Gluten Free & God Seeking

Thursday, December 31, 2015

Chicken & Mushrooms In Wine Sauce

There are probably thousands of recipes for chicken out there.  You can dress it up or down and it still comes out great.  This recipe is a more dressy version.  When I made this a few weeks ago, we all were just like wow this is fantastic! 

   I didn't have any white wine so I found out from an Internet search that I could use either white grape juice with 1 T of white vinegar or apple juice.  

This recipe came out of my Come & Dine church cookbook. I have broken down this recipe into easy to follow steps, which is the way that I type up all my recipes.  We served this chicken with rice, green beans, and salad. 

Chicken & Mushrooms in Wine Sauce

1.  Prepare chicken & marinade:
(1)  Rinse and cut apart a 3 lb chicken.
(2)  Place in a 9 x 13 pan and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
(3)  Drizzle 3/4 cup of dry white wine (or 3/4 cup white grape juice with 1 T vinegar) over the top and let marinade for 2 to 3 hours.
(4)  Remove chicken and reserve the liquid.
(5)  Pat dry the chicken with a napkin.

2.  Prepare vegetables:
(1)  Chop up 1 medium onion
(2)  Slice 1 stalk of celery.
(3)  Mince 1 clove of garlic.
(4)  Slice 2-3 cups of white button mushrooms or similar.
(5)  Chop 3 sprigs of fresh parsley.

3  Brown chicken & vegetables:
(1)  In a large skillet put 2 T of coconut oil and when its hot, brown the chicken over medium heat.
(2)  Remove and set aside.
(3) Add the onions and celery and sauté for 1 1/2 minutes; add the garlic the last 30 seconds. 

4.  Prepare chicken in wine sauce:
(1)  Reduce heat to low and stir in 1 tsp. of rice flour along with the reserved marinade.  Then whisk in 1/2 tsp. salt, 1/8 tsp. paprika, 1/4 tsp. black pepper,  1/2 tsp. basil, and 2 bay leaves.  
(2)  Return the chicken to the pan and spoon the sauce over it.  Put the lid on it and simmer for 30-35 minutes.
(3)  Transfer chicken to serving platter and cover.
(4)  Add the mushrooms to the pan drippings and cook for 3-4 minutes, stirring constantly.
(5)  In a small bowl beat 1 egg yolk and then whisk in 1/4 cup of half and half.
(6)  Gradually add it to the mushrooms and stir constantly until thickened.  
(7)  Spoon mushroom sauce over chicken.

List of other chicken recipes on this blog:

Asian:
Authentic Chinese BBQ Chicken  (From my friend Rose)
Gluten Free Soy Sauce Chicken   (Modified from Internet search)
Tasty Gluten Free Filipino Chicken Adobo  (Modified from Internet search)
Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Chicken (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)

Italian & Greek:
Chicken Souvlaki   (Marinade for chicken from my son-in-law)
Gluten Free Chicken Cacciatore With Peppers & Mushrooms  (Modified from my mother-in-law)
Delicious Gluten Free Chicken Parmesan   (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)

Mexican:
Pollo Guisado (Mexican Braised Chicken)  (From a church friend in Phoenix)
Belizean Chicken, Black Beans & Rice, and Belizean Coleslaw  (From my daughter's family)

American Favorites:
Amazing BBQ Chicken    (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
The Best Gluten Free Oven Fried Chicken   (From my sister-in-law)
Fantastic Gluten Free Chicken Kabobs  (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
Great for Summer BBQ - Lemon Rosemary Chicken Legs  (From my church cookbook, Come & Dine)
Country Apple Curried Chicken  (From my church cookbook Come & Dine)
The Best Homemade Chicken BBQ Sauce  (From my daughter-in-law's family reunion cookbook)
A Gluten Free Twist on Tarragon Chicken - From my Come & Dine cookbook
Saucy Chicken 

Chicken Casseroles
Chicken Divan  - From my Come & Dine Cookbook
Chicken Pot Pie - A combination of 3 different recipes!

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Why Did Jacob Dream About a Ladder in Genesis 28:12?

