Proverbs For Success in Life

Every day needs to start with the promises of God and the understanding of who He is. Reading His Word accomplishes this for us. Faith just comes!

Doing His Word reaps great benefits. Keep this in mind as you read (I know, you’ve read them before, but his time do it with a continual heart change—an attitude of YES Lord)

Proverbs 3:1-10
My son, do not forget my law,
But let your heart keep my commands;
2
For length of days and long life
And peace they will add to you.
3
Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4
And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.
5
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
7
Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.
8
It will be health to your flesh,[b]
And strength[c] to your bones.
9
Honor the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
10
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Proverbs 4:10-27

10
Hear, my son, and receive my sayings,
And the years of your life will be many.
11
I have taught you in the way of wisdom;
I have led you in right paths.
12
When you walk, your steps will not be hindered,
And when you run, you will not stumble.
13
Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go;
Keep her, for she is your life.
14
Do not enter the path of the wicked,
And do not walk in the way of evil.
15
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
Turn away from it and pass on.
16
For they do not sleep unless they have done evil;
And their sleep is taken away unless they make someone fall.
17
For they eat the bread of wickedness,
And drink the wine of violence.
18
But the path of the just is like the shining sun,[a]
That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
19
The way of the wicked is like darkness;
They do not know what makes them stumble.
20
My son, give attention to my words;
Incline your ear to my sayings.
21
Do not let them depart from your eyes;
Keep them in the midst of your heart;
22
For they are life to those who find them,
And health to all their flesh.
23
Keep your heart with all diligence,
For out of it spring the issues of life.
24
Put away from you a deceitful mouth,
And put perverse lips far from you.
25
Let your eyes look straight ahead,
And your eyelids look right before you.
26
Ponder the path of your feet,
And let all your ways be established.
27
Do not turn to the right or the left;
Remove your foot from evil.

 

 

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Chocolate for Health and Satiety (Recipe for Spiced Cocoa included!)

Cocoa is one of those things that God gave us that tastes awesome and is good for us. I could keep it at that, but it’s much more fun to learn just how good something is.

Dark chocolate is a preventative due to its high antioxidant content. Cocoa and dark chocolate are rich in antioxidant flavonoids called flavanols, which include procyanidins, epicatechins, and catechins. Chocolate, specifically dark chocolate (so yes, excludes white and milk chocolate varieties) with its rich flavanol content has the ability to help keep our cardiovascular systems in good shape. From lowering cholesterol, improving glucose metabolism, lowering risk of heart disease,  reducing LDL oxidation, lowering blood pressure, increasing circulation, helping thin the blood, increasing nitric oxide production*, promoting more flexible arteries, and lowering C-reactive protein ( a biomarker of inflammation linked to heart disease) and a reduced risk of stroke to giving us an energy boost for that workout!

A 40 gram serving of dark chocolate will have 41.2 milligrams of flavanols. This is good. And unsweetened chocolate has twice that amount!

Not that you need ideas of how to get more chocolate into your diet, but here’s a general list:

• Pack a piece of dark chocolate (see kinds I recommend below) in your lunch bag, it’s a good reward after eating your hearty healthy lunch, right?
• Add a tablespoon of cocoa to smoothies; try in ones with banana and or berries and milk or even avocado
• Have a homemade mocha instead of just coffee
• include cocoa nibs or dark chocolate chips in your trail mix
• Use dark chocolate in all your chocolate recipes (choose unsweetened chocolate and chocolate with a cacoa percentage of 56% or higher)
• Make your own hot fudge sauce using dark chocolate and cocoa mixed with coconut oil and brown rice syrup. Melt all together in a pot with small amount of almond milk. Cook over low heat briefly to thicken.

 

 

You can easily make your own cocoa mix for daily use or buy a healthy one (not so easy to find though) Purchase mine here: thf facebook store, (if you’re in Massachusetts)if you like or try this spiced version below. For this recipe you will need to start with a mix or make your own real quick.

