A Peek Into My Life This Past Week

How I wish you could have been on our porch last week to see the great time we had hosting a Vacation Bible Club!  We had between ten and thirteen children each day.  It was a blessing to hear the children sing about the Gospel, to watch their interest in the Bible story and the Wordless Book.  It was fun to watch as they participated in our games and crafts with enthusiasm and sat in eager anticipation to hear the next chapter in our missionary story!

Because I look back on my childhood and remember so many wonderful times of hearing Sunday school teachers or pastors speak, I always wonder what the children will remember most about a week of Bible Club like we had. What truths will they carry with them into their teen years?  What silly memory or funny story will they repeat to their children when they’re adults?

Most importantly, what eternal benefits will last week have? We will never know on this side of heaven, but all I know is that we made an investment in their lives, and we pray that the Lord will use it in these young hearts to draw them close to Him. For those that have never been saved, we pray that they will trust Him while they’re children.  For those that are already God’s child, we are asking that their hearts will stay devoted to Christ!

Do you have memories of hearing the Word of God as a child? What special memory do you treasure?

With love from my country porch,

Chicken stock – I use it all the time in soups, casseroles and tons of other recipes like chicken enchiladas!  Homemade chicken stock is so easy to make and costs pennies – especially if you have a chicken carcass leftover from your supper meal!

Last Sunday our Sunday school class purchased six rotisserie chickens from Sam’s Club to feed an army of people after church.  When the meal was finished I begged asked if I could have the chicken carcasses so I could make stock with them.  Making it at home allows you to adjust the salt and other seasonings to your liking.  After only 30 minutes in my stock pot, the kitchen smelled so delicious from all the chicken and vegetables boiling away!

Here’s how it’s done:

Ingredients

  2-1/2 pounds bony chicken pieces

  2 celery ribs with leaves, cut into chunks

  2 medium carrots, cut into chunks

  2 medium onions, quartered

  2 bay leaves

  1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed

  1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

  8 to 10 whole peppercorns

  2 quarts cold water

Italian themed Dinner

Last week we had our celebration/completion dinner for our Apples of Gold.  There was a total of fourteen that came to celebrate the end of our six-week class.  What a wonderful time we had together!  It was so much fun to have some of the husbands here, too, to share in our time together.  It was a special evening with dear friends!

I enjoy fixing a meal with a theme.  The food, the music I played on my computer on Pandora, and the tables were (for the most part) Italian!  I tried to challenge myself to use only what I had, and not buy anything for the tables.  I tried to mimic the look of a typical Italian restaurant, with the red and white checked cloths.  I used white linen (I borrowed two cloths from my friend and fellow-mentor) on the tabletop, and the red checked on top so that the white could peek from beneath.  I had red cloth napkins, crystal glasses and mostly white plates.  Using Pinterest for a little inspiration, here is how the three tables ended up looking:

The breadsticks in a glass served as part of the meal AND the table decor!

Votive lights added to the ambiance. Since it was still light at 6pm, I closed the blinds and curtains once we sat down to eat!

“Fresh” vegetables spilling from baskets were part of the decor.

From this angle you can see all three tables.

Even the counter top received the themed decor!

The menu:

Spinach Lasagna

I failed to get a picture of the appetizer, but you just need to trust me on this!  This is a great appetizer or entree’!  It’s easy and so very delicious!

Toasted Ravioli
Packaged frozen Cheese Ravioli – Thawed
In a dish, combine seasoned bread crumbs and about half as much Parmesan cheese

In another dish, combine one egg and about 1/2 cup milk.

Dip ravioli in egg wash, then breadcrumbs.  Place in a medium hot skillet with a couple tablespoons oil.  Toast until golden.  Keep warm.  Serve with spaghetti sauce.

For dessert, we had Unfried Fried Ice cream, which is totally not Italian, but I thought it would be a lighter end to our heavy meal.  It’s great for a party, because you do everything ahead of time, then simply serve toppings of choice at mealtime!

Un-fried Fried Ice Cream

Ingredients:
½ cup crushed pretzels (crush, then measure)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups vanilla ice cream (or favorite flavor) I think my favorite was the Choc chip Cookie Dough!

honey, caramel, or chocolate syrup for drizzling

Instructions:
Get a couple Muffin tins out and ready for ice cream scoops.
In a pie plate, mix together crushed pretzels, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Form ice cream balls using ½ cup of ice cream per ball.
Evenly coat each ice cream ball with pretzel mixture.
Place coated ice cream balls in muffin tins; cover and place in freezer to firm up.  After frozen solid, transfer to a freezer bag.
When ready to serve, drizzle with favorite topping if desired.

Do you ever do a theme for your family?  It’s fun to mix things up a bit and play some fun music on Pandora that will add to the atmosphere of your food and table decor.  Why not surprise your family this week and create an atmosphere for one of your meals?  What fun memories you’ll be making!

Have you ever done a theme for a meal or party?  I’d love to hear about it!

With love from my country kitchen,

I love summer produce, don’t you?!  We chanced upon a lovely stand last weekend where they were selling fresh corn on the cob.  Yum!  I bought more than we needed, knowing that I wanted to freeze some for later!  This week when I went to cut it off the cob, I remembered a little tip I’d seen on a cooking show to keep the kernels from popping literally all over the floor!  Have you seen this…

(I blanched the corn first)

Set the corn cob on the middle part of a bundt or tube pan, then cut the kernels off.  They will fall (for the most part) into the bundt pan and not all over the counter!  It’s a genius idea!

Then spread the corn onto a baking sheet and freeze for about 15 minutes.  The kernels will then be ready to pop into a freezer bag until you’re ready to use it!

So if you’re planning on freezing corn, freshen up your kitchen by using this little trick!

What do you do with summer produce?  

Be refreshed,

God’s servants need a time away to learn to listen and depend on His strength, and not their own.  I’ve been studying a lot recently about Elijah and his time in Cherith.  Elijah had just had a heady experience telling the wicked King Ahab that no rain would fall until God spoke again. How exhilarating.  How wonderful to be used to speak for God!

Immediately after, God sends Elijah to the brook Cherith.  He is to be alone for more than a year.  He would have no one to talk to but his God.  God fed him miraculously.  He was hidden there…not so much from King Ahab, but possibly from himself.  Elijah needed the humility of the Cherith to prepare him for the next adventure.  Perhaps God saw Elijah as too equipped; too able.  He needed to realize he was nothing and that God was everything.

God gives us a Cherith, too.  It may be a long period of time in which we are desperate for God to work, to answer, to supply in a miraculous way.  Some of our “Cherith” times are short-lived, but just as effective in getting our attention.

This is what a “Migraine Cherith” looks like from my perspective.

For me, migraines have been my “Cherith” times.  They are the force that causes me to be still, to wait on strength that only the Lord can revive.  I need these thirsty situations.  Without them I would be too dependent on my own resources and abilities.  How empty that would be!  But my Cherith times cause me to think on my God, of how powerful He is, and of how much I need Him!

I hate migraines, but I love the Cherith to which it brings me!  I love it when God whispers to me in the quiet.  He is near when I can’t even bear to hear another’s voice speak because it hurts my head.  God’s voice is precious and healing.  Here in my Cherith, I am healed.  I am made ready for the next adventure, and I will go in His strength, because I have learned that mine is so faulty.

Thank the Lord for the Cherith He brings into your life and listen to His voice and receive from His hand the provision He brings.  It is full of miracles and wonder.

With love,