COME AS A CHILD LESSON 156 GOD'S PLANS FOR THE LAMPSTAND

BUILDING THE LAMPSTAND FOR THE SANCTUARY OF THE TABERNACLE
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

God instructed Moses on how he was to make the Lampstand for the wilderness tabernacle.  

It was to be made of pure gold. The base was to be hammered out, and the shaft was to be hammered out. It was to have flower-like cups, buds and blossoms made of one piece.  Six branches were to extend from the sides of the Lampstand – three on one side, and three on the other. Three cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms were to be on one branch, three on the next branch, and it was to be the same for all six branches extending from the Lampstand.   On the Lampstand there were to be four cups shaped like almond flowers with buds and blossoms.  One bud should be under the first pair of branches extending from the Lampstand, a second bud under the second pair, and a third bud under the third pair – six branches in all.  The buds and branches should all be of one piece with the Lampstand, hammered out of pure gold. 

Seven lamps were to be made for this Lampstand.  The seven lamps were to set upon the Lampstand and be used to light the space in front of it.  The wick trimmers and trays were to be made of pure gold. A talent of pure gold was to be used for the Lampstand and all of these accessories.  

God instructed Moses to be very careful to make all of this exactly like the pattern that He showed him.  Nothing was to be altered or changed.   Everything was to be done exactly as God had instructed.  

This beautiful Lampstand is very symbolic, and we have so much to learn from this one magnificent piece of furniture placed to the left of the Holy Place.  

One of the best books I've ever read about this Lampstand was written by Dr. John D. Garr, Ph.D.   The book is titled "God's Lamp, Man's Light - Mysteries of the Menorah."  I highly recommend that every person on earth purchase this book and read it.  I have no ties and am not personally affiliated with the author; I am just am a witness to the great significance of this Lampstand of which he does a beautiful job of describing.  Dr. Garr's book goes into greater detail than we could ever do justice in such a short blog article.   His description is the best description and interpretation of the Lampstand I have ever read; and I have read many. 

There are also mysteries in the scriptures relating to the Menorah in the wilderness tabernacle.  These things too are amazing and detailed.  I cannot go into all of them here; but I recommend that you do some reading of your own from the works of other biblical scholars who go deeper into this subject.  It is all truly fascinating and deep and you could fill volumes and volumes of books on this subject of the Menorah alone.  That is not my intention today; so this will be a very brief and to the point description of The Lampstand, so that we may go on with our story of Moses in the Exodus.  Do understand though, that the Lampstand is very, very significant to the people of God.    Also understand that we will be touching on some more of this subject as we go along.  This is only an introduction to the things within the wilderness tabernacle.  There are pieces of vital information concerning these very important elements of worship scattered all the way through the holy scriptures that will come alive to us as we study more and more of God's word together.

So; in spite of the difficulty of explaining so much truth in such a brief space; I will attempt to touch on some of the most relevant points of  the subject of The Lampstand.  I am humbled to even share this subject; and I fear saying too much about such holy things that could be misinterpreted if not spoken with great care.  I would rather say too little than add or subtract from the truth.  As usual, I stand in awe of the wonderful way God teaches us through both sacred objects and ordinary things in life.

So let's explore the mysteries of the Menorah.  What are the answers to "who," "what," "when," "why," and "where" regarding this subject.  

Who?

The Lampstand of the Menorah clearly represents Christ, as The Most High Priest of God.

You can see the importance of One in the design of this Lampstand.  Everything is hewn out of one solid piece of gold.   It reminds us of the Oneness of Christ with God the Father.  This is what qualifies Him to be The Most High Priest.

There are seven lamps that work together to provide the light from the Menorah.  The main piece providing light in the middle of the Menorah (The Lampstand) represents Christ, and it holds and offers the greatest light.  All of the other light is made possible through the oil that originally flows from this one great  light.  Six other lamps are fed by the oil of olive leaves  that pour out into and flow from the center of the Lampstand.  These six lamps represent those who follow Christ.  There are three on one side and three on the other side. Could those represent the Old Testament and the New Testament Christians?  I am not sure; but that is a thought to ponder.   

