I made a tasty dessert recently for a friend's birthday. It was devoured by me and those in my company. It was beautiful, smooth, balanced in flavor and just so perfec... wait. There's more to it than that. It was nearly a disaster at one point. Those that saw the end result had no idea how distraught I was while making it. Here's what happened...
I had this vision of a tart made with a spiced crust and a coconut-macadamia ice cream filling. I planned and prepped well in advance. I even special ordered a gluten free spice cookie mix that I intended to transform. Everything I could control was going great. Until bake time...
You think I (being the bakesta that I am) would know how to work with a mix, right? Well, let's just say I got pretty stuck. Yea, the crust stuck to the pan! Like, completely stuck. I was twirling the pan in an effort to move it even just a little bit! Nothing. How on earth was I supposed to present an elegant tart when I'd be wrestling it to slice a piece?!
I decided it was better for me to wrestle it before the birthday shindig arrived. So the battle began. After a lot of prodding I managed to get what most of it out. But it was deformed, so I started "shaping" it. Yes, I molded the crust. It was in an interesting state and pretty darn pliable. Eventually it resembled a rustic crust. I was happy with it. A good chunk of it was still left in the pan, but I was happy enough. I proceeded to fill it with coco-macadamia delight and popped it in the freezer. It wasn't the most beautiful thing in the world, but I knew it would at least taste good.
Time to wash that crust-covered pan. As I walked the tart pan to the sink I got sad thinking about the kitchen catastrophe. I saw the bits hanging onto the pan and hated that I was about to waste all of the tasty goodness.
And then BOOM!! Idea!!!
I grabbed platter and started clawing at the pan. I salvaged as much of the leftover crust as I could and ended up with a nice pile of sweetly spiced crumbs. I grabbed the tart out of the freezer and went to town covering it with cookie crumb goodness! It looked complete. I was actually quite pleased with it. And plus I saw it had having several texture components... which makes any dessert that much better!
Ah, I was so happy & satisfied.
And God spoke to me. Quick & simply, mind you.
Things can be annoyingly messy & seemingly a waste of everything. It doesn't make a whole lot of sense how anything of that ugly magnitude could be turned around. He takes my mess. My ugly, dirty mess and, in the way only He can do, He transforms things. Turns them into loveliness. As this song I heard years ago says "laaaaaaate in the midnight hour God's gonna turn it around!!"
And I believe it. If a fail of a dessert can turn lovely by my hands, think of all the good to be made out of us by the Maker of all things! What a delicious life is in store!
Showing posts with label Foodevotion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foodevotion. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Saturday, January 12, 2013
Soul Food
About three months ago I was faced with a life change. I was told that I have food allergies/intolerances. Now I could go on & on about how this has affected me and caused me to rethink the way I consume food each day, but I won't... very much anyway. It is an adjustment. It is inconvenient at times. It is hard for me as a foodie to not partake in the food-love bestowed upon me. And it's a little tough to explain "why I can't just cheat" every now and then.
The food we eat is a part of who we are. If we're filling up on bad stuff, we're becoming that. I look back on my previous eating habits. The times when I'd just be so hungry and fill up on whatever would make the hunger pains subside. I could have been eating paste for all I knew. It tasted good & it satisfied my immediate craving.
But guess what? It goes beyond that. You see, I've been battling this little thing called digestion. My body literally hasn't been absorbing nutrients as it should. So no matter how healthy I might have been eating, it didn't matter. My bod just wasn't having it! How sad is that? We could be getting all the right stuff, but if we cannot digest it properly, there is hardly any good that can come of it.
So top notch nutrients come from raw foods, right? Right! BUT!!! My digestion was so whack that even that was too much for me to handle. So while all the nutritionalists & health articles had been telling to me to eat one way, it literally didn't do me any favors. I had to prep my food to integrate properly with my digestive tract. I couldn't force my body into something it wasn't ready for.
The food we eat is a part of who we are. If we're filling up on bad stuff, we're becoming that. I look back on my previous eating habits. The times when I'd just be so hungry and fill up on whatever would make the hunger pains subside. I could have been eating paste for all I knew. It tasted good & it satisfied my immediate craving.
