(L)Oven Monday – Super-Fast Drop Sugar Cookies

April 10, 2017April 8, 2017 RefreshHerLeave a comment

sugar cookies 2

Not all sugar cookies are created equal. Many recipes call for an hour of refrigeration before you can roll out the dough. But what if you need a dessert in a hurry and decide that sugar cookies would be the perfect ending for your meal for guests that’s just 45 minutes away?!

That’s exactly the predicament I was in a week ago! I decided last minute to add cookies to the menu. So what did I do? I made Drop Sugar Cookies! This soft dough is whipped up in the mixer, then spooned onto baking sheets for a quick bake. These make a delicious dessert! Because I was in a real hurry, I only baked up one sheet (a dozen), which was all I needed, then after my guests left, I baked the remaining dough and froze the extras. Yay for cookies in the freezer!! This recipe was found on Pinterest and is a family recipe from The Mom Who.

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Drop Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 cup Sugar
¾ cup Milk
¾ tsp. Vanilla Extract
½ cup Crisco
1 Egg
2½ cups Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1 tsp. Baking Powder
Sugar Sprinkles

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
In a small bowl mix the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda and baking powder.
In a large mixing bowl, mix the sugar and Crisco.
Then add the egg to your mixture.
Next add the milk and vanilla extract to your wet mixture.
Gradually add the dry mixture to the wet mixture that’s in the large bowl. Mix until incorporated. Don’t over mix!
Scoop dough into 2 tablespoon sized scoops and drop them on your sheet.
Bake for 6- 7 minutes and then carefully add sprinkles to the tops of the cookies. Continue baking for 2-3 minutes.
Remove from oven and let sit on cookie sheet for 5 minutes before moving to a cooling rack.
Enjoy!
*Note- You can add the sprinkles to the cookies before baking, but the sprinkles sink down into the cookies. You decide on when to place the sprinkles- Before, During, or After baking.

Is there a recipe you pull up if you need a fast dessert? I’d love to hear what it is!

Happy Baking!

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Encouragement · Family life · Husband · Love · Marriage

Family Friday – Adding Wisdom to Your Marriage

April 7, 2017April 6, 2017 RefreshHerLeave a comment

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When my husband and I got married 35 years ago, we had had no official premarital counseling. I did have the blessing of many talks with my mom beforehand, as well as my parent’s example, but not the kind of teaching that a pastor would typically impart today. I’ve remembered much of what I witnessed and have applied that to my married life, but through the years, I’ve found it so necessary to keep looking for wisdom to apply to my role as a wife. Anything left dormant is bound to get moldy after a while! I don’t want my marriage to do that!!

The Lord tells us in Proverbs 8:33 –

Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not.

One way I’ve continued to get instruction is through reading Christian books on marriage. I’ve tried to read several a year by just reading little portions each day to keep my marriage healthy. A few of my favorites have been:

Proverbs!!! I read it every month!!
A Woman After God’s Own Heart
Creative Counterpart
What’s it Like to be Married to Me?
For Women Only
Love and Respect
The Excellent Wife
Praying God’s Will for My Husband – Praying for him changes me!

There are more, but those are some of my favorites that really helped me grow in my role as a wife.

Another way I’ve sought out wisdom is by listening to radio broadcasts and now podcasts. I started with Focus on the Family. That’s a no-brainer, right? They support the Christian marriage with topics that really help the couple!

Now my favorite podcast is Revive Our Hearts. I cannot tell you how refreshing their broadcasts are. Nancy has recently done a series on Titus 2. It has been so practical and full of truth! Just yesterday she shared a piece of advice that the late Vonette Bright shared with her on her wedding day. Let me close by sharing it with you.

She said, “Submit to whatever brings him (your husband)
pleasure in everything . . . and you’ll be just fine.”

Nancy went on to add –

By no means was she to encouraging me to satisfy any sinful, selfish desire my husband might have. She was not implying that I would be my husband’s slave, or that my role was merely to fulfill his every whim.