The number six is always representative of the humanity of mankind.  When we think of the six branches connecting to the Lampstand in the center we are reminded of the words of Christ when He told us in John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches."   The rest of Christ's words in this passage clearly emphasize His place as our Most High Priest, standing ever before the Throne of God to make intercession for our souls.  He said "If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing."  Without the Lampstand in the center the branches of the Menorah would have been totally useless.  They can only bear light out into the darkness if they are connected to the center of the Lamp.  This reminds us of how Christ makes us complete.  If you add 1 to 6 you get the number seven; the total number of the lights.  Without the One the other six would not be complete and could not function properly.  The number seven always stands for completeness.  God completed the six days of creation with the seventh day - and this was the most holy part of the creation week.  God completed the creation of mankind by sending His beloved Son to live as one of us; and that is what makes our lives sacred and holy.  Because of the seventh light, the other six are useful to the work of The Kingdom of God.  

It was the Most High Priest who could go into The Holy of Holies and come before the Presence of God who rested over the Mercy Seat of the Ark in  the wildernessTabernacle.  The Lampstand provided the light to see the way into this area.  Without Christ, this would not be possible for anyone.  If a man entered improperly; he would die.  So it is with our souls who must be covered with Christ before entering before the Throne of God.  

The oil comes from the oil that flows from the center (Christ) and the oil of the great Lampstand represents the presence of The Holy Spirit.  All of the other lights, receive the oil that makes their light from the center (The Lampstand.)     This is symbolic of the fact that without the foundation of Christ in our lives; we have no access to God's Holy Spirit.

The six branches and/or lights; the ones on each side of the center light, stand for those who have followed and been associated with Christ throughout the ages (The True Church), or in other words, this section of the lamp stands for how God's people are connected to God through Christ as The Most High Priest of God.  He is the One who IS the Lampstand in the center of the Menorah, and the whole lamp works together to shine out God's glory to illuminate the darkness.   As each individual light shines out together with the others through the oil from  the largest light in the center; they have stories to tell; stories that bring glory to God The Father.

You must distinguish The Lampstand from the whole Menorah.  The Lampstand is the center that holds everything together (Christ) and  there are branches on the sides (God's People) holding lamps that hold oil. The whole Menorah represents and symbolizes God's Kingdom at work together with Jesus acting as The Most High Priest, The Holy Spirit flowing from Christ and  indwelling the people who should be living like lamps that are not hidden; shinning their light out into the world.

So you see, this Menorah in the Sanctuary is so much more than a mere functional light fixture in a room.  It is a beautiful piece of art designed and conceived from God, and it represents so much more than any human artist could ever portray.    

The ancient Israelites actually called the light from the Menorah “ner Elohim” or “The Lamp of God.”   Can you see how "The Lamp of God" would be Jesus Christ acting as our Most High Priest? 

King David identified with this “Lamp of God” in the psalms that he sang, using the words; “He wraps Himself in light as with a garment.”   David was speaking of  the beautiful illustration of God through Christ that we see represented in the Menorah.  (Psalm 104:2)  .  

It was also David who spoke of The Lamp of God being a “lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”  He was speaking of this Lampstand that connects to the lamps of the Menorah in the Tabernacle.  Christ being "The Word Of God" represents Torah as well as representing the role of our Most High Priest.  He IS the Living Word of God.  His words are direction for our souls.  David received instruction for life from the Holy Scriptures in Torah.  Even before the Messiah had come David knew these words contained The Words of Life.  

No matter how dark the human condition becomes; just one ray of light from this “Lamp of God” is said to dispel the darkness and bring clarity and purpose into our world.  This marvelous Lampstand is said to mark the pathway to The Tree of Life.  (Isa. 35:8) 

We know  that Jesus Christ is “the way.”  The Glory of God is fully revealed in Jesus Christ.  Jesus became known as “The Light Of The World.”  Through this light, in the living, dying, rising and giving of His life, mankind has been illuminated and brought into the Divine Presence of God.  John 8:12 speaks of this:  “I am the light of the world, he that follows me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

The significance of this Lampstand of God started at the very moment of creation when the voice of God said; “Let there be Light.”  Light came into the nothingness of total darkness and the universe began with glorious light, seen for the first time ever.   

Many see the significance of the six branches and their lamps representing the first six days of creation and the seventh, the middle branch (the Lampstand) being representative of the seventh day; the Sabbath.

