Another cookbook review:

 

This week I'm doing another cookbook review of a book I've used so often: Slow Cookers, Casseroles & Skillets by Gooseberry Patch.  You can find it on Amazon here, but it looks as if a new edition of it may be coming out in August.  I do love the version I have, but I'm sure the new one will be good as well.  I checked on Thriftbooks and it is out of stock there.  Unlike most of the books I get from Gooseberry Patch, this one was neither a Thriftbooks find nor a cookbook I received in exchange for a recipe.  I actually won this one in a giveaway, and I have been very glad that I did!

As the title notes, there are three categories in the contents of this cookbook: Savory Slow Cookers, Cozy Casseroles, and Speedy Skillets.  Each category has three subcategories: Just 5 Ingredients; Easy Family Meals; and One-Dish Dinners.

From the Just 5 Ingredients! category of the Savory Slow Cookers section, I have made Pennsylvania Stuffed Peppers,  Georgia Tomato Roast, "Rotisserie" Roast Chicken, and Carol's Cheesy Potato Bake.  That cheesy potato bake is so easy, and is a hit at every potluck I take it to.  I use a homemade substitute for cream of chicken soup.  So good!  a couple of want-to-try recipes in this category are Italian Sausages & Peppers and Company Chicken Dijon.  

From the Easy Family Meals category, I've tried the Chicken Sausage & Pasta -- very good!

From the One-Dish Dinners category of slow cooker recipes, the Sausage & Peppers Sauce is a good one.  I've sometimes used a package of frozen red and green pepper strips in place of the chopped green pepper.  I've also tried the Homestyle Chicken Stew, and noted it was "Very good!"

In Cozy Casseroles, from the Just 5 Ingredients! category, I've made John's Spinach & Red Pepper Chicken a number of times.  It is very, very good and so easy.  I don't usually use the full bottle of Italian dressing.  Grandma Hodges' Chile Rice is another I've made quite a few times and it's a good side with hamburgers or any Mexican main dish.

In the Easy Family Meals category of casseroles, I have made the Tex-Mex Spaghetti Pie probably dozens of time.  It is so good and so easy.   I've also tried the Best-Ever., Must-Have Meatloaf, and it is very good but I don't like it as well as my regular meat loaf recipe.  Grandma Jeanette's Mashed Potatoes are just like my make-ahead mashed potatoes, a definite keeper recipe.  I would also like to try the Baked Chicken Chimies and Loaded Cheeseburger Pie from this section.  That last one may go on my menu soon, in fact!

From the One-Dish Dinners category of casseroles, I've made the Easy Chicken Divan numerous times.  I use my homemade cream soup substitute instead of the cream of chicken soup it calls for.  I'd like to try the Layered Ravioli Florentine and the Deep-Dish Sausage Pizza.  I'm pretty sure I've tasted Fu-Man-Chew before.  Decades ago, a lady at a church we visited made a casserole with similar ingredients, and I loved it.  I may have to try this one!

 
Now, from the Just 5 Ingredients! category in Speedy Skillets, I've made the Cheesy Chicken & Rotini and labled it "Excellent!".  On the side dish skillet reeipe Zucchini Parmesan, I've labeled it "Wonderful!"  I've also made the Smoky Cabbage and called it "Excellent!"  I added Cajun seasoning to taste in this one.  A couple of recipes I'd like to try in this category include Beefy Taco Skillet, which sounds intriguing (one cuts flour tortillas into 1-inch squares to cook with the other ingredients) and Bacon Cheeseburger Pasta.

In the Easy Family Meals category of skillet meals, there are several I've made over and over.  Busy-Day Lasagna Toss, Quick Skillet Spaghetti, Mexican Skillet Spaghetti Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo -- I've labeled each "Excellent!" and I've even had granddaughters email me for the recipes.  Cube Steak in Savory Gravy is one I'd like to try.

For the One-Dish Dinners category of skillet meals, I've only tried one of the recipes -- Linguini & Vegetables -- but it was delicious.  "Leftover" Fried Rice sounds a lot like my own homemade fried rice recipe.  One-Pot Sausage Dinner sounds good and easy,  as does Hamburger Gravy, which the recipe suggests could be served over pasta, rice, potatoes, or even pierogies.  It would be fun to try it over pierogies, I think.

