New Years 2011

Black Border 5x7 folded card

Modern greeting cards and party invitations by Shutterfly.

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Chicken Tacos

Coming from El Paso, Texas, I have a special love for Mexican food. Known for it's varied dishes, spices and flavors, Mexican cuisine is without a doubt my favorite.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 5 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 onions minced
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced into 1/2-inch chunks
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 Serrano pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• Tex-Joy* seasoning - to taste
• ¼ cup tomato sauce
• ½ cup water

* Tex-Joy is one of my favorite seasonings and can be used in a myriad ways. I cook with the salt-free variety which allows my family and guests to add salt at the table, if they prefer.

Method:

• Heat a medium to large saute pan over medium heat and pour in enough olive oil to coat the bottom of the pan.
• Add the garlic and onions and cook until soft and nicely caramelized, about 10 to 12 minutes.
• In the meantime, season the chicken with Tex-Joy and pepper.
• Sprinkle the flour over the chicken and toss to coat.
• Heat another medium to large saute pan over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
• Cook the chicken until it is lightly browned, about 6 to 8 minutes.
• Once the onion mixture is caramelized and softened, add the serranos, paprika and Tex-Joy.
• When the chicken is done, transfer it to the pan with the onions. Pour in water and bring to a boil.
• Reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce cooks down and is thick and delicious, approximately 20 minutes.
• Adjust seasoning with Tex-Joy and pepper.
• To serve the tacos: Place the toppings and chicken filling in bowls and allow guests to build their own tacos.

Toppings:

• Chopped romaine lettuce
• Diced red or yellow onions
• Diced tomatoes
• Grated cheese
• Sour cream
• Salsa
• Avocado slices or Guacamole
• 1 to 2 packages corn or flour tortillas

Serve chicken tacos with a salad or go all out by adding rice and beans. Your family/friends will sing your praises for days!

It's muy sabroso . . . enjoy!

Did you know that one of the fastest growing crimes in the world is Human Trafficking? Human Trafficking, or modern day slavery, is said to produce a $9 billion profit for those involved. There are more people in slavery today than at any other time in history and it is reported that 25% of all US trafficking victims are in Texas.

Defined, Human Trafficking is the recruitment, smuggling, transporting, harboring, buying or selling of an individual through force, threats, deception, or coercion for the purposes of exploitation, prostitution, pornography, migrant work, domestic servitude, forced labor, bondage, or involuntary servitude.

Around the world, millions of individuals are living in bondage; laboring in fields, homes or factories and threatened with violence if they try to break free. Some are forced to work in brothels or as prostitutes and beggars on the street fearful of the consequence of missing their daily quota. Others are taken to foreign countries where they are unfamiliar with the language and culture. Most exist with the relentless terror that the lives of their families will be susceptible to danger if they try to escape.

Child trafficking is on the rise and involves the business of removing children from the safety net of their homes, families and friends. They are often transported within the country or overseas, to be put to use by others and usually to make money.

Stop Child Trafficking Now is an organization that targets the source of child sex trafficking. While several organizations address child trafficking by performing rescue operations, SCTNow has chosen to fund a bold, new approach. They partner with specially trained elite operatives who are familiar with what it takes to infiltrate, investigate and bring to justice those who victimize children. Their aim is to address the demand side of child trafficking by targeting the buyers and predators who actually drive the sex industry around the world, including in your own local community.

You can get involved in the abolishment of trafficking children by participating in one of the upcoming national SCTNow Walk Campaigns. Communities all over the US are coming together on the weekend of October 2-3 to raise funds, bring awareness and end the trafficking of children.

For details on partnering in an upcoming SCT Now community walk please go to www.sctnow.com and click on ‘walks’. If you live in the Austin, TX area, please join us at Triangle Park at 46th and Guadalupe on October 2nd @ 8 a.m., for the 2nd Annual Stop Child Trafficking Now walk.

