An Apple Pie is like a Church

This weekend was a fun one for the most part. My cherisher and I had a date on Friday night and met a friend for dinner and a movie. It was a great movie and we will definitely read the book. Saturday seemed to fly by…one project birthed another one and before I realized it, I had cleaned out 6 cabinets and made a homemade apple pie! Now that is a productive day!

The apple pie was the most fun and satisfying…for it was a practice run for next week. My daughter invited me to come over and help one of my granddaughters’ class make an apple pie. How fun is that???? Seeing that I had never made an apple pie, it seemed prudent to practice. I have to admit it really was fun!!!

I work for a wonderful company that sells kitchen products (to include pantry, cookware, etc.). Having the right tools makes the job fun and easy! That is exactly what the pie turned out to be! Even my cherisher got into the pie making but taking photos as I completed steps from making the crust, slicing the apples, decorating the top crust with pastry leaves and finally the final shot – the finished pie!

It occurred to me as I worked in the kitchen that God’s church is a lot like an apple pie. You have your crusty people – they are necessary, so don’t throw them out! Then you have the fruit – also necessary to flavor and substance of the pie. My favorite part is the seasoning – because without them, life would be dull and uninteresting. They spice up our lives and give us wisdom – in other words – they are necessary, too. The recipe I used called for a tablespoon of butter to be placed on top of the seasoned apples. We all know that butter adds that necessary richness and depth to a recipe – yep, gotta have it! The top crust was a little different. In lieu of the traditional basket weave design or a cover over the fruit with slits to allow the steam from the juices to escape, I opted to use tiny special cutters. Since we are finally into Fall (do not argue with me…my heart is set on this!) a leaf shape cutter was selected. It took extra time, but then isn’t that the way things are in the church? It takes time for God to work His plan and that means being patient and expectant! When the last leaf was placed upon the pie, I couldn’t help but smile. It really surprised me…it looked good! I mean, like really good…like one of those pies you actually pie that doesn’t come in a box! The final step was to brush the top crust with a bit of milk and then sprinkle sugar on the moistened crust. Talk about good! Like the milk and sugar are the last ingredients that complete the pie, there are those that come late in the harvest of the season in the church. My dad and a very good friend returned to the harvest near the end of their season. No wonder, it made the finished project so sweet!

Church is like an apple pie! You need to have one!

Saying Goodbye...Saying Hello...

Saying Goodbye

Last night was our last night for our summer Bible study on the book of Esther. The group requested a recipe that is one of my family's favorite recipes. Normally, this recipe calls for a 3-layer cake. Feeling creative, decided to try my trifle bowl. It was a hit! So here you go:

Mandarin Orange Cake

1-Duncan Hines Butter Yellow Cake Mix

4 eggs

11 oz. can of Mandrain Oranges plus juice

3/4 cup canola oil

Mix ingredients gently together in a classic batter bowl. Once mixed together, pour into three round cake pans.

Note: Since I was using my trifle bowl, the cake mixture was poured into a 9 x 13 prepared baking dish.

Bake at 350 until done - roughly 30 or so minutes. Check it with a cake tester for doness. Allow to cool thoroughly before icing. If you try to ice it before the cake cools, you will find your icing sliding effortlessly off the cake and onto your countertop!

While your cake is baking mix your icing.

Icing includes:

1-15oz. can crushed pineapple (drained)

1 large package Instant Vanilla Pudding mix

1 large container of Cool Whip

Mix pineapple and pudding together first. (Note: do not add water!) After the pineapple and pudding are incorporated, fold in the Cool Whip. Keep in refrigerator until ready to use.

Note: Keep cake chilled until time for serving.

New Beginnnings

Our neighborhood is growing!!! Three new babies are expected very soon...in fact, one of our expectant moms delivered early. This mom was very pleased! So, to welcome Miss Elizabeth "Ellie" Bradley Hoover to our neighborhood, I made her some Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting. While Miss Ellie will not be able to enjoy her cupcakes right now, I am thinking her mommy and daddy are going to be very excited! We will go over tonight to meet our newest neighbor and deliver our "Welcome to the Neighborhood" gift! Here is a sampling of Ellie's cupcakes!

