Cooking With Anna

Cooking with Anna Mercy And Grace

by Anna Hamilton

Mercy and grace are words that are sometimes used interchangeably in our everyday conversation, but they have different meanings. Webster’s defines mercy as: “Compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power. Grace is defined as: “Unmerited divine assistance.” One of my favorite parables in the New Testament is the story of the prodigal son. In this parable, Jesus is talking to his disciples, the Pharisees and others gathered around. In the story, a father has two sons. The younger son asks for his share of the inheritance from his father. The father grants his son’s request. This son, however, is prodigal which means wasteful and extravagant, thusly squandering his fortune and eventually becoming destitute. He is reduced to eating the slop they feed the pigs. He decides to go back to his father. He is welcomed back with open arms and a feast is given in his honor. This story brings to life the true meaning of mercy and grace. Mercy gives the prodigal son a second chance. Grace gives him the feast. He doesn’t deserve either one, but his father shows compassion and welcomes him back with open arms. He then goes the extra step and extends unmerited divine assistance. Nothing the son has done in his life has earned him that feast. He has nothing to show for his life but by the grace extended to him, he can now begin to rebuild. In this life, I have found it easy to show mercy to others. Most people show mercy to others easily. You put money in the little red bucket outside the store during Christmas because you have compassion for ones less fortunate than you. Mercy seems to be easily offered to others, especially during this time of the year. We feed the hungry, we donate old clothes to thrift stores or homeless shelters, and we give of our finances and time. Showing mercy makes us feel good about ourselves. Showing grace to another is a little bit harder. Giving grace to another person is forgiving them, unconditionally, even if they don’t deserve or ask for it, in the same way that God has forgiven us. That one stings just a little. It’s not always easy to forgive someone that doesn’t seem to show any remorse for the actions they have taken in their life. Even if they haven’t personally done something to us, in order for us not to view them in a negative light, we still must forgive them for the sins they have committed and try to see them with new eyes. Now how in the world does all this relate to a journey to better health? I think most of us are able to show mercy to others who are trying to lose weight, live a healthier lifestyle. Most of the time we are able to show a little compassion even to ourselves. My husband and I are both doing our best to live a healthier life. When he slips up and has a candy bar, I find it easy to show him grace, easy to forgive his slip-up. The problem comes when I slip up myself. I do a horrible job showing myself grace. I beat myself up for not being perfect, for not sticking to my strict diet plan, for eating things that I shouldn’t. During this journey to better health, I am slowly learning to give myself grace. Forgive yourselves! -- That is going to become my anthem. I want it to be yours too, forgive yourself. We are all doing our best, and we will all be okay… at least that’s what I’m going to keep telling myself. Here in Alabama, it has gotten COLD y’all. It went from a pleasant 74 degrees to chilly 34-degree overnight lows. With the time change, the sun is setting sooner and that temperature is dropping quickly. The recipe this week is a delicious low-carb cauliflower chowder. It sticks to your ribs and is so comforting. I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Creamy Cauliflower Chowder

Ingredients:

1 Tbsp. butter ½ cup onion, diced 5 garlic cloves, minced ½ cup carrots, diced 1 head of cauliflower, cut into small florets 2 ½ cups vegetable broth ½ tsp. dried oregano ¼ cup cream cheese 4 strips of bacon, cooked and crumbled Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

In a large soup pot, heat butter and add onions and garlic. Sauté for a few minutes until the onions are soft and translucent. Add carrots, cauliflower, 1 ½ cups of vegetable broth, oregano, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil then lower the heat to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes or so till the cauliflower is tender. Remove the pan from the heat and using a hand blender, blend the soup until you reach the smoothness you like. If you do not have a hand blender, pour half the soup into a blender and pulse a few times until creamy. Once the soup is its desired consistency, put the soup back on the heat and add the remaining cup of broth along with the cream cheese. Simmer for 5-10 minutes. Top with bacon and enjoy.