But guess what? It goes beyond that. You see, I've been battling this little thing called digestion. My body literally hasn't been absorbing nutrients as it should. So no matter how healthy I might have been eating, it didn't matter. My bod just wasn't having it! How sad is that? We could be getting all the right stuff, but if we cannot digest it properly, there is hardly any good that can come of it.
So top notch nutrients come from raw foods, right? Right! BUT!!! My digestion was so whack that even that was too much for me to handle. So while all the nutritionalists & health articles had been telling to me to eat one way, it literally didn't do me any favors. I had to prep my food to integrate properly with my digestive tract. I couldn't force my body into something it wasn't ready for.
But beyond this physical thing, I've been enlightened. Yes. Such is life. I've reflected and pondered.
And God spoke to me.
The many things going into my heart, head and soul are reflected in who I am. Information, conversation, music... everything. As I fill myself with goodness... the things that I'm designed to run on... I'll be thriving in such a magnificent way. Likewise, if I am replacing the goodness with nasty, I'm changed accordingly.
But even so, if my heart is not ready to receive information and input... how can I be transformed by these good things? My soul needs work. Lots of it. Step in God. Thankfully He is good at restoration. Taking my faulty "digestive tract" and making it new... making absorption possible. Am I taking this too far? Maybe, but this is how all of this is resonating within me these days.
And with the whole thing on prep work. All I have to say is we are not made to fit formulas. Each person is custom made and so it makes perfect sense that there are adjustments needed in what we take in.
Does this make sense? It does to me. And thus concludes today's foodevotion.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Dough-Not Forget, It's All Part of the Process!
A few nights ago, I got a carb-o-liciously good word from the Bread of Life! That's right, it's foodevotion time!
Background: My dairy-free friend was coming over for dinner and I was making sweet potato burgers, but when it came to the buns, I got nervous. So instead of risking her life by buying some tainted buns, I decided to make them myself so no trace of milky nastiness made an appearance. No big thing, right? I mean, come now, being the bakesta' that I am, you'd think I have extensive baking experience. No siry! In fact, to my recollection, I've never made yeasty bread without the aid of a mixer. And so began yet another journey into the kitchen.
I quickly learned (or not so quickly in this case, since it took a while for me) that bread-making goes in long, drawn-out phases. As I was mixing the dough components together, I became a bit frustrated. Cake batter is so smooth and reasonably quick in terms of getting everything incorporated. So this bread thing got to me, yet it was certainly something I wanted to see through! Things were crumbly and not coming together very well. I was instructed to add the liquid in a slow stream. My thought was that this would solve the problem of the lack of cohesiveness. But I still had wandering bits that refused to become a part of the whole.
Eventually all of the liquid was added and things took a drastic turn... but not in a good way. It was like a sloshy mass of paste. The sound of me kneading reminded me of running through a corn maze on a super soggy night. It was a mess... a sticky, sticky mess! Things came together at this point, but my hand felt like it was covered in a tub of glue that's gone way beyond it's normal state into a chunk of gloop remniscent of Slime Monster remains. My fingers were forced into sluggish movements 'cause they were enveloped in this dough explosion. And then came the addition of oil. The recipe said to knead until all of the oil was absorbed. While part of me felt like I was working on chewed up gum, I kept at it... and guess what?! The oil did in fact work its way throughout the dough and... it looked beautiful!
I'm not a very patient person, and this whole ordeal seemed to take foreeeever. But the end result was a perfect ball of dough that was uniform throughout and didn't stick to me!
And God spoke to me.
God is the baker, I am His dough. He's using what I have, even though I view it as unmixable & separate. He takes my scattered being and He brings it together. For He knows the recipe of life... He created the recipe my life. When I'm a little lumpy, He works it out. To Him, I make sense... even in my discombobulated state. He makes sense out of me. Yes, He's taking what I have, what He's provided for me and He's kneading it into perfection. He's adding just the right amount of every ingredient. And although there are phases of confusion, questions about how on earth things will come together, or just wondering how to get out of a sticky mess... He is at work. The scatteredness, the stickiness, it's all a part of a whole! In fact, it's essential for the end result. It's uncomfortable. It's gross. It's frustrating. But it makes for such a tasty, satisfying, Baker-pleasing result.
