The Recipe Box: Superbowl Snacks

Superbowl snacksOn Sunday, February 5th, the New England Patriots and the New York Giants will face off in Indianapolis for the Superbowl game.  Whether you’re interested in the big game or not, it’s always a good excuse to have some friends over and enjoy some good food!  Here are a few recipes to try out this year while watching the game.

Brown Sugar Smokies

  • 1 pound bacon
  • 1 (16 oz) package of Little Smokies sausages
  • 1 cup brown sugar, or to taste
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cut bacon into thirds and wrap each strip around a little sausage.  Place the wrapped sausages on wooden skewers, several to a skewer. Arrange the skewers on a baking sheet and sprinkle them liberally with brown sugar.
  3. Bake until bacon is crisp and the brown sugar melted.
Serves 12

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Jalapeno Popper Spread

  • 2 (8 oz) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1 (4 oz) can chopped green chilies, drained
  • 2 ounces canned diced jalapeno peppers, drained
  • 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  1. Stir together cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in green chiles and jalapeno peppers. Pour mixture into a microwave safe serving dish, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
  2. Microwave on High until hot, about 3 minutes.

Baked variation:  If you would like to brown the cheese, bake at 375 degrees for about 30 minutes.

Serves 32.  Makes 4 cups.

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Party Pinwheels

  • 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 (1 ounce) package ranch dressing mix
  • 2 green onions, minced
  • 4 (12 inch) flour tortillas
  • 1/2 cup red bell pepper, diced
  • 1/2 cup diced celery
  • 1 (2 ounce) can sliced black olives
  • 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
  1. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine cream cheese, ranch dressing mix, and green onions. Spread this mixture on each tortilla. Sprinkle red pepper, celery, black olives, and cheese (if you’d like) over the cream cheese mixture. Roll up the tortillas, then wrap them tightly in aluminum foil.
  2. Chill 2 hours or overnight. Cut off ends of the rolls, and slice the chilled rolls into 1 inch slices.
Serves 15.
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What will you be serving up Superbowl Sunday?
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recipes from allrecipes.com

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Guard Your Boots by Rachel Flores

dog chews the bootsI come home from work to see a tail-tucked Leila creeping up to me. “Leila…” I say in my stern voice, although I’m not even sure what she’s done yet.  As I walk into our bedroom I see it.  The newest canine addition to our family has lovingly chewed up my favorite pair of boots.  Are you serious?  I want to yell at her and tell her she ate my favorite shoes, but I don’t because:

  1. I realize she is a dog and can’t understand English
  2. Yelling won’t bring back my boots which now have a heel dangling by a thread
  3. It’s my fault

Leila has already chewed up a bag, Kleenex, socks, and a book.  So, I should know by now to close the doors when I leave and put up anything that has been dropped on the floor. Yet somehow I get so lazy that closing a door becomes too much, simply because she hasn’t chewed anything up recently.  

It’s this way in my life when it comes to temptation. Sometimes I get so comfortable thinking “I’m safe, how could Satan get to me?” and I leave my most prized things unguarded… my heart, my tongue, my patience, you name it.  Then I’m surprised when they are attacked. God has already told us, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”  So I should take Him up on that offer, for the rest of my life.  I want to be more intentional in defeating Satan every day and not leave myself unguarded due to laziness.

Maybe also close a door or two every day to protect the rest of my wardrobe.

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Rachel Larsen

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Reader Profile: Colleen Conely

Today, we introduce you to someone you may recognize even if you’ve never met her.  As a member of the Praise Team, she’s often on the platform during the weekend services helping lead the congregation in worship.  If you have the privilege to know her as a friend, you know her to be a loving mother and wife, a friend that always has an encouraging word and a fierce prayer warrior.  Take a few minutes and get to know a little about today’s Reader Profile, Colleen Conely.

 

Tell us a little about yourself and who’s in your house.

Colleen ConelyI am married for 14 years to my wonderful husband and friend David.  We have three children that we homeschool, and  I work as a nurse in the ICU here in Lubbock. We have a border collie, a boxer, a ragdoll cat and 2 bunnies.

How long have you attended Trinity Church and in what areas do you serve?

I started attending Trinity in 1990 when I was going to nursing school. Over the years, I have been involved in the singles’ group, children’s ministry, the choir and Women’s ministry. We have also helped at the Storehouse and in the ministry of helps when needed. Currently, I am on the praise team.

What are you listening to and reading lately?

I like to listen to the praise and worship radio on Pandora, and I am reading Six Ways to Keep the “Little” in Your Girl by Dannah Gresh.

Tell us something you enjoy doing as a family and something you and David enjoy doing just as a couple.

Colleen ConelyAs a family, we like to go to the Lady Raider basketball games.  We like to play dominoes and go on adventures. As a couple, David and I like to go to quiet places and talk.

What is something you look forward to in 2012?

In 2012, I am looking forward to traveling with my family, and I would like to do the new Beth Moore Bible study, James.

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What Bessie the Cow and I Have in Common by Jennifer Bell Riley

I blame the Container Store for my writer’s block.

As I was knocking out my Christmas list, they gave me a coupon for a year’s subscription to Real Simple. My first issue arrived the week I was writing my January post. Topic: Purpose.

I read something that set me back.

“Persistently dwelling on distressing situations from the recent or distant past (called rumination, as in that things a cow does when it constantly rechews food) can be one of the most destructive mental habits.”

