 This blog post may contain affiliate links. I love cooking food found all over the world, or from different regions of the U.S. Well, not insects or anything strange like that. You know what I mean. I hope. !!! But I don't often serve something "Cajun" style to my family. Don't know why...probably because I live in the Pacific Northwest, and not in Loo-si-ana! :) When I cook Cajun style food, I don’t make it searingly spicy. I prefer a rich, smoky flavor with a touch of heat at the end. You can adjust the heat to your taste by adding and then increasing cayenne pepper in this dish, but go slowly if you're not used to eating this way. By the way, I'm a mouth wuss. ☺ I don't add cayenne pepper, myself. Ha! I can't handle things that are too spicy. I usually cook more on the mild side of life. But if you enjoy things hotter, by all means, kick it up a notch or two! This Cajun-style Salmon and Sauteed Cabbage with Parsley and Thyme are the kinds of quick and easy recipes that you could throw together quickly if you suddenly find that you're going to have dinner guests. I love these kinds of foods. Quick to prepare, and delicious enough to savor slowly over a meal and conversation with family and friends. You can also add 3-4 Tbsp. of low fat cottage cheese as a side to your dinner plate. Yum! Oh, and if you happen to be following the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle eating plan, this meal is a Fuel Pull, which means you are still eating wonderful foods while burning calories. Love it!  Cajun-style Salmon Fillets
Combine seasonings in small bowl and mix well. Spray nonstick 12" frying pan with a small amount of coconut oil spray or your oil spray of choice. Heat pan to medium. Sprinkle both sides of salmon fillets with seasoning mixture; rub gently so entire piece of salmon is covered in the rub. When pan has heated well, cook seasoned salmon fillets for 3-5 minutes on both sides. Check for doneness with a meat thermometer or with a fork to see if fish is flaky and tender. Braised Cabbage with Parsley and Thyme  Again, this is a super quick and easy recipe! Slice up a head of cabbage, add a few seasonings, and saute in a frying pan or large pot!
Melt butter (optional) in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add broth, and then the cabbage and thyme. Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the cabbage is wilted but still bright green, 7-9 minutes. (Turn heat down to medium if cabbage seems to be sticking to the bottom of the pan.) Sprinkle cabbage with the parsley, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately. Makes 4 large servings. Feel free to take a look at my Trim Healthy VISUAL SHOPPING LIST to get a better idea of some of the quicker food options available in your stores! 
1 Comment
 This blog post contains affiliate links. NOTE: Be sure to read the update toward the bottom of this page! I'm pre-diabetic. I've known this for about two years now. I was addicted to sugar - so I faithfully took the medication my doctor ordered, but continued to eat some sugary foods and lots of carbs. I showed a bit more restraint than in the past, but not much. In mid-January, the Lord convicted me - hard - that I was not only poisoning my body, but abusing it. Thus began the journey of learning to live mostly without sugar. To eat meals in specific ways so that the carbs wouldn't collide with the fats, which would cause more weight gain. Easy to give up sweets and homemade pasta?  How about organic maple syrup? Or raw honey? Um, no. Especially when I started using stevia to sweeten desserts and treats in our home. Ick. But the Lord works in mysterious ways. In November and December 2012, a couple of months before switching to this new eating lifestyle, I won two - yes, that's TWO! - blog giveaways for NuNaturals Stevia products. I didn't even know about the new Trim Healthy Mama book at the time. I couldn't believe it! Wow. Two giveaways? You've got to be kidding. In mid-December, I learned about Trim Healthy Mama, the type of lifestyle eating I'll do for the rest of my life. The timing was perfect, and definitely God-ordained. Unfortunately, I greatly disliked the taste of stevia when we first started THM. I was pretty much a downer about it. Shame on me. And when the only thing I knew how to use to safely sweeten my foods was stevia, I was pretty upset about it. I mean, I wanted to have my cake and eat it, too! (Whatever that weird phrase means.) 
