What Is Different Is Not The Same: 017

Matthew 20: 16

KJV

16 So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.

NIV 

16 “So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

ESV 

16 So the last will be first, and the first last.”

NRSV 

16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Homemade Basil Pesto

Pesto is a summer treat that I look forward to every year. I always try to grow a couple Basil plants so that I can make fresh basil pesto in the summer.

Typically Pesto is a combination of fresh basil, olive oil, fresh garlic, pine nuts, (Pine nuts are quite expensive and not widely available. Some people substitute almonds, walnuts, or even pecans), grated Parmesan cheese, and kosher salt ground into a paste.

Pesto makes a great addition to pasta, potatoes, lightly cooked vegetables, like sautéed zucchini or steamed green beans. You can garnish meats with Pesto, broiled fish, grilled chicken, or steak for example. I like to add it to Alfredo sauce.

Brown rice and chicken topped with Pesto Alfredo sauce next to a side of sautéed zucchini.

You can make pesto in large quantities when basil is in season and freeze it in small containers for enjoyment during the cold months. Pesto is very flavorful. I used two thirds of this size batch to flavor 1 1/2 cups of Alfredo surface. Here is the recipe I use to make pesto:

Basil Pesto

3 cups of fresh basil leaves
1 1/2 cups nuts preferably pine nuts (I used English walnuts)
3/4 cup olive oil
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 cloves of garlic
1/2 tsp. Kosher salt
1 pinch black pepper
Place all ingredients into a food processor.
Pulse until mixture becomes a chunky paste.
Use in desired recipe.
Enjoy!

Sad For My Sunflower :(

Last night my sunflower got blown over during a rain storm. :(

I was pretty (still am a little) sad about it.

I really like sunflowers and this one had just started to bloom last week.

When it got blown over I went out to see if it could be salvaged. 

It was snapped clean off at the ground.

There was only one thing for me to do and that was cut all the blooms off and bring them inside.

This event brought two scriptures to mind:

First, Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Second, Jonah 4:10 Then said the LORD, Thou hast had pity on the gourd, for the which thou hast not laboured, neither madest it grow; which came up in a night, and perished in a night:

The lesson being: The life of plants is not important, they come and go. I should not be sad about plants or worried about material goods. The things I should be concerned about are reaching souls with the gospel and having faith in God.

Cut Flowers From My Garden

But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.    Matthew 19:26

I cut these flowers and arranged them this morning.

I like having fresh flowers in the house, but my florist abilities lack much to be desired. :) I have trouble knowing what height to make the flowers and how they should be staggered so that they all can be seen.

I was happy with the way this bouquet came together.

 

 The flowers I used in this bouquet are;
Yellow Lillies,
Purple Coneflowers,
Dill,
Oregano,
Mint,
Bachelor's Buttons,
Cosmo,
and ornamental grass, which isn't a flower.