Garlic Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

Garlic Cauliflower Alfredo Sauce

So, I've been trying a lot of different healthy recipes lately, 

and this one is definitely tasty!

 Scott recently came home from a training and I had been wanting to try this cauliflower alfredo sauce, so we made it into a date night of experimenting. We took a recipe and then tweaked it to become our own. Here is our recipe:

{INGREDIENTS}

• 8 large cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 5-6 cups cauliflower florets
• 6-7 cups vegetable broth or water
• 1 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
• 1 teaspoon pepper (more to taste)
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 1 teaspoon Cayenne pepper (to add the spicy factor)
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• ½ cup milk (more to taste)
• Parmesan cheese (however much you want)
• Optional Chicken and Veggies

{directions}

Garlic: Sauté the minced garlic with the butter in a large nonstick skillet over low heat. Cook for several minutes or until the garlic is soft and fragrant but not browned (browned or burnt garlic will taste bitter). Remove from heat and set aside.

Cauliflower: Bring the water or vegetable broth to a boil in a large pot. Add the cauliflower and cook, covered, for 7-10 minutes or until cauliflower is fork tender. Do not drain.

Puree: Use a slotted spoon to transfer the cauliflower pieces to the blender. Add 1 cup vegetable broth or cooking liquid, sautéed garlic/butter, salt, pepper, parsley, Cayenne pepper, onion powder, Parmesan cheese, and milk. Blend or puree for several minutes until the sauce is very smooth, adding more broth or milk depending on how thick you want the sauce.

We then put the puree, with the chicken and/or veggies, in the nonstick skillet over medium heat before serving over noodles.  

Leftovers: If the sauce starts to look dry, add a few drops of water, milk, or olive oil.

We thought that it might have a gritty texture and it definitely didn't! You can also make this and use it as pizza sauce. We will be making that soon as well!!! 

ENJOY! And let me know how you like it:)

Chipotle Black Bean Burgers, Y U M.

Chipotle Black Bean Burgers

I recently within the past couple of years decided that I really, really like black bean burgers. 

Except when I'm actually craving a hamburger--different textures.

Anyways, I've been telling Scott for a while now that I was going to find a recipe that we would like.

 TA-DA.

I'll just have to make them again when he gets back.

But I won't complain. 

 

Four burgers:

* 1 (14.5 oz) can of black beans, drained and rinsed

* 2 Tbs. minced white onion

* 2 cloves garlic, minced

* 1/4 cup chopped almonds

* 1/2 cup corn (can use frozen corn, thawed)

* 1/3 cup chopped cilantro

* 4 Tbs. jarred chipotle spread 

(3 Tbs. for mixture, 1 Tbs. for buns)

* 1 egg

* 4 sliced pepper jack cheese

* 4 onion buns, split and lightly toasted

* mixed greens

* sliced avocado or guacamole

* coarse salt, to taste

{Preheat oven to 425}

In a large bowl, add the beans and lightly mash with a fork. Add the onions, garlic, almonds, corn, cilantro, 2 Tbs. chipotle spread, egg and a small pinch of coarse salt. 

Mix to combine.

Using your hands, equally form the mixture into 4 patties. 

Arrange on a lightly oiled baking sheet and bake for 10 minutes. Carefully flip, add the cheese and bake for 8 to 10 more.

Spread the remaining chipotle spread on the bottom of each toasted bun and serve with greens and avocado slices. 

Or I just used the fresh guacamole that I made yesterday. 

Easy&Delicious.

"I dare you..."

I dare you...

While the Hubs has been gone on another mini deployment, 

Neflix has become a dear friend. 

A friend that I can cuddle up with, eat dinner or too much dessert with, 

and frankly, let's me shed my tears.

Well tonight I stumbled across a movie called Ragamuffin.

SERIOUSLY one of the best movies I've ever watched.

It's about the life of Rich Mullins. 

An American contemporary Christian music singer and songwriter.

He didn't try to be liked by everyone, he just wanted to shout the truth to all those who were listening.

 Whether you liked the way he delivered it or not, he was going to tell you.

I had no idea that he wrote two of my favorite songs:

"Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step."

And my new favorite song of his:

"Hold me Jesus." 

Especially during those lonely nights where I only wish Scott could be home to hold me tight as we fall asleep next to each other. 

Or when I miss my family so much it hurts.

Or when I would rather be across the world on a mission trip.

"So hold me Jesus, 'cause I'm shaking like a leaf

You have been King of my glory

Won't You be my Prince of Peace."

So, about that dare...