As the universe was born into light and time went on, light became equated with knowledge and wisdom.  The Light of God shone from the Lampstand and gave meaning to the whole universe and everything that made up life.

So in this we see the who.  It is Christ, our Creator, Our Savior, Our Beloved, Our Most High Priest.  Way before he came as a man, His presence was there before the Glory of God in the tabernacle in the wilderness.  He was showing types and shadows of what was to come later to provide a way for man and God to be together forever.  

What?

That is the "Who" of The Lampstand;  but now let’s look at the "What." Just what was the main purpose of the Lampstand?  

It seems The Lampstand's primary purpose was to connect mankind with God, then help them to shine God's light out into the universe.  This giving of "light" and illumination was achieved through the pouring of the oil into the lamps causing a holy fire that illumined the way to the Tree of Life.   Christ has made this possible.  Through Him, all believers have The Holy Spirit living inside of them.  Through Him and those living in Him a light has come into the darkness and the darkness has been overcome.  

Notice how the Menorah is tree-shaped.  This is not coincidence.  The shape of the Menorah with the branches coming from the central stem is clearly patterned after a tree.  It was clear to the Israelites that the Menorah represented The Tree of Life.   We can see a repeat of this symbolized from the burning bush and we can see another repeat of this in Aaron's (The High Priest of Israel) staff, the one that God used in the deliverance from Pharaoh.  

The LORD chose to decorate the Menorah with almond cups from the almond tree and he used the almond blossoms that are very beautiful to behold.  Most people think that the staff that Aaron used to perform the signs and wonders from God was made from the branch of an almond tree.  We will study a time in the wilderness study later when Aaron's staff budded, produced flowers and almonds overnight.  We now know this was symbolic of the power of the Resurrection of Christ, and this is symbolized in the design of this Lampstand.

So we see that the main purpose of the Menorah was to shine God's light out into the universe so that it could reach and unite men's souls to God through Christ as the center, and all of these together could form the structure of The Kingdom of God and reflect God's Glory to the world.  For the Israelites this meant becoming a holy nation under God.  They were the shadow of the coming of God's Kingdom in the hearts and souls of mankind.  

When?

So we have seen "who" and we know "what" but now we ask "when."  

When will the message of God's Lampstand be most significant?  There are many time periods in history where the Lampstand is extremely significant.  For Israel and all of the people living in the Old Testament days The Lampstand representing the Most High Priest represented the promise of a coming Messiah.  For us on the other side of the cross; it represents the Second Coming of Christ.

All of this light points to a future time where we, through Christ our Savior will obtain the right to eternal life through the blessings of The Tree of Life.  If you read Revelation 22:14 you will hear “they who do His commandments have a right to the tree of life.”  The Menorah becomes most significant to us when we are following the commandments and when we come to the time of the revealing of The Tree of Life; those who have followed the commandments, or have been given mercy from their sins and have turned to living out the commandments because of Christ; they will be allowed to taste of The Tree of Life.  This “when” will be an eternal “when.” 

Why?

So we know the "who," and the "what" and the "when;" and now we seek the answers to the "why."   Why did God chose to place the Lampstand inside The Holy Place in the wilderness tabernacle and why is everything about the Menorah so significant?  

Well, if the Menorah stands for Christ and the reflection of the light of God living from within the souls of mankind who have Jesus Christ living within their hearts; what could matter more?  

Is there possibly even more that we should recognize?  

The blending of the tree motif and the fire in the design of the Menorah is very significant in that it is the Light of God, that eternal fire from the burning bush that Moses first saw that connects these two together – the divine and the human.  Do the flames coming from the lamps not remind you of the flames of fire from the Day of Pentecost?   

The burning bush drew the human man, Moses, to the divine being; God.  This was the beginning of the  connection that God wished to make with those He loves.  He does not desire to see our sin when He looks upon us; He desires to see our goodness.  The light of the Menorah reveals all things.  God sees us in this light for who we are; unless we are covered in the blood of Jesus.  If God sees this covering in the pure, clean, light of the Menorah, He will only see the evidence of His most Beloved Son, our Most High Priest and Holy Intercessor.    He will love and cherish us because He loves and cherishes the Son who died for us. So one reason for the light of the Menorah is that the light of the Menorah reveals who we really are.  God either sees us standing in Christ, or He sees us standing in our sins.  The light of Christ reveals everything that is true.  This is one reason why the Menorah is so very significant.  

