Jamaican Banana Bread

2 T butter or margarine, softened
2 T 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1 cup mashed ripe banana
1/2 cup fat free milk
1/4 tsp imitation rum extract
1/2 tsp grated lime rind
2 tsp lime juice
 1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut
Cooking Spray

Topping:
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tsp butter or margarine
2 tsp lime juice
1/8 tsp imitation rum extract
2 T chopped pecans, toasted
2 T flaked sweetened coconut

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
2.  To prepare bread, beat 2 T butter and cheese at medium speed of mixer; add granulated sugar, beating well.  Add egg; beat well.
3.  Combine flour, baking powder baking soda, and salt.  Combine banana and the next 5 ingredients.  Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with banana mixture,beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix after each addition.  Stir in pecans and 1/4 cup coconut.
4.  Pour batter in an 8 x 4 inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray.  Bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour (mine only needed 45 minutes).  Cool in pan 10 minutes, and remove from pan.  Cool slightly on a wire rack.
5.  To prepare topping, combine brown sugar and 2 tsp each butter and lime juice and 1/8 tsp extract in a saucepan; bring to a simmer.  Cook 1 minute,stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Stir in 2 T pecans and coconut; spoon over loaf.

If that recipe doesn’t suit your fancy, here’s another one from Cooking Light that we LOVE.  You can’t go wrong mixing chocolate and bananas, so you know that Marbled-Chocolate Banana Bread will be yummy!  Go here to find the simple recipe. 

I’m not really a big eater – unless one of the foods offered is POPCORN.  This is my favorite snack, though I don’t let myself eat it very often because of my piggishness love for it.  I found a recipe to update the old standard buttery snack.  The recipe is called  Sweet and Salty Popcorn.  It’s lighter in fat and calories than caramel corn, but still really good!  It was very simple to make.  Here are the steps and instructions:

Pop popcorn to make 10 cups.  I pour popcorn into a Corningware bowl, covering the bottom of the bowl with the kernels, cover it with a lid and microwave for 3 minutes – no oil or butter.

Whisk together, then microwave for 45 seconds, or until bubbly.  Place popcorn on a baking sheet that’s been sprayed with cooking spray, then pour the sauce over popcorn.  Toss to cover.  Bake at 250 degrees 25-30 minutes, or until crunchy.  (It will get crunchier as it cools)

I made paper holders and served it to company that came over.  Fyi, I sprinkled salt into the bag of popcorn after it was cooled.  I thought it needed a little more of the salty taste. 

Hope you enjoy these new takes on some old favorites!

See you in church Sunday!

With love,

I remember sitting in school and doodling in my notebook.  Mostly I doodled my name.  I liked practicing writing the “D”.  I’d make it fancy with a curl at the top that would then swoop down over the rest of the letters of my name like a jet leaving its mark on the sky.  I liked seeing my name written down.

You’ll be happy to know I’ve grown out of that level of immaturity and attention span, but you know what? I still love being reminded that my name is written down. This week I read in John 10:19,20 this wonderful truth that Jesus told his disciples.

Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.

So the disciples names got their names written in heaven!   In Philippians 4:3 we read Paul telling about a lady named Clement who also had her name in the book of life, as well as other fellow-laborers.

How does one go about getting their name written in the book in heaven? It’s those who have received life in Christ that have their name in the book of life. John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. It’s not the popular, the elite or the well-respected, but those that have life in Christ that get their name written down. By this truth we know that the disciples had each placed their faith in Christ, and so did Clement, and the others that labored with Paul.

Why would we rejoice in the truth that are names are in the Book of Life? Because Revelation 20:15 warns: And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. Friends, that will not include me or anyone else who has trusted Christ. That is reason for rejoicing! My name is written down and I am secure in Christ!

I have two questions for you:

1. 

2.  If your name is written in the Book of Life, when was the last time you rejoiced and thanked the Lord for that truth?
Because I care,

Have you ever wondered what your pastor and his wife do all week? Whether your pastor is my husband, or you are under the care of another shepherd, the same will be true for most every pastor.  Lean in a little and we’ll peek inside the window  for a little glimpse into the lives of a pastor’s family. 

It’s Monday morning and the alarm on my husband’s phone does its little beeping thing, interrupting our sleep and announcing that another week of ministry in the parsonage has begun.  For us, a week of ministry begins on Monday.  Monday is typically our day off, but even though our bodies might not be engaged in ministry, our minds are thinking ahead to what’s coming up this week.  We’re thinking of who we’ll be meeting with, sermons or lessons that need to be studied, contacts that need to be followed up on, agendas that need to be planned, calls or visits that need to be made, notes that need to be sent, or meals that need to be prepared. 

Along with services and planned ministries in a week there are also calls from hurting sheep that need encouragement, the sick sheep that need a visit, the wandering sheep that need a nudge, and the lost sheep that need the Gospel. The Lord brings these dear folks to our hearts too and allows us the privilege of caring for them.

The week is often full – full of ministry – and full of blessings as we look to the Lord as to what needs to be accomplished each day. To be honest, occasionally it’s overwhelming, but that’s often when we’ve added things to our schedule that the Lord didn’t plan for us. Or if I’m walking in my flesh instead of the Spirit, it’s easy to be stressed out. Stress isn’t God’s plan; it’s a tool of the flesh and I also think it’s a tool the devil uses to defeat us.