In addition, we began to need things less sweet since we weren't stuffing our faces with sugary foods anymore. Less sweet meant less stevia in the foods/beverages, which made them taste even better! I'd say that if you have truly given NuNaturals Pure Stevia Extract a solid go over a period of a few months, and you still find that you really dislike it, switch to using erythritol. The chance of tummy/intestinal upset is minimal, and it tastes sweeter. It will have a kind of "cooling" effect to the taste, but if you can combine erythritol in a clean coffee grinder along with the NuStevia Pure Extract Powder, in the right amounts, I think you'll begin to feel differently about stevia and alternative sweeteners that are healthy for us. Xylitol is another healthy sweetener. I know of dentists who recommend their patients use some xylitol every day for optimum tooth health. The downside to xylitol is that even the smallest amount of a food containing xylitol is deadly to dogs. Also, many people have intestinal upset from xylitol and can't tolerate it. That's me and my family; we tried xylitol in small amounts over about six months' time, and finally gave up on it because our gut just couldn't get used to it. Even if we had been able to adjust to xylitol, our guests visiting us for meals and snacks would have had problems with it, so we no longer use xylitol. I've had a few people mention to me that they don't feel comfortable with using stevia (an herb extract) or erythritol or xylitol in their foods because they prefer to use sugar, knowing what it will do to their bodies. My reaction to this line of reasoning? I do know what sugar was doing to my body, and what it would continue to do if I kept on eating it. I would die from diabetes-related health problems. That's an easy answer. Sugar and unhealthy carb combinations were literally poisoning my body. I prefer to buy erythritol made from non-GMO corn and other plants, like this version from NOW. I'd also recommend buying the tiny sized measuring spoons that measure "dash", "pinch", etc., and label them according to actual size:
If you're still finding it difficult to use powdered stevia, you could use some of the recipes fromHealthyIndulgences.net, where she specifically tells (in most recipes) exactly how much NuNaturals Powdered Stevia Extract to use in the recipes.
I think you'll find your foods tasting a lot better by using smaller amounts of stevia, and also by combining alternative sweeteners for a more well-rounded sugary taste. Also keep in mind that chocolate desserts and treats are the hardest to get sweetened with stevia so that they'll taste yummy. If you have questions about using stevia in your baking and cooking, let me know, and I'll try my best to answer them! UPDATE: Unfortunately, the NuNaturals Pure White Stevia Extract has changed its formulation as of April 2013. The new version is not as sweet, and it is very difficult to avoid the bitter aftertaste. We literally couldn't stand the taste of the "new" NuNaturals Stevia Extract, so we switched to Truvia - for the short term. Trim Healthy Mama now sells their new THM Pure Stevia Extract, THM Sweet Blend (blend of their pure stevia extract and erythritol), and THM Erythritol, and that's what our family enjoys using now! Feel free to take a look at my Trim Healthy VISUAL SHOPPING LIST to get a better idea of some of the quicker food options available in your stores!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.  This book review contains affiliate links.
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 | In addition to writing and family time, Tricia enjoys sharing Jesus’ love through volunteering and ministering to others. Her vision is to be a voice of hope and possibility for teenage girls, pregnant teen girls, mothers, and wives. Her intention is to serve ordinary women by encouraging them to do extraordinary things with God’s help. As a part of her vision to reach real women about real life and real hope, Tricia hosts a weekly internet radio show, Living Inspired, where she interviews Christian authors and artists. |
Want to create your own memory box?
After reading The Memory Box, I thought it would be fun to show you a few neat ideas on making your own DIY Memory Box! Click on the photos, below, to find directions on how to make your own memory box!
 from HowDoesShe.com |  from AllYou.com |
 from Scratchy Crafter |  from Wright Creations |
Do you enjoy reading Amish books? What questions do you have about the Amish?
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.
This blog post contains affiliate links.
Because I have a huge sweet tooth...but need to stay away from sugar and carbs, I'm often searching for new ways to make old favorites. Here's a delightful recipe I've adapted from an original posted at Healthy Indulgences.net. Because these contain superfood coconut oil, they will actually speed up your metabolism and help you lose weight, unlike that traditional favorite candy bar, Almond Joy.
Low-Carb Almond JOYful Bars!
These are as wonderful as they look and sound! My family was thrilled with this new recipe. The delicious combination of coconut, almonds, and chocolate is phenomenal! For those of you who have been following the Trim Healthy Mama diet and have had a hard time getting chocolatey treats to taste right - or you don't like desserts made with cream cheese in them (like my friend, Susan!), this is a great recipe for you.
