Fondue, Me and You

December 14, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

It has been a few years since I have written about fondue, but given that this is National Fondue month, it is a good time to reflect on Fondue again. Fondue is one of those foods which has varied in its popularity over time. However, in some cultures, like Switzerland, fondue is a sacred food. For one very simple reason. It is a meal you can share with people you love. There are some spiritual values in fondue, which are difficult to find in other types of meals.

Fondue is about more than people gathering around a table to share a meal. Fondue is a communal dish. Each and every person gathered around the table is connecting with each other every time they dip something into the fondue pot. It is not so important what is in the fondue pot. It can be cheese, chocolate, or some other form of awesomeness. Nor does it matter what one is dipping into the fondue pot. It could be cheese, berries, or some other delicious dipper. It is the process of sharing a pool into which we all enter and engage.

Eating fondue reminds us to slow down and appreciate time with each other. Especially in this season, we are busy. Eating fondue is a time to sit down, share a homemade meal, sit, talk, and share an experience. Eating fondue allows us to share food and conversation with those we love.

Do You

December 10, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

This has been a fast-paced and hectic week for me. I was having a hard time quieting my brain enough to get inspired. I was torn between reflecting on an ingredient or a product. This morning, I woke up to a reminder on Facebook of a blog I wrote three years ago today. As I reread it, I laughed as it fits perfectly with our spiritual practice this month -- you. I took this as a sign to share my thoughts again.

It has been a while since I posted here, while I have been resting, healing, and preparing for the next round of surgery. However, I was reminded of something last night that resonated with my soul and that is in all things to do you. I was watching a special episode of Chopped (no surprise to those who read this blog often) and Katie Lee, one of the competitors, was surprised that she won. In reflecting on it, she talked about how she thought she had won because she had stayed true to who she was. Katie is best known for her comfort foods and that is what she cooked all three courses, foods filled with memories of growing up and cooking with her grandmother and mother. She gave the judges her on a plate.

Unwrapping Chocolate

November 29, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

Recently, I stumbled upon this video which helped me to understand that chocolate, a food that most people enjoy and savor, has a deeper meaning and importance then I realized. A few weeks ago, I began to reflect on the debates and discussion about what is chocolate. This week I came to realize that Mexican chocolate is nothing like what we are used to eating in this culture and has a rich history and brings flavors of chocolate to the table, which other chocolates do not. This short video will give you some understanding of the history behind cacao in Mexico.

Lovin' Cranberries

November 22, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

Today is National Cranberry Day. Most folks I know do not LOVE cranberries. However, perhaps we should. Not just around Thanksgiving, but year round. Cranberries have a history, which stems back to Native American folklore of preventing illness. Modern medicine has shown that cranberries can help prevent urinary tract infections, gum disease, cancer, and numerous other illnesses. They are not a treatment for, but a source which can help prevent. Yet, most people are not craving to sit down and eat a bowl of cranberries because of their bitter taste.

Most of our consumption of them comes around the Thanksgiving season. This year as we gather with family and friends and give thanks, perhaps we should give thanks for this bitter, bright red berry. And the diversity of ways cranberries, as well as other berries, are full of health-promoting antioxidants.

National Peanut Butter Month

November 1, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

We all know that the end of this month is Thanksgiving, but how many of you know that this month is National Peanut Butter Month. So this week I am paying homage to Peanut Butter. I love peanut butter for a few reasons. One being that it has taught me some amazing life lessons.

A friend of mine tells the story of how much he hates peanut butter, but would make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for his daughters who loved them. One day he realized that he was imposing his disdain for peanut butter on his daughter without even realizing it. He realized it when his daughter complained that he put too much jelly, which he loved, and not enough peanut butter on her sandwich. He was so focused on what he loved that he was not thinking about what she enjoyed and what spoke to her. To this day he still hates peanut butter, but puts more peanut butter on his daughter’s sandwiches and less jelly, which she enjoys, but not as much as the peanut butter. His story reminds me of how easy it is to put our needs and desires over others.

Chocolate Cupcake Lessons

October 19, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

So today is National Chocolate Cupcake Day. Well it was when I started writing this on Wednesday (LOL). I love blogging and sometimes the words seem to just flow from my brain faster than I can type them. Other times, I start and delete and start and delete, never quite satisfied with the ideas for my blog post. Sometimes it helps for me to go sit in our prayer and meditation garden, as a change of scenery sometimes helps. Other times, I will go fix myself a cup of tea or coffee. None of that was really working this week, until I did a search on the Pampered Chef website for chocolate cupcakes because Wednesday was National Chocolate Cupcake Day. What really spoke to me were three recipes one for a white chocolate cupcake with truffle filling, one for a red velvet cupcake, and one for a dark chocolate truffle cupcake. I have made the white chocolate and dark chocolate recipes a few times because I love how messy they are to eat. I love the melted chocolate that seeps out.

