Comfort Food #2 Italian Sausage

Growing up in southeast Kansas one of the best things was the outstanding Italian sausage. There is no comparison to the taste of hand made sausage, I mean the crap you by at the supermarket just doesn't come close. So in my need for great sausage I had to come up with a recipe of my own.

1 lb ground beef
2 lb ground pork
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
2 tablespoons onion powder
2 tablespoons black pepper (I usually cut it back to 1 so it's not to spicy for the kids)
1 tablespoon garlic salt
1/4 cup red table wine
1 tablespoon of sugar

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl by hand until mixed well. You can stuff it in casings if you want I usually don't. This makes awesome meat balls as well. Enjoy!

The seven trumpets of Revelation: Trumpets 4-7

Rev 8:12-13 and the fourth angel sounded and the third part of the sun was smitten and the third part of the moon and the third part of the stars; so as the third part of them was darkened, and the day shone not for a third part of it and the night likewise. 13 And I beheld and heard an angel fly through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice woe woe woe to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of trumpet of the three Angels; which are yet to sound!

I came across an interesting article from the New York Times 5/13/04 "Globe Grows Darker as Sunshine Diminishes 10% to 37%". In the second half of the 20th century, the world became, quite literally, a darker place. Defying expectation and easy explanation, hundreds of instruments around the world recorded a drop in sunshine reaching the surface of Earth, as much as 10 percent from the late 1950's to the early 90's, or 2 percent to 3 percent a decade. In some regions like Asia, the United States and Europe, the drop was even steeper. In Hong Kong, sunlight decreased 37 percent. Dr. James E. Hansen, director of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in Manhattan, said that scientists had long known that pollution particles reflected some sunlight, but that they were now realizing the magnitude of the effect.  

Could this be the 1/3 darkening that John was speaking of? I think it could.

Rev 9:1-12 And the fifth angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key to the bottomless pit. 2 And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. 3 And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. 4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. 5 And to them it was given that they should not kill them but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man. 6 And in those days shall men seek death, and death shall flee from them. 7 And the shape of the locusts were like unto horses prepared for battle; and their heads were as it were crowns like gold and thier faces were as the faces of men. 8 And they had hair like women, and thier teeth were as lions. 9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of thier wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. 10 And the had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and there power was to hurt men five months. 11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tinge is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon. 12 One woe is past; and, behold there are two more woes hereafter.

John gave us a lot to digest in this passage. I believe the be beginning of this passage is referring to the burning of Kuwait. The accounts I've read say the smoke was so thick you could not see the sunlight at noon. Now the locust from the smoke I believe are helicopters.  The shape of horses prepared for battle I believe is referring to troup formation. Crowns like that of gold I believe is referring to the yellow in desert camouflage. And the faces of men would be referring to looking through the windshields and seeing pilots. Hair like women I believe is referring to the propellers and the teeth as lions would be the teeth that militarys are so fond of painting on the front of aircraft. Breastplates of iron is pretty self explanatory and the chariot horse sound of thier wings would sound like a helicopter. Tails like scorpions, long tails, and they could sting. Machine guns and missiles would sting. The king that John speaks of is named Abaddon in Hebrew or Apollyon in Greek. Now translated into English it means Destroyer. The leader John speaks of was Saddam Husain. Saddam means one who confronts, one who causes frequent collisions, powerful confronter, powerful collider, or destroyer.

Rev 9:13-21 And the sixth angel sounded and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God 14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, loose the for angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates. 15 And the four Angels where loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men. 16 And the number of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand (200,000,000) and I heard the number of them. 17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sat on them having breastplates of Fire and of jacinth and of brimstone: and the heads of the horses were the heads of lions; and out of thier mouths issued fire and smoke and brimstone. 18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire and by the smoke and by the brimstone, which issued out of thier mouths. 19 For thier power is in thier mouth and in thier tails: for thier tails were like unto serpents and had heads and with them they do hurt. 20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not the works of their hands that they should not worship devils and idols of gold and silver and brass and stone and of wood: which neither can see nor hear nor walk: 21 Neither repent they of thier murders nor thier sorceries nor of thier fornication nor thier thefts.