So there you have it -- another cookbook review.  I highly recommend this one!

Cookbook review: Grandma's Favorites

 

 I have SO many Gooseberry Patch cookbooks.  It's true that the majority of them are Christmas cookbooks, which I have trouble resisting, but many are books I've received for free in exchange for having a recipe published.  This year I'm hoping to share quite a few cookbook reviews with you all, so you can get an idea which ones you might enjoy adding to your own collection.  

Grandma's Favorites has been redone and now includes photos, 

but the edition pictured at the top of the post, the one I own, is still available on Thriftbooks.  One thing I particularly love about the cover of the edition I have is the inclusion of granny squares.  The strip of granny squares across the top above the title is lovely, and I also like the pretty granny square hot mats or pot holders at lower left.  I'd love to find a pattern to make some of these.

But on to the cookbook review!  The little note on the cover summarizes: "Can't-miss recipes for delicious family dinners, just like Grandma used to make."  Inside, the Dedication is "For everyone who craves the old-fashioned comfort of sharing meals with family & friends ... who know that the secret ingredient is love!" 

 The authors say: "Our most heartfelt thanks to all of you who shared their family's cherished recipes, saved on index cards and scraps of paper."  That sentiment really resonated with me, since in cleaning out the family homestead,  I have come across so very many index cards and scraps of paper with recipes scribbled on them.

Fun fact: Two of my recipes are actually included in this book -- a salad and a dessert.

The table of contents includes just six chapters: Old-Fashioned Breakfasts; Chill-Chasing Soups & Breads; Fresh-Picked from Grandma's Garden; Grandma's Best Supper Dishes; Fun Foods for Get-Togethers; and Something Sweet for You!

Old-Fashioned Breakfasts has a lot of great recipes for breakfast casseroles and other hearty breakfast main courses, as well as for  coffee cakes, muffins, pancakes, French toast, fruit dishes, some homemade jams and even Old-Fashioned Hot Cocoa!  I've made the Frozen Fruit Cups (only I used plastic cups rather than muffin tin liners) often in the past and they are good.  I used to make Butter Dip biscuits in the past also, but this method (using the exact same ingredients) is much easier than the one I used.  I think I will make these, using this method, to accompany a stew the next time our young friends come for lunch.  One of the main-dish recipes, Bacon & Sausage Gravy, looks over-the-top delicious.  Not sure I will be able to resist trying that one!

Chill-Chasing Soups & Breads is filled with recipes and hints for making those classic partners,  bread and soup.  There are at least a half-dozen different chicken soup recipes, as well as many other soups and breads like rolls, cornbread, biscuits, Irish soda bread, and quick breads.  There are several recipes for chili, a New England clam chowder, a creamy shrimp chowder, and a zucchini garden chowder (pictured below) which I've made several times and which we really enjoy.  All in all, this chapter would be a wonderful resource for fall and winter suppers.

Fresh-Picked from Grandma's Garden is a chapter filled with vegetable salads, side dishes, and even quite a few canning recipes for pickles, relishes and jams.  Veggie-Loaded Potato Salad, with cucumber, celery, radishes and green onions in addition to potatoes, with a flavorful mayo-based dressing, sounds really good to me -- or maybe I'm just tired of winter.  My own recipe for refrigerator carrot salad is in this section.  There's a Garden Vegetable Casserole which sounds easy and good, one for Fire & Ice pickles which I'd love to try,  and a couple of jams that sound so deliciously different -- Spicy Apple Pie Jam, and Blueberry-Lemon Jam.  

Grandma's Best Supper Dishes is just what it sounds like: a chapter full of homey supper meals.  Lots of pasta dishes as well as a mustard gravy chicken that sounds fantastic, a pork chop and apple bake, oven sausage & peppers, a fancier tuna noodle casserole, and several delicious-looking slow cooker recipes.  Milk-Baked Fish reminds me of my mother as she often baked haddock or other white fish in milk.  We loved it that way.  Granny's Hot Dogs and Potatoes sounds like a nice dish to have for supper at the cottage some chilly spring evening.  