It was these images of “chocolate” which spoke to my soul, especially as a light skinned biracial woman. When I was pastoring, a few congregants would remind me that they were chocolate. I would then smile and remind them that chocolate comes in a wide diversity of colors. I remember once being told I was not chocolate enough to be chocolate and that white chocolate is not chocolate. Interestingly enough there is a similar debate about whether or not white chocolate, which is made from the same cocoa butter as all other chocolates, is really chocolate.

National Taco Day

October 4, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

I have yet to meet someone who does not like tacos. Some people prefer corn vs flour tortillas. Others prefer crunchy over soft shells. Some prefer beef, others steak, chicken, fish, shrimp, or some other protein. It is not about whether or not people like tacos, but how they construct them

When we think about tacos, we think about something to eat. My guess is nobody thinks about it the way it was first used in the 18th century when it was the paper which was wrapped around gunpowder for small explosives.[1] It wasn’t about an explosion of tastes in one’s mouth, but about helping to create explosions in the mines.

As I have been thinking about tacos, I have come to realize that tacos are a great way of thinking about people’s spiritual journeys. We are all on one, even if one sees themselves as their Higher Power. We are all on a journey, it is just about how we construct one. Some need the harder structure that comes with some religious traditions while others like the flexibility that comes with other spiritual beliefs.

Microwave Grip Set

August 31, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

No recipes this week. I was talking to a friend of mine, trying to quiet my mind so I could hear what I was supposed to blog about. There have been days that my life has felt like a hot dish in a microwave, as I have tried to get through a rapidly increasing number of projects and tasks in a very short amount of time.

Sometimes managing your life can look much simpler then it is. As a friend of mine said this morning, “I cannot explain how hard it is to get a hot bowl over of the microwave. One day, I swear, I’m going to drop one.” We all have those phases in our life when what should be a simple thing, tend to become complicated, because our “dish” has become overheated with demands.

Maybe that is why the Microwave Grip Set spoke to me this morning. To use them all you have to do is slip them over your fingertips and thumbs before you take a hot dish out of the microwave. The raised bumps and ridges give you a secure hold, and your hands stay safe from the heat. The grips are easy to wipe clean, or you can run them through the dishwasher

Pampering Your Pet

August 16, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

This past weekend I had to spend the day at the Animal Hospital Emergency Room as one of our cats developed a urinary tract infection. Sitting there talking with and listening to the love people had for their furbabies, just like me. One of our babies, Mr Mittens, has a sensitive stomach and some possible food allergies, so we have been trying to find foods that will calm his stomach and that will make him feel better. While there are quite a few organic foods out there, I am looking forward to trying some of the recipes I have gathered that are for cats using my Pampered Chef products. So today, I thought I would share a few recipes for those of you who are cat parents (or slaves to your cats) and those who are dog parents.

They are as much members of our families as our human members. So here are a few ways to create mealtime memories with and for your furbabies. Hope you enjoy making some of them and your babies enjoy eating some of them.

A Time for Every Season

August 9, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

I have been thinking a lot about change, in part because the theme this month at Inspiritual is vision. It is also the change in seasons with Pampered Chef. We have over 70 products being retired and/or coming back restyled. There are those products whose time has come and there are products whose time is just beginning.

This change is not unlike our lives. There are things, people and opportunities which come into our lives for a season and then their time comes to an end. There are times we need to let something go because it has served its purpose, it no longer fits in with the vision we have been given for our lives, or some other reason. The same is true for Pampered Chef. As the vision for the company changes, as the food trends in this country change, so do our products.

Vision requires us to call on our values and our imagination. The spiritual practice of vision encompasses the discovery of fresh insights about the way things are and the cultivation of different outlooks on what can be. You might have heard about people creating vision boards. This is one way of practicing vision. Practicing vision helps you tap into your inner wisdom and be in tune with Spirit. Practicing vision requires you to draw on all your gifts and skills. As numerous teachers have taught me, “if you cannot see it, you cannot achieve it.”

