This past Sunday, my husband and I decided to test drive some cars in preparation to buy a 2nd car, always looking forward to our first house in Minnesota that has a garage. Â We had 2 cars in Seattle but sold the 2nd when we moved to Minnesota.
Unfortunately, all the car dealerships were closed on Sunday. Â It was really odd. In Seattle, the car dealerships are always open.
Apparently, Minnesota has a “blue law” still on the books that prohibit car dealerships to be open on Sunday. Â That’s odd. Â Really really odd.
On my Google Reader, I have different blogs that I follow. Â Some I quickly peruse through, some I pass by as they have little interest that day, and some I keep because they strike a cord inside me.
This past week, I ran into a blog post that hit home with me. Â It has to do with how we look at sin and our relationship to it before and after we become Christians.
Click on the link below to read it and feel free to comment. Â I think it was right on.
Seems like every time I go see my Mama now she makes us chicken empanadas. Â They are similar to a small calzone or a turnover. The filling can be anything you want (just make it flavorful).
The ingredient amounts are approximate as I added and then tasted as I went along until I had the “right” taste for my palette.
Ingredients
Goya Tapas (covers) for Empanadas
Sofrito (see jar below or click here for how to make)
Can of Tomato Sauce
Green Olives
Bakon, Hickory Smoke Style
Package of Goya Tapas (cover for Empanadas)
Scallions (chopped)
Onion (chopped)
Green Pepper (chopped)
1 medium sized potato
Skinless Chicken (cut in small bite-sized pieces)
Oil for frying
Bakon Hickory Smoke Style
You can buy Goya brand Sofrito at the grocery store that is already made or click here for the recipe.
Bakon Hickory Smoke Style was recommended to me by a stranger I met at the local Adventist Book Center when I was shopping for some vegetarian items. Â It is vegetarian and very tasty.
Directions
In a medium sized pot, add 2-3 tablespoons of Sofrito and warm through.
Add 1/2 can of tomato sauce
Add Bakon seasoning (to taste)
Heat through (does not have to boil)
Chop the vegetables and olives into small pieces and add to the sauce
Cut the chicken into small bite sized pieces and add it to the sauce
Heat on low until the chicken is cooked (about 45 minutes)
While the filling is cooking, open the Goya tapas (covers) . Â They have a plastic film between them to keep them from sticking.
After the ingredients have cooked through, add a couple of tablespoons to the middle of the tapas. Try not to use too much of the liquid or the tapa may fall apart.
Fold the tapa over and with the edge of a fork, press down and seal the two ends.
In a frying pan, heat the oil for frying. When hot, add one empanada at a time.
Fry one side of the empanada, then turn over and fry the other side. Â Try not to over-fry them. Â You don’t want them to be extra crispy.
Put the cooked empanadas on paper towels to soak the extra oil off of them.
Serve with your choice of vegetable and rice.
My Mama usually makes this as a quick snack food for us. Use ingredients that you like.  Then – enjoy!
This afternoon we learned that the sellers of the Lino Lakes house we made an offer on do not want to make the repairs that we requested.
In addition, they are not willing to send us the design nor estimates for the new septic that will have to go in AFTER we have purchased and moved into the house. Â We aren’t clear as to why they won’t cooperate except we have to believe that there is something in the design that they feel may be a problem for us.
Since the septic will be going in after we purchase the house, we feel we need to know the location/design along with what kind of impact it will have to us.
We have rescinded our offer since they are not willing to cooperate.
Bummer … our 6th offer on a 6th house that didn’t go through. Â What a strange Minnesota housing market.
This past Monday we were expecting to receive the estimate for how much the cost of a new septic will cost along with the location of the septic, etc.
The listing agent informed us on Friday that they were not aware that they were to provide that although we have requested it a few times. She said there was a misunderstanding but I am having a hard time believing that as we have asked for it over and over again. Wouldn’t you think she would say “What is it you want?” or something to that effect if she was unclear? Â I don’t like playing games.
Apparently, a design had to be created first before they could get estimates for installing a new septic which can’t happen until after the ground thaws — normally around the beginning of May according to the designer.
We have requested a copy of the design and will have to have additional days added to the inspection contingency so that we can review everything before we finally sign off on the purchasing of the house.
Much frustration would have been prevented had the listing agent given us this information ahead of time.
In addition, during the inspection of the house this past Wednesday, we found several things that need to be remedied by the sellers. Â A leaky sanitary pipe, rusted gauges, fireplaces that need to be cleaned and a venting flue that needs to be moved due to it being too close to combustibles.