Something to Smile About

He was a man’s man. He did it his way. His decisions were always about him and how he wanted it to go down. He was also a man that knew his mother, sisters and his mom’s Bible study class was praying for him. By all appearances it seemed he would die unchanged, unrepentant, and stubborn…bent on doing it “his way” until the end. Over the years, the prayers did not diminish…I believe they intensified. About a month ago, all the prayers that had been offered on his behalf burst forth with a resounding, “Yes!” This man’s man returned to God! He rededicated his life and was reconciling with family and friends. Then, this morning the Lord took him “His” way. This man’s man passed away very peacefully. One of his sisters reported that when she and her mom were allowed to see him following his death. They were both concerned at what he might look like. But, there he was…there was no signs of strife…no signs of a struggle. To their amazement and blessing he was not smiling…he was grinning from ear to ear. Two of his most faithful prayer warriors stood over him with amazement wondering, “Who was it that God sent to take him home that would have left his face glowing and grinning from ear-to-ear?”

Yesterday I dropped by to deliver a cake to the family. While visiting with them, the mother told me that she and her daughter found her son’s Bible after they got home from the hospital. My friend handed me her brother’s Bible. She opened to the place where he had marked and had last read in scripture. Then she asked me to read the passage to her and her mom. Noting it was in the book of Jeremiah, I did take the time to check the chapter. The place he had left marked began, “This is what the LORD says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back from captivity.^a]'> I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile’.” As I read this scripture to the hurting and longing hearts of his mother and sister, I could not help but pause and draw in a deep breath as I read, “when you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, “declares the Lord.” Both of these godly women knew without a doubt God intended for them to find his Bible and to see the scripture he had been reading. It was a love letter meant for them to find!

So, dear and faithful prayer warriors, do not be discouraged when you think that your prayers are not being heard and not making it past your ceilings. They most assuredly are! God hears every word and every prayer that you offer! His heart is not hardened against your request…nor is it lost in the midst of all the other prayers spoken. However, God will not interfere with our free will. He will allow the recipient of our prayers to go his/her own way. Know that God joins you at the throne greeting each request you make…every prayer you offer with unending love. And, when the recipient of your prayers turns back to God, all Heaven celebrates. Can you imagine the celebration this morning as this man’s man stepped into the arms of Jesus? Now, that is something to smile about!

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner

who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:6-8

In the Darkness - Shine the Light

Recently, my honey and I were blessed to have three of our seven grandchildren stay with us. We dubbed the time, "Cousins' Camp!" Because I have a flexible job, I was able to spend each day and night with these girls. Two of the cousins were 9 1/2 years, and one was 6 yr old, and a sibling of one of the cousins. Each grandgirl had her own room to sleep and "hang" her crown. The first night after the parents had left the OFFICIAL bedtime arrived. The beds made ready, teeth brushed all three grandgirls waited in their beds for Nani to come and say goodnight. They knew that they would recieve hugs and kisses and together with Nani, their prayers spoken. I stated at the furtherest bedroom from the stairs and worked my way forward. Sitting on the edge of each bed of each grandgirl was such a priviledge. I would gather each one in my arms, hug and kiss each one and then bow my head so that she and I could pray together. This routine was going smoothly...that is...until the last one...the 6 yr. old. She was trying to be brave, but for the life of her, it wasn't working out too well. The thought of being upstairs (Nani and Saba's bedroom was downstairs) and being left alone with a sibling and a cousin did not sound like promising protection from the dark. Thinking of something that might "brighten" her nightime fears I retrieved my tried-and-true trusty compain, "Ruff." You can tell from the picture that when you press the red handle on Ruff's back, his mouth opens and a light shines. May I mention here that Ruff also growls when the light comes on...that is to insure whatever darkness falls, that he is on the job! With Ruff there to dispel the darkness there was no need to fear! After our prayers were spoken, I opened my eyes to see this precious little one clinging to her "Lovie" and "Ruff." The radio in her room was set on KSBJ (our Christian Radio Station) and she drifted off to sleep wrapped in prayers while God's praises were sung over her.
What darkness that is threatening you? Is it an illness? A possible job change? A child away from home walking swifty away from God's perfect will? Or is it a change in martial status? What is the darkness that is stalking you and attempting to overtake you? What is threatening to steal your peace and rob your joy?

Several summers ago, a Vacation Bible Program made its way to our church and to each of our grandchildren's churches. The theme song was, "I will not be afraid." It was set to a Louisiana swamp theme and all the grandchildren loved it when I put on the cd and crank up the volume...they joined in and sang out, "I will not be afraid, though troubles out there night and day. I will not be afraid for God is always, always, always near!" Using that to build on with the 6 yr. old, I reminded her that God is near!