No one can do what the Lord calls them to do in their flesh.  We need His help every single day.  We need the prayers of others.  So with that little peek into our window, here’s a list of things that you can pray for me and my husband or any pastor and his family.  Pray for:

• Time to study and be sufficiently prepared to handle the Word of God on Sunday
• Personal time in the Word so they’ll stay fresh and have an intimate walk with the Lord
• A vibrant prayer life
• Wisdom to make choices about what burdens need their attention today
• Wisdom to apply the Word of God in counseling situations
• Strength for each day
• Love for the sheep
• A heart of hospitality
• Protection of their marriage
• Family time
• Protection of their children
• Encouragement

We say with Paul,

Friday was a great day.  So many of you commented and wrote such encouraging words about this simple little blog.  I really wasn’t asking for pats on the back in your comments – just a “Hey, I love that National Peach Ice cream Day is coming up!  Think I’ll pull out the freezer and make some.”  You, know, just comments.  

But you know what?  Your encouraging words were a blessing to me.  As I stated in my comment on Friday, it does get lonely on this side of the computer sometimes.  I find myself wondering if there’s anyone out there really reading.  So I must say you thank you.  It’s good to know that you like the variety and are refreshed when you stop by here.

You know, encouraging words are something everyone needs to hear.  We all tend to wonder if what we’re doing is really useful.  Do you, Mom, ever wonder if you’re making a difference in the lives of your children?  We don’t expect them to come up and encourage us on the road of motherhood, but a word from an onlooker can go a long way to keep your spirits up, can’t it?  Think back to a time when someone encouraged you.  Hopefully it wasn’t too long ago, but even if it was, remember what it did for you.  Perhaps it gave you what you needed to keep doing right.  Maybe it kept you in your marriage.  Did it propel you into following God’s will – even though it seemed like a difficult calling?  In a time of sickness, those encouraging words may have reminded you that you’re not alone. 

I recently taught my Sunday school children about Barnabas.  His name was Joseph, but the disciples changed his name to Barnabas – son of encouragement.  All through the Scriptures we find Barnabas with that wonderful characteristic pouring out of his life.  He believed in Paul when the rest of the disciples were skeptical.  He came alongside John Mark when Paul preferred not travel with him.  What a blessing a person like Barnabas is!

We all appreciate encouragement from people like ol’ Barn, but are we encouragers too?  Some people are far better at being Eeyore’s.  You know – they carry the rain cloud over their head and are happy to share their stormy day with anyone who gets near them.  Let’s ask the Lord for someone with whom we could share encouragement today.  Don’t delay when the Lord shows you someone.  Do something for them now before the moment passes, before the burden subsides.  They need you, just like I did on Friday!  Do it, Barnabas!  Do it!

Thankful for each of you,

I’m excited to have another guest blogger and cook today!  Johanna Galyen is a young wife and mom of four.  She has lots on her plate, yet I often hear her talk about what she’s fixed for Sunday dinner.  This is a young woman who works as a nurse, home schools her two boys, cares for two busy little girls, attends church faithfully, and still manages to have dinner on the table on Sunday.  It can be done!  I recently read her Saturday night status on Facebook which said, “Got the Corn shucked, Sweet taters washed and wrapped, sweet tea is in in the fridge, The ham is ready to go. Now I just need someone to eat it!”  I’m sure those that gathered at her table were thankful for her hard work, and if I’m not mistaken, that was a Sunday that she fed not only her family, but also guests. 

She has learned to plan and prep ahead so that the meal is ready when they get home.  Smart girl! 

This past Sunday, I served the Ugly (but Tasty) Duckling. On Saturday night right before bed, I pulled the frozen whole chicken out of the freezer. I set it in the sink and ran some cold water over it for a couple of minutes (just to get the thawing process started). During the Sunday morning frenzy, I simply opened the now thawed chicken from it’s packaging and gave it a rinse and removed the giblets(we don’t eat those wretched things). I gently separated the skin from around the chicken breast area and put 1-2 tablespoons of butter and put about a tablespoons of the salt/pepper mix in and around the skin/breast area. Add some of the mix to the inside cavity and rub the rest on the legs/thigh area.

Add onions, carrots, and potatoes (you can peel the potatoes if you want, we just left them to save time). Add 3/4 cup water. Place lid, and cook on high for 4-5 hours.

When we got home, I simply drained the broth into a pan and cooked it till it was thick. I thickened it with 2 tablespoons cornstarch (mix in cold water before adding it). Carefully remove the bird and veges and place them on your serving platter.

My dinner rolls are delicious and SUPER easy. I buy the frozen dough balls (only Kroger stocks these) and place them in a buttered dish and set them in my empty microwave  This way, I know no bugs will attack

Salt/Pepper mixture — take a clean bowl and put 2 tablespoons of salt and 2 teaspoons of pepper. Mix it together.

Thanks, Johanna for sharing how to get it all together on Sunday – burnt sacrifice not withstanding!  =)  I will be trying this chicken…and I must buy some of those rolls!  Yum!

Tell me, what’s been cooking in your kitchen?

From my parsonage kitchen,