What is a Daniel fast?

Posted by blogadmin on January 22, 2011 under Fasting | Be the First to Comment

Answer: The concept of a Daniel fast comes from Daniel 1:8-14, “But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way. Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel, but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.” Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.” So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.”

So, a Daniel fast is eating only fruits and vegetables for a certain amount of time, abstaining from meat products. Some people use a Daniel fast as a dieting method. Some people use a Daniel fast instead of fasting from food entirely.

The Book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:4; 14:23). Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world, and instead focus on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to yourself, that you are serious about your relationship with Him. Fasting helps you to gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.

By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can focus better on Christ. Fasting is not a way to get God to do what we want. Fasting changes us, not God. Fasting is not a way to appear more spiritual than others. Fasting is to be done in a spirit of humility and a joyful attitude. Matthew 6:16-18 declares, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”

GUIDELINES FOR DANIEL FAST

(Foods We May Eat)

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley

Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini

Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices

(Foods to Avoid)

Meat

White Rice

Fried Foods

Caffeine

Carbonated Beverages

Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives

Refined Sugar

Sugar Substitutes

White Flour and All Products Using It

Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

Daniel Fast

“Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice.”

(Psalm 50:5 KJV)

Theme of the fast—fasting and prayer: Your goal in fasting is to become closer to God by voluntarily denying the demands of your flesh. Increase your prayer life during this time. Study the Scriptures with a new intensity. When the fast is over, you should have a new spiritual strength from overcoming the cravings that usually control your life and from dedicating yourself to God.

Biblical model: Do a personal study of fasting. In the book of Daniel, chapters 2 and 10, Daniel describes two examples of his personal fasting and the dramatic results. Isaiah described God’s chosen fast in Isaiah 58. Jesus fasted in the wilderness (Matthew 4, etc.) and spoke of the necessity of fasting for believers. It was a normal part of early church life. Fasting is one way we respond to the admonition throughout the Scriptures to die to our self-will and not to accommodate the desires of the flesh.

Following your own conscience: The precise details of your fast are between you and God. In Romans 14, the apostle Paul describes how we should relate in love to one another in the matter of what we eat or choose not to eat. He says, “Each person is free to follow the convictions of his own conscience” (Romans 14, The Message). If you fast often, you may need to turn up your fasting another level during this time. If this is your first fast, you may not be able to endure as many restrictions as someone else who fasts frequently. In the future, live a “fasted lifestyle,” increasingly accommodating God and not the flesh.

Accountability and support groups. You will probably be most successful with this fast if you make yourself accountable to at least one other person during this fast. You may want to form a group of from five to seven people who meet occasionally or talk by phone. Encourage one another. If someone falls and eats the wrong foods, do not condemn them. Help them start again. Walk in love and mercy.

Restricting television and entertainment. It will be difficult for you to consecrate yourself if you feed yourself on television and movies during this time.

Overview of the fast: The Daniel fast drastically restricts normal food intake by cutting away many of the foods you commonly eat to satisfy your appetite. During the Daniel fast, there will be a sense of hunger much of the time and a sense of sacrifice even when we eat. We recommend that you restrict yourself to only one meal a day, leaving a small hunger.

Types of food included in this Daniel fast:

• Vegetables, preferably fresh or frozen vegetables. Vegetables such as potatoes, beans, and soybeans will help provide substance.

• Pure fruit juices or fruit (no sweetened drinks or sweetened fruit): apple juice, orange juice, grapefruit juice, cranberry juice

• It is advisable to take vitamin, mineral, and possibly protein supplements during the fast. You may also include various nuts to serve as a protein supplement.

Foods not included in this Daniel fast:

• Sugar and sugar products (desserts, soft drinks, etc.)

• Drinks including caffeine (coffee, tea, etc.)

• Bread, grains, and rice

• Meats, fish, poultry, dairy products, eggs

Water: Drink 8 glasses of water daily throughout the fast. This is very important.

