stuffedveggies

Monday, May 9, 2016

Lemon Snack Cake (Vegan)

What is a "Snack Cake"?

It's a cake that is simple, quick to make, and is usually served in its baking pan, informally.

It's the kind of cake you can make if you're the kind of family that invites guests over and THEN decides what to make.

Not that we ever do that ; )

It might be frosted with a simple frosting, or it might just be dusted with powdered sugar. For this picture I used the remainder of the store bought frosting I had on hand, but the previous time I made it, I whipped some up from scratch (no picture of that because it disappeared too fast!)

This is the kind of cake that you can whip up for guests while you're making dinner, and not miss a step : )

Just combine the ingredients in one bowl, stir, pour into prepared pan and bake.

Of course, if you prefer, you can use the batter to make a quick batch of cupcakes.(cupcakes bake at the same temperature, but for a shorter time - about 30 to 35 minutes)

Before mixing Cake Batter, Oil an 8x8 square cake pan or a round cake pan. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Easy Vegan Lemon Snack Cake
Mix in a single bowl, till batter is smooth:

2 1/2 Cups stuffedveggies Vegan Cookie & Cake Mix (recipe here)
2/3 Cup Water (or a smidge more - enough to make batter like a thick, fast food milkshake)
1/3 Cup Lemon Juice
1/3 Cup Light Flavored Oil (I use Sunflower)
A few drops of Yellow Food Coloring (I use 8)

Stir all ingredients together in one bowl. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for about 45 to 50 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit - until done (toothpick inserted in center is clean, cake pulls away slightly from edges of pan - you know - the standard cake-doneness tests)

Cool before serving warm. For best frosting results, wait till entirely cool so frosting doesn't melt. But, if it does melt a little, it's still tasty! : )

Monday, May 2, 2016

Vegan & Omnivore Spring Menu

If you're looking for some Vegan ideas for a week's worth of menus, and wish to also serve an Omnivore in your household here ya go:

Vegan Mock Crab Cakes
With Fish Sticks or real Crab Cakes for the Omnivores
With Baked Potatoes in the Slow Cooker
And Salad

Vegan Mock Crab Cakes

Baked Potatoes in the Slow Cooker

Szechuan Green Beans over Rice with
Teriyaki Chicken for the Omnivores
Spring Rolls, Easy Vegan and
Sweet & Sour Dipping Sauce, Three Minute

Szechuan Green Beans over Rice

Spring Rolls, Easy Vegan

Greek Style Black-Eyed Peas ( Louvia )
With Tuna for the Omnivores
With Veggies and Dolmades from a Can

Greek Style Black-Eyed Peas ( Louvia )

Confetti Spaghetti
With Cubed Chicken for the Omnivores

Confetti Spaghetti

Indian Lemon Rice with Peas

Trader Joe's Veggie Masala Burgers
With Tandoori Chicken & Raita for the Omnivores
& Salad

Indian Lemon Rice with Peas

Mexican Haystacks
with "Taco Meat" for the Omnivores

Mexican Haystacks

Burgers & Fries Vegan Style
With Regular Burgers for the Omnivores

Burgers & Fries Vegan Style

AND This Week's Featured Dessert
Samali (Greek Semolina Dessert)

Samali (Greek Semolina Dessert)

Monday, April 25, 2016

St. Paul Visits Paphos, Cyprus

St. Kyriaki's Church in the background,
with the ruins of St. Paul's Church in the foreground

Saint Paul was one of the greatest Saints of Christianity. He wrote much of the New Testament, and influenced the Christian Church to an immeasurable degree.

Under the inspiration of God, he gave us such beloved and powerful passages as

I Corinthians 13

and

Romans 8

and

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Yet, he is constantly maligned in modern culture, both by secularists and by some Christians who fail to understand who he really was and what he really taught.

False claims abound that St. Paul was a misogynist, promoted slavery or other such nonsense. He is wrongly painted as a authoritarian, domineering figure who picked on those weaker than he was for his own power trip.

But, the real actions and life of St. Paul are simply ignored. His works are neglected, and misquoted by those who falsely speak against God and His Church.

A real glimpse into the life of St. Paul can be seen at "St. Paul's Pillar" in Paphos, Cyprus.

Here is the Pillar where St. Paul was tied with ropes and beaten bloody with a lash because of his Love for God. Here is the man - weak in his flesh - who was willing to suffer any amount of pain and hardship for Love of his Savior.

This image of St. Paul being beaten - weak, a prisoner, bloody, in chains - is not the image that those who would malign him portray. Where is the domineering figure who pushes around women and slaves for his own power trip? He didn't exist.

Here is St. Paul, as he described himself in 2 Corinthians 11:

. . . I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. 24Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 25Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, 26I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. 27I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked. 28Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? . . .
(Source)

All this because of his Love for God!

There was no one lowlier in Roman culture than a prisoner! Women were often quite high ranking and powerful. Contrary to our modern concepts, even slaves could hold impressive jobs like Doctor, Teacher, Actor, Banker or Skilled Craftsman . But, a prisoner on the verge of a death sentence was the lowest of the low. The weakest of the weak. But, God's strength was made perfect in the weakness of St. Paul!

His weakness - his status as a prisoner and eventually as a Martyr - was the vehicle that God used to spread the Gospel to the uttermost parts of the earth.