hot and sour cabbage soup

A while ago I had a half head of cabbage in the refrig. I'd thought about making sauerkraut, but just haven't gotten to it yet. In the meantime while my cabbage head kept crying out for me to use her, I ran across this FABULOUS soup recipe: Hot and Sour Cabbage Soup. We'll have this again and again and again. Do try it.

Picture from Vegan Yum Yum blog

Hot and Sour Cabbage Soup Serves 6

1 Tbs Oil

1 Small Onion, minced

1 Small Cabbage, about the size of a grapefruit

2 Large Carrots, chopped

1 15oz Can Tomatoes, blended smooth

6 Cups Water

1/4 Cup Tamari, low sodium

1/3 Cup Seasoned Rice Vinegar,

1 tsp Hot Red Chili Flakes

1/2 tsp Salt, Black Pepper, to taste (a lot!)

Heat a large 5 qt soup pot that has a heavy lid over medium heat. Add oil and onion, and saute until golden. Meanwhile, quarter your cabbage, remove the core, and shred the cabbage with a large chef’s knife. Add carrots, tomatoes, cabbage and water to the pot and stir well. Add the tamari, vinegar, chili flakes and salt.Bring to a boil, cover, then turn heat down to medium low. Simmer for 20 minutes or until cabbage and carrots are the desired tenderness. Grind a lot of fresh black pepper over the top and serve.

Because I LOVE hot, I added some itsy bitsy pieces of jalapeno pepper.

hot and sour cabbage soup

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/10/hot-and-sour-cabbage-soup.html

would you vote for the lylah blog - please??

The Lylah Blog is all about home and family. I'm all about helping women restore the dignity of the simple home by creating sanctuary. I'm also in a blog contest and have a chance to win $250 of which I'll use to buy a new camera (since my 3 1/2 year old granddaughter broke mine).

I'd really love your vote. Go here http://www.divinecaroline.com/awards/384-the-lylah-blog-simple-home-living and fill out the little form - it's really harmless and they don't bug you and then vote for me. I'd love to be first place!

Will you help me out? Thanks!

would you vote for the lylah blog - please??

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/10/would-you-vote-for-lylah-blog-please.html

3 steps to change our future - dave ramsey

Here's Dave's recommondation for all of us to send to our congress. I sent it to McCain and Kyl and plan to send it to the house guys. Here's Dave's suggestions of what to do!

Years of bad decisions and stupid mistakes have created an economic nightmare in this country, but $700 billion in new debt is not the answer. As a tax-paying American citizen, I will not support any congressperson who votes to implement such a policy. Instead, I submit the following three steps:

Common Sense Plan.

I. INSURANCE

A. Insure the subprime bonds/mortgages with an underlying FHA-type insurance. Government-insured and backed loans would have an instant market all over the world, creating immediate and needed liquidity.

B. In order for a company to accept the government-backed insurance, they must do two things:

1. Rewrite any mortgage that is more than three months delinquent to a 6% fixed-rate mortgage.
a. Roll all back payments with no late fees or legal costs into the balance. This brings homeowners current and allows them a chance to keep their homes.
b. Cancel all prepayment penalties to encourage refinancing or the sale of the property to pay off the bad loan. In the event of foreclosure or short sale, the borrower will not be held liable for any deficit balance. FHA does this now, and that encourages mortgage companies to go the extra mile while working with the borrower—again limiting foreclosures and ruined lives.

2. Cancel ALL golden parachutes of EXISTING and FUTURE CEOs and executive team members as long as the company holds these government-insured bonds/mortgages. This keeps underperforming executives from being paid when they don’t do their jobs.

C. This backstop will cost less than $50 billion—a small fraction of the current proposal.


II. MARK TO MARKET

A. Remove mark to market accounting rules for two years on only subprime Tier III bonds/mortgages. This keeps companies from being forced to artificially mark down bonds/mortgages below the value of the underlying mortgages and real estate.

B. This move creates patience in the market and has an immediate stabilizing effect on failing and ailing banks—and it costs the taxpayer nothing.