Low-Carb Almond JOYful Bars
Makes 20 servings; I doubled the recipe and refrigerated leftovers
- 1-1/2 cups unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut
- 6 Tbsp. raw extra virgin coconut oil
- 1/3 cup heavy, full-fat coconut milk
- 1/3 cup non-GMO erythritol (I use the NOW brand)
- 1/16th tsp. of NuNaturals NuStevia Pure Extract Powder (or more; sweeten to taste)
- 20 plain almonds
- 7 oz. Lindt 70% chocolate bars
- pinch of sea salt
Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray (I love Spectrum Coconut Oil Spray) so that parchment paper won't slide around. Line the cookie sheet with parchment paper. (You may use waxed paper, but these bars will stick to the waxed paper and be more difficult to remove.)
In a medium bowl, stir together coconut oil, coconut milk, unsweetened shredded or flaked coconut, salt, and stevia. Melt erythritol over medium heat in a small saucepan until liquified, stirring constantly. Pour hot erythritol over coconut mixture; combine well until coconut oil has melted. Add additional pure stevia extract powder, if desired, and stir well.
Place small spoonfuls of the coconut mixture onto the parchment paper; use your fingers to shape each spoonful into 20 flat "logs". Top each "log" with an almond, pressing the nuts down gently into the coconut filling.
Freeze coconut "logs" for 5 minutes or until filling is firm and cold. Microwave chopped chocolate for 30 seconds on high, or use your microwave's "melt chocolate" setting; you may also melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly. Stir chocolate until smooth. Add 1/16 tsp. of NuNaturals NuStevia Pure Stevia Extract Powder to the chocolate and taste; add additional stevia extract powder if desired.
Dip coconut "logs" into melted chocolate, or drizzle each coconut log with melted chocolate. Return logs to parchment paper; wait for several minutes for chocolate coating to harden.
Now, try to limit yourself to only one of these per day. Yeah, like that's possible!
Dip coconut "logs" into melted chocolate, or drizzle each coconut log with melted chocolate. Return logs to parchment paper; wait for several minutes for chocolate coating to harden.
Now, try to limit yourself to only one of these per day. Yeah, like that's possible!
0.57 grams of net carbs per candy bar without the chocolate coating
35 grams of net carbs per 1-3.5 oz. Lindt chocolate bar
4 grams of net carbs per bar made with 70% Lindt chocolate bar coating
Note: If you absolutely cannot have any carbs or sugars in your diet, you may use unsweetened baking chocolate to melt and drizzle onto these bars. Be sure to sweeten the unsweetened baking chocolate with your favorite alternative sweetener, to taste.
Feel free to take a look at my Trim Healthy VISUAL SHOPPING LIST to get a better idea of some of the quicker food options available in your stores!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive a small affiliate commission, although your cost stays at the regular price. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.
 | Summer...it's coming soon! We're about two weeks away from the beginning of our summer break, and I can't wait. I've got a list of things I want to catch up on, and I love having more free time to spend with the girls and my husband, Elmer. Speaking of my girls (Kelsi - 15; Brittany - 13), I just love hanging around these two! They are funny, weird, and wacky all at the same time. And yet they are also sincere, obedient, respectful, helpful around the house, and very encouraging to me. I know some moms just can't wait for school to begin again in the autumn because they've been so frustrated having their children at home with them all summer. We're just the opposite. Starting school again means a change in schedules for us, but the girls are still home with me much of the day since we educate our girls at home. I love summer and school days, because they're spent with my favorite girls (oops - young ladies) in the world! |
Summer is a great time to get your children involved in serving others. For us, the summer is a lot less busy, so we're available to say "yes" to more opportunities to serve our friends, church, and community.
During the school year, our girls volunteer in our Awana program, leading singing and also helping Dad (the Awana Commander). Kelsi just began filling in occasionally for the 2's and 3's Sunday School teacher when she isn't available. Both girls have voluntarily participated in a worship dance team at another church. We enjoy taking meals to other families or for funerals from time to time. The girls will be teaching some Vacation Bible School and 5-Day Club Bible lessons this summer as well. They spent a good chunk of Saturday volunteering to wash a ton of cars from people who were helping to sponsor them at Christian Youth In Action leadership camp this summer.
Have you discovered that volunteering and serving is so fabulous? It is, especially when you pray and seek God's will for your time and acts of service. Remember that too busy of a schedule will take away the joy of serving others.
