Friday, May 29, 2009

One Goal

It's now the eve of game 6 and there is still ONE GOAL.
Yes, I am talking about the Cavs!
You gotta love those Cavs for knowing that your heart is still pumping and working the way it should. I mean really.........You never know what these guys are going to do until the last 2 min.. Why watch the whole game?
Well, because the journey is all to important.
See, this team started years ago on a basketball court somewhere. Were they stars then???Maybe....but I bet not. They had to make the journey of disappointments and victories to make it to the NBA (even when someone thought they could not). Then there have been years of disappointments....filled with loosing seasons. Yes, there have been stars along the way but none quite like King James.
Then we come to season 2008-2009. They seemed unstoppable at home and were having a storybook season. The critics still said that the Lakers and the Celtics were the best teams in the NBA.
Well, this One Goal team has made the entire country a Witness to their journey.
Life is very much like the Cavs season. There are so many victories but.......let's face it folks....life is filled with disappointments and people who will say: You can't do it!!
The christian walk is a journey also. There is a road that seems right to men but His ways are not our ways.........we need to have ONE GOAL. Are you focused on your goal......Are you focused on the prize?
My life goal is to live a life that honors the Lord in everything I do and say. It's a daily relationship with Christ. It's the ULTIMATE ONE GOAL!!!

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Are you a mom.... How much are you worth?

Well, Mother's Day is almost here and although my husband thinks this is one of those Hallmark holidays, I truly enjoy Mother's Day.
Why? because it reminds us that there is a special person in our lives who gave us life. She knew us 9 months before everyone else on this earth did. Now, I know it does not compare to how the Father knows us because He knew us before our parents even had a thought about us.
You may say how did your mother know you before everyone else did? I can truly say that there are ways my children move and things they do that I felt while they were in my womb.
These past few weeks I have been having some health issues and my mom has been......just that....a mom. Yes, I am 44 years old but I am still her child and she still loves me like the moment that she brought me into this world.
I am sure there were times that she felt like she was overwhelmed with the task of being a mother and that she was simply underpaid for this job that she did not interview for.
Mom, the scriptures tell us that your value is better than gold.
If you are a mom and feeling a little under appreciated today......take heart.....you are working on a pay off that lasts a lifetime. Those "paydays" may come few and far between but there is a big pay day. When they are fully functioning adults who find someone to share their lives with and are contributing to society and changing their world you will see the big pay off. It's the MOTHERHOOD buy out plan.
If you want to have a little fun click on the link below and take the quiz to see how much you should get paid. I guess I am worth $ 167,000 per year. I would enjoy that pay day!?!?!
Finally, let me say.......Happy Mother's Day!!!

http://swz.salary.com/momsalarywizard/layoutscripts/mswl_newsearch.asp

Monday, May 4, 2009

Cashew Chicken

For the last week I have been thinking about my life in college back in the 80's at Evangel and CBC.

Those were some great days and memories that bring a smile to my face when I think about it. My freshman year I spent at Evangel College on N. Glenstone. I still remember for weeks hearing people talk about "Cashew Chicken". I had no idea why this dish was so popular and why people were obsessed with it. College food was enough of an adventure for me...much less to try any new food. But one Sunday night I was desperate. I had been sick all week, had no car, and missed the favorite of the week in the Cafe on Sunday after church and had enough pizza. So I walked across the street with some friends to this little dive that served Chinese food. I really don't remember what the name of the place was but it was about the size of a box. I gave in and tried Cashew Chicken and was hooked.


It has been years since I have been to Springfield and had some Cashew Chicken. Our Evangel and CBC students at church have always brought some home for me when they could and I am thankful but it's been a long time since I had some and that sounds really good right now.


I found the recipe and the story behind Cashew Chicken and thought I would post it. When I feel better, I think I will make myself some. Enjoy!!


CASHEW CHICKEN STORY
A particularly notable version of the dish, using breaded, deep fried chicken rather than stir-fried, is closely associated with the city of Springfield, Missouri. Springfield-style cashew chicken was first served in 1963 at the Grove Supper Club in Springfield. David Leong, the chef, who moved to the United States from China in 1940, struggled to gain acceptance for the foods of his homeland so he began searching for a dish that would appeal to local residents' taste buds. His famous cashew chicken recipe was so popular he soon opened Leong's Tea House in Springfield. The dish became exceedingly popular in the Springfield area and is often cited as the unofficial "dish of the city".
Borrowing from the local love of fried chicken, David Leong came up with a combination of fried chicken chunks covered with Chinese oyster sauce, a handful of
cashews and chopped green onions--an immediate hit with the local crowd. As word spread about the dish, so did the recipe. Leong's Tea House closed its doors in 1997, but Springfield-style cashew chicken is still being served at over 70 Chinese restaurants, as well as many non-Chinese restaurants, in and around the Springfield metropolitan area, and elsewhere in Missouri and other states.

Springfield-Style Cashew Chicken:
Serves 4.
4-5 chicken breasts, chunked in 1" pieces
1 cup all purpose flour for dredging, more if needed
Salt and Pepper
Olive or expeller pressed canola oil
Hot cooked rice
1) Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Put flour, salt, and pepper in gallon sized baggie and shake to mix spices around. Put all of the chicken chunks in, seal, and shake around to cover. Let sit 15 minutes.
2) Saute chicken in batches in heavy, oven-proof skillet in a 3-4 Tbsp Olive or expeller pressed canola oil. As chicken browns, transfer to a paper towel covered plate and let drain. When finished browning all of the chicken, empty and wipe out any excess oil from the skillet.
3) Place the chicken back into the skillet and bake for 20 minutes on 375 degrees.
While chicken is baking, prepare the sauce (rice should already be prepared or in the process of steaming at this point).
For the sauce, in a small saucepan, combine:
1 cup chicken stock
1/2 cup water
2 tsp Sugar
2 tbsp Oyster sauce
1 tbsp Soy sauce
2 Tbsp cornstarch
1) Bring to a simmer until thickened, whisking the entire time to prevent lumps from the cornstarch.
To serve, layer chicken and sauce over rice and garnish with:
Cashews
Green onions