III. CAPITAL GAINS TAX

A. Remove the capital gains tax completely. Investors will flood the real estate and stock market in search of tax-free profits, creating tremendous—and immediate—liquidity in the markets. Again, this costs the taxpayer nothing.

B. This move will be seen as a lightning rod politically because many will say it is helping the rich. The truth is the rich will benefit, but it will be their money that stimulates the economy. This will enable all Americans to have more stable jobs and retirement investments that go up instead of down. This is not a time for envy, and it’s not a time for politics. It’s time for all of us, as Americans, to stand up, speak out, and fix this mess.

Please forward this url to everyone you know...and let's blitzkrieg Washington. Go here to find your Senator and here to find your Representative then copy and paste the above letter - place it in the online form.

Go here to find out how your elected officials voted the first time.

3 steps to change our future - dave ramsey

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/09/3-steps-to-change-our-future-dave.html

bartering hubs. . . gettin' ready

I'm gonna barter with my husband to make this:

This year I found a new bff. Her name is Patti and she rocks! Patti's the Urban Sustainable Garden Girl and thanks to her plans and videos, we had an awesome spring garden that'll produce for us this fall as well. Patti - you are the Rawk Stah!

bartering hubs. . . gettin' ready

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post_5546.html

men: crisis of the soul - porn and anger

Years ago I attend a leadership conference where pastor's wives were invited to hear HB London (Dr. James Dobson's cousin). It was there I heard about the statistics of pastors (spiritual leaders) who drop off like flies. At that point (about ten years ago) not only did 900 pastors quit each month but of those that called Focus on the Family for help - close to 50% struggled with issue of pornography.

My husband says that there's a tragic crisis in the soul of men.

Today's man (not all, but many) isn't centered. He doesn't know who he is, what he's here for and where he's going. When a man doesn't know who he is, what he's here for and where he's going - he'll operate in those things that give a momentary sense of control and power - and pornography is one of those things he'll revert to. A must read is Cory's new post - Are You a Porn Addict. Michael and I appreciate Cory - blogger of A Good Husband because he 'tells it like it is.'

Another must read is my series on Understanding Men which starts here. This post addresses anger and pornography.

In our fatherless America, men lack the model and thus the internal masculine soul cries out, "Will someone - a man - show me the way and tell me who I am?"

My husband is....and it's men that heal in the company of men.

men: crisis of the soul - porn and anger

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/09/men-crisis-of-soul-porn-and-anger.html

nicole's - stepping into the ring

I have never heard of Nicole Johnson until last night and becoming a friend on Facebook. I'd never heard of Fresh Brewed Life until I checked out her site this morning and I'd nver seen Stepping into the Ring until now.

This is for all my sisters - whether you be Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddist, Christian, Agnostic or nothing - who have breast cancer or know of a sister who does.

nicole's - stepping into the ring

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-post_30.html

Power of Life and Death in the Tongue.

In light of helping wives grow in learning to respect/love their husbands, I am reposting this piece written a year ago. Enjoy.

I wonder if we, women ought not to bridle our tonques more? Doesn't that sound "controlling?" But, maybe it's something to think about about.

There is the power of life and death in the tongue. It can wound or it can win.

By simply listening to the way a woman speaks to her husband, you can tell what kind of a wife she is. You can tell if she respects him by the tone, body language, and words she uses.

What areas do you struggle with?
______Mindless chit-chat
______Gossip
______Complaining
______Interrupting conversations
______ Bragging
______Not really listening
______Telling your husband what to do or how to do it.


Here’s a homework challenge for you - it might be helpful and humbling: tell your husband that you want to grow in your respect (reverence - adoration, esteeming, preferring, putting him first, honoring him) toward him and since you do want to grow, tell him that you want to know what words you use or the way you say things that make him feel disrespected.

Ask him how you might say the same thing, but in a way, that he would feel respected.

Then, write down what he says and journal a prayer to the Lord to help you grow in this area.

Power of Life and Death in the Tongue.

