Creamy Béchamel Sauced Chicken Spinach Ziti

3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

4 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.

5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

6 who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. - 2 Corinthians 3:3-6

2 c rotisserie chicken breast, shredded

1/2 of a package cooked Green Giant spinach, mashed dry

4 oz of cooked al dente ziti pasta

Mozzarella cheese to lightly cover top

Béchamel sauce recipe

4 T butter

1/4 c flour

1/2 t nutmeg

1 c heavy Cream

1 c whole milk

1/4 c ricotta cheese 

1 T chicken base seasoning 

1/4 c Italian blend Cheese( Trader Joe's)

1 t sugar

1/2 c grated mozzarella to top 

Melt butter, add flour, stir to make roux.

Add cream, chicken base, sugar, nutmeg, cheese and milk. 

Boil lightly to thicken, set aside.

Mix chicken, spinach and ziti.

Add Béchamel sauce.

Add mozzarella to top.

Bake preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes.

Red Meat Sauce Béchamel Spinach Ziti

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.  - Hebrews 8:10

2 c meat sauce, I used my left over meat ball spaghetti sauce

1/2 of a package of Green Giant cooked spinach, squeezed dry

6 oz al dente cooked ziti

1/2 of a batch of béchamel sauce

Béchamel sauce recipe

4 T butter

1/4 c flour

1/2 t nutmeg

1 c heavy Cream

1 c whole milk

1/4 c ricotta cheese 

1 T chicken base seasoning 

1/2 c Italian blend Cheese( Trader Joe's)

1 t sugar

1/4 c mozzarella to top 

Melt butter, add flour, stir to make roux.

Add cream, chicken base, sugar, nutmeg, cheese and milk. 

Boil lightly to thicken, set aside.

Add meat sauce and spinach to pasta.

Add Béchamel.

Add mozzarella to top.

Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 30 minutes,

Cuban Boneless Pork Apple Country Ribs

1 The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. 

2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit. 

3 Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established. 

4 The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble. 

5 Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the LORD; be assured, he will not go unpunished. 

6 By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil. 

7 When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.  - Proverbs 16:1-7

1 lb. Boneless pork country ribs

Adobo seasoning, cover one side 

Smoked paprika, cover other side

Smoked salt/ cracked black pepper, on one side

1/8 c Whiskey

2 T orange juice

Clarified butter

Olive oil

Onion

Apple

1 lime, juiced

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

In a Dutch oven, heat butter/oil mixture.

When hot, add onions, then seasoned pork, sear until browned on both sides.

Add lime juice, whiskey and oj.

Add cut and peeled apple.

Put on lid and set timer for 2 hours. 

Place on bottom rack in oven.

Serve with veggies or on a tortilla.

I served mine with boiled carrots and potatoes, corn on the cob and tossed salad.

Coconut Oil Chex Party Mix

Yet he saved them for his name's sake, that he might make known his mighty power.  - Psalm 106:8

1/2 c melted coconut oil

1/4 c Worcestershire sauce

1 T seasoned salt

1/2 t garlic powder

1/2 t onion powder

5 c corn Chex

5 c rice Chex

1-1/2 c mixed nuts

Preheat oven to 250 degrees.

In a large pan add cereal and nuts.

Mix seasonings into the oil/Worcestershire sauce, stir well.

Drizzle onto the cereal/nut mixture.

Total cook time 1 hr 20 minutes.

Stir every 20 minutes.

Ricotta Havarti Spinach Artichoke Dip

For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. - Hebrews 11:10

1 c heavy Cream 

1 c milk

1 tiny block of Velveeta

1/4 c Havarti, chopped

1/4 c ricotta

2 green onions, chopped

1 c Spinach, chopped

2 frozen Artichoke hearts, chopped

1/4 c salsa, chunky is best 

Salt/pepper, to taste

Optional

If you want heat, add chopped pickled jalapeño.

Add milk, ricotta and cream to sauce pan.

Add all, all cheeses, all veggies and salsa.

Season.

Simmer until cheese melts.

Add slurry for thickening.

Serve with tostada chips.

Slurry to add at the end For thickening 

4 T water

1 t cornstarch 

Grilled Chicken Alfredo Pasta with Andouille Sausage and Broccoli

The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of those who are taught, that I may know how to sustain with a word him who is weary. Morning by morning he awakens; he awakens my ear to hear as those who are taught.  - Isaiah 50:4

An ej original recipe!