We did not request they repair the deck which does not have the proper bracing and lacks other things. Â We’ll take a closer look at that when the snow thaws and make adjusts later if need be.
We’re in a holding pattern now waiting for the sellers to agree to the things we’ve requested.
Although this is a nice house and we really like the neighborhood, we may have to walk if things don’t come together soon. Â We don’t have time to waste as we want to be out of our apartment by May 1st. Â So, if this isn’t going to work, we need to make an offer on another house rather quickly.
On a recent blog (my memory fails me to which one) someone was talking about Eve and her temptation to eat the “apple” in the garden of Eden.
Image Courtesy of Arztsamui
The author suggested that our temptations aren’t really that much different than Eve’s.
The Biblical account in Genesis, Chapter 3, Verses 1-3 goes like this:
Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?â€
The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’â€
Anyone who knows me, knows that I could have stood in the Garden of Eden with fruit all around me and not have fallen. Â (I eat fruit but it’s not a “temptation.”)
But, put me in a garden filled with chocolate and we have a totally different story. Our temptations vary as individuals but we all have something that can break us down to the core and shake up our resolve.
We are quick to fault others who fail by saying “How could they do such and such a thing?” but we choose (as Joyce Meyer would say) to look at ourselves with rose tinted glasses.
But, we’re not fine. Â All of us are prone to angry, envy, deceit, lust, pride …
So, instead of continuing to kick another human being down into the mud, let’s extend our hand to lift him out, assuming we’re not in the same mud hole.
‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do’ †Luke 23:34
Woodbury, Minnesota Sunrise
Pointing the finger at someone who has done something drastically wrong and should have known better, I allow myself to be foolish.
Thinking back on my life, I made a lot of stupid mistakes because I simply was not thinking. Â Not thinking of consequences to myself, not thinking of consequences to others, not thinking of how others would view God because of my actions.
Then, there were times when I knew deep inside that my actions were going to hurt me, others and most importantly, God. Â But I did them anyway. Sometimes out of anger, despair, frustration, anxiety.
When I think of Jesus hanging on the cross, looking down at those who just nailed Him to it and with compassion and love in His eyes saying “Father, forgive them,” I have to ask myself “What kind of Person really does this?”
In our world of pain, I don’t see this exemplified. Â Sometimes I hear it ridiculed. As if we are better than anyone else.
The example we are given challenges us from looking around to each other and instead looking to the cross. Â Only then, can I look at my fellow man/woman who has a knife stuck in my back and say “I forgive you. Â You just don’t know what you’re doing.”
The strong pull in my heart to do the “easier” thing and judge is something I fight against every day.
Sometimes I feel if someone just gave my heart a shot of anesthesia, perhaps that would work.
But it was through sweat and blood that Jesus forgave. Â And so I need to lean on Him so that I too can have the strength through sweat and blood to say:
When I moved to Minnesota in November 2010, I was a little hesitant to drive because I was afraid that we did not have tires that were “good enough.”
My husband did research on tires and found that the Michelin Primacy tires were highly recommended. Â So, I went to Discount Tires in Maplewood, Minnesota and bought me 4 new tires. They were very efficient at this tire store and I left feeling more confident driving in the snow (a mental thing).
Michelin Tires
I was also glad that I had a $70 rebate on the tires. Â Well, that is, until I found the rebate form filed away 3 months later. Â Bummer. Â Then I noticed in the paper that they were having another rebate on the same tires.
Hmmm … I wonder if … no, they probably won’t. What do I have to lose? Â I emailed the company, explained we recently moved here and things were hectic and then asked if they would honor the old rebate.
The answer was YES! Â I couldn’t believe it. I got my check this week. Sometimes I think we’re so afraid of rejection that we don’t ask.
While waiting to pick my husband up from work, I noticed a frozen pond that was now thawing. Two Canadian geese were frolicking — oblivious to my presence. Brrrr … they must have warm feathers to dunk themselves in the cold water.
Canadian Geese Frolicking
There are a lot more geese flying overhead these days. Â Must be a sign of spring.
I had my very first root canal done about 2 weeks ago. At the same time, I was prepped for a new crown on a different tooth. Â I was experiencing pain for awhile and they suggested Ibuprofen and gargling with warm salt water.
I’m pretty good at following directions but when they don’t help, I get anxious.
So, I headed back into the dentist office and they gave me a strong anti-inflammatory. I took my last pill yesterday morning and I’m starting to get a dull ache again along with a metal taste. Â I’m waiting for a call back now to get an appointment for tomorrow.
I wonder if this is normal. The next time I go into the dentist, I will only have one thing done at a time.
