Guacamole

Here is our recipe for guacamole - to go with the Taco Soup recipe, or for any time you want to make guacamole. We used to make a different style of guacamole, but after a friend expressed how he like the taste and/or texture of the store bought variety better, I came up with this alternative. Interestingly, though the mayonnaise is non-traditional, we like it better this way.

Guacamole

3 - 4 ripe avocados (med-small, non-sweet variety)
1/4 - 1/2 C. sour cream
1 - 2 Tbl. mayonnaise
Garlic powder - to taste
Onion powder - to taste
Red chili pepper (powder)
1/4 tsp. cumin
Pinch of oregano
1 - 2 tsp. lemon juice – preferably fresh
Salt to taste
Mix all ingredients in a small - med. bowl. If avocado does not mash enough just from mixing you may wish to smash the chunks against the side of the bowl in order to make a smoother texture.
Serve with chopped black olives and tomatoes, and grated cheese. You may mix these in or use them to garnish the top. A dollop of sour cream and a black olive on top also looks nice when serving it.

Taco Soup

Well, the weather is actually getting a little cooler here in Texas.  It’s not exactly cool during the day, mind you, and I expect more hot days still, but it has moderated.  And, since a friend of mine was requesting my Taco Soup recipe recently, I started thinking about posting some soup recipes on here. :-)
Mary's Taco Soup
Canned refried beans
Chicken/beef broth or water
Fully cooked ground beef, or beef or chicken chunks (optional)
Garlic powder - to taste
Onion powder - to taste
Red chili pepper - to taste (mild, medium or hot)
Cumin (not as much as the onion or garlic)
Oregano (just a little)
Mix refried beans with broth over medium heat in a large pan.  Add seasonings and meat.
Cook, stirring often, till it is heated through or just coming to a boil.
Serve with chopped black olives, guacamole, sour cream, grated cheese and chopped tomatoes.  Chopped onions - optional.  Also, serve with warm tortillas, quesadillas, or tortilla chips.
Note: If you want a creamier soup, mix some sour cream into it while it is cooking.

As you can see, I don’t have exact measurements for this.  It is one of the recipes that I know “what” but not “how much”, so I make it “by the seat of my pants”. :-)  Make it agree to your family’s taste.
Also, I think this recipe could be made gluten-free.

A Great Way to Save Money

Here’s a timely reminder for all of us who live in materialistic societies. :-)

Don’t Buy Stuff – a blog entry from Heavenly Homemakers

Matthew 6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. 22The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

I think that it is very interesting that the eyes are mentioned in the same context as the laying up of treasures.  How often our eyes get us into trouble when it comes to coveting things! 

(This alone is a good reason not to watch television or subscribe to magazines that are full of advertisements, by the way.)

The Western world is full of the idea that if you want it then you should have it, yea, you even deserve it.  Those who desire to serve God must fight this temptation and urging of society because we cannot serve God and the lust of things at the same time.  They are incompatible - as darkness and light.

1Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

In this spirit of this I also suggest you read this post at my dad’s blog: What Are You Holding Onto?

1John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Notice that “If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  That is a powerful statement and something we ought to take much to heart.  After all, this world is so temporary.  It “passeth away” (present tense – it is in the process of doing so continuously, in case you hadn’t noticed).  And, it is all going to burn according to 2Peter 3:11-12, Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

I wonder how often we remember that the will of God for us is to “love not the world”?  We get so caught up with the things of this life sometimes that I’m afraid we tend to forget that. 

Hmmm…I am wondering how to implement this. Maybe writing “Love not the world” across my wallet in permanent ink would be a good reminder. :-)  Putting a sticky note on the credit/debit card with this on it might help too. 

What are your ideas?

Overcoming Evil with Good - September 11

Photo from National Parks Service

Romans 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

September 11 is a date that lives in infamy for most Americans.  To some degree this is rightly so considering how many people lost their lives that day in NYC and considering also how many (more) people there were emotionally scarred for the rest of their lives.

But, as Christians, it seems to me that we should be able to rise above the hate while not falling into the folly of justifying the wicked.  In short, we should not be overcome of evil, but overcome it with good!

One verse that stands out in my mind in relation to Sept. 11 is Psalm 76:10, Surely the wrath of man shall praise thee: the remainder of wrath shalt thou restrain.

This is an amazing verse.  How can the wrath of man praise the Lord?  We cannot always understand this, maybe seldom.  But, in a sense I think that sometimes we may have opportunity to help turn evil to good, or to the praise of the Lord.  Sept. 11 is one area where I can see this possibility.

Some might like to set this day aside for fasting and prayer for specific requests related to the day.  Others might like to use the day to do good to those who have suffered serious loss.  Perhaps it would be fitting to use this day to visit a Muslim area in this country and leave tracts or distribute Bibles where possible.  There are many options.

Years ago my grandparents worked with a missionary lady who had an interesting little thing she asked people to do to remember to pray for her.  She asked them when they happened to notice the clock reading 11:11 if they would take a moment to pray for her and her work.  I read this in her prayer letter once and it stuck in my mind.

Years later, after the September 11 debacle, I was thinking about that and different things, and the Lord reminded me of that request.  I purposed in my heart that whenever I saw the clock read 9:11 (and at times other instances of 911) I would take a few moments to pray that more Muslims would hear the Gospel and understand their need of salvation and that more Christian Arabs would realize the need to stop using the name “Allah” for the true God.  It only takes a few seconds, and I don’t even usually bow my head and close my eyes but just talk to the Lord from my heart.

Maybe you can think of some other ways that you can turn the wrath of man that was so vividly displayed on that day into praise of God Almighty.  I encourage you to find some way to overcome evil with good to the glory of the Lord!  It is much more profitable than wallowing in the sordid memories and angst that this date can call up.

2Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)