Why? Serving develops confidence, poise, manners, patience, and more! Serving others takes our focus off of ourselves and places it where it belongs, on other people. Serving others with a heart focused on God and other people helps our children develop a thriving faith in God. At first, they may serve others because it brings them some satisfaction - and maybe even some glory (from man). Over time, serving others will help them learn to be selfless as they mature into adulthood. And we all know that a parent who is less focused on self and more focused on serving his or her family will find life far less frustrating and disappointing since life isn't "all about me."
During the school year, our girls volunteer in our Awana program, leading singing and also helping Dad (the Awana Commander). Kelsi just began filling in occasionally for the 2's and 3's Sunday School teacher when she isn't available. Both girls have voluntarily participated in a worship dance team at another church. We enjoy taking meals to other families or for funerals from time to time. The girls will be teaching some Vacation Bible School and 5-Day Club Bible lessons this summer as well. They spent a good chunk of Saturday volunteering to wash a ton of cars from people who were helping to sponsor them at Christian Youth In Action leadership camp this summer.
Have you discovered that volunteering and serving is so fabulous? It is, especially when you pray and seek God's will for your time and acts of service. Remember that too busy of a schedule will take away the joy of serving others.
Why? Serving develops confidence, poise, manners, patience, and more! Serving others takes our focus off of ourselves and places it where it belongs, on other people. Serving others with a heart focused on God and other people helps our children develop a thriving faith in God. At first, they may serve others because it brings them some satisfaction - and maybe even some glory (from man). Over time, serving others will help them learn to be selfless as they mature into adulthood. And we all know that a parent who is less focused on self and more focused on serving his or her family will find life far less frustrating and disappointing since life isn't "all about me."
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Guess what?
I'm teaming up with Adventures in Odyssey and Tyndale House Publishers to join in with their new Summer of Service A.C.T.S. program!
Join Adventures in Odyssey this summer to discover how fun it can be to serve others!
This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their world.
Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can be a blast!
I'm teaming up with Adventures in Odyssey and Tyndale House Publishers to join in with their new Summer of Service A.C.T.S. program!
Join Adventures in Odyssey this summer to discover how fun it can be to serve others!
This summer, Adventures in Odyssey is joining with Christian bookstores across the country, inviting kids to participate in a Summer of Service. They’re promoting the biblical message, “When you serve, everybody wins,” encouraging kids to serve their families, their communities, and their world.
Whether it’s baking cookies for an elderly neighbor or putting together a care package for missionaries overseas, kids will discover that serving can be a blast!
Here's how the A.C.T.S. (A Call to Service) challenge and contest works:
Kids who join A.C.T.S. can pick up a service log and collect fun character stickers for hours served at participating bookstores throughout the summer, or download a serving log online at whitsend.org.
At the end of the summer, kids can record and upload a short video telling how they serve and why they’d like to become an Adventures in Odyssey Ambassador.
100 winners will get the brand new Adventures In Odyssey album:
This blog post contains affiliate links.
And after online voting, two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will get to travel on an exciting Good-Goers Mission Based Adventure trip to another country with a parent!
The out-of-country destination will be announced on a live podcast May 22—hosted by AIO actors Katie Leigh (Connie) and Chris Anthony (Chris)—which you can watch at whitsend.org/acts. You don’t want to miss it!
Fun for your children:
 | Here's a short mp3 introduction to serving others from your favorite characters at Whit's End! Your children will enjoy listening to this short episode. Click HERE if you would like to listen to this at the Tyndale website. A free PDF download of summer service ideas for kids is also available here: http://www.tyndale.com/blog/index.php/acts-a-call-to-serve/ |
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.
Tyndale House Publishers sent me one new copy of Adventures in Odyssey - Our Favorites - Actors' Picks, in exchange for my promotion of their summer program, Summer to Serve. No other compensation was received.
Tyndale House Publishers sent me one new copy of Adventures in Odyssey - Our Favorites - Actors' Picks, in exchange for my promotion of their summer program, Summer to Serve. No other compensation was received.
This blog post contains affiliate links.
If you happen to be following along with the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle of eating, you may understand that sometimes after eating E (Energizing) meals, you might still feel hungry. We were wanting dessert last night, but nothing sounded good to us.