This is the one we are waiting to have happen. We know there is going to be a military conflict along the Euphrates river. The contries on the Euphrates are Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. No doubt you've heard about them in recent years or months in the news. I'm not going to speculate as to what will happen but it will involve these countries. The big thing I think that we should take from this passage now is the people that aren't involved in this conflict do not repent. Let me break down what these sins were. Devil worship could be actual or just a false religion. Then he talks about idol worship, I don't think too many people pray to statues anymore. But anything you give more aclaim or value to over God is an idol. It could be a job, a car, a guy or girl, a child, a new technology, or a sports team. Anything you focus on more than God is an idol. Then the last 4 murders, sorceries, fornication and thefts. Murder is simply the taking of an innocent life. Like the 52,000,000 abortions that have taken place in this country. Sorceries which is defined the use of magical powers that are obtained through evil spirits, the illuminati craze in this country comes to mind. Fornications that would be sex outside of marriage, pornography, masterbation and the like. And then thefts would be taking things which aren't ours. No doubt all of us are guilty of some of these things in our lives, that is why it is important to ask for forgiveness and turn your eyes to Jesus. This will not stop are sinning, we sin without knowing it sometimes, but will redeem us from our past, present, and future sins.

I will summarize chapter 10 John sees a mighty angel with one foot on land and one in the sea. He is told not to write down or tell the things that the angel thundered (spoke). The angel has a little book that he gives to John and tells him to eat it. It is sweet as honey but when he swollows it it makes his stomach bitter. He is then told to prophesied to many nations, contries, tongues, and kings. I believe the book tasted sweet because it's the good news of Gods return I believe it made his stomach bitter because of the scorn he would get proclaiming theses things to a world with deaf ears to the things of God.

In chapter 11 we get the last trumpet 7 and with that we get the time were God will judge the dead and he will give rewards to his servants. What follows is the rein of the anti Christ and his prophet, plagues and such until the battle of Armageddon when Jesus and his people come down from heaven and decicrate the inhabiters of the earth and then Jesus's 1000 year rien on the earth. 

I hope you enjoyed this and want to study it more and make your own conclusions. Like Rev 1:3 says Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Seven trumpets of Revelation: Trumpets 1&2

Rev 8:7-9 The first angel sounded, and there followed hail and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth: and the third of the trees were burnt up, and all green grass was burnt up. 8 And the second angel sounded and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea: and the third part of the sea became blood; 9 and the third part of the creatures which were in the sea and had life died and the third part of the ships were destroyed.

John is seeing these images from 2000+ years ago. Scholars have long debated is he speaking literal or is this how a man 2000 years ago could only discribe technologies that no one at that time could phathum. I'm of the latter belief. I'm not saying I'm right or that im smarter than men that have studied this for decades, I'm just stating what I believe John was seeing.

It is my belief that the hail and fire mingled with blood that John speaks of would be the dropping of bombs in WW1. The bombs used were not accurate, they fell like hail and from the pictures I've seen from then the trees and the grass were burnt up. Just google it. Another possibility would be Stalin's enactment of a scorched earth policy to stop Nazi advances in Ukraine during WW2.  Some would argue that 1/3 of the world didn't exsperince this so it couldn't be the first trumpet. I don't believe he was speaking of the world as a whole but just of the area of the events he saw.

Now I believe that the second trumpet came in WW2. If you have seen the pictures of Hiroshima when the United States dropped the atom bomb on it I believe you have seen the image of the great mountain burning with fire that was cast into the sea. There were approximately 105,000 ships in WW2 over 36,000 were destroyed which is almost exactly 1/3.  

I hope you found this informative and helpful. I hope it at least sparked your interest and inspired you to do more research on the subject. Next time I will cover the fourth trumpet. Thanks! And God bless

The seven trumpets of Revelation: Third trumpet

Rev 8:10-11 and the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters 11 and the name of the star is called Wormwood : and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter.

