Today; is the 7th day of my life changing experience

I have ask God to help me on this journey and he is ever so faithful.  I am learning how valuable it is to take ownership and responsibility for my choices of the foods that I acquire, prepare and eat.  Changing my eating habits and exercising my spiritual faith in my decisions are bringing me closer to the path that God has for my future.

Rom 5:11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God  all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us FRIENDS of GOD

This is a delightful recipe that I have been using for some time.   

Hummus

Garbanzo beans or Chickpeas called by its Spanish name are the basis of a dip or spread called Hummus. Most of the time garlic, and sesame seeds, sesame paste (tahini) or sesame oil is added with variations of roasted red peppers, pine nuts and olive oil.

This delicious dip is high in iron and vitamin C and also has significant amounts of foliate with vitamin B6. The chickpeas make it a good source of protein and dietary fiber.

The sesame seeds are an excellent source of the amino acid complementing the proteins in the chickpeas and are a complete protein when eaten with bread.

One cup of chickpeas contains 286 calories and 5 grams of fat. This is relatively low considering when made into hummus, the calories and fat become much lower per serving. Chickpeas have no saturated fat, and no cholesterol. They aid in improving blood sugar levels and help fight cholesterol.

For people in the Middle East, Hummus is a common part of everyday meals. Dating back to the 13 century this dish may have been eaten by our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Basic Hummus Recipe from a can

“I do not buy can foods if I can help it. So I buy Dried Chickpeas by the 1 pound bag. I usually cook up to 3 or 4 pounds @ a time with no salt or seasoning. Then I freeze them in pint size bags until I need them.”

1 16 oz can of chickpeas or garbanzo beans

1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas

3-5 tablespoons lemon juice    “I do not prefer the lemon”

1 1/2 tablespoons tahini

“Can be omitted or use in small amounts”  Tahini is high in calorie and fat, but is a great  source of protein, and calcium. The fat contained in tahini is mainly unsaturated fat, rather than the unhealthier saturated fat.

2 or 3 cloves garlic, crushed   “I roast my garlic and it is not as strong in flavor"

2 tablespoons olive oil   “I do not always use the oil” Olive oil helps the body’s heart remain healthy and also aids in regulating cholesterol levels.

Variations:

Roasted Red Peppers   1 small or ½ of a large pepper
Roasted pine Nuts

Add a sliced red Chile, a dash of cayenne pepper, or Cajun seasoning
Try Lemon Pepper seasoning instead of Salt
1/2 cup fresh spinach
3 oz, crumbled feta (goat) cheese

I have found out that kosher salt has less sodium then sea salt

Directions:

Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can. Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor. Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas. “I use my Magic Bullet”
Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.

Place in serving bowl, and create a shallow well in the center of the hummus.

Add a small amount (1-2 tablespoons) of olive oil in the well. Garnish with parsley (optional)

Serve immediately with fresh, warm or toasted pita bread, or cover and refrigerate

This only takes about 10 minutes to make from the can.

If you do not have time to make this recipe Hummus is available in most grocery stores but not as good as home made but you can always fix it up the way you like it, with peppers, ect.

Calvin and I both really enjoy this. I serve it hot and cold. We even use it as a salad dressing.

1 Cor 6: 19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?

1 Cor 6: 20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all and May he bless you beyond measure in all things.  Amen

Lynn’s Faith and Fitness

This is the journey of a Christian woman, who is a Wife, Mother and Grandmother, that is determined to improve my physical, emotional and spiritual health. I have been saved since I was 9 yrs old and can say with some confidence that I am a mature Christian with a lot yet to learn. Most of the time I am a very happy outgoing person who loves life. My goal through all of this is to build my faith and trust in Christ Jesus

Ph'p:4:13: I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

I am in really good health with no bad cholesterol and no high blood pressure. There is just one little hitch, I am over weight and have been for years. At this level of maturity in my life it is time for me to honor God by presenting my self to others at a more desirable weight. I want to be an example for others to see Christ in me.
I WILL NOT BE DIETING but eating the freshest foods I can find and prepared in the most desirable ways. I WILL BE EXERCISING on a regular basis. My aim is set at becoming in a size 8 within 6 to 9 months. I will not be weighing or measuring inches but I will post when I go down in sizes. I will be trusting God to give me all the help I need.

When my oldest two children were two and four I moved as a military wife to Sicily, Italy. We lived in a village that was about 50 miles from the base and we were the only Americans living in the area. I needed something to do with my time and since there were so many fresh fruits and vegetables available I decided to learn how to prepare and cook many new dishes. There was no internet in those days so I borrowed every cookbook I could find from friends and the library and jumped right into learning about purple cauliflower, artichokes, blood oranges and such delicasies as truffles and squid. This did polish my skills and I became a very good cook.

These days my children are all grown and it is just me and my husband at the dinner table. We have been together 15 years and my husband says he has yet to eat the same thing cooked the same way in all these years. I still enjoy learning new ways of preparing our meals.

I will be sharing my adventure with you and it includes how I purchase or grow our food. I will be posting recipes and giving my reviews of how we enjoyed our meals and even when it is not so good, I will let you know. From time to time I will tell you of my progress in my weight loss.

Romans:12:1: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

I bought a little book and gave away several to friends called
Food, Fitness and Faith for Woman and there is also one for Men.
It is available @ Christian Bookstores and I found mine @ Sam’s Club
This book is set up for a 21 day journey and I encourage you to find it to help you if you too want to build your faith, loose weight and improve your health.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with with you all and May he bless you beyond measure in all things. Amen