Mini Tofu Pizzas1/2 tsp oregano1 Tbs sugar2 Tbs parsley6 lenten english muffins6 oz firm tofu, pat dried and crumbled1 tsp basil1/2 tsp salt1 Tbs oil1 large can of tomato puree Spit & place muffins on cookie sheet, spread with puree; sprinkle with spices and crumble firm tofu over top. Sprinkle oil over all & bake at 450 for 10 minutes. Elegant Crab Meat Balls6-7 oz crab meat1 cup lenten bread crumbs1 Tbs lemon juice1 Tbs grated red onion1 tsp mustard1/2... Read more

I work the crossword puzzles from the daily paper each weekday at work. Sometimes the clients do as well. They kid me when I make a mistake and often ask my help with clues. The other day, just after 6:30 am wake-up, one of the clients said, “We needed your help last night. We were working one of the crossword puzzles and we needed to know the answer … Who was Jesus’ wife?” Both Huw and I stared at him... Read more

Lord, bless our friends and turn the hearts of our enemies.But if the hearts of our enemies will not be turned,then please turn their ankles, that we might know them by their limp.Stolen from the Orthodox List. Read more

Defying centuries of Muslim tradition and sparking a firestorm of controversy, a prominent female Islamic scholar led a mixed-gender congregation in prayers here Friday to assert the theological validity of female-led prayer and to challenge the widespread belief that only men may be imams. Of course this was done in an Episcopal church. Huw writes: As an Ex Episcopalian, to read the article is to take a trip down memory lane. While I generally feel very little emotion about the... Read more

Yup. Smells like Jesus. (God help me.) Jesus Candle:Bob and Karen Tosterud have created and sold over 10,000 candles they claim carry the fragrance of Jesus, and they’re calling it a ministry. The Tosteruds base the candle scent on Psalm 45:8 – “Your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.” According to Bob Tosterud, this is a great way to experience Christ: “You can’t see him and you can’t touch him. This is a situation where you... Read more

The following email, names removed, was sent to me by a pious benefactor. I found it apropos for the season — or maybe just me.I love Lent. I always sense that an additional layer of the opaque veil affecting our vision of heaven has been lifted and that we are just one step closer. Interestingly, I am a little depressed rather than uplifted by this. Most probably the burden of my sins. Fr. N. used to say that Lent is... Read more

The Great Prayer of St Ephraim the Syrian&The Moral Person O Lord and Master of my life,Take from me the spirit of sloth, despair,lust of power and idle talk;But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant.Yea, O Lord and King, grant me to see myown transgressions and not to judgemy brother, for blessed art Thou unto ages of ages. Amen. (1)This prayer, written by St Ephraim the Syrian in the 4th century, is a... Read more

+ fruit kabobs+ lenten waffles with jam or syrup+ peanut butter & honey on bagels+ fruit salad+ applesauce cake+ tahini & honey on toast+ lenten pancakes+ lenten muffins+ fresh fruits+ baked apples+ baked grapefruit+ cereal & vanilla soy milk+ cinnamon toast+ good morning cake+ kasha (or, of course, Grits)+ granola with applesauce+ granola with pie filling+ oatmeal with raisins & syrup or jam Believe it or not, applesauce works great as a milk substitute on cereals … and, equally hard... Read more

For Converts, as well as Cradle Orthodox new to fasting, Dairy Products are perhaps the hardest to step away from. For many of us, this was the main ingredient for all our foods. It is also harder to replace than eggs, which are often used in cooking only to “bond” the other ingredients together. This job is well done by egg replacements: tofu, potato starches, rice fours and a host of other substitutes. Dairy Products add a special flavor and... Read more

Greece it ain’t. But here in the Western North Carolina mountains the Huneycutts attempted to throw a “hover disk”. As mentioned in an earlier comment (below), a seminary mate labeled me a “lenten Christian”. So, today we threw the craft on empty stomachs (not octopus) and …well … here was the outcome … Happy Lent! Read more