Tag: follow Jesus

Food

Chocolate Lava Cakes

meghanewhite

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Have you ever had this delightful treat? What appears to be a regular chocolate cake is actually filled with a surprise of warm melted chocolate that comes flowing out like lava. It’s probably one of the funnest desserts to eat. It’s an experience that I highly recommend.

I have ordered lava cake at restaurants, and always assumed they were complicated to make. I was wrong. These little cakes are so incredibly good, and so easy to whip up, literally. Use a whisk for everything, no mixer is required. 

Make them ahead of time, and pop them in the oven whenever you are ready for an amazing chocolate dessert. Chocolate lava cakes would be great for Valentine’s Day, or any special occasion. These chocolaty molten filled goodies will make any ordinary day extraordinary.

Happy Eating!

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31

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Chocolate Lava Cakes

Yield: 4 cakes

Required equipment: 6 ounce ramekins

Ingredients

4 oz. semi-sweet chocolate

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

2 egg yolks

1 teaspoon pure vanilla

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1/4 cup flour

For ramekin prep:

1 tablespoon butter

cocoa powder for dusting ramekins

Optional toppings for the lava cakes:

powdered sugar

fresh berries

vanilla ice cream

whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 425°
  2. Butter each ramekin and dust with cocoa powder.
  3. In a medium size bowl place the stick of butter with 4 oz. of chocolate. Heat in the microwave for 30 seconds, then stir. Continue heating the chocolate and butter for 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted and smooth. Stir between each 30 seconds. Don’t overheat. Chocolate can easily burn.
  4. In a separate medium size bowl whisk the eggs and egg yolks. Whisk in the vanilla.
  5. Whisk the melted chocolate into the eggs.
  6. Whisk the powdered sugar and flour into the chocolate mixture until combined.
  7. Evenly divide the batter between the four ramekins and place on a baking sheet.
  8. Bake for 12-14 minutes until the sides are firm. The centers will be soft.
  9. Let the cakes sit for 1 minute. Turn the ramekins over on dessert plates to release the hot cakes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Enjoy!

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Use good chocolate. I love to use Ghirardelli semi-sweet chocolate baking bars. They are 4 ounces, and can be found at any grocery store. You can use regular chocolate chips and the cakes will still turn out good, but better quality chocolate improves the taste by a lot. 

Use room temperature eggs. Let your eggs sit out for a bit before you start preparing the cake batter. You will get better volume in your eggs which helps make a light fluffy batter. 

Use salted butter. I use salted butter for all of my baking. If you prefer unsalted butter, just add a pinch of salt to the batter.

Lava cakes can be reheated. Heat leftover cakes in the microwave for 30 seconds to get that yummy lava flowing again. Or, place in a 350° oven on a baking sheet upside down for 10 minutes.

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Trials

Prepping for a Storm

meghanewhite

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Icy conditions are on the way to Southeast Texas. At least that is what we are being told to prepare for. It’s unusual for us to get freezing temps. When the weather gets colder than normal this time of year, we have to prepare. I can’t help but have horrible flashbacks to last year’s historic storm.  Read about it here It’s Been a Crazy Week in the Great State of Texas

How do you prepare for a storm? It depends on the type of storm. For ice and snow storms, pipes and spigots need protected, plants need brought in, pets kept inside. You have to make sure there are flashlights, plenty of water, and some canned food in case the power goes out. Some people here have generators, but those are not fail proof. Last year many generators stopped working because the lines froze.

We can prepare in every possible way for a storm, and still take on damage. It’s the same in life. The storms will come, guaranteed. We can and should prepare for the storms in our lives to the best of our ability, and resources. We have no control on how long they will last or the havoc they will bring. And there are plenty of storms that we never saw coming. There was no time to prep.

How do you prepare for storms in your life? For the coming storm on the horizon and the unseen ones. Jesus is the only answer. He is the answer to everything. Jesus is the anchor in our storms. We pray. We ask others to pray. We read God’s word, the Bible. We have faith in Jesus. We cry out to Him when the waters rise and we are afraid. We trust in the One who is our anchor in the storm. He is faithful to see us through the storm.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain. Hebrews 6:19, CSB 

Maybe you are in the middle of a storm, and you are being bombarded with troubles. All you see are grey skies, and wave after wave keeps crashing over you. Please hold on to Jesus. He is holding on to you. I know it’s hard, and scary, and painful. You will make it. God loves you so much, and He is working all things out for good. God wastes nothing, even our storms.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28, NASB 

I am going outside in a minute to bring in our tropical potted plants, and cover our spigots. I’m going to do what I can, and then leave the rest in God’s hands. I pray you do the same today my friend. God bless and keep you.

Love you all,

Meghan

Father God,

You are awesome God. You are our provider. Please protect every person who is in the middle of life’s storms. Comfort, provide, and help them. Give them peace, and Your incredible presence. Calm them, and their storms. Answer their cries for help. Wrap Your arms around them and make a way right through the storm. We love You and praise You!

In Jesus name,

Amen

Food, mustard seed sentinel

Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef

meghanewhite

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Do you love Chinese food? My family sure does, and this broccoli beef  hits the spot for those takeout cravings without breaking the bank. You don’t have to stand over a skillet to make this winning recipe. A little bit of prep, and everything goes into the slow cooker to do all the cooking. Four hours later you have a satisfying meal ready to eat. 