That's when someone piped up and said, "Apple Crisp! We could make a THM-style apple crisp!"
So, we did.
- 4 baking apples, peeled, cored, and sliced into 1/8" or 1/16" slices (I used 1 Fuji apple and 3 Granny Smith apples)
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp. salt
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp. oat flour (I grind old-fashioned oats in a clean coffee grinder or blender; if you truly need this to be completely gluten-free, please use gluten-free oats)
- 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats (if you truly need this to be completely gluten-free, please use gluten-free oats)
- 1/4 cup Truvia or erythritol/stevia combination
- 4 tsp. butter, melted
- small squirt of nonfat Reddi-Whip or similar nonfat whipped cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a small bowl, stir together cinnamon, Truvia or erythritol/stevia combination, and salt. In a large bowl, toss sliced apples with cinnamon-sugar-salt mixture. Set aside.
Meanwhile, spray 8x8" metal baking pan with nonstick cooking spray (I like using Spectrum's Coconut Oil Spray). If using a glass baking dish, reduce oven temperature by 25 degrees and bake for slightly less time.
Pour 1/4 cup water into the greased baking pan and spoon in the sliced apple mixture.
In a separate bowl, combine the old-fashioned oats, oat flour (grind 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. old-fashioned oats in your blender or coffee grinder to make your own oat flour), and 2 Tbsp. Truvia. Pour melted butter into the flour mixture and mix them together thoroughly. It should be crumbly.
Spread the crumble mixture out evenly on top of the layer of apples. Bake for 30-40 minutes until apples are soft and the crust has hardened and turned golden brown. For an added "crisp" to your topping, broil for 1 minute. (Don't let it burn!) Serve hot by itself or with nonfat whipped cream.
 | Recipe Notes:
|
No-Sugar, Gluten-Free, Apple Crisp
(E for Trim Healthy lifestyle)
Serves 5 to be within Trim Healthy "E" guidelines
(E for Trim Healthy lifestyle)
Serves 5 to be within Trim Healthy "E" guidelines
This recipe will be delicious with rhubarb, combinations of various fruits, or whatever type of fruit you'd like to serve in cobblers or crisps. If you choose to use straight rhubarb, this would actually be a Fuel Pull for the Trim Healthy Mama lifestyle! Have fun losing weight while eating! :)
Feel free to take a look at my Trim Healthy VISUAL SHOPPING LIST to get a better idea of some of the quicker food options available in your stores!
I don't know why anyone would want to make a tiny, 1-serving size of this recipe, because we love leftovers! (Heh, heh.) ☺ But if you live alone or for some odd reason just want to make enough for one person, one time, here you go! (As requested by a reader.)
You can divide the recipe by 4 to get a smaller quantity:
- 1 apple
- 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
- tiny sprinkling of salt
- 1 Tbsp. water
- 2 Tbsp. + 1.5 tsp. homemade oat flour
- 1 Tbsp. old-fashioned oats
- 1 Tbsp. Truvia, erythritol/stevia, or xylitol
- 1 tsp. melted butter
- tiny amount of Reddi-Whip or your own sweetened yogurt topping
 | |
Disclosure: Some content includes links to sponsors or affiliates, which give me a small percentage of the sale without costing you anything extra. You are not obligated to use these links when you make a purchase, but when you do so, it helps to support this site, so thank you!
One of the neat things about being a part of the Trim Healthy lower carb lifestyle is that we're able to try so many new recipes!
Feel free to take a look at my Trim Healthy VISUAL SHOPPING LIST to get a better idea of some of the quicker food options available in your stores!
We've been making Asian dishes in our home for quite a few years. Chinese food + Japanese food + Indian food = YUM!
But not all mixed together at the same time, in the same meal. That would be rather odd! Burp.
I guess you'd say that we've used a number of different ingredients in our home over the years, too. After all, I do have over 100 spices in my cupboard, all alphabetized! ☺ But we'd never heard of chana dal and the soups that can be made with it. YUM!
Trim Healthy Mama recommends using chana dal, a legume that has some similarities to split peas. They're both used for soups, but there's one huge difference between split pea soup and chana dal soup: split pea soup actually causes a person's blood sugars to spike and crash, while chana dal is very gentle on a person's blood sugar levels, so it's much healthier. Chana dal has the glycemic index of 8, which means its effect on raising blood sugar is so gentle that it is a great food for people with diabetes, pre-diabetes, or hypoglycemia.
