Menu for Independence Day Celebration

Suggested Menu
Celebration of USA Independence
Grilled Buffalo Burgers and Hot Dogs
Coleslaw Relish Plate
Homemade Potato Chips
Homemade whole-wheat buns
Homemade Ice Cream
Tip: Use patriotic plates and decorations. Hang USA flags around the area. Christians may talk about the beliefs of the founding fathers and play patriotic music like, "God bless America." The family may wish to visit a historical museum and talk about the early days of America. May make a patriotic cake, store in an airtight food storage container and take to an elderly citizen or family member. Talk about the changes that they have experienced in America. Provide noisemakers and poppers to add to the festivity.
Food for Thought:
They shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 LB


Family Meal Planning
Eating Well for Wellness

God has given us the ability to choose the foods that we eat. The choices that we make affect our wellness. With the ability to choose comes the freedom to eat any thing and everything that we want. The family meal planner should be constantly aware of the benefits of foods. Menus should be balanced and nutritionally sound. The family member then is free to select the foods from the choices of the day to eat well for wellness. God’s will is that we be as healthy as we possibly can be, no matter what type of physical abilities or limitations that we have. Certain foods will help the body prevent disease. For example, adequate supplies of Vitamin C and milk prevent scurvy and rickets. Although the Holy Spirit’s primary task is to teach us about Christ, many Christians have found that the Holy Spirit opens one’s mind to the nutritional value of food choices. For example a child may desire a candy bar, but a child who has been taught the value of fruits and vegetables may choose an apple or carrot instead. People, who want to change the habit of eating too many carbohydrates because of diabetes or too much protein with iron because of heart problems, may be tempted to choose desserts or steaks over fruit cocktail or chicken casserole. That is where will power comes into the mind. The person should think about the benefits of eating well for wellness. When the choice to be healthy is made, the person is motivated to move to the next level. Look at all the choices that God made for people to enjoy on this plant earth. Some fruits, vegetables, grains and meats are from the USA while others come from India, Asia, Africa or South America. Thank God for the many, many opportunities that people have to appreciate the delights of life through food. The family meal planner should promote the sharing of feelings about foods. Since there are plenty of wholesome choices, the same nutrients can often be found in one that the eater prefers. Christians may wish to read portions of the scripture like Romans 12: 1-3 or 1 John 4:8 to reaffirm their faith in God and self. Everyone should balance food with exercise, including deep breathing, and adequate sleep. Remember that God made your physical body like it is, yet He wants you to be as well as you can be. Individuals have the ability to make food choices. We are challenged to exercise our will power to eat well for wellness.
Ice Cream
It has been said that milk is God’s most complete food because it has so many essential nutrients. Milk and milk products are excellent sources of calcium. Milk also provides protein, riboflavin, Vitamin A, phosphorus, thiamine and water. Milk that is fortified with Vitamin D helps to prevent rickets. Children need at least 4 cups of milk daily, while adults need at least 2 cups. Ice cream is a milk product that is a favorite in the summer. Homemade ice cream is easy with mixes, but may be high in sodium content. Diabetics need to adjust the sweetener to a substitute or omit. People with heart related problems should consider salt, heavy creams, and egg yolks. Read labels. A homemade mixture will be more nutritious for your family. For a thicker ice cream use cream or whole milk. For frozen ices, use fruit juice. In sherbets use skim or two percent milk. Just follow the machine manufacture’s directions. In earlier times, hand cranked mixers provided family entertainment. Today the host or hostess can enjoy their guests while the delicious treat is frozen. Tip: Chill all preparation and serving utensils in the freezer. This will keep the ice cream frozen longer after it is served. Use rock salt instead of fine salt to cause transfer of heat from the ingredients better and cause freezing. For an added fun event, take a trip to a local dairy or ice cream factory to see how ice cream is made.
From the Nutritionist: Cooking this menu is a summer delight. Grill the meat to desired doneness. With the scare of Mad Cow Disease, it is recommended that beef should be cooked well done. Use a meat thermometer to assure accurate testing. Buffalo is tasty, nutritious and just as high in protein as beef with less fat. Choose hot dogs that contain less fatty meat, like turkey or all-beef. Vegetarian hot dogs are also on the market for special food diets. Provide plenty of catsup, mustard and relish for burgers. Coleslaw and a relish plate will supply vitamins and minerals. Slice potatoes very thin with a potato chip cutter and fry in olive, safflower or corn oil. Serve immediately. Although potatoes are a bread exchange, fried they provide a fat exchange as well. Homemade bread will be more nutritious. The buns, also carbohydrates, may be baked that day or baked ahead of time and stored in an airtight food storage container until used. Homemade ice cream is always fun to make while the guests play games, etc. Ice cream is counted as a carbohydrate as well as a serving of calcium. Enjoy America’s birthday during July!
Recipes are available upon request.
Comments and questions are welcomed.
Please share this web site with a friend.

