Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes

Orange-Cranberry Relish

Ingredients:

• 1 orange
• 2 cups (or one and a half bags) fresh or frozen cranberries (about 8-10 ounces)
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup chopped walnut pieces (I like more like 3/4 a cup or more finely grated)

Directions:

Finely grate the zest of the orange, then squeeze in all of the juice or blend together in magic bullet. All cranberries blended well/finely chopped in magic bullet. Stir well all ingredients and enjoy:)

Green Bean Deluxe

Ingredients: 
2 large bags of green beans (stringed and ready to cook)
1 small onion
2 bags of bacon

Directions:
Boil large pot of water
Add green beans and steam until soft
Meanwhile, cook bacon at 400 until cooked to a crisp
Also, sautée and chop small the onion in a dose of olive oil
When all done, stir all prepared ingredients together thoroughly and enjoy!


Caramel Pecan Pie

• 10-12 oz coarsely chopped pecans or whole
• 2 cups all-purpose flour 
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar 
• 3/4 cup butter, cubed 
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar 
• 1/2 cup honey 
• 2/3 cup butter 
• 3 tablespoons whipping cream 
• Bag of caramels (remove wrappers and place candies all over top of pie before final bake time)
• 1. Arrange pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake at 350° for 5 to 7 minutes or until lightly toasted. Cool on a wire rack 15 minutes or until completely cool.
• 2. Pulse flour, powdered sugar, and 3/4 cup butter in a food processor 5 to 6 times or until mixture resembles coarse meal. Pat mixture evenly on bottom and up sides of a lightly greased pie pan
• 3. Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Cool 15 minutes or until completely cool.
• 4. Bring brown sugar, honey, 2/3 cup butter, and whipping cream to a boil in a 3-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir in toasted pecans, and spoon hot filling into prepared crust.
• 5. Add caramels and Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden and bubbly. Cool 30 minutes or until completely cool.

GO PRO... OR go home

Somehow having several labors and deliveries and children makes me a "pro".... let me tell you, there is nothing PRO about it...each pregnancy is unique with unique struggles and joys and the same with each labor delivery and raising each child throughout their growing. I will admit, I struggle with anxieties and fears. I just wanted to take a moment to be really vulnerable... It's easy to get sucked in to all the fears I have. I feel like I talk about this often, but sorry, it's something I struggle with so it's easy for me to find myself confronting this battle and these reminders often in order to be the overcomer I believe He is crafting me to be. So, here I go again talking about it:

First and foremost with pregnancy anymore is my fear of losing my child before they are born. After experiencing our loss of Joeli Grace at 5 months for unknown reasons I suppose it's only natural to fear this and pray against it constantly. Next, is a fear for delivery that something could go wrong. We've not experienced some of the more traumatic deliveries. However, with Sadie our "rainbow baby" we almost lost her when her heart-rate dropped and many medical professionals (probably went from one nurse in our room to ten to fifteen in a matter of seconds) rushed into the room talking about the Operating Room and Emergency C-Sections if we couldn't find a way to regulate her heart-rate. Thankfully, moving me into a new labor position seemed to help and she was okay... other than that and having to be checked by NICU staff because of meconium and me not being able to hold her or hear her cry for the first 5 to ten minutes after her birth (so traumatic after everything with Joeli was really just hoping for a simple birth without scares). But now the fears I'm battling are still the first two, and also because my platelets and iron are teetering on the low level and I've been told the potential risks involved if they drop any lower before delivery.

If I'm not careful, any or all of these fears and concerns (whether legitimate or not) can drown out that still small voice of God. His Word it says is, "Sharper than a double edged sword"- Hebrews 4:12. So when I have an enemy (FEAR) I'm facing, I must use this weapon God has given me and I must STAND UP! I must FIGHT! And I must face this enemy like the warrior woman God has been crafting me to be!

So, when I am facing my fears and anxieties I will ask myself do I want to go pro or go home? Not pro in that I know it all or will ever be a pro at any of this... BUT, that I go to the ONE who is the pro and trust Him with all this and more! Some may be uncomfortable with talking about FEAR... so be advised.

Make the Lord of Heaven’s Armies holy in your life.He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. Someone may say to you, “Let’s ask the mediums and those who consult the spirits of the dead. With their whisperings and mutterings, they will tell us what to do.” But shouldn’t people ask God for guidance? Should the living seek guidance from the dead? Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict his word are completely in the dark. Isaiah 8:13, 19-20

Will you make the choice to GO to GOD instead of seeking other sources of wisdom and help? He is the ONE who should be feared and the only One whom should make me tremble. 

So, will YOU choose whom you shall fear and revere?

Will you stand up and be that WARRIOR and fight your battle with the incredible weapon you've been given? HIS WORD. I have been thinking about this powerful weapon all week since Sean read the passage from Ephesians for devotions early this week for our family:

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[d] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[e] 17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.[f]

For all the things in this life I will never be pro at, I'm thankful to have the PRO to go to. I am constantly amazed at how His word truly does bring such comfort, peace, wisdom and hope to my heart no matter what I am battling.

Today I am reminded of the POWER of this Word--power to provide HOPE in hopeless situations, power to provide comfort in desperately painful times, power to work in cleansing my heart and leading me out of sinful patterns, power to encourage and bless, power to bring peace amidst fear, power to restore marriage, power to give wisdom where confusion exists.

If you're seeking God and these powerful things in your life but don't know where to start, I would encourage you to seek God in His word. A great website is www.biblegateway.com and a wonderful phone app is YouVersion. I have learned and been reminded of so much while doing the Read Through The Bible in a Year app:) Or, feel free to ask me about my walk with God. I don't promise to have all the answers, but I truly believe with all my heart and soul I've found The One who does and I'm ever grateful in this crazy mixed up world to have HIM to turn to in my hurts, sorrows, disappointments and failures, fears, and everything in between.

I'm going PRO :) how bout you? :)

much love,

Abi