Healthy blood sugar levels = not packing the pounds onto our waistline. Hooray!
Our family likes split pea soup, although I admit that I don't make it very often.
We were excited to try the chana dal, especially since we ♥ Indian food!
Look below for a FREE printable recipe page for Indian Chana Dal Soup!
When I mentioned on Facebook one night last week that we had chana dal cooking in the crockpot, several of my friends said right away that they love chana dal and have used it for quite a while now - that it tastes much better than split peas. That gave me confidence!
From what I can tell, chana dal isn't available in my community. I can either order it online or buy it in an out-of-town Asian market, so depending on where you live, you might have a bit of difficulty finding it. Azure Standard {not an affiliate link} also sells chana dal, for those of you who enjoy purchasing food items on a monthly basis from that company.
~Low Carb Indian Chana Dal Spinach Soup~
3 cups dried chana dal = 8 cups cooked (serves 6-8)
Before cooking the chana dal lentils, make sure to soak them overnight in a large bowl, pot, or other container. First: pick through the chana dal lentils to make sure any rocks or pebbles have been removed. Add the dry chana dal lentils to the bowl and cover them with water. Add 1/2 tsp. baking soda and stir gently. Let sit overnight or for at least 5 hours.
Ingredients:
- 3 cups dry chana dal lentils
- 6 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 diced onion
- 2 stalks diced celery
- 2 tsp. sea salt, or more, to taste
- 1 tsp. black pepper
- 1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper, or more to taste
- 2 tsp. onion powder
- 1/4 cup nutritional yeast
- 2 Tbsp. Bragg Liquid Aminos (optional)
- 1/4 tsp. curry powder
- 1/2 tsp. turmeric powder
- 1/2 small bag frozen chopped spinach or several handfuls of fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup shredded skim mozzarella cheese or nonfat Greek yogurt
Directions:
1. Rinse off soaking water from chana dal and drain.
2. In a large 5-6 qt. crockpot, combine soaked chana dal with 6 cups chicken broth or water. Add diced onions and celery to the crockpot.
3. Now for the seasoning! Sprinkle into the crockpot your sea salt, pepper, onion powder, nutritional yeast, cayenne pepper (optional), Bragg Liquid Aminos or soy sauce (optional), curry powder, and turmeric powder.
4. Cook on high on the crockpot for at least 8 hours. If you notice the liquid levels getting low or the chana dal is sticking or burning, turn down the heat and add another cup of liquid.
5. You may eat this chunky, or blend with a stick blender for a smooth, creamy soup. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.
6. If you would like to add a bit more protein to this delicious soup, sprinkle each serving with a small amount of shredded mozzarella cheese or top with a dollop of nonfat Greek yogurt. You may also stir in some chopped fresh or thawed spinach.
Chana dal soup = chana luv!
Have you ever cooked with chana dal? If so, what's your favorite chana dal recipe?
Here's the free printable recipe page for Indian Chana Dal soup:
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.
This book review contains affiliate links.
Do you enjoy reading Amish fiction? I used to think that Amish fiction was Christian fiction, but have since learned that the Amish religion can vary from community to community. Some groups strongly believe that only living a perfect life following every Amish rule will allow a person to enter heaven. This is so contrary to what the Bible teaches that in my mind, I no longer classify Amish fiction and Christian fiction together. However, I still love reading Amish books, most of which are authored by Christian women.
Summary of "The Memory Jar":
Every year, 30–40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive ‘resident’ status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but often go home with brides!
Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she’s also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she’s met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?
Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she’s also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she’s met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?
About the author, Tricia Goyer:
 | In addition to writing and family time, Tricia enjoys sharing Jesus’ love through volunteering and ministering to others. Her vision is to be a voice of hope and possibility for teenage girls, pregnant teen girls, mothers, and wives. Her intention is to serve ordinary women by encouraging them to do extraordinary things with God’s help. As a part of her vision to reach real women about real life and real hope, Tricia hosts a weekly internet radio show, Living Inspired, where she interviews Christian authors and artists. |
Julieanne's review of"The Memory Jar":
The Memory Jar is an enjoyable and easy read. It's a beautiful story about people learning to forgive themselves for what they have perceived to have been wrongful acts; it's about people learning to work through pain and suffering, trusting in God, and coming out a better person with stronger faith in God.