www.mealswithamessage.com

Honor A Man

To Honor the Man In Your Life

Grilled Pork Chops
Smothered with mushroom sauce of Devotion
Grilled Stuffed Tomatoes of Love
Asparagus or Green Bean Bundles of Joy
Heart of the Matter Bread
Matrimonial Fig Bars
Blissful Tea

Tip: Whether Father’s Day, anniversary or birthday, you can honor the man in your life with this menu. Use decorations appropriate for the occasion. Save time and energy by preparing as much as possible ahead of time. For a romantic meal, use candles and sit outside on a starry night.
Food for Thought:
A wise man watches for problems and prepares to meet them. Proverbs 27:12 LB


Family Meal Planning
Eating Well for Wellness
In most cases it takes forever to get a man to go to the doctor. However, pain in the chest, funny looking moles and extreme tiredness are reasons for concern. Men generally die younger than women. In the early 1900s, women only lived about a year longer than men. Now the gap has widened. This is alarming to female family meal planners. Since changing food habits may be all that is necessary in addition to simple medical attention. The biggest killers of men are heart disease, stroke, suicide, prostrate cancer and lung cancer. Men, as well as women, need to examine their daily routine and their eating habits. The meal planner should prepare heart-healthy meals in relationship to the foods enjoyed. Men should exercise regularly and be an example to the family. Play an active sport with the family before the evening meal. Swimming, bike riding, baseball and soccer are very active family sports. If the man is physically challenged, do some other activity with the family. Deep-breathing exercises can be done with all the family. Remember that the family that prays together stays together. The man of the household should be an example to the family in his Spiritual faith. Christians should attend church as a family unit. They should pray for needs of the family, friends and current events. Bible reading with the family is always a favorite pastime before closing the evening. Meal planners should be watchful about the mental, spiritual and physical wellness of the man of honor in the family. Nutritious and wholesome foods will help to keep the man in your life fit.
Figs
From the beginning of Bible times, figs have been a part of the diet. Figs are abundant in the markets in the summer. They may be eaten raw, preserved, frozen or dried. Figs have often been associated with aphrodisiac foods. They provide a wholesome and nutritious dessert to any menu. They contain calcium, phosphorous and Vitamin A. Fig bars have been America’s favorite for a long time. Homemade fig bars are better for special-needs dieters and diabetics because the sugar and salt contents can be controlled. Another favorite dish is fig bread or raw figs dipped in honey.


From the Nutritionist: This menu is a summer delight. Grill the meat to desired doneness. Make a light mushroom gravy and serve separately for the guest who prefers. Blanch the asparagus or green beans and bundle with pimento strips. May top with a pimento heart-shape and secure with a toothpick. Grill to desired doneness. Fill tomatoes with favorite dressing or stuffing. Grill until done. Be sure all the ingredients inside have reached the done temperature on a meat thermometer. Make favorite recipe of roll dough. Place in a heart-shaped pan and bake. Turn out and brush with honey butter. Make plenty of fig bars ahead of time. Store in airtight containers and send leftover bars to a shut-in friend or neighbor in a colorful gift food basket. Make your own favorite recipe of Blissful Tea for the beverage. The family meal planner will find this menu colorful and nutritious. The pork chop provides protein; mushrooms, asparagus or green beans, pimento peppers strips and figs provide vital vitamins and minerals. If a type of bread dressing is used in the tomato, it serves as one bread exchange. An additional serving of bread is provided from the heart-shaped bread. Serve the meal outside, if weather permits.
Recipes are available upon request.
Comments and questions are welcomed.
Please share this web site with a friend.

http://www.mealswithamessage.com/

Campfire cooking

Campfire cooking is fun and easy. Prepare a nice medium fire. Make a sirloin patty and place in center of a tin foil square. Add onion slice, sliced carrot and sliced potato. Salt and Pepper if prefer. Top with 1 teaspoon margarine and wrap. Allow to bake about 60 minutes. Test for preferred doneness. Mix 1 cup self rising flour, 1 tablespoon mayonnaise, 1/2 milk or water in a plastic bag. Squeeze or stir until mixed. Melt margarine or butter in bottom of Dutch oven and drop balls of dough. Cover and bake for 30-45 minutes. Check for doneness and brownness. Turn over and bake more, if desired. For dessert top a peach half with a marshmallow and wrap in a tin foil square. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Tasty! Happy summer campfire cooking.