1 large Boneless skinless chicken breast, slice in half, seasoned with Evelyn's rub(recipe this blog under rub tab) and grilled

Drizzle of clarified butter

Drizzle of Olive oil

1 piece (4 inches) of Andouille sausage, sliced thin

1/2 c sliced Mushrooms 

1 diced Shallot

2 c Broccoli florets 

1 t roasted Garlic

10 oz of Pet milk(evaporated milk)

Pinch of sugar

Squeeze of lemon

Splash of Bourbon

1/4 c Italian cheese blend

1/4 c ricotta

Salt and pepper to taste

1/2 of the package of Fresh Angel Hair pasta cooked al dente and set aside(reserve 1/4 c pasta water)

Slice breast in half so that it is thin.

Season chicken.

Let sit to marinate for 30 minutes.

Drizzle oil on stove griddle, heat to hot insuring a sizzle when you add chicken. 

Cook until done, took me 5 minutes, each side.

Slice and set aside.

Add drizzle of clarified butter and oil to a large skillet and heat.

Add shallots, mushrooms and broccoli.

When they are slightly tender,  add sausage and garlic.

Add evaporated milk, cheese, ricotta, lemon, Bourbon and sugar, reduce to sauce consistency.

Add grilled chicken.

Toss in pasta and pasta water, reduce again.

Comfort Beef Stew in the Instant Pot

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. 

14 If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol.  - Proverbs 23:13-14

2 lbs beef stew 

2 T Olive oil

Seasoning

1/2 t Coarse kosher salt

Cracked black pepper 

1/2 t Onion powder

1/2 t Garlic powder

1/2 t Smoked paprika 

Juice

1/4 water

1/4 c Cabernet Sauvignon 

1/4 c Heinz ketchup

6 medium potatoes 

4 Carrots 

1 Onion

Add oil and heat instant pot on the sauté setting.

Add meat, onions, juice ingredients and seasonings.

Sauté until browned.

Change setting to meat/stew settings, bring pressure up and cook 50 minutes.

Take pressure off and add veggies.

Bring up pressure and cook 15 minutes.

Serve with crusty bread.

Teriyaki Pork with Veggies

21 but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him: "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'You are a priest forever.'" 

22 This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

23 The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office,

24 but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

26 For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.

28 For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever. - Hebrews 7:21-28

Pork Tenderloin sliced into bite size pieces

Pork Marinade (marinate overnight)

3 T Soy sauce

2 T Sweet chili Thai sauce

1 T Hoisin

1 T Honey

2 t Brown sugar

3 T Mirin

1 t Fresh Cilantro, diced

Mix ingredients into a ziplock.

Add pork.

Reserve liquid for sauce.

Veggie mix (sauté in toasted sesame oil)

2 baby bok choy, chopped

2 green onions, on diagonal 

1 carrot, matchstick cut

1 t fresh ginger, diced

1 Shallot, diced 

Sauté and remove to plate.

Add a little oil to skillet, add pork and sauté pork till just done.

Add reserved liquid and cook till reduced. 

Add veggies back in.

Add cashews if desired but this is optional.

Serve over rice or noodles.

Oven Roasted Pastrami Sandwich

saying, "Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done." - Luke 22:42

Oven roasted thin sliced pastrami (recipe this blog under the Sandwich tab)

German Sauerkraut  

Shaved raw Cabbage

Shaved Onions

Havarti cheese

Pickles 

Russian dressing 

Toasted brioche buns

Warm pastrami.

Toast bun.

Add toppings.

Swoon!

Oven Roasted Pastrami

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,

6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. - Philippians 2:5-11

An ej original!

1 corn beef brisket( I got mine at Aldi for $11.00

Rinse in cold water a few times.

No need to salt!

Rub base

1/4 c Yellow mustard

2 t Hickory Liquid smoke

1 t Worcestershire sauce

Mix together and spoon over meat.

Rub

2 T brown sugar 

1 t onion powder

1 t garlic powder

4 T coarse black pepper

2 t coriander seeds

1 t of spice packet that comes with corn beef

1 T smoked paprika 

Place rub ingredients in coffee grinder.

Grind until seeds are powder.

Cover meat with rub.

Put 1/2 c water in a 13x9 foil pan.

Place meat on rack and seal tightly with foil.

Bake 300 degree oven for 5 hours.

Reserve some of the juices.

Broil until slightly crispy

Slice and cover with juices.

To serve:

Bread of your choice, onion roll, pumpernickel, brioche 

Kraut

Russian dressing 

Swiss cheese ( I use Unexpected Cheddar from Trader Joe's

Sweet slaw (optional) 

or just add Sweet pickles or Dill pickles