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November 13, 2009

Creamy Sweet Potato Salad

Creamy Sweet Potato Salad

Makes: 8 servings

Created by The MDM Team, Friday, January 11, 2008
You say potato -- we say it's time to give this sweet treat a try. A twist from the traditional tater salads, this one uses sweet potatoes.

Ingredients
2 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup raisins

Methods/steps
Place potatoes into a large saucepan, and fill with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 8 minutes, or until tender. Drain, and cool slightly. In a large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and brown sugar. Stir in the sweet potatoes, walnuts and raisins until evenly coated. Chill for at least 1 hour before serving.
Additional Tips
Ready in 1 hour 30 min

November 11, 2009

Potato-Crusted Veal & Beef Loaf

Potato-Crusted Veal & Beef Loaf

Makes: 4-6 servings

Created by The MDM Team, Monday, January 21, 2008
It's not just veal. And it's not just beef. It's a marvelous combination of these mouthwatering meats that's crusted in potatoes.

Ingredients
1 large yellow onion
1 large green bell pepper
1 large red bell pepper
3 garlic cloves
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 lb. ground veal
1 large egg, beaten
1/2 cup bottled chili sauce
1 cup seasoned dry breadcrumbs, divided
1 1/2 cups fat free cheese, shredded
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 lb. russet baking potatoes, peeled, cooked, kept hot
1/4 cup chives, minced
2 tbsp. butter, unsalted and melted

Methods/steps
Preheat the broiler. Place the onion, bell peppers and garlic cloves on a baking sheet. Broil 3 inches from heat for 7 minutes or until blackened, turning frequently. Transfer to a paper bag, close tightly and let stand 15 minutes or until soft. Scrape off outside skins. Chop the onion and garlic; seed and chop the peppers. You will have about 2 cups of vegetables. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 13x9x3 inch-baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix the beef, veal, vegetables, egg, chili sauce, breadcrumbs, 1/2 cup of the cheese and the black pepper. Mix with your hand until well combined. Transfer to the baking dish and pat into a 12x7 inch loaf, mounding it slightly in the center. In a small bowl, with an electric mixer set on medium-high, whip the hot potatoes with the remaining 1 cup of cheese, the chives and the butter until fluffy and pipe or spoon on top and sides of the loaf. Bake for 1 hour or until a meat thermometer inserted into the center of the meat loaf registers 145. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
Additional Tips
Ready in 1½ hour

November 05, 2009

Cauliflower Rice

Cauliflower Rice

Makes: 8 servings

Created by The MDM Team, Monday, December 10, 2007
Most people don't realize that there are plenty of ways to prepare cauliflower besides the old stand-bys. This gourmet rice dish is just one of them.

Ingredients
2 cups Basmati rice
3 1/4 cups water
1 1/2 tsp. butter
3/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cumin
2 tbsp. canola oil
1 large onion, chopped
10 whole cloves
1 1/4 tsp. ground turmeric
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped (optional)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 cauliflower, in 1-inch florets (about 1 lb.)
1/2 cup chopped cilantro, with stems

Methods/steps
To prepare the rice: Wash rice twice in cold water. Soak rice in 3 cups of water for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain rice. In a medium pot with a lid, combine rice, 3 1/4 cups of water, butter and salt on high heat. As soon as the rice starts to boil vigorously, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes. Turn off the heat, but do not remove the lid. Allow rice to sit for about 5 minutes, then remove the lid and set aside. To prepare the cauliflower: In a separate frying pan or a wok, heat cumin seeds in oil on medium-high heat. Once seeds have sizzled for 30 to 45 seconds, reduce the heat to medium and add onions and cloves. Sauté the onion for 8 to 10 minutes or until brown. Add turmeric, jalapeño and salt, and sauté for another 2 minutes. Add cauliflower, stir well and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover and cook for another 5 to 8 minutes, until cauliflower is cooked but still firm and not too soft. Add cauliflower to rice and combine well. Add cilantro and stir with a large fork until the rice is completely yellow from the turmeric.