For more Campfire cooking ideas, see this link: Campfire Cooking

bbq ricipies

Family Meal Planning
Backyard Barbeque with recipes
Suggested Menu:

Green Salad with grilled mushrooms, tomatoes, onions and peppers
Baked Potatoes
Grilled Tenderloin
Baked Apples
Sunshine Tea



Tip: Have plenty of disposable plates, napkins, cups and cutlery with barbeque theme. Decorate with hanging lanterns. Make place cards out of flip-flops with guest’s name on each.
Place flowering pot plants and citronella plants to repel bugs around eating or camping area. Use aquarium gravel to make mosaic scenes down center of tables. May draw design and allow children to glue the gravels for the runners. May use shells for décor.
Food for Thought:
As soon as they were come to land, they saw a fire of coals …John 21:9 LB
BBQUE COOKING
Be sure to check fuel source: gas tank or charcoal. Be careful igniting charcoal. Heat grill to a temperature of approximately 300 to 350 degrees. Before starting the cooking, have a bottle of water handy in the event too much fire extends. Have proper utensils or tinfoil. Cast iron is a good utensil for cooking on a bbgque grill. To prevent sticking, wash the pots in soapy water and rinse ahead of time. Heat oven to 500 degrees and turn off heat. Pour a coating of oil or shortening in the bottom and allow to sit in the oven overnight. Rewash the next day. Skillets with tinfoil covers or a Dutch oven with a lid are useful for the bread. Clean grill rack with a wire brush and spray with non-stick spray.
Be sure to take serving dishes and utensils. May store in large plastic containers that can be easily stacked.
BBQUE RECIPES
Baked Potato: Wash potatoes, rub with cooking oil and wrap in individual foil. Place over hot coals or on grill rack for approximately 1 hour.
Salad: Quarter tomatoes. Cut thick onion slices for grill. Clean large mushrooms and slice. Clean red and green peppers and cut into halves. Place all vegetables on grill or foil and cook for 10 minutes or until desired doneness. Meanwhile, prepare lettuce or greens. When vegetables are cooked, chop and mix with greens. Cover with plastic wrap until ready to serve. Serve with favorite dressing.
Baked Apple: Core apple. Fill each with 1-teaspoon brown sugar and 1 Tablespoon raisins and sprinkle with cinnamon. Dot apple with butter or margarine and wrap in foil. Grill for 30 minutes.
Tenderloin: Rub individual tenderloin or pork chops with favorite salt and pepper seasonings. Place directly on grill rack and cook for 10-15 minutes or until desired doneness. Serve with bbque sauce recipe.
Biscuits: Place one layer of biscuits in skillet or Dutch oven that has melted butter. Cover and bake for approximately 30 minutes or until done. If not brown, turn over and allow to brown on the other side for 5 minutes.
BBQue Sauce: Mix one cup of bbque sauce with one tablespoon honey, ¼ cup brown sugar. 1/4 cup catsup, 1 t. mustard, 1 teaspoon of garlic and 1 t soy sauce and ¼ cup corn oil. Stir well. Heat. Serve with meat.
From the Nutritionist: Keep outdoor food service area clean. Keep water and disposable towels nearby. Also have a garbage can. If grilling away from house and kitchen, prepare greens and lettuce ahead of time and place in a plastic storage container. Make sauce ahead of time and pour into a jar. May warm on back of grill later. Precut vegetables and apples and rub potatoes with oil ahead of time and wrap in foil packets for grilling later. Season meat and place in plastic container. Take plenty of condiments like salt and pepper, cheese for potatoes. Store all food items in a cooler container to prevent spoilage. Keep all foods at safe temperatures until cooked and cook done to prevent any sickness that will affect your outing. Placing the family size tea bag in a gallon of water and setting in the sunshine until desired strength makes sunshine tea. Southerners desire tea with sugar and ice. However, diabetics should eliminate the sugar from the apples and tea. Do not cook with sugar substitutes. Add after cooking, if desired. One slice of Bread and one small potato are two carbohydrates. Apple and potato with salad have vitamins A & C and minerals. Meat has protein. Happy Backyard Barbeque cooking!
Recipes are available upon request.Comments and questions are welcomed.Please share this web site with a friend. http://www.mealswithamessage.com/