Here was a dear widow who had enjoyed a deeply loving fifty-four-year marriage, and who knew first-hand the joys of having a disposition—an inclination—to follow her husband’s leadership.

That is good advice!
What do you need to submit to that would bring your husband pleasure? Do it!

Your marriage needs the refreshment that daily wisdom will give it! Are you continuing to grow in wisdom regarding your role as a wife? What will you do as a result? Will you start a habit of reading and/or listening?

Refresh your marriage,

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Encouragement · friends · God's character · Life

Refreshing Your Own Heart

April 6, 2017April 6, 2017 RefreshHer2 Comments

Spring dining room A

This week I shared some advice given to me on “How to Refresh the Hearts of Others.” But has your own heart ever ached and wished someone would come and minister to you? I understand.

This week has been full of activity, ministry and needs. One morning when things seemed to be spinning out of control, I stopped – literally stopped with tears in my eyes and my heart pounding with frustration and the feeling of being overwhelmed. I turned my heart to the Lord. I told Him my burdens, my frustrations, and my need. At the end of my prayer I said, “Lord, please show me what to do.”

It wasn’t much later after that the Spirit of God spoke to my heart, directing my steps in a clear, biblical answer. My plans were to head out the door to join others in a good thing – we were to pray together – but the Lord said,

“Be still. Pray here.”

I thought, “Really? That makes so much sense! Yes, Lord! Thank you!”

I let my friends know I wouldn’t be joining them where they were gathered, but I did join them at the Throne of Grace from my home. It kept me from running there, running back, then running to prep for another obligation later in the day.

It gave me rest.

It calmed my heart.

No one but the Lord could have done that.

Now I slowed my pace. I took time to pray for the needs of others. I cleaned the mess that was around me. I added a few touches of decor in my dining room. I listened to a podcast while I worked. It wasn’t long at all until my own heart was truly refreshed. I was thankful that it had come completely from the Lord’s directives speaking into my heart and not from a person. It made me so thankful for the reminder that God cares about every detail of my life – even the little things that can trouble my heart.

My need was so simple, really, and I know there are times when there are HUGE needs, but there is nothing too big for Him to handle! When you have a hurt, confusion, anxiety, burden or longing that causes your heart to be filled with emptiness and longing, what do you do when God sends no one to your doorstep, your pew at church, or your side?

Recognize the need to go to prayer and tell Christ about what’s on your heart. He already knows, of course, but this isn’t for His benefit, it’s for yours. Stopping to put that longing into words and tell the Lord is so helpful. Divine intervention is what you need, and if you don’t ask, how will you receive it? This time of prayer also makes us realize that we are completely dependent on Him. That’s always the best place to find ourselves, because He is omnipotent! In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Psalm 86:7
While in prayer, ask God for His wisdom for the next step. What do you do after you finish praying? Without God’s help, you’ll be just as hopeless as before if you don’t have His direction for the next moment. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. Prov. 4:18
Look for verses of promise regarding your situation and meditate on their truth. If you can’t think of one off the top of your head, or you don’t have your Bible with you, Google it! We ask Google for other things we need information on, right? Use it now! Google Bible Verses on God’s Provision or Bible verses on Comfort. A list will come up that can anchor your heart with Truth!!! Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations. Deut. 7:9
Listen to music that will minister to your heart and calm you. It’s amazing what good music will do. I love to listen to instrumental music that points my heart to God. It brings peace and a reminder of Who He is!
Don’t isolate yourself! Get with others that will encourage you. It’s easy to want to sulk and be alone, but you need other believers to help you – even if they never hear a word from you about your trouble. Invite a friend to lunch or coffee.
Talk with a godly friend about your trouble and ask them to pray with you. You decide with whom should share – it might be your husband, it might be a friend or your pastor’s wife. Two are better than one. Eccl. 4:9 Humble yourself and admit you have a need. We ALL need encouragement from time to time!
Put yourself in an environment that helps your attitude. Open the blinds and curtains and let the sunlight in! Straighten up the clutter that might be right in front of you. Create the order that will clear your head and heart.
Get some fresh air. Take a walk in your neighborhood or walking path at the park. Go walk through the nursery at Lowe’s or your local greenhouse.
Do something you enjoy. Stop for a sweet tea and take a drive in the country. Go to the library. Buy a bouquet of flowers for your kitchen table. Stop for a Dairy Queen treat. Rearrange your living room. Do a craft you love.
Do something for someone else. See this list to remind yourself of what you could do! The focus gets transferred from your problem to someone else.

