I’m not an outstanding cook and this is probably not news to most of you, but I learned this trick from my mom and it’s so gratifying when something works right every time, don’t you think? Then I was watching Rachael Ray once and saw that she boils an egg the same way. I hate it when she copies me.

1. Put as many raw eggs in the bottom of a pan (the size will depend on how many eggs you want to cook) that will fit in one layer.
2. Fill pot with enough water to cover eggs.
3. Put the lid on and bring it to a boil.
4. As soon as you’ve got a nice, rolling boil going, remove the pot from the heat but don’t remove the lid.
5. Let the eggs sit in the hot water for 20 minutes.
6. When the timer rings, drain the hot water and fill it up with cold until cooled.

That’s it! No green/gray film and no undercooked yolk. Works every time!

I’m not blogging lately because, well, I got nothin’. Besides, my last post used up all my thinking brain cells.

What I’ve discovered is that thinking brain cells are a lot like my 6-pack abs: if I don’t use them, they go away. Or, more accurately, they turn to mush. (Not that I’ve ever had 6-pack abs, but you get my point.)

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About 5 minutes just lapsed from the time I finished writing that last paragraph to the time I began writing this one. Because why? Well, because I looked at that phrase “6-pack abs” and was overwhelmed with the urge to do with it what I always do with things like that.

Google it.

You can imagine my intrigue when I found this article come up in the results: The Secret for 6-Pack Abs. Well glory be. Finally. A secret.

I read the article.

Dumb.

The bottom line is, there’s no secret. Unless “diet and exercise” is what you call a secret. Give me a break.

A secret would be something like, “A small group of cancer researchers at one of the country’s well-known universities was studying the effects of chocolate on the brain cells of rats who are entering the twilight years of their lives. In the process, they discovered (quite by accident) that humans who want 6-pack abs can achieve this goal easily by consuming, of all things, a jumbo size Hershey’s chocolate bar with almonds. But there is a catch. The jumbo chocolate bar, eaten alone, will not achieve the desired results. Surprisingly, the only way a well-defined 6-pack will emerge, is if the jumbo chocolate bar is first smothered in peanut butter, then sprinkled with crushed toffee and finally, served atop exactly 4 scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. The scientists discovered that this particular combination works in such a way as to safely, quickly, painlessly and effortlessly dissolve fat, particularly in the abdominal region. The loss of fat then reveals firm, well-defined abdominal muscles, often referred to as ‘6-pack’ abs.”

Yes. That would be my kind of secret.

For Father’s Day, my husband chose to eat at one of the Indian restaurants nearby. We love Indian food (particularly the all-you-can-eat buffets) and the kids especially love the Tandoori Chicken.

In case you’re not familiar with Tandoori Chicken, you should definitely become familiar. It’s very tasty. I don’t claim to know how they make it, but I think they rub tandoori spice on it before cooking. The spice makes the chicken bright red in color.

So, as we’re eating lunch. my daughter looks down at her Tandoori Chicken. Her face suddenly brightens (as in a aha! moment) and she says, “Hey mom, maybe this was a Cardinal before!”

I’m not a stellar cook. My mom? A stellar cook. Me? Hardly. But I surprised myself recently. I actually came up with something good. But hold that applause, it’s only a smoothie. A smoothie hardly qualifies as something “cooked.” And I never said this was original. Most households probably whip something similar up each day in America. I’m still choosing to be proud.

So, I present to you my latest creation. Best of all, it’s quick, all natural and it kills several birds with one stone (that is, daily servings of all kinds of things in the food pyramid).

By the way, the measurements are complete guesses. Consider this a rare moment to exercise your free will without guilt. Go on, be wild.

Dump in the blender the following:

• Plain yogurt (about 1 cup)
• One ripe banana
• Frozen blueberries (about 1 cup)
• Add a little milk and/or 100% juice to make it drinkable.

It’s outstanding as is, if I do say so myself, but if you really want to be crazy, add a little heavy cream. Yes, that’s right. Don’t just be wild, be reckless. You won’t be sorry.

I recently read an article in Charisma magazine entitled “Why Is the Church So Fat?” by Kara Davis, M.D. (also the author of Spiritual Secrets to Weight Loss). Talk about thought-provoking!

Because I wouldn’t characterize myself as obese, I was initially reading the article with an “holier-than-thou” attitude. But conviction quickly set in when I read the following:

Even though excess and indulgence are the norm for the world’s system, the Word of God admonishes us to control our appetites. We are encouraged to crucify these tendencies and choose a lifestyle marked by sobriety and moderation. Many Christians struggle with obesity for no reason other than an unwillingness to reject the worldly tendency toward self-indulgence and excess.

How do you know if this is your problem? Examine your behavior.

Is the first serving never quite enough? Are you compelled to eat in response to the sight, smell or taste of food in the absence of real hunger? Are you reluctant to set dietary restrictions–even at the advice of a nurse or physician–if it means sacrificing enjoyment?

Busted…on all three counts. I realized that even though eating may not be a weight issue for me, it certainly is a heart issue. Just because I don’t tend toward obesity does not mean I have free license to eat what I want, when I want and how much I want. I’m still responsible to avoid gluttony (Proverbs 23:19-20, Philippians 3:17-21) despite my ability to “hide” it.

Source: Davis, Kara. “Why Is the Church So Fat?” Charisma July 2004: 44-48.