Fun Foods for Get-Togethers is the next chapter, and it includes recipes for dips, snacks, spreads, sandwiches, beverages and other fun foods.  Deviled eggs, pickles, a cheese ball or two.  Betty's Deviled Ham & Cheese Ball sounds fantastic.  I'm probably odd, but I have always loved the flavor of deviled ham and can almost taste this cheese ball.  There are also burgers, salsa, and much much more.  

Something Sweet for You is a logical ending chapter to a cookbook of Grandma's Favorites.  There are pies, cobblers, cakes, brownies and other cookies, cream puffs, and much more.  My own recipe for double-good blueberry pie is here.  There's a brownie ice cream pie that sounds fantastic.  There are a number of delicious-sounding cookie recipes, including Granny's Cornflake Cookies, which has only three ingredients: corn flakes, butterscotch chips, and crunchy peanut butter, and requires no baking.  There are several nice cake recipes and even a recipe for homemade ice cream!  There's a recipe for pecan pie bars -- like pecan pie, but made in a jelly roll pan.  What a practical way to serve pecan pie to a large family or a crowd!  There's a recipe for cream puffs that sounds scrumptious,  and even a couple of canning recipes, one for canned apple pie filling and the other for apple-walnut maple conserve.

There are so many charming line drawings in this addition of the book, too.  Just a sweet country cookbook with all sorts of classic recipes as well as some truly innovative ones.  I'm glad this cookbook found its way to my bookshelf!

Another cookbook recommendation -- Weeknight Dinners

 

 Here's another Gooseberry Patch cookbook that I highly recommend -- Weeknight Dinners.  This is one that we had a recipe published in.  I have used this book a great deal since it came into our household, and have gifted copies to others.  One of the favorite recipes I've used over the years is sort of pictured at the top left of the cookbook cover: baked potatoes topped with vegetarian chili.  

This cookbook is divided by type of cuisine: for example, meatless, Italian, Mexican, etc.  In fact, the categories include: Meatless Monday; Tuesday is Tex-Mex Night; Wednesday is Italian Night; Comfort Food Thursday; and Just for Fun Friday.  I've made recipes from each of the chapters.  One thing I love about this book is it has a good number of slow-cooker recipes.  In fact, there are so many that there's a special category for Slow Cookers in the index!

Stir-Fry Veggies & Rotini and Chile Relleno Casserole are recipes from the Meatless Monday chapter that we've greatly enjoyed, in addition to the Chili Baked Potatoes.  I want to make the Cheddar Baked Spaghetti, and the Lentil Brown Rice Tacos have been on my want-to-try list for some time.

In the Tex-Mex Tuesday chapter, I have made a slow-cooker recipe, Tex-Mex Chicken & Rice, countless times.  I can't eat frozen corn, so I substituted a can of black beans, drained and rinsed, for the corn.  This meal is delicious and I have often taken it to church potlucks.  Shredded Mexican Chicken is made in a slow cooker also and is perfect for tacos, enchiladas, taco salads, or any Mexican dish.  South-of-the-Border Rice makes a perfect accompaniment to many Mexican dishes, and I have prepared it many times.  Chicken Tortilla Soup was also published along with a review of this cookbook by my friend Linda at Prairie Flower Farm.  It's a really delicious and easy slow-cooker recipe.  

Another nice thing about this cookbook is that not only does it feature main dishes, but also sides, salads, a few breads, and desserts.  In the Tex-Mex section is a recipe for a dessert called Tim's Apple Burrito -- really just a huge apple turnover that serves 5 to 6 and sounds amazing!

Wednesday is Italian Night is a fun chapter filled with want-to-try recipes.  I've made Yummy Chicken Italiano -- another slow cooker dish -- for church potlucks and it goes over well.  Creamy Tomato Tortellini is another I've tried.  It's meatless but so scrumptious. Herbed Parmesan Squash is a good side dish.

In the Comfort Food Thursday chapter is another slow cooker favorite, Jan's Pork Chops & Pierogies.  True comfort food!  Chicken & Broccoli Bake is delicious but only serves two.  I would double or triple that one, and I prefer florets to chopped broccoli.  Dill Potato Wedges is a side dish recipe I've tried and loved.  Swedish Meatloaf is a recipe I'd love to try.  We enjoy Swedish meatballs and this would have a similar flavor.  

