A Gluten Free Twist on Tarragon Chicken

I've never had tarragon chicken before.  Not that that's monumental or anything.  I've wondered for a long time what this herb tasted like because I have some recipes that called for it.  So last year I planted some tarragon, but I never used it in anything.  

  This year wanted to try this recipe in my Come & Dine Cookbook.  Bit by bit I worked through the recipe, but I had the extra challenge of  making my own gluten free version of cream of chicken soup. It pretty much is a glorified white sauce with a lot of seasonings.  But don't let that fool you--it's good!

Trying out a new recipe always makes me a bit nervous.  You can tell from the picture of my dinner plate I was working to make this an extra special meal.   Ahhh, it was.  When we took our first bite of this tarragon chicken, we were like yum!  It tasted like something we'd order at a restaurant--it was that good!  

Tarragon Chicken  - Serves 6

1.  Prepare chicken -  This recipe says you can either use 3 whole chicken breasts split in half or 1 3 1/2 pound chicken cut in pieces.  I usually skin my chicken to remove excess fat.

2.  Make gluten free cream of chicken soup: 
(1)   In a skillet put 2 T of butter and whisk in 1/4 cup of tapioca starch until smooth.  
(2)  Then add 10 oz of milk, 1/8 cup of chicken Better Than Bouillon, 1/2 tsp. basil, 1/2 t thyme, 1 1/2 tsp. of  dried tarragon, 1/2 tsp. salt, and 1/4 tsp. black pepper.
(3)  Continue whisking until thickened.  Add extra milk/water to get the right consistency.  
3.  Prepare vegetables:  Coarsely chop 2 medium-size onions.  The recipe says it's optional if you want to add 1 can of mushroom  stems and pieces.

4.  Prepare chicken to baking:
(1)  Arrange chicken in a 9 x 13 baking pan.
(2)  Sprinkle onions and mushrooms if using over the chicken.
(3)  Spoon mushroom soup over the chicken.

5.  Baking instructions:  Bake uncovered at 375 for 45 minutes.  Sprinkle with 1/4 cup of slivered almonds and bake an additional 10-15 minutes or until meat near the bone is no longer pink when slashed.  

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)

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

Why Did God Put Man in Front of Two Trees in Genesis 2?

  Everyone seems to know the story of Adam and Eve in the garden.  As a kid I learned that they disobeyed God and ate the apple that they weren't supposed to and because of that they were thrown out of the garden. But is that all this story is supposed to tell us?  

    I've realized by reading this Life-Study that in order to really get this,  I need to factor in the events that occurred between Genesis 1:1 and Genesis 1:2.  It's amazing that  after Satan and his followers rebelled, God didn't annihilate them all.  I learned in chapter 7 of this Life-Study that God won't do this because it gives Him more glory if man (another created being) would defeat His enemy.  
   
   You may be thinking what on earth does this have to do with anything?  But I learned in this Life-Study that this tree represented none other but God's enemy Satan.  Have you noticed here that God doesn't even tell Adam anything about the epic battle that's been raging between them or anything about what these two trees really symbolize.  

   God's going to leave the choice up to Adam because I'm sure you've noticed that God in His greatness made man with a free will. In chapter 13 of the Life-Study of Genesis Witness Lee mentions this in the opening that only a small person forces someone to take his way, and a great person  allows you freedom of choice.  Surely our God is the greatest One in the universe!

   I guess what puzzles people a lot when they read this story is why did God leave this tree that represents the evil nature of Satan there in the garden of Eden?   I liked reading on  page 160 brother Lee's  thoughts on this:

When I was a young Christian, I was bothered by this.  I said, "Why did God put man into such a dangerous situation?  If I had been God, I would have removed the tree of knowledge of good and evil, I would have left the tree of life, placed man in front of it, and built a high protective wall to keep him safe. Why didn't God do this?  Why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the garden as  a temptation?  Every problem comes from this source.  Why didn't God take it away?  If He had removed the tree, it would have saved us a great deal of trouble."  I was not the only one who had these questions.  Many young people asked me the same thing.  However, if God had not given man a choice, He would have forced him to take the tree of life.  God is too great to do such a thing.  God is honorable and attractive.  In order to display His greatness and prove His attractiveness, He needs the second tree (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Genesis. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1974 Print).

Through Adam and Eve's disobedience, the evil nature of Satan entered into them and into all mankind after them (See Romans 5:12-19).   And in chapter 14 I was surprised to read that all of God's believers are now a miniature garden of Eden with Christ in our spirit as the tree of life,Satan  is in our flesh as the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and  in the middle is our soul with our power to think, feel, and decide.  After reading these chapters in the Life-Study of Genesis there's a question in my heart on what tree am I going to "eat"? 

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?

Pan Grilled Teriyaki Tuna Steaks

   This is not your ordinary tuna.  And definitely not like canned tuna.  This is tuna with amazing flavor!  Here's some background info.  We were picking apples over at our neighbor's house and he asked us if we liked tuna.  Of course I said yes, I had no idea he meant the real thing.  Then he brought out a bag with 2 slabs of tuna that his neighbor had caught just 2 days before. 