 

Spiced Cocoa

Spices offer their own nutritional benefits too. Actually cocoa can be considered a spice too. Turmeric has been long known for its endless benefits and only recently has gained tons of popularity and is see in teas, supplements, facial treatments and more). 

With the multiple benefits of this delicious drink, you just have to try it! Check out the benefits of coconut oil, cardamom and cinnamon too!

Yield: 1 good size mug-full

• 2 tablespoons of your favorite healthy cocoa mix (preferably homemade)
• 3/4 cup boiling water
• 1/2 cup almond milk
• pinch turmeric
• pinch cardamom
• pinch cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon extra virgin coconut oil
• 1/2 teaspoon stevia powder ( I prefer Sweet Leaf), or to taste
• nutmeg, to garnish, optional

Put mix in a mug and add boiling water. Add remaining ingredients. Microwave for 20-30 seconds to bring it back to hot. Alternatively, put first 6 ingredients in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Stir in coconut oil and stevia.

Sip slowly and enjoy!

 

NOTE: as another alternative for preparation: Blend the cocoa/hot water mixture with the remaining ingredients in a blender, then add back to a pan and heat it up. You will end up with a nice frothy smooth beverage. Sprinkle with nutmeg and serve. See below:

 

Great Brands of Chocolate:

• Vanini dark chocolate with 74% Cocoa
• Perugina of Italy
• Whole Foods organic dark chocolate
• Trader Joe’s organic dark chocolate
• Trader Joes 72% dark chocolate imported from Belgium

Great Brands of unsweetened cocoa:

• Trader Joes Tumaco unsweetened cocoa
• Better Body organic Raw Cacoa
• Sunfood Raw Cacoa

 

 

Also, see my Dark Chocolate Board here: https://www.pinterest.com/fit2b/dark-chocolate/

 

 

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Dip

What you need to snack on…

What you want to snack on…

This dip sells itself.

So yummy and creamy, you’ll be looking for what else you can dip into it.

We use chocolate, cookies, and spoons (yeah, spoons!).

 

To get right to it, you’ll need (this plus chick peas, canned or dried–that you cook beforehand)

1-1/2 cups organic chick peas (you mine as well use a can, unless you have leftover cooked chick peas like I did)

1/2 cup organic peanut butter

1/4 cup raw agave nectar

1/4 -1/2 cup mini or regular dark chocolate chips ( I use Enjoy life dark chocolate chips)

 

Philippians 4:8 ESV
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

 

 

Pride: A Devilish Attribute

James 4:6
But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

In a quest to be more Christ-like, examining our hearts is so important. Our walk with God demands it. His Word declares all that we need to get our hearts in the right place. Humility and Pride are two contradictions that we can see, like night and day, affect our lives. I’ve heard it said that pride is like a cloud that blocks grace from flowing freely. Who really wants this to happen? To every man is given a measure of faith in the one true God. Many choose to ignore this and are caught up in lusts of the flesh and/or religious traps disallowing for the truth of God’s Word to sink in. Consider it a cloud of prideful thinking. Humility is loving others, putting selfish thoughts aside and wanting the truth of God’s Word (and knowing we need it daily). IF you want this grace that is given with great love by the almighty God, embrace His truth and let it change you!

The following is mostly Bible study notes to an MP3 message by Dan Downey. Be blessed today!:

Missing grace? Let’s check out our pride levels…

• Pride is always trying to impress. Pride says that we don’t need to spend time with God; we’re doing okay without him.
• Humility is honesty; love is truth
• Humility is serving others. Jesus is humble; He came to serve. IF he came to serve, how dare we think we don’t have to serve. Do we think we’re better than that?
• Love gives.
• Humility gives place to more grace

Numbers 12:3 Moses was very humble..more than any other on earth. He was also the most used man in his whole generation!!  Think about that….

He can’t use us any further than our humility allows us to.  May be why the Word isn’t manifesting in our lives the way we “expect”?

We are all tempted with pride. We need to learn to identify it.. It is the very nature of the devil and there is nothing good about it. Pride wants the glory; it wants to be seen..to take control to be worshipped and take the recognition.

