Celebrating India!

We had a small cultural celebration today at lunch for our study of Gandhi and India.
We tried some Indian food and looked at pictures from Elder Cloward's mission in India.

Here is the link to Elder Cloward's blog with the pictures if you would like to look at them with your family... elderkaidencloward.blogspot.com

Here are the recipes for the food that we tried today:

Lentil Dal

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup onion, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, peeled, minced
2 teaspoon cumin seed
2 teaspoon turmeric, ground
1/2 teaspoon red pepper, crushed
4 garlic cloves, minced
2 cups cauliflower florets, chopped
2 cups tomatoes, chopped
2 1/2 cups chicken broth
1 cup dried lentils
2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon fresh cilantro, minced
3/4 teaspoon salt

Directions:

1. Heat olive oil in large saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add onion, ginger, cumin, turmeric, red peppers, and garlic.
3. Saute 2 minutes.
4. Add cauliflower and tomatoes; saute 1 minute.
5. Stir in broth and lentils; bring to a boil.
6. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 35 minutes or until lentils are tender.
7. Stir in lime juice, cilantro, and salt.


Slow Cooker Chicken Tikka Masala 

Ingredients:

2 pounds chicken thighs boneless, skinless
1 cup full-fat canned coconut milk
2 cups diced tomatoes
1 TBSP fresh ginger root minced
3 cloves garlic minced
1/2 large yellow onion or white, thinly sliced
1 TBSP + 2 tsp garam masala
2 tsp ground coriander
2 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp kosher salt (less for finer grain)
1/4 tsp red chili flakes
1 TBSP sweetener of your choice
2 TBSP butter or coconut oil
Optional: cilantro for garnish

Directions:

Prep and clean the chicken thighs (remove excess fat and skin), place in a bowl and coat in 1 tablespoon of garam masala.  Place chicken in the slow cooker.  Thinly slice half an onion and lay on top of the chicken thighs.  In a sauce pan, melt the 2 tablespoons of butter with the minced ginger root and garlic on medium heat.  When the garlic and ginger sizzles, add the coconut milk and crushed tomatoes.  The spices go next — 2 teaspoons of garam masala, the coriander, cumin, salt, red chili flakes and sweetener.  Simmer for just a few minutes, until the spices are well mixed and the sauce starts bubble.  Pour the sauce over the onions and chicken thighs already waiting in the slow cooker.  Cover and set the slow cooker to low.  Cook for 3 to 4 hours.  Serve over cooked Basmati Rice.

Hyderabad at sunset

February 2015 Overview

Theme: God

Secondary Theme: Persist - Persevering with Faith until the End

Principles: 
If I want to achieve the outcome I want, then I will choose to persist without exception.

If persist without exception, then I focus on results.

If I am stronger than most people, then I won't quit when exhaustion sets in.

If I want to be better than average, then I will compare myself to my potential and not to other people.

If I want to achieve the results I desire, then I understand that I won't necessarily enjoy the process but I will continue on and keep my eyes on the outcome.

If I have faith in God, then I will believe in the future that I do not see.

If I hold on to that faith, then I will receive the reward of one day seeing the future that I believed in.

Time Period: 

Gandhi & Non-cooperation

Scripture:

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."

---Ephesians 6:18

Memorization:  

“You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.”

― Maya Angelou

Apprentice Book for the Month:

"Soul Surfer" by Bethany Hamilton

Please spend some time this month reading "Soul Surfer".  We will be discussing it during Leadership class in March.