Daniel's Fast 2012 completion

As the fast is ending now, please post comments (positive or negative) of what you gleaned by being on this fast. Maybe it was a blessing or a lesson, perhaps a sacrifice brought big rewards, or just how it affected you participating in this fast.
Thanks, Nancy

DAY 20: Jan. 28, 2012: DEVO & RECIPE OF THE DAY

Romans 12:12   ¹² When you hope, be joyful. When you suffer, be patient. When you pray, be faithful.

Wow this verse says a lot in few words! The certainty of our hope is a pretty cause for our hope, I’m sure you agree. We should not only pray during hard times, but also maintain communion with God through prayer at ALL TIMES!

Breakfast Home Fries (not just for breakfast)

First of all, these delicious home fries (or breakfast fries) are not French fries. Instead they are meant to be eaten with a fork, are an excellent addition to most meals – especially breakfast – and a good way to feed a lot of people cheaply and easily. For a potato with a lower glycemic index, opt for a red skinned or sweet potato – these types have a similar texture and quality, but without the spiked insulin response. Serve this dish with unsweetened natural applesauce or try them with black bean chili and salsa!

Ingredients:

3 Russet potatoes, scrubbed and cubed to 1/2-inch

1 onion, thinly sliced

4 teaspoons soy sauce

¼ teaspoons black pepper

½ teaspoons paprika or chili powder

5-6 cherry tomatoes, cut into quarters (optional)

2 green onions, thinly sliced (optional)

Preparation:

1. Steam the potatoes over boiling water for approximately 10 minutes, or until tender when pierced with a sharp knife; remove from the heat and set aside.

2. In a large nonstick skillet, heat ¼ cup water over medium heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring frequently, until the water has evaporated and the onion begins to stick to the pan.

3. While scraping the pan, add another ¼ cup water. Cook until the onion begins to stick again, adding additional water as needed; continue cooking for approximately 15 minutes or until the onion is very brown and sweet.

4. Add the potatoes, soy sauce, black pepper and paprika or chili powder. Cook, turning gently with a spatula, until the potatoes are golden brown.

5. Garnish with the cherry tomatoes and the green onions.

Makes 4 servings

DAY 18, Jan. 27, 2012: DEVO & RECIPE of the day:

DAY 18: DEVO & RECIPE of the day:

Psalm 107:1
 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

This verse says it all—GOD IS SO AMAZININGLY GOOD how can we not be thankful? Besides that, he is forever enduring to us!

Smokey Stuffed Peppers

This is a great main dish for the Daniel Fast. It uses tofu for the protein source. 2 Tbs olive oil
2 stalks celery, minced (1/2 cup)
1 medium onion, minced
2 Tbs poultry seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced (1 tsp.)
1 canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, drained and minced
2 cups cooked brown rice or wild rice medley
1/2 cup yellow raisins
1/2 cup vegetable broth
1 tsp liquid smoke flavoring
5 oz tofu, mashed
3 red bell peppers, laved lengthwise
Preheat oven to 400 degrees

1. Heat oil in pan over medium heat. Add celery, onion, poultry seasoning, and garlic. Saute until soft (about 7 minutes). 
2. Stir in chipotle pepper and saute 2 more minutes.
3. Add rice, raisins and broth; cook for about 5 minutes. This should be the consistency of stuffing.
4. Meanwhile, mash tofu and then mix with enough liquid smoke flavoring to your taste (a little goes a long way). Divide the tofu among the pepper halves then top with rice mixture.
5. Place peppers in 9″ x 12″ casserole dish. Add water until it comes 1/2″ up sides of peppers.
6. Bake for 30 minutes or until peppers are soft and the stuffing is hot.

Yield: 6 servings

DAY 16, Jan 25, 2012; DEVO & RECIPE OF THE DAY

Mark 12.30

   ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.
I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over again. The closer I get to Jesus, the more I love him, his word and his Spirit.  How about you, feeling refreshed in His love? This verse (Mark 12.30) directs us to the #1 most important commandment of all—very basic—simply love HIM totally.

The Daniel Fast on a Budget Cookbook Copyright © 2011 by Susan Gregory - All rights reserved

Pasta with Pesto Sauce

Another simple and delicious family favorite: The crunch of pine nuts combined with the nutty flavor of whole grain pasta in a heavenly pesto cream sauce. Just add a garden salad, some garlic flat bread and you’re transported to another world!

Ingredients:

1 pound whole grain pasta

2 garlic cloves

2 cups packed fresh basil leaves

½ cup pine nuts

¼ cup olive oil

¼ cup hot water

Salt to taste

Preparation:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions.

2. Combine the garlic, basil leaves, and pine nuts in a blender and process on low speed. With the blender running, slowly add the olive oil, followed by the hot water. Add salt to taste and continue processing until the pesto is smooth and creamy.

3. Drain the pasta and toss in the pesto sauce.

Makes 4 to 6 servings

DAY 15, Jan. 24, 2012 DEVO & RECIPE OF THE DAY:

Jeremiah 17:7-8

 ⁷ “But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”

In Hebrew the “root” illustrates the source of the righteous man’s strength. How deep do your “roots” go? I want my spiritual roots do dig deeper during this fast. I am finding more strength than ever lately.  God is the main power source.

Recipe: In honor of National Peanut Butter Day (who knew?)….

Try Natural Peanut Butter on your fruit—such as: apples, pears & bananas to name a few also a good snack to put PB on brown rice cakes! 

DAY 14: Jan. 23, 2012 Devo & recipe of the day

Genesis 1:26

    ²⁶ Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,^[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

“When people look at us do they do they get confused thinking they are seeing Jesus?”                         --Pastor Richard Varnell, from yesterday’s sermon at VVAG.   Draw near to the Lord and he  will draw near to us. The closer we get in relationship with the Lord the more we reflect him.  Fasting provides that closeness! I’m enjoying my closeness with the Lord I trust you are as well.

Protein enhanced Oatmeal
Want to include more protein into your breakfast? Here’s a twist on the everyday oatmeal…
Prepare your oatmeal as usual.  Add some natural peanut butter & mix in.  I also add ground flax seed to mine to provide healthy omega 3’s & even extra fiber.  This meal will keep you full for hours!    

DAY 11, Jan 20, 2012: DEVO & RECIPE OF THE DAY:

 Ephesians 6:10
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power
Daniel was stronger post fast than his counterparts who indulged in the “choice foods”.  We can’t underestimate the power of God.  As we are called into this fast, God will strengthen us in ways beyond our expectations. His power is invincible.  I’m seeing God’s hand move in mighty ways during this fast.
NANCY’S CRANBERRY SAUCE:
1 pkg fresh or frozen whole cranberries
1 cup water
1 can unsweetened applesauce
1 orange or 2-3 fresh mandarin oranges or tangerines, peeled & cut into small pieces
Raisins
Cinnamon
Nuts: pecans pieces ,  chopped walnuts or slivered almonds
Instructions:  In a saucepan bring 1 cup water to boil, add whole cranberries and return to a boil; stir occasionally until their skins pop.  Add applesauce & orange pieces & raisens stirring until mixture comes to a boil again.  Remove from heat.  Stir in nuts. 
Serve warm or chilled.  Makes a great topping for the oatmeal bars!