Marinated Beef Skewers

Marinated Beef Skewers

Serves: 6

Created by The MDM Team, Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Make no mi-steak about it -- these tender beef skewers are simply deelish. Prepared with an Asian flare, it will be a thrill to grill this meaty meal.

Ingredients
1 beef top round steak (about 1 lb.)
2 tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tbsp. dry sherry
1 tsp. dark sesame oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
18 cherry tomatoes
Lettuce

Methods/steps
Preheat broiler. Cut beef crosswise into 18 (1/8-inch-thick) slices. Place in large resealable food storage bag. Combine soy sauce, sherry, oil and garlic in cup; pour over beef. Seal bag; turn to coat. Marinate in refrigerator at least 30 minutes or up to 2 hours. Soak 18 (6-inch) wooden skewers in water 20 minutes. Preheat broiler. Drain beef; discard marinade. Weave beef accordion-style onto skewers. Place on rack of broiler pan. Broil 4 to 5 inches from heat 2 minutes. Turn skewers over; broil 2 minutes more or until beef is barely pink. Garnish each skewer with 1 cherry tomato. Place skewers on lettuce-lined platter. Serve warm.

Apple Tart

Apple Tart

Makes: 12 servings 1 tart

Created by The MDM Team, Sunday, December 30, 2007
This dessert will be the apple of your eye. A perfectly prepared tart treat is on the menu with this recipe. It's good to the core.

Ingredients
CRUST
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
1/4 tsp. almond extract
FILLING
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup sliced almonds
2 large apples, peeled, cored, cut into 1/4-inch slices
2 tsp. cornstarch
1/4 cup milk
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. almond extract
1 (8 oz.) carton vanilla yogurt
1 egg, beaten
1/4 cup apricot preserves, melted

Methods/steps
Heat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly spoon flour into measuring cup; level off. In large bowl, combine flour, sugar and butter; beat on low speed until well blended. Beat in 1 egg and 1/4 tsp almond extract to form crumbs. Press crumb mixture in bottom and 1 1/2 inches up sides of ungreased 9-inch spring form pan. Sprinkle with raisins and almonds. Arrange apple slices over raisins and almonds in desired pattern. In medium bowl, dissolve cornstarch in milk. Add lemon juice, vanilla, 1/4 tsp almond extract, yogurt and 1 beaten egg; blend well. Pour over apples. Bake at 375 degrees for 55 to 65 minutes or until apples are tender. Cool 30 minutes, remove sides of pan. Brush preserves over apples. Refrigerate any remaining tart.
Additional Tips
Ready in 1½ hour

John 10:1-18

John 10:1-18
1) " Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber; 2) but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3) To him the gatekeeper opens; the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4) When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5) A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee fro m him, for they do not know the voice of strangers." 6) This figure Jesus used with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them. 7) So Jesus again said to them, " Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8) All who came before me are thieves and robbers; but the sheep did not heed them. 9) I am the door; if any one enters by me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10) The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. 11) I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12) He who is a hireling and not a shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. 13) He flees because he is a hireling and cares nothing for the sheep. 14) I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, 15) as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16) And I have other sheep, that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. 17) For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. 18) No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again; this charge I have received from my Father."

Are You Ready for the Holidays?

Are You Ready for the Holidays?
Mary Southerland

Today's Truth Luke 2:16-20 (NIV) "So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told."

Friend To Friend

Are you ready for the holidays? For some people, that question spurs exciting thoughts of beautifully decorated tables filled with scrumptious meals, festive shopping trips, extended family time, brightly wrapped gifts under a tree ... the "Walton" kind of holiday. For others, the holiday season is a very difficult and dark time that is to be endured rather than enjoyed. According to the American Institute of Stress, more than 110 million Americans take medication for stress-related causes each week. During the holiday season, another one million people battle what experts refer to as the "holiday blues." I am very familiar with depression and the pain it holds and must constantly battle to stay out of that pit.
Depression is an emotional, mental, physical and spiritual disorder. Something is out of balance. We have buried some pain instead of confronting it. We have misplaced our trust and sought help from impotent sources. In order to deal with depression, we must first come to a place of total and complete surrender to God and His plan of healing - even if we cannot see or do not understand that plan. The bottom line of God's heart toward His children is always restoration and healing.

