Red Potato Scallop Casserole

Mark LOVES potatoes and I am always looking for different ways to serve them. This casserole checks all the boxes - makes a lot and is good as leftovers, is easy and tastes delicious. I have made this a few times and realize that in future, I would skip the goat cheese and just use extra parmesan cheese in the layering.

Ingredients

6 to 10 small to medium red potatoes
red onion
3 tablespoons olive oil
4 ounces goat cheese
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tsp garlic powder
1/4 cup whole milk
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon thinly sliced basil or thyme leaves

Steps

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Lightly grease a 1 1/2- to 2-quart casserole dish with a drizzle of olive oil.
Use a mandoline or chef's knife to slice the potatoes and onion into very, very thin slices, 1/8-inch thick or less. Toss the sliced vegetables with the 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large bowl.
Place a third of the onion and potato slices in the bottom of the dish — season with salt and pepper and garlic powder.
Top with half of the goat cheese, scattered evenly in large chunks (or parmesan). Repeat with another third of the vegetables, seasoning again with garlic, salt and pepper and topping with the other half of the goat cheese (or parmesan).
Finish by layering on the final third of the vegetables and seasoning with garlic, salt and pepper.
Pour the milk over the entire dish.
Top with the Parmesan cheese.
Bake, covered, for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 15 more minutes, until the top browns. Scatter on the fresh basil.

Elle's Easy Coleslaw

This is so easy and yet so delicious. Mark loves it (and he doesn't like a LOT of vegetables lol!) The quantities are very flexible based on preference (i.e., if you don't like cilantro, eliminate it although personally, I think you would be missing out!)

Elle's Easy Coleslaw

• 1 bag of shredded tri coleslaw or you can finely slice a head of cabbage
• salt & pepper to taste
• mayonnaise till the mixture is moist but not drenched (start with 1/4 to 1/2 C and add more if needed)
• chopped fresh cilantro to taste (I like a good couple of Tbsp)

It is best if you allow it to refrigerate a few hours to have the flavors meld.

Asian Ramen Noodle Chicken Salad - Kona Grill Knock Off

Fabulous dressing! Mark LOVED it and said it was the best recipe for salad yet. 

 Ingredients

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cooked and shredded or chopped OR 2 breaded chicken breasts, cooked & sliced
2 oz packages dry ramen, broken into fine pieces (discard seasoning packets)
1 cup sliced or slivered almonds
napa cabbage, shredded fine
2 cups shredded tri-mix cabbage
1 cup large carrot peeled and chopped into thin sticks 3/4
4 green onions sliced
cilantro
edamame
2 Tbsp toasted sesame seeds
DRESSING:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup + 2 Tbsp apple cider vinegar OR white wine vinegar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp soy sauce
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp dried ginger
1 tsp garlic, minced
Salt to taste

Steps

Whisk together all of the dressing ingredients until well blended, microwave several minutes to dissolve sugar. Season to taste, set aside.
Combine all ingredients. Drizzle dressing over top and toss to evenly coat. Serve immediately.

Spiced Loaf

  Don't tell Mark that this has bananas in it - that is why I call it Spice Loaf.

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup pumpkin
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cloves
½ cup melted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts

Steps

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 8x3 inch loaf pans. Whisk together the flour, baking powder, and baking soda; set aside.
Mash the bananas, eggs, sugar, cinnamon, salt, nutmeg, and cloves together in a large bowl with a fork until well combined. Stir in the melted butter and vanilla extract, then fold in the flour mixture until a batter forms and no dry lumps remain. Pour into the prepared loaf pans.
Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan, and allow to cool completely on a wire rack.

Zucchini Bread

 I have made this recipe dozens of times over the years and it is a favorite of mine and Mark's (but I omit the raisins for him). 

 Ingredients

3 eggs
1 C oil
1 1/2 C sugar
2 C grated zucchini
2 tsp vanilla
2 C flour
1 C nuts
1/4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp allspice
1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp salt
1 C raisins, optional

Steps

Blend wet ingredients.
Sift dry ingredients.
Combine wet & dry ingredients.
Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon if desired
In 2 greased loaf pans, bake at 350F for 1 hour

Sunday Chat: Hearing From God

 

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 

James 2:17 

 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. 

Ephesians 4:32 

 

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

Romans 12:2 

And even when you ask,  

you don’t get it because  

your motives are all wrong— 

you want only what will give you pleasure. 

James 4: 3  

 

Do not be anxious about anything,  

but in everything by prayer and supplication  

with thanksgiving let your requests  

be made known to God.  