   The sibling rivalry between Jacob and Esau went to a whole new level after Jacob lied and cheated to get Esau’s blessing.  Of course, Esau was outraged, and word got to Rebekah that he was out to kill Jacob because of it.  To help Esau cool down, Rebekah persuaded Isaac to send Jacob to Haran to stay awhile with her brother Laban. 

  So thanks to all his conniving and cheating, Jacob is now walking on the same dusty road that his grandfather Abraham had walked on over 100 years before. But he’s all alone and probably doing a lot of thinking. 

   Only one part of this journey is recorded in the Bible, and that should make us pay closer attention.  After a long day’s journey, Jacob takes a stone and makes it into a pillow.  Does that not sound a little strange to you? Then he has this dream:
 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven, and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 
   …And Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, Surely Jehovah is in this place, and I did not know it. And he was afraid and said, How awesome is his place!  This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.  Genesis 28:12, 16-17
   In chapters  68, 69, and 72 Witness Lee points out all the incredible symbolism in this dream.  Here are some excerpts from  
pages 885-889 in chapter 68 and page 928 from chapter 72 that focus on the meaning of the ladder with the angels of God:
"The center of this dream was a ladder….It was a ladder already existing on earth, not one descending from heaven….But this verse says that the angels were descending and ascending…..When we come to the New Testament, we see that Christ is the ladder which Jacob saw.  In John 1:51 Jesus said to Nathanael: Truly, truly, I say to you, you shall see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of man. Christ is the One who brings heaven to earth and earth to heaven….I believe that whenever a sinner receives the Lord Jesus and is saved, many angels ascend to heaven bearing the good news" (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Genesis. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1975, Print).
    At the close of chapter 68, Witness Lee tells his readers that instead of trying to overcome their sins or conquer their weaknesses, we just need to  come to Christ as the heavenly ladder.  When we talk to the Lord and pray, He brings us to God and God to us.  It touched me when I read that when we do this, we give God the way to transforms us and build us up into Bethel, the house of God. 
You can  also listen to live excerpts from these messages on  Genesis on Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.  

Other Posts on the Life-Study of Genesis:

From the Life-Study of Genesis - What is the Focus of the Bible?
What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?
Why Did God Create Man in Genesis 1:26?
Why Did God Create Man With 3 Parts in Genesis 2:7?
Why Did God Put Man in Front of the Two Trees in Genesis 2?
Seeing God's Purpose of Life & Building in the Book of Genesis
What is the Story Behind the Story of Cain & Abel?
What Did Enosh Learn to Do in Genesis 4:26?
How Did Enoch Escape Death in Genesis 5:24?
Why Did Noah Need to Find Grace in Genesis 6:8?
What Does the Rainbow Symbolize in Genesis 9:13?
How Did God Call Abraham in Genesis 12:1?
How Did God Fulfill the Birth of Isaac in Genesis 12:7?
What Does the Marriage of Isaac & Rebekah Show in Genesis 24?
How Does the Story of Jacob Show God's Selection in Genesis 25?
Why Did Jacob Dream About a Ladder in Genesis 28:12?
Seeing Our Spiritual Journey in the Lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph
Why Did Jacob Call theTwo Altars in Genesis 33 & 35 By Different Names?
How Do the Stories of Jacob & Joseph Mirror God's Purpose in Genesis 1:26?
How Did Joseph's Dreams Really Get Fulfilled in Genesis 41?

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

My grandmother used to make rice pudding for dessert.  It was special back then; today not as much.  Most of the time I make it for a holiday brunch to go along with an quiche or other egg dish, muffins, fruit salad or a yogurt parfait, along with coffee, orange juice, and egg nog. 

 Yesterday I made a rice pudding that a mom friend gave me the recipe for years   ago.  It's the kind you make in a double boiler.  I talked to a pastry chef a few weeks ago about the rice pudding she had on her dessert table along with a number of other delicious looking creations.  

  She told me the secret to her rice pudding was she cooked the rice and the milk ahead of time and then toward the end added the eggs and sugar.  When I pulled out this recipe Wendy had given me, I noticed that's how hers was set up, too.  The only thing was she whips up her whites and folds them in to make it fluffy.  You can add the whole egg or whip them up.  The hint of orange in this pudding makes it a delightful addition to a family brunch or for a dessert.

