Semi-Sweet & Semi-Clean Brownies

1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 packet Stevia powder
1 1/4 cup cocoa powder
4 large eggs
1 cup un-sweetened applesauce
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup brown sugar
powder sugar for dusting (optional)

Preheat oven to 300 and grease 8x8 glass pan with non-stick spray. Whisk pastry flour, salt and cocoa powder together in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk  together eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, Stevia and applesauce until smooth and creamy. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and whisk to blend just until mixed thoroughly .  Do not over mix. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake at 300 for approximately 45 minutes. Please make sure to check brownies after 35 minutes with a toothpick for different over temp variations and climate conditions. Remove from oven and allow to cool for about 5 minutes. Invert onto a cutting board and allow to cool completely. Once cooled, dust with powder sugar and decorate or you could top with a clean frosting of your choice. Slice using a serrated bread knife and transfer to a serving platter or tray. Enjoy!

Start the week off right...

Live a Consecrated Life by Joyce Meyer - posted October 29, 2012

Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life. —Psalm 25:1

I love to lift up my hands in the morning and pray the prayer of consecration found in today’s scripture. When we pray a prayer of consecration, we are saying to the Lord: “Here I am, God. I give myself to You. Not just my money, but myself. Not just one hour on Sunday morning, but myself. Not just a portion of my day, but myself. Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my entire life. I lay it on Your altar. Do what You want to do with me. Touch people through me today. Go places through my feet today. Make a difference in my world through me today. Here’s everything about me; here are all the resources You have loaned me.” That is what we mean when we say, “Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life.” Complete, voluntary surrender to the Lord—that’s what consecration means.

When we consecrate something, we set it apart for God’s use. Therefore, when we consecrate our lives, we turn our backs on our fleshly desires, worldly values, carnal thinking, undisciplined living, and everything else that does not agree with God’s Word. Consecration may not be easy, but it is easier than sin and disobedience. It is worth the discipline.

When we consecrate ourselves to the Lord, we give Him everything we are, but we should also know that we give Him everything we are not.

God knows everything about you and loves you unconditionally, so hold nothing back from Him. Let go of everything as an offering to your Lord, and you will be amazed at how free you will feel.

Love God Today: If you are ready to consecrate yourself to God, lift your hands to Him and simply say, “Lord, I give you my life…everything I am and everything I am not!”

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From the book Love Out Loud by Joyce Meyer. Copyright © 2011 by Joyce Meyer. Published by FaithWords. All rights reserved.

Frugal Autumn Potpourri

2-3 apple cores
peeling of 1 orange
a palm full of whole cloves
1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
water
old pot or skillet

Fill an old pot with water and place on stove top. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer! Easy. Enjoy. :)

Lite & Lean Jambalaya

13 oz Turkey or Chicken Kielbasa
1 small can tomato sauce
1 Tablespoon dried parsley
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
1/4 tsp cayenne or to taste
1 tsp onion powder or 1 tbsp onion flakes
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 bay leaf
2-3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 beef bouillon cube
1 cup of instant brown rice
1 1/4 cup of low sodium chicken broth or beef broth

Bring chicken broth, salt, pepper, herbs, garlic & bouillon cube to a boil. Add in rice and and lower heat immediately to a low simmer. After simmering for a 3-5 minutes add tomato sauce and sliced kielbasa. Simmer another 20 minutes to bring flavors together. Keep an eye out to make sure your liquid doesn't run dry. If your rice absorbs all the liquid to quickly just add a little more. I like to serve mine with a dollop of light sour cream, slices of fresh onion or chopped green onion and whole grain tortilla chips.

Warm and comforting. Quick and easy! Enjoy!