dessert · main dish

What’s Cookin’ in the Parsonage?

RefreshHer6 Comments

I got a lovely surprise last week –  a beautiful bouquet of daisies from my Sweetheart.  He doesn’t wait until Valentine’s Day to make up for what he should have been doing – he does sweet things like that all year long.  =)  (Yes, I know how blessed I am!)

I’m so thankful that my mom taught me to improvise and use what I have.  When I wanted a centerpiece for my Sunday dinner, I took the daisy arrangement I’d made and added a heart-shaped cookie cutter and then popped in some heart-shaped suckers that I had leftover from my Sunday school class. 

It looked like an arrangement that was purchased just for Valentine’s Day, but of course it wasn’t!

Saturday evening and Sunday were some special service at our church – we had a mission’s conference with Bud Steadman preaching.  He joined us for Sunday dinner, along with a man in our church who is bachelor for a week while his family is out of town.  I’m not sure why I do it, but I tried another new recipe on our guests!  Trying new recipes is so me…it’s what I do all the time, so I don’t realize it’s really kind of risky to try these things on guests – until I get ready to serve it!  Then I get a little nervous!  Oh well, it’s too late to change my old tricks now!

Here was my menu.  My new recipes are marked with an *.

Hawaiian Chicken*
serve with Rice with Cilantro
Pineapple Salsa*
Southern Green beans
Corn with Parmesan Cheese
Herb Bread*
~
Chocolate Pie*
Hawaiian Chicken
Ingredients:

1/4 cup pineapple juice

2 tablespoons ketchup

2 tablespoons lower-sodium soy sauce

1 1/2 teaspoons minced peeled ginger

2 garlic cloves, minced

4 (6-ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

Cooking spray
3/4 teaspoon salt, divided

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 cups hot cooked long-grain white rice

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Preparation

1. Combine first 5 ingredients. Reserve 1/4 cup marinade; place remaining marinade in a zip-top plastic bag. Add chicken to bag; seal. Chill 4 hours.

2. Heat a grill pan over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Remove chicken from bag; discard marinade in bag. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper. Add chicken to pan; baste with 2 tablespoons reserved marinade. Cook 6 minutes. Turn chicken over; baste with 2 tablespoons reserved marinade. Cook 6 minutes.

3. Combine rice, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and cilantro.

*Because I was serving this for Sunday dinner, I opted not to grill the chicken – though I’m sure it would be wonderful!  I put the marinated meat in a baking dish, covered, and baked it at 225 degrees while we were at church. 

I added this salsa to it, because white meat is so dry to me.  This was really good with it.  I think next time I would warm the salsa. 

Pineapple Salsa

Mix:

1 cup finely chopped fresh pineapple (I used canned)

1/3 cup finely chopped red onion

1/4 cup finely chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 cup pineapple preserves

1 tablespoon finely chopped seeded jalapeño pepper

1 1/2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Herb Bread
1/2 C butter or margarine, melted
1 T plus 1 tsp dried parsley, divided
1 T dill weed
1/4 tsp dried oregano leaves
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1 Italian bread loaf, sliced
2 T grated Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  In small bowl, combine butter, 1 tbl of the parsley, dill weed, oregano, and garlic powder; spread onto both sides of bread slices.  Reassemble loaf on large sheet of foil.  Brush top of loaf with any remaining butter; set aside.  In separate small bowl, combine remaining 1 tsp parsley and cheese; sprinkle over bread.  Wrap bread in foil.  Bake 10 minutes or until heated through.

Chocolate Pie – (From Cooking Light)
You can’t believe this is light. . .it’s as creamy and delicious as Grandma’s!

Filling:

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa

1/4 teaspoon instant espresso powder

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 large egg

1 large egg yolk

1 3/4 cups 2% reduced-fat milk

2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped

1 1/2 cups frozen reduced-calorie whipped topping, thawed

Baked pie shell

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 375°.

