I love to cook. When I was young I would spend hours with my grandmother cooking, baking, canning, anything that got me into the kitchen. I now enjoy cooking with my own kids. So, I thought that I would post a recipe every now and then to share some of the foods I love.
I must however, make a disclaimer...some of my recipes are ideas that I have gotten from another recipe and I just fixed them up a little to suite my tastes. I like to think of a recipe as more of a guideline to be adjusted as needed.
So, my recipe for today is Hummus. I am totally addicted. I found this recipe for Spinach-Artichoke Hummus and Cheesy Toast and fell in love with the yummy alternative to spinach and artichoke dip. However, I was not satisfied with having only one recipe for my hummus. I have used this recipe for inspiration to make lots of variations.
Here is the basic Hummus recipe...
Hummus
1-15oz. can of chickpeas (garbanzo beans)
2 Tablespoons Tahini (sesame paste)
2 Garlic cloves
Juice of 1 Lemon
Salt and pepper
1/4 to 1/2 cup EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
Put all ingredients (except EVOO) into a food processor and pulse a few times. Stream in the EVOO. Blend in food processor until smooth. (I sometimes add a little extra EVOO and blend longer until it is really smooth.)
Now with this basic recipe the possibilities are endless. So, lets think outside the box. How about 'sun-dried tomato and roasted garlic hummus'! Or just roasted garlic! Maybe a nice 'tomato and basil hummus', or an 'oregano, basil, and rosemary hummus'! 'Garlic Parmesan hummus', or for a little heat 'Tomato, Cayenne, and garlic hummus'. Just make the basic recipe and throw in what ever flavors your craving! Endless possibilities!
Remember to have some fresh baguette slices, whole grain crackers, or pita chips ready to scoop up this yummy snack! (Of course, I could just eat it by the spoonful, whatever works!)
Gotta go, I think I'm craving....
HUMMUS!!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Lacking Compassion
There are times during this journey of parenthood that leave me looking back wishing I had said or done things differently. Of course, this is life, we learn from our mistakes, right?!
Recently, God has been working on an area of my heart that I am needing some adjustments in. (Working on my plank, Matthew 7:3-5) This area has to do with compassion.
I am a fairly compassionate person however, I seem to loose touch with this compassion when my husband or children are ill. I tend to be a 'suck it up' type gal, and when others are ill around me and whiny, (see there I go) I tend to think they should do the same, suck it up. Of course, I do care for my family when they are ill, I just get a bad attitude.
God has been bringing this to my attention recently with the struggles we have been having with my son Noah. We are at point with is ADD issues that we need to adjust some things. (Growth spurts throw everything off) However, I have not been very compassionate regarding his struggle. My attitude has not been filled with grace, mercy, or compassion. Instead, I have been impatient, angry, and even hurtful with my words at times. As I talked with a friend yesterday about Noah's struggle I realized just how little compassion I had been showing him. Ouch! I thought to myself "How can a mother be so awful to her son!" Thankfully, God is showing me this so, I can correct it. I found this verse today and it seemed to fit where my mind was on this heart issue...
Isaiah 49:15
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
This is how I felt thinking about my attitude. How could I forget to be compassionate to my son?! I am beginning to realize that I have a selfish attitude. The problem is not so much that I forget to be compassionate, but that I am selfish. Taking care of others, especially my children, takes a lot of time, effort, and often every ounce of me. When I am completely tapped out (like with the recent ADD issues) if I am not leaning on God for strength, my ugliness and bad attitude start creeping out.
Parenting is hard work, and it is work that never, never, never, (did I say never) stops. I can only be the parent my children need if I am leaning on God for guidance, wisdom, and even my sanity! So, for now I am working on this 'plank' and have apologized to my son for my bad attitude.
I want to have the same compassion for others that God has for me. Thankfully, I can know that even when I am a less than perfect parent He will not forget me or my children.
Yep, working on my plank!
Recently, God has been working on an area of my heart that I am needing some adjustments in. (Working on my plank, Matthew 7:3-5) This area has to do with compassion.
I am a fairly compassionate person however, I seem to loose touch with this compassion when my husband or children are ill. I tend to be a 'suck it up' type gal, and when others are ill around me and whiny, (see there I go) I tend to think they should do the same, suck it up. Of course, I do care for my family when they are ill, I just get a bad attitude.
God has been bringing this to my attention recently with the struggles we have been having with my son Noah. We are at point with is ADD issues that we need to adjust some things. (Growth spurts throw everything off) However, I have not been very compassionate regarding his struggle. My attitude has not been filled with grace, mercy, or compassion. Instead, I have been impatient, angry, and even hurtful with my words at times. As I talked with a friend yesterday about Noah's struggle I realized just how little compassion I had been showing him. Ouch! I thought to myself "How can a mother be so awful to her son!" Thankfully, God is showing me this so, I can correct it. I found this verse today and it seemed to fit where my mind was on this heart issue...
Isaiah 49:15
"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!
This is how I felt thinking about my attitude. How could I forget to be compassionate to my son?! I am beginning to realize that I have a selfish attitude. The problem is not so much that I forget to be compassionate, but that I am selfish. Taking care of others, especially my children, takes a lot of time, effort, and often every ounce of me. When I am completely tapped out (like with the recent ADD issues) if I am not leaning on God for strength, my ugliness and bad attitude start creeping out.