Cover Story Christmas In Limestone County 2020

by Jennifer Williamson

continued from page 1

help promote and celebrate the holiday season. Tere Richardson, Executive Director of Athens Main Street, expressed to me her enthusiasm for this collaborative effort by saying, “Downtown Athens is a lovely place to visit anytime of the year. But, Christmas on the Square is a magical time and especially during Christmas Open House weekend. With ice skating, caroling, photos with Santa, North Pole Stroll Christmas trees, and most importantly, great shopping, it is a family event that is not to be missed.” Below is a description of events and opportunities for the residents of Limestone County and Athens.

34th Annual Christmas Open House

November 21-22, 2020

Downtown Athens, Alabama

• The Greater Limestone County Chamber of Commerce and Athens Main Street are planning a weekend full of fun for the whole family. The date for this year's Christmas Open House is November 21 through November 22. • Skating rink hours are Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. • Photos with Santa on Marion Street will be from 1 - 3 p.m. both Saturday and Sunday. • Merry Market on Marion Street will take place on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. Vendor applications are coming soon. • NEW THIS YEAR: The Broken Brush Art Studio will offer painting opportunities for children and adults near the skating rink. Children can paint a Christmas tree night light for $15 each and adults can paint a 12" lighted Christmas tree for $45. Take home paint kits will also be available for purchase. If you purchase four or more items, you will receive a discount. • Stan Smith and Wild Hearts Cowboy Carriage Rides will also offer carriage rides throughout the open house. • Be sure to join us for the “Season of Love” Christmas Concert hosted by Jerome & Tiffany Malone on November 21 from 4 - 5:30 p.m. on the Courthouse Square!

North Pole Stroll

December 1 - 31, 2020 Big Spring Memorial Park

Downtown Athens

• Athens-Limestone County Tourism Association is offering businesses the opportunity to purchase a tree in their annual North Pole Stroll. The stroll is located in Big Spring Memorial Park in downtown Athens. Trees are $100 and for more information, contact the Tourism Office at (256) 2325411. Annual Limestone County Commission Christmas Tree Lighting - December 3, 2020 - East Side of the Limestone County Courthouse Lawn • Before the annual parade, the Limestone County Commission would like to invite the community out for some Christmas carols and excitement as Limestone County's official Christmas tree will be lit on Thursday, December 3, 2020, at 5 p.m. on the east side lawn of the historic Limestone County Courthouse. Carols will be sung by Tom McClung and the emcees for the event will be Jamie and Gloria Cooper. Ornaments, decorated by area students, will be judged and winners will be announced. There is a 100 percent chance of snow at the courthouse.

Athens-Limestone County

Christmas Parade

December 3, 2020

Begins Promptly at 6 p.m.

• After the tree lighting, residents from across the entire county will convene for the annual Athens-Limestone County Christmas Parade. The theme is “A Christmas Wish - Love, Unity, & Community.” The parade will begin at 6 p.m. on December 3rd at Athens Middle School on U.S. Highway 31 and follow the same route as previous years — west on Hobbs Street, south on Jefferson Street, east on Market Street, south on Marion Street, west on Washington Street, south on Jefferson Street, and ending at the Hometown Shopping Center. Betty Christopher, who has worked with the parade since 2004, will serve as grand marshal. Parade applications can be turned in from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays at the Chamber office located at 101 S. Beaty Street in Athens. The deadline to register is at 4 p.m. on November 19.

10th Annual

Sippin' Cider Festival

December 12, 2020

Downtown Athens

• Athens Main Street has scheduled their annual cider festival for December 12, 2020, from 5 - 8 p.m. Downtown merchants will be open late for shopping and dining. While shopping, patrons can sip on cider and vote for their favorite! Merchants are competing for the coveted Cider Cup and bragging rights for the year. Patrons can eat s’mores on the courthouse lawn. Christmas carols will be led by Limestone County native Jerome Malone. Kids can also get their picture taken with costume characters. We at the Chamber and throughout Limestone County are so excited to once again host the 2020 Christmas Open House! It will be a great weekend to kick off your holiday shopping while supporting our local businesses, and you will

find something for the whole family to enjoy during Christmas Open House. See you there!