Happy 2010!!! This is going to be a GREAT NEW YEAR!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Black Bean Chilli topped~Baked Sweet Potatoes

4 large sweet potatoes, washed well (do not peel)
1/2 cup onion, diced
1 1/2 t. olive oil
1/2 cup green pepper, destemmed, deseeded, and diced
1/2 cup Roma tomatoes, destemmed, deseeded, and diced
2 t. garlic, minced
1/2 t. chili powder
1/2 t. ground cumin
1/4 t. salt
1/8 t. freshly ground black pepper
1 - 15 oz. can black beans, rinsed, and drained
1 - 8 oz. can tomato sauce
hot pepper sauce, to taste


Using a fork, pierce the skins of the sweet potatoes in several places. Place an oven-proof rack on a cookie sheet and place the sweet potatoes on the rack. Bake at 400 degrees for 60-75 minutes or until the sweet potatoes feel soft when gently squeezed. While the sweet potatoes are baking, prepare the black bean chili. In a medium saucepan, saute the onion in the olive oil for 3 minutes to soften. Add the green pepper and saute an additional 3-4 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Add the tomatoes, garlic, and seasonings, and saute an additional 2 minutes. Add the black beans, tomato sauce, and season to taste with hot pepper sauce, stir well to combine, and simmer the chili for 10 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings, to taste. Remove the saucepan from the heat. When the sweet potatoes are tender, remove the cookie sheet from the oven and leave the sweet potatoes on the rack to cool for 5 minutes. For each serving, place one sweet potato on a plate or in a bowl, split it open, ladle some of the black bean chili over the top, and serve.

Serves 4

Vegan Enchiladas

No-Roll Enchiladas

*Easy to assemble, this layered casserole is a great dish to take to potlucks. People won't believe how rich it tastes! Be sure all ingredients are vegan--look at the ingredients on the tortillas as well.

1 large bell pepper (red or green)
1 large onion
1 can refried beans (or homemade)
1 can enchilada sauce (or homemade)
1 cup salsa (homemade or otherwise, as spicy as you want)
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained (or other beans to your liking)
tortillas (any kind, but corn tortillas work well)
cooking spray
optional: 1 medium tomato
Preheat the oven to 350 (F). Dice the onion, pepper, and tomato (if using). (You may at this point sauté the onion and pepper in a non-stick skillet to soften, if you want.) Spray the bottom of a casserole dish with cooking spray and lay down a tortilla (if your tortillas are smaller than your casserole, you can layer them -- but be sure the bottom of the dish is covered or it'll stick like crazy).

Spread a layer of refried beans on the top of the tortilla(s) -- you may want to heat the beans first to make them spread more easily. Pour half of the salsa and half of the onions over the beans. Put another tortilla on top of this layer. Layer the black beans, green pepper, tomato (if using), and the rest of the salsa and onion on top of the tortilla(s). Put another tortilla on the top (your casserole should be pretty full by now). Pour the can of enchilada sauce over the whole thing and bake, covered, for about 35-45 minutes or until it's hot and bubbly all the way through. Serve with vegan sour cream or all by itself. This freezes extremely well.

Of course, you can fiddle with this and add or take away ingredients. It's a little different every time I make it, since I layer things differently. Experiment and enjoy!

Serves: 4-6, Preparation time: 1.5 hr

Rice & Black Eyed Peas

Spicy Rice and Black-Eyed PeasFast, easy, and really good!

3/4 cup uncooked rice* (brown)
1/4 cup green pepper, chopped.
1 medium onion, chopped (1/2 cup)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. red cayenne pepper
1 tsp. oregano
2 cloves of garlic
1 (15 oz) can stewed tomatoes
1 (15 oz) can blackeyed peas, drained.
1/2 cup water

Mix all ingredients in a 10 inch skillet and bring to a boil. Cover, turn the heat down to low and let simmer for 25 minutes or until the sauce is incorporated. Serve.

*MWL Option: Substitute brown rice for the white and increase the water to 3/4 cups and the cooking time to 45 minutes. Or, use 1 1/2 cups cooked brown rice and add it during the last 10 minutes of cooking (25 minutes total).