Isaiah 13:!3-14

The devil said, “I will exalt my throne above the stars of God? Do you hear the “I”?  ” I can do this, and I can do that….” sound familiar with you and anyone you know?

Verse 14 says, I will be like the Lord most high”

1 Timothy 3:6 talks about overseeers: 
6 Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil.

He was steeped in pride and was cast out of heaven. It was very deceptive; it deceived a third of the angels and they were cast out with Lucifer.   Proverbs 8:13 King James Version (KJV)  The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. The  flip side of all this is to love and embrace  humility. Pride is a trap for the flesh and will cut you off from God.

Proverbs 16:18 
Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. (When we see a person with a haughty spirit, we can prophecy this person’s destiny here)

Proverbs 16:19 
It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud.

The humble can count on the grace and favor of God…The prideful, only what his ability can muster in a temporary season before the fall.

Philippians 2:3-11
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

 

True humility is love in action. Active faith is LOVE. love does not seek its own way; does not rejoice in iniquity but in truth:

1 Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Let our prayers be that Jesus is Lord over our thoughts, action and all things in our lives. Submitting ourselves to the law of love. His loves compels us!

Walk in the love of God so you have more grace in every place!

Matthew 20:28
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

Verse 5 of Philippians 2: Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus. If you have the mind of Christ, You’re serving.

Verse 6 and 7 notes:  reputation means to make empty; to neutralize. Here’s Jesus in Heaven—a wonderful place…then has to leave and be born as a baby. He makes himself of no reputation. He empties himself of His God ability. He lives here in submission to almighty God, led by the spirit. He was an example to the church. That is submission right there. He humbles himself from glory; the next moment he’s in a cow trough. Re-read verses 8-11.

Hebrews 5:4-9
4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.
6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

Important Points:

• He was human and yet sinless. He learned obedience by the things he suffered.
• In God’s kingdom the way up is the way down. It’s humility. You humble yourself and you learn to serve others.
• There will be times in your service you will not be recognized…
• You serve and you don’t get credit but someone else does. What then?   Hmmm. It’s a test! If you don’t pass the test, you’re gonna go around that mountain again. When your flesh starts to rise up like that you’ve got to test yourself. What is that in me that wants to be recognized? It’s devilish pride!
• James 4:6 is indicating that He desires to give more grace. Amen.
• Allow His mind to take residence within you. Take up His servanthood. We open ourselves to receive His grace in all places in our lives.

We need to think like He thinks. Pray this : I desire the mind of Christ, I receive the mind of Christ; to see like he sees, to think like he thinks I receive it by faith now!

 

 

 

Bible Notes taken from Dan Downey’s message Acquiring the Mind Of Christ

View and listen to messages: http://savedhealed.com/mp3soon.htm#flag3

 

Cardamom Christmas Braid

 

This bread is one of the few traditions we have on Christmas morning aside from surprising the kids with a bunch of stuff they don’t need.

It started with my mom and I’ve carried it on for 20+ years. I sometimes think of just making something else, but it’s only once per year, so why not? It’s pretty and pretty easy to make. If you’re like me and want to eat healthy, choose the best ingredients as suggested below.

Mom, if you’re reading this, it’s time to get out your ingredients and get going!

 

Yeast is dissolving in the warm milk

 

 

The original recipe(s) for this bread contain white flour, regular sugar of course, but we’re stepping it up to be wholesome for your morning breakfast.

Please feel free to share this recipe and make it a tradition of you own.

Note that I’ve made another version listed in Cooking Light magazine and that one was fantastic too!

You may wish to brown yours a little more and do an egg white wash on the bread before baking. I actually should’ve for this bread pictured here because I chose to sprinkle it with sugar instead of frosting it.

