Tina The Storyteller

I've got something special cooked up just for you from the kitchen. A brand new podcast!! I'll be sharing stories from our kitchen and others that I've collected through the years. Each one has a central scripture basis that it uses to collect the stories around. This first week is about Genesis Chapter 3, in which Eve eats something that doesn't sit well. If you have a story that you'd like for me to share, please send it my!

Two things, 1. Check out the info at the end of the post in order to enter to win a free copy of It's all Under Control. And 2. today's post has generously been shared with you by Jennifer Dukes Lee, author of It's All Under Control. Go get your copy of it today! You will not regret it! So without further ado, here's Jennifer... If you asked me five years ago, I naively would have told you that I didn’t struggle with control. I mean, seriously— as long as everything went exactly the way I hoped, I was totally flexible. It’s not that I wanted to control other people. Mostly, I wanted to control myself. If I ever had high expectations of anyone, it was of me. I wanted to present the self-assured, together version of my whole being. Which means I craved control over my face, my emotions, my body, my food, my words, my house, my schedule, my yard, my future. My preference was a tidy, predictable, safe life where no one got hurt, where my kids remained in one piece...

Me in all my crazi-mess glory Since I've started reading this book, I've had to come to terms with the fact that I am very much not in control. My kid turned another year older and is starting high school, no control over that. The lawn mower decided to stop working, we fixed it but still, can't control when that will happen. My computer stopped working and had to get a new one, can't control that. One of our cats has been sick for the past week and it's not looking so good for her, can't control that. All sorts of small things busting, breaking, ripping, just not doing what I expect of them. But this book, it's about more than just those things that are out of your control. It's also about empowering you to really grasp and take charge of the things you are in control of. The overarching message that I got while reading this book is "There are some things that only I can do. I can't pawn them off on others and I can't ignore them t...

We have enjoyed this sandwich many times throughout the years. I think it's the olive tapenade that wins us over time and time again. It's from one of our favorite cookbooks, Complete Outdoor Living Cookbook from Williams-Sonoma. Stuffed Summer Sandwich 2 large red bell peppers 1 round loaf sourdough or coarse country bread 1 can (6 oz/185g) pitted black olives, drained 1 clove garlic 2 tablespoons olive oil 1/2 lb thinly sliced baked ham or prosciutto 1 large ripe tomato, thinly sliced 1 cup packed fresh basil leaves or 4-6 leaves of red leaf lettuce Preheat the broiler. Cut the bell peppers into quarters and remove the stems, seeds, and ribs. Place the quarters, cut sides down, on a baking sheet and broil about 4 inches below the heat unti the skins blacken and blister. Transfer to a paper bag and seal; let steam until cool enough to handle. Peel off and discard the skins. Set the peppers aside. Place the bread on a cutting board and, with the tip of a ser...