Looking back at the process of creating that bread, I'd say it's totally worth it. I am proud of it. It's my creation. If I like my vegan buns that much, I am pretty certain God feels that, times a bijillion about His creation... me! And YOU!! You see, the difference between me and God is that He's the ultimate bakesta' and He knows His work so well, even from the start. So those moments of discomfort ain't got nothing on Him. He knows the outcome.
In light of His mercy & love, and this foodevotion, this life's troubles seem rather small compared to the lovely loaf I'm becoming!
Background: My dairy-free friend was coming over for dinner and I was making sweet potato burgers, but when it came to the buns, I got nervous. So instead of risking her life by buying some tainted buns, I decided to make them myself so no trace of milky nastiness made an appearance. No big thing, right? I mean, come now, being the bakesta' that I am, you'd think I have extensive baking experience. No siry! In fact, to my recollection, I've never made yeasty bread without the aid of a mixer. And so began yet another journey into the kitchen.
I quickly learned (or not so quickly in this case, since it took a while for me) that bread-making goes in long, drawn-out phases. As I was mixing the dough components together, I became a bit frustrated. Cake batter is so smooth and reasonably quick in terms of getting everything incorporated. So this bread thing got to me, yet it was certainly something I wanted to see through! Things were crumbly and not coming together very well. I was instructed to add the liquid in a slow stream. My thought was that this would solve the problem of the lack of cohesiveness. But I still had wandering bits that refused to become a part of the whole.
Eventually all of the liquid was added and things took a drastic turn... but not in a good way. It was like a sloshy mass of paste. The sound of me kneading reminded me of running through a corn maze on a super soggy night. It was a mess... a sticky, sticky mess! Things came together at this point, but my hand felt like it was covered in a tub of glue that's gone way beyond it's normal state into a chunk of gloop remniscent of Slime Monster remains. My fingers were forced into sluggish movements 'cause they were enveloped in this dough explosion. And then came the addition of oil. The recipe said to knead until all of the oil was absorbed. While part of me felt like I was working on chewed up gum, I kept at it... and guess what?! The oil did in fact work its way throughout the dough and... it looked beautiful!
I'm not a very patient person, and this whole ordeal seemed to take foreeeever. But the end result was a perfect ball of dough that was uniform throughout and didn't stick to me!
And God spoke to me.
God is the baker, I am His dough. He's using what I have, even though I view it as unmixable & separate. He takes my scattered being and He brings it together. For He knows the recipe of life... He created the recipe my life. When I'm a little lumpy, He works it out. To Him, I make sense... even in my discombobulated state. He makes sense out of me. Yes, He's taking what I have, what He's provided for me and He's kneading it into perfection. He's adding just the right amount of every ingredient. And although there are phases of confusion, questions about how on earth things will come together, or just wondering how to get out of a sticky mess... He is at work. The scatteredness, the stickiness, it's all a part of a whole! In fact, it's essential for the end result. It's uncomfortable. It's gross. It's frustrating. But it makes for such a tasty, satisfying, Baker-pleasing result.
Looking back at the process of creating that bread, I'd say it's totally worth it. I am proud of it. It's my creation. If I like my vegan buns that much, I am pretty certain God feels that, times a bijillion about His creation... me! And YOU!! You see, the difference between me and God is that He's the ultimate bakesta' and He knows His work so well, even from the start. So those moments of discomfort ain't got nothing on Him. He knows the outcome.
In light of His mercy & love, and this foodevotion, this life's troubles seem rather small compared to the lovely loaf I'm becoming!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Orange You Glad??
Today God spoke to me. He spoke to me through an orange peel. And I'm supa' [orange] juiced about it!
I was walking to the copier at work and had a fleeting thought about what God has done in me and the gifts He's popped into full throttle. Then I went to the place that we really shouldn't go, but often do. I thought "What if it was all a fluke? Maybe the things I've done well in were just a once in a lifetime thing!" And I got a little discouraged.
Then I got hungry and remembered I had an orange, much like the one I had eaten the day before. I pulled it out of my purse and recalled the sweet peel deal I had done the day before. I peeled it in one peel! It was really fun. It was kind of hard and it took me a little time, and I got some juiciness all over my hands. But it was a cute little thing to "reassemble" my peel... for kicks. What??! Don't act like you never try and do that! So I attempted it again, and much to my delight... SUCCESS!! Peeled it in ONE PEEL! It actually went a little quicker and was a little less messy too, which was a plus.
