Chinese Chicken Soups  - Bok choy chicken, chicken & spinach, and chicken & cabbage (Modified from Internet search by our Chinese students)
Make Your Own Gluten Free Chicken Pho!  (Modified from a newspaper article)
Gluten Free Chinese Hot Pot  (Modified by a Chinese student)
Chinese Egg Drop Soup  &  Chinese Egg & Tomato Soup  (Modified  from a student's recipe)

Vegetarian & Gluten Free Tom Yum Soup (A delicious Thai soup) 
Deluxe Miso Soup (Kenchinjiru)   (Adapted from Internet search)
A Thai Mom Teaches Me How to Make Tom Yum Kung  (A student's mom's recipe)
A Vietnamese Cooking Lesson - Lien's Vietnamese Sweet & Sour Soup  (An International student's aunt's recipe)
Cooking Beef Pho for Vietnamese Students  (Modified Recipe)
Asian Curried Chicken Soup  (From my Come & Dine church cookbook)
Rose's Very Own Recipe for Chinese Beef Bone Soup  (from Rose my friend from Taipei)

Seeing God's Sovereignty in Romans 8:28

Deception Pass at Sunset

I believe in God's sovereignty.  When I'm baffled by circumstances or even bewildered by some events in my life, God's sovereignty has held onto me.  That's probably why Romans 8:28 has over the years become one of my favorite verses.  Last week I read chapter 21 of the Life-Study of Romans that covered this verse.  I have read this portion on page 250 many times, and it always strengthens my heart: 

The intercession in Romans 8:26-27 causes all things to work together  (v. 28).  The Greek word translated "all things" means all matters, all persons, all things, all in all.  God the Father is sovereign and He arranges everything... He causes all things, all matters and all persons to work together for our good...God has determined our destiny beforehand, and this destiny can never be fulfilled without the divine arrangement which causes all things to work together for us.  Our destiny is to be conformed to the image of the firstborn Son of God [Romans 8:29]. We are not yet fully in the image of the firstborn Son of God, but God the Father is planning, molding, and performing by causing all things to work together for good (Lee, Witness. Life Study of Romans. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1974, Print). 

     I've also heard it said that the good in this verse is not according to our definition of good, but God's. Earlier in this message he talked about how God has sovereignly arranged where we were born, who would be in our family, and so many details of our life so that we can grow up into full sonship.  No matter what happens or how we feel about what happens, we need keep believing and trusting in God's sovereignty.

Blog Update 5/5/14:  Here's a link to a beautiful song called All Things Work Together from the CD The Comfort Abounds put out by www.nycypcd.org

You can listen to live portions of Witness Lee's sharing on the Life Study of Romans with helpful commentary on the Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee. 

Other Blogs on the Life Studies of Romans:

 Why is Romans Called the Gospel of God?
What's the Connection Between Romans 4 and God's Calling of Abraham?
What is Sanctification in the Book of Romans?
Have You seen the Gospel in Romans 8:3?
Seeing God's Sovereignty in Romans 8:28
What Was Man Created For in Romans 9:21?
What is the Focus of Romans 12?
What Does Romans 14 Say About Receiving Believers & Why Does It Matter?
Have You Seen the Practical Church Life in Romans 16?
What are the Three Laws in Romans 7 & 8 All About?
What Does Being Saved in Life Mean in Romans 5:10?
How Do Carnations Illustrate a Believer's Glorification in Romans 8:30?
Why is God's Righteousness the Power of the Gospel in Romans 1:16-17?
From the Life Study of Roman - Why is God Triune?

Why are There are Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway? Part 2

      When Adam was created, he didn’t  have  a clue that he was actually in a war zone and that God’s enemy was on the loose in the universe.   And for certain he didn’t realize that Satan was even closer than he thought--he was symbolized by another tree in the garden of Eden--the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that God commanded them not to eat. In part 1  of this blog, I shared some insight from a Genesis Life Study that we enjoyed with some college students at a recent Bible study in our home.

     I often wondered why God being the omnipotent God and the Creator of the universe didn't just zap Satan.  It touches me that God's plan focuses a lot on man.  And in Genesis 1:26 we see man’s special place in God’s plan when God says: 
 And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of heaven and over the cattle and over all the earth and over every creeping things that creeps upon the earth.