The whole concept of keeping a memory jar is so beautiful to me! My mom has always been a memory keeper in scrapbooks and photos. She has made some very beautiful and memorable scrapbooks for not only her children and grandchildren, but also for children who were being adopted.
I hadn't heard of a memory jar, though, before reading this book. What a delightful idea! I looked online to see what else I could find of memory jar ideas, and I found some neat photos and ideas for keeping a memory jar!
Creating Naturally.com has a few beautiful ideas for memory jars:
The whole concept of keeping a memory jar is so beautiful to me! My mom has always been a memory keeper in scrapbooks and photos. She has made some very beautiful and memorable scrapbooks for not only her children and grandchildren, but also for children who were being adopted.
I hadn't heard of a memory jar, though, before reading this book. What a delightful idea! I looked online to see what else I could find of memory jar ideas, and I found some neat photos and ideas for keeping a memory jar!
Creating Naturally.com has a few beautiful ideas for memory jars:
Here are some other neat ideas and photos of memory jars:
 Annual memory jar to fill during the year |  Another simple idea from Lazy Girl DIY |
 Isn't this beautiful? AllDayChic.com |  Sweet! From The Inspired Room.net |
If you enjoy reading Amish fiction, how many Amish books do you think you've read up to this date?
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.
This book review contains affiliate links.
About the book:
She's come home to put a killer behind bars.
But the killer plans to put her six feet under.
Investigative reporter Jillian Carter knows it's time to put the past to rest. She's tired of looking over her shoulder, letting a killer go free. She's no longer the scared kid who changed her name and disappeared. Now, no matter what the cost, Jillian must do what she is trained to do-find the truth and expose it. And the truth is that Senator Frank Hoffman committed murder ten years ago-and Jillian watched it happen.
Didn't she?
Get ready for the spine-tingling, nail-biting conclusion to this explosive series!
 | Lynette Eason grew up in Greenville, SC. Even as a young girl, she knew she wanted her life to reflect the love of Jesus Christ. After graduating from the University of South Carolina with a Business Degree she used for a very short time (sorry Mom and Dad), she moved to Spartanburg, SC to attend Converse College where she obtained her Masters degree in Education. During this time, she met the man she would marry—the boy next door! She is married to Jack Eason, who speaks, leads worship, and consults ministries around the country. They have been married for 15 1/2 years and have two children. |
Joy In Our Journey's review ~ by Jan:
She's come home to put a killer behind bars. But the killer plans to put her six feet under.
WARNING!
Do not begin When a Secret Kills by Lynette Easton unless you have the time to read the entire book! It’s that good!
Lynette Easton has written a mystery book that just keeps you wanting to read to see what happens next. Really! Book 3 in her Deadly Reunions Series takes the people you have met in the first two books and adds a new character, Jillian. Like others in the first two books, she has a long kept secret, and at last, if she wants to keep from being killed, she needs to return home. But first, she must live long enough to get there. After she is attacked in the airport restroom, it seems as if this is not going to be easy, but Meg is depending on her.
Then she meets the last person she wants to see, Colton. Now what is she to do? Is ten years enough for her to forget the history they have between them? How will she keep the secret that means more than life to her? Meg must come first, even if Colton… well, that is another problem to be solved.
When a Secret Kills is a fast paced book that makes it hard to stop reading until you get to the last page. Take courage. It has a very satisfactory ending when you get there, even if it has kept you up past your bedtime. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Thanks for a great read, Mrs. Easton!
Do not begin When a Secret Kills by Lynette Easton unless you have the time to read the entire book! It’s that good!
Lynette Easton has written a mystery book that just keeps you wanting to read to see what happens next. Really! Book 3 in her Deadly Reunions Series takes the people you have met in the first two books and adds a new character, Jillian. Like others in the first two books, she has a long kept secret, and at last, if she wants to keep from being killed, she needs to return home. But first, she must live long enough to get there. After she is attacked in the airport restroom, it seems as if this is not going to be easy, but Meg is depending on her.
