Will Your Anchor Hold?

Walking behind someone on Wednesday afternoon, a quote on her t-shirt caught the Swallow's gaze.

"Life's strongest storms prove the strength of our anchors."

An apt reminder. With Jesus by her side, the Swallow can and will be able to go through life's strongest storms. Not only that, with Jesus by her side, she only needs ONE strong anchor - Jesus only.

Chinese Spinach Soup

The Swallow loves to cook but this skill did not come easily. Along the way, there were many disasters but these only proved to be stepping stones to a skill that has kept her family fed on a reasonable budget with some extra goodies thrown in occasionally.

Chinese Spinach Soup was one of the few dishes she had cooked on her own at the start of her journey with the kitchen, born out of disaster. Each time this dish is cooked, it brings her down memory lane. Now, the recipe has been fine-tuned to meet her young ones' need for meat.

CHINESE SPINACH SOUP (serves 4)

Ingredients

• 400g baby Chinese Spinach
• 270g pork mince (optional)
• 1 tsp light soya sauce

  

  Chinese Spinach Soup

• 1 tsp cornflour
• 1/2 tsp pepper
• 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1/2 tsp sesame oil
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 slices old ginger
• 1 tbsp oil
• 1.5L hot water
• 1 tsp salt

Method

1. Cut off the roots from the Chinese spinach. Rinse the Chinese spinach clean. Drain.
2. Marinate the pork mince with light soya sauce, cornflour, pepper, sugar and sesame oil. Form the meat mixture into 16 small meatballs. Set them aside.
3. In a wok, heat oil on medium heat for 2 minutes. Add garlic and ginger, and stir-fry till they are lightly browned.
4. Add the Chinese spinach and stir-fry till they are limp.
5. Add the hot water and bring the mixture to a boil for 15 minutes. Lower the heat and simmer the soup for 30 minutes.
6. Add the meatballs and simmer for another 8 minutes.
7. Season the soup with salt. Serve hot.

Notes

• Chinese spinach is high in iron and this soup is a good choice to alleviate constipation.
• This soup can be served as a light one-dish dinner for two.
• This recipe can be handled by children with some adult supervision.

Chinese Spinach Soup with Pork Balls

Chinese Spinach Soup with Pork Balls

This is the upgraded version to the first dish "accidentally" cooked by the Swallow. Click here for the recipe and here to read how the "accident" came about.

When Life Gives You Lemons

There is a notable saying "When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade", often quoted to people whom one was trying to encourage to stay, be or think positive. No matter what life gives you, there is always a better solution. So if life gives you lemons, you make lemonade. You don't suck them dry in your mouth.

There is always a better solution.

Try telling that to one who is going through hard times, difficulties or trials, and see how they respond. For everyone that says, "Thank you", there will be another who says, "Leave me alone! What do you know?"

Recreation

Recreation is a gift, is it not?  To be able to find some golden moments, then set them aside to rest, relax and recuperate is not as simple as it sounds.  How often these moments pass by, filled with more activities that tire than relax one.

James 1 : 17 (NKJV)
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Matthew 11 : 28 - 29 (NKJV)
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

Yes, recreation is a gift as the Lord God Himself rested, after the creation of the world.  Many passages in the Bible too speak of the Lord Jesus resting in between caring for the multitudes that follow Him.

Seventeen

Chocolate Truffle Cake

Easy to Make Kimchi

Home-Made Kimchi

Making Kimchi at home is now a usual thing in the Swallow's home. Click here to read how.

A Christmas Tradition

Roasted Stuffed Turkey

Click here for the recipe.

Black Smoke in the Horizon

Black smoke in
the horizon

Saw this while crossing an overhead bridge today.

Faithful to the End

Written on the Swallow's way to work on 21 November 2015, and left aside in her mobile notes. Not till today did she remember the thoughts the Lord had brought to her mind then.

FAITHFUL TO THE END by jadeswallow

In a little while, Christ may be here
From the heavens above, He will soon appear
All we who worship Him, are we ready to hear?
That loud command which rings through the spheres?

Are we ready to meet Him? To see Him soon?
It may be at sunrise, sunset or mid-afternoon
It may be tonight, tomorrow or many new moons
We know not when, but it may be soon.

When He finally appears, we must be ready;
Our faith in Him strong, our walk with Him steady
For when He comes, we'll spend eternity
Singing His praises, bowing our knees.

On that glorious day when my Lord comes for me
When the angel's shout sounds, I want to be ready
So help me, Lord, on earth to be steady
Faithful, in all things, throughout this long journey.

Help me, Lord, to walk on joyfully
In spite of earth's sorrows, to grow more fully
Like You, my Saviour, who gave Your life for me
Then I will be here what I will be there in eternity.