I usually toast this on Christmas morning so it will brown a little more then

 

Cardamom Christmas Braid

Ingredients:

• 2-1/4 cups organic whole- wheat ivory flour or whole wheat pastry flour ( I use Bob Red Mills)
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 heaping teaspoon ground cardamom
• 1 package active dry yeast
• 2/3 cup warm organic milk or almond milk (105-115 degrees)
• 2 tablespoons organic sugar
• 1 egg well- beaten
• 1/4 cup organic pasture-fed butter, melted
• Frosting (optional): OR naturally colored sugar: red or green*
• 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup blanched almonds

1. Sift flour. salt and cardamom: set aside.
2. Sprinkle yeast over milk in large saucepan; stir until dissolved.
3. Stir in granulated sugar, egg and flour mixture; mix well.
4. Add 2 tablespoons butter; mix thoroughly
5. Turn dough onto lightly floured surface. Knead about 8 minutes or until smooth
6. Turn into lightly greased bowl.
7. Cover with damp towel; let rise in warm place (about 85 degrees) free from drafts until double in bulk-about 1 hour.
8. Punch down dough. Cut into 3 equal parts. With hands, roll each part into a 24-inch ling rope.
9. On lightly greased cookie sheet, braid the three ropes. Join ends to form a circle. Brush with the rest of the butter. Sprinkle with sugar if using. Cover with damp towel; let rise until the braid is double in bulk about 45 minutes.
10. Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Bake braid about 12 minutes or until nicely browned. Cool on wire rack. Makes 1 braid 12 inches in diameter.
11. Frost, if desired. Sprinkle with almonds. Allow frosting to dry before putting into a container, if you’re planning to freeze it like I do.

 

Notes: I often double the recipe and also make two braids out of 1 recipe as shown in photos. You can make small braided wreaths too. I like these for gift-giving.

Make your own colored sugar. I made pink with pomegranate juice and organic cane sugar. Lay out to dry on a pan in a warm toaster oven–on a very low temp. You could also use a food dehydrator. Crumble over Christmas cookies or bread such as this one, before baking.

Soft Ginger Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Trying to cram a chocolate chip cookie into a molasses tasting ginger cookie wasn’t so hard. 

With Thanksgiving coming up next week, I wanted to get started on baking and I just love gingery-pumpkiny, molassesy kind of flavors.  I know it’s all about pie  at dessert time on Thanksgiving, and honestly these cookies may not make until next week. But I’m thinking of freezing some to make a small cookie plate for that “before dessert sweet craving”…you know when everyone else is saying how full they are but you’re like, “when’s dessert?”

So why not a healthy cookie to satisfy your holiday cookie craving?  Thankfulness starts now…

Let’s get a-baking

Dry ingredients:

• 3/4 cup millet
• 3/4 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 cup gluten free flour mix (a light version made with some tapioca flour)
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 teaspoons ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
• 1/4 cup extra virgin coconut oil, softened
• 2/3 sucanat or rapadura sugar
• 1/4 cup applesauce
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup molasses
• 1/3 cup crystalized ginger
• 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Sift dry ingredients together in a medium bowl and whisk to mix

Beat coconut oil with sucanat in a mixing bowl. Add applesauce and molasses, then egg. Beat until well mixed. Add in flour mixture. beat until consistent. Stir in ginger and chocolate chips.

Use a cookies scoop or spoon mixture by the tablespoonful onto parchment lined or greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 10-11 minutes. Let sit for a minute or two then transfer to a cooling rack.

Try not to eat ’em all.

 

 

Coconut-Rice “Ice Cream”

I love coconut rice, coconut pudding and Jasmine rice. put them all together, freeze it and you get a great healthy summer treat!

Adding that little bit of nutmeg gives it a custard-like taste reminiscent of Grape-nut pudding.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Please leave feedback!

 

 

Ingredients:

• 1 (15-ounce) can organic coconut milk (full fat)
• 1 cup cooked brown jasmine rice
• 1/4 cup agave nectar
• 1-2 teaspoons pure stevia powder, or to taste
• Pinch nutmeg
• 1/2 cup additional coconut or almond milk
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Put coconut milk, rice, agave, almond or coconut milk, vanilla, nutmeg and stevia into blender. Blend until smooth.

Pour into ready ice-cream maker following the manufacturer’s instructions. Scoop into freezer safe container. Put in freezer until ready to serve. The best texture is achieved within the first hour to two hours.

