Friday, January 28, 2011

The Truth About Pizza

So, I really don't like it when people miss out on something great because they are believing something that isn't true.  I really don't like when I am one of those people either.  When we started focusing on eating better and learning more about how to live a healthy lifestyle, I thought pizza was a joy of the past.  After all, so many people say that pizza is a junk food.  Pizza is not "good for you."  Well in usual fashion, I like to defy those socially accepted mantras and find a better way.  I thought you might enjoy one of the many samplings of great and healthy pizzas we love to make here in our home.  I do love pizza, and I love this one!

Crust:

2 cups of whole wheat flour
2 tspns of baking soda
2 T vital wheat gluten (helps with elasticity)
1 tspn of sea salt
2/3 cup of purified water
1/4 cup of extra virgin olive oil
1 tspn of dried thyme
1 tspn of dried rosemary
1 tspn of dried basil

Mix dry ingredients together well.  Then add water and oil.  The dough shouldn't be too wet, so if it is then just add a little more flour.  It should not stick to the side of the mixing bowl.  Mix well until thoroughly kneaded together.  It's easiest if you have a stand mixer to knead the dough for you, but if you don't just use your hands.  Roll dough out on a 14 inch (diameter) pizza pan that has been prepared.  I like to use unrefined coconut oil to grease the pan, but you use what you are used to using.  After the pan is rolled out, fold one half over and sprinkle some yellow corn meal on the pan.  Press the half back down on the pan, and then do the same thing with the other side.  This is for fun really, so no sweat if you don't have yellow corn meal.  It does add to the flavor and the texture.  Poke some holes in the dough gently with a fork, and set aside.

Topping:

3-4 yukon potatoes, sliced thinly
1 cup of broccoli, chopped
1 cup of zucchini, sliced and chopped
1/2 cup of mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup of onions, sliced and chopped
3 cloves of garlic, chopped
2/3 cup of tomato sauce (I always look at ingredients to find one with no added sweetener)
2 pinches of sea salt
2 pinches of black pepper
2 pinches of dried thyme
2 T of extra virgin olive oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Slice and/or chop all of the veggies accordingly.  Gently spread the tomato sauce over the crust evenly.  Place the broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, onions, and garlic on the crust evenly.  In a separate bowl, coat the potato slices with the olive oil.  Then place them over the top of the veggies to cover all of the veggies (like cheese would).  Season the top with the sea salt, pepper, and thyme.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing, and enjoy!

You have whole grains in the crust, good fats in the olive oil, all the goodness of these veggies and tomato, and the yumminess to make you love pizza night.  Plus this is a cholesterol free pizza, just in case that is helpful for you.  I always recommend buying all natural and even organic ingredients whenever possible.  This makes your food much healthier for you.  There are many ways to do this cost effectively, as well, with sales and coupons.  Now more than ever it is very doable. 

You see?  Pizza can be healthy, fun, and easy to make yourself.  The measurements for the toppings don't have to be exact, and you can certainly load it up like I do!  I hope you enjoy this favorite pizza of ours!

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Life Lessons from Elohim

For the next few weeks some ladies and I are going through a great study by Kay Arthur called Lord, I Want to Know You.  The study is a deeper look at the names of God in the Bible. We are only in the first week and a half (a few chapters) of the book, and I already love it.  I am very excited about what the Lord will be teaching us as we continue.

There is so much to say already of what I have learned, but I will share just a small sampling that has been rolling around for a few days in my head.  I always get excited when God teaches me something so practical, so real, and so necessary for my daily life that I have to share it with others because I believe it is important for others to hear, as well. 

The first name of God from the Bible that we have looked at is the name Elohim.  In short, this means Almighty God.  This is the name for God as Creator.  "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Genesis 1:1).  This is not just important because He created everything I see and everything I don't, but also because He created you and me.  "For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.  I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well" (Psalm 139:13,14).

Since God created me, can I not trust Him with my life?  Can I not trust Him with every little detail of my life?  He so intricately put me together 30 years ago and has used my body to do this with two others, so far!  Think of the process!  Think of the masterpiece that each human being is.  Even the ones that others may not see as a masterpiece are a masterpiece to Him!

Because I can trust Him, I have confidence that He is who He says He is.  I can boast in His name.  "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God.  They have bowed down and fallen, but we have risen and stood upright" (Psalm 20:7,8).  In Hebrew, to boast means to have confidence in.  What happens when I have confidence in Him?  Victory (risen and stood upright)!  When I choose to not be confident in Him, there is defeat (bowed down and fallen).

I got a glimpse of this through my older child this week.  She has all of a sudden been getting scared of the dark, and occassionally scared of anything else her imagination can dream up at any given time.  I was in another room, and suddenly she got scared.  She started running to me while cowering in fear and calling out.  During the few seconds this went on, I was telling her that she was okay, that there was nothing to be afraid of, and that I was right there.  She couldn't hear me, though.  She was too busy calling out and cowering while running to me.

This made me think of the verse from Psalm 20.  When I am bowed down and fallen, I picture myself cowering in fear.  For me that is what grips me when I am not trusting the Lord.  When I am down there cowering, I cannot hear the Lord's gentle voice (more gentle than my mommy voice) telling me that He is right there, that there is nothing to be afraid of, and that I am okay.  It is only when I am risen and standing upright that I can fix my eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of my faith (Hebrews 12:2), that I can hear His voice and walk in confidence.  Then I can boast in His name.

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe" (Proverbs 18:10).

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Welcome...to You and to Me

So, like you I am new here.  I am not really sure what to write, yet, because there is so much to say. 

The truth is that there is a lot being said out there.  Some of it makes sense, and some of it doesn't make sense at all.  But what about what seems to make sense?  How do you know if it is true or not?  How do you know how to discern the truth from the lie?  Where do you look for the measuring stick, the plumb line, to determine this?

Let's journey together and wade through the thick and the thin to answer these questions.  I know where I look.  I know how I measure.  Do you?