Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Recipe of the Week - Strawberry Pie!

Strawberry Pie 
Strawberries are coming into season right now.  How many of you remember Shoney's Fresh Strawberry Pie? This is the recipe.  It is a no fail pie.

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
3 T cornstarch
3 T Strawberry Jello 

Mix all ingredients, and cook 1 minute.  Make sure everything is dissolved.

Cool but do not let set (gel).

Pour over 1 pint of fresh strawberries that have been arranged in a sweet baked crust. 

To be truthful, I used to make the following pie crust recipe, but now, I would probably use a Pillsbury's Roll Out Crust.

CRUST
1 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 T sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg yolk
2 T milk

Mix until you can roll into a crust.

Enjoy!

Monday, April 25, 2011

Mark Your Calendars!

This summer our Sunday evening services will be different.  The men and the women will divide and each will be doing a 6-week Bible Study.  The women will be doing Do You Think I'm Beautiful by Angela Thomas.  The dates for this video/workbook series will be June 5, 12, July 3, 10, 17, 24.  Then there will be a church wide cookout on July 31. The time will be the same as always (6:00-7:00), and there will still be childcare. Watch for more information!  Please mark your calendars and plan to attend.  

Our women's ministry refreshment this month will be 
Chit-Chat and Cheesecake at CityHall Cheesecake on April 26 at 7:00pm.
Be sure to buy your $4.00 ticket this coming Sunday. It covers your cheesecake choice and a drink.  

Be sure to mark your calendar for the Priscilla Shirer conference at the DeSoto Civic Center, July 29-30. We will be selling the $39.00 tickets at church soon.  Don't miss it!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Resurrection Rolls - Tony Manley

Here is a neat activity you can do with children to talk to them about Jesus’ death and resurrection!

Resurrection Rolls

Ingredients:
1 can of crescent rolls
1 stick of melted butter
1 package large marshmallows
Cinnamon and sugar

Give each child a crescent triangle.  The crescent triangle represents the cloth that Jesus was wrapped in.  Give each child a marshmallow; this represents Jesus’ white for sinlessness.  Have each child dip the marshmallow in the melted butter, which represents the oils of embalming.  Then dip the marshmallow in the cinnamon and sugar, which represents the spices that anointed the body.  Then wrap the coated marshmallow lightly in the crescent by bringing the ends in and fold under to completely seal.  This represents the wrapping of Jesus’ body.  Then place in an oven for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees. The oven represents the tomb.  When the rolls have cooled slightly the children open their rolls, representing the cloth and discover that Jesus is no longer there!  He is risen!  The marshmallows melt away and the roll expands.

Happy Easter!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Easter Reflection for Families - Lindsey Moss

Can I encourage you to spend a few extra minutes this week reflecting on the Cross and the sacrifice that Jesus made for us there?  The cross has become such a recognized and “popular” symbol in our culture, that it’s easy to become used to seeing it every day.  However, there was nothing easy about Jesus’ death for our sins! 

A dear friend of mine passed on to me an “Easter @ Home” handout her church gave them and I’d like to pass on some of the ideas they gave about talking to our youngest children about  Easter. 

Family Scripture reading/discussion:
Tuesday:  John 17: 20-23:  Jesus prayed for those of us who would believe in Him in the future.  He asked the Father to help us be unified by loving each other. Discuss how your family members can show love towards each other in a way that pictures God’s love.  Spend some time together in prayer.

Wednesday:  Luke 22:47-54:  Jesus showed love and compassion to those that were wrongfully arresting Him.  Spend some time together in prayer asking God to help you show compassion and love to those that wrong you.

Thursday:  Luke 23:13-34:  The same people who were shouting “Hosanna!”  days before were now calling for Jesus’ death.  While on the cross, Jesus prayed for those people asking the Father to forgive them.  Spend some time together in prayer thanking God for forgiving us even when we do the most awful things.

Friday:  Help (or do it yourself!) children nail 2 boards together in the form of a cross.  Read Romans 3:23.  Have each family member write their name on a piece of paper along with the word “Sins.”  Talk about the things we do each day that are sins and assist them in writing (or drawing a sad face, for younger children) on their piece of paper.  Then, one at a time, allow each person to nail (or pin) their list to the cross as a symbol of Jesus dying on the cross to take away our sins.  Finish by reading Romans 5:8 and Romans 6:23 together.  Spend some time in prayer together thanking Jesus for His sacrifice for our sins.

Saturday:  Matthew 27:57-66:  Reflect together on what it must have been like for Jesus’ followers after they laid Him in the tomb.
Before bed, spend some time making “Resurrection Cookies.”  

Sunday:  Celebrate our risen Savior!! “Resurrection Eggs” are a great tool to use and can be purchased at any local Christian bookstore.

Aren’t those great ideas!  If you ever want to see the entire handout, just ask me!  I’ve got it in my office.

Have a wonderful week!  I hope to see each of you Saturday at our Egg Hunt and Sunday morning as we celebrate the empty tomb! “He is not here, He has risen, just as he said…”  Matthew 28:6

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Recipe of the Week - Chicken Salad


CHICKEN SALAD

3 - 4 chicken breasts, cooked and chopped finely
4 hard-boiled eggs, grated
sweet pickles, chopped or grated (to taste)
1 rib of celery, grated (optional)
1 T. mustard
1/4 cup sweet pickle juice
mayonnaise or salad dressing
salt & pepper (to taste)

Put chicken, eggs, sweet pickles, and celery into a bowl.  Mix mustard & pickle juice. Add to mixture.  Add mayonnaise or salad dressing a tablespoon at a time until you get the consistency you like. Add salt and pepper to taste.  