National Ice Cream Sandwich Day

August 2, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

It’s National Ice Cream Sandwich Day! How could I not possibly write about Ice Cream Sandwiches. When I think about them so many memories come to mind. One of them is a conversation with a friend about the flavor of ice cream in an ice cream sandwich. I told her that I thought it really did not matter what flavor ice cream or “sandwich” it was, as long as the flavors went together and it tasted good. She insisted that the ice cream had to be vanilla and the “sandwich” chocolate. As I sit and think about this again, I have come to realize that our views on ice cream sandwiches and our views on spirituality are similar.

For her, despite the diversity of translations of the Bible, and there are numerous, she will only read the King James Version of the bible. She will only read out of the King James Version. A few years ago, someone she knew gave her a new Bible. Initially, she was excited. However, then she realized it was not the King James Version, but the NEW King James Version. It was not something she could read. It was not her vanilla ice cream in a chocolate sandwich.

I on the other hand, am not so concerned with where the lessons and inspiration come from, rather being open to receiving them and understanding why they are coming to me at this moment in my life. The recipes I am sharing today are for those of you who are like my friend, those who are a little more like me, and those who are somewhere in between. Happy National Ice Cream Sandwich Day!

Here are the three Ice Cream Sandwich recipes you can find on my Pampered Chef website

Ceramic Egg Cooker

July 26, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

Sometimes it is the simplest things in life that can inspire you and motivate you to do and see things differently. Take for example, the Pampered Chef Ceramic Egg Cooker. It is simply a ceramic vessel that allows you to cook up a healthy breakfast in just a few minutes. Put eggs in it, shake them up, and your favorite ingredients and put in the microwave. That’s it right?

Honestly, though I have come to realize there are some powerful lessons in this egg cooker. The lid has a vent hole which lets steam escape as you cook and includes a silicone gasket, which keeps the lid secure. We can easily understand why this is important when microwaving, as we do not want things boiling over and making a mess. In our own lives, we so often have moments or situations which make us want to blow a gasket, and thus we create messes, or contribute to messy situations in our lives. The vent hole reminds me that I need to ensure that I have people, places, and things I do which allow me to vent without losing my temper. One of the things which allows me to let off steam is cooking. I will pull out my manual food processor and chop up lots of onions, and other vegetables. I also meditate, sit in my rocking chair, go for a roll around the block, have a need to keep it real with the Ultimate Consciousness and go sit in my meditation and prayer garden and surrender it to the Universe.

Cut N Seal

July 19, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

This morning I was having a conversation with a friend who lives in Ontario and she got me thinking about our Cut n Seal. For a variety of reasons, the name really struck me this morning because it reminded me that there are things we need to cut out of our lives as they cut away at the foundation of our spiritual relationship and things that we need to seal in as they are important of us to hold within us and will bring us through the challenging moments in our lives. So today I want to focus on five cuts and five seals and then I will share five of my favorite recipes from the website and five that you can’t find on the site. 5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 . Let’s go.

I have been thinking about five things, which can cut away at our lives and our spiritual foundation.

Too much on your plate
I know this is true for me and I am constantly working on keeping room in my life for the Ultimate Consciousness aka God to use me. It seems like good people are always busy. I constantly have to look at my schedule and see what I can cut off or cut out so I have more time to focus on my relationship with the Divine. When I don’t then I can feel the impact on my life emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. Sometimes I need a Cut n Seal on my calendar to cut things out and off.

The Magic Pan

July 12, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

At Pampered Chef, we have this product we affectionately call The Magic Pot. It is really called the Deep Covered Baker, however, it is called The Magic Pot because what happens in this pot is magical. For example, you can microwave a pork tenderloin in 10 minutes or a whole chicken in 30, and there are lots of one-pot meals you can make in 29 minutes or less. It’s great for the oven or microwave and perfect for a family favorite casserole. It's so good, it's like magic!

One of the reasons I love this product, besides the amazing meals I make in it, is that it reminds me that everyday the Divine is working magic in me. It is as if God has put all these opportunities and people in my life, then all of a sudden, or it seems like it, I have done something with all the gifts I have been given. I am not sure I totally understand how these amazing creations have manifested in my life, but they have.

Brownie Pan Beatitudes

July 5, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

I thought calling this week’s blog Brownie Pan Beatitudes was fitting as the Brownie Pan does so much more then make Brownies. The more I use it the more I realize what a blessing it is to have at least one of these pans in my kitchen. Beatitude simply means blessing.

So what are some of these blessings? Easy! Here are eight of them. That’s how many there are in the New Testament (LOL).

1. Blessed are those who use the brownie pan because they will have the ability to have twelve equal portions they can make of any recipe.