There are many, many more reasons as to "why" God chose to place this Lampstand in the wilderness tabernacle; the biggest reason is that it shadows the role of Christ as our Most High Priest.  

Where?

We have answered the questions of "who," "what," "when," and "why;" now we must answer the question of  "where:"

It is significant to notice where the Menorah is placed.  It is stratigically placed where the light will shine in the most needed areas so that those who are working in the tabernacle can find their way around and see what is most important to their mission.  It is there to dispell the darkness.  God gives us His light so that we can give Him the Glory.  His light shows us the way to all that we need to know.  

And after all of these significant facts, you might ask where the original Lampstand now resides?  That is a good question.  No on knows the answer to where the actual, physical golden Lampstand is at this present moment.  

We can only know the answer to where the One it stands for is.  He is at the right hand of God in Heaven, ever interceding for our souls before God the Father.  He is receiving our prayers and answering our prayers through The Holy Spirit, giving light to our days and forever shinning hope into our hearts.  

SEASONS - TU B' SHEVAT - THE NEW YEAR OF THE TREES

January 31, 2018 would be a great day to go plant a tree.  Why?  It is Tu B' Shevat – The New Year of Trees!

New Year of The Trees???  Sounds a bit silly and strange, doesn’t it?   So – what is it all about?  Here is yet another day of observance on the Jewish calendar – a very vague one that, unless you are Jewish, you have probably never heard of or participated in.  Don’t worry – you won’t go to hell if you don’t’ keep it, but it is just a good date to remember and find out about, quite an interesting day, actually.

To understand this day you need to know something about how the Jewish calendar works.  There are actually four times each year that are considered a new year.  In other words, everything doesn’t start over at the same time on one given day; some things start over on a certain date and other things start over on another date during the year.   Makes sense to me, it took seven days to complete the creation; so why wouldn't some things be older faster than others?  I guess you could say it sort of works like our birthdays in that we celebrate them on different days, not like our regular holidays where everything always falls on the same date at the same time.

To be more specific; there are four times set in the Jewish year for beginning new things and/or starting old things over.  In the month of Nisan – begins the new year for kings and festivals.  In the month of Elul begins the new year for tithes.  In the month of Tishri – begins the new year for the calculations of the calendar (this parallels the secular New Year’s day celebrated in America closer than any of the other dates given).  Then, in the month of Shevat, there is Tu B' Shevat; the time for calculating the beginning of the agricultural cycle and beginning a new year of the biblical tithes. 

It is typical for Americans to think of “all time” when we think of the new year changing.  In our minds it all happens on one day; all time changes at once.  That is not the pattern in the Jewish world.  Everything has its own time to change during the seasons of the year. In Jewish thought it is more typical to think of “activities in time.”  Each activity would have a different new beginning each year because each activity is created for its own season. 

This year, 2017,  Tu B' Shevat occurs on February 11th.  It follows the usual sunset to sunset pattern of Jewish days, so the day would start at sunset on February 10th and last through sunset on February 11th on the American/secular calendar.   So, if your heart likes to follow the Hebraic things and the Jewish customs; this February is a time to think of the well being of your trees!  Why not make this a better version of "earth day?"

 Agriculture is strongly dependent on trees, and the nation of Israel has used this day a lot like Arbor Day is used in the United States to support the eco-system and to raise money for research, studies and science which is used to replenish the earth and support good healthy life, especially in Israel.   Much of this fund raising and symbolic support is displayed by people planting trees on Tu B' Shevat .  So if you really appreciate trees and forest and those who work so hard to keep them; why not send a little support their way on this day?  Pick a national park and do something to support their causes, or donate a tree to a public landscape in someone wonderful's honor.

 Tu B' Shevat is specifically and originally more about the biblical laws that govern the care of our trees.  

Have you ever noticed how special God made trees?  

Can you imagine a world without them?

They give us shade and food and shelter.  They make our world more beautiful and interesting.  

There are many scriptures in our bibles that relate to the care of our trees.  God was careful to give specific instructions for them.  Trees are definitely NOT to be worshiped; but they are to be appreciated because they were designed and given to us by the Creator that we do worship.  