 God was giving a clue here that the main creeping thing was His enemy Satan. And why in the first place does God need man to have dominion unless there’s a problem with God's absolute right to rule? 

     Witness Lee clarifies in the Life Studies of Genesis that God created man with this special purpose because it brings more glory to God for another creature to deal with this fallen angel (who was also one of God’s creatures). God greatness is seen in the fact that He makes all of His creatures (angels included) with a free will.  He doesn’t coerce angels or man to love Him, worship Him, and serve Him; He lets them choose.  

      God also could have given Adam and Eve a detailed history of what had happened long before so they would understand what was at stake here if they chose the wrong tree, but God didn’t do that. God just simply pointed out to them on a stroll that there were two particular trees in the garden and one was called the tree of life which represented taking God as life, and then there was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which represented taking Satan’s nature as the source of sin.  As you can see, man  is a battle ground.  Who will choose God? This makes me think of a verse in Deuteronomy 30:19 that says:

"... I have  set before you life and death, blessing and curse; therefore choose life
that you and your seed may live,"    

Other  College Student Dinner Fellowships on This Blog:

Do You Have the Assurance of Your Salvation? 

Getting Spiritual Food From God's Word

What are the Securities of Your Salvation?

Hearing God - Dinner Fellowship with College Students

Why Should a Believer Get Baptized?

Why Should We Read the Bible?

Coming to the Lord in His Word

Did You Know God Made You With Three Parts?

What is the Key to Experiencing Christ? - A Fellowship with College Students

Calling on the Lord Makes a Difference! 

What's the Secret the Third Generation of Mankind Found?

Why Are Just 2 Trees Mentioned in Genesis 2?

Discussion with College Students--What is the Church?

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 1

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 2

Have You Seen the Gospel in Romans 8:3?

    

 A few weeks ago at our Friday night Bible study with some college students we read in Genesis 2 and 3.   For a long time  I couldn’t understand how God in His omnipotence and foreknowledge would know ahead of time that Adam and Eve were going to be tripped up by His enemy and then let it happen. As I was reading chapter 15 of the Life-Study of Romans, I got the answer.  I’ve read this message before but this illustration  on page 188 always captivates me:

  

Satan was eager and happy to enter into man’s body, which became the flesh after he entered it, being glad to have a lodging place.  Regardless of how wise Satan is, he can never surpass God.  God is much wiser.  God sent His Son in the likeness of this flesh inwhich Satan was and condemned it on the cross.  It was as if Satan had thought, “Now I can get into man’s body.”  However, Satan did not realize that this was a trap.  When Satan took the bait, he was trapped.  We may use the illustration of a mouse trap.  It is difficult to catch a mouse because the mouse always runs away.  However, we may use a mouse trap with some bait.  The mouse comes into the trap, intrigued with the prospect of having the bait in his possession.  Then he gets trapped and man can easily catch him.  Likewise, Satan has been trapped and bruised in the flesh of Christ on the cross.  In doing this God solved two problems at once:  He solved the problem of sin and the flesh of sin.  God has solved the problem of sin, the nature and source of which is Satan, and the problem of the flesh. Praise the Lord (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Romans. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1974, Print). 

When Satan saw Adam and Eve, he thought now is my chance to destroy God's purpose, I'll get in there first.  But he didn't  realize this was all a set-up as this message makes so clear.  Now for the first time God's enemy was trapped without a way out.  Finally he got caught!

You can listen to live portions of Witness Lee's sharing on the Life Study of Romans with helpful commentary on the Life Study of the Bible with Witness Lee. 

Other Blogs on the Life Studies of Romans:

 Why is Romans Called the Gospel of God?
What's the Connection Between Romans 4 and God's Calling of Abraham?
What is Sanctification in the Book of Romans?
Have You seen the Gospel in Romans 8:3?
Seeing God's Sovereignty in Romans 8:28
What Was Man Created For in Romans 9:21?
What is the Focus of Romans 12?
What Does Romans 14 Say About Receiving Believers & Why Does It Matter?
Have You Seen the Practical Church Life in Romans 16?
What are the Three Laws in Romans 7 & 8 All About?
What Does Being Saved in Life Mean in Romans 5:10?
How Do Carnations Illustrate a Believer's Glorification in Romans 8:30?
Why is God's Righteousness the Power of the Gospel in Romans 1:16-17?