2. Blessed are those who have a brownie pan because they can use each well to store beads and or other craft supplies.

3. Blessed are those who use the brownie pan because they promote family peace as no one is fighting over who is going to have the edges on their brownie

4. Blessed are those who have the brownie pan because it allows you to prepare make ahead meals

5. Blessed are those who have a brownie pan because their being nonstick makes clean up a breeze.

6. Blessed are those who have a brownie pan because the heavy-gauge aluminized steel ensures even baking and browning

Blessed are those who have the brownie pan because the extended edges make it easy to insert and remove the pan from the oven without burning yourself.

8. Blessed are those who also have the brownie pan because you can also cover it with the medium cover and store lid and your food will travel with you safely as you go to visit friends.

Rock Crok Recipes

June 28, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

I love the Pampered Chef Rockcrok's. If you are not familiar with them, then you are missing out on something amazing. You can use them to cook on the grill, stovetop, microwave, oven and broiler. you can also put them in the freezer, store them in the refrigerator and put them in the dishwasher. Now that we also have a slow cooker stand, you can also put start a dish off on the stove, to brown meat, and then put in the stand to slow cook all day. Then take it out of the stand and put on table to serve.

I think one of the reasons I love my Rockcrok is that it is like faith. Our faith gets us through all kinds of challenges in our life and enables us to see the light and the blessings even when we are feeling the heat that is making life challenging at the moment. Our faith, like the ceramic the Rockcroks's are made of, allows us to withstand and stay strong no matter what the heat source or the degrees of heat. Our faith gets us through.

Our faith is not anything fancy, it just is. The Rockcrok's are not much to look at, just plain black ceramic, but what you can create on them and in them is amazing. What our faith brings us through is also amazing.

Sustainable Eating

June 8, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

Although not my wife’s favorite, one of my favorite foods is seafood. I have been intentionally not buying farm fed fish and seafood, choosing wild instead. When I realized that today is World Ocean Day, I found myself being grateful for the intentional choices I have been making about my own purchases of fish and seafood. Normally, when I am at the seafood market, I hear people asking about how much it costs and complaining about the prices. Sometimes I hear them ask about how to prepare something, but usually it is about the price.

One might wonder what this has to do with spirituality. For me, our approach to the environment and the sustainability of those that live in the ocean is part of my responsibility as a human and spiritual being. Like so many other aspects of our environment we tend to consume materials and foods as if there is an unending supply. In doing some research, I learned that we are consuming more seafood and fish then our oceans can produce on their own. To compensate for the demand, companies have created fish farms. These fish farms have a negative impact on the environment. Overfishing can mean that some of the seafood and fish we are able to catch today may cease to exist. Seafood Watch has come out with a list of sustainable fish[1]

Spiritual Soufflé

May 24, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

For years, I have wanted to make a soufflé and never did because I had always heard how challenging it was. I had even heard professional chefs talk about how hard it is to get the perfect soufflé, so I let my fear keep me from ever trying. What I have learned is that making a soufflé is like a spiritual journey. There are times that it collapses or does not rise, but generally it is when you have not done something. The same without spiritual journeys, generally it is when we are not doing something or we stop working on our journeys that we begin to collapse and we do not rise in the face of a challenge.

The foundation of every soufflé is the base. You make a base, you fold in whipped egg whites and you bake it. You can make your soufflé savory or sweet, but the basics are the same. If you follow some basic tips, your soufflé will always come out light and airy.

The same is true in some sense in our spiritual lives. If we do not have a spiritual base, regardless of what that base is, we will not grow and evolve. We will like a poorly made soufflé collapse and not rise.

Love, Liver, & Onions

May 10, 2017 Sharon Jacobson

Today is National Liver & Onions day. To be perfectly honest liver and onions is not my favorite dish. However, whenever I think about liver and onions, I think about Grandma Kamin, my mother’s mother. It was one of those things that she used to enjoy making.

When I was growing up she would invite my mother and I over for a girl’s afternoon and we would drive from Nutley to Jersey City to spend the afternoon with her. We would always start by baking something awesome like rugelach, bobka cake or some other delicious baked good. Then she would begin cooking lunch and all too often it was something she and my mom loved – liver and onions. Honestly, it wasn’t then and isn’t now one of my favorites.

I think my grandmother knew this because she would always have a side dish to go with it that was on my top ten list like pasta. Had she not been keeping kosher, I am sure it would have been macaroni and cheese, but since she did, it was pasta and sauce. She never once said anything to me about the liver and onions. I could eat it with the spaghetti or I could leave it, but I always found myself eating it because it seemed like it was a part of the tradition, besides which I loved my grandmother

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