But as quick as I got that last bit of peel off my orange, my previous stream of thoughts were brought back to light.
And God spoke to me.
He said that these things that have happened are just the start. He's not done.
I realize things won't be exactly the same way every time. Sometimes it will be a little quicker. Sometimes a little slower. Sometimes a little messy. And sometimes spick and span. The only thing I really know is that He started this goodness in me long before I was aware... and He gets to decide when it's all done! And, my friends, today... via orange-o-gram... God told me He ain't done! Orange you glad He's not finished with the work in YOU?!!
I was walking to the copier at work and had a fleeting thought about what God has done in me and the gifts He's popped into full throttle. Then I went to the place that we really shouldn't go, but often do. I thought "What if it was all a fluke? Maybe the things I've done well in were just a once in a lifetime thing!" And I got a little discouraged.
Then I got hungry and remembered I had an orange, much like the one I had eaten the day before. I pulled it out of my purse and recalled the sweet peel deal I had done the day before. I peeled it in one peel! It was really fun. It was kind of hard and it took me a little time, and I got some juiciness all over my hands. But it was a cute little thing to "reassemble" my peel... for kicks. What??! Don't act like you never try and do that! So I attempted it again, and much to my delight... SUCCESS!! Peeled it in ONE PEEL! It actually went a little quicker and was a little less messy too, which was a plus.
 |
| I had to take a picture. I get excited about silly things. |
 |
| Victorious again! So I plopped 'em in cottage cheese. |
And God spoke to me.
He said that these things that have happened are just the start. He's not done.
I realize things won't be exactly the same way every time. Sometimes it will be a little quicker. Sometimes a little slower. Sometimes a little messy. And sometimes spick and span. The only thing I really know is that He started this goodness in me long before I was aware... and He gets to decide when it's all done! And, my friends, today... via orange-o-gram... God told me He ain't done! Orange you glad He's not finished with the work in YOU?!!
Saturday, March 10, 2012
The Food News
Whenever I eat something that pleases my palate, I have a natural tendency to tell people about it. I don't know if you read my soup story a few months ago, but it demonstrates this behavior in action. I will literally stop whatever is going on just to proclaim the greatness of a dish. The person I'm talking to may already know about the yumminess explained, the person might not even care or the person's interest could be perked. No matter the ears my food speech falls on, there's something that is inside of me which compels me to share the dance of my taste buds.
About two weeks ago, a client came into the office I work and the first thing he said to me was "You're the foodie!" So you can imagine my delight when the conversation lept into our latest food endeavors. There was a connection.
And God spoke to me.
I feel like this situation easily translates to all areas of life. When we share what we care about we spark interest in others, or bring out what is already in them. It forms a bond. A really great one.
I'm convicted to let this passionate way of action induced by good food seep into all areas of my life. Good food should never be kept in secret... and neither should any of our gifts or passions. When something excites us, we let people know (via words, via action... via mini-dance party?)! Likewise, when we start talking something up or doing things that reflect any given thing, it's usually a sign that we're excited! So whether we realize it or not... we're excited about stuff. Just look back at speech and thoughts. Excitement doesn't necessarily mean doing cartwheels and screaming from a mountain top... or it can. And, like it or not, being excited isn't always associated with happiness (but that's another blog for another day).
The things I care for, the things I have, the things that occupy my thoughts, the grace and mercy that has been given to me... the bread of life that sustains me and brings joy and love to the proverbial palate of my every moment, even when I'm unaware... I want to be obsessed with the things I was created for... and then I want the world to know!
 |
| Good food should never be kept in secret |
And God spoke to me.
I feel like this situation easily translates to all areas of life. When we share what we care about we spark interest in others, or bring out what is already in them. It forms a bond. A really great one.
I'm convicted to let this passionate way of action induced by good food seep into all areas of my life. Good food should never be kept in secret... and neither should any of our gifts or passions. When something excites us, we let people know (via words, via action... via mini-dance party?)! Likewise, when we start talking something up or doing things that reflect any given thing, it's usually a sign that we're excited! So whether we realize it or not... we're excited about stuff. Just look back at speech and thoughts. Excitement doesn't necessarily mean doing cartwheels and screaming from a mountain top... or it can. And, like it or not, being excited isn't always associated with happiness (but that's another blog for another day).