Side effects: You may experience moderate to severe headaches for the first day or two as your body rids itself of caffeine, salt, sugar, and various impurities.

Important exceptions: Anyone with a medical condition related to eating or under the treatment of a physician must consult their doctor. Children, especially small children, will have special needs that must be considered. Under these conditions, find some sacrifice in the area of food that can be made without endangering health. Also, if you have extreme difficulty with the fast, such as impairment of your ability to work at your job, you will have to make adjustments. This is not a failure of will but is wisdom. Seek the Lord and discuss it with other Christians involved in the fast to find alternatives.

“God’s kingdom isn’t a matter of what you put in your stomach . . . It’s what God does with your life as he sets it right, puts it together, and completes it with joy. Your task is to single-mindedly serve Christ.”

(Romans 14, The Message)

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Your Daniel Fast/Diet Recipes

Posted by blogadmin on under Fasting | Be the First to Comment

Contents

• Karen’s great breakfast and brown rice dinner
• Barbara’s Rice, Black Beans and Corn
• Karen’s Tabouleh
• Nakia’s Tasty Veggie Wraps
• Grace’s Golden Carrot Soup
• Susan’s Black Bean & Brown Rice Stuffed Peppers
• Maria’s Curry brown rice
• Angela’s veggie soup
• Cathy’s Leek and Potato soup
• Ki’s Stir Fry Brown Rice w/ Vegetables
• Cilantro soup
• Ezekiel bread
• Lola’s Black bean soup
• Denise Austin’s Herb-Roasted Idaho Potato Fries
• Scarlott potatoes
• Hot water cornbread
• Student mix
• Rice, Green Beans and Lentils
• Rice and Lentils
• Vegetable soup and navy beans
• Mashed pinto beans on whole grain taco shells
• Rice and Chick Peas
• Popcorn
• Cantaloupe Tonight Melon Smoothie
• Mrs. Jones’ Brown Rice Dinner
• Drink tea
• Salads and Salad Dressing

Great breakfast dishes

Banana-berry smoothie

1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice or grapefruit juice

1 or 2 bananas

1/2 cup fresh or  frozen berries, such as raspberries, blackberries, blueberries and/or strawberries

1/2 cup low-fat silken tofu

Preparation

1. Combine fresh juice, banana, berries, tofu in a blender; cover and blend until creamy. Serve immediately

………………………………

Scrambled Tofu

Break up Tofu and cook like scrambled egg with onions and herbs

Serve with whole wheat toast or wrap

chunks of apples, with walnuts and raisins as a snack or breakfast

Fruit salad Breakfast – mix your favourite fruit in fresh orange juice

Cook Oatmeal and add walnuts, raisins, cranberries

Brown Rice Dinner

Brown rice with a dash of pimentoes topped with sundried tomatoes and steamed mixed veggies (yummie!)

Barbara’s Rice, Black beans and corn

Ingredients

1 can Organic Black beans drained

1 can of Organic corn drained

organic long grain rice

organic corn tortilla

salsa

avocado

Instructions

Combine 1 can Organic Black beans drained and 1 can of Organic corn drained

Heat and place on top of organic long grain rice (cooked)

Top with homemade salsa (which is 2 tomatoes diced, 1 onions diced, cilantro, squirt of lime, clove of garlic minced, tad bit of salt, 1 Jalapeno minced, 1/2 of an avacado diced.)

Serve with organic corn tortilla (you can heat them and make them crunchy. I just cut them into triangles and make them like chips.. organic ones are made with just corn and lime) really good! serve with sliced avacado’s on the side OR finger peppers (they aren’t real hot)

Nakia’s Tasty Veggie Wraps

Ingredients

4 cups shredded broccoli, carrots, cabbage, mushrooms and onions

1 TBSP of olive oil

1 tsp of soy sauce

1/4 tsp ea. of parsley and Garlic Powder

4 Whole Grain Wheat wraps

Instructions

1) Place oil in warm skillet

2) Add shredded mixture and sauté

3) Add seasonings

4) Add soy sauce to coat

5) Cook vegetables until they are your desired texture

6) Remove vegetables and place on a reserved plate.

