Family Night Lesson – Using Words Wisely
Once a week we gather around our table and have “Family Night.” We actually eat together most nights, but this night is set apart. We light candles on the table, play instrumental music in the background, and prepare some kind of a lesson and/or activity. Some nights we get further than others — we’ve had some family nights completely B-O-M-B — but overall, just doing it is what counts. I’m trusting that it will make a difference in the long run, even if I don’t always see results now, or if it doesn’t turn out like I’d planned.
This particular Family Night, we were doing a lesson on Colossians 4:5-7, which says,
“5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
In light of this verse, we talked about WORDS. They can hurt or heal. Encourage, or tear down. Bring trouble, or peace. Sow unity, or disunity. Words are powerful, and they often determine our course in life — especially in relationships.
As James 3:3-6 ”A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.” (The Message)
Questions:
1. Like the rudder controlling a whole ship, how does the tongue do that with our lives?
2. What does the bible mean when it says that your words should be “full of grace, seasoned with salt?”
2. Name a time where words really hurt you or encouraged you. How was that person using their tongue?
3. Name a time where you used your tongue either for harm or for good? How did that make you feel? What happened as a result?
Object Lesson:
We put table salt in a small dish, and sugar in another. The kids had to pick one dish, take a whole spoonful, and put it in their mouth.
Both results drive home the point — sugar is sweet, make your words sweet. Salt is strong, and a powerful taste, make sure the power of your words are directed in a way that builds others up.
Crash Cooking: What is it? & a Bust the Cholesterol Menu
Crash cooking is when you plan to make tons of meals in one day (or night), and get er done! That’s right — 12-14 meals in the freezer. Once you try it you will never, ever, ever go back to what you’ve done before. You can read step by step instructions here. Here’s the latest menu that I did with my sweet friend who is pictured above (the headband is a key accessory for cooking days btw).
Fish Tacos with Chipotle Cream
Chicken Parmesan (healthier version)
Roasted Salmon with Shallot Grapefruit Sauce
Turkey Meatballs with quick & spicy tomato sauce
Cooks Illustrated Kung Pao Chicken
You can download the shopping list here. I use MacGourmet, which is a cooking program for my Mac computer. The grocery list doesn’t translate the best into word, but it will still save you time! It lists the ingredient you need, the recipe it is for, and the store to buy it (Costco or grocery – I use Fred Meyer so that is what mine says).
I always put a list up in my kitchen that has all of the meals listed with cooking directions (above). You can this menu’s list HERE.
Salmon Burgers with Basil Mayonaisse
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- 1 ½ lbs. wild salmon fillets, bones and skin removed
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- ½ tablespoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
- 4 burger rolls, toasted
- Lettuce, tomato and onion
- Basil Mayonnaise
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon capers
- 4 medium leaves fresh basil, chopped
- 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 splashes Tabasco sauce
Instructions
- 1. In a medium pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add onions and saute until golden brown. Set aside.
- 2. Grind salmon in a meat grinder or food processor.
- 3. In a large bowl, combine ground salmon, sauteed onions, lemon pepper seasoning, granulated garlic, salt and brown sugar. Mix well. Cover bowl and place in the refrigerator until well chilled, about 1 hour.
- 4. Prepare a charcoal or gas grill. Divide mixture into 4 balls and press into patties. Grill over high heat about 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until cooked through. Serve on toasted rolls with lettuce, tomato, onion, Basil Mayonnaise.
- 5. Basil Mayonnaise: In a small bowl, combine all ingredients. Mix with a handheld blender until smooth.
Ron’s Supreme Spaghetti Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground turkey
- 1 lrg.red or yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic
- ¼ c. olive oil
- 8 ounces mushrooms, sliced
- 1 (28 oz.) can chopped tomatoes
- 1 (15oz.) can tomato sauce
- 2 (6oz.) can tomato paste
- 1 inch anchovy paste from a tube
- 2-3 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil, or 1 tbsp. dried
- 1 Tbsp. chopped oregano, or ½ tbsp. dried
- ⅓ c. chopped parsley
- 1 ½ tbsp. sugar
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 6-8 shakes chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- 1. Brown turkey with the onion and garlic in the olive oil in a large saucepan. Cook until crumbly. Add mushrooms, tomatoes, t.sauce, t.paste, anchovy paste, basil, oregano, parsley, sugar, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. Simmer for 2 hours.
- 2. Serve over spaghetti or linguine with parm.
Thai Shrimp
Ingredients
- ⅓ c. butter
- 2 Tbsp. brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. minced ginger
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 lb. deveined shrimp
- 3 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon lime juice
- 3 c. rice
Instructions
- Combine water, sugar, ginger, pepper, and garlic in a skillet over high heat. Cook 5 min. or until slightly thickened. Add shrimp. Cook 3 min. or until shrimp turn pink, stirring contantly. Remove from heat. Stir in the basil and lime juice. Serve over rice.
