Food & Fun: Mexican Ground Beef

Kim and I absolutely love Mexican food. We have found decent Mexican restaurants in Indianapolis but no place that has become our “go to” place. We have had the chance to eat at some great places as we have traveled but no place locally just takes our breath away. So, we have worked on our own.

While I am not at liberty to share all of our secrets, I will give you an excellent recipe for making your own ground beef for Mexican food. This is part Rachel Ray, part Tabors. It is a really nice recipe that we enjoy eating regularly in a variety of ways.

Tabors Mexican Ground Beef

• 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil in a frying pan
• 1 pound of ground sirloin
• salt & pepper to taste
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
• 2 1/4 tablespoons Chili Powder
• 2 teaspoons ground Cumin
• 1 (8 oz) can of tomato sauce

Heat skillet over medium heat. Add oil then beef and brown, crumbling with a spoon (we have found a wooden spoon to work well). Drain grease. Season with salt & pepper and a couple of shakes of garlic powder if you like. Add onion, Worcestershire Sauce, Chili Powder, Cumin & Tomato Sauce. Let cook for 2 minutes and then lower heat to a simmer. Let simmer for 5 minutes, stirring a few times.

Enjoy!

You can put this over tortilla chips, and add beans & cheese (melt under broiler) and top with your favorite toppings like tomatoes, onions, guacamole, black olives & sour cream, to make nachos.

You can use it for tacos or any other Mexican food application as well.

A recipe that we really like is one that we got from some friends of ours, Doug & Judy Litsey, that is called Fiesta Night.

Place a serving of your favorite cooked rice (white or brown) on a plate. Cover with your favorite Mexican cheese blend. Top with Seasoned beef and whatever other toppings you like (onion, tomato, salsa, guacamole, black olives, sour cream, etc….). This makes a wonderful meal.

If you end up trying this let us know. We think you will really enjoy it! Plus, making your own mixture saves you on some of the junk they put into those packet mixes!

Catching Up: Priorities

Life is so amazingly busy….wow. I know that you feel it too. Every moment there is some place to be or something to do. It seems to be spinning out of control sometimes, doesn’t it? I would love to hear your thoughts on how you manage this in your own lives. Mine is a work in progress to be sure.

Here are some things I am trying to do:

1. Take a break from my Blackberry. Kim is trying to help me with this.
2. Spend time in a quiet place.
3. Make sure that I am feeding my soul spiritually, emotionally, physically and artistically.
4. Don’t be a slave to the computer.

Yeah, I know – not exactly rocket science. But, I am trying!

Today, for instance, is Sunday and here are my top priorities today:

1. Bring my fervent worship to the House of God
2. Love my wife
3. Call my parents
4. Watch the Colts smoke the Arizona Cardinals

Other than the elements on that list, everything is negotiable.

How are you coping with the quickening pace of life? I would love to hear your feedback.

Be Blessed.

Worship Matters: Building Community

Communication is so important. When you really think about it, we spend huge parts of every day communicating. Social networks are based on communicating with family, friends and long lost schoolmates and it seems that every person in America over the age of 3 now has their own cell phone.

I find myself thinking about this often….other than sharing information, where does all of this get us? I literally get bogged down and stressed out at times because there are so many details I need to communicate. It’s crazy. I’m working on that.

I know. Sharing information is important. In ministry I deal with large groups of people and I have found that I have to communicate most details multiple times and in at least 4 different ways for everyone to get the message. I’m not saying information isn’t important because it is. Details and planning are the backbone of worship ministry in the local church.

But, the question I am posing is different. When is the last time you had a genuine conversation with someone? I mean a conversation where both parties participated actively?

So many times conversations are one-sided, with one of the parties laying out everything that is important to them and then walking away. When is the last time you feel like someone sat down and genuinely entered your world?

My wife will laugh when she reads this blog because I am not a person who tends to enjoy long conversations. I am more of a “just the facts ma’am” sort of guy. But, I do find myself wanting more. I find myself wanting to know and to be known. Kim is great at this. She digs in with people. She asks questions. She cares deeply about the needs of other people. I am working at that. Sometimes I just feel too overwhelmed to take the time to enter the world of another person. It takes an investment on my part. What if they don’t return the investment?

I really desire the Worship Ministry at MPCC to be a place of genuine community. I’m not saying, in any way, that it isn’t a caring place, but I think we can always go deeper. I want people to care for one another. I want us to live out Galatians 6:2 that says, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” (NIV)

I want to challenge you to enter someone’s world today. Try to have a conversation that is completely about another person. It’s tough to do and I know that from experience. Give it a shot. Enter their world. Engage them. Care for them and see what happens. I believe that when we experience genuine Biblical community we will get to know a side of The Father and His design for us that we desperately need in The Church.

What are your thoughts on community? Do you experience it? If so, how? When? Where? Tell me about it.

My Random Thoughts – 9.14.09

Here are some of my random thoughts on a beautiful fall day in Indiana.

I think that this time of year is absolutely beautiful in Central Indiana. Bright sunshine, blue skies and soon, the leaves will begin to change. Beautiful!

I think my wife Kim is amazing! She manages to work full-time for Tabor Ministries during the week, travel most weekends to minister and is still an amazing wife, friend and partner in ministry. I love her. Plus she is a red-hot stone cold fox and makes a fabulous loaf of pumpkin bread (among other things).

I think that I am astonished by how little attention the Colts are getting from the national media. Changes, yes. New personnel, absolutely. But the Colts have had a run of elite winning seasons rarely seen in professional sports, especially the NFL. Are the Patriots the only team that gets the benefit of the doubt? Come on! On my way to work I listened to at least 4 ESPN updates of yesterday’s NFL action and NONE OF THEM EVEN MENTIONED THE COLTS GAME. Get serious. It may not be a cakewalk for them this year but last time I checked Peyton Manning was still the starting quarterback, correct? As long as he is under center and Reggie Wayne is catching passes we have a great chance. Plus, can you say defense? Wow, I know it’s only been 1 game but the Colts defense made the Jaguars look like a horrible offensive team yesterday. It was only close because of a couple of turnovers.

I think that our new sermon series, “What’s Your Story” is going to be powerful! We are doing some of the most strategic and intentional worship planning I have ever been a part of in my career and we are believing that God is going to do amazing things as people get real and share their stories. Follow the link and select Video Testimonies to see the videos we’ve done so far.

I think that Israel Houghton’s new album “The Power Of One” is outstanding. Most of it is going to be very hard to pull off in the local church setting but it is an amazing CD.

I think that if you are a terrible driver you should take all Christian related materials off of your vehicle. No Jesus fish, no bumper stickers and no “In God We Trust” license plate. Seriously, you are giving us bad press! And, for the record, this is precisely why I don’t have any of those things on my car!

I think that turn signals are an important part of the driving partnership. Use them.

I think that our MPCC team did an outstanding job this weekend. Band, Choir, Vocal Team, and especially Tech Team – all were outstanding! Putting the Worship Center back together after a week of construction, starting a new church wide emphasis and launching a new Video Venue service all in the same week….are you serious? That is A LOT and they did it like the true professionals that they are. Way to go team – YOU ROCK!!

I think that the Cardinals experienced a small hiccup this weekend. You don’t run through the national league like they have over the last 3 months and call it a fluke. They will rebound and make serious noise in the playoffs.

I think that my family is absolutely awesome! Mom & Dad came to visit this weekend and they ALWAYS rock a couple of bags of BBQ Grippo’s from Evansville for us. Thanks guys!

What are your random thoughts today??