Daniel Fast Granola Bars

I tried to find a way to make granola bars without the sugar and eggs. The first attempt I used just the apple as the mix in, but found that it needed another bite to it. I love dried cranberries in my original granola bar recipe, but knew they had added sugar in them. I tried golden raisins as an added sweet note to the bars and loved it! You can use your favorite dried fruit and do different mix ins of your own.
Make sure the texture of your granola mixture is more of a semi-wet crumble, the perfect balance of wet and dry will make a difference in how it bakes up. This is one of the reasons I mix with my hands so I can know if the mixture feels too wet or too crumbly and dry. Make adjustments by adding small amounts of flour or oil to the mix before adding to your pan to bake.

**Daniel Fast Worthy

Ingredients:
2 cups old fashioned oats, not quick cooking
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup honey or agave nectar
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp apple pie spice
1 small granny smith apple, finely chopped (in food processor or with grater)
1/4 cup golden raisins

Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9x13 baking dish. In a large bowl combine oats, flour, honey, oil, shredded apple, pie spice and raisins.

Mix with hands until mixture is a crumble. It should stick to your fingers some, but not be too wet and mushy. Each apple can vary in its water content. Add more flour if the mixture is too wet and more oil if it is too dry.

Add mixture to greased baking dish and pat down to cover every inch of baking dish evenly. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the edges are starting to brown.

Let cool for about 5 minutes. Cut into squares and enjoy!

Morning Message: Faith Loves

Disciple-Making Series: David Platt

Watch Sermon: Click Here

Scripture Reading: James 1:26-27; 2:1-13

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless." (James 1:26)

"Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?" (James 2:5)

"Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment!" (James 2:12-13)

Morning Message: Faith Obeys

David Platt: Disciple-Making Series

Watch Sermon: Click Here

Scripture Reading: James 1:19-25

"Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at this face in a mirror and after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it- he will be blessed in what he does." (James 1:22-25)

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws." (Ezekiel 36:26-27)

Spaghetti Squash

**Daniel Fast Worthy

Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash
1/2 bag fresh spinach, chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1/2 small onion, chopped
Olive oil
sea salt and pepper
dash of red pepper flakes, optional

To prepare the spaghetti squash: Cut down the middle of the squash and drizzle the flesh side with olive oil. Place flesh side down on baking sheet and bake for about 30 minutes at 350 degrees. If squash seems to large to cut before baking, you can bake it in oven for about 30-40 minutes to soften it and then cut it open. Squash may still need time to bake after being cut open. Next, scoop out seeds and discard. Take a fork and start stringing out the spaghetti-like flesh into a bowl. Scoop until there is no more spaghetti strands inside and when outer shell of squash is limp.
To cook: Heat large skillet to medium heat. Drizzle some olive oil in skillet and add onion, garlic, salt and pepper. Cook until onions are carmelized and translucent, being careful not to burn garlic. Add spinach to the mixture and cook for about 1 minute until slightly wilted. (**See note) Next, add spaghetti squash to the skillet and saute until well incorporated with other ingredients. Sprinkle red pepper flakes if desired. I served a baked sweet potato with cinnamon along side this dish. Hope you enjoy!

**Let the liquid from the squash drain out some after stringing to avoid an overly soupy dish.

Stuffed Tomatoes

**Daniel Fast Worthy

Ingredients:
2 large ripe tomatoes
1 cup cooked whole wheat couscous, plain
Sea Salt to taste
2 tablespoon fresh basil leaves, Or 1 tablespoon dried basil, chopped finely
Olive oil
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1 scallion branch sliced, green onion, for stuffing and garnish

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook couscous according to package directions and save 1 cup for this dish. Cut the top of each tomato and using a spoon, scoop out the tomato chucks and juice into a bowl that will be used in the stuffing. Discard any hard, inedible parts that come from inside the tomato. Place tomato bowls in small baking dish face up, and drizzle with olive oil. In the bowl of tomato chunks and juice, add and combine the cup of couscous, sea salt, basil, garlic and scallion slices. Stuff each tomato carefully and bake for about 15 minutes. Serve with sliced scallions for garnish!