I recently came across some information on the Chernobyl daster that got me thinking. Could the trumpets John spoke of in Revelation be sounding? A book called Wormwood Forest: A Natural History of Chernobyl, by Mary Mycio, Sept. 9, 2005, -  from the chapter is entitled “Biblical Botany”: “…. Rimma crouched down to a short bush that had grown out of a crack between the road and the curb. It was about a foot tall, with small cottony flowers growing directly from purplish stems.

She pulled off one of the leaves and crushed it between her fingers for me to sniff the unpleasant, varnishy aroma, reminiscent of shoe polish. 

“What is it?” I asked, wrinkling my nose. 

“Chernobyl,” she said, using the common—but incorrect—pronunciation. In fact, chernobyl with an “e” is the Russianized version of the Ukrainian word chornobyl. You won't find chernobyl or chornobyl in most Russian dictionaries, except in reference to the disaster, although the word chernobyl'nyk is used in some Russian regions in reference to the herb. But because the first version has become the commonly accepted spelling for the disaster and the nuclear station, I will use Chernobyl, with an “e,” to refer to them. I will use Chornobyl, with an “o,” to refer to the herb and the town. 

“That's wormwood, right?” I asked, hoping to finally clarify the botanical question at the heart of the Chernobyl disaster's putative biblical symbolism. It is often said that the meaning of the Ukrainian word chornobyl is “wormwood,” and the suggestion that the disaster fulfilled the biblical prophecy of the Wormwood star that augured Armageddon resonated deeply with the fear of nuclear apocalypse. But the botany was actually more complex. 

Svitlana took a closer look at the plant and shook her head. “No, ‘chornobyl' is Artemisia vulgaris. ‘Wormwood' is Artemisia absinthium. The Ukrainian common name is polyn,” she said, handing me a leaf from a different plant that looked much like A. vulgaris, except it was covered with fine silky hairs that gave it a whitish tinge. As I looked around, I noticed that the plants were everywhere. 

I crushed it to release the volatile oil, much more pungent than the first plant. 

Botanically and chemically, Absinthium vulgaris is so similar to A. absinthium that A. vulgaris is also sometimes called “wormwood,” though “mugwort” is a more common English name. In Ukrainian, as well, polyn and chornobyl are sometimes used synonymously. Both plants are hardy perennials, tolerant of poor soil and thus plentiful in the sandy lands of the Polissia region—where the twelfth-century town of Chornobyl took its name from the plant and, in turn, gave it to the twentieth-century nuclear station seven miles away. Both are bitter medicinal herbs and natural pest repellants, ridding fleas from the home, slugs from the garden, and worms from the body. And both get their pungent fragrance from thujone, an organic toxin thought to be the psychoactive agent in absinthe, the infamous wormwood liqueur banned by most Western countries a century ago. Absinthe was said to produce an unusual intoxication and was highly addictive, although modern skeptics contend that the “high” and the habit most probably came from drinking the 75 percent alcohol absinthe required to dissolve the thujone and prevent it from clouding the emerald solution. 

But if the thujone in Artemisia vulgaris is dilute, it is concentrated in A. absinthium. A crushed leaf of polyn-wormwood is much more pungent than a crushed leaf of chornobyl-mugwort. It is also more bitter and much more toxic, which is why animals happily nibble mugwort but leave wormwood alone. Even other plants avoid it. A. absinthium's extremely bitter chemicals wash off the leaves and into the soil, poisoning it for other plants. 

Given its natural repellant properties, many folk believed wormwood to have supernatural banishing powers. Mugwort, too, has magical properties, though none so potent. In Ukrainian folklore, both plants ward off the seductive and dangerous water nymphs called rusalkas, who lured victims with beautiful songs and then tickled them to death in crystal underwater lairs. 

In Christian legend, when the biblical serpent was expelled from Eden, wormwood sprang in its trail to prevent its return. Indeed, the herb is a frequent biblical symbol for bitterness, calamity, and sorrow; its use to name the third sign of the apocalypse that opened this chapter conjured the desolation that would follow the apocalypse. 

