Russian Soup Kick

I've been on a soup kick lately.  My neighbor is from Russia and she's been cooking me some of her homeland recipes. Here's two she's taught me so far.  Oh my goodness they're so delicious!


Russian Borscht (Beet Soup)
Can make in crockpot on or stovetop.

• 2-3 chicken breasts, frozen
• ½ head of cabbage, shredded
• 1 can diced tomatoes with Italian seasoning, with liquid
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 onion, diced
• 2-3 white potatoes, peeled, whole
• 1 can pickled beets, shredded with liquid (or can use red beets for a red-colored soup)
• 2 big spoonful’s of kosher salt, pepper to taste

Directions:
1. Add frozen chicken to crockpot, fill pot with water so it covers over chicken about an inch.
2. Add cabbage and potatoes to pot.
3. Saute carrot and onion, then add to pot. Add beets and spices.
4. Cook on high for 6-8 hours (cooking time is estimated, as long as it’s cooked through it’s good to go.  Soup will be better the next day though, so you may want to prepare a day ahead.)
5. Shred chicken and break up potatoes with a spoon.  May need to add 1-2 chicken bouillon cubes if soup is bland.  Add more seasonings to taste.  Top with small dollop of sour cream if you want, for authenticity.



Russian Schi (Cabbage Soup)
Can make in crockpot on or stovetop.

• 2 chicken breasts, frozen
• ½ head of cabbage, shredded
• 1 carrot, shredded
• 1 onion, diced
• 1white potatoes, peeled, whole
• 1 big spoonful of kosher salt, pepper to taste
• 2 Tbsp tomato paste (for color)

Directions:
1. Add frozen chicken to crockpot, fill pot with water so it covers over chicken about an inch.
2. Add cabbage and potatoes to pot.
3. Saute carrot and onion, then add to pot. Add beets and spices.
4. Cook on high for 6-8 hours (cooking time is estimated, as long as it’s cooked through it’s good to go.  Soup will be better the next day though, so you may want to prepare a day ahead.)
5. Shred chicken and break up potatoes with a spoon. Add tomato paste. Very important not to cut up chicken or potatoes.  This added texture helps makes this soup so delicious.
6. May need to add 1-2 chicken bouillon cubes if soup is bland.  Add more seasonings to taste.  7. Top with small dollop of sour cream if you want, for authenticity.

Of all the reasons to miss church...

In case you missed my husband's hilarious post on Facebook about a recent incident, I've included it here:)

7-1-12

Of all the reasons to miss church, this one takes the cake. We are actually not singing until tonight, so we were going to our own church which is about a 35 minute drive. On the way, we see a turtle trying to cross the road. My precious, animal loving wife and avid turtle rescuer has me pull to the side of the road. She gets out in her dress and runs to the turtle's rescue. I am watching her in the rear-view mirror as she picks up the turtle and the turtle thanks her by peeing all over her. It was amazing how much pee there was and how far the little guy could shoot. I mean, it sprayed pee like a garden hose with one of those high powered nozzles. She ran back to the car and both of us were laughing, but we decided that we couldn't walk into church at this point covered in turtle pee. So, yes we missed church because a turtle peed on my wife. So there you go. It looks like we have to clean up and then go visit a church that meets at a later time this morning, but we love you Christ Family Okc.

 

 

What I've been learning from the Lord lately

I got up early and reflected today over my Bible Study's verses this week.  I really felt connection with the Lord and I feel like he's answering my prayer to grow my affection for Him.  This verse came to my mind as I was praying:

Philippians 2:14-18

New King James Version (NKJV)

¹⁴ Do all things without complaining and disputing, ¹⁵ that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.¹⁷ Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

Strangely enough, I was convicted over verse 17...being willing to be "poured out" without expecting anything in return.  I will have to mull and pray over that verse.  That picture should directly affect how I approach work each day and when we travel. I want my purest motivation for working and pursuing concerts to be that people will be able to hear the good news and lives will be changed.  We've already seen that happening with multiple people surrendering their lives to Christ this year, I'm excited!  

I do thank the Lord that we are getting to experience his literal provision each month.  I know our faith wouldn't be tested in that area or strengthened if we both had traditional jobs.  I can view it as a blessing that God gets to teach us first hand about providing work each month for us to complete.

Lasting compliments and funny pastors

Blake got to sing at a church in OKC recently and the guest speaker was OK Representative James Lankford. After Blake sang James and he got to talk and James thanked Jim and said he sang with excellence. Blake just beamed and beamed that James thought he did well since Blake looks up to him so much.

We just finished another concert this weekend and the pastor was a hoot. He entertained us with stories of his encounters with other groups and other pastors. He definitely was a character. He told us about how he was conducting a funeral and another pastor was helping out that he didn't know. They went into the church to grab coffee before heading to the gravesite. This pastor we met poured out the coffee for the other pastor and asked; how do you like your coffee? Hot and black, like your women? Lol, that caught us so off guard. That line is from the comedy movie "Airplane" so we got it, but this other pastor apparently hadn't seen it. And got pretty offended! But oh that made us laugh picturing that exchange.

New CD coming

 New CD coming...hopefully this Fall!

We are in the "birthing" process of Blake's next CD.  This CD has to last us a while.  Blake hasn't had new official material to sing since 2007 and we are in need of new songs with strong messages to bring at concerts.  We have been pouring over the song list and have narrowed the list down to 14 killer songs! We are so excited about them to share with people.  But we are so cautious that this list be perfect.  I feel like we've learned a lot from past CDs and some mistakes we made with certain song selections and about what people will benefit the most from.  Let me just say this CD...will be upbeat and great car-ride music! The hymns CD was awesome, but it's overall tone was more mellow so we want to counter that one with a very energetic next album, and maybe one that doesn't make Blake hit astronomically high high-notes on every song :)  For when he's sick.  We pray to God to keep protecting his voice, this year has been a great vocal year, a welcome reprieve from last year when Blake dealt with the unknown stomach infection for about 8 months out of the year.  It really messed up his voice until we found the cause and got it cleared up.  But, I will say that every concert that his voice is "there" we are so grateful to the Lord for providing that tool to us.