Morning Message: Faith Preserves

 From the first to the last verse of the book of James, God gives us one of the most practical pictures of the Christian faith in all the Bible. Written to a people who were scattered and suffering, James envisions communities of faith caring, providing, and praying for one another as they show what the life of Christ looks like in action. Possibly more than any other New Testament book, this letter from James lifts our lives far above the superficial religious formalities we are so prone to settle for and sets our sights on active, authentic faith that makes a radical difference in the needs of the world around us. Disciple-Making Series

 Watch Sermon: Click here
Scripture Reading: James 1:1-18


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1:2-8)

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12)

Black bean and Corn Tostada

**Daniel Fast Worthy

My hubby and I have been making these tostadas for awhile now. The original recipe is made with cheese melted on top and usually with zucchini instead of spinach. You can use the zucchini or any other vegetable you may like to substitute on the tostada. As you look for these ingredients listed below, make sure they are sugar and yeast free. Even canned items can have sugar added so be aware of what you are buying!
 Thanks for dinner tonight, Hun! It is so nice to have someone cook while you relax!! :)

Ingredients: 
4 Corn Tortillas
1 can corn, drained
1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1/2 small onion
1/4 cup salsa verde (green salsa) I used Ortega brand found right next to other salsas on ethnic isle.
1 cup of spinach leaves, chopped
Sea Salt to taste
1/2 tsp minced garlic

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Spray baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray. Place tortillas on sheet and bake for about 5 minutes. Just enough to get them sturdy for holding all your toppings, do not let it get crispy.  Meanwhile, add corn, black beans, onion, salsa verde, spinach leaves, salt and garlic to bowl. Combine well and add more salsa or seasoning if desired. Spoon mixture evenly onto each tortilla. If you have leftover mixture, make more tortillas or save for next day. Bake loaded tortillas for about 30 minutes or until the edges of tortillas are crisp up. Hope you enjoy!

Fruit Smoothies

**Daniel Fast Worthy
James made me a fruit smoothie this morning. It was delicious! We have found one of the few juices you can use on Daniel Fast with no sugar added and not from concentrate. It's Dole pineapple juice in the aluminum cans. We buy the big one but I believe they have small cans available as well. The strawberries at Publix are so sweet right now, but add any fresh or frozen fruit you like. Later we added some fresh cranberries we had left in fridge and it worked great with the sweetness of the other fruits!

 

Ingredients:
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 banana
1 cup fresh grapes
1 cup pineapple juice

Blend all ingredients until smooth! Add ice if desired for fresh fruit.

Couscous Stuffed Bell Peppers

**Daniel Fast Worthy

I love couscous. Stuffing it in bell peppers is a creative way to enjoy it. I cooked these peppers in the oven, but you can also grill them to bring out a nice smoky flavor. To do so, wrap the stuffed peppers in foil, making sure tops are on to keep the juice inside, and throw on grill for about 20 minutes depending on size of pepper and heat of grill. Feel free to add in seasonings to your tasting!

Ingredients:
2 green bell peppers
1 box whole wheat couscous
Olive oil
Sea Salt
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp cumin, optional

Preheat oven to 350. Cook couscous according to package directions, adding cumin, sea salt, garlic, and drizzle of olive oil to finished couscous pan. For the peppers, cut tops of peppers off and scoop out seed pods creating a bowl. Put tops of peppers aside. Place peppers in small baking dish lined in foil. Drizzle olive oil inside the bell pepper bowls. Stuff each pepper with couscous and drizzle more olive oil on top of couscous, cover with pepper tops. Cook in oven for about 25 minutes or until you see the bell pepper is evenly cooked through. Cut in half to easily enjoy eating the stuffed pepper!

Oven Roasted Butternut Squash and Grean Beans

**Daniel Fast Worthy

I already love the combination of roasted green beans and potatoes. The butternut squash adds an amazing sweetness to the dish. Right now with butternut squash in season, being so rich and creamy, it is the perfect compliment to this dish!
 