Several summers ago, our church participated in a VBS. The theme was set in a Louisian swamp and the theme song was, "I will not be afraid!" The words began...I will not be afraid, though troubles out there - night and day. I will not be afraid because God is always...always...God is always near!" All of our grandchildren's churches participated in the same VBS theme. Whenever I would have them in my car, I would pop in the cd and we would sing - loudly - God is always, always, God is always near!"
Thought you may not have a "Ruff" to brighten the darkness in your bedroom, we as Children of God have an eternal light. We have Jesus - our holy and eternal life! Not only does He disspel darkness...the enemy flees from Him! So, when your darkness is trying to overtake your peace, just call out, "I will not be afraid because God is always, always, God is always NEAR!!!

Being Neighborly...

When my honey and I moved into our neighorhood, we were the only house on this side of the lake. My honey thought it would be a good thing to get to know our neighbors and welcome them as they moved into their new homes on our side of the lake. The plan was a great one...we would go by and drop off freshly baked cookies and just say, "Welcome to our neighborhood. We are glad you are here!" However, the cookie demand was more than I expected. Somewhere along the line, we just couldn't keep up...that's a good thing!
Like us, a lot of our neighbors are either new to the area or they do not have family who lives nearby. Most of our neighbors are younger families, which is awesome! Love the sound of children in the "hood!"
Tonight, I think, we birthed (okay ladies - no pun intended - sorry - inside joke on those that attended) a great idea. Since cooking is one of my loves, it was easy to plan a evening for our young moms, called, "Mom's night out!" We think the idea will catch on and we talked about getting together monthly and get better aquainted.

Tonight was the beginning of recapturing a feeling of "Friends" in our neighborhood. It was great fun and we look forward to gathering together next month.
Pictured to the left is Ice Cream Nachos. What isn't shown in the nachos (totally our preference) was sliced bananas or chopped nuts. Because...as you well know...sometimes you feel like a nut and sometimes you don'! This recipe was served in Pampered Chef's "Cool and Serve." This product is like a quick-change artist! You will not beleive all the ways you can use it!
Here is how you make, "Ice Cream Nachos!"
Ingredients needed are: Flour tortillas, Pampered Chef's Korintje Cinnamon, Ice Cream of your choice (pictured is vanilla), fresh strawberries and bananas, nuts (your preference - walnuts or pecans) and Pampered Chef's Chocolate Raspberry Sauce or/and Caramel Sauce, Whipped Cream.
Brush flour tortillas with water using silicon basting brush or a pastry brush. Sprinkle generously with the Korintje Cinnamon (mixed with sugar) using the Flour/Sugar shaker. Cut tortillas into triangles using Pizza Cutter. Place on baking stone at 400 degrees until lightly brown (around 13 minutes +/-). Cool browned triangles onto stackable cooling rack. When ready to assemble, placed Cinnamon chips over the green chillers in the bottom of the Cool and Serve (make sure inserts have been frozen so it will keep the ice cream from melting quickly. Using Pampered Chef's ice cream dipper, scoop ice cream and place scoops over the chips. A variety of ice cream is always great! Using the egg slicer plus, garnish with the sliced strawberries and bananas. Chop nuts with Food Chopper, sprinkle on top of Sauce. You can use the v-shaped cutter to act as a funnel for the sauce and drizzle it onto the fruit mixture. Top with whipped cream using Easy Accent Decorator, and grate chocolate bar over entire platter using Rotary Grater or sprinkle with Sprinkles.



Pictured at the right is the Molten Lava Cake.

You would not believe the speed of these ladies' grabbing their cell phones to photograph the desserts and sending them home to their husbands. It was so funny!

Here is the recipe for the Molten Lave Cake

Empty cake mix and all ingredients listed on the back of the cake box into the Rice Cooker Plus. Using the stainless whisk, whisk cake mix and the ingredients until they are mixed well.
Using the large Pampered Chef Scoop, add 4 scoops of chocolae frosting into the center of the Rice Cooker Plus. DO NOT STIR! Simply allow the frosting to mound onto of the last scoop. Use only regular cake frosting as the whipped frosting will not work with this recipe. Place uncovered Rice Cooker Plus in a microwave (with a turn table) for 7 minutes and 45 seconds. Take Rice Cooker Plus out of the microwave and allow to rest for about 2 minutes. Use the small spatula, slide it around the edges of the cake to make sure it is free from the sides of the RCP. Invert cake onto a LARGE (about 14") serving platter (frosting will stream down like a vocano) so that the frosting pools around the cake. Add fresh strawberries to the frosting on the platter then dust cake and strawberries with powdered sugar (using the flour/sugar shaker). Serve hot! Great with ice cream!!! Enjoy! And...be neighborly!

