About

My Daily Bread Body and Soul located at www.praycookblog.com is a personal blog filled with writing about two of the things that guide me everyday of my life – my faith, that being a follower of Jesus Christ and food – what are we eating today?!

Since starting this blog I have been blessed in so many ways that I didn’t expect.  Originally I was drawn to blogging simply to “create” something.  I love the challenge of learning new ways to use my computer.  I love cooking and I depend on scripture to guide my days.  All of these activities culminated in this blog.  In the beginning I didn’t think beyond the daily posting of recipes, scripture, and some ramblings.  But now, just five months in to it, I realize that I am being blessed in many other ways.  I have discovered that people all around the country are interested in daily scriptures and devotion, that readers love new recipes and pictures, and that occasionally I will print something that rings a bell, brings back a good memory, or strikes a cord with someone.  It is when I receive comments, emails, recipes, and pictures from others that I really get excited!  I have also discovered that I am hooked on photographing FOOD!  I didn’t expect that — but I am learning about getting the right light, getting the background looking good, and much more.  Recently, my lovely niece, Catherine Kelley Paulsen wrote to me saying, “Catherine, I just wanted you to know that I’ve been cooking/baking a lot lately. Just last night I made monkey bread and I thought of our trip to visit you all this summer! I think I’m going to try a few of your recipes from your blog. ” Catherine is in college in Kearney, Nebraska and it thrills me to no end to hear that she is cooking and baking!  Both her mom and dad are great cooks so you might say, “it is in her blood!”

I thank God for the time I can spend on this blog, I thank Him for the unexpected blessings, and I thank Him for you!  Thank you for taking time to stop by and spend a little time with me.

Happy Cooking!
Catherine

June 4, 2011    “Bloom where you are planted”, “today is the first day of the rest of your life”, “the grass isn’t greener on the other side”.  I am sure you have heard these sayings before. Well, after a half-century plus “under the sun” I do believe we are called to bloom where we are planted, that yesterday really is “past” and today and what I do with it matters!  Life has shown me that the grass isn’t greener on the other side – it is, well – just grass.  And the bottom line – no matter how busy our day, week, month or year seems to be, as a follower of Jesus Christ, we must commune with Him daily, feeding our soul, in the same way we must spend time feeding our body.  I am neither an expert nor a scholar.  I am a fellow seeker with a servant’s heart,  a love for reading and sharing the Word, and a women who loves to spend time in the kitchen!   My goal is to share scripture and recipes that will help you to do both without filling either your soul or your body with unhealthy and unwanted junk food!  My niece recently told me “creating feeds my soul” -  I totally get that.  I believe that creating this blog definitely feeds my soul.  I am so glad you stopped by for a visit!  While you are here, please take time to sign up for an email subscription and you will receive an email whenever there is something new within the blog.  Thanks again and have a blessed day!

Catherine

My personal life verse Romans 8:28          And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.                        Read all of Romans 8

I was so pleased to hear from my niece, Alesa, when she made the Chicken Carbonara recipe for her husband Ty.  I believe their new puppy Hera, received some also!  Thanks for sharing Alesa!

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.    Psalm 34:18

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”

 ²⁵ The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the LORD.    Lamentations 3: 22-26

Dear Lord,
Please help me in this time of loss and grief. I don’t understand why my life is filled with this pain and heartache. But I turn my eyes to you as I seek to find the strength to trust in your faithfulness. I will wait on you and not despair; I will quietly wait for your salvation. My heart is crushed, but I know that you will not abandon me forever. Please show me your compassion, Lord. Help me through the pain so that I will hope in you again. I believe this promise in your Word to send me fresh mercy each day. Though I can’t see past today, I trust your great love will never fail me.
Amen.

 
A new addition to my blog!  GRAND! 
My new GRAND! tab will highlight recipes from the recipe boxes of  grandmother’s!  I have several grandmothers – three to be exact.  And then, my mother is a grandmother, so technically her recipes should be featured on this page as well!  I love looking through all cookbooks, reading the wording and measures of cooks that have gone before me.  Some of these recipes are just plain down right funny!  One of the first things I researched when looking through my grandmother’s recipe box is recipevs receipt!  I learned that up until recent years these words have been interchangeable when referring to recipes!  At the end of today’s blog I have included some history on this curious word usage.  I hope you will take a look at the new GRAND! page!

 

After posting How to cook a pumpkin and make pumpkin puree

ANSWER:  This is a great question. I thought I knew the answer but did a little research first — just so I wouldn’t lead you astray! Field pumpkins, which are bred for perfect jack-o-lanterns, tend to be too large and stringy for baking. Jack-o-lantern pumpkins are bigger and because they’re grown for size, tend to have this stringier flesh and are more watery. However, on the bright side – the seeds are great for roasting! We have some field pumpkins being grown so I can use them to decorate this fall. When we carve them, I am going to roast the seeds, so later this fall I will post the roasting pictures! Bottom line –keep the jack-o-lanterns for carving and for roasting the seeds; bake the pie pumpkin. Trust me – you don’t want that stringy stuff in your prize pumpkin recipe!