7) Add more oil to skillet if necessary to brown both sides of your whole wheat wraps if desired or warm in oven

Place vegetables in each warmed wrap. Eat and Enjoy!!

Grace’s Golden Carrot Soup

Used with permission from The Daniel’s Fast Cookbook

Ingredients

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 large onion, chopped with vidalia fine insert, about 2 cups

3 stalks celery chopped with vidalia fine insert, about 1 cup

1 package 16 oz. bag of fresh sliced carrots, about 4 cups

1 quart vegetable broth, 32 oz carton

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 teaspoon dried basil

2 teaspoons chopped garlic, jar ok

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

In a large pot put olive oil and sauté onion, celery, carrots, garlic and all the seasonings for about 10 minutes. Then add the vegetable broth. Cover and simmer for about 25 min or until carrots are tender. With a hand held blender, cream the soup. If you do not have an hand held blender, spoon into a regular blender. Blend half at a time. Be careful this is hot stuff. Serves 6.

Susan’s Black Bean & Brown Rice Stuffed Peppers

Ingredients:

1 qt 100% Vegetable or Tomato Juice

2 cups cooked black beans

1 cup cooked brown rice

2 med green onions (chopped)

¼ cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tbsp lime juice

1 clove garlic (finely chopped)

2-3 large bell peppers (cut in half lengthwise and deseeded)

Combine all ingredients except juice and bell peppers in bowl and mix well. Place peppers in glass dish and stuff with mixture. Pour juice over peppers and plenty of excess in the dish. Cover and bake in oven on 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes. Enjoy!

Maria’s Curry brown rice

Ingredients:

Minute maid brown rice

1-2 tspn curry powder

1/2 c frozen sweet peas

1/2 c corn

1/4 c onions

1/4 c tomato

1/2 tspn dried thyme leaves

1 tbsp virgin olive oil

Procedure:

1. Make the desired amount of brown rice.

2. Dice the onion and tomato.

3. Heat pan with olive oil. Mix in tomato, onions, thyme, corn, sweet peas and curry.

4. Stir until onion and tomato is cooked. Add water sparingly to keep it from

sticking to the pan.

5. Add already cooked brown rice.

6. If desireable, add hot peppers such as jalapenos or scotch bonnet or leave

the flamable spices out.

7. Enjoy!

Angela’s veggie soup

1 28oz. can diced or crushed tomatos
1 6oz. can tomato paste
1 can of tomato sauce
1 can (drained)of corn, green beans, potatoes, english peas, carrots. salt and pepper to taste
2 medium onions diced, 1 tsp garlic, 4-5 bay leaves
Add water to cover items cook in slow cooker for 3-4 hrs or on stove top. Could also add mushrooms or other veggies you enjoy just be creative.

Cathy’s Leek and Potato soup

Hey – our church started the Daniel fast on the 7th January. This is a great recipe for Leek and Potato soup.

1 tsp crushed fennel seeds
1 tsp ground pepper
2 cloves garlic
2 tbsp olive oil
4 pints vegetable stock (you can use just water as long as everything is seasoned well)
2 lbs leeks (trimmed, cleaned, sliced)
2 lbs potatoes (cleaned, cut into cubes)

Heat olive oil on a medium heat in a large pan. Add garlic – heat for a few mins until golden. Add fennel seeds and pepper and stir in with garlic. Add leeks and potatoes and mix well with other ingredients. Cover and cook for 5 mins. Stir quickly. Cover and cook for further 5 mins. Add stock. Bring to boil, then cover, turn heat down and simmer for 40 mins.

Ki’s Stir Fry Brown Rice w/Vegetables

1 box of instant brown rice (or bag brown rice)
Vegetables to stir fry (either fresh or frozen)
Olive Oil
Soy Sauce
Peanuts

Cook your rice according to package (I season my rice as well when I cook).