It's A Wrap! Chili-Lime with Cream Jalapeno Sauce

One of my favorite things to do at night is to prepare my Honey's lunch for the next day. Trying to keep the mystery in our marriage, I like to change it up and surprise him. Last night I concocted a wrap that included chicken breast that had been coated in olive oil and then generously sprinkled our newest rub, "Chili-Lime." It is a very versital rub that works well on any meat. I have even used it on a box lunch that had turkey sandwich meat. It definitely added life to that lunch! In the photo to the right is the ingredients I used for his Chili-Lime and Jalapeon Sauce wrap. Please note that bright and shiny tomatoe is our first crop of the season! Granted it is only one, but we were thrilled to see it spring forth from the plant. I wonder if my grandparents got this excited about a tomato plant. Guess if at that point if you had seen one tomato plant, well, you know...

This chicken was coated with olive oil and then sprinkled generously with our Chili Lime Rub. Grill until done.
Let me just tell you here and now that the are great as a main course served with a salad and any other side you choose...except chocolate and that just wouldn't be right, now would it?

What I love about this recipe is that it is really one that you can throw healthy to the wind if you have a mind to or you can trim it down, like I did. The tortillas are made with Olive Oil and you can find them in the deli section of your grocery - or least that is where they tend to keep them at my HEB.

Here is the tortilla (made with Olive Oil) covered in the Creamy Jalapeo Sauce. I layered it with baby spinach, thinly sliced fresh mushrooms, sliced HOMEGROWN tomato, then added chicken. Topped stack of delicibles with a divided slice of monterey jack cheese.
Adding the mushrooms was an extra surprise, but hey, that's what keeps the mystery in the marriage, right? Have received kudos from my man that it was a mightly manly sandwich but was also mighty tasty.

The recipe for tonight is for the Creamy Jalapeno Dip/Sauce. Like I said, this is one special recipe. Not only can it spice up a wrap, or be used as a dipping sauce, a salad dressing and it is fantastic on grilled fish like talaphia. Is your mouth watering yet? Mine sure is!

You will note that in the recipe there is a note as to how you can make it more healthier version. The recipe serves 8-10 people. What I recommend is our manual food processor to chop the jalapenos, cilantro, and chiles. I used our blender because I doubled the recipe.Here you go, ready or not!

1 1/3 cup mayonaise (we use low-fat)

1/3 cup buttermilk (2%)

1/3 cup chopped jalaopeno peppers

1/3 cup canned green chiles (chopped)

1/3 cup cilantro

1 (1 oz) packet dry ranch dressing mix (Buttermilk flavor)

1 tsp. garlic powder (this is not enough for us - you may want to tweak it to your taste)

1 tsp. lime juice
Chop jalapeno peppers first, the process cilantro. Add chiles and process. The add the remaining ingredients. If you are using it as a dip, we like the Tia Rosa Chips from HEB. They really are awesome. However, if you want a healthier choice, you can cut whole wheat tortillas into wedges, place on cookie sheet, brush with oil. Lightly salt and bake at 400 degrees until crisp. Enjoy!
Now the lunch is ready to pack. I've included the healthier version of chips, a PC prep bowl of sauce so he can dip his chips and wrap (also added a bag of chips to share with his co-workers), a diet coke, mini-oreos, grapes and oh yes, the wrap. The green note with the heart on it??? That tradition started long ago in a land far, far away. Not knowing what kind of day they were having, thought it would help to know that they were pretty spectualar in my book! So, each day I packed our children's lunches for school. I would always include a love note for them to find as they munch on their lunches. Keeping the tradition alive, I use a brightly colored 4 x 6 card. What did the note say? Well, wouldn't you like to know! And, I might add...our kids have grown into some pretty spectular adults! Couldn't be more proud of them!

Being Delivered From It and Throught It

Looking at these photos brings back memories that have long since been stored in the treasure chest of my heart. The first photo is one of we fondly called, “The First Wives’ Club.” As I reflected on this picture, it is a vivid reminder of how fragile and precious life is in this world. At the time of this picture, this trio had had lunch in Old Towne Spring. Carol (center) was in town and was responsible for forming our club. It seems only fitting that she was in the middle of this photograph. She introduced me to Ellen (on left). Like me, Ellen’s husband is in the ministry and they, too, had led tours to Israel. It was the love of God’s land, Israel, that we all shared. Over time, it became evident, this union was not by chance. It was a divine strand of the tapestry God was working in all three of our lives. Carol works for the company that plans our tours. She is a “hands’ on” lady that tailors the trip to be a perfect fit for the hosts and the guests. This photo was taken on the front porch of a tea room. We had grabbed a complete stranger to snap this photo for us. All three of us had this photo framed in a purple frame (Ellen’s favorite color). We all three kept in touch. Because Ellen and I lived closer, we met more frequently and grew very close. Sadly, this would be the last photo of Ellen we would take.
Ellen and her husband had returned from a trip from Israel when Ellen noted a lump in her breast. She went to her doctor immediately but was told that it was nothing and sent her home. Ellen and her husband lived out of town, so a drive into town was truly a trip! As weeks progressed, the lump continued to grow and the pain became unbearable. Traveling back to the doctor with her arm resting on a pillow, I remember Ellen saying the pain was very severe. During her appointment with her doctor that day Ellen learned that the lump indeed was something. She was diagnosed with Stage 4 Breast Cancer. The disease was aggressive and so was the treatment. In the end, the disease being relentless moved into her brain. Still we kept in close contact, talking over the phone and emailing. And when she was placed in a facility near here, I went to see her frequently.