God put mankind on the earth to care for it and to look after it.  Taking care of the trees is a huge part of this purpose.  

We read in Leviticus 19:23:  "'When you enter the land and plant any kind of fruit tree, regard its fruit as forbidden.  For three years you are to consider it forbidden; it must not be eaten.”  Here God was instructing the Israelites how to take care of their trees. 

So – aaaaahhhhh – how would that relate to us who are living outside of Israel and in the modern world today?  

It is true that many of us are not  NATIVE Israelites by blood, and we are not living in the promised-land, but it is also obvious that God used the Israelites and the story of “the promised land” as a clear example of the best way that any person could live.

 

The whole story of the Nation of Israel is God patiently teaching all of mankind the best way to have an abundant life.   If you do nothing but grasp this principle, even if you don’t come to understand the “why” behind all these crazy laws and statutes given by God, you will do well!  

You don’t actually have to understand the logic behind the laws – if you follow them anyway; your physical quality of life will improve.  If you DO decide to UNDERSTAND why God gave them, your spiritual and intellectual quality of life will improve also.  If that sounds crazy and absurd to you – just test it out; we can talk afterward.

 

There is proven science behind every commandment that God gave to the Israelites, but you have to seek out those facts and answers for yourself in order to find them.  They won’t jump off the page and into your brain.  This law governing the care of the trees says that you should not eat of the fruit of any tree you plant for at least three years. 

Why?

 

God doesn’t always say why He commands things, ever notice that?  

He is such a Father.  We are supposed to trust our Father and His wisdom – we are supposed to BELIEVE that He always has our best interest in mind when He tells us something.  

Just like when you tell your children they shouldn’t eat too much candy, they may not immediately understand this.  They may think you are denying them a pleasure they should have – but without saying it out loud, you are protecting their health.  This is a similar situation.

God didn’t come out and explain the science to the Israelites when he gave this commandment.  

He simply instructed them what to do based on the laws He put into nature at the creation.  One of those laws is that fruit is sometimes harmful to the body within the first three years of growth because the tree has moisture that is affected by the absorption of the land.  Not enough time has passed for it to be warmed up by the energy of the sun and warmed up by the energy of the air.  

Therefore, the whole fruit of the first three years from a tree is earthy and watery and the moisture will overpower it and not always be good for the one who eats it.

God makes this rule pretty easy for us.  If you notice the seasons of fruit-bearing trees you discover that many trees do not even produce fruit at all until the fourth year of their growth, and so we are forced to wait out three years.  

I guess God knows how impatient we get.  Perhaps if Adam and Eve had been more patient and listened to God’s rules in the Garden of Eden, we might have tasted earlier from the Tree of Life?  

Who knows?  Only God knows – but that is the point – He does!  We need to listen when He tells us something, even if we do not immediately understand why.  

So He teaches us this in the harvesting of our trees and in a million other ways of life.  God is always teaching new things to His people who are willing to listen and obey.  

Now, if you really want a blessing, take what you profit from the fourth year of fruit (the first actual year of healthy fruit) and give it back to God in some way, shape or fashion.  He will bless your offering and your tree will become more fruitful.  If you don’t believe me – just try it for yourself and talk to me later.  This isn't "name-it-and-claim-it-religion; it is something that God built into the laws of nature right from Creation.

Some of the lessons we have to learn in the harvesting of our trees are actually brought out in the teachings of the commandment of first-fruits.  Sometimes when we study these agricultural passages and the temple offerings we tend to block them out or skim over them or skip them completely from the text.  We want to move on to the deeper, more spiritual things.  We should actually learn to slow down and look at the simple things of every season first before moving on; for that is how God likes to teach us.  Try it and see for yourself.

At first glance these Old Testament sacrifices and offerings may seem too exotic.  The laws often seem foreign to our non-Jewish culture and way of thinking  today.  

Now we seem to have fewer and fewer farmers with a true connection to the land.  

Everything is shipped in and grown on a huge big-business world-wide scale.  

We, the common people, often have no knowledge of how things actually get to our grocery stores.  But; thankfully, there is a concerned and growing group emerging in our culture that has come to recognize these facts.  They want to make definite and healthier changes.  Some of these “think-for-yourself” people are growing their own crops and preparing their own food again, like in the days of old.  They have the right idea and they are off to a good start.  

