by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Camping is nature’s way of promoting the motel business. Dave Barry
With an Eagle Scout for a dad, I was destined to become a camper, like it or not.
Growing up, there were a lot of things I actually loved about it. Family time, the quietness of nature, lone walks on old trails, and bunking down at night in our tree house that sat ten feet off the ground (one of the benefits of having an outdoorsy dad and step-mom!)
While scrambled eggs in the morning were hard to beat, I ate enough Beanie Weenies to last me a lifetime. Add bugs, bees, and outdoor plumbing and you have the reason for my choosing to stay in motels ever since.
And then this happened:
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| Buttercup, our 1963 Shasta Airflyte |
With our maiden voyage just around the corner, and Beanie Weenies out of the picture, I’m now learning new recipes to take on the road!
Here’s one I can’t wait to try. Thought you might enjoy it too!
Grilled Moroccan Chicken Kabobs
PointsPlus® value | 5
Servings | 4
Preparation Time | 16 min
Cooking Time | 16 min
Level of Difficulty | Easy
Ingredients:
1 1/4 pound(s) uncooked boneless skinless chicken breast(s), cut into 1-inch cubes
1 Tbsp unsweetened orange juice
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp table salt
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp black pepper, freshly ground
2 spray(s) cooking spray
1 large uncooked zucchini, cut into 1-inch-thick half-moons
2 small uncooked red onion(s), quartered through the root
Instructions:
Mix the chicken, orange juice, coriander, ginger, cinnamon, cumin, salt, garlic powder and pepper in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 6 hours.
Off heat, coat grill with cooking spray. Prepare gas grill for direct, high-heat grilling or build a high-heat charcoal bed in the center of the coal grate on a charcoal grill.
Divide the chicken, zucchini and onion among four large skewers, threading the meat and vegetables over the pointy ends and down the skewers.*
Set the skewers directly over the heat and grill for 16 minutes, turning about every 4 minutes onto each of the other three sides, so that all four sides are well browned. When turning the skewers, use tongs to gently grasp some of the meat at the center. Do not turn the skewers by their ends – or put your hands down near the heat source. Yields 1 skewer per serving.
I plan to marinate the kabobs overnight before packing them in the cooler the morning of our departure. We’ll add brown rice and voila!
I’m learning that one way I can make this new adventure of ours a pleasurable one is to dedicate time and energy to finding new recipes and ways of cooking things—to see it as as a fun learning experience that we will laugh about in our old age (which isn’t now, Zach!)
Okay, your turn. Do you have a favorite recipe when camping? Please share. After all, I have a lot to learn!
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
I love blogging. (Hope it shows!)
I’m constantly striving to learn new and effective ways to communicate with you, my phenomenal reader.
Enter, the Infographic. Its usage is practically endless! Post it on Pinterest, along with other social media outlets, or insert it in your handouts, bulletins, etc.
I recently discovered Canva, my new go-to for graphic applications. I still like Pic Monkey but Canva, at least to me, seems easier for the newbie. Many of their templates have fonts installed, ready for you to manipulate, if you like.
You’ll need to create an account to get started. There’s no charge unless you use a background or graphic that’s not free (each item is tagged free or $). I was pleasantly surprised by the number of free options across the board. In fact, the last three graphics I’ve created have cost me nada. Each background or graphic you choose with a $ is only 1.00 each.
I created the Infographic below (ahem, I’m obviously still learning) to show you one option I chose from a list of ready-made templates. I kept it uber simple cause, well, that’s how I roll. Want more details? Simply take one of their tutorials to spiff up your skills. It’s all there!
{Click on graphic to enlarge.}
Do you use infographics? This month is all about learning and sharing what we learn. If you post something you’re currently learning on your blog, let me know, along with the url, and I’ll share it here.
Learning never exhausts the mind. -Leonardo da Vinci
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
“I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.” -Picasso
Okay, so the word always is wishful thinking on my part but I am striving to be more intentional when it comes to learning and attempting new things. What kinds of things, you might ask?
During this hot muggy month of August, I’ll share everything from Pic Monkey tips to lessons learned behind the spiritual woodshed. I’ll even throw in the kitchen sink table (how to distress it, that is!)
One thing I’m most looking forward to is learning from you. If you post something on your blog that you’re currently learning, or have recently learned, (hey, is this a challenge?) I will link your blog post here. After all, sharing what we learn is what makes it so much fun! Agree?
So, let’s kick this new series off right. What’s one thing you would like to learn this month, or what are you currently learning?
****Congratulations to Susan Ely {The Shared Table…Breaking Bread, Building Relationships}, the winner of the Starbucks giveaway in July! Watch for the next giveaway coming up later this month.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
A quote often says more than an entire essay. It’s a morsel, rich with perspective, cutting through all the fluff. For this reason, we’re bringing our July series to a close with five favorite quotes on creativity.
“A hunch is creativity trying to tell you something.” -Frank Capra
“It is better to create than to be learned, creating is the true essence of life.”
-Barthold Georg Niebuhr
“The writer who possesses the creative gift owns something of which he is not always master—something that at times strangely wills and works for itself.” -Charlotte Bronte
“Creativity requires the courage to let go of certainties.” -Erich Fromm
“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have.” -Maya Angelou
It’s hard to beat a cup of Starbucks brew (cold brew, that is — my new favorite!) so simply share your favorite quote from above in the comment section below. Your name will be included in the random drawing taking place this Friday morning for a Starbucks gift card. A cup of coffee or tea is waiting to be handcrafted just for you by your local barista.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Not so long ago I sensed the Holy Spirit gently reaching for the key to my ignition as I earnestly spun my creative wheels in the mud of my own making. Every extra moment was spent working on blog posts and other writing projects, especially on Sunday afternoons. After all, what’s more relaxing than stressing over content?
I don’t know about you, but one way I detect that God’s power has been kidnapped, if you will, by that of the fleshly sort is that I become exhausted—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Working hard is a good thing. Overdoing it for all the wrong reasons is not.
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| Image by Pixabay // Hans |
For me, it always comes back to the question of WHY I write, or do anything else, quite frankly. When I remember that my whole purpose in writing, teaching, speaking, creating, etc. is to bring God glory, a rest envelopes me much like the shade from a sprawling oak on a hot summer day.
“God is more concerned about our integrity than our personal success.”
-Arleen Jennings, Created to Be Creative
If it’s been awhile since you’ve answered the question of WHY you are doing what you’re doing, perhaps today is that day. It has a way of cutting through all the excuses, the when-will-my-day-come questions and getting straight to the heart of the matter.
My refusing to rest, especially on a day God provides for exactly that, was a form of pride. Yes, it was a painful realization but I thank God for it. Now, I set aside Sunday afternoons for true rest (and yes, that includes a NASCAR race!) When I’m tempted to start the next blog post or project (which I do enjoy!) I recognize that God set the pattern for rest. He chose to rest one day of the week, who am I to do otherwise?
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11
Your turn. What’s one indicator that flesh has kidnapped the Spirit’s control in your life?
❉ One of our teaching pastors, Kyle Estepp, recently talked on Sabbath Rest. It was by far the best sermon either Brian or myself have ever heard on the subject. If you would like to listen, visit Summit’s site here.