Veggie Fajitas for One

Ingredients

2 Green Bell Peppers, sliced
2 cups Sliced Mushrooms
1 Red Onion, sliced
2-3 Serrano Chiles, chopped
1 tbsp Ground Cumin
1 tsp Kosher Salt
1 tsp Ground Black Pepper
3-4 tbsp Lime Juice
1-2 cups Fresh Guacamole
2 tbsp Olive Oil
4-6 Fajita-Style Whole Wheat Tortillas


Directions:
Wrap tortillas in moist paper towels and then in foil. Place in oven on "Warm" or lowest setting.

Slice bell peppers and onion into long strips. Heat olive oil in large skillet. Add bell peppers, onion, sliced mushrooms, and diced serrano chiles.

Add cumin, salt, pepper, and lime juice. Saute on med-high heat until onions are translucent. Turn heat to low, and simmer 5 mins or so until most liquid is reabsorbed/evaporated.

Smear each tortilla with generous (1-2 tbsp) portion of guacamole. Add veggies and serve.

Pasta Salad!

Ingredients

Salad:

1 pound Whole Wheat pasta
Freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 yellow squash, sliced into 1/4-inch thick discs
1 zucchini squash, sliced into 1/4-inch thick discs
1 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup packed fresh basil leaves
1/2 cup fresh packed parsley leaves

Dressing:

2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 garlic cloves, lightly crushed with the side of a knife blade, and quartered
1 teaspoon stone ground mustard
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente and drain well.

Toss with ground black pepper and olive oil.
For the dressing, add the vinegar to a blender and replace the lid.

Turn on the blender add, 1 at a time through the feed opening, garlic, mustard, oregano, basil, salt, and black pepper.

Leaving the blender running, add the olive oil in a slow thin stream.
Toss together the pasta, yellow squash, zucchini, sun-dried tomatoes, basil and parsley with enough of the dressing to coat.

Serve any additional dressing on the side.

Prayer quote....Rev. T.D. Jakes

"I like to be in a prayerful atmosphere. I tell my wife if I ever get sick, if I ever get paralyzed, if I ever get where I can't move, if I ever get where I can't talk roll my big hind end into church. Put me in an atmosphere with some praying people. I might not be able to talk, but let me soak it up- because there's something about being around prayer. You don't even have to be the one praying, but if you get around somebody who really know how to pray - prayer will lift you when you've fallen, prayer will catch you when you've lost your grip, prayer will stop you from going overboard, prayer will bring you out!" ~~T.D. Jakes~~

New Year~New Beginnings!!!

*Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.--St. Francis of Assisi

*Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.--Martin Luther King Jr.

*There must be a beginning of any great matter, but the continuing unto the end until it be thoroughly finished yields the true glory.--Sir Francis Drake

'Food For Life'-products are recommended

**The ONLY bread you can have is Ezekiel 4:9 sprouted bread. This is not made with white flour, sugars or animal products. We recommend the Food for Life Tortillas also for Mexican food. It is all made vegan and gluten free. To read more...check out link below.




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
http://www.foodforlife.com/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
**Peta from Food for Life--use for sandwiches, Hummus or peanut butter & banana sandwiches~~

*Cereal to have with your Almond, Rice or Soy Milk....

Yves Veggie Ham & Lunchmeats....a soy product

Yves Veggie Ham should be available at most Whole Food Stores. Good for putting in sandwiches or soups.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Veggie Ham Sandwich with veggie cheese(Soy)on Ezekial 4:9 Bread---Make your food look pretty and appetizing it will help you to enjoy the new experience of ~No Meat~ foods. :-)

Wild Rice Soup

Wild Rice Soup

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon whole wheat flour
3 cups chicken-style vegetarian broth
2 cups plain, unsweetened soy milk (regular, not fat free)
1 pkg. veggie ham (optional)
2 cups wild rice, cooked
1 medium carrot, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
1/2 cup slivered almonds
Dash cayenne pepper (optional)
Salt & pepper

Directions:
Saute onions in olive oil until soft. Add whole wheat flour and stir until mixed. Add broth and mix thoroughly. Bring to boil and simmer for 10 minutes, or until thickened.

