Recipe of the Week: A Pinterest Special

 

I came across this recipe on pinterest for Grilled Pork Chops with Citrus Vinegarette. I just happened to have bought some pork chops from the store this week because they were reduced to sell quickly and cheap as! Since I'd never cooked pork chops before, I had just chucked them in the freezer for a rainy day. (I don't even think that phrase is relevant but I through it in there)

 

It was such a simple recipe, I found that I had every ingredient already in my kitchen with on exception - I had to go to the store and grab a lime. The vinegarette recipe called for:

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

2 Tbsp fresh orange juice

2 Tbsp honey

1 clove garlic finely minced

1/2 Tsp salt

1/2 Tsp Hot pepper flakes (I used Chili flakes)

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil

2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley (I used dried parsley)

 

Mix everything together, leaving the olive oil for last. Whisk that in until all the ingredients combine.



 



 

 

Next, rub your pork chops with salt and pepper. I did both sides, and then I spooned some of the vinegarette over the pork (the recipe didn't say to do this but I figured a little marinating couldn't hurt!) I then chucked them covered into the fridge for about an hour (I went for a run...I wanted to earn my dinner!) but you don't have to do that, they can be cooked straight away!

 

 

 

 

 I put my potatoes on to boil (to make a basic mashed potato using milk butter and salt) and put the chops in a pan on low-medium heat. I am so good at burning steaks by trying to cook them on too high of a heat so I made sure this time I would cook them slow. And I did! And they turned out sooo delicious! And husband approved.

 

Well there you go! Yum-o! Let me know if you try it and how it turns out!

 

 

First Day of Spring

 

 

 

 

 

It was the first warm day of the season (got into to 80s!) on Monday and Alex and I had the day off together. So, we went to our favourite coffee shop (The Baron) and had breakfast before running a few errands. In the afternoon we ended up at the beach with our housemates! It was a wonderful way to celebrate the new season change and warm weather with a road trip and fun in the sun!

 

Summer is coming swiftly here, and I know that back in America s its getting into Autumn. Make sure you spend some time to celebrate the new season and enjoy the beauty of nature in whatever season you are in!

Recipe of the Week: Chilli con Carne!

Arriba! Arriba! I was feeling spicy this week (and I also had meat and beans that needed using up) so I thought "Hey, let's make some chilli!" Also this week has been a bit rainy and cold so it just felt like chilli weather!

I didn't have a specific recipe to go off of, (although I wish I had my dad's recipe from back in the states, his chilli is seriously the best) but I used good 'ol Google and found a recipe that worked with the ingredients I had in my cupboard. This is what it ended up looking like:

Yum-o!!!! It was a pretty simple recipe, and since I didn't have any chilli seasoning I had to make due with the herbs and spices recommended in the recipe. I use just plain old beef mince (the lean stuff is expensive!!) and the recipe doesn't tell you to drain the fat from the meat once you've cooked it but I definitely did because my husband will not eat mince with the fat oils taste still there, plus its a way to make the meal a bit healthier!

I used quite a bit more paprika and cumin than was in the recipe, mostly to compensate for the fact that I didn't have any chilli powder on hand (oops!) and I also added a bit of plain old taco seasoning to try to give it that Mexican edge. After simmering until half of the liquids had steamed off, I was left with an amazing pot of chilli that filled both me and my happy, meat-loving husband with plenty of leftovers for lunches the next day!

I definitely recommend it topped with heaps of shredded cheese and sourcream! YUM!!!

For the full recipe, click here. This website actually has a lot of great recipes to do with chilli and different dishes and ways of making it. Enjoy! Let me know how yours turned out!



Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

As some of you may know, Oceans is a song from Hillsong United's newest album, ZION. The song has had an amazing, unexpected response as one of the most popular songs from the album, as well as a church-proclaimed "God song". The lyrics tell a story of a similar account of Peter walking on water in the Bible. But it is portrayed poetically to relate to the listener and demand a response from the soul. Our church loves this song, and I know it has moved many people. I want to take a minute to expand on how God has used this song to speak to me personally.

Last May at Colour Conference here at Hillsong (the annual women's conference) the song Oceans was unveiled for the first time at Hillsong in congregational worship. I was at a point of complete surrender to God and what He is doing in and through our lives here. I wanted so much to hear from Him at this conference about a few different things and to break more barriers in my heart that were keeping me from fully trusting Him. This point in the worship service was such a beautiful moment, singing to God and letting these new words sink into our hearts as we sing them almost as an anthem

Those words are from the pre-chorus of the song and so powerful. When the storms of life roll in, we keep our eyes above them and fixed onto Jesus. He is ours, our saving grace ad our hope. This was the first night of the conference and I was already crying, this was so powerful as I raised my hands proclaiming this level of trust in my God.

But it is in the bridge of the song where God chose to speak to me that night.

 

At this point in the worship, the lights went dim and the instruments dropped down quietly. The vocalist sang out this refrain over and over and the entire room filled with people singing, declaring this over ourselves and inviting the Holy Spirit to come do a work in us. To myself I was thinking about trusting God in the hard times and keeping my eyes on Jesus and stepping out in faith (which we had done to come to Australia).

 

But in one moment, those words struck me so hard in a new way; "Where my trust is without borders" had a new meaning all of a sudden. An image of the whole world came into my head and I felt God asking me, "Will you trust me outside the borders of America? Will you trust me that if you don't go back there, I am still leading you and I am trustworthy?" And I realized that I had this mindset that was keeping me so focused on our stability, our comfort, and our destiny being locked up tight in us living America that I hadn't opened my heart to trust that God will lead us and care for us no matter where in this earth we go.

 

It was at that point I sung out that refrain with a new heart, answering God's question by asking the Holy Spirit to help me to live without limiting God's dream for us or His sovereignty to one geographical area, but allowing the whole world to be open for God to call us and use us. Now, I honestly believe we will be in Australia for a while and I hope to end up in America again to settle for good, but I am no longer limiting my trust of God's will to a certain place. This decision, this declaration has led me to so much peace ad joy in my life here, and even getting to the point that I can now honestly say that I love living in Australia! I had to let go of the part of my heart that was not fully surrendered to living here before I could fully enjoy this beautiful country.

 

Every time I hear this song now, it is a beautiful reminder of the decision I made to trust God no matter where we go. And to trust Him no matter what circumstances we are in.

 

That's all from me for now! I hope you were encouraged and check out the full version of the song below!: