This is a quick and simple snack you can enjoy during the Daniel Fast. Not much more to say other than apple, real nut butter {peanut butter, almond butter, etc} and raisins. Easy peasy!
This fast has been very eye opening and I’m looking forward to writing a post at the end. I definitely encourage you to start if you’re thinking about doing one.
Blessings!
Here is another very friendly Daniel Fast recipe. I apologize for all the recipe posts I’ll be putting up the next few weeks but I really want to encourage those who may be struggling with the fast. And one of the things you’re not allowed to have is dairy. You’re also not allowed to drink anything other than water. However, you’re allowed to use almond milk in recipes {just as long as it’s not being used as a beverage}
“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink.”
{Daniel 1:12 ESV}
For example, I have used almond milk in Bob’s Red Mill Granola to soak.
All you will need is: 1 cup of raw almonds and 4 cups of filtered water.
That’s it.
Place the almonds in the water and allow them to soak for up to six hours.
Next place the water and almonds in a blender and blend. Keep a towel nearby as I had a little bit of spill to clean up. Or split it into two batches.
When there is foam on top is when you’re done blending.
Next pour out the mixture into a cheesecloth that is covering a large bowl or measuring cup. This will separate the almond meal from the milk. Press down on the meal with the back of a spoon to encourage the milk to drain. Every so often it’s good to scrape out the meal from the cheesecloth. I’ve read that you can keep the meal and use it in other recipes if you want.
{I used a cheesecloth but since I love this recipe so much I ended up buying a nut milk bag to make it easier. I was able to get one for $7 so they’re not that expensive, but definitely only if you plan on making this often.}
And that’s it. The almond milk will keep in the fridge from four to five days. If so desired you can add honey and a teaspoon of vanilla during the blending process to sweeten the taste. I hope this helps you as you fast or if you’re choosing to eat healthier.
Blessings!
Having been on the Daniel Fast for three days {and I’m loving it!} I’ve noticed how difficult it can be finding good recipes. Not that the focus of the fast is to enjoy the foods you’re allowed to eat, but in the hope of helping others focus more on God during this time I want to offer some recipes over the next few weeks that are especially tasty.
This recipe comes from Whole Foods. A favorite of my kids. You can mix it up by choosing your own favorite apples or nuts.
Ingredients
4 Honeycrisp apples, cored and chopped
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup pecan halves
3/4 cup hazelnuts
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Method
Put apples in an 8-inch square baking dish or 2-quart casserole dish. Drizzle with orange juice, toss until the fruit is coated and smooth the top. In a food processor, combine pecans, hazelnuts, raisins, ginger and cinnamon and pulse just until chopped. Spoon the nut mixture over the apple mixture and serve.
Blessings!
This Sunday, along with thousands of others, I’m beginning the Daniel Fast. The Daniel Fast is found in the beginning of the book of Daniel in the Old Testament.
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself. And God gave Daniel favor and compassion in the sight of the chief of the eunuchs, and the chief of the eunuchs said to Daniel, “I fear my lord the king, who assigned your food and your drink; for why should he see that you were in worse condition than the youths who are of your own age? So you would endanger my head with the king.” Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief of the eunuchs had assigned over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, “Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king’s food be observed by you, and deal with your servants according to what you see.” So he listened to them in this matter, and tested them for ten days. At the end of ten days it was seen that they were better in appearance and fatter in flesh than all the youths who ate the king’s food. So the steward took away their food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
As for these four youths, God gave them learning and skill in all literature and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams. At the end of the time, when the king had commanded that they should be brought in, the chief of the eunuchs brought them in before Nebuchadnezzar. And the king spoke with them, and among all of them none was found like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Therefore they stood before the king. And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.{Daniel 1:8-20 ESV}
I have personally never participated in a fast. Mainly because I’ve always been pregnant or nursing. Well, I did try fasting when I was a new Christian to remove meat from my diet during Lent only to find I had accidentally eaten a hamburger {no joke} on a quick lunch break. It didn’t even dawn on me until that evening when I was recounting my meals for that day. So thankful for grace.
But this is the first time I’ve really understood what fasting means and why it is so beneficial to followers of Christ. I give the credit to Susan Gregory, also known as the Daniel Fast Blogger. Her book, The Daniel Fast, is so full of wisdom. She is able to explain fasting in such a beautiful and exciting way. It’s not just about food. It’s about our spirit and our hearts.
If you’re interested in joining I highly encourage you to get this book. Only do not get the Kindle version. I’m so incredibly disappointed that I can’t print out the recipes. It’s making menu planning very difficult. But the book is worth every penny even if it didn’t come with recipes.
So won’t you join in? As New Years approaches we’re so quick to make resolutions for the whole year. This is only for 21 days and the benefits are out of this world – literally. But, of course, check with your doctor first if you have any health concerns.
Prayerfully consider fasting as an act of spiritual obedience. I, for one, and looking forward to drawing closer to God during this next month.
Blessings!
{Design inspired by the amazingly talented Nevie-Pie Cakes}
Are you busy in the kitchen baking your Christmas cookies? Have a party to go to and don’t know what to take? This is my favorite recipe and the one time of year that I go all out and make these cute little men. I won’t lie, they take about three days to make {if you have a house full of children to take care of, that is}. But they are worth. every. second. And they make the cutest gifts for friends and neighbors!
Gingerbread Men
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup molasses
1 egg yolk
2 cups sifted all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Torani Vanilla Syrup
Satin Ice Fondant
Americolor food coloring gel
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Add in the molasses and egg yolk. Combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and nutmeg; blend into the molasses mixture until smooth. Cover, and chill for at least one hour or overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, until firm. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.
4. Use same cookie cutter to cut out pieces of Satin Ice fondant. Paint top of cookie with Torani Vanilla Syrup and place cut-out fondant on top. The syrup will help the fondant to adhere to the cookie. You could use corn syrup instead of the Torani.
5. Paint desired design on top of fondant using Americolor food coloring and a touch of water {and a clean, small paint brush}.
Blessings!