Then she meets the last person she wants to see, Colton. Now what is she to do? Is ten years enough for her to forget the history they have between them? How will she keep the secret that means more than life to her? Meg must come first, even if Colton… well, that is another problem to be solved.
When a Secret Kills is a fast paced book that makes it hard to stop reading until you get to the last page. Take courage. It has a very satisfactory ending when you get there, even if it has kept you up past your bedtime. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. Thanks for a great read, Mrs. Easton!
In the interest of full disclosure, some of the links in this post are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I receive an affiliate commission. I only recommend products I use personally. Your purchases through these links help support Joy In Our Journey. I humbly thank you for your support.
Affiliate links may be contained within this post.
About the book:
Corporate turnaround specialist Morgan Spencer, dubbed the "success guru," has a Midas touch in business. But losing his wife sent him to the brink, and his two-year-old daughter, Livie, is all he's living for--until they encounter a woman whose trouble just might draw him out of his own.
Four years ago, Quinn Reilly did the right thing. Now the man her testimony put in jail is getting out. Though she has put up barriers to protect herself and those around her, she has come to care for the Spencer family, especially the winsome Livie and her mercurial father. Unwilling to put them at risk when the threats begin, she requests something she hopes the super-successful Morgan might be able to deliver.
Fixing problems is what Morgan does best, but his counterproposal takes them in a direction neither is equipped to handle. Determined to confront the past, will they survive to build a future?
Four years ago, Quinn Reilly did the right thing. Now the man her testimony put in jail is getting out. Though she has put up barriers to protect herself and those around her, she has come to care for the Spencer family, especially the winsome Livie and her mercurial father. Unwilling to put them at risk when the threats begin, she requests something she hopes the super-successful Morgan might be able to deliver.
Fixing problems is what Morgan does best, but his counterproposal takes them in a direction neither is equipped to handle. Determined to confront the past, will they survive to build a future?
About the author:
 | Kristen Heitzmann is the bestselling author of over a dozen novels, including Freefall, Halos, A Rush of Wings, and the Christy Award winner Secrets. She and her husband, Jim, and their family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she serves as worship leader in their church. Visit Kristen's Web site at www.kristenheitzmann.com |
Joy In Our Journey's review by Jan:
Kristen Heitzmann in her new book, The Breath of Dawn, weaves a tapestry of danger, romance, intrigue, and love that will keep you reading even in the dark of night. The Breath of Dawn, the third book in her newest series, picks up with the warm, generous characters enjoyed in Rush of Wings and Still of the Night. I especially appreciate the bits of historical information Ms. Heitzmann places in her stories.
Morgan Spencer is still hurting over the loss of his wife, Jill and is doing his best to raise their infant daughter, Olivia, when Quinn Reilly springs unbidden into his life. Morgan needs someone to help care for his little daughter, and Quinn needs to get away from a former suitor who means nothing but harm to her. Quinn's loving spirit and genuine care for others recommend her to him, but he is uncertain that her past will not be a danger to his precious daughter. How God brings them together and helps them to form a new family in spite of the difficulties of their past kept me turning the pages of this fascinating book.
I would highly recommend this book, but feel it is not for young teens, as there are some adult situations in the story. These situations are tastefully handled, but might not be appropriate for younger readers.
When you are looking for a well-paced, attention grabbing story, The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann is an excellent choice.
Morgan Spencer is still hurting over the loss of his wife, Jill and is doing his best to raise their infant daughter, Olivia, when Quinn Reilly springs unbidden into his life. Morgan needs someone to help care for his little daughter, and Quinn needs to get away from a former suitor who means nothing but harm to her. Quinn's loving spirit and genuine care for others recommend her to him, but he is uncertain that her past will not be a danger to his precious daughter. How God brings them together and helps them to form a new family in spite of the difficulties of their past kept me turning the pages of this fascinating book.
I would highly recommend this book, but feel it is not for young teens, as there are some adult situations in the story. These situations are tastefully handled, but might not be appropriate for younger readers.
When you are looking for a well-paced, attention grabbing story, The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzmann is an excellent choice.
I received one copy of The Breath of Dawn from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review. In addition, this post may contain affiliate links.
Hi! I'm Julieanne!
You'll find me in the kitchen
trying new Trim Healthy Mama recipes, loving God, and carrying out that love as I bless my husband and teen daughters.
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