While I am not a big fan of television, I do enjoy watching a few select home improvement shows. On a recent program, an interior decorator and home owner were discussing a list of changes that needed to be made in order to update the home. "First, we have to do something about those windows," the decorator announced. I was surprised that she had listed this task first - until I saw the house. The existing glass was not only an ugly shade of gold but was thick and chunky as well. The windows let in no light and made it virtually impossible to see in or out. The result was a dark, isolated home. The distressed homeowner protested, "But I like my privacy. And if I thought anyone could see in, I would feel totally exposed." When it comes to dealing with depression, many people feel the same way.

We construct walls over which no one can climb because the cost of friendship is too high or too risky. We fill the windows of our soul with emotional excuses in order to avoid dealing with pain. The result is darkness, loneliness and missed opportunities for restoration. We don't want to understand depression or find the treasures of that darkness; we simply want to be rid of it. Many people try to understand and deal with depression on a surface level - refusing to face painful experiences, difficult relationships and, in general, the broken places where darkness lives. We look for the nearest exit, hoping to bypass transparency because the price is just too much to pay. Emotional integrity is an essential step to recognizing, understanding and dealing with depression. We must be real before we can be right, and until we are willing to risk being transparent, we can neither understand nor effectively deal with depression during the holidays or any other time of the year.

The holidays seem to tug at the masks we carefully hold in place and push the emotional buttons we desperately try to hide. The arrival of family members can resurrect painful issues that have never really been resolved. Financial pressure opens up like a sink hole waiting to steal our joy and destroy our peace. Schedules demand every ounce of energy and false expectations leave us empty and hollow. Before we realize it, the dark, slimy pit swallows us. It is not supposed to be that way, girlfriend! Now is the time to do something about it!

Thanksgiving can be a time of praise if we choose to focus on the victories and joys we have experienced during the year and then find ways to share that victory and joy with others. Christmas can be a true celebration of fresh starts and new beginnings, if we choose to focus on a tiny baby born in a manger, come to save us and give us true life. And a new year? What a great opportunity to start over! The darkness can be destroyed if we choose to face and deal with whatever it holds. Right now, get ready for the holidays by choosing an attitude of joy, by focusing your mind on the things of heaven - not earth, and by fixing your heart on Jesus Christ.
Let's Pray

Father, I want this holiday season to one that is filled with light instead of darkness. Please help me discard my emotional masks and be real before You as well as with my family and friends. Give me the courage to be obedient to You in every holiday setting. Give me eyes to see those You bring into my life that need my encouragement because they are on the same journey. Make me a peacemaker, Lord. Father, prepare and enable me to make this holiday season an offering of praise to You.
In Jesus' name, Amen.

Now It's Your Turn

Take a few moments to re-visit the holiday season of 2008.
What was the best part of those holidays for you? Why?
List three changes you would like to make this year.
What is the first step you need to take to make those changes happen?
Read Luke 2:1-16. Answer the following questions after reading the Christmas story.
What was the attitude of Mary and Joseph as they traveled to Bethlehem?
How did the shepherds react to the news of Jesus' birth? What did they do?
How would you describe the emotions and thoughts of Mary? How can your choice to "ponder" on the miracles of Jesus' birth change your perspective through all of the approaching holidays?
Write a letter of commitment to Jesus, asking Him to empower the choices you have made concerning this holiday season. Make a step-by-step plan or a list of "dos" and "don'ts" that will help you experience the best holiday season of your life. Include your family in making this plan and make the commitment to hold each other accountable.