  After making our applesauce, I whipped up the marinade and got these tuna steaks ready to go.  When we bit into our steaks, we were definitely wowed.  They were served with these amazing creamed potatoes and peas like my grandmother used to make and some delicious cole slaw.  

   What a fantastic recipe!  I thought I was in a restaurant it was that good.  This recipe comes from a Japanese believer that's in my church Come & Dine Cookbook.  So it's the real deal.  

Teriyaki Tuna for Two

1.  Rinse 2 tuna steaks, 5 oz each.  

2.  Make the marinade - In a small bowl mix together:
(1)  2 T tamari
(2)  2 T dry Sherry or rice mirin (which I used)
(3) 2 T lime juice (I used lemon and it came out great!)
(4)  1 t grated ginger, 1 t sugar, 1 minced garlic clove, and 1/4 t hot chili oil

3.  Marinade steaks:  
(1)  Put the 2 tuna steaks in a pan and pour the marinade ever them and refrigerate for 2 hours.
(2)  Remove the fish from the marinade, but reserve it for later.

4.  Brush the sides of the fish with olive oil (you need just 1 teaspoon for this).

5.  Warm up a non-stick pan (I used a cast iron pan which I use a lot for pan grilling) over medium high heat with about 2 T of coconut oil.

6.  Pan Frying instructions:  
(1)  Add the fish and cook for 4 1/2 minutes and then flip and cook the other side about 4 1/2 minutes or until the fish is opaque and cooked through.
(2)   Then remove the fish and keep it covered.
(3)  Then add the marinade to the pan and brink it to a boil for 1 minute.  Put the fish back into the pan and t urn it gently to coat it with the sauce.  

List of Other Fish Recipes on this Blog:

Our Best Gluten Free Recipes for Grilling Salmon  - (Family & church cookbook recipes)

Crispy Gluten Free Oven Fried Fish Sticks   (From the box of Albers Cornmeal)
Great Cajun Cooking - Gluten Free Shrimp & Sausage Jambalaya  (From Internet search)

Asian:
Salmon & Vegetable Curry    (Modified from an Internet search)
Steamed Scallion Ginger Fish with Stir Fried Bok Choy  (From Internet search)

Fantastic Mahi & Vegetable Stir Fry    (From Internet search)
Make Your Own Sushi!    (A Korean church friend taught me how to make this)

Tasty Gluten Free Sweet & Sour Fish   (From my Heritage School Cookbook)

Mexican:
Rachel Ray's Recipe for the Best Fish Tacos  - My-Oh Mahi That's a Good Fish Taco! (From an Internet search)

Why Did God Create Man With 3 Parts in Genesis 2:7?

God made man with three parts.  Everyone knows that we have a body and a soul, but you don’t always hear about the third part.  But it’s right there in the Bible:
 

I took this last month when I went on a
hike with my family.

     Jehovah God formed man [body] from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life  [spirit] and man became a living soul.    Genesis 2:7

   …and may your spirit and soul and body  be preserved  complete and without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  1 Thessalonians 5:23

I have a really great study Bible, and one of the footnotes on Genesis 2:7 says the word “breath” in Hebrew is neshamah, the same word translated spirit in Proverbs 20:27, which says:  The spirit of man is the lamp of Jehovah, searching all the innermost parts of the inner being.  So from these verses don't you think it's clear  that God’s breath formed a spirit inside of Adam?   Have you ever heard that before?  I know I didn't. 

   There's an amazing verse in Job 32:8 that talks about our spirit:  “But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.”  And here’s another one in Zechariah 12:1 that tells us that God created a spirit inside of us:  …Thus  declares Jehovah, who stretches forth the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth and forms the spirit of man within him.

In chapter 10 of the Life-Study of Genesis Witness Lee talks a lot about Genesis 2:7 and on page 127 he talks about how our spirit is like a receiver on a transistor radio:

 "God breathed into man’s nostrils the breath of life that man may have a spirit as the recipient for him to receive God and as an organ to contact God and the spiritual things (John 4:24; Rom. 1:9).  Within a transistor radio, there is a receiver....Likewise, our body is an outward container and within us is a spirit made by God as a receiver to receive God as the heavenly radio waves.  By means of this organ we may contact spiritual things….Although there are many radio waves in the atmosphere, we cannot substantiate them without a receiver.  Likewise, we cannot substantiate God without the proper receiver, our human spirit"  (Lee, Witness. Life-Study of Genesis. Anaheim: Living Stream Ministry, 1974, Print).

    This chapter ends with him talking about why God created us with three parts. He mentions  that we're like a living bottle.  Throughout our lives we try to fill our bottles with different things in order to satisfy the deep hunger within us.  We may try different degrees, jobs, hobbies, and myriads of things to try to satisfy this feeling of emptiness.  We feel that way because God made us that way!  Our spirit is actually longing for God.  

    Society helps us to take care of our physical and psychological needs, but only God can satisfy the need in our spirit.  When we open our hearts to the Lord in prayer,  immediately He comes into our spirit.  It always touches me how simple this is.  But that’s not all.  Every day God wants us to contact Him so we can continually receive Him until we fully express Him.  

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?
How Did the Lord Shepherd Jacob in Genesis 45:18?