Heat Wok on Med. High heat add 1/4 cup of Olive Oil (more or less) Give a minute for oil to get hot.

Place raw onions in now if you are adding to recipe, also garlic for taste. Pour the cooked rice into Wok and stir for 4 mins add Soy Sauce to taste.

Pour rice back into container it was cooked in and set aside.

Now add 1/4 cup Olive Oil to hot Wok again. Then add the vegetables and lots of whatever seasonings you like. Stir until done add peanuts right before serving.

This recipe is very good reheated for lunch the next day.

George’s Homemade Cilantro Soup

Wed, 02 Jan 2008

Chop 2 bunches fresh Cilantro
10 carrots chopped and the juice of 1/2 squeezed lemon
15 brussel spouts quartered
1 large sweet onion chopped
8 chicken or vegetable bullion cubes with 8 cups water
4 tsp garlic salt
1 large can tomato sauce
10 chopped habanero garlics or a chopped jalpeno
Bring almost to a boil and simmer for 1 hour

Lola’s Black bean soup

Tue, 01 Jan 2008

I make this with canned black beans. Basically just black beans, vegetable broth, crushed garlic, large chopped onion, 1 jar of all natural salsa, chopped jalpeno, chopped Cilantro. Combine all ingredients and enjoy. I even eat this when I’m not on the Daniel fast because it is absolutely delicious! For a large batch I usually use about 5 cans of beans. Amount of broth depends on how chunky you like your soup.

Herb-Roasted Idaho Potato Fries

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:
1 pound small baking potatoes
2 tsp extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/4 tsp salt
1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 425°F. Coat a heavy baking sheet with cooking spray.

Cut each potato in half crosswise. Place the halves cut side down on the cutting board and cut each into 4 wedges. Place the potatoes in a mound on the prepared baking sheet.

In a cup, mix the oil, thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Pour over the potato wedges and toss to mix well. Spread the potatoes out on the sheet.

Bake, stirring 2 or 3 times, until tender and lightly browned, about 35 minutes. Serve hot.

Per serving: 110 calories, 2.5g fat, 21g carbohydrates, 2g protein, 2g fiber, 150mg sodium

Scarlott potatoes

White potatoes boiled with onions cut up in them, pepper, garlic, seasoning salt.

Hot water cornbread

White or yellow corn meal, hot water, raw sugar
stir it up very well. Put in skillet with olive oil.

Student mix

Nuts, seeds and raisins mixed together

Rice, Green Beans and Lentils

• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup lentils rinsed
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 TBSP tomato paste
• 1 can green beans not drained
• 1 cup of water

Rice cooked in rice cooker. The rest of the ingredients go in crock pot for five hours on medium to high.

Rice and Lentils

• 1 cup rice
• 1/2 cup of lentils
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 cups water

Rice cooked in rice cooker. The rest of the ingredients go in crock pot for five hours on high.

Vegetable soup and navy beans

• 1 cup puree spinach
• 1 cup puree green beans
• 1 can navy beans rinsed and drained
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 cup water

Put all ingredient in crock pot for four hours on medium

Mashed pinto beans on whole grain taco shells

• 1 can pinto beans rinsed and drained
• 1 TBSP of raisins
• 1 tsp salt

Cook pinto beans and raisins in crock pot for four hours blend in blender serve with whole grain soft taco shells.

Rice and Chick Peas

• 1 cup rice
• 1 can chick peas drained and rinsed
• 1 cup water
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 TBSP raisins

Cook rice in a rice cooker. Put rest of ingredients in crock pot and cook four hours at medium

Popcorn

Thought your readers might enjoy a very easy, very healthy (totally non-fat) way to make popcorn (I liked the one suggestion using olive oil.)

1/4 cup unpopped popping corn
1 brown lunch bag

Place corn kernels in lunch bag. Fold at end 2-3 times. Place in microwave on High for 2-3 minutes, until kernels stop popping. Enjoy! More of the kernels will pop with repeated refills as the bag gets hotter. Just leave the unpopped kernels in the bag for the next serving.