Serve with coconut and a sprinkle of ground nutmeg if desired.

Allergy Relief and a Ginger-Lemon Cleansing Drink FOR YOU!

 

Here’s something I had to share with my readers. I know some of you have complained about seasonal allergies.You may or may not know that the foods we eat directly affect how our bodies respond to allergens. Incorporating extra vitamin C, foods with quercetin (or supplement) such as nettle leaf, and regular intake of cleansing drinks will help thwart symptoms, and have you on your way toward healing.

During the winter season, we tend to take a lot of extra vitamin C around my house. Days when you’re feeling a little run down, it’s okay to boost your C quite a bit. I will not specify an amount for you, of course, but I will just tell you, I will, over the course of a day take in an additional 2-3,ooo milligrams on top of what I get in the foods I eat.

I do not have allergies and will never as far as I am concerned. Refusal is vital. You may say, what are you talking about? But, honestly some folks set themselves up for being sick. It’s like they expect it every season, so then there it is. surprise, surprise!

Taking care of our bodies is our responsibility. Eating healthfully and taking extra care when needed is essential to feeling optimal.

Quercetin -rich onion

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid common in the plant kingdom, especially high in onions, red wine, and green tea. It is one of the most biologically active flavonoids. Quercetin acts as a potent polyphenol antioxidant and immune system modulator. Many of its immune support attributes are enhanced by its synergistic relationship with vitamin C. Quercetin is highly active in the skin and lining of the digestive tract.*

Quercetin has a stabilizing effect on the immune system, helping various types of immune cells maintain their composure under stress. This helps provide tolerance for irritants such as pollen. Quercetin is known to modulate the behavior of the gene signal NF-kappaB, the crucial signal determining how a cell naturally manages stress and inflammation.*

Quercetin interacts with bones at a fundamental level (NF-kappaB), favorably influencing the behavior of both osteoblasts (bone building cells) and osteoclasts. Quercetin is one more natural compound that assists optimal bone health.*

Quercetin provides a variety of immune support features. It has a modulating effect on immune system signals, helping to calm down inappropriate excess. It helps to nourish mast cells so they are more stable and less likely to release histamine. As such, Quercetin is a popular support nutrient for mild reactions to seasonal pollens and other irritants. It is also known to enhance macrophage function, assisting lymphatic function. Quercetin, Immune Plus™, and Oregano Oil is our most popular combination for natural sinus support.*

 

 

Nettle Leaf

Nettle Leaf can be taken in supplement form and as a tea:

*Stinging nettle preparations are available at most health food stores, as dried leaves, tincture or extract made from leaves or roots. Prepare a tea by steeping 1 or 2 teaspoons of dried leaves in hot water for 5 to 10 minutes; to obtain benefits from both the leaves and root, add a few drops of a tincture or extract from its roots to your tea. Stinging nettle is generally considered safe, although it might cause mild stomach upset in some people and it could interact with certain medications. Exercise care when handling nettle since it might cause an allergic rash on your skin. Do not consume nettle tea if you are pregnant and do not use the herb to self-treat for any condition. Discuss its use with your doctor to determine if it might be helpful for you.

The following beverage is only a sample really, of  the beginnings of a beautiful healthy digestive system. Try it a few times per week. It doesn’t have to be a big smoothie glass; a juice glass if fine. you may even want to water it down a bit if it is too strong.

Ginger and lemon have both been long touted for having a positive affect on the digestive system for many reasons. Incorporate them into your diet regularly both in beverages and in cooking, salads, etc.

 

*Ginger Lemon Cleanse for Allergies
15 minutes prep time  |  Makes 2 servings
Feel better fast

Makes: 2 large servings

Juice:

• 1″ slice fresh ginger root
• 6 carrots with tops
• 1 lemon
• 1 apple cored

DIRECTIONS:

Juice the ginger, carrots, lemon, and apple. Enjoy!

Share your results with me. I’d be grateful!