Old Fashioned Rice Pudding

1. Set up a make shift double boiler if you don't already have one.  Make sure you have enough hot water so it doesn't run out.
(1)   Scald 1 quart of milk in it.
(2)  Scrub an orange and cut a nice long strand off of it, and throw it into the pot.
(3)  Then add 1/2 cup of white long grain rice.
(4)  Cover it and cook until the rice is tender about 30-45 minutes.
(5)  Remove the peel.

2.  Take out 2 mixing bowls and prepare the cream, sugar, &  egg yolks:
(1)  In a medium sized mixing bowl beat together 1 cup of cream with 1/2 cup of sugar and 1/2 t salt.
(2)  Add to the hot mixture and whisk until blended.
(3)  Separate 3 eggs and put whites in a bowl and beat until stiff.
(4)  Put the  3 egg yolks in another bowl and beat them.  

3.  Combine ingredients:
(1)  Add the cream and sugar mixture and blend together with a bit of rice pudding before adding to the pot.
(2) Add the beaten egg yolks and whisk together until thickened.
(3)  Cool about 20-30 minutes.
(4)  Add 1 t of vanilla and  fold in the the whipped egg whites.
(5)  Refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours or overnight.

Other Gluten Free Baking & Desserts on This Blog:

Breads & Coffee Cakes: 
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)
Claudia's Blueberry Coffee Cake (Made Gluten Free!)   (From a former neighbor)
Here's a Zucchini Bread with a Hawaiian Twist! Gluten Free Pineapple Zucchini Bread (From my Syre School 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--whew)
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 specialty!)
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 reunion cookbook)
Overwhelmed By Your Bumper Crop of Zucchini? Try Claudia's Gluten Free Chocolate Zucchini Cake!   (From my former neighbor Claudia of 12 years)

Decadent & Gluten Free German Chocolate Cake  (From my Come & Dine church cookbook)
Debbie's Delicious Hot Water GF Chocolate Cake   (From my Come & Dine cookbook)
Debbie's Less Oil Carrot Cake (Made Gluten Free!)   (From my Come & Dine cookbook)
Jud's Crazy Cake (You Can Easily Make It Gluten Free!)  (From a church friend)

Cookies:
The Ultimate 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)
Marie's Old Fashioned Molasses Cookies (Also Great Gluten Free!)   (My friend Marie's recipe)
Bebe's Gluten Free Whoopie Pies  (From my friend Debbie)
Scrumptious Gluten Free Blackberry Cake   
Gluten Free Coconut Chocolate Chip Macaroons  - (Recipe on Baker's bag of coconut)

Cornbread & Rolls:
Beth's Amazing Gluten Free Cornbread   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Judi's Favorite Gluten Free Buttermilk Biscuits   (My friend Judi's sister's recipe)

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)
My Grandmother's Favorite Banana Cream Pie  (A recipe from my grandmother)
Granny's Lemon Cheesecake Squares   (From my friend Judi's granny)
Simple & Gluten Free Chocolate Cream Pie   (From my Syre School Cookbook)
Judi's No Fail Gluten Free Pie Crust    (From my friend Judi)

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) Berry Cobbler (My husband's grandma's recipe)
Gluten Free Lemony Rhubarb Bars (From my Syre School Cookbook)
Old Fashioned Strawberry Buckle (Made Gluten Free)   (A recipe I picked up from a berry farm)
From New Zealand - Triple Berry Pavlova  (A friend's recipe - Heritage School Cookbook)

Holiday Cookies & Baking:

Old Fashioned Gluten Free Pumpkin Cookies  (Modified from back of the Libby's pumpkin can)
My Family's Favorite Gingerbread Cookies (Now Made Gluten Free!)  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
My Grandkids Favorite Gluten Free Peppermint Sugar Cookies  (From Syre School Cookbook)
Our Favorite Pumpkin Pie   (With extra spice-- 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)
Gluten Free Nordy Bars  ( From my Syre School Cookbook)
Grandma Pitcher's Old Fashioned Sandies (Made Gluten Free)  (My husband's grandma)
Make a Family Tradition & Make Your Own Fruitcake    (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Muffins:
My Favorite Banana Nut 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 my daughter-in-laws family reunion cookbook)

Sunday, December 20, 2015

How Does the Story of Jacob Show God's Selection in Genesis 25?