And the peace of God,  

which surpasses all understanding,  

will guard your hearts and  

your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Philippians 4:6-7  

 

And without faith  

it is impossible to please him,  

for whoever would draw near to God  

must believe that he exists  

and that he rewards those who seek him. 

Hebrews 11:6  

 

Therefore, confess your sins to 

one another and pray for one another,

 that you may be healed. 

The prayer of a righteous person 

has great power as it is working. 

James 5:16  

 

And whatever we ask  

we receive from him,  

because we keep his commandments  

and do what pleases him. 

1 John 3:22

Pray without ceasing, 

1 Thessalonians 5:17  

 

And this is the confidence  

that we have toward him,  

that if we ask anything  

according to his will he hears us.  

And if we know that he hears us  

in whatever we ask,  

we know that we have the requests  

that we have asked of him. 

1 John 5:14-15

If any of you lacks wisdom,  

let him ask God,  

who gives generously to  

all without reproach,  

and it will be given him. 

James 1:5  

 

And he told them a parable  

to the effect that they ought  

always to pray and not lose heart. 

Luke 18:1  

 

Praying at all times in the Spirit,  

with all prayer and supplication.  

To that end keep alert  

with all perseverance,  

making supplication for all the saints, 

Ephesians 6:18  

 

“Keep on asking,  

and you will receive  

what you ask for.  

Keep on seeking,  

and you will find.  

Keep on knocking,  

and the door will  

be opened to you. 

Matthew 7:7 

Therefore I tell you,  

whatever you ask in prayer,  

believe that you have received it,  

and it will be yours. 

Mark 11:24 

 

And whatever you ask in prayer,  

you will receive,  

if you have faith.” 

Matthew 21:22 

 

You don’t have enough faith,”  

Jesus told them.  

“I tell you the truth,  

if you had faith even as small  

as a mustard seed,  

you could say to this mountain,  

‘Move from here to there,’  

and it would move.  

Nothing would be impossible" 

Matthew 17:20 

 

 Then, teaching them more about prayer,  

he used this story:  

“Suppose you went to a friend’s house  

at midnight, wanting to borrow  

three loaves of bread.  

You say to him,  

 ‘A friend of mine has just arrived  

for a visit, and I have nothing for him to eat.’ 

  And suppose he calls out  

from his bedroom,  

‘Don’t bother me.  

The door is locked for the night,  

and my family and I are all in bed.  

I can’t help you.’  

 But I tell you this—though he  

won’t do it for friendship’s sake,  

if you keep knocking long enough,  

he will get up and give you whatever  

you need because of your  

shameless persistence. 

 “And so I tell you,  

keep on asking,  

and you will receive what  

you ask for.  

Keep on seeking,  

and you will find.  

Keep on knocking,  

and the door will be opened to you.  

For everyone who asks, receives.  

Everyone who seeks, finds.  

And to everyone who knocks,  

the door will be opened. 

 “You fathers—if your children  

ask for a fish,  

do you give them a snake instead?  

Or if they ask for an egg,  

do you give them a scorpion?  

Of course not!  

So if you sinful people know  

how to give good gifts to your children,  

how much more will your heavenly  

Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” 

Luke 11:5-13 

If you abide in me,  

and my words abide in you, 

 ask whatever you wish, 

 and it will be done for you 

John 15:7  

  

Let all that I am wait  

quietly before God,  

for my hope is in him. 

Psalm 62:5 

 

I will say to the Lord,  

“My refuge and my fortress, 

 my God, in whom I trust.” 

Psalm 91:2  

For the word of God  

is living and active,  

sharper than any two-edged sword,  

piercing to the division 

 of soul and of spirit,  

of joints and of marrow,  

and discerning the thoughts  

and intentions of the heart. 

Hebrews 4:12  

 

All Scripture is breathed 

 out by God and  

profitable for teaching,  

for reproof, for correction,  

and for training in righteousness, 

2 Timothy 3:16  

 

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, 

 whom the Father will send in my name,  

he will teach you all things  

and bring to your remembrance 

 all that I have said to you. 

John 14:26  

 

But he answered, “It is written,  

“‘Man shall not live by bread alone,  

but by every word that comes from the  

Matthew 4:4  

 

So faith comes from hearing,  

and hearing through the word of Christ. 

Romans 10:17  

 

Until now you have asked  

nothing in my name.  

Ask, and you will receive,  

that your joy may be full. 

John 16:24