The things I care for, the things I have, the things that occupy my thoughts, the grace and mercy that has been given to me... the bread of life that sustains me and brings joy and love to the proverbial palate of my every moment, even when I'm unaware... I want to be obsessed with the things I was created for... and then I want the world to know!
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Life is Like a BOWL of Chocolate
A few weeks ago I was preparing some chocolate confections for a craft fair happening in the community. Since I work with chocolate semi-frequently, chocolate and I have come to understand one another to a degree. Chocolate is pretty temperamental (kind of like me, actually) so when it comes to a meltdown (literally), I have to keep a watchful eye. However this last time, I made a mistake that cost me a batch of what could have been sweet sustenance.
In an effort to multitask, I walked away from my bowl of chocolate while it was melting. I wasn't stirring it constantly. I wasn't keeping it on a low heat setting. I wasn't even looking at it. Until... I returned and saw a scorched mess of sugary mass unfit for even the most desperate chocolate addict. It was ruined and I had to start all over again. In hopes to get more things done, I ended up being unfocused and wasteful.
And God spoke to me.
I thought about this chocolatey situation in light of life. We all have so many gifts, skills and passions. I believe we are called to use those to the best of our ability. But sometimes we find that we spread ourselves a little too thin... doing too much... multi-tasking... "getting more done". All these things are good things... but sometimes it's just best to say "no". Deep down, I struggle with letting jobs go 'cause for some strange reason I think that if I'm not the one to do it, I will have let someone down or the task simply won't get done. Or worse!! I think I'm the one that is capable of doing it the best, so why wouldn't I just do it?! The truth is, there are many people in this world way better than all of us. Taking on another task doesn't do anyone any good. We're stifling another's gift and clouding our own vision all at the same time. Bad, bad, bad!!
As this year comes to a close, I want to release this way of being. I want to focus on what needs to be focused on for me. I want to dedicate myself to the bowl of chocolate and make it the very best it can be. While I am a proponent of getting down to business and maximizing time... I am coming to see that working linearly, in a sense, can be more fruitful. So here's to 2012! May we take inventory of ourselves and grow & grow in the gifts knit within our being.
Oh and the end of my chocolate story goes like this...
I learned from my mistake that day, and the second time around the chocolate turned out perfectly melted. I stayed focused, even though it meant getting rid of some other components of my sugary confections. To be quite honest, I didn't need the other fluffy stuff. The lack of bells and whistles made my sweet treats shine more... the way chocolate was meant to be!
Let's grab hold of 2012 and shine like perfectly tempered chocolate. It's possible. We've got the Master Chocolatier working on us.
And God spoke to me.
I thought about this chocolatey situation in light of life. We all have so many gifts, skills and passions. I believe we are called to use those to the best of our ability. But sometimes we find that we spread ourselves a little too thin... doing too much... multi-tasking... "getting more done". All these things are good things... but sometimes it's just best to say "no". Deep down, I struggle with letting jobs go 'cause for some strange reason I think that if I'm not the one to do it, I will have let someone down or the task simply won't get done. Or worse!! I think I'm the one that is capable of doing it the best, so why wouldn't I just do it?! The truth is, there are many people in this world way better than all of us. Taking on another task doesn't do anyone any good. We're stifling another's gift and clouding our own vision all at the same time. Bad, bad, bad!!
As this year comes to a close, I want to release this way of being. I want to focus on what needs to be focused on for me. I want to dedicate myself to the bowl of chocolate and make it the very best it can be. While I am a proponent of getting down to business and maximizing time... I am coming to see that working linearly, in a sense, can be more fruitful. So here's to 2012! May we take inventory of ourselves and grow & grow in the gifts knit within our being.
Oh and the end of my chocolate story goes like this...
I learned from my mistake that day, and the second time around the chocolate turned out perfectly melted. I stayed focused, even though it meant getting rid of some other components of my sugary confections. To be quite honest, I didn't need the other fluffy stuff. The lack of bells and whistles made my sweet treats shine more... the way chocolate was meant to be!