The chapter Just For Fun Friday contains the reason I own this book: my own recipe for Slow-Cooked Pork Ribs.  I've also tried Melissa's Hawaiian Chicken, another flavorful slow cooker meal.  Cheeseburger Macaroni is another recipe I've tried and liked.  And there are many, many more in this chapter that I want to try.  Baked Potato Bar and Pizza Butter Muffins, just to name a couple.

Because this cookbook contains such a variety of cuisines, it makes meal planning quite easy. 

Apparently this book has been updated to include photos and a photo cover.  You can check that out here: Updated Weeknight Dinners.

If you should be interested in the edition I have, Thriftbooks has one in good condition for $4.69: Weeknight Dinners.

Whichever edition you choose, I think you would be very pleased with this cookbook.  I know it's a much-used addition to my own cookbook shelves.

A cookbook recommendation: Mom Knows Best

 

 Just in time for Mother's Day, I'm going to share one of my favorite cookbooks with you all.   I love all of my Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, but this is one of the everyday standouts in my collection.  I received a free copy of this cookbook because one of my recipes, Grammy's Potato Wedges, was published in it.  I've been so thankful for this book and I turn to it often.  There are six sections in the book which include recipes for breakfast, brown-bag lunches, snacks, main dishes, sweets, and a special section of recipes for kids to make.

First up is Grab & Go Breakfasts.  There are egg dishes, cereals, muffins, coffee cakes and more.  I always enjoy baked oatmeal, and this book has three recipes for it -- one with a pumpkin pie flavor (which I have not tried) and one with a peanut butter/chocolate flavor as well as a simpler, more basic recipe.  I made Melanie's Oven Omelet for a ladies' brunch and Country Skillet Breakfast for a supper meal.  Both very good!  There are also French toast and pancake recipes, several smoothie recipes and much more.

Next chapter is Brown-Bagging It.  Lots of portable recipes for soups, sandwiches and salads.  Tuna Egg Salad is one I've tried that was very good, as is Mamaw's Special Tuna Salad, which includes shredded apple along with pickle relish.  Don't shudder at the shredded apple; it's actually very tasty in tuna salad.  Seems to give it a fresher flavor.

Healthy Bites for Snacking is the next chapter, and it is just what it says.  Salsas, dips, frozen treats like yogurt pops and individual fruit salads; hummus, mini pizzas, and much more.  One day I watched my friend Jenn make Paper Bag Popcorn as a quick and easy treat for her toddler.  What a great idea.  This chapter is full of them, and kids are always hungry.  

Dinners for the Daily Dash is the largest section in the book and is subdivided into four smaller ones.  The first of these is One-Dish Wonders.  I've made the Italian Chicken and Penne Skillet and the Spinach & Sausage Soup -- and there are still many more that I want to try.  The second smaller section is Made From Scratch.  From here, I've tried the Veggieful Italian Hot Dish, the Savory Chicken & Rice Soup, Kathy's Italian Zucchini Dish -- and again, still more that I want to try.   From the next section, Ready When You Are!, I've tried Sam's Chicken-Cabbage Soup, Mom's Best Chili, Mother's Sausage Supper -- but there are still loads of recipes that sound good to me.  Lastly in the main-dish section is $5 to $10 Dinners.  The Farmhouse BBQ Muffin Cups are so tasty.  I made the Bacon Cheeseburger Sloppy Joes for friends who loved them.  Again, plenty of recipes that sound good that I haven't yet tried. 

The next section is Kids in the Kitchen and includes a variety of recipes of all types  that kids can make or help with.  My potato wedges are in this section.  They have been a huge hit with my kids and grandkids over the years.  There's also a Macaroni Pizza Pie that I've tried -- it starts with a box of mac'n'cheese mix!  The Microwave Mac & Cheese is fabulous.  So good.  I use 3 cups of elbow macaroni or rotini rather than the 2 cups the recipe calls for.  

Lastly is the Sweet Treats chapter.  It includes muffins, cookies and bars, a couple of easy pie recipes, and some recipes for individual mug desserts.  The Blastin' Blueberry Crunch is the only recipe I've tried from this chapter, and it was yummy.  Though I found the recipes for sweets the least enticing in the book, truthfully.  Probably a good thing!

I find this to be a very practical cookbook, filled with quick and easy recipes that families will enjoy.  I highly recommend it to you as well!

End of the year book talk

 

Oh my!  Was it really as far back as July 2020 when I blogged about books I had read so far that year?  Obviously, it's long past time to rectify that.  Four of the books I'm mentioning here were ones I found in clearing out the homestead.  We were a family of book lovers!  As I've probably noted before in this space, there were books in every single room, including the cellar and one of the bathrooms.

August: Vet in the Vestry, by Alexander Cameron.  Publisher's Weekly described the book like this: "The colorful, charming story of a country-veterinarian-turned-country-minister--a healer of body and soul. Told with wry Scottish wit, these stories are filled with the kind of hearty embrace of human and animal ways that are reminiscent of James Herriot. Engaging . . . rich in local color."  

The writing, in my view, was quite a bit different from the writing of James Herriot, and not quite as good.  It was a good read, however, and there were several places where I laughed uncontrollably.  This book can be found on Thriftbooks. com, where I took the screenshot below.  I did end up donating this book, as I'm pretty sure I won't read it again.

October: Now I Remember, by Thornton W. Burgess.  This autobiography was very good. 

If the name Thornton W. Burgess sounds familiar, it's because he was a prolific writer of children's nature stories and other nature books for children.  Below are pictured just two of his many, many books for kids.

He also wrote newspaper columns on the same subject matter.  It was very interesting to read about how Mr. Burgess got his start in writing, and how little he was paid.  He had many wonderful memories and reminiscences to share, including meeting Sir Wilfred Grenfell, the well-known medical missionary to Labrador and Newfoundland.

November: In My Father's House, by Corrie ten Boom.  This book was excellent.  It tells the story of the years before The Hiding Place, and clearly shows how God gave Corrie the spiritual stability to stand so strong for Him even amid the horrors of a concentration camp.  The book jacket says, in part: "In My Father's House is a testament to how God prepared one family through a father's faithfulness to his Savior and the Word of God for the most sacrificial service a family could do. Beginning in the years before Corrie was born, the book paints a beautiful picture of "family" from which today's families can glean valuable and eternally-lasting lessons."  You can find several editions of the book here: In My Father's House.

 Also in November: Something on the Wind, by Barbara Moore.  This is the fictional but very moving story of two mules and a dog and how they made their way back to their home and to their master, a traveling photographer from whom they had become separated while on the road.  I enjoyed the book a lot, but it wasn't a "must read again", so it was donated to a thrift store.

December: Shepherds Abiding, by Jan Karon.  

Photo is of the audiobook, but the book jacket has the very same artwork.  Stunning!

 
The book description at Thriftbooks.com reads, "Millions of Americans have found Mitford to be a favorite home-away-from-home, and countless readers have long wondered what Christmas in Mitford would be like. The eighth Mitford novel provides a glimpse, offering a meditation on the best of all presents: the gift of one's heart. Since he was a boy, Father Tim has lived what he calls 'the life of the mind' and has never really learned to savor the work of his hands. When he finds a derelict nativity scene that has suffered the indignities of time and neglect, he imagines the excitement in the eyes of his wife, Cynthia, and decides to undertake the daunting task of restoring it. As Father Tim begins his journey, readers are given a seat at Mitford's holiday table and treated to a magical tale about the true Christmas spirit."

I love this book and read it every year around Christmas time. 

 That makes a total of 15 books read in 2020, although really it should be 14 because I read Shepherds Abiding twice, once in January and once in December!

"Christmas at Grandma's" -- a book review

Every now and then I like to post a book review.  I've done this mostly on my Christmas blog, and mostly for cookbooks.  I thought it would be fun today to review Christmas at Grandma's, a Gooseberry Patch cookbook published in 2015.

This is a book we got for free because my hubby has a recipe in it.  (I do too, but he is the one who "earned" the book with his recipe for Grampa's Sunday Waffles.  My recipe for homemade brown sugar pancake syrup was published in conjunction with it.)

Like all of the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks, this is filled with great recipes -- over 200 of them in this book.  There are a few memories sprinkled in here as well.

The first section is titled "Waking Up at Grandma's", and it contains loads of excellent breakfast recipes.  This is the section where our recipes are located.  Some of the others sound fantastic too -- Egg & Cheese Holiday Pie (recipe makes two); Farmers' Breakfast Casserole; Ranchero Breakfast Casserole, and Santa's Cranberry Waffle Sauce.

Next is "Holiday Open House" which includes appetizers, snacks, and several different kinds of punch.  These recipes all sound so good and I am going to get some inspiration for kitchen gifts from some of the snack mix recipes -- like the Grandma's Cocktail Nibbles which sound almost exactly like my great-aunt Bessie's Chex mix -- simply called "Bessie's Mix" in our family.  Some of the appetizers sound perfect for the cookie swap -- like the Holiday Crab & Artichoke Dip and the Ham & Cheese Puffs.

Then comes "All the Trimmings" with soups, breads, salads and sides.  I have made the Italian Sausage Soup and Ruth's Creamy White Chicken Chili from this section, and both are excellent.  Christy's Taco Soup is one that I want to try.  Granny's Baked Macaroni & Cheese and Easy Baked Artichokes both sound wonderful, as do many others.

"Holiday Dinners to Remember" includes main courses, meats, fish and casseroles.  Poppy's Italian Sausage & Potatoes sounds wonderful -- an easy oven meal.  Christmas Ravioli Bake has lots of red, green and white for a seasonal look.  Martha's Green-Chiladas and Turkey Tourtiere are others I want to try.

"Save Room for Dessert" comes next -- and can't you just hear Grandma saying that?  There are cakes, pies, trifles and more.  No cookies -- those are in the next chapter.  Banana Pudding Trifle, Grandma's Creamy Cherry Dessert, and Eggnog Trifle are all recipes I want to try.

Lastly, there's a section filled with "Grandma's Christmas Cookies" -- just like a generously filled cookie jar in Grandma's kitchen!   Chocolate Gingerbread Men and Jam Tarts sound good to me.  This chapter also contains a few beverage recipes, like Poinsettia Punch and a hot mocha drink.  At the end are recipes for treats like fudge and popcorn balls.

Like all of Gooseberry Patch's cookbooks, this is liberally sprinkled with gorgeous illustrations and lovely Christmas tips for decorating, entertaining and more. 

And each chapter is headed by a beautiful illustration like the one below, made to look like a scene within a Christmas ball topped off with a ribbon and a sprig of evergreen.

I love this book and it's a wonderful addition to my Christmas cookbook collection!  Should you want one of your own, you can find Gooseberry Patch books at Gooseberry Patch, on Amazon and Thriftbooks, and often at Cracker Barrel and other country stores. 

Happy Christmas cooking and baking!

July's simple Bible journaling

Back in July I promised that I would post a bit about the simple Bible study I did for that month: Confident Trust, by Rachel Wojo.  I think that this was originally intended to be a May Bible reading plan, but I had a different plan for May, so decided to use this one for July since both months have 31 days.

These little books are basically a Bible reading/Scripture writing plan, with the added component of journaling.   They are not in-depth Bible studies in any way, but are more intended to build the habit of being in God's Word each day and making a personal application of what you read.  If you are looking for depth, you will be disappointed.  But if you are looking to build the habit of reading and applying God's Word, this could be just what you need to help you do that.

I'm trying to decide how best to give a sampling of the Scripture passages and journaling prompts.   I guess I will just start with Day 1.  The Scripture for this day was Psalm 20.  The question to ask myself had to do with what one thought from the passage would help me remember to trust God.  Here's what I wrote: 

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (verse 7).   People trust in all sorts of earthly helps.  Instead of doing that, I need to remember the LORD my God!"

For each page there is also an acrostic for the word TRUST.  It essentially says, "Today I will rest in God's promises, understanding He is sovereign and I can trust Him with .... [fill in the blank]."  When I started this study, I feared I would be filling in the blank with the same situations or things over and over.  It didn't happen that way, though.

So for Day 1 I wrote that I could trust God with "all sorts of concerns that swirl around inside my head: our church's pastoral search; my own responsibilities; the spiritual growth of those we are mentoring; the physical health and spiritual well-being of a terminally ill friend; our own physical and mental health, and more."  Thinking about how I could safely trust God with all of these really helped my head to stop spinning.