Parenting is hard work, and it is work that never, never, never, (did I say never) stops. I can only be the parent my children need if I am leaning on God for guidance, wisdom, and even my sanity! So, for now I am working on this 'plank' and have apologized to my son for my bad attitude.
I want to have the same compassion for others that God has for me. Thankfully, I can know that even when I am a less than perfect parent He will not forget me or my children.
Yep, working on my plank!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Can you hear Him?
As a wife, mom, student, classroom mom, PTA member, and all the other various hats I wear I often have to take time out to hear God speaking. However, getting in that daily time can sometimes seem difficult and even impossible. Even when I do get in a daily devotional I find myself rushing through it, and checking my watch as I try to cram it into my schedule. I do not think that these quick glances at a few bible verses really defines 'listening' to God.
Over the summer we were having some family difficulties. Because of these difficulties I decided to pull back from the various things that I was volunteering for as well as areas I was serving in within our church. Little did I know, God was trying to get my attention. As I spent the summer not serving in any area, except with my family, I began to hear God clearer. I began to take more time reading my bible, praying, and listening. I realized that all to often I am doing, and doing, and doing when God wants me to simply stop and listen.
Over the summer we were having some family difficulties. Because of these difficulties I decided to pull back from the various things that I was volunteering for as well as areas I was serving in within our church. Little did I know, God was trying to get my attention. As I spent the summer not serving in any area, except with my family, I began to hear God clearer. I began to take more time reading my bible, praying, and listening. I realized that all to often I am doing, and doing, and doing when God wants me to simply stop and listen.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Being an Advocate for my kids
Today started out as a very difficult day in the Bontrager household. My 10 year old (Noah) struggles with a chemical imbalance, or low serotonin levels. This imbalance shows itself with various symptoms one of them being ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). We have spent years seeing a psychologist and working with various behavioral modifications, diet modifications, and yes, we have tried different medications as well. (I will try whatever it takes to give him the best childhood possible!)
For the last year or so we have been very fortunate to have found a combination of behavioral modifications and medications that have kept his symptoms under control. He has been able to concentrate at school, his grades are great, and he is enjoying being a kid.
However, as we started 5th grade this year I was holding on for all of the transitions headed our way. (He really struggles with change) The first week went well, and then it hit. The ADD reared it's ugly head and put a huge halt to our year of seeing few symptoms. The last 2 weeks have been filled with meltdowns in the classroom (crying, not talking, dad had to go to the school meltdowns), an hour worth of homework taking 4 or more hours, and crying in the mornings not wanting to go to school! Yikes! My happy little 10 year old suddenly turned into a child who could not focus on anything, didn't want to go to school, and was doubting his abilities.
I must say that I was expecting there to be some issues as 5th grade started knowing that Noah is not fond of change. We have a doctors appointment for next Wednesday to discuss a change in his medication, and to discuss how he is handling 5th grade. (He has had a big growth spurt over the summer, and meds usually need adjusted after a growth spurt!)
Today however, my husband and I took him to school and sat down with the Principle and guidance counselor to discuss the issues we have been having. We now have a plan in place to get us through until we have adjusted his medication amounts.
One thing that I have learned through having a child with challenges is that I have to be his advocate. I have to be willing to walk into the school and let the teachers, principle, and guidance counselor know that things are not working for my child. I have made it my mission to make myself known by all of the teachers (including gym, art, music, library teachers, and even the lunch room helpers), the principle, and the guidance counselor. The more I show how committed I am to my child's education the more willing the teachers are to work with me.
I think this is true in every part of being a parent. I need to be my child's advocate, I need to speak up for him, support him, and give him what he needs to succeed, learn, and grow. What an amazing job God has given me!
For the last year or so we have been very fortunate to have found a combination of behavioral modifications and medications that have kept his symptoms under control. He has been able to concentrate at school, his grades are great, and he is enjoying being a kid.
However, as we started 5th grade this year I was holding on for all of the transitions headed our way. (He really struggles with change) The first week went well, and then it hit. The ADD reared it's ugly head and put a huge halt to our year of seeing few symptoms. The last 2 weeks have been filled with meltdowns in the classroom (crying, not talking, dad had to go to the school meltdowns), an hour worth of homework taking 4 or more hours, and crying in the mornings not wanting to go to school! Yikes! My happy little 10 year old suddenly turned into a child who could not focus on anything, didn't want to go to school, and was doubting his abilities.
I must say that I was expecting there to be some issues as 5th grade started knowing that Noah is not fond of change. We have a doctors appointment for next Wednesday to discuss a change in his medication, and to discuss how he is handling 5th grade. (He has had a big growth spurt over the summer, and meds usually need adjusted after a growth spurt!)
Today however, my husband and I took him to school and sat down with the Principle and guidance counselor to discuss the issues we have been having. We now have a plan in place to get us through until we have adjusted his medication amounts.
One thing that I have learned through having a child with challenges is that I have to be his advocate. I have to be willing to walk into the school and let the teachers, principle, and guidance counselor know that things are not working for my child. I have made it my mission to make myself known by all of the teachers (including gym, art, music, library teachers, and even the lunch room helpers), the principle, and the guidance counselor. The more I show how committed I am to my child's education the more willing the teachers are to work with me.
I think this is true in every part of being a parent. I need to be my child's advocate, I need to speak up for him, support him, and give him what he needs to succeed, learn, and grow. What an amazing job God has given me!
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