Let's grab hold of 2012 and shine like perfectly tempered chocolate. It's possible. We've got the Master Chocolatier working on us.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Oh Crepe!
I've literally had a crepe three weekends in a row. I know! What the crepe?! The first was with two lovely ladies at a yummy creperie on 23rd. The second was with two new friends at the carts at the Saturday market (on Sunday... yea I know, what?). The third was this morning with a sweet peach of a friend at Chez Machin. All three were pretty much a delight!
I mean come on, what's not to love about a crepe?! It's the perfect ratio of starch to filling. And I just love the fillings... oh the possibilities! Savory... sweet... veggie... meat. That rhymed. It's neat how something with the same "shell" can taste so different when the insides are changed up a bit here and there. A dollop of creme fraiche turns it into a luscious treat. A sprinkle of feta takes you to the mediterranean. Really, I could go on... however I'll spare you (but, just know, that in my head I'm still going).
I was pondering the crepe and all it's goodness. And God spoke to me.
If you look at a crepe (pre-filling) they all are the same. They're thin little pancakes made from the simplest ingredients... cooked to perfection by a watchful maker. Now let's just say all plated & filled crepes came unadorned. Well then, in such case they all look the same from a distance. But once you cut into them and take a bite, you see what they're made of. I imagine crepes have the capability of tasting gross too. There are not many foods that I dislike, but what if I filled a crepe with mayonaise, mustard & jam? It might look pretty with all the bright colors happening, but the moment you sink your chompers into that... oh man. And no, this is not an Iron Chef Challenge to see how good you can make those things taste when combined. Just take it for what it is. Here's a hint... it's gross.
I think humans are a lot like crepes. We're born into this creperie of a world. But as we grow, we're each filled with our own unique fillings. We're all walking around, doing our thing, living our lives. We experience things that shape us. Not every situation is in our control, but at the same time our reactions are! These reactions to what we live through produces fruit in us. These are the things that make us either a savory cheese filled wonder, a hearty bite of goodness, a berry sweet treat... or a mayo-mustard jam of disgust. Our "filling" is what gives us our flava'... and we either taste good... or the alternative. But trust me when I say that there is hope for the MMJ crepe out there... 'cause there's always the possibility of doctoring & transforming any mess of ingredients to make it much more palatable!
Yup. We're totally like crepes!
I mean come on, what's not to love about a crepe?! It's the perfect ratio of starch to filling. And I just love the fillings... oh the possibilities! Savory... sweet... veggie... meat. That rhymed. It's neat how something with the same "shell" can taste so different when the insides are changed up a bit here and there. A dollop of creme fraiche turns it into a luscious treat. A sprinkle of feta takes you to the mediterranean. Really, I could go on... however I'll spare you (but, just know, that in my head I'm still going).
I was pondering the crepe and all it's goodness. And God spoke to me.
If you look at a crepe (pre-filling) they all are the same. They're thin little pancakes made from the simplest ingredients... cooked to perfection by a watchful maker. Now let's just say all plated & filled crepes came unadorned. Well then, in such case they all look the same from a distance. But once you cut into them and take a bite, you see what they're made of. I imagine crepes have the capability of tasting gross too. There are not many foods that I dislike, but what if I filled a crepe with mayonaise, mustard & jam? It might look pretty with all the bright colors happening, but the moment you sink your chompers into that... oh man. And no, this is not an Iron Chef Challenge to see how good you can make those things taste when combined. Just take it for what it is. Here's a hint... it's gross.
I think humans are a lot like crepes. We're born into this creperie of a world. But as we grow, we're each filled with our own unique fillings. We're all walking around, doing our thing, living our lives. We experience things that shape us. Not every situation is in our control, but at the same time our reactions are! These reactions to what we live through produces fruit in us. These are the things that make us either a savory cheese filled wonder, a hearty bite of goodness, a berry sweet treat... or a mayo-mustard jam of disgust. Our "filling" is what gives us our flava'... and we either taste good... or the alternative. But trust me when I say that there is hope for the MMJ crepe out there... 'cause there's always the possibility of doctoring & transforming any mess of ingredients to make it much more palatable!
Yup. We're totally like crepes!
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