We now enter into a CD project that will start "tracking" at the end of June.  That is where all the actual music is created with a band and instruments.  So we have to pick out keys and arrangements and have all the songs nailed down for sure.  We are afraid we won't be ready in time, but I feel very sure this is the right thing to do.  Also, finances are a hindrance right now.  We only have 25% saved toward the total estimated cost of the recording. And things with our house and equipment keep breaking.  So our savings keeps building only to keep getting nitpicked to death here and there.  But, I don't feel any hesitations for going for this CD.  I feel very strongly that we need to get it done.  It will open a lot of doors for booking and new venues for us to keep going.  God has provided the funds in the past and he will do it again, I know.

Recipes I want to try

I've filed these recipes away to "make at a later date."  I need to go grocery shopping so I'll make sure I get the ingredients to make these.  They make my mouth water looking at them:

Blackened Chicken and Cilantro Lime Quinoa
Ingredients (Serves 2-3)
•    2 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
•    ½ Teaspoon of Paprika
•    ¼ Teaspoon of Salt
•    ¼ Teaspoon of Pepper
•    ¼ Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
•    ¼ Teaspoon of Onion Powder
•    ¼ Teaspoon of Cumin
•    1 Teaspoon of Olive Oil
•    2 Cups of Low Sodium Chicken Stock
•    1 Cup of Quinoa
•    Juice and Zest from Two Limes
•    A Dash of Salt and Pepper
•    2 Tablespoons of Cilantro, chopped
1.    Combine all the dry seasonings in a small bowl. Mix them together and then season both sides of each chicken breast.
2.    Add the teaspoon of olive oil to a large pan or skillet. Heat the olive oil for a minute over medium/high heat. Add the chicken breasts to the pan. Cook for seven minutes on each side with the lid on.
3.    Add the chicken stock and quinoa to a medium sauce pan. Bring to a simmer over medium/low heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer for ten to fifteen minutes with the lid on, until all the stock has been absorbed.
4.    After the chicken breasts have cooked all the way through, remove them from the pan and let them rest for seven minutes before slicing them.
5.    Add the warm quinoa to a large bowl. Toss in the lime zest, lime juice, salt and pepper, and chopped cilantro. Mix to combine.
6.    Serve the sliced chicken breast on top of the quinoa. If you find the blackened seasoning too spicy, you can add a quick and easy avocado cream sauce to cool it down.
7.    Just place the flesh from an avocado along with two tablespoons of Greek yogurt in a food processor and puree until smooth.
8.    Things to love about this meal: low sodium, chicken breast is a lean protein, it is gluten-free, and if you keep eating meals like this you will be ready for beach season in no time!!!

Spicy Skilled Honey Chicken

Ingredients
•    3 Boneless skinless Chicken Breasts
•    1/2 tsp chili
•    1/4 tsp cumin
•    1/2 tsp garlic or garlic salt
•    1/4 cup apple cider
•    1/4 cup Honey
•    salt and pepper
Instructions
1.    Filet your boneless chicken breasts (you don't have to do this, but they will cook faster, if you cut them so they are not so thick)
2.    Drizzle about a Tablespoon of olive oil in a big skillet. Heat on medium heat, and add chicken.
3.    Season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, combine the chili, cumin, and garlic seasonings.
4.    Sprinkle all of the seasoning over chicken.
5.    Turn chicken over once chicken is nice and brown. (Do NOT turn until the one side is brown).
6.    Once the second side has browned nicely, pour apple cider and honey into the skillet
7.    (Tip: spray the measuring spoon with non-stick spray so the honey falls out nicely).
8.    Cover, and reduce heat.
9.    Cook for 10 minutes (flipping the chicken often) or until chicken is done and sauce has thickened.
10.    Serve with your favorite side. (It would be great with potatoes or rice!)





Crockpot Chicken and Zucchini

Ingredients
•    3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
•    1 onion cut into chunks
•    1 can of dice tomatoes
•    1 can of water
•    1 tablespoon of Italian Seasoning
•    Salt and pepper - Garlic Salt (to taste)
•    3 zucchini coarsely chopped
•   
Instructions
1.    Place chicken in crockpot with onions and seasoning.
2.    Pour tomatoes and water on top.
3.    Cook on low for 6-8 hours on low.
4.    In the last 2 hours, mix in zucchini.
5.    Once Zucchini is soft, cut chicken into smaller pieces.
6.    Serve over Pasta.

It happened series

I'm going to start a new series of "It Happened on the way to/during/after the concert".

It happened on the way to:
At that same church, while sitting in our car waiting for someone to let us in, we watched a lady pull her car in the driveway and instead of going In her front door, climbed inside through her window. A little later, she exited the house the same way!

It happened during the concert:
The pastors 6 yr old daughter made her way to the stage during a power ballad sung by the quartet. She remained onstage with them for the duration of the song.

It happened during the concert:
The emcee made Darth Vader noises in the mic while filling time in between the groups.

It happened during the concert:
Blake swallowed a fly while performing outside at a festival

It happened during the concert:
Blake had to sidestep manure while singing in a cattle auction cage.

It happened after the concert:
We were offered cash "so we wouldn't have to pay taxes"

It happened after the concert:
Blake was told that he talked too much and needs to just sing more. Blake said, "well I think I only took about 6 minutes to tell my testimony." the guy looked shocked and said, "oh, it seemed like forever."