The Created Woman is informed. And, in the words of SCT Now’s founder, Lynette Lewis, she provides a ‘voice for the vulnerable’. She will rise up and take a stand for those in need and is passionate about making a difference in the world around her.

Lentils - A Robust and Healthy Meal

Although very small, lentils pack a powerful healthy punch. Lentils are rich in fiber and are a benefit to the digestive system. They are good for your heart, stabilize blood sugar and provide iron for increased energy.

Highly nutritious, lentils are a great addition to salads and are a staple for vegetarians. They also provide a wonderful meal for those in need of wheat-free or gluten-free eating. Lentils require no pre-soaking and cook much quicker than other dried legumes.

Here’s a quick and easy recipe:
Before cooking, spread the lentils out on a plate or light colored towel and remove small pebbles or debris, then rinse.

Ingredients
2 Cups uncooked green lentils
4-6 cups water or broth (vegetable or chicken)
Olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 large carrots, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Tex-Joy to taste
Salt and pepper to taste

Method:
In a large pot, saute onion, carrots and garlic in olive oil
Add liquid and bring to boil
Add lentils
Bring lentels and liquid to boil and simmer for approximately 1
Add Tex-Joy, salt and pepper, cook for approximately 20 minutes and serve.

This robust stew-like soup, or stewp, makes for a wonderful meal. You can puree your lentels for a smooth meal, store leftovers in the refrigerator or place in a freezer safe container and freeze for another time.

S.O.C.I.A.L C.H.A.N.G.E

I had the opportunity to hear the owner of TOMS Shoes speak about social entrepreneurship. Social entrepreneurs recognize a social problem and use business principles to organize, create, and manage ventures to bring social change.

Understanding that countless children around our world have never owned a single pair of shoes, TOMS Shoes was founded on this fundamental principle: For every pair of shoes purchased, TOMS will provide a pair of new shoes to a child in need. One for One.

Picture this: If the world were a village of 100 people, 1 has AIDS, 3 are slaves, 14 are illiterate, 20 are malnourished, 23 drink polluted water, 25 have no shelter, 30 are unemployed and 40 have no shoes.

TOMS One for One business model allows the customer to become the contributor.

Below is a list of 4 things that are foundational to TOMS Shoes :

• Sustainability is critical. You must have something in place in order to sustain your mission.
• Giving is essential. It not only feels good but is a good business and life strategy.
• People want to be part of something bigger than themselves.
• There is value in partnership.

I thoroughly enjoyed this session. It was powerful and informative. The speaker was down to earth and approachable. It was short and simple, yet very sensible. And his name isn’t Tom, it’s Blake!

Please visit www.toms.com to find out more about TOMS shoes or to purchase and become a part of the One for One movement.

S.L.A.V.E.R.Y

Lying in bed on a February evening in 2007, I picked up a magazine that I’d begun reading a few days before. On what I remember being close to the last page, I learned something that has altered my life – Human trafficking is a worldwide problem. I could not understand what I was reading; human trafficking is modern day slavery; slavery has been abolished . . . so I thought. We are living in the 21^st century . . . how have we allowed this to happen?

Trafficking is the 2^nd largest crime worldwide!

Unfortunately, thousands of individuals are trapped in various forms of enslavement, right here in our country and in our backyard. Oftentimes young women are caught up in prostitution and children are forced in both sex and labor against their will.

Culturally, we ought to identify with every individual’s humanity and appreciate that we all are created for a very distinct purpose. Slavery is not tied to any man, woman or child’s purpose, in any way.

The good news: we can make a difference. There are several ways we can link arms and take action against this atrocity.

Here are some things you can do to make a difference:

• Become a modern day abolitionist
• Spread the word – know the statistics
• Support local and global campaigns
• Become aware of what’s going on in your neighborhood
• Start an awareness group
• Pray

Below are a few websites that I am affiliated with:
www.whatsyourresponse.com
www.thea21campaign.org
www.sctnow.org