A Sustainable Life - sorta...

Scripture of the Day:  Psalm 23:2

Song of the Day:  Lovely Day - Maroon 5 ft. Bill Withers

What's for dinner?:  Crock Pot Country Ribs, Corn on the Cob, Ceasar Salad

I read a devotional today by Joyce Meyer.   Quite appropriate to start this blog off with this lesson.
 

Scripture:  Psalm 23:2 - A Psalm of David
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  He leadeth me beside the still waters.

In the devotional that accompanied this verse, Joyce Meyer titles her writing as "A Sustainable Life". Boy did it hit home! How many of us really take the time to rest? We ignore signs from our bodies... the aches, the pains, the fatigue. We think that to be good parents/children/spouses/friends we have to exhaust ourselves to accomplish all we need to accomplish. But what about God? Do we really take the time to listen to Him and live as HE wants us to live? Or do we just continue on, day to day, living the life that we think we need to live? I love that this scripture tells us that not only is it okay to rest, but sometimes that's exactly where God will lead us. He knows where we need to be at what time. We just have to take time to stop and listen. We need to rest. 

As i was reading this devotional, a song came on my playlist.  And it made me smile.  It's grey and gloomy out today, I have a sick 7 year old home with me and it's cold (oh where, oh where did my 70 degree weather go?!).  But you know what?  It IS a lovely day!  (It's all in perspective, right?!). 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nBHAXDOxNYQ

This is the Maroon 5 version of Bill Withers song "Lovely Day".  (I love me some Adam Levine!!).  What caught my attention were the words "Then I look at you... And the world's alright with me... Just one look at you... And I know it's gonna be... A lovely day..."  Maybe that one look is to Jesus... or your children... or your husband or wife.  Maybe that is a look in the mirror.  Whatever that look is and whoever that look turns to, we make a choice each day to have a lovely day.  God gives us a lot to work with... let us rejoice in those things each day... and take the time to stop and see them!!!

So... in honor of Him leading me to lie down in green pastures, it's a CROCK POT day!!!  This recipe is SO easy!!  I found it on Pinterest here.  A great big thank you to Amanda at Amanda's Cookin' for sharing her recipe!!!  Though, I did modify it a bit, as i didn't have all the ingredients I needed.  My modifications are in red!

Crock Pot Country Ribs

INGREDIENTS

For the Ribs
• 1 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke
• 1 large onion, sliced into rings
• 1 large apple, sliced into rings
• 5-6 pounds country style pork ribs (I had 2 pounds of ribs)
• 2-3 tablespoons olive oil
• I added 1 1/2 teaspoons of dijon mustard to the BBQ sauce

The Rub
• 1 1/2 tablespoons paprika (I used smoked paprika)
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt, finely ground
• 1 1/2 teaspoons mustard powder
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 tablespoon granulated garlic (I used 3 gloves of garlic for this)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (I omitted this since Diva Tot is allergice to it)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Mix the liquid smoke into the barbecue sauce and set aside.
2. Layer onion in the bottom of the slower cooker. Layer the sliced apples over the onions.
3. Mix all the rub ingredients together. Rub all over the ribs.
4. Heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in a large skillet. Brown the ribs on all sides. You may have to work in batches. Add remaining olive oil to the skillet if needed.
5. To the slow cooker, add a layer of ribs (start with any that contain bones) on top of the apples and onions. Cover those ribs with about 1/3 cup of the barbecue sauce mixture, brushing on to cover the meat.
6. Layer remaining ribs on top of the first layer and pour on the rest of the barbecue sauce. Use a brush to ensure all ribs are covered.
7. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 7-8 hours or on high 4-5 hours.

I'll let you know how it turns out!!!  I am going to serve the ribs with fresh corn on the cob (Kroger has them 3/$1) and a ceasar salad.  

I'm not sure what this blog will bring.  I can't promise I will post everyday, but here is to a great start!!

Read More