Sometimes a benefit, sometimes a detriment—I have a very analytical mind. I constantly rerun situations in my mind. Yes, I have something in common with cows, it appears. I ruminate.

“Why did I say that….”

“Did she mean….”

“Why did that happen….”

“Why did he say that….”

“Should I have….”

“Was this God’s purpose….”

It became really clear in reading the article, and yes, ruminating about it for weeks, that I won’t fulfill God’s purpose for my life if I am constantly rechewing events and conversations I can’t change.

To be honest, I haven’t even begun to conquer this habit. I’m immersing myself in scripture and praying through the times when I instinctively do this. Do any of you struggle with this? What has helped? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments or you can message me through Facebook.

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What is my favorite podcast? Dr. Randy Carlson’s Intentional Living. Great show with common sense approach to solving problems with purpose.

Where do I get inspiration for parenting with purpose? I love the Epic Parent.tv blog. I can relate to almost everything he writes about! And he is a masterful title writer.

Who do I owe a favor? Our awesome editor, Anne. Thanks for working with me on my writer’s block and giving me an extension!!!

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Don’t Take It for Granted by Michelle Smith

Michelle Smith,  Jennifer Sanchez,  mother daughterFor as long I can remember my daughter has stood in my doorway as I get ready for bed.  Sometimes we talk and sometimes she just stands there and quietly watches.  The other night as she stood in her usual spot my heart began to ache as a much younger image of my daughter flashed before my eyes.  I began to cry as reality began to set in.  In less than six months she will be married and will no longer stand in my doorway.  How many times had I taken those precious moments for granted?  She is not even gone and I already miss her deeply.  Maybe I am just being sentimental as that day fast approaches or maybe there is a lesson to be learned.

In the pursuit to find purpose for my life, I often find myself feeling discouraged, frustrated, and inadequate.  I have worn myself out doing all the “Christian” like things that I thought I was supposed to do.  In the process my family, the one’s I love most and am spiritually responsible for, are the one’s who sometimes receive the least of my time and attention.

The Bible says that we are to love God with all our hearts, soul, mind and strength.  It has taken me some time to realize that it is not in the “doing” that we find our purpose, but instead it is in “just being” that we fulfill our purpose.  We do not have to go out and DO this spectacular thing, but instead we just need to simply BE. Whatever season in life you find yourself in, cherish it and do not take those precious moments for granted.

Have you allowed precious moments to pass you by? What can you do to make sure you do not miss out on the moments that matter most?

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Michelle Smith

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BE!

Trinity Women's Conference

Be Forgiven.  Be Released.  Be Yourself.

The 2012 Women’s Conference is March 2-3rd!

(That’s just about six weeks away!)

Registration is now open and we would like to invite you to attend!

Jessi Gibson will be our guest speaker, and we have some great breakout sessions planned just for you.

Visit this link to find out more about this year’s conference!

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Prize Imprint

Prize ImprintThis week, a new semester of Lifegroups started back at Trinity.  Did you know that we have at least 10 different Lifegroups to offer just in our Prize Women’s ministry alone?

When you decide to join a Lifegroup and build relationships, imprints are made.  Imprints are left on your life and heart;  you have the opportunity to have an impact on others.

Big, God-ordained things happen within the community of a Lifegroup.  Fellowship.  Accountability.  Prayer.  Fun.  Spiritual growth.  Love.  All these things and more take place when you join a Lifegroup.

Check out this page to see a list of Lifegroups offered through Prize.

See this page for a list of all Lifegroups Trinity has to offer this semester.

Grab a girlfriend, your spouse, or be bold and go all by yourself.  It’s not too late to jump into a group!

Are you already in a Lifegroup?  Would you take a minute and share how being part of a Lifegroup has made an imprint on your life?

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Giving Him the Glory by Tasha Bossio

Have you ever had one of those moments where God gently reminds you that He really does have everything in control?

God's creation, rainbowA couple of weeks ago I had the most magnificent dream. In my dream, I was awakened by some odd noises in our front yard. I went out to see what was going on and was beyond amazement at what I saw. Creatures big and small were all around our neighborhood. It was as if Noah’s ark unloaded right up the street. I specifically remember seeing penguins and the most exotic of creatures being held by little children. They were walking from house to house to make sure that everyone was able to behold the beautiful creatures. There were also plants of many different size and color. Most of them I had never seen before. In the sky, there was the perfect sunrise coupled with a round rainbow. It was as if it was a creation flash mob.

As the children and animals moved to another part of the neighborhood, a man approached me and said these words, “How can men and women deny God when there is this kind of beauty and magnificence in creation?”

The dream was a beautiful reminder of how much God cares for us. I have been in a season where I have allowed my list to overcome why I have a list. We are created to glorify God. He gives us talents and gifts that we are to use to build relationship with others, but instead we use those gifts and talents to fill our time with all the things of life instead of making sure that we have time to worship and dote on our Savior.

This year, I plan to dig deep to discover a little more of the purpose that God has created me for. My hope is, like the plants, animals, and sunrise of my dream, that others are able to see the glory of God through how I live my life.

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Do you have any New Year’s resolutions?  Tasha Bossio

Be a little more thankful!

Learn how to be better at couponing.

Continue with our debt snowball and our endeavor towards being debt free!!!


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