The beef is tender, and the broccoli is perfectly cooked in this tasty dinner. The sauce has a nice blend of savory with a touch of sweet. Add some rice, and you have a gratifying meal. Broccoli beef is a delectable dish your whole family will enjoy. 

Happy Eating!

For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. Colossians 1:16 

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Slow Cooker Broccoli Beef

 

Yield: 4 servings

 

Ingredients 

1.5 – 2 lbs. sirloin steak, sliced thin

1 cup beef broth

½ cup low sodium soy sauce

½ cup brown sugar

3 tablespoons toasted sesame oil

4 cloves of minced garlic

1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger 

2 crowns of broccoli cut into florets

4 tablespoons cornstarch

4 tablespoons water

sesame seeds for garnish 

 

Instructions 

  1. In a slow cooker, whisk together beef broth, soy sauce, brown sugar, sesame oil, garlic, and ginger. 
  2. Add thinly sliced steak. Toss to coat meat. 
  3. Cover and cook on low for 4 hours.
  4. After 4 hours mix water and cornstarch in a small bowl. Add cornstarch mixture to the beef and stir to combine. 
  5. Add the broccoli and stir. Cover and cook for an additional 30 minutes. 
  6. Serve over white rice. Garnish with sesame seeds. Enjoy!



Notes 

Thinly sliced chuck roast works well too.

Slice meat against the grain.

 

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For this recipe and more go to Mustard Seed Sentinel, Meghan’s Corner at the link below. 

https://www.mustardseedsentinel.com/post/meghan-s-corner-slow-cooker-broccoli-beef

 

Trials

Streams in the Desert

meghanewhite

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Hello everyone! I haven’t blogged for a few weeks and wanted you to know that I’m still here, just been busy. We went to Arizona for a week to visit my sweet in-laws. The pictures are from our trip. We went through Sabino Canyon for the first time and it was incredible. There are numerous hiking trails, waterfalls, all kinds of trees, and of course, cactus.

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I loved seeing the contrast of the vibrant yellow cottonwood trees against the brown desert terrain. It was stunning and so peaceful. This spectacular canyon is an oasis in the desert. Since I love my metaphors, this canyon spoke right to my soul.

I’ve experienced a few deserts in my life. Everything is brown and all hope seems gone. There’s no way to parch your thirst. You cry out to God for help, for some sort of respite in such harsh conditions. You wonder if He sees you and your suffering as you wait for an answer.

Then something incredible happens right in the middle of your desert, a stream appears seemingly out of nowhere. God provides water for your thirsty soul, and gives you rest for your weariness. He gives you the strength to keep going, and the courage to press on in the wilderness.

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God has been faithful to me in every one of my desert experiences. If you are in the desert right now He is with you. He’s not going to leave you there. Keep following Jesus and He will get you where you need to go. And along the way He will provide streams for you right smack dab in the middle of the desert.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19, NIV

Stay encouraged. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. You are going to make it.

I love you and I’m praying for you.

A little side note. I got a super fun case of food poisoning right after we got back home from our trip. I don’t recommend it, but I survived by the grace of God.

If you need prayer just leave your request in the comments, or drop me an email. meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com

Love you all,

Meghan

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Perseverance

Be Strong and Do Not Give Up

meghanewhite

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The other morning I grabbed my Bible not knowing what to read. I opened it up and found myself in 2 Chronicles. A verse popped right off the page that I had highlighted a long time ago. 

But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded. 2 Chronicles 15:7, NIV

I don’t normally go to 2 Chronicles. I’ve read it before, but it’s not a book that comes to mind when I am looking to study something in the Bible. I know that was not a coincidence. God spoke to me through this verse. It’s His holy word, and He speaks through it. 

These incredible words were spoken to Asa. He was king of Judah and he loved God. It was a tumultuous, dangerous time. There were wars and battles between nations. The people were disobedient and worshipped idols. The prophet Azariah said, “Listen to me, Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:2, NIV). 

Asa loved the Lord, and for most of his life he did right. “Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the Lord his God” (2 Chronicles 14:2, NIV). He removed all the foreign altars, told Judah to seek the Lord and obey His laws and commandments. “Asa’s heart was fully committed to the Lord all his life.” (2 Chronicles 15:17b, NIV)

In verse 8 we are told that Asa took courage after hearing what the prophet said. Praise God for that. Asa did listen to the prophet and he was encouraged. We can be encouraged too. Those words were spoken to Asa but they are for us as well. They apply today. God does not change. 

Be Strong 

Whatever you are going through, be strong. It’s not your strength you are relying on, it’s God’s. He has infinite strength, and infinite power. As His children we get full access to Him, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. He will be your strength.

Do Not Give Up 

Your circumstances may look hopeless. There is always hope with Jesus. Sometimes we have to wait for God’s perfect timing. In the meantime keep doing what He asked of you. Be obedient and He will take care of every single thing you need. It may not be easy, but He will make a way. Never give up!

God Will Reward You

After Asa removed all the detestable idols, and repaired the altar of the Lord, he gathered all the people. They sacrificed to God and they sought after Him with all their heart and soul. “So the Lord gave them rest on every side” (2 Chronicles 15:15b, NIV). God is a rewarder of those who seek Him, and those who obey Him. We obey out of love, reverence, and awe of God. He knows the motives of our hearts, and He is a rewarder of the pure in heart. That’s how good God is. 

Be strong and do not give up!

Love you all,

Meghan