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2007/11/women-especially-need-to-bridle-their.html

martha's buttermilk pancakes & more

I believe in the power of the table and think breakfast offers a double power for the family. For me, having a leisure breakfast with pancakes, bacon, OJ and coffee is just about as close to heaven on earth as it gets. No, not really, but it's my favorite morning time experience.

While in Spain, Jillian and I made these Good Enough to Eat pancakes. Loved them! But lately, I've switched back to my Martha Stewart Buttermilk Pancake recipe. Give both a try and let me know which ones are your favorite. And, when you do, bless your family with a pretty looking table.

Martha's Buttermilk Pancake Recipe

Whisk together:

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

3 Tabl. sugar

Combine:

2 eggs lightly beaten

3 cups buttermilk

Tabl. + 1/2 t. unsalted - melted butter. ( I tend to use either salted or unsalted.)

Then, combine the dry and the wet ingredients. This is key: don't whisk the batter until it's smooth - leave lumps and unmoistened dry stuff.

Add a thin covering of butter to your pan. This batter makes about 9 6" pancakes. I always double this as left over batter refrigerates well for a few days.

While cooking - I embellish these yummies with chocolate chips, frozen blueberries and my favorite - chopped walnuts and fresh banana slices.

Try both pancake recipes and cast your vote here on the Lylah Blog. If these choices aren't enough, Ali at Divine Domesticity joined Simple Mom as a guest blogger and posted some (I've got to try them) amazing looking Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes. Ali writes that she doubles this batch and freezes half - which she says "freezes beautifully and tastes amazing."

Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes with Honey Syrup (source)

4 servings, about 16 pancakes
2 cups water
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup honey
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups pancake and waffle mix (recommended: Krusteaz)
1 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
2/3 cup frozen blueberries

Melted butter
1. Stir 1/3 cup of water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Stir in the honey. Set aside and keep the honey syrup warm.

2. Using a rubber spatula, stir the remaining 1 2/3 cups of water and vanilla in a large bowl. Add the pancake mix and stir just until moistened but still lumpy. Stir in the ricotta into the pancake mixture, then stir gently to incorporate the ricotta but maintain a lumpy batter. Fold in the blueberries.

3. Heat a griddle over medium heat. Brush with the melted butter. Working in batches, spoon 1/4 cup of batter onto the griddle for each pancake. Cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Serve with the honey syrup.

martha's buttermilk pancakes & more

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2008/09/marthas-buttermilk-pancakes.html

Let Him Kiss Me with the Kisses of His Mouth

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.....what do the lips do? Proverbs 18:21!

My darling love told me yesterday, "Honey, a kiss can mean alot...it reminds us of us and what we're about. A kiss is a rest, an oasis and the foundation of our home." Such a love ~ he is.

One thing I know for sure, if I'm talking, Michael can't kiss me. Doesn't work.

Your Words
Do you know that our words are a reflection of the One we serve?

If you're short on study material - check out these kissy verses :

Check out these verses from the Book of Proverbs (preferably from the New Living Translation): 4: 25, 10:11 , 10:12 , 10:19 , 10:32, 11:9 , 11:12 , 11:13 , 12:6 , 12:15 , 12:19, 13:3, 13:5, 13:10 ,13:16 , 14:3 , 14:9, 17:27 , 18:2, 18:4, 18:20, 18:21, 20:15, 21:23 , 22:14 , 25:18 , 25:23 , 27:15 , 31:26

Another note on the word kiss.
In the Hebrew - the word kiss means to light a fire.

When a guy and a girl engage in kissing and they're not (having it clearly defined) moving toward marriage, they are lighting an unnecessary fire. In my opinion, kissing (unnecessary fires) can confuse the relationship that isn't moving toward commitment through marriage.

Are you kissing while dating or courting? I personally think it hurts and confuses women more than men and this is where I strongly counsel young women to resist and become irresistible. Kissing is a step toward sex - it lights a fire.

I'm excited to hear your comments on this!

Let Him Kiss Me with the Kisses of His Mouth

http://lylahledner.blogspot.com/2007/11/let-him-kiss-me-with-kisses-of-his.html