In the wake of the Chernobyl explosion, few people in the officially atheist Soviet Union had Ukrainian-language Bibles. But some of those who did noted that the word “wormwood” in the Wormwood star of the book of Revelation was translated as polyn—and was a very close botanical cousin to chornobyl. Suddenly, the biblical prophecy seemed to acquire new meaning: wormwood was radiation, and it presaged the nuclear apocalypse that would end the world. The story spread like wildfire through the notorious Soviet rumor mill and as far as Washington, D.C., where President Ronald Reagan was said to have believed it, too. crouched down to a short bush that had grown out of a crack between the road and the curb. It was about a foot tall, with small cottony flowers growing directly from purplish stems. 

She pulled off one of the leaves and crushed it between her fingers for me to sniff the unpleasant, varnishy aroma, reminiscent of shoe polish.  

“What is it?” I asked, wrinkling my nose. 

“Chernobyl,” she said, using the common—but incorrect—pronunciation. In fact, chernobyl with an “e” is the Russianized version of the Ukrainian word chornobyl. You won't find chernobyl or chornobyl in most Russian dictionaries, except in reference to the disaster, although the word chernobyl'nyk is used in some Russian regions in reference to the herb. But because the first version has become the commonly accepted spelling for the disaster and the nuclear station, I will use Chernobyl, with an “e,” to refer to them. I will use Chornobyl, with an “o,” to refer to the herb and the town. 

“That's wormwood, right?” I asked, hoping to finally clarify the botanical question at the heart of the Chernobyl disaster's putative biblical symbolism. It is often said that the meaning of the Ukrainian word chornobyl is “wormwood,” and the suggestion that the disaster fulfilled the biblical prophecy of the Wormwood star that augured Armageddon resonated deeply with the fear of nuclear apocalypse. But the botany was actually more complex. 

Svitlana took a closer look at the plant and shook her head. “No, ‘chornobyl' is Artemisia vulgaris. ‘Wormwood' is Artemisia absinthium. The Ukrainian common name is polyn,” she said, handing me a leaf from a different plant that looked much like A. vulgaris, except it was covered with fine silky hairs that gave it a whitish tinge. As I looked around, I noticed that the plants were everywhere. 

I crushed it to release the volatile oil, much more pungent than the first plant. 

Botanically and chemically, Absinthium vulgaris is so similar to A. absinthium that A. vulgaris is also sometimes called “wormwood,” though “mugwort” is a more common English name. In Ukrainian, as well, polyn and chornobyl are sometimes used synonymously. Both plants are hardy perennials, tolerant of poor soil and thus plentiful in the sandy lands of the Polissia region—where the twelfth-century town of Chornobyl took its name from the plant and, in turn, gave it to the twentieth-century nuclear station seven miles away. Both are bitter medicinal herbs and natural pest repellants, ridding fleas from the home, slugs from the garden, and worms from the body. And both get their pungent fragrance from thujone, an organic toxin thought to be the psychoactive agent in absinthe, the infamous wormwood liqueur banned by most Western countries a century ago. Absinthe was said to produce an unusual intoxication and was highly addictive, although modern skeptics contend that the “high” and the habit most probably came from drinking the 75 percent alcohol absinthe required to dissolve the thujone and prevent it from clouding the emerald solution. 

But if the thujone in Artemisia vulgaris is dilute, it is concentrated in A. absinthium. A crushed leaf of polyn-wormwood is much more pungent than a crushed leaf of chornobyl-mugwort. It is also more bitter and much more toxic, which is why animals happily nibble mugwort but leave wormwood alone. Even other plants avoid it. A. absinthium's extremely bitter chemicals wash off the leaves and into the soil, poisoning it for other plants. 

Given its natural repellant properties, many folk believed wormwood to have supernatural banishing powers. Mugwort, too, has magical properties, though none so potent. In Ukrainian folklore, both plants ward off the seductive and dangerous water nymphs called rusalkas, who lured victims with beautiful songs and then tickled them to death in crystal underwater lairs. 

In Christian legend, when the biblical serpent was expelled from Eden, wormwood sprang in its trail to prevent its return. Indeed, the herb is a frequent biblical symbol for bitterness, calamity, and sorrow; its use to name the third sign of the apocalypse that opened this chapter conjured the desolation that would follow the apocalypse. 