The missing element that many of these courageous young people have not yet discovered is the way of Torah.   They have no knowledge of the fact that one-sixth of the Mishnah deals with the matters of agriculture alone.  They usually DO believe in God, but they have forgotten to consult the God who created food about how it should be obtained from the earth that He created.  

Who would know better than God? 

I do get excited when from time to time I discover a young person with this mindset of learning how to follow the scriptures to grow their crops.  This is true progress in its fullest form and you can see the results that have been made here if you visit Israel and look at how their crops are growing.

Hopefully, the new more aware emerging group of young people in America will pass the information they discover on and maybe the world won’t rule it out and block the ears from those willing to hear and follow truth.  It is a vitally important factor which seems to be overlooked that we consult the God who made the earth about the care and tending of the earth!

The Mishnah has so much to say about “seeds” and “the corners of your fields.”  There is lots of information about care and tending to crops.  A generation with a heart to feed the poor and help the hungry and needy of the earth should be considering these scriptures.   These are the very scriptures that enabled Ruth to meet Boaz and they in turn became part of the ancestry of our Messiah!

It is encouraging to know that many fresh new minds are beginning to get excited about discovering that there are laws regarding how our offerings to God play into our food consumption and distribution.  One of these laws is the scripture that states the fruit of a tree is prohibited from consumption by people until after the third year.  In the fourth year the fruit should be offered to God as a “first fruit” offering. 

When you feed the hungry; it is as if you are making a first-fruit offering to God.  On the fifth year of a fruit crop you may partake of the fruit yourself and feed your own family with it.  The line of progression seems to be God-Others-You.  

What if the whole world actually took this to heart?  

Can you imagine how we all would be living? 

If you have followed God’s rules for the first four years of the tree, your fifth year will be abundant and plentiful.  Go ahead and try this – prove it for yourself.    

If you study the science of this you will begin to understand God’s intent.  The first three years are needed for the tree and its fruit to mature.  Until the time of maturity they would not be good enough for an offering to God.  

It is not magic, it is natural law.  

Natural law was designed by God.  We must give God our best.  Giving to others is the same as giving to God.  He has said “if you have done it for one of the least of my brethren, you have done it unto me.   Share the first of your harvest with others and God will share his abundance with you and bless you.  

This principle is the same in the harvest of souls.  If a soul isn’t led to maturity in God by patiently being obedient and believing in what The Father has taught us, they are of no good use to the Kingdom of God.  

Immature souls must be nourished and cared for, just like trees.  It often involves a period of time that we must patiently wait out.  Like the first three years of fruit, they probably will not reach their full potential for Kingdom service until they have been following God and His ways for at least three years.  

Until that time there is a trimming of the branches and a cultivating and fertilizing of the roots that will eventually bring about the proper growth of maturity and health, both in fruit and in people.  Just try it and see.    People are actually a lot like trees.

God is constantly pointing out in the Holy Scriptures that man is made from the earth.  It is also obvious that man gets his nourishment from the earth.  The earth and all things in it belong to God – not to man.  We, alone, cannot produce a tree or the fruit from it.  It takes God to make a tree grow and produce mature fruit.   It takes God living in a person through The Holy Spirit to bring them into maturity in Christ.  You can't open the top of their head and pour the scriptures down into their brain and expect results.  It takes God doing His work first.  God doesn't rush anything.  

Just as there is more to growing fruit than we often expect, there is also more to our earthly lives than the simple acts of productivity.  

Nurturing a tree and allowing its first three years of fruit to return to the earth is admitting that we are only the caretakers and not the creators of our own environment.  We are allowing GOD time to let the fruit mature and not depending on our own abilities.  

So, as caretakers of God’s earth, we gratefully acknowledge the change of the season on the day of Tu B' Shevat , which comes to us in America in the coldest part of winter. 

The winter cold is yet another reminder that underneath the cold winter snows of our silent grounds in this season, there are roots of God at work.  These deeply buried roots will be bringing new life one day.   After it has been hidden and  protected for a while, it will eventually come forth in the spring when the time is right.  God is the great timekeeper.  His timing is always accurate and precise.  He is the bringer of abundant life.