The recipe does not call for grapes; however, I always add grapes and sometimes chopped pecans.

Enjoy!


Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Recipe of the Week - Squash Pie


Ok, so this may not sound like something you would like, but it is really really good.  So give it a try!

Squash Pie

2 cups chopped yellow squash
1/2 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
1 small onion, chopped
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup oil  (  I think that is a little too much, cut in half if you wish)
salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients well and pour into a well-greased 10" pie pan. 
Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

When done, let cool for a few minutes.  Slice into sizes of your choosing.  Young children can eat like a piece of pizza.

Enjoy!


This is a Paula Deen tip:
 When cooking meat loaf in a regular loaf pan, Line the bottom of the pan with two slices of white bread (or I guess any other kind).  This soaks up all of the grease that cooks out.  It works!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Recipe(s) of the week! "Potato Soup" and "Potato and Onion Soup"


It looks as if we might have another day or two of cool weather this week, so let's do recipes for some soup before warm weather sets in.  Both of these recipes are very good.  One is quick and easy and the other a little bit more involved.

The first is just "Potato Soup."  This comes from Tommie Holbrook, English teacher from SBEC.

2 cans- Cream of Potato Soup
1 can- Cream of Celery Soup
1 32 oz. bag- Frozen shredded hash browns
2 cups- Shredded Velveeta
2 cups- Milk
2 cups-Water

Use only half of the hash browns and put in soup pot. Add remaining ingredients.  Remember all canned soup is high in sodium.  So use salt sparingly.  Pepper if desired.

Simmer until warm.

Really good with warm Hawaiian Bread.


Next----------------Potato and Onion Soup

2 lbs. of potatoes-coarsely chopped
1 large onion
4 TBSP butter
1 carrot- coarsely chopped
1 rib celery - coarsely chopped
Salt and Pepper
 2 cans of chicken broth
2 cups half and half
1 cup grated American cheese  (I use Velveeta)

Barely cover potatoes with 1 can of chicken broth.  Simmer until done.  Remove half of the potatoes.  Put remaining half into the blender and blend until smooth. 
Saute onion, carrot, and celery lightly in butter. Put in blender with other can of broth and blend until finely grated.  Add back to potatoes and heat to simmering. 
Add salt and pepper & half & half.  Simmer until steaming hot----BUT----DO NOT BOIL.  Add grated cheese, stir and heat to simmering temperature. 

This is really really good the second day when all of the seasonings blend together..
Very very rich.

Good with grilled cheese sandwiches.

Enjoy


 

Monday, April 4, 2011

Could...but Should? Tony Manley

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”  Gal 5:1
I hear so much about freedom in Christ and I am very grateful for the position of freedom – free from the penalty of sin, free from fear, free from guilt, free from condemnation, free to be who God has called me to be and to do what He has equipped me to do.  Which leads me to the question – “just because I could, does it mean I should?”  God is teaching me to ask this question in settings where I want to exercise freedom, but perhaps my freedom is not the wisest choice for that setting.  Whether the freedom to express my opinion or listen to conversations that are hurtful to my heart or another’s heart/name, the freedom to go or do an activity, the freedom to eat, exercise, or dress – these are all circumstances that require me asking “I could, but does it mean I should?”  I realize wisdom is an important element in living in freedom which requires courage and having a clean heart.  To be free means exercising a lot of self-control!  What a strange truth, yet freeing promise!!  Again, God’s ways are not my ways or thoughts (Isaiah 55:8) but true freedom comes from Him, His word and ways.  Only the Holy Spirit would be so kind as to lead my heart to begin thinking about the wisdom of using my freedom as a means to bring my flesh and all its drives under His control!  As I walk daily with the Lord, I pray I will choose to be free in not only the “coulds” but also the “shoulds”!

Friday, April 1, 2011

Overcomer - Tony Manley

Stay with me…

Over –  1.  directionality  - Go over the __________(you fill in the blank)             2.  Over there (“I am so over that”)  3.  Finished (the end of)
Overcomer – climbed, navigated, wrestled, struggled, fought, winner, Won! Victor! Champion – top of the mountain! The trophy holder

The word overcomer is in my heart (which by the way is my place of war!).  God loves an overcomer; He even equips me with the Holy Spirit and gives me His word so that I can be an overcomer.  Thus, the war – if I am equipped and I know God loves an overcomer, what is the problem?!  To overcome something for me is not always easy – thus the difference between just stopping/quitting versus overcoming!  Some things I can just walk away from (chocolate with nuts), but other things in my life are struggles to overcome,  not so easy to pass up or let go of - hurt feelings, opposition (this can be a biggie and I am really trying to grasp with clarity how to endure opposition well with Jesus as my example. “Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Heb. 12:3), hurtful words, misinterpretation, disappointment in people’s responses or lack of response.  The closer the relationship the greater the struggle to “overcome.”  I am sure I have a longer list, but again God tends to work specifically in my heart with a few at a time!  I know overcoming offers reward – the reward of victory, freedom, rest, strength, and protection.  Scripture speaks to the truth of overcoming! 
(Matt. 6:18, Mk. 9:24, John 16:33, Rom. 12:21, 1 John 5:4, Rev. 2:7, 2:17, 2:26, 3:12, 3:21, 21:7, 21:7 -  Just a few for starters)

 I love God’s individualized plan of working in my heart to be an overcomer.  Often He gives me a word, such as overcomer, and then He becomes my tutor in bringing meaning to the word with experiences and opportunities.  I couldn’t ask for a better position than to be instructed by the great Overcomer!  “O Lord, the King (I) rejoice/s in Your strength.  HOW GREAT IS HIS (MY) JOY IN THE VICTORIES YOU GIVE.”  Ps. 21:1