Scotch Eggs ~ Oh...Yes!

OK . . . Here's another celebration of my Scottish roots. And, if you've never had these, you are about to experience a taste treat that you never would have expected. I had Scotch Eggs years ago and was recently reminded of them. I can't WAIT to make them again.  Once I do, I will up-date this post with my own photos, until then, these photos are courtesy of Google Images. :-) 

Now, you can eat these warm ~ NOT hot ~ but preferably at room temperate. If they are too hot, they will fall apart . . . AND . . . since the proper way to eat them is with your fingers, you don't want to burn yourself. You can even pack these in your lunch. Eat as part of your breakfast or lunch or have as snack.

You will need: 

~8 hard-boiled eggs
~flour for dusting (sprouted flour and almond flour works well if you do not use white flour)
~2 lbs pork sausage (I like mine with sage)
~1-1/2 c bread crumbs (fresh is preferred) 
~1/2 ts sea salt OR Real salt
~1/2 ts ground pepper
~2 eggs, beaten
~oil - enough for deep frying OR partial deep frying
~shallow bowl
~waxed paper (optional)
~rolling pin
~deep fryer OR deep frying pan for partial deep frying

Directions:

1) Boil 8 eggs, let cool enough to remove the shells; start warming oil in deep fryer OR deep frying pan
2) Dust the eggs with flour; rolling them in the flour works well. Set aside
3) With a rolling pin, roll the sausage out on a flat surface; it's a little neater if you roll it between 2 sheets of waxed paper. Roll to about 1/2" thick
4) In a shallow bowl, mix the breadcrumbs, salt and pepper
5) Dip each hard boiled egg into the beaten eggs, 
6) Then, quickly, completely wrap each egg in the sausage. Make sure the egg is completely covered with sausage, about 1/2" thick
7) Roll the sausage-covered eggs in the breadcrumb mixture
8) Deep fry OR deep pan fry until they are golden brown and sausage is cooked through

Salt, pepper or season salt to taste. This is SO good served with hash browns or fried potatoes. 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#110~ Are You Stumbling or Walking with the Lord?

"The ways of the LORD are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them." ~Hosea 14:9(b)

If you ask me, the days are growing short. The day of Christ's glorious appearing is growing nearer and nearer every day. (Matt. 24) Praise the LORD. 

Something I notice more and more is that those having Jesus as their Savior and having been forgiven of our sins are growing in stark contrast to those who do not. The cultural divide, the lifestyles, the language, the dress . . . list almost anything you can think of . . . and our differences can be starling. 

What happened to the time when a pastor was respected and even the vilest sinner would watch his language or rein in his conduct around him? Or someone would curse in front of a lady or a child and immediately stop to say he was sorry for his slip of the tongue? When promises meant something and honesty mattered? 

What has changed?

God hasn't. God the Father, Jesus the One and only Son and the Holy Spirit are the same yesterday, today and forever. (Heb. 13:8) What has changed is the how desperate our enemy is because he knows that his time is short. (1 Peter 5:8) The unsaved are stumbling around "the ways of the LORD." They look at God's eternal principles as a list of "don't's" that are there to ruin their "fun." 

But the saved, recognize that "the ways of the LORD" are there for our safety and freedom. When you are safe, don't you feel free? And when you're free, isn't life more enjoyable? Aren't you able to do more good for your family, your church body and those around you? Freedom ~ REAL freedom ~ is built upon the Foundation of Christ and His redemptive work upon the cross. When we are free and walking in the ways of the LORD, we are no longer the ones who stumble; we are the people the LORD sends the lost stumbling our way. 

And when they stumble our way, let's pray that the LORD opens their eyes to see how the righteous ~ those saved by grace ~ walk in freedom and that they can walk in freedom, too. 

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Homemade Aromatic Salt

Salt is such a staple of everyone's life. Personally, I think salt has a far worse reputation than it should. Too much salt ISN'T good, of course, but cutting down too much can be worse. 

Salt is essential for your brain, digestion, proper muscle contraction, skin and all-over hydration. Salt in our body helps us to sweat when we are over-heated so that we don't become dehydrated. Salt helps level-out proper blood pressure and carries nutrients to your cells.

And we all know that salt adds flavor to our foods. And WE are to be salt (and light) in this dying world: 

"You are the salt of the earth . . . " 

~Matt. 5:13

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt . . ."

~Col. 4:6

Salt was so important that Old Testament offerings were to be seasoned with salt (~Lev. 2:13; ~Numbers 18:19). If it's important to God, it should be important to us.

One of the ways to change-up the taste of salt, or if you are still concerned, to use a little less in our diets, is to use a seasoned salt. There are so many delicious options. We have used a seasoned salt for years, THE Man especially enjoys my old standard Seasoned Salt. Click HERE for the recipe. 

Recently, I started making an incredibly YUMMY alternative: Aromatic Salt. WOW. I can't even tell you how good this is on chicken or any poultry or fish. My family eats a lot of chicken, so that's the main dish I use it with. You may also use it to change-up ANYTHING that you add salt to ~ dips, vegetable soups and stews, creams for creamy soups, cheese balls, Focaccia bread, homemade gluten free rosemary and seasalt crackers ~ use your imagination.

You will need:

~3 TB Celtic Sea Salt (remember ~ it's only pronounced "seltic" in Boston '-) )

~1 TB rosemary (grind dried rosemary leaves in a mortar and pestle, DO NOT use powdered)

~1/2 ts garlic granules

~1/2 - 1 ts sage (if you have your own, rub the dried leaves between your hands or fingers until fine)

~1/4 ts black pepper

Directions:

1) As mentioned above, grind dried rosemary leaves in a mortar and pestle; DO NOT use powdered rosemary because grinding it will cause it to release and retain that wonderful pungent fragrance you want. If you have dried your own sage, and even if you buy your sage in bulk, rub it between your palms or fingers until it is fine but not completely powdered.

2) With a whisk, mix all ingredients together.

3) Pour salt mix into a pretty little canning jar, a small gasket lid jar. Make sure it has a good lid to seal in that wonderful fragrance in-between uses.

4) Sprinkle on with clean fingers.

5) Enjoy!

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><

Word-Filled Wednesday ~#109~ The Battle is the Lord's

"'O our God . . . we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.' All the men of Judah, with their wives and children and little ones, stood there before the LORD . . . 'Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's . . . You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. God out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you.' . . . Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise Him for the splendor of His holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: 

'Give thanks to the LORD

for His love endures forever.'

As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes . . . and they were defeated." ~selected verses from 2 Chronicles 20:12-22

As a member of our church's praise and worship team, I readily admit that any Scripture about singing praise and worship before battle catches my eye and heart every time. {also see: Joshua 6:6-21} But the above verse blesses my heart above all of them.

So often in our lives, we are faced with Trouble ~ Trouble with a capital "T." Or need ~ BIG need. And we just don't know where our answer or help will come from accept for a miracle of the Lord. 

In those times, I first go to prayer ~ right on the spot. We DO NOT need to be at church, in private or even on our knees to pray. Pray where you are ~ silently or aloud. He doesn't care where you are because He's already there with you. Second, I praise Him ~ either silently or aloud ~ and He sets the appropriate song in my heart and surrounds me with His peace that surpasses all understanding {Phil. 4:7} right there in the midst of the battle. Third, He assures me the the battle is His, not mine . . . His.   

And He is there. And He supplies. And He works His miracles in His time and in His way . . . In His most timely way.

And He wins . . . every time.

Blessings from Ohio . . . Kim<><