Sat, 20 Jan 2007 from Sheri

I have found popcorn to be a very good and enjoyable snack during the Daniel Diet. I have a new whirly-pop popcorn cooker that cooks popcorn with only 1 teaspoon of oil. I use olive oil. The popcorn is fantastic! It’s much better than corn cooked in an air popper. I’ve also tried some packaged cooked popcorn called ‘Organic Popcorn‘ that is lightly salted. You can buy this at Tom Thumb grocery stores, and it’s delicious. I’ve read a lot about popcorn being one of the most toxic items people eat, due to the pesticides and sprays put on the corn before harvesting. Go organic for your health!

Cantaloupe Tonight Melon Smoothie

I came across this recipe from the Vegan Planet Cookbook called Cantaloupe Tonight Melon Smoothie. I was looking for something to have as a fruit snack, or eat for breakfast. My teenage son loves smoothies, and when you restrict dairy, it’s hard to find something that will satisfy you, unless you use soy milk. Here’s what’s in the recipe:

• 1/2 medium-size cantaloupe, seeded and cut from the rind.
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• Juice of 2 limes (taste before you add all the juice at once)
• 1 medium-size, banana, peeled and cut into chunks
• Fresh mint leaves for garnish (optional)
• our addition: 2 cups of ice cubes – makes it like a frozen ice drink.

Mix all in a blender, and serve. Serves 2

Mrs. Jones’ Brown Rice Dinner

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 from Mrs. Jones

This recipe follows the Daniel Fast guidelines and is filling and delicious! This is my original creation… if someone else has already “cooked” it up it is merely a coincidence.

• 1 cup of Brown Rice
• 2.5 cups water

Bring to rolling boil, reduce heat and simmer/steam for 45 minutes.

Half way through the cooking time, add:

• 1/2 cup of fresh salsa
• 1 cup of frozen corn
• 1/2 of a chopped red bell pepper
• 3/4 cup of cooked black beans
• a pinch of pepper to taste

Stir and replace cover for remainder of cooking time. Serve with fresh sliced avocado.

Drink tea

The Lipton Teas that are natural, that are great for the daniels fast. If you are coffee drinker the teas will replaced it in the mornings while you are doing the fast. You can use herbs when you are cooking with beans.

Salads and Salad dressing

Salad

• 3 cups bite-size pieces fresh spinach
• 1/2 cup sliced strawberries
• 1/2 cup cubed cantaloupe
• Optional 1/2 cup sliced oranges
• 2 medium green onions, sliced(2 tablespoons)

In a tightly covered container, shake all dressing ingredients. In large bowl, toss all salad ingredients with dressing.

Strawberry-Melon Spinach Salad Dressing:

• 1 tablespoon orange juice
• 1 tablespoon honey (if you are allowing honey)
• 1 1/2 teaspoon olive oil

Pumpkin soup

1/2 small pumpkin boiled

2 large cloves garlic crushed

1 tbsp olive oil

thyme & salt and pepper

Blend pumpkin with enough of the water to make a soupy mixture.

Fry garlic in oil until brown.  Add thyme and enough salt and pepper to taste.

Add blended pumpkin and cook until bubbly, approx. 10 mins.

Add additional water and seasoning if necessary to make the perfect soup.

Split pea soup

Same as pumpkin only use cooked split peas instead of pumpkin.  You may also add diced potato or carrots

Indian Lentils & Spinach Recipe

Ingredients

• cooking spray
• 1 1/2 cup(s) pepper(s), red, bell
• 1/2 cup(s) onion(s)
• 2 clove(s) garlic, minced
• 1/2 teaspoon curry powder
• 1 1/2 cup(s) lentils, brown
• 1 can(s) broth, vegetable
• 1 cup(s) water
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper, black
• 6 cup(s) spinach, baby

Preparation

1. Coat an unheated large nonstick saucepan with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat over medium heat. Add sweet pepper, onion, garlic, and curry powder to hot saucepan; cook for 1 minute.

