I submitted this image for a photography contest at work

 

The theme is “Cultural Diversity: Who We Are and Who We Serve.”

 

Title: Is there any room for me?

In New York City we all have to learn to share the space. Weekends at Coney Island attract a diverse crowd both in socio-economic and ethnic backgrounds all wanting to enjoy the sun.

Italian Stuffed Zucchini and Pumpkin Biscuits

Pumpkin Biscuits (A+)
(thought process..."Um, I thought I had more misc items in the pantry that could add to a meal... What would go with stuffed zucchini ?... Aha! Trader Joe's pumpkin pancake mix. I bet I can find some instructions on the internet to turn that into biscuits... It worked!)

2 1/2 cups pancake mix
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup melted butter
1 egg

1. Mix all ingredients to form a ball
2. Roll out on floured surface (I used a vinegar bottle since I have no rolling pin) to 1/2 inch thickness
3. Use biscuit cutter (made one from opening both ends of a can of apricots, learned this trick from my grandmother)
4.  I put my biscuits on a pizza stone and stuck them in the freezer for about 30 min (I am not sure if that made them better. I am sure that it is an unnecessary step but it makes crusts better so I thought I would try.)
5. Back at 425 (the recipe said 10-12 min, starting from the freezer mine took about 18 mins with a few checks in the middle to make sure they were ok)

Yummy!!

Italian Stuffed Zucchini (from real simple A+)
(after many weeks of zucchini from the CSA I have been scraping the bottom of the barrel for new ways to eat the green torpedos)

1/2 lb Italian sausage (I used fresh spicy chicken sausage from Todaro Bros, our fav Italian local mart)
2 T pine nuts
2 T diced sun dried tomatoes
1/4 cup grated cheese (the recipe called for Asiago but I had some Pecorino Romano so I used that, ended up being more like a 1/2 cup)
2 green onions chopped (I used one small leek from the CSA)
4 medium zucchini (I had two large ones and that worked fine)

1. Remove casing from sausage and brown in skillet
2. Mix all other ingredients in a bowl and add sausage once browned
3. Cut Zucchini lengthwise, remove seeds from the middle (I cut the seed portion up and added it to the filling mixture)
4. Fill hollow zucchini with stuffing and bake at 400 for 12-15 min until tender (I cooked mine on the tope rack of the oven at 425 while the biscuits were cooking for about 20 min)

TJ said this was one of the best meals he has had in a while!

Reflections on the Movie "Sunshine Cleaning"

Alone

Pattern of disappointment

Dreams lost

No icon

Physical beauty, sexual desire, no promise

Alone

System breakdown

Relational neglect

Fear

Holding on to the facade, appearances

I’m ok

Can’t ask for help

There is no one there

Reach out

Sit, be present in mourning

Meaning in suffering

There IS hope

Favorite Recent Photos

Family Confession

Family Confession


We believe that the word of God is living and active, sharper than a double edged sword and is working in our lives as we speak.

We confess that Christ holds the riches of all wisdom and knowledge and we have the mind of Christ. We confess that God has prepared good works for us to do in advance. God will fulfill his purpose for us.

We know that God has called us to NYC. God has called TJ to pulmonary critical care and Julie to Infectious Diseases for His glory. He has a plan for our research for His glory. He has called us to ministry of hospitality for His Glory.   God has given TJ a love for music and movies for His glory. God has given Julie a love for creativity for His glory.


We put on the righteousness of Christ. We put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. We put on love which binds all these things together. We have been forgiven much and so we forgive others as the Holy Trinity has forgiven us.

We remember God reached down on high, took hold of us and rescued us out of deep water. We remember we are called to take care of the hungry, thirsty, sick, foreigners and those in prison.

We remember that our worth comes from Christ’s righteousness alone. We remember we were made to live in community. We are the bride of Christ and we are loved.