In the wake of the Chernobyl explosion, few people in the officially atheist Soviet Union had Ukrainian-language Bibles. But some of those who did noted that the word “wormwood” in the Wormwood star of the book of Revelation was translated as polyn—and was a very close botanical cousin to chornobyl. Suddenly, the biblical prophecy seemed to acquire new meaning: wormwood was radiation, and it presaged the nuclear apocalypse that would end the world. The story spread like wildfire through the notorious Soviet rumor mill and as far as Washington, D.C., where President Ronald Reagan was said to have believed it, too.

This got me thinking if this was the third trumpet what where the first two and have any more been opened? I think yes!  I will fill you in on what I've found in my next posts. Hope you enjoy!

The essential oil debate

Some people will hate me for opening this can of worms but I feel it needs said. I have been using essential oils for about a year. My family has had very good luck with them helping with seasonal allergies, colds, pain, anxiety and pretty much all other ailments. I've heard pitches from Young Living and DoTerra consultants, but being the sceptic that I am and doing my own reasearch I'm not ready to drink the tea yet. I've worked for corporate America I've seen the ploys. Sure you may start out with your customers interest in mind but your also there to make money, which in corporate America alot of times is smoke and mirrors. Make yourself out to be better make up phrases such as therapeutic grade oils. There is no regulatory body that sets standard for this term, it is a simple marketing ploy. I would never ask you to take what I say as gospel, do your reasurch and decide what you believe. I do know when you come up with official sounding terms you can most generally dupe people who are trusting into paying a lot more for your product. Terms we've all heard certified used and choosey moms choose come to mind. I will say that you should use oils from a company you trust and use 100% pure. I do own one bottle that is 20% deluted frankincense oil that's my choice to not buy the pure but I've also been in contact with the company to talk to them about details. I am by no means saying Young Living and DoTerra don't have great products, I've used them. I'm just saying do so research yourself and make a decision on what you use for you and your family. I found another blog on the subject that I enjoyed. I don't agree with all they say but I found it informative. www.hippyhomemaker.com/which-essential-oils-companies-should-you-buy-surprising-findings-on-my-quest-to-find-the-best/ I would like to give a disclaimer so Uncle Sam doesn't come after me:

Medical Disclaimer:

The information contained on this website is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  The information represents what I have chosen to do to take charge of my own personal health and that of my family.  Statements on this website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products on this site are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a medical condition, consult your physician before using these products.

Information found on this site is meant for educational and informational purposes only, and to motivate you to make your own health care and dietary decisions based upon your own research and in partnership with your health care provider. It should not be relied upon to determine dietary
changes, a medical diagnosis or courses of treatment. Individual articles and information on other websites are based upon the opinions of the respective authors, who retain copyright.

Have a great day and God bring you good health!

Comfort food #1- fried chicken

I'm sure it has everything to do with where I grow up, but no food makes me feel more content than fried chicken. Living in Utah there is not an abundance of fantastic chicken restaurants like in God's country, SEK. This poses a problem for me because nothing heals my soul more than those food you take for granted growing up in SEK. So I've been of a journey trying to recreate some of those foods or at least getting close. This is the recipe I came up with for fried chicken. If your wanting to find a heathy or fat free way to cook chicken this ain't it. If you want awesome tasting chicken hear you go.

Start with the marinade:
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/2 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp sugar
1 quart buttermilk

Coating:
2 cups flour
2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tsp paprika
2 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp onion powder
And chicken

Combine marinade ingredients in a bowl. Put your chicken in for at least 4 hrs. ( you don't have to but improves the flavor)

In a large ziplock put coating mix. Pull your chicken pieces out put in the bag and shake. I do one piece at a time. Then set on a plate.

Heat up Lard in a cast iron skillet on med/ high abt 350 degrees F to fill about half the pan. Has to be lard to get the taste.

Put chicken in and frie for 5 min on each side. Then turn the heat town to med/low and cook for another 10 min on each side. Remove put on a plate with paper towels. Then enjoy!

This process also works well on sliced onions for onion rings or straws. Just frie on med/high until golden brown!