French Toast Medallions

This morning I woke up before my alarm.  Usually, I force myself back to sleep until my alarm goes off, but I decided that french toast sounded really good.  I knew that I had used the last piece of sandwich bread yesterday for (regular, plain, buttered) toast with eggs.  I was pretty sure we still had a quarter loaf multi-grain bread left over from our Tuesday Kroger soup date.  So, I got out of bed and called my mom while I was getting the ingredients together.

Alas, there was no bread.  When I got off the phone with my mom, I told Steve that I was planning to make french toast but I didn't have any bread.  He offered to put on pants. Yep, he is so very helpful The only bread that we have in the house is a hoagie roll.  Amazing genius that he is, Steve suggests that I cut the rolls like a loaf and use that.  Bingo!  French Toast Medallions.

I actually thought about blogging before I started cooking.. So I remembered to do pictures.  Yay me.  Actually, I probably say this all the time, but this was the best batch of french toast I have ever made. Usually my french toast turns out really eggy and I don't like that.  Seriously these were perfect.

Here's what I did.  I combined the eggs, heavy cream, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a bowl and whisked them while I was talking to mom.  Then I cut the bread.  The recipe mentioned the eggs needed to be whisked very well with the heavy cream.  This is where, I think, I have gone wrong with french toast my ENTIRE life.  I have never whisked very well.  I noticed that not only was the egg white not mixing in very well.. the cinnamon was a bit clumpy.  I just so happen to have a whisk attachment for my mixer.  It is amazing!  Did the job in under a minute.  Perfection.


 Nothing special after that.  I cooked each side until it was golden brown.  The two hoagie rolls that I cut up was a perfect amount for this recipe (which calls for 4 slices of bread).  I may not ever get it this perfect again, so I am glad that I have the pictures to prove it happened.  I may have to keep some hoagie rolls on hand from now on...  I think that the kids would like these cute little french toast bites.  I am snacking on one right now with coffee in my favorite dinosaur mug.

2 large eggs

1/3 cup heavy cream, half and half, or whole milk

1 TBS granulated sugar

¼ tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp pure vanilla extract

4 thick slices of bread (I used two hoagie rolls cut into thick slices)

2 TBS butter

Pure maple syrup for serving

Directions

Please ignore my paper plate! (I hate dishes) In a medium shallow bowl, whisk together eggs and cream (or whatever milk you're using). In a small bowl, stir together the granulated and cinnamon. Stirring the sugar and cinnamon together will keep the cinnamon from clumping up in the egg mixture. Whisk the eggs, cream, sugar and cinnamon until the egg whites are broken down and well mixed into the cream. Place a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a pat of butter, about 1 tablespoon and allow to melt. Dip one slice of brioche into the egg mixture. Allow to sit for 15 seconds then flip to moisten and coat the other side. Allow to sit for another 15 seconds. Place the dipped slice of bread in the hot skillet and cook until golden brown, about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Gently flip and cook on the other side until golden brown. Don't press down and flatten the toast. Keep it fluffy. Continue until both or all of the slices are cooked, adding more butter to the pan as necessary throughout cooking. Serve warm with more cinnamon sugar and maple syrup. Bacon, too... because always.

Here is where I found this recipe

Humble Pie

As I have researched for this blog post, I have become increasingly aware that I need this word in my life.  Humble.  This year should be interesting! About the middle of December, I started asking the Lord what my new word for the year might be.  Last year was my first attempt at focusing on ONE word.  I think that overall it was a successful venture, although there were more times that I didn't focus on listening than when I did.  New year, new day, new chances..

Until today, I hadn't received a solid answer, but then I realized that in all of the things I have read, and in several conversations I have had over the last month and more specifically in the last few weeks... humility has been the central theme.  SO, I think that my new word for 2016 is humble.  My co-workers will tell you that this is probably not a quality that I have excelled in the last few years.  In fact, I have regularly touted that "I am awesome".  Which I am, but the point is.... humility lets the awesomeness speak for itself.

I told Steve about the word I feel I've been lead to.  He thinks I'm humble (I guess I have him fooled), so he asked me what I think the definition of that word is.  I don't think I know the definition, I'm not so sure that I would even recognize humble if I saw it.  I can point out pride... but what is humility?

While I was thinking about that, this story came to mind.  I don't know where it came from or if I had heard it before somewhere...

A hungry hunter prays and asks God to send him some game.  The man goes out to find food and comes across a fish swimming slowly in a clear stream.  He looks at the fish and says in his heart that he deserves something bigger than a fish, God wouldn't provide only a small fish.  The hunter walks stealthily through the forest searching for bigger prey when he happens upon a bird.  The bird doesn't seem to notice as the hunter raises his bow.  As the man takes aim, he thinks in his heart that he can do better than a bird... he is worth much more.  So the hungry hunter lowers his bow as the bird flies away.  The man continues his search for large game to fill his belly.  A rabbit foraging on the forest floor becomes very still and raises his ears, the man has the rabbit in his sight.  But again, the man decides that he needs much more than a rabbit to satisfy his hunger.  Much later in the day, the hungry hunter comes across a deer tracks.  The man says to himself, yes this is the kind of animal that I deserve! He searches and searches for the deer that left its tracks on the forest floor, but can not find the animal.  By this time it is getting dark, and disheartened the man makes his way back to his humble cabin.  As the hungry man is walking back to his home, every step he takes makes him more and more angry at God.  The man says to God, you say you are my Provider, I asked you for food, for game, and now I am going home with nothing, and I am still hungry. The forest was quiet for several minutes and then gently God answered the man.  "I gave you what you asked for.  I answered your prayer with a fish, a bird and a rabbit but in your pride you decided that you are better than my gift.. instead you kept searching for what you felt like you deserved instead of accepting what I put in your hand

So, if the story above illustrates Pride, what is true humility?

