Something Beautiful- New Recipes!

I don't have much to do at work these days. And in this case "much" is quantified as "nothing at all." So I read the entire Twilight series, I am currently reading Harry Potter 2, and my new obsession has been food blogs. They inspire me to cook healthy and delicious foods. They teach me to be adventurous and try new foods because each step in the cooking process is outlined. Well friends, here is my very own attempt at a food blog post!

My new favorite thing to make is an Italian Quesadilla known as a "Mezza Luna" which means "Half Moon." It is basically a Caprese Salad inside a tortilla! Healthy, delicious, and takes about 7 minutes on a slow day.

Ingredients:
Olive Oil
Salt
Pepper
Tomato
Fresh Mozzerella
Fresh Basil
One Tortilla (you can use plain flour tortilla's, or whole wheat, or sundried tomato).


1. In a large skillet, pour about 1/2 Tablespoon Olive Oil and set to medium heat.

(Optional- throw in a few garlic cloves and let them simmer for a few minutes, then discard garlic before proceeding).

2. While olive oil is heating up, slice tomato. You will need 2-4 slices depending on the size of your tortilla. Cut enough to spread across half of the tortilla. Next slice Mozzarella. Again, the amount you use will vary according to your tastes and the size of the tortilla. I use about 3 medium size slices. Wash a few Basil leaves (I use about 5-6).

3. After a few minutes, lay tortilla in the skillet and allow it to "blister" about 45 seconds before flipping to do the same to the other side. When both sides have blistered, salt and pepper the side facing up. Then lay tomato, mozzarella, and basil on one side and fold the tortilla over to make the "half moon." At this point I turn the heat down a little bit so the cheese inside can get all melty but the outside of the tortilla doesn't burn.


Once it's all melted to perfection, cut into four pieces and enjoy!! Sometimes if the tomato is extra juicy I bust out a fork and knife so I don't make a mess. Just something to think about.

Something Beautiful- It Stopped Raining!!

It's been raining non-stop for six days now. So much rain that my heart decided it needed to cry too. I've been weepy and tired and have come to the general conclusion that I must be solar powered.

Yesterday was day five of the dark, gloomy rain and I was reaching the end of my tolerance rope. So when the "feel-good-cuddle-movie" planned for the evening turned out to be horribly depressing AND it kept me up past my bed time, I was a mess. The thought of having to go to work in the morning with nothing to do and only rain to look at through the windows made me want to throw up. So I cried. a lot. and fell asleep praying for SOMETHING good to happen the next day.

This morning I woke up tired, again, and to a dark room and the sounds of rain, again. So as I pulled myself out from the warm covers and turned the lights on, I decided to take a risky move- I was going to have hope for the day. I got into the shower trying to think of how I could be thankful for the rain. But how could I possibly be thankful for something that tried to swallow me whole? And then I remembered this song I used to sing to myself in high school. Ironically, it's called "Blue Skies". It says,

"on days of grey, when doubt clouds my view,
it's so hard to see past my fears.
My strength seems to fade and it's all I can do,
to hold on til the light reappears.
Still I believe, though some rain's bound to fall,
that You're here next to me, and You're over it all."

What a good song to fill up my heart on a rainy day that I was trying so desperately to overcome. It comforted me to know and trust that the Lord is even bigger than rainy days and senseless tears. The next part of the song goes like this,

"Lord the sky's still blue,
cuz my hope is in You,
You're my joy,
You're the dream that's still alive."

And so as I got ready for the day I had to constantly remind myself that my hope can't lie in sunny days and lots of sleep. Those things will always fade. But the Lord is true always. Even when I get distracted and gloomy by the incessant rain, I can rejoice knowing that one day there will be endless blue skies in the presence of His glory. That dream can't die no matter how dark it gets outside.

So today has been better as I have been setting my hope and finding my joy in the LORD and not in the state of the weather. And guess what? This afternoon the rain FINALLY stopped! There isn't a trace of blue in the sky but at least we are in the beginning stages of some sunshine! I still reserve the right to struggle with rainy days and claim to be solar powered, but this post is a reminder even for myself that there is a greater reason to smile.

when it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile...