"Fru-fru" Cookies

I am not much for fussing with recipes.  Food is serviceable to me and hubby knows that while it might not always be as pretty as the picture, I do try to make it tasty :)  I had been admiring these cookies for about 2 years and with a church fellowship yesterday, I decided to try my hand at them.  They really look harder than they are ... they are homemade slice and bake cookies ...

Watermelon Slice Cookies

3/4 c butter, softened

3/4 c sugar

1 egg

1/2 tsp almond extract

2 c flour

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/8 tsp salt

Red and green gelfood coloring

1/3 c raisins

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

* In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar.  Beat in egg and extract.  Combine the flour, baking powder and salt;  gradually add to creamed mixture.  Set aside 1 c of dough.

* Tint remaining dough red; shape into a 3 1/2 inch long log.  Wrap in plastic wrap.  Tint 1/3 c of the reserved dough green; wrap in plastic wrap.  Wrap remaining plain dough.  Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm.

* On a lightly floured surface, roll plain dough into an 8 1/2 inch x 3 1/2 inch rectangle.  Wrap red log with white dough.  Repeat with green but roll to a 10 x 3 1/2 inch rectangle.  Wrap in plastic and refrigerate overnight.

* Unwrap and cut into 3/16 in slices.  Place 2 in apart onunreased baking sheets.  Cut raisins into small pieces.  Lightly press raisin bits and sesame seeds into red dough to resemble watermelon seeds.

* Bake 350* for 9-11 minutes or until firm.  Immediately cut cookies in half.  Remove to wire racks to cool.

Have you heard of telling the "Wordless Book" with the watermelon?  These would be a great snack for kids after telling the story.  "My heart was black (seeds) with sin, until the Savior came in.  His precious blood (fruit) I know has washed me white (inner rind) as snow.  And in his word I'm told, I'll walk the streets of gold (watermelon blossom).  To grow (green rind)  in Christ each day, I'll read my Bible and pray."

Family

Today I am thankful for the family that God gave me.  I have a wonderful family that was given to me at birth.  I am sure that I am daily covered with their prayers for me.  I am thankful for their graciousness as I continue to learn and grow.  I am thankful for the opportunities that my parents gave me as a child that prepared me for various ministries today.  I am thankful for the examples of my 3 brothers and their wives as they serve faithfully in various churches in whatever aspect the Lord chooses.  I am thankful for parents who taught me the need for hard work and a contentment with simple things.

I am thankful for the husband that God gave to me and for his family.  I am thankful for a husband who just wants God will for our lives.  I am thankful for his work ethic that takes him through the heat of the day in outside work, that means working a job and going to school full-time.  I am thankful for his caring family that also covers us in prayers and has been so generous in so many ways.

God designed the family unit and what a blessing they are to me!

...charity envieth not; ...

It is easy to desire the gifts, abilities, praise, attention, activities of others ... especially in the home.  The Lord says in His Word that true love does not envy.  Love is generous in all situations.  It is eager to praise with sincerity.  How are you rejoicing in the success or activities within your family today?  It is not about competition, but about serving together.  If my husband is a success, I feel like a success.  I hope that his actions reflect well upon me and that my actions complement and build him up as well.

I am off to take hubby to work today and then to run ALOT of errands.  I like the prospect of being out for the day, but I must say that I must work to rejoice as I drive around in this HEAT! 

Psalm 92:1-2

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD,  and to sing praises unto thy name,  O most High:  To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning,

and thy faithfulness every night.

Enjoying the Fruits of the Season

I love the fresh fruits and vegetables of summer.  While not having a great year in the garden, we have enjoyed fresh cucumbers and carrots.  The tomatoes have made wonderful homemade salsa or broiled tomatoes.  I long for the day when I live somewhere long enough to have fruit trees.  We are enjoying the fresh peaches from SC right now.  I found this pie recipe last year.  Hubby turned his nose up at first, but now it is a frequent request in the summer with the fruits are at their peak and the prices are not!

Peach Plum Pie

2 c sliced, peeled peaches

2 c sliced peeled plums

1 T lemon juice

1/4 tsp almond extract

1 1/2 c sugar

1/4 c quick cooking tapioca

1/2 -1 tsp grated lemon peel

1/4 tsp salt

Pastry for double-crust pie

2 T butter or margarine

In a large bowl, combine 1st 8 ingredients.

Let stand 15 minutes.

Fill pie crust, dot with butter.  Cover with top.

Cover edges loosely with foil.

Bake 450* for 10 minutes.

Remove foil and bake 35 minutes at 350*.

I haven't been doing too much baking due to the heat, but I will work quickly one morning this week to get a pie made for hubby before the heat of the day.

Fun Day of Spending

The last 2 posts of the week are late because hubby has had the past 2 days off from work.  After 2-3 weeks of very long days, he needed some rest.  We spent Thursday at home working on projects and then on Friday we got the itch to go out.  So after lunch we started to drive.  We were headed to the mountains for some relief from the heat and humidity, when hubby suggested a stop at the Discount Grocery Store.  This is basically a store filled with food that was refused by "real" stores because of dents, tears, or "sell by" dates.  I love this store.  Salad dressing for 29 cents,  Triscuits for 50 cents per box.  Hubby found some "Pot of Gold" chocolates for 99 cents yesterday.  Anyway, when we fiished there, we needed to take some things home, so the mountains were OUT!  We headed to Gastonia to go shopping with some birthday money that hubby had been given.  It ends up that we hit a great sale and tax free weekend.  He ended up with a whole new outfit (pants, shirt, tie) and a candle for his wife with the given money.  Then when we checked out, the clerk gave us a coupon that left us with $8 on the gift card.  We still haven't spent that, but what a gift a blessing from the Lord!  Then we hit Subway to finish using a birthday gift card there as we shared a $5 foot long.  Then on to McDonalds to use 2 Free coupons for smoothies or Frappes.  Then onto Sonic for a free Slushie (they also gave us another coupon for a free Rte 44 to use in the future).  There are those who complain about frugal living, and perhaps I slip more than I should, but there are many days when it is rewarding, exciting, and an adventure!

A relief from stress

For many years (OK, probably about 20), I have had an increasing problem with tremors, nerves, and heart disturbances.  Many a friend and family member has asked, "Why are you shaking?" "Are you nervous about something?" Sundays were becoming the worst day with the increased pressure of music responsibilities in two services. What was manageable for many years was becoming incapacitating.  Exercise, diet, removal of caffeine were no longer seeming to help.  Doctor's appointments showed no problems without a barrage of costly tests.  The past year has been a great struggle with more rough days than good days.  I described the problem to hubby as living in "fight or flight" mode almost constantly.  This quite often left me with NO energy to do the things that I needed to do or wanted to do. 

The Lord has been gracious.  While researching a prescription drug that a friend had told me about, I came across something called Magnesium Deficiency.  After reading the description and discovering that it was hard to overdose on the mineral, I decided to try supplementing.  Wow!  What a difference it has made.  I have had 4 weeks of energy and Sundays have been much less debilitating.  I am so amazed that our bodies are so masterfully made that the slightest imbalance can create very poor health.  I am thankful for a God who leads our steps and cares for us.  I am thankful for natural remedies to many health problems. 

Colossians 1:16b-17

all things were created by him, and for him:

And he is before all things,

and by him all things consist.

...and is kind; ...

Last week,  we looked at the characteristic of love that we call patience or long suffering.  It is a continual, patient enduring of offense.  Now, lest I get cocky and say that I will endure in silence, but I am doing nothing extra in my home while the offense continues or until the offense is made right; Paul continues to describe charity as kind.  It is going out of my way to do something nice for someone else.  Here is some ACTION!  How will I do this today?  You know that pile of farm dirt that has accumulated at the front door and drives hubby crazy ... I will sweep it up before he gets home!  I can have the clippers ready and the counter cleared when he is ready to give himself a hair cut tonight.  I can plan meals that I know he really likes.  Get the idea?  Do something kind to show your love today!

In addition to looking for ways to show love through kind actions, I am continuing a cross stitch project - I am about 1/3 of the way done.  Must get going ... this one has a deadline!

Unnecessary gods

Psalm 81:10

I am the LORD thy God,

which brought thee out of the land of Egypt:

open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it.

This psalm was written about the children of Israel, but my God is still the same gracious and giving God today.  He asked His children to listen to Him, to turn from other gods and He would abundantly bless.  How often do you evaluate the "gods" in your life?  Since being married, I have seen the need to give up the god of television and the god of facebook along with the god of unnecessary shopping.  These are not a problem for everyone, but they stole time or money that should have belonged to God.  I have to be careful not to serve the "garden god" or the "home god" or even the "hubby god" or "service god" and cut out the God who gives me these things to enjoy.  I see the blessings of God each day and wonder how much more He wants to give when I give EVERYTHING over to Him.

Fruit Salsa with Ginger Chips

I came across this recipe while looking for healthy recipes for church gatherings.  I so appreciate when others bring dishes that show a concern for my health and my waistline.  Of course, I still have to exhibit the characteristic of moderation or temperance at buffet-style meals, but what a blessing others have been to me, and I hope to be to them by choosing healthy alternatives!  This is also a cool snack during the hot months and the drained pineapple juice can be added to iced tea for a special cooling treat.

Fruit Salsa with Ginger Chips

1 can (20 oz) unsweetened crushed pineapple

1 large mango or 2 medium peaches, peeled and chopped

2 medium kiwifruit, peeled and chopped

1/4 c chopped macadamia nuts

4 1/2 tsp brown sugar

4 1/2 tsp flaked coconut

8 flour tortillas (8 inches)

1 Tbls water

1/4 c sugar

1-2 tsp ground ginger

Drain pineapple, reserving 3 Tbls juice.  In a large bowl, combine the pineapple, mango, kiwi, nuts, brown sugar, coconut, and reserved juice.  Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

For chips, lightly brush one side of each tortilla with water.  Combine sugar and ginger; sprinkle over the moistened side of tortillas.  Cut each into 6 wedges.  Place in a a single layer on ungreased baking sheets.  Bake at 400* for5-7 minutes or until golden brown and crisp.  Cool on wire racks.  Serve with salsa.

Makes 12 servings.  1/4 c salsa and 4 chips equals 190 calories.  (Whole wheat tortillas would be even better)

Hubby also encouraged me to make the "chips" with cinnamon, or with a variety of spices (garlic powder, basil, oregano, Parmesan, ...) just for a snack.  Have some FUN!