 

 

*wellnessresources.com

*sfgate.com

Healthy English Muffins You Can Easily Make

Who doesn’t love those nooks and crannies?  My English muffins get slathered with coconut oil or grass fed butter. Even though it’s not a big deal to go to my local Trader Joe’s and buy whole wheat English muffins, there’s much more pleasure and enjoyment in eating your very own fresh ones.

Breakfast is quite a time for variety in my home. It seems that everyone eats something different on regular days. You know those days. Everyone has to go in a different direction and what you eat depends on the time you have.

Freeze these little muffins and you’ve got a portable breakfast. Just before leaving the house, toast it. Put a little dot of coconut oil or butter on it and close it and wrap in a piece of parchment paper and it looks like you just ordered from a take out counter.

• 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 cup warm water  (105-115°F)
• 3/4 teaspoon sea salt
• 2 tablespoons agave nectar or raw honey
• 1/4 cup organic peanut, sunflower or coconut oil
• 1/4 cup chopped organic unsulphered dried apricots
• 1 cup stone-ground whole wheat or spelt flour
• 1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
• 1 cup Bob’s red mill all-purpose gluten free flour or gluten-free flour mix
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
• 2 tablespoons organic yellow cornmeal

 

Sift the flours, and spices together in a medium bowl.

Sprinkle the yeast over warm water; stir just to moisten; once dissolved add the salt, agave, oil, flour mixture, and dried apricots; stir until smooth.

On a floured surface, roll out dough enough to cut 4-6 circles about 3 -3 ½ inches using an overturned cup or can or a round cookie cutter.

Gather up dough and roll it out again to cut a few more and then again until you have between 10 and 12 (depends on the size cutter you use). Sprinkle half of the cornmeal onto an ungreased baking sheet, place the muffins on the sheet and sprinkle with the remaining cornmeal. Cover and let rise in a warm place 1 hour (I find it helpful to place in a warm (170°F) oven for the last 10 minutes).

Heat a griddle to 300°F or set a griddle pan over medium-low heat.  Transfer muffins onto the griddle and cook for 5-8 minutes on each side (heating methods will vary time). They should be lightly browned.  Split in half with a fork to serve or toast lightly before serving.

 

 

If you like this recipe, check out The Breakfast Habit available at

Amazon.https://www.amazon.com/Breakfast-Habit-Ryan-Charlene-ebook/dp/B00CBLF9WA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1489418058&sr=8-2&keywords=the+breakfast+habit   OR click on the Photo to the right >

Italian Pasta Sauce | Simple and Fresh Tasting

It’s the fresh taste I love.

There are Italians out there who love a long-simmered sauce. And I love certain of those sauces namingly my mom’s sauce (the best ever). Other sauces tend to take on an overcooked flavor and remind me of potluck dinners.  You know the ones I’m talking about; the lasagna with the mystery sauce (don’t know if it’s store-bought or not), the burnt edges and covered in aluminum-leeching foil, or the ziti casserole with sugary tasting sauce?

This is a quick sauce, yet excelling in flavor. Since it is not summer yet and there is no abundance of fresh tomatoes, this is the next best option, plus the tomatoes are ready and a bit saucy to help you out.

Give it a try.  You won’t be disappointed.

 

 

Ingredients:

• 2 Cans BPA-free organic whole peeled tomatoes, such as Muir Glen
• 2 large cloves garlic, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil (preferably olive oil), undrained, plus additional oil to taste. I used about 1/4 cup oil
• 1/4-1/2 cup water (I use clean water to get rest of tomato out of cans, then I add it to the pan)
• 4-5 cubes frozen basil, or 1-2 tablespoons minced fresh basil
• Big pinch dried or fresh rosemary leaves
• 2 teaspoons dried parsley
• Seal salt with minerals, to taste
• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:

Heat all ingredients just until hot. Transfer to a food processor; process until as smooth as you like it. Return to pot until ready to serve. Serve with pasta.  Warm gently if needed.

Adjust seasonings as needed according to taste.

We served with freshly grated Parmigiana Reggiano.

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