I especially loved a part in the movie where the pastor made me cry. A much needed, heart-wrenching cry for my God. 

One that just makes sense and doesn't make sense at all.

It was all about the depth of God's love for me.

For US, all of us.

A message that my broken, sinful, battered heart needed more than I needed the next breath of air. 

Brennan Manning said:

"The Lord Jesus is going to ask each of us one question and only one question: Do you believe that I loved you? That I desired you? That I waited for you day after day? That I longed to hear the sound of your voice?

The real believers there will answer, “Yes, Jesus. I believed in your love and I tried to shape my life as a response to it. But many of us who are so faithful in our ministry, in our practice, in our church going are going to have to reply, “Well frankly, no sir. I mean, I never really believed it. I mean, I heard alot of wonderful sermons and teachings about it. In fact I gave quite a few myself. But I always knew that that was just a way of speaking; a kindly lie, some Christian’s pious pat on the back to cheer me on. And there’s the difference between the real believers and the nominal Christians that are found in our churches across the land. No one can measure like a believer the depth and the intensity of God’s love. But at the same time, no one can measure like a believer the effectiveness of our gloom, pessimism, low self-esteem, self-hatred and despair that block God’s way to us. Do you see why it is so important to lay hold of this basic truth of our faith? Because you’re only going to be as big as your own concept of God.

Do you remember the famous line of the French philosopher, Blaise Pascal? “God made man in his own image, and man returned the compliment”? We often make God in our own image, and He winds up to be as fussy, rude, narrow minded, legalistic, judgemental, unforgiving, unloving as we are.

In the past couple of three years I have preached the gospel to the financial community in Wallstreet, New York City, the airmen and women of the air force academy in Colorado Springs, a thousand positions in Nairobi. I’ve been in churches in Bangor, Maine, Miami, Chicago, St. Louis, Seattle, San Diego. And honest, the god of so many Christians I meet is a god who is too small for me. Because he is not the God of the Word, he is not the God revealed by it in Jesus Christ who this moment comes right to your seat and says, “I have a word for you. I know your whole life story. I know every skeleton in your closet. I know every moment of sin, shame, dishonesty and degraded love that has darkened your past. Right now I know your shallow faith, your feeble prayer life, your inconsistent discipleship. And my word is this: I dare you to trust that I love you just as you are, and not as you should be.

 Because you’re never going to be as you should be.” 

So, friends, I am passing on the dare.

I dare you to trust that Jesus loves you just as you are, 

and not as you should be. 

And then...be radically changed because of it!

Sweet Potato&Black Bean Crockpot Chili

When I am meal planning for the upcoming week, I try to include at least one vegetarian meal. Not only is it cheaper, but there are a lot of yummy recipes! It was kind of challenging at first because S&  I are both meat lovers.

 But he's been letting me experiment and he's been enjoying it! 

Yay me!! 

I wanted to share this recipe that I found.

Seriously delicious.

Sweet Potato&Black Bean Crockpot Chili

Ingredients:

1 large onion, chopped
1 red pepper- cored, seeded, & chopped

1 green pepper- cored, seeded, & chopped

2 jalapeño peppers- seeded & dices

2 medium sweet potatoes- peeled & diced

4 large cloves garlic- minced

3 Tbsp chili powder

1 tsp sea salt

2 tsp cumin

1 tsp fresh ground pepper

1/4-1/2 tsp crushed red pepper

1.5 tsp basil

1 bay leaf

14.5 oz diced tomatoes

28 oz vegetable broth

30 oz black beans- rinsed & drained

Juice of 1 lime

Garnish: Sour cream (we used greek yogurt), chopped fresh cilantro, chopped scallions

Instructions:

1. Add all ingredients into the slow cooker, except the black beans &lime juice.

2. Cook on low for 8 hours, or high for 4 hours.

3. Minutes before eating, add the black beans and stir well.

4. Right before serving, stir in the lime juice.

5. Garnish, serve warm, and enjoy!

How do you know if he is THE one??

How do you know if he is THE one??

How did I know if Scott Cummings was the one for me? The one whom my soul would love. The one God had created just for me. I know that some future, bright day my children will want to know the answer to this amazing, thought-provoking question. 

"How did you know Daddy was the one for you?" And I really want them to know and understand what true love is & how they can have that blessing. 

Was it love at first sight & I just knew?!

Actually, we met my first year of Westminster College without me even remembering. I had started attending his church with a college group and was dating someone at the time. But I did still catch his eye somehow... Little did he know that we would officially meet again two years later and fall madly in love. 