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Day 2's Scripture was Psalm 62.  The question to ask myself was what fact from this passage would remind me that God is worthy of my trust.  Here's what I wrote: "Power belongeth unto God" (verse 11) is one.  Four verses remind me that God is my salvation.  Three verses remind me that He is my Rock.  Verses 2 and 6 state that God is my defense.  All of these point to the fact that God is more than worthy of my trust!

For day 2, when I needed to fill in the blank for "I can trust Him with ..." following the acrostic, I wrote that I could trust God with "the fact that my days never seem long enough to accomplish all that I'd like to.  This is something that troubles me.  I need to recognize that God is sovereign over my days.  Of course He expects me to use my time wisely, but He knows my responsibilities and my season of life.  He will give me guidance for each day as I look to Him."

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I could go on and on, but obviously I don't want to write out all that I did for the month.  So I will pick out a couple of days from the middle of the month and a couple from the end of July, and call that good.

Day 14's Scripture was Psalm 5.  Two questions alternate each day.  The question to ask myself had to do with what one thought from the passage would help me remember to trust God.  Here's what I wrote: 

"God will lead me in His righteousness and will make my path straight.  I can joyfully trust in Him because He defends me.  I can look to Him for direction each day."

For day 14, when I needed to fill in the blank for "I can trust Him with ..." following the acrostic, I wrote that I could trust God with ... "Everything!  I'm coming to understand more and more that I have to take my hands off things and allow God to be in complete control of all things.  He IS, and I must acknowledge that fact, and remove my hands."

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Day 15's Scripture was Psalm 85:1-9.    The question to ask myself today was what fact from this passage would remind me that God is worthy of my trust.  Here's what I wrote:

"There is no God like Him, and no works comparable to His works.  He is good, ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon Him.

For day 15, when I needed to fill in the blank for "I can trust Him with ..." following the acrostic, I wrote that I could trust God with "the outcome of this infection [from a tick bite].  Do I want to return to urgent care and have it lanced?  I'd rather not, and yet I will, if that's what's necessary to resolve it.  So thankful to God for good energy even while recovering from this."

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For Day 28, the Scripture was Psalm 115:10-18.   Again, the question to ask myself today was what fact from this passage would remind me that God is worthy of my trust.  Here's what I wrote:

"If I fear (reverence) the Lord,  I can trust Him to be my help and shield -- the One who made heaven and earth!"

And for this day,  when I needed to fill in the blank for "I can trust Him with ..." following the acrostic, I wrote that I could trust God with ...

"All the responsibilities we have at church being without a pastor.  God knows all about it and has allowed us to be at this place in this time.  He will bring us the right pastor in His timing.  Until then, He will sustain us and strengthen us for all that we need to do."

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Day 31's Scripture was Psalm 56.  The question to ask myself today was what fact from this passage would remind me that God is worthy of my trust.  Here's what I wrote:

"This I know: God is for me.'  He has delivered my soul from death, so  I can surely trust Him to guide my steps through life."

And for this day,  when I needed to fill in the blank for "I can trust Him with ..." following the acrostic, I wrote that I could trust God with ...

"The large amount and variety of tasks on my plate and thoughts filling my mind.  It is so difficult to keep a good balance of what I should be doing.  So thankful that God is for me and will help me to order my days!"

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So there is a sampling of this little study and my responses.  I hope this gives you an idea of what I learned in July and what you might expect from this study, or another of Rachel's books.  If you are looking for a simple study that will get you  into God's Word each day and will challenge you to think about Scripture and begin learning to apply it, you might find this very helpful. It was certainly a blessing to me this past month!

Pumpkin Dutch Apple Pie

Photo from Pinterest

Like almost everyone else this time of year, I revel in the pumpkin and apple flavors of autumn.  This wonderful recipe, which I have used for many years, is from the Gooseberry Patch book Homespun Christmas.  I highly recommend this book, by the way.  It's the second Gooseberry Patch book I ever bought, and it is absolutely filled with wonderful recipes, crafts, and more.  You can read my review of it  here: my review of Homespun Christmas.  But on to the pie recipe!  If you have never tasted a pie with apples and pumpkin together, you are in for an autumn treat!

PUMPKIN-DUTCH APPLE PIE

Apple Layer:
2 medium tart apples, peeled, cored, thinly sliced
1/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