Ingredients:
4 medium red potatoes, cubed
1/2 lb fresh green beans, halved
1/2 medium butternut squash, cubed
Sea Salt
Olive oil
1/2 tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp southwestern seasoning (chili powder, cumin, paprika), optional

Preheat oven 400 degrees. Combine potatoes, green beans, and butternut squash on a sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil, add sea salt, garlic and southwestern seasoning and blend well. Cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes and squash are fork tender. Enjoy!

Saucy Rotini

**Daniel Fast Worthy

Ingredients:
2 cups 100% whole wheat pasta, rotini
1 jar tomato sauce, sugar free (I used L.E. Roselli's Marinara sauce, found on top shelf in spaghetti sauce isle) but you could certainly use any sauce you find with no added sugar or make your own
1 cup of fresh baby spinach leaves
Olive oil
1/2 tsp minced garlic
salt and pepper

Cook pasta as directed and drain. In sauce pan, heat a drizzle of olive oil and garlic. Add tomato sauce, spinach leaves, salt and pepper to taste. Cook until heated through and spinach leaves are limp in sauce. Serve over warm pasta!     Serves 2-3.

Cornmeal Crunch

**Daniel Fast Worthy

This is a recipe from Heidi's blog 101cookbooks.com that I just loved while doing the Daniel Fast and for regular morning breakfast. Heidi's version includes Parmesan cheese, but I left it out of mine. This is such an great dish for breakfast or to go with any meal. My husband and I ate it tonight with our spaghetti. We finished it all by the end of the night :-o


Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups yellow cornmeal
fine grain sea salt
4 cups yellow onion, chopped (about 3 medium onions)
1/4 cup olive oil
3 cups water or vegetable broth

Preheat the oven to 400F degrees. Use Pam or Olive oil spray to coat 9 x 12-inch baking dish. In a medium bowl combine the corn meal with 1 1/2 cups water or broth and 1 teaspoon salt. Stir and set aside.
To caramelize the onions, heat a splash of olive oil in a large thick-bottomed skillet with a 1/2 tsp of sea salt. Continue cooking until the onions collapse and turn translucent. Remove skillet from heat and set aside. Bring 1 1/2 cups water (or broth) to a boil in a medium saucepan, add the water and cornmeal mixture, bring back up to a boil and stir in 2 tablespoons of the sauteed onions. Stir until cornmeal is thicker than a heavy frosting - about 3 minutes. Spoon the mixture into the prepared pan, spreading it to an even thickness, and drizzle with about 3 tablespoons of olive oil. Add the rest of onions on top of cornmeal. Bake for about 30-45 minutes, or until the bottom is golden and the cornmeal begins to pull away from the sides of the pan a bit. Let cool for 5 minutes and Enjoy!

Sauteed Zucchini and Onions

**Daniel Fast Worthy

Ingredients:
Olive oil
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/4 tsp pepper
4 medium size Zucchini, chopped
1 sweet Onion, chopped
1 tsp minced garlic
1 tsp parsley

Liberally drizzle bottom of pan with olive oil and add garlic. Heat pan to medium heat, add zucchini and onions. Season with sea salt and pepper to your taste. Saute until onions are translucent and zucchini is tender and still is bright in color. Mix in parsley and serve over cooked brown rice.

The Daniel Fast

James and I have decided to start the Daniel fast for the first of the year. It is a spiritual fast that Daniel in the bible does before a battle where he eats only foods that grow from the ground. No meats, breads, sugars, dairy, and no alcohol. Foods for the fast include vegetables, fruits, whole wheat, beans, etc. You can follow along with me if you like. Here is a link for more information. We got started today and my goal is to try and post as we go with meals my husband and I make for a variety of meals. I will be modifying some as I am pregnant and need lots of protein, but will keep the recipes I post following the fast. May your body be richly blessed and your spirit enlightened through the fast!