But let's back up a little before the "fall madly in love" part. Did you know that you can actually fall in love someone that you shouldN'T marry? Marrying just anyone that you can fall in love with isn't the answer. The person you choose to marry will be the second most important decision in your life---first decision is to follow Jesus. Choosing the person you will marry means choosing that person to be beside you every single day of your life, to be your future children's father or mother, to be your best friend for life, to be the one whom you run to for strength and life, to be the one who chases life adventures with you, to be the one who holds you when you are crying and picks up the pieces, to be the one who makes you a better person and loves you unconditionally. Not every single person you can fall in love with is THAT person for you.

So, now you're wondering how did I know for sure Scott was that man for me?

Rewind the clock to early 2011. I was recently single, brokenhearted, in my senior year of college, and looking for a way to find my true self again. I didn't want to run to a guy, I wanted Jesus. So I ran. And with the help of family, friends, & dear mentors, I found what I was looking for. 

Grace, myself, & a deeper love for Jesus. 

I finally understood the true meaning of love, and the way to obtain that true love in marriage. 

Giving the pen of my love story to God, alone, to script it.

 And once I let that sink in, which was not easy, it then became very simple. The next man that becomes my "boyfriend" will be the man I marry. 

Wow, what?!

I didn't want to give away my heart to another man than the man who would become my Husband. {Girls&Guys, if you haven't already given your heart away, save that for your future spouse. I promise you that it will be a true blessing.} So in the meanwhile, I was mentored to write a list of attributes I wanted in a Husband. I was instructed to be picky, be precise, and to not hold back. God knew the desires of my heart, even areas that I didn't know myself. At the beginning of the list I wrote the non-negotiable terms, like trusting, honest, loving, loves God, has a big heart, integrity, etc. After that part, I added the areas that wouldn't haaaaave to be there. Tall, dark, & handsome, etc. {Expect, my Husband is tall, dark, & very handsome.) But you get the point. I also wrote letters to my future husband, and gave them to Scott as part of his wedding present. 

What then? 

I prayed over that list. 

God knew that Scott was out there and he needed my prayer. So at the time I didn't know I was praying a personal prayer for Scott, I just knew I was praying for my "perfect guy" to be out there somewhere. I trusted God to find the guy and when the timing was perfect, to bring us together. {A little ironic because we were both about to leave Utah... God's humor! haha} 

We then officially met in August 2011 at our college bible study, after I watched this tall, dark, & amazingly attractive new guy come through the back yard. {So maybe it was love at first sight..the second time, when our hearts were ready.} I'll be honest, as much as I was attracted to him... I became interested in him when I sat back and watched him talk about our God. He mesmerized me, made me want to just listen to him all night. Which happened a month-ish later when we all went on a retreat in Wyoming, where we spent all night around the campfire doing just that. Talking, listening, and getting to know each other better. On the ride home he asked me to climb Mount Olympus with him (not even as a date.. or so I thought)---a decision that changed my life forever. 

That climb up the mountain was as if God had scripted the entire thing, step by step. Word by word. Wonderful moment by wonderful moment. The whole time telling myself, "I would marry a guy like him." And by the time we reached the top, after climbing and talking for four hours, the date became real. He had set up a picnic for us, turned on some music, and we stared down at beautiful SLC. 

The moment came at sunset. 

Scott romantically suggested that we stop on the way down to watch the sunset. The first time he ever put his arms around me and held me as we watched God's painting come to life, I knew.

I just knew.

God had created Scott Cummings for me, and me alone. All of the attributes I ever dreamed of was wrapped up all in this one man. My future Husband. The man whom my daddy walked me down the aisle toward on May 18th, 2013 in front of all our family and friends. The perfect day and all of the perfect days since. 

How do you know if he is THE one??   

Give God the pen to your love story and he will make that answer very, very clear. 

Forever memories.

SISTER

Noun: A person who's been where you've been; someone who you can call when things aren't going right; is more than just family; a sister is a forever friend.

I had the opportunity to have my sister go back to North Carolina with me for a month when I left Utah. The last month of her summer, the summer before she became a junior. We were so excited to have sister time and new adventures. 

Scott&I enjoyed having her around and I loved watching them get to know each other on a deeper level. Loved watching Scott teach her in the kitchen, loved going to the beach and laying out, loved making crafts, loved watching chick flicks, loved sharing secrets. It seriously was the best month. Having my husband home and my sister in my home!!!!

Here are some pictures of our adventures while she was here. 

Thanks MaKenzi for helping my transition back home & making lasting memories together. I love you!

Thank you, Sissy!!