Learn to live in the moment God has given you today.  Go plant a tree!  The season is right.

   

MONDAY WEEKNIGHT MENUS - A MENU FEATURING CHICKEN CARBONARA

MAKING COOKING AT HOME EASIER
(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

Tonight's menu features Chicken Carbonara, Baby Spinach Salad and Lemon Blueberry Cake.

Are you ready for a "normal" yet delicious every day meal?  This Chicken Carbonara recipe is an old standby recipe that always turns out great.  It is very tasty and the Spinach Salad just goes perfect with it.  

If you MUST have dessert - you can't beat this "to-die-for" Lemon Blueberry Cake.  It is my choice for our oldest daughter's birthday whenever I get to bless her with a cake (she lives too far away) because it is one of her favorites.  I've taken to making cupcakes out of the cake recipe, especially for teas and showers, and have always received compliments on them.  I like to make minis for those fun and festive occasions.

Enjoy your Monday Menu:  

BABY SPINACH SALAD WITH STRAWBERRIES AND TOASTED ALMONDS

(from The Spark People Cookbook)

Ingredients:

½ cup almonds, slivered

8 cups baby spinach (stems trimmed)

1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

1 tsp.  Dijon mustard

1 tsp. honey

3 tbsp. Extra-virgin olive oil

2 cups strawberries, quartered

Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Toast the almonds.  Wash and dry the spinach.  Place vinegar, mustard and honey into a mixing bowl.  Slowly whisk in oil until all is incorporated.  Place spinach in a large bowl and add strawberries and almonds.  Pour dressing over all and toss to coat.  Season with salt and pepper.  (This looks very pretty served in small individual crystal bowls.)

CHICKEN CARBONARA

Ingredients:

¼ cup roasted red peppers

6 slices smoked bacon

1 lb. boneless chicken tenders

½ teaspoon seasoned salt

¼ cup pre-sliced green onions, divided

8 ounce fettuccine pasta

1-15 ounce Alfredo sauce

Directions:

Bring water to a boil for pasta.  Follow the instructions on the package for preparing pasta. Set pasta aside. Chop red peppers coarsely.  Cut bacon into bite sized pieces.  Cut chicken into one inch chunks and sprinkle with seasoned salt.  Place bacon and two tablespoons of green onions in a pan on medium heat and stir for 4 to 5 minutes until bacon begins to brown.  Add chicken pieces and stir for 4 to 5 minutes more.  Reduce heat to low and stir in Alfredo sauce, red peppers and the rest of the green onions.  Cover and cook 4 to 5 minutes until heated.  Drain pasta, stir into chicken and serve hot.

LEMON BLUEBERRY CAKE


Ingredients For Cake:
1 cup unsalted butter, softened
1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
Zest of three lemons
1/2 Cup lemon juice
1-1/2 cups fresh blueberries
1 Teaspoon all purpose flour

Ingredients For Cream Cheese Frosting:
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3-1/2 cups confectioners sugar
1-2 tablespoons heavy cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
pinch of salt

Directions:

Directions For Cake:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray cake pans with nonstick spray.  Set aside.  Beat the butter on high until creamy.  Add granulated and brown sugars until creamy.  Add eggs and vanilla.  Set this aside.  In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt.  Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.  When combined add milk, lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside.  Toss blueberries in 1 tablespoon of flour.  Fold blueberries into batter.  Do not over mix, it should be thick.  Over-mixing will make your cake tough.  Spoon batter into prepared layer pans.  Bake for 21 -25 minutes until a toothpick comes out of the center clean.  Remove from oven and allow to cool completely before frosting.

Directions For Frosting:
Beat Cream Cheese and butter together on medium speed until no lumps remain.  Add confectioners sugar, 1 tablespoon cream, vanilla extract and salt.  If icing appears too thick add a little cream to thin.

Directions For Cake Assembly:
Trim the tops of the cake with a large serrated knife to create a flat surface.  Place 1 layer on the cake stand.  Cover with frosting.  Top with second layer, add more frosting, then add third layer and frost top and spread around the sides.  

(Tip - this never makes enough frosting for me - I always double the frosting recipe and use any left over frosting for something else later.  Also be very sure your cake cools completely.  You might even freeze it first before you ice it.