   What was the deal between Jacob and Esau?  From the get-go Jacob was determined to get the birthright and the firstborn’s blessing.  The Bible says they even wrestled with each other in their mother’s womb. At every turn Jacob tried to outsmart his brother.  God must have laughed when He watched Jacob’s schemes.  
I took this picture on a trip to Mt. Baker
  These twin brothers were so totally different from one another.  Esau liked to hunt and make his father’s favorite dish while Jacob was a swindler, liar, and cheater.  Hmmm, If you were God which one would you choose to be the father of the nation of Israel?  Believe it or not, God chose Jacob.   The New Testament sheds a lot of light on the story of Jacob:
The children not yet being born, nor having done anything good or bad that the purpose of God according to selection might remain, not of works, but of Him who calls.  Romans 9:11
    So we learn from Paul that hidden in the story of Jacob we see the matter of God’s selection.  That might be a bit mind boggling when you put that next to man’s free will.  How can these two be reconciled with each other?  I got a lot of help understanding this when I read something by D.L. Moody—He said something like this--before you’re saved the sign says “Whosoever will let him come and take the water of life freely.”  Then after you’re saved and you turn around, the back of the sign says, “Chosen before the foundation of the world.”   Only God can pull something like that!
Witness Lee’s sharing  on God’s selection in chapter 66 of the Life-Study of Genesis is very enlightening. I’ve excerpted some key parts  from pages 862-863 and 866-867:
In Jacob, we see God’s selection, the matter of Jacob’s being chosen (25:21-26; 1 Pet. 2:99)…..Jacob was chosen before his birth, even before the foundation of the world (25:22-23; Rom. 9:11; Eph. 1:4).  We, like Jacob, were also chosen before we were born….Jacob, the naughty one, the heel holder, the supplanter, was chosen by God. This was what determined his future….Likewise, our being chosen is not according to our struggling …..God’s selection in eternity past was followed by His pre
destination (Rom. 8:29; Eph. 1:5)….God selected us in eternity past and called us in time….We have been selected and called for God’s purpose (Rom. 9:11)….What is the purpose of God’s calling?  It is to transform His called ones into kings.  We can see this purpose in Jacob, but not in Abraham or Isaac (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Genesis. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1975, Print). 
   Did you catch that part about the purpose of God’s calling is to transform His chosen ones into kings?  I had to do a double-take on that when I read that a few years ago.   Look at Jacob in the beginning of the story in Genesis 25 and then trace all the events that happened to him throughout his life.  I wrote them down one time—wow--what a transformation journey he went on!  Now look  at this same man at the end of the story in Genesis  47-49 and, you see a  man who is fully transformed and matured and blessing Pharaoh, the highest ruler of the day!  And guess what, I learned from my reading that this is our journey, too!   
You can  also listen to live excerpts from these messages on  Genesis on Life-Study of the Bible with Witness Lee.  

Other Posts on the Life-Study of Genesis:

From the Life-Study of Genesis - What is the Focus of the Bible?
What Happened Between Genesis 1:1 and 1:2?
Why Did God Create Man in Genesis 1:26?
Why Did God Create Man With 3 Parts in Genesis 2:7?
Why Did God Put Man in Front of the Two Trees in Genesis 2?
Seeing God's Purpose of Life & Building in the Book of Genesis
What is the Story Behind the Story of Cain & Abel?
What Did Enosh Learn to Do in Genesis 4:26?
How Did Enoch Escape Death in Genesis 5:24?
Why Did Noah Need to Find Grace in Genesis 6:8?
What Does the Rainbow Symbolize in Genesis 9:13?
How Did God Call Abraham in Genesis 12:1?
How Did God Fulfill the Birth of Isaac in Genesis 12:7?
What Does the Marriage of Isaac & Rebekah Show in Genesis 24?
How Does the Story of Jacob Show God's Selection in Genesis 25?
Why Did Jacob Dream About a Ladder in Genesis 28:12?
Seeing Our Spiritual Journey in the Lives of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, & Joseph
Why Did Jacob Call theTwo Altars in Genesis 33 & 35 By Different Names?
How Do the Stories of Jacob & Joseph Mirror God's Purpose in Genesis 1:26?
How Did Joseph's Dreams Really Get Fulfilled in Genesis 41?