From the Life Study of Roman - Why is God Triune?

Old Fashioned Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies

     When my children were in elementary school, I found this recipe for pumpkin cookies on the inside of a can of Libby's  pumpkin. These cookies were a fun fall treat for them to come home to and a great way to use up any extra pumpkin from my baking pumpkin muffins or pumpkin bread. 

    The taste of pumpkin in these cookies is subtle, not as strong as pumpkin pie.  I've made them gluten free trying different flour combinations.  

Old Fashioned  
Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies

1.  Prepare dry ingredients -  In a medium bowl put:
(1)  2 1/2 cups of gluten free flours - 2 cups of millet flour and 1/2 cup of  brown rice flour (the bag recommends buckwheat, amaranth or soy but I didn't have any of those).

(2) Add spices and leavening:  2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp.  nutmeg,  1/4 tsp. ginger,  1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice (that's my addition), 1/2 tsp. salt,  and 3 tsp. baking powder.

2.  Cream butter and sugar in a large bowl:
(1)  In a large bowl or mixer cream together 1/2 cup of vegetable oil with 1 1/2 cups of  honey ( I used agave) and 1 T blackstrap molasses
(2)  Mix in 1 1/2 cup of canned pumpkin, 2 egg and 2 tsp. vanilla.
Note: You can add raisins or walnuts if you like. I've even added oatmeal.

3.  Combine ingredients:  Mix in the dry ingredients until blended together.  The bag says that this makes a thick pourable batter, but don't be worried, they bake up fine.

4.  Bake cookies:  Drop by rounded tablespoons onto a greased cookie sheet or on parchment and smooth the tops. This makes about 26 medium size cookies.

Bake them at 400 for 12-14 minutes.

 Making Cookie Glaze

Note:  These cookies are not excessively sweet, and so if you want to add a nice touch, you can mix up some glaze and drizzle it over the tops.

  Mix 1/2 cup of powdered sugar in a bowl with 1/2 tablespoon of milk and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla until smooth.  Drizzle the glaze over the top of cooled cookies.

List of other recipes made with pumpkin on this blog:

Breakfast
Yummy Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes
How to Make Homemade Pumpkin Butter
Rachel Ray's Pumpkin Spice Waffles Made Gluten Free & Dairy Free


Dinner
Thai Chicken & Pumpkin Curry
Creamy Pumpkin Soup
Gluten Free Fall Pumpkin Curry Soup

Breads & Muffins
Gluten Free Tremendous Pumpkin Muffins
 Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread
Thanksgiving Gluten Free Pumpkin Scones

Desserts
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies
Our Favorite Gluten Free Pumpkin Pie
Perfect Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake

Other Gluten Free Baking & Desserts on This Blog:

Breads: 
Gluten free & Low-fat Banana Bread  (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Celebrate Fall With Gluten Free Pumpkin Bread   (A friend's recipe)
Delicious Gluten Free Zucchini Bread   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Favorite Gluten Free Cranberry Nut Bread    (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)

Cakes:
Gluten Free German Apple Cake   (From my grandmother)
You Won't Believe It's Gluten Free Carrot Cake    (From my daughter's husband's grandma)
Judi's Super Moist Gluten Free Chocolate Cake   (From a church friend)
Judi's Gluten Free Orange Chiffon Cake       (From a church friend)
Marilyn's Spectacular Gluten Free Oatmeal Cake    (My mother-in-law's--she's a great cook!)
The Best Gluten Free Black Bottom Cupcakes   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Delicious Gluten Free Rhubarb Cake     (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Grandma's Gluten Free Applesauce Cake  (From an Internet search tastes like my grandma's!)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Banana Cake      (From my grandma)
Rosie's Gluten Free Pineapple Upside Down Cake    (From my daughter-in-law's family)


Cookies:
Gluten Free Cowboy Oatmeal Cookies  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Mom's Go To For Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cookies   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
The Best Gluten Free Recipe for Snickerdoodles  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Gluten Free Rocky Road Brownies     (From a church friend)
Mark's Famous Chocolate Chip Cookies - Made Gluten Free!    (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Judi's Gluten Free Oatmeal Craisin & Coconut Cookies       (From a church friend)