Ellen lived out the intervention of God being delivered from the disease. The disease did not win! God delivered Ellen from this disease. Leaving her funeral, I knew that Ellen had been victorious. And that this life was a launch pad for her. That she came to touch lives and complete an assignment only she could perform. While I lost a friend and a traveling companion on this earth, Ellen was delivered from this disease and what a reunion it will be when we once again join forces in Heaven.

Fast forward…I am standing at the front door of the church were I was employed and I see a member of our church in the parking lot hugging a lady. The lady could have been Ellen’s twin sister. For a moment I thought it was Ellen. My heart beating a million beats a minute I wanted to run, grab her up and tell her how much we all had missed her. To my shock and surprise, it was not Ellen, but a wonderful, godly lady named Linda. (This photo was taken at a mutual church member’s land blessing we attended.) Left to right: Richard, Steve, Linda and Jay).

Linda taught me to take another chance on relationships. Having decided I would NEVER journey again with some one dying (after all, Ellen was my third close friend who had died from cancer), I felt God simply would not ask me to “do” the friend thing again. I couldn’t have been more wrong! Linda walked into my life with a song! How she loved gospel music. Being a personal friend of The Isaacs, music was a large part of her life and gave her great joy. I still can see her face light up as her toes tapped, hands clapping as she took in the lyrics and tune. Linda was a special lady that forever stamped “delivered from” in my heart. Linda fought a 17 year battle with breast cancer. With every respite, we thought we had the cancer beat. Then one day, the battle near the end and Linda was delivered from it. Before leaving her graveside side, we broke out with one of her favorite songs, “I’ll Fly Away.” What a send off!

Lastly, is one very special lady. She holds a permanent place in my heart I have known this lady for almost 13 years. I would like to introduce this sweet angel lady named, Jay. Jay is on the far right in the above photo.

If you could take an empty bowl, add sweetness of spirit, prayers that could take down a giant, talent with the piano, love that knows no bounds and sprinkle it with a smile that would melt a heart, and add a generous helping for unwavering faith and friendship, you would have Jay.

Jay encounter with cancer was being delivered through her circumstances. She was diagnosed in 1991 with a lump, followed by surgery and chemo. In the years that I have known Jay (with no exception) any time anyone diagnosed with cancer [especially breast cancer], Jay would walk through the process with the person. I watched her counsel, comfort and cry with those as she accompanied them on their journey through cancer. Because she had experienced the treatment (including a mastectomy), Jay surpassed the role of a “go to” person. Jay’s love of God, her unwavering faith in prayer and love of God’s people made her a formidable warrior against cancer. Jay shared this with me today. She said not long after her surgery, she was in church. It was dark as she sat in prayer asking God a very important question: “Please tell, God, am I healed?” Jay says that her entire body began to burn all over. She knew that God had responded and had healed her.

Hopefully, now, you understand why the “Whip Cancer” campaign has been in the forefront of my blog and in my heart. Rest assured there will come a day when cancer will be drop-kicked into the abyss by Jesus. But, in the meantime, know that if you or someone you know is or has had cancer that it is not delivered by an angry God. Our God does not cause cancer! Trust the truth that our God will continue to move in His sovereignty and faithfulness. Whether we are delivered to it – through it – or from it God is all over it!

“I will sing of the LORD’s great love forever;
with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known
through all generations. I will declare that your love stands firm forever,
that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.”

Psalm 89:1-2

Let me say to each of you that I do not regret one second of the journey with these ladies. Yes, it was painful, yes, I thought I would never get over their leaving us, but that is where faith in God kicks in and carries you to it, through and from it! If you are hurting, hold onto the one who loves you with a forever love! And, for those who are delivered to it and through it, celebrate them! Zephaniah 3:17 tells about that love of God. Read it and soak it in...it is true! God loves you and them that much!