2. To prepare filling, combine 1/2 cup sugar and the next 6 ingredients (through egg yolk) in a bowl, stirring well with a whisk. Place the milk in a medium, heavy saucepan over medium-high heat; cook until milk reaches 180° or until tiny bubbles form around edge (do not boil). Gradually add hot milk to egg mixture, stirring constantly with a whisk. Return milk mixture to pan; cook over medium heat 10 minutes or until thick and bubbly, stirring constantly. Remove from heat. Add chocolate; stir until smooth.

4. Place pan in a large ice-filled bowl for 10 minutes or until mixture cools, stirring occasionally. Spoon filling into crust, and cover surface of filling with plastic wrap. Chill for 3 hours or until set; remove plastic wrap. Spread the whipped topping over filling; add cocoa or chocolate shavings for garnish, if desired.

What was cooking in your kitchen this week?  Are you making anything special for Valentine’s Day? 
Hope it includes chocolate! =)

From my parsonage kitchen,

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Freshen Up Friday

RefreshHer3 Comments

I’d have to say that Valentine’s Day has always been a favorite holiday of mine.  From the time I was a little girl cutting out those folded pieces of paper that magically turned into symmetrical hearts, I’ve been head over heels in love with the day itself!  What’s not to love about chocolate, conversation hearts, flowers, lacey paper doileys, and heart-shaped food from cookies to pancakes? 

Okay, I hear a single gal lamenting that this day is a little over the top, and she feels excluded. I hear the wife that’s sighing and recounting that her husband hasn’t remember this day in forever. I’m truly sorry.    Perhaps we need to Refresh our hearts about this Love-filled holiday.

Whether we’re married, dating or single, Valentine’s Day is about expressing our love for someone else.  This will require each of us to lower our expectations of the day and do unto others.  If we approach February the 14th about with what we’re going to get out of it, we are setting ourselves up for disaster, disappointment and, if you’re married,  potential divorce!  Seriously, if we expect roses, chocolates and sweet sentiment written in red accompanied by boxes of our favorite chocolates  in heart-shaped boxes, we are sure to be disappointed.  Let’s each give our Valentine’s expectation a little overhaul and start thinking ahead of the person(s) to whom we could show love, rather than dwelling on the one from whom we better receive it. 

Start with your family, then think outside the box. 

  • Love on your husband.  List why you love him – on paper, the bathroom mirror, or a special card .  Get his favorite candy, or make him his favorite dessert.  Buy him a new CD.  Print off a picture that encapsulates a special memory for you both.  Plan a special date – at home (dinner and/ordessert in your bedroom after the kids are in bed) or away.  Hide Valentine notes for him in special places – the car, his computer, his wallet, the shower…
  • Love on your kids.  Heart-shaped foods – pancakes, sandwiches, cookies, brownies, etc. are always fun!  One year I made paper hearts that made a trail that led from the girls’ bedrooms to a special treat. 
  • Remember a senior citizen whose mate has passed away.  This can be a lonely time for them.  Buy flowers or send a card telling them why you and your family cares for them.
  • Send a note to a single young adult woman.  Young adult women are often hurting because they’re waiting for the Lord to bring in “Mr. Right.”  Waiting for can be very frustrating. Single women who have experienced divorce are also hurting people that need care from others.   Send a card, reminding them that they are valuable to you.  Don’t preach to them about their situation; just express your love.  A small gift would also be a thoughtful gesture.

If you pray about showing love to others, and then get caught up in what you could do, it will lessen your own pain, if you should feel neglected.  Remember yesterday’s quote?  It fits. Even on Valentine’s Day.  Very much.

Be refreshed,

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Calvary Love

RefreshHer2 Comments
“If the praise of others elates me and their blame depresses me;
if I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself;
if I love to be loved more than to love,
to be served more than to serve,
then I know nothing of Calvary love.”
~Amy Carmichael

With tear-filled eyes,

pantry list · Prayer

A Peek Inside the Parsonage

RefreshHer5 Comments

When our girls were growing up there were many “lean” years, financially speaking.  The Lord always provided for us, but we often did without special food items, or conveniences, and stuck strictly to our grocery list and immediate needs. There was no ability to stock the pantry or buy ahead while things were on sale, but I truly wouldn’t trade those years for anything.  We learned to trust the Lord and pray about everything – grocery money, doctor bills, gas, school materials – everything.  God is so faithful.  While our pantry wasn’t overflowing, we had what we needed every day. 