Saturday, December 19, 2015

Special Occasion Favorite - Gluten Free Baked Blueberry French Toast


Doesn't this breakfast dish look delicious?  I saw this for the first time  at a bridal shower  for one of my nieces this summer.  Of course, I couldn't eat it, but I asked one of the gals who hosted this shower for the directions on how to make it because everyone around me was raving about it. 

She told me they made all these the day before and then took them out to warm up and then popped them into the oven before the shower.   As you can see, I halved the recipe when I made it. 






Blueberry French Toast 

1. Prepare bread:
(1)   Slice up 1/2 a loaf of Udi's white bread
(2)   and put in a greased 9 x 13 pan.
(3)   Put dabs of whipped cream cheese around the bread. (Do as much or as little as you like)

2.  Prepare egg mixture - In a large mixing bowl:
(1)  Beat up 12 eggs
(2)  Add 2 cups of milk and beat
(3)  Then add  1 t vanilla, 1 t cinnamon, and 
1/4 cup of brown sugar and beat until combined.

3.  Pour the egg mixture over the bread.

4. Sprinkle 1 cup of blueberries over the bread.

5.  Set in the fridge overnight, take out the next morning for 20 minutes and then bake or simply bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes. 

6.  Serve with homemade blueberry sauce or maple syrup.


Other breakfast recipes on this blog:


Pancakes
Fantastic Gluten Free Blueberry Pancakes  (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)
Gluten Free Banana Split Pancakes  (Another recipe from my daughter-in-law's family!)
Outstanding Gluten Free Oatmeal Pancakes  (From my Heritage School Cookbook, where I worked 3 1/2 years)
Family Favorite Gluten Free Buttermilk Pancakes (From my daughter's home ec teacher)
Yummy Gluten Free Pumpkin Pancakes (From About Gluten Free Cooking)
Crunchy & Delicious Potato Latkes  (From a flier in my sweet potato bag)
Tasty Gluten Free Swedish Pancakes    (From my Syre School Cookbook)
Protein Packed Gluten Free Ricotta Cheese Pancakes  (From my daughter-in-law's family)

Waffles, Crepes,  Fritters & Dutch Babies 
Rachel Ray's Pumpkin Spice Waffles Made Gluten Free & Dairy Free   (This is one I adapted from Rachel Ray)
Easy to Make Gluten Free Waffles  (From my Syre School Cookbook)
Incredible Gluten Free Crepes  (Mix of 2 recipes)
Old Fashioned Gluten Free Banana Fritters   (My grandmother's recipe!)
Amazing Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Dutch Baby  (From home ec recipe plus Internet search)

Egg Dishes
Sweet Potato Hash With Poached Eggs  (From my daughter's Internet search)
Hash Brown Egg Casserole  (From my friend Lisa)
Mexican Migas Breakfast Casserole  (Modified from a recipe from an airport cookbook)
Baked Zucchini Frittata  (I picked this up from a Whidbey Island farmer's market)
Jan's Sausage & Vegetable Frittata  (From a friend who was a home ec teacher)
Huevos Rancheros - A Fantastic South of the Border Breakfast  (I learned this years ago!)
Beautiful Eggs Florentine (Adapted from an Internet search)
Gluten Free Crustless Zucchini & Spinach Quiche  (From my Syre School Cookbook) 

Cereals
 Honey Almond Granola   
(From the Heritage School Cookbook)
 Gluten Free Baked Oatmeal   (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)

Breakfast Muffins
Banana Nutty Muffins   (From my daughter-in-law's family cookbook)

Bursting with Blueberries Gluten Free Muffins  (From the Heritage School Cookbook)
Gluten Free Tremendous Pumpkin Muffins  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Scrumptious Gluten Free Blueberry Scones  (From Heritage School Cookbook)
Thanksgiving Gluten Free Pumpkin Scones  (From an Internet search)
Sassy Gluten Free Apple Cinnamon Muffins  (From my Heritage School Cookbook)
Claudia's Blueberry Coffee Cake (Made Gluten Free!) (From a neighbor)