New year, New Resolution, Un-boring light food

New Year, new you, new food.

The Lions may grow weak and hungry but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing –Psalm 34:10

Why am I here?  What’s my purpose? What’s my calling in life?  Am I making a difference? Maybe you’re thinking you’ve lost your identity to motherhood, to being a wife, to your career or lack thereof.  What am I doing that’s making an impact for me and others?  AM I COOL ENOUGH?  

All Questions that arise this time of year because this is the time of year we spend reflecting, asking ourselves big questions, putting big expectations on a new year in the form of resolutions and trying to figure out just what we are here for.  I set goals and rejoice when they are fulfilled but over the past few years, life has changed so drastically in my home and life that I have a renewed sense of what types of goals I really want and need.  Truthfully, all I want and all I need is Jesus.  We get so caught up in our own self pleasure and affirmation that we forget the real reason we are here on earth.  This short rides purpose is literally to fall on the mercies of Jesus and learn to have real true unshakable joy.  This is not to say our road will be easy.  In fact it may be, and more than likely will be, wrought with pain.  But true Joy can co-exist in those hard times.  Your calling in life will begin to unfold when you seek after him.  You might be saying.  Oh, that sounds great but you don’t know my struggle.  Your right friend, I don’t.  But our savior does.  He is well acquainted with our grief.  He has walked a mile in our shoes and he’s willing to do the heavy lifting if we only learn to fix our eyes on him and leave this world behind.
It’s impossible to lose our identities when we fully understand our identity and self-worth are entirely wrapped up in Jesus.  When we seek our savior with the same fervor we spend wondering what were supposed to be doing or coveting another’s life, a beautiful life begins to just unfold.  I have to be honest; I can’t tell you how many blogs I read, or women I come across struggling to find themselves in this world.  That’s the trouble, when you search amongst the world for your truth it’s near impossible to find.  When you search for your heavenly father and stand firm on his promises the woman you are called to be can truly emerge.  The selfless nature you can’t achieve apart from Christ becomes second nature.  He begins to open doors no man can shut and guide your life to impact people for his glory. (Revelation 3:8 I have set before you an open door that no man can shut…)  When self is removed, impact can happen.  I finally let go of this idea that I had to find my calling.  God allowed the removal of just about every comfort in my life and I felt lost, empty, afraid and unsure.  It’s taken a few years and many tears to realize that he has been calling me to his side.  To rest, and wait.  My calling in life has only become evident after I have fallen on his promises and clung to his word.  All I want is Jesus, real relationship with my heavenly father, a marriage that’s healthy and for my son to follow after God.  I want my family free from sickness and disease.  I want to help others realize this call to rest In Gods promises for their life.   So the next time you find yourself wondering what it’s really all about, remind yourself you already know.  Everything falls into place when Jesus is the center of our worlds, not on the outside of our chaos looking in.  Jobs will come, miracles will happen, sickness will flee, your storm will pass, your pain will diminish and your future is bright. Let this New Year bring a steadfast joy and renewed relationship with Our Savior.

Danielle-

Now let’s make some Hot & Sour soup!  Let’s be real, January is the great slim down!  We would all like to get rid of the pounds from extra sugar cookies that are keeping our comfy pants on the top of the laundry pile front and center and our skinny jeans in the back of the closet from all that holiday cheer :). Healthy nourishing food doesn’t have to be boring!  I’ve come up with an Asian inspired meal that will have those skinnies calling your name!  We are about to breathe new life into the term Soup & Salad!  We’re making Hot & Sour Soup with a Spicy Rice Noodle bowl.

Hot & Sour Soup

8 oz. ground turkey, chicken or pork

½ medium onion sliced

2 tbsp. cooking oil

4 cups low sodium chicken stock or broth

1 cup water

1 tsp salt

1 tsp pepper

1 tbsp tamari or soy sauce

½ cup rice vinegar

3-4 cloves fresh chopped garlic

1 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

4-5 diced green onions

2 cups of sliced button mushrooms

1 cup sliced fresh snow pea pods

1 cup bean sprouts

½ cup carrot shreds

Hot sauce or Sriracha to taste

In a soup pot cook meat and onion over medium high heat, in the oil until browned and fragrant, then add chicken stock, water, seasonings, garlic, vinegar and Tamari sauce.  Bring this mixture  to a simmer for 15 minutes.  Just before the soup is ready to serve add your veggies and reserve a few green onions for garnish.  Cook veggies for just a minute or two and enjoy this refreshing flavorful soup along with your meal.  This is where you can add as much or as little hot sauce as you like!

Spicy Rice Noodle Salad

Serves 4 individual portions

12 oz. dry rice noodles

4 scrambled eggs

1 cup toasted peanuts or cashews

½ cup fresh shred basil

½ cup fresh chopped cilantro

2 cups shredded lettuce

½ cup diced cucumber

½ cup carrot shreds

Snow pea pods and diced green onion for garnish

1 cup Sesame Tamari Sauce (see recipe)

Cook Noodles according to package drain and set aside.  Scramble eggs and set aside.  This noodle salad is a free for all of amazing toppings and goodness.  Simply top each portion of noodles with the veggies and toppings of choice and eat as a meal or enjoy alongside our Hot and Sour soup!  Dress with the sesame seed tamari dressing and Sriracha to taste!

Sesame Tamari Sauce

1/4 cup Packed brown sugar

2 tbsp. yellow mustard

1 clove fresh crushed garlic

1 tsp black pepper

¼ cup rice vinegar

1/3 cup Tamari sauce.

2 heaping Tbsp. of sesame seeds

Mix the brown sugar and mustard until a smooth paste forms, add all the other ingredients and mix well. And set aside for at least 30 minutes for flavors to marry.  This sauce keeps in fridge up to 7 days.