While broth mixture is simmering, heat (do NOT boil) soymilk in separate pan. Also, sauté veggie ham (if you are using it) in a fry pan until browned. Cut into bite sized pieces.

Add remaining ingredients to soup mixture. Bring to boil and simmer for no less than 20 minutes, and up to 2 hours.

Comments:
This soup is SOO simple! I got the recipe from a friend, and I veganized it. Her recipe called for half and half, and regular ham, and butter. I've made this soup for countless meat eaters, and they go gaga over it! I hope you find it equally enjoyable.

Tip: I use one can of wild rice, so instead of having to cook the rice I just pop it in.

Prepare Yourself!

*Start preparing spiritually, mentally and physically for the Daniel Fast. *Start drinking more water and fresh foods and backing off of the sugars and the caffeine's in coffee, carbonated drinks. *Start cleaning out your food pantry of the sugar, high fat foods to avoid and collecting items that are organic and healthy on our list! *This will help you to have less of a reaction when you start full time on the Daniel Fast.

Hummus Dip

One of my favorites--easy to make and you can use with your favorite Veggies to dip or Vegan/whole week pita.

Daniel Fast Food List

Fruits
These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are
not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries,
boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes,
guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges,
papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries,
strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon

Vegetables
These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include
but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels
sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens,
corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce,
mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes,
rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes,
turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, veggie burgers are an option if you are
not allergic to soy.


Whole Grains
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet,
quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas,
rice cakes and popcorn.

Nuts & Seeds
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews,
peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.

Water
Spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.


Drink Plenty of Water Every Day!!!

The Daniel Fast Basics(Foods to avoid)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Meat, eggs, all animal ingredients/products
*Fried foods
*White flour and all products using it
*White rice, white bread, hominy and pasta
*All Caffeine--in foods or drinks--coffee or tea
*Carbonated beverages, including diet sodas
*Wine, beer or any other alcoholic drinks(:-) of course)
*All food containing perservetives or
*Refined sugar/honey.....you can use=Stevia, Xylitol, Agave
*High fructose corn syrup
*Chemical sugar substitutes/artificial sweetners
*Margarine, shortening, animal fat, high fat products

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~This is a list of things to avoid~~be sure to read labels well~~

You can fill up on Fruits & Veggies...all things that grow in God's garden are good for the Daniel Fast!!!

Starting '2010' ~~ Right with Prayer & Fasting!

1 Make your meals somewhat lighter for a few days leading up to your fast and taper off caffeine.
2 Avoid distractions. This is a sacred time between you and God, so avoid secular TV or radio shows.
3 Start off with your focus beginning to worship God through sacrifice and to love Him more than His gifts.
4 Begin days with an unselfish prayer several times during the day.
5 Spend time with God and in studying the Bible.
6 Seek the Lord diligently for the answers to your prayers.
7 Pray often. Increase the frequency of your daily prayer time by a factor of 3 or more.
8 Ask for God's guidance in your life.

Isaiah 58 (New International Version)

Isaiah 58~True Fasting

1- "Shout it aloud, do not hold back. Raise your voice like a trumpet. Declare to my people their rebellion and to the house of Jacob their sins.

2- For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways,as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.

3- 'Why have we fasted,' they say,'and you have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?'"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.

4- Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high.

5- Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD ?

6- "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

7- Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter— when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

8- Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you,and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

9- Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

10- and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

11- The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

12- Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

13- "If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath and from doing as you please on my holy day,if you call the Sabbath a delight and the LORD's holy day honorable, and if you honor it by not going your own way and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

14- then you will find your joy in the LORD, and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob." The mouth of the LORD has spoken.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~
~~Bible Study and Prayer is an important part of your Fast...over the next 21 days. Read the scripture daily and pray for the Lord to speak to your heart~~