Vernon Grounds(1) says, 

"It is the spontaneous recognition of the creature’s absolute dependence on his Creator ….”

Andrew Murray(2) says,

“the place of entire dependence on God.” He adds, “Humility is not so much a grace or virtue along with others; it is the root of all, because it alone takes the right attitude before God, and allows Him as God to do all…. It is simply the sense of entire nothingness, which comes when we see how truly God is all, and in which we make way for God to be all.”

Stuart Scott says(3),

"When someone is humble they are focused on God and others, not self. Even their focus on others is out of a desire to love and glorify God…. A humble person’s goal is to elevate God and encourage others. In short, they “no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf” (2 Cor. 5:15).

So then, humility (or pride) is a matter of how we think before God. Often we can see the attitudes and behavior of pride in others. But the point is, even if we can hide our pride from others, we cannot hide it from God. This is a mindset that we have to develop before Him, where we constantly judge our dependence on ourselves and affirm our gratitude toward Him and dependence on Him. James 4:10, “Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.”(4)

If He can humble himself to become man, suffer and die for me, the least I can do is be humble myself and trust him in All things.

I'm ready 2016!!!  This year is going to be interesting and full of change, I can feel it!  

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1. Vernon Grounds.  Zondervan Pictorial Encyclopedia of the Bible, ed. by Merrill C. Tenney [Zondervan], 3:222)
2. Murray, Andrew.  Humility: The Beauty of Holiness [Christian Literature Crusade], p. 12
3. Scott, Stuart.  From Pride to Humility (rev. ed., excerpted from The Exemplary Husband [Focus Publications], p. 17
4. Cole, Steven J. Bible.org

Dear Patients,

Retail pharmacy, and most all medical fields, is an interesting and sometimes frustrating balance in giving a patient what they want while giving a patient what they need.  We have to walk a fine line between law, customer service, and insurance regulations.  Our society has become one of convenience and quick fixes.  Patients have come to expect that kind of convenience from their pharmacy.  Even though some pharmacies have drive-up windows, patients should not expect the process to work like McDonald’s.  If McDonald’s messes up your order, it’s very unlikely that you will die; this is not the case for a pharmacy.  Our job is difficult and is only made worse by patients who do not take responsibility for their own life or health care. 

            Refills are listed on the prescription label.  The label will also list an expiration date.  If your refills are denied by the doctor, or just have not been called in, it is your responsibility as the patient to call the doctor and ask why.  The pharmacy handles thousands of prescriptions a week; we do not have time or man power to call you personally when you are out of refills or to remind you to go to the doctor for a check-up.  If you notice that your prescription is about to expire or is out of refills, you should call your doctor.  Your doctor essentially works for you, they are more likely to listen to the request of their patient than that of a faxed notice from the pharmacy. 

Retail pharmacy and the invention of the coupon incentive programs have caused endless problems for pharmacy staff.  Transfers require one pharmacy to call another pharmacy and relay important information about a patient’s prescription.  Most people have more than one prescriptions and in the case of transfers between pharmacies, the larger the number of transfers at one time increases the number of mistakes that can be made.  If you must move your prescriptions, move them as you need them instead of as one large order.  We realize that this is inconvenient but it decreases the chances of error, making is safer for you.  Look at the prescription before you leave the pharmacy counter and ask questions about your new medications. Most importantly, know what medications you are taking, be involved in your own health care.

            Pharmacies don’t like to be rushed; it is important to us that we get your prescription right.  There is a process that insures the patient gets the right medication, this process takes time.  Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on our part.  Are you going on vacation?  Please give the pharmacy more than a day, we can help you if we have time.  No birth control pill because you are due for an appointment? “If I get pregnant, I’m bringing the baby to you” isn’t a response that is going to get you what you want.  Please, call your doctor, make an appointment, and they will probably give you enough medication to last until your scheduled appointment.  Are you coming to the pharmacy right before we close?  We understand emergencies but please help us out by bringing the prescription that the doctor wrote you last week a little sooner than five minutes until close.

           All of these scenarios and more can be prevented with a little understanding and patient’s taking responsibility for their own care.  We, the pharmacy staff, are there to help you navigate the confusing insurance, the doctor’s notes, and the medication you’re not really sure about.  We are gracious and forgive the lack of understanding some patients have; it’s the lazy patient that frustrates the most.  Help your pharmacy staff give you the best care possible by being a part of the process rather than treating us like a fast food restaurant.