Well it's that time again....the most wonderful time of the year! The fragrance of cinnamon and spiced cider wafting through the house and pumpkin pie and turkey in the oven! Oh, and let's not forget an abundant supply of hot chocolate, cookies and brownies - YUM!
This week I've been contemplating what turkey recipe I like the best. For many years I've successfully prepared a typical traditional roasted turkey. However, several years ago I got my Food Network "vibe" on and decided to change things up a bit by adding several new methods to my turkey cooking repertoire.......Smoked - wonderful but I missed the traditional taste with good ole Southern cornbread dressing and giblet gravy seasoned with the pan drippings. Oh, and the smoked taste and pumpkin pie together just didn't get it for me! Then there's the quirky but wonderful recipe my daughter in law prepares - turkey filled with fruit, basted with butter and apple juice and roasted in a brown paper sack (sounds more like a turkey fruit salad sack lunch I know, but it's amazing)! Then last year I decided to do the Alton Brown thing and brine my bird.......Sorry Alton, but my kitchen looked like a war zone and my fridge was overtaken by a five gallon bucket and a turkey floating in a zip lock bag big enough to put a kitchen chair in! Won't be doing that again!! But, my all time favorite recipe was one inspired by my Southern Sister Paula Deen - Hey ya'll, us Georgia gals can get our "cook" on!! Can you say DEEEEEP FRIIIIIED YA'LL! Oh yea, that's what I'm talking about!! So I bought a turkey fryer kit from Walmart (on sale I want you to know!) gallons of peanut oil, the perfect broad breasted bird, copious amounts of sweet butter and EVOO (hey, hey, Rachel Ray!) and prepared my own version of Paula's seasoning rub (course salt, fresh cracked pepper, garlic powder and Season All seasoned salt) and last but not least, the most important gadget of all - a flavor injector! Never used such a thing before but Paula said it so I had to have it ya'll! I saturated the bird with EVOO and massaged my most beautiful bird with rub and then with my new kitchen toy I injected it with melted butter and garlic powder. The secret is the infusion of this wonderful buttery garlic solution into every nook and cranie of the bird. There wasn't one morsel of that bird that didn't have that wonderful infused flavor through and through! I'm tellin' ya.......can you say FABULUUUUUUS! So I'm all about infusion ya'll! (Mercy, I must pause here and wipe the drool off my keyboard!! PAUUUUUUSE)! Ok, I'm back!
Well, by now you're probably wondering if this post is entirely about the joys or trials of turkey cookin'........but oh contraire! As I was in the Word the other day this scripture jumped off the page at me (not really but you know what I mean!)...
I have strength for all things in Christ
Who empowers me
(I am ready for anything and equal to anything
through Him Who INFUSES inner strength into me,
I am self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency)
Philippians 4:13 amp
DID YOU CATCH THAT!!.......He infuses US!! Just like my turkey, He infuses every part of us with inner strength......I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses me!!! Glory to God!
I love the Webster Dictionary meaning of infuse....
To introduce one thing into another so as to affect it through out.
Yes Lord, I want to be totally affected throughout by You and Your Word!
Inspire the sense of purpose.
Thank you Lord that you have a plan and purpose for me and you
infuse my heart with Divine inspiration!
Implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.
Thank you Lord that through the Holy Spirit you are
pouring into me freshness,
newness and significance as a Daughter of the King!
The synonyms of infuse also encourage my heart.....
Imbue: Implies the introduction of a quality that fills and
permeates the whole being.
Oh yes Lord, I desire that my whole being be filled to
overflowing and permeated with Your presence!
Ingrain: Suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.
Yes Lord, my deepest desire is to be deeply implanted in You and
Your Word and become more like You - To God be the Glory!
Leaven: Implies introducing something that enlivens,
tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.
Yes Lord, as I walk by faith in You and Your word I am totally changed,
enlivened and marked by the Holy Spirit!
Ladies, my prayer for each of us as we move into the busyness of this wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas season is that we would be so keenly aware of Who's and What we are.....Daughters of the Most High God, totally INFUSED with His love and power, deeply planted in Him and being continually INFUSED with His Spirit......enlivened, inspired, changed and marked for His Glory!
Oh, and may all your turkey's turn out FABULOUUUUUS!!
Sweet Blessings my Divinely Infused Sisters!