Baked White Fish with Pesto
Ingredients
- 6 5-6oz. white fish fillets
- 4 tbsp. olive oil
- ½ c. pesto
- 1 c. mayonaisse
- ½ tsp. lemon juice, fresh
Instructions
- Rinse fillets and pat dry. Place fish in a baking dish coated with olive oil. Combine pesto, mayo, and lemon juice and spread over fillets. Bake at 425 until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 8 min.
- Serves 6
Cincinnati Chili
Ingredients
- 1 12 lbs ground beef
- 29 ozcan tomato sauce
- 14.5 ozcan whole tomatoes
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 ½ Tbs chili powder
- 1 tablespoon white vinegar
- 1 clove garlic
- 3 bay leaves
Instructions
- Brown meat, add onions and cook. Add rest of ingredients. Cook slowly, covered 4-5 hours. If desired, add kidney beans before serving, heat to warm. Serve over spaghetti with cheese and onions.
Cooks Illustrated Kung Pao Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1pound boneless, skinless chicken thighs, trimmed of fat and cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1tablespoon dry sherryor rice wine
- 2teaspoons soy sauce
- 3medium cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press or minced (about 1 tablespoon)
- 1/2inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and minced (about 2 teaspoons)
- 3tablespoons peanut oilor vegetable oil
- 1/2cup roasted unsalted peanuts
- 6 small whole dried red chiles(each about 1 3/4 to 2 inches long), 3 chiles roughly crumbled, or 1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes
- 3/4cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 2teaspoons black rice vinegaror plain rice vinegar
- 2teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1tablespoon oyster sauce
- 1tablespoon hoisin sauce
- 1 1/2teaspoons cornstarch
- 1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 1/2-inch dice
- 3 medium scallions, sliced thin
Instructions
- 1. Toss chicken with sherry and soy sauce in medium bowl; marinate until thighs have absorbed flavors, about 10 minutes. Mix garlic, ginger, and 1 tablespoon oil in small bowl; set aside. Combine peanuts and chiles in small bowl; set aside. Mix chicken broth, vinegar, sesame oil, oyster-flavored sauce, hoisin sauce, and cornstarch in small bowl or measuring cup; set aside.
- 2. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in 12-inch skillet over high heat until just beginning to smoke. Add chicken and cook without stirring for 2 minutes, allowing chicken to brown on one side; stir and cook 1 1/2 to 2 minutes more, until no longer pink; stir peanuts and chiles into chicken and continue cooking until peanuts have darkened slightly, 30 to 40 seconds longer. Transfer chicken, peanuts, and chiles to bowl; set aside.
- 3. Return skillet to burner and reheat briefly, 15 to 30 seconds. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil, swirl to coat pan, and add red bell pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until slightly softened, about 45 seconds. Clear center of pan, add garlic-ginger mixture, mash into pan with spoon or spatula, and cook until fragrant, 10 to 15 seconds; stir into peppers until combined. Stir broth mixture to recombine, then add to skillet along with reserved chicken, peanuts, and chiles; cook, stirring and scraping up browned bits on bottom of pan, until sauce has thickened to syrupy consistency, about 45 seconds. Stir in scallions and serve.
Healthy Oven Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 1/2 sleeve (about 20) whole-grain salted crackers, pulsed in a food processor until fine (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 1/2 cups corn cereal flakes, pulsed in a food processor to fine crumbs (about 1/2 cup)
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
- 3/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 egg whites
- 1 cup lowfat, plain yogurt
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- Olive oil cooking spray
- 4 medium sized skinless chicken breasts and 4 skinless chicken thighs, rinsed and patted dry (about 3 1/2 pounds chicken)
Instructions
- 1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly spray a baking sheet with olive oil.
- 2. Combine the crackers and corn cereal crumbs, sesame seeds, cayenne, and garlic powder in a shallow bowl. Reserve.
- 3. In a large bowl, combine egg whites, yogurt, Dijon mustard, and salt. Add the chicken pieces and coat thoroughly with the yogurt mixture.
- 4. One at a time, dip the chicken pieces in the cracker mixture, packing crumbs onto chicken. Arrange the chicken on a baking sheet and spray lightly with olive oil cooking spray.
- 5. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, or until juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife.
Peanut Chicken Dish
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 1 tablespoon ginger, grated
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 lb. chicken breast, cut into pieces
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 3 tablespoons peanut butter
- chile sauce, to taste
- 5 scallions, cut thinly
- 1 c. coconut milk
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook garlic and ginger in the oil until fragrant. Stir in the chicken pieces and cook. Stir in chili powder, peanut butter, and chili sauce. Stir in scallions, coconut milk, and simmer until thickened, about 3 min. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with rice.
200 x 100 Pixel
150 x 150 Pixel
Recent Comments