I pray this will help you to know how to refresh your own heart when you need it!

What do you do when you’re anxious or feeling overwhelmed?

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breakfast · How-to Video

Eggs In a Basket Video Tutorial

April 5, 2017April 4, 2017 RefreshHer2 Comments

Cracker Barrel calls them Eggs in a Basket – they are simply eggs cooked inside a small hole in a piece of toast! It’s like a breakfast package! They’re great to fix for your family because you’re making the toast and the egg in one step! Here’s a little video demonstrating how easy and fast they are to make!

Eggs in a Basket

Melt 1-2 Tbl butter in skillet
Cut hole in bread slice, using a biscuit cutter or small glass.
Crack egg into the hole in the bread. Place bread rounds in pan to brown. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook 2 minutes, then flip toast over and cook until egg is cooked to your preference.
Serve and enjoy!

Do you make these at home? They’re so good, and children love them!

Cooking · dinner in 30 minutes · main dish · Main entree

(L)Oven Monday – Chicken Dinner in Under 15 Minutes!

April 3, 2017April 2, 2017 RefreshHer2 Comments

I’ve had the recent loss of a properly working fridge. Sadness!!! Because I had to load my milk, eggs, coffee cream, butter and yogurt into the cooler while we wait (and wait and wait) for the repairmen to get the parts and get them installed, I’ve had to be kind of “off-the-cuff” with my meals. Not having room for fresh vegetables, condiments, etc., I’ve pretty much just been pulling from the freezer and pantry. “Necessity is the mother on invention” they say, and it’s true! I had to pull a meal together completely out of necessity and it was a really happy discovery!

I needed supper to consist of chicken breasts, canned tomatoes and feta cheese because that’s what I had. I found a recipe that sounded good, but I didn’t have the exact ingredients, so I substituted with what I did have, and the results were fabulous!!

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This chicken is cooked in under 15 minutes!!! Broiling the chicken gives it a little crispiness that makes it taste like it’s been grilled. Yum!! If you need a fabulous meal in a flash, here’s what this recipe calls for:

Chicken breasts filet
Olive Oil
Balsamic Vinegar
Italian Seasoning
Canned Tomatoes
Feta Cheese

Instructions:
Pre-heat oven broiler on high.

Mix equal parts of olive oil and vinegar. For one LARGE chicken breast, I used about 2 tbl of each. Brush vinegar mixture on both sides of chicken breast. Sprinkle with Italian seasoning, on both sides. Place on a foil-lined baking sheet.

Place baking sheet 4-6 inches from broiler. Cook for 10 minutes. Turn and cook until juices run clear. I had a thick chicken breast, so I cut it in half so it was thinner. It cooked in the 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and place a spoonful of diced canned tomatoes (drained), on chicken. Sprinkle with Feta Cheese. Broil one more minute. Serve immediately.

My menu for a completely 15 minute meal:

Chicken with Feta and Tomatoes
Steamed Green Beans
Couscous

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Seriously, this was so delicious! My husband said, “This recipe needs to be on the ‘Do-over’ list!” I agree. We will be having this again and again even after the fridge gets fixed! I’m thinking this recipe is the “Silver lining” in this refrigerator trouble! Thank you, Lord, for these little blessings!

With love from my country kitchen,

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