Cornbread & Rolls:
Beth's Amazing Gluten Free Cornbread   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Crisps & Pies:
Lena's Rhubarb Crunch (A crisp with a gluten free top and bottom crust!) (My daughter-in-law's mother.  She's an amazing cook, which I think most of us moms become after a few years!)
Delicious Gluten Free Apple Crisp  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Ginger's Outrageous Apple Pie  (From a church friend)
The BEST Lemon Meringue Pie with Mrs. Lauralicious Gluten Free Pie Crust  (Internet)

Desserts with Fruit:
Sensational Gluten Free Strawberry Shortcake   (From the back of Costco's organic sugar)

Terrific Gluten Free Strawberry & Peach Trifle  (Modified from an Internet search)
My Favorite Gluten Free Strawberry Cheesecake   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Just Like Grandma's (But Only Gluten Free) Blueberry Cobbler (My husband's grandma)

Holiday Cookies & Baking:
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies  (Modified from back of the Libby's can)
Incredible Gluten Free Gingerbread Cookies  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Grandkids Favorite Gluten Free Peppermint Sugar Cookies  (From Syre School Cookbook)
Our Favorite Pumpkin Pie   (Modified from back of Libby's pumpkin can)
Perfect Gluten Free Pumpkin Cheesecake  (From back of cream cheese box)
Gluten Free Polish Fruitcake   (Modified from Internet search)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Gingerbread Cake  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Muffins:

Banana Nutty Muffins   (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
Gluten Free Tremendous Pumpkin Muffins    (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Bursting with Blueberries Gluten Free Muffins  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Toni's Outrageous Gluten Free Corn Muffins  (From back of a Bob's Red Mill package)
Sassy Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

 Puddings & Ice Cream:  

Dairy Free Strawberry Coconut Ice Cream (And other ice cream favorites!)  (From searches)

Baked Coconut Pudding  (Something I worked out from my Aunt Sue's rice pudding recipe)
Tangy Lemon Pudding   (From Internet search)

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?

    Have you ever thought about why there was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden anyway?  Didn’t God know Adam would eat that fruit and sin would enter the world?  These are the types of questions we’ve talked about as we’ve started going through the book of Genesis with some college students. 

    In Genesis 1:1 we have God’s creation and in Genesis 3:1 we see a serpent in a tree.  What’s up with that?  Why is a serpent in the garden of Eden anyway?  By linking together several verses throughout the Bible and using insight from G.M. Pember’s book, Witness Lee’s  second message  in the Life Study of Genesis is eye opening!

    Here's my paraphrase of what I've been reading:  Satan was once  a beautiful archangel that led all the other angels in worship God.  His name was day star which in the Latin Vulgate means Lucifer (Isaiah 14:12).  Isaiah 14 portrays this time in heaven long before Adam’s creation.  It also reveals that the cause of Lucifer’s fall was his pride and his desire to overthrow God’s throne and take His place.  Satan wasn’t satisfied to go it alone; Revelation 12:4 tells us that his rebellion impacted one-third of the angels.  Then the message ties the account Ezekiel gives in Chapter 28 of the prince of Trye and how he symbolizes what happened with Lucifer. Ezekiel 28:16 shows that after Lucifer rebelled, God cast him to the earth.

     In the Bible we see that from that time onward Lucifer is called either Satan which means adversary or the devil which means slanderer or accuser.  It was enlightening for me to see all these bits and pieces put together in one place. With this understanding in view, the stories in the Bible have  taken on a deeper meaning for me—what I’ve noticed is they often depict the battle that's been going on for centuries between the will of God and the will of Satan. This got a bit long, so I will post the second half next week.

Other  College Student Dinner Fellowships on This Blog:

Do You Have the Assurance of Your Salvation? 

Getting Spiritual Food From God's Word

What are the Securities of Your Salvation?

Hearing God - Dinner Fellowship with College Students

Why Should a Believer Get Baptized?

Why Should We Read the Bible?

Coming to the Lord in His Word

Did You Know God Made You With Three Parts?

What is the Key to Experiencing Christ? - A Fellowship with College Students

Calling on the Lord Makes a Difference! 

What's the Secret the Third Generation of Mankind Found?

Why Are Just 2 Trees Mentioned in Genesis 2?

Discussion with College Students--What is the Church?

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 1

Why are There Two Trees in Genesis 2 Anyway?  Part 2