During those years, I learned to buy wisely. I got into a routine that I still follow today. I still look for marked down meats, milk and other products.  I coupon at Ingles, where they double my coupons up to fifty cents.  I shop at Big Lots for many grocery items.  I buy some things at Sam’s Club in large quantities, when it is more cost effective.  Doing this now, I’m able to stock my pantry, fridge and freezer when I find things marked down.  I love being able to go to my pantry and pull off the items needed for a recipe without having to go and purchase very many other ingredients.

Recently at our ladies’ fellowship, the visiting dietitian shared a list of items with us that are good to keep in your pantry.  I thought you might be interested.  Of course, you’ll need to tailor this list to your family’s likes and budget:

  • Eggs
  • Canned light tuna and canned salmon
  • Whole-grain breads
  • Grated hard cheese, such as reduced-fat cheddar
  • Frozen or canned fruit and vegetables
  • Whole-grain cereal
  • Frozen boneless, skinless chicken breast
  • Canned beans, such as garbanzo and black beans
  • Balsamic vinegar
  • Peanut butter or sunflower seed butter
  • Milk (She recommended 1%)
  • Bread crumbs or crushed whole-grain cereal for breading
  • Olive oil
  • Marinara spaghetti sauce
  • Low-fat plain yogurt
  • Pasta, whole grain
  • 93% lean ground beef (freeze)
  • Ground 100% Turkey breast meat

Perhaps the situation in which you find yourself is like our earlier years.  You’re not living week by week, but day by day to see the Lord supply.  He promises to do that.  Don’t let yourself doubt.  Our God is able. I’m reminded of the words to a song about prayer entitled, “It Pays To Pray.”

It Pays To Pray

It Pays to call upon His name
It Pays To Pray
To see a miracle displayed
You’ll forget the word, “impossible”
When you seek the Savior’s face
You’ll know He will make a way
It Pays To Pray
 
A full pantry or one that has just enough shows that our God is faithful!

From my parsonage pantry,

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Compassionate Hands

RefreshHer4 Comments

As I have been reading through the Gospels I have been struck with how many times Jesus reaches out and touches people.  Just yesterday I read in Luke 13:11-13  And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. And when Jesus saw her, he called her to him, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. And he laid his hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God.

Jesus’ ministry was about touching people’s lives, and many times He did that by touching them with His hands.  He was so personal, compassionate and close.  Is He different today?  Now that He is in heaven, does He no longer touch us?  Well, of course, He doesn’t literally put His hands on us, but He uses other means to touch us.  Consider:

Sometimes He uses a compassionate person to be His hands.  They lay a hand on our shoulder when we’re burdened.  They lay their hand over our hand as they pray for us.

Another “touch” from the Lord would be a verse that “jumps off the Bible’s page” when we’re reading.  It ministers to our heart’s need at that moment.  It calms us, gives peace or understanding for what lies ahead.  That verse didn’t “just happen” to be in our Bible reading schedule – it was planned by a compassionate Savior!

David played music for King Saul and it ministered to his heart.  Music is a sweet tool of God’s touch.  The right kind of music can remind us of the God’s promises in God’s Word, or soften our heart towards worship when we’d normally lean towards worry.

Answered prayer is a reminder that God is not only hearing us when we pray, but that he loves us, as our Heavenly Father.

The Lord’s work in our lives is real indeed; we just need to be looking for it, and recognize that it’s not coincidence, but a touch of love from our Father.

Who needs your compassion today?  There is probably at least one person whom you will meet today that needs to be reminded of Christ’s love, and He could use your hands to reveal that to them. 

Have you been the recipient of Christ’s touch recently?  How was it demonstrated to you?

With love,