2. Stir in lentils, vegetable broth, the water, and black pepper. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer about 30 minutes or until lentils are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.

3. Transfer mixture to a large serving bowl. Add spinach and stir mixture until spinach is wilted.

Hummus – delicious vegetable protein – super diabetic food

1 can chick peas w/liquid
1 large clove garlic crushed
1 tbsp parsley
1/2 lime or lemon
1 tbsp olive oil
1 oz. sesame seed
salt and pepper to taste.
Blend all ingredients into a paste for a delicious dip with carrots,celery or whole wheat pita.

Polenta(yellow grits) with roasted vegetables

Dietitian’s tip: To best prepare this recipe, cut all of the vegetables a day ahead of time and put into a covered container and refrigerate. You may roast the eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and red pepper earlier in the day. Cover and refrigerate the vegetables until needed.

By Mayo Clinic staff

Serves 6

Ingredients

1 small eggplant, peeled, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 small yellow zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 small green zucchini, cut into 1/4-inch slices
6 medium mushrooms, sliced
1 sweet red pepper, seeded, cored and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon extra-virgin olive oil
6 cups water
1 1/2 cups coarse polenta (corn grits)
2 teaspoons Olive Oil
1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed
2 plum (Roma) tomatoes, sliced
6 dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes, soaked in water to rehydrate, drained and chopped
10 ripe olives, chopped
2 teaspoons oregano

Directions

Heat the broiler (grill). Position the rack 4 inches from the heat source.

Brush the eggplant, zucchini, mushrooms and red pepper with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Arrange in single layer on a baking sheet and broil under low heat. Turn as needed and brush occasionally with 1 tablespoon olive oil. When tender and slightly browned, remove from the broiler (grill). Use immediately or cover and refrigerate for later use.

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a decorative, ovenproof 12-inch flan or quiche dish with cooking spray.

In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Reduce heat and slowly whisk in polenta. Continue to stir and cook for about 5 minutes. When polenta comes away from side of pan, stir in 2tsp Olive Oil and season with 1/8 teaspoon of the black pepper. Remove from heat.

Spread polenta into the base and sides of the baking dish. Brush with 1 teaspoon olive oil. Place in the oven and bake for 10 minutes. Remove and keep warm.

Drain spinach and press between paper towels.  Top polenta with spinach.  Arrange a layer of sliced tomatoes, chopped sun-dried tomatoes and olives. Top with remaining roasted vegetables. Sprinkle with oregano and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Return to the oven for another 10 minutes. When warmed through, remove from the oven. Cut into 6 wedges and serve.

Veggie Burger Stir Fry

Always use Olive Oil or pure Canola Oil when cooking.

Cut up veggie burger and stir fry with onions, mushrooms, carrots, cabbage  etc. use as a topping for baked potato.

Or Leave whole and fry lightly with onions, mushrooms, diced potatoes and add just a couple tablespoons water.

Quinoa-tofu salad

Ingredients

• 2 cups water
• 3/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1 cup quinoa, rinsed well (see Tip)
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 small cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 1 6- or 8-ounce package baked smoked tofu, (see Tip), diced
• 1 small yellow bell pepper, diced
• 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
• 1 cup diced cucumber
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh mint

Preparation

1. Bring water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add quinoa and return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover and cook until the water has been absorbed, 15 to 20 minutes. Spread the quinoa on a baking sheet to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, whisk lemon juice, oil, garlic, the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the cooled quinoa, tofu, bell pepper, tomatoes, cucumber, parsley and mint; toss well to combine.

Tips & Notes

• Make Ahead Tip: Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.

• Tips: Quinoa is a delicately flavored, protein-rich grain. Rinsing removes any residue of saponin, quinoa’s natural, bitter protective covering. Find it in natural-foods stores and the natural-foods sections of many supermarkets.

Cucumber black-eyed peas salad

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons chopped fresh oregano, or 1 teaspoon dried
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
• 4 cups peeled and diced cucumbers
• 1 14-ounce can black-eyed peas, rinsed
• 2/3 cup diced red bell pepper
• 1/4 cup slivered red onion

·         2 tablespoons chopped black olives

Preparation

1. Whisk oil, lemon juice, oregano and pepper in a large bowl until combined. Add cucumber, black-eyed peas, bell pepper, onion and olives; toss to coat. Serve at room temperature or chilled.

Whole wheat Pasta dinner

Cook whole wheat pasta(any kind)

Toss with garlic, onions, mushrooms, zucchini in Olive oil.  Season to taste with rock salt.

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Experiencing God: God Pursues a Love Relationship with You: The Pursuit

Posted by blogadmin on November 27, 2010 under Blog Competition | Be the First to Comment

God always takes the first step towards us  in this love relationship.We see His footprints throughout the Bible:  He came to Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden.  He came to Noah, Abraham, Moses and the Prophets of Old. He came to man-kind in the person of Jesus Christ, Jesus chose the disciples to be with Him, he went to Mary, Martha and Lazarus, Zacheus and Paul.  God took the initiative so that each person could experience Him in a personal fellowship of love.

Can you remember how God came to you?

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Experiencing God: God Pursues a Love Relationship with You: No Competitors

Posted by blogadmin on November 26, 2010 under Blog Competition | Be the First to Comment

Do you really want to love the Lord your God with all your heart?  He will have not competitors for your love!

No one can be a slave to two masters, since either he wil hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one  and despise the other.  You cannot be slaves of God and of money.  Matt 6:24

Where is your devotion shared?

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Experiencing God: God Pursues a Love Relationship with You: The Greatest Commandment

Posted by blogadmin on November 22, 2010 under Blog Competition | Be the First to Comment

What is the foremost  thing God wants from you?

Are you giving Him what He wants?

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Experiencing God: God Pursues a Love Relationship with You: Your First Love

Posted by blogadmin on November 21, 2010 under Blog Competition | Be the First to Comment

If every thing else were removed from you, could you be content  having nothing but your relationship with God?

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Experiencing God: God Pursues a Love Relationship with You: The Greatest Commandment

Posted by blogadmin on November 20, 2010 under Blog Competition | Be the First to Comment

Do you believe that when you love God, He promises to respond with His blessings.  You and your children will live under His favour?  He will make you more than a conqueror over every difficulty you face.

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Experiencing God: God Pursues a Love RElationship with You: The Greatest Commandment

Posted by blogadmin on November 19, 2010 under Blog Competition | Be the First to Comment

God loves us and wants us to freely love Him in return. Through the scriptures we learn different ways that we can demonstrate our love and devotion to our Lord such as:

1. Choose life – accepting the work of Christ

2. Listen to His voice

3. Hold fast to Him

4. Believe in His only Son

5. Obey His commands and teachings

6. Be willing to lay down your life for your Christian brothers and sisters.

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Experiencing God: God Pursues a Love Relationship with You

Posted by blogadmin on November 18, 2010 under Blog Competition | Be the First to Comment

God’s love was revealed among us in this way.   God sent His One and Only Son into the world so that we might live through Him.  Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins… We loved because He first loved us.  1 John 4:9-10, 19

Have you realized that the Lord does not grant you things and comforts so you have a “good”  life.  It is  God who brings you into a relationship with Him so out of that relationship you have everything you could possibly need.  Long before you began your life on earth, God demonstrated His love for you on the cross of Christ.

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Experiencing God: God Pursues a Love Relationship with you: The Greatest Commandment VI

Posted by blogadmin on November 17, 2010 under Blog Competition | Be the First to Comment

“This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us.  We should also lay down our lives for our brothers.”  1 John 3:16

In what ways can we lay down our lives for our brothers?

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