Tropical Cucumber Avocado Salad

Here is a recipe I thought I would share with you. It looks great to me and I am going to make it possibly for dinner tonight. It sounds like it could be pared with just about anything be it salmon, chicken, shrimp, or eaten alone.

It comes from Essence Magazine, May 2012 issue in the Body & Spirit section.

Tropical Cucumber Avocado Salad
makes 4 servings
prep time: 15 minutes

2 T lime juice
2 tsp light brown sugar
1 tsp rice or white wine vinegar
2 T fresh orange juice
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
1 med. seedless cucumber, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1 avocado, cut into 3/4-inch dice
1 mango, cut into 3/4-inch dic
1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
3 cups arugula

Combine lime juice, brown sugar, vinegar, orange juice and crushed red pepper flakes in a large bowl.
Slowly stream in the olicve oil while whisking to form an emulsion. Season with salt and pepper. Add
cucumber, avocado, mango and red onion; season and gently toss to coat. Serve over a bed of arugula.

Proverbs 31:10-31

"A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.

Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.

She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.

She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.

She gets up while it is still dark;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her servant girls.

She considers a field and buys it;out of her earning she plants a vineyard.

Photo credit: Cheryl Christmas (Nazareth)

She sets about her work vigorously

her arms are strong for her tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.

In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy.

When it snows, she has no fear for her

household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the

elders of the land.

She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.

She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

She watches over the affairs of her

household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

photo credit: whimsicalraindropcottage.tumbler.com

                                                                                   Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is

fleeting;

but a woman who fears the Lord is to

be praised.

Give her reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at

the city gate."

Is There Room at Your Table?

I wonder how many of you have ever taken time to do a study on the Feasts of the Lord? It is a fascinating study if you have the time. You will find that, Passover, is filled with much symbolism to both Christian and Jew alike.

Last spring, my husband and I had the honor of sitting at the table in the home of a beautiful Jewish couple. It was for their family Passover Seder and we were the invited guests. It was a thrilling experience for both of us to take part in.

The table was beautifully decorated and the meal took days of preparation in the family kosher kitchen. The woman of the home made the meal all the more memorable with her exquisite touches. Everything prepared was visually and artfully arranged and tasted simply divine.

Photo credit: Cheryl Christmas 

The true Seder is not a meal that you rush through. As a matter of fact, this dinner goes into hours of feasting with numerous hand washings in between, tastes of wine, along with reading and singing in Hebrew. The Haggadah, is the traditional script one receives as the ceremonial foods are eaten. Sometimes they sang really fast or missed a few pages to move the dinner along. It is a night of reflection on the exodus from Egypt of the Jewish people. Truly, this night is not like all other nights.

Interestingly, our hosts did not know us ahead of time. The daughter of the couple had met me just the day before; and with a simple phone call to mom~asked if there was room at the table for two more.

This loving, Jewish couple, invited us both into their most intimate holiday. We were seated among their friends, welcomed into their conversation, ate their expensive kosher food, invited into their Master suite for hand washing, and had never prior met us. Truly, this was hospitality at best.

I wonder how many of us could do something similar for our holiday dinner?  Would you invest your time and money into someone you do not know?

Maybe for your next gathering you will take me up on this challenge. Ask yourself if there is room at your table for a few more. Then don't just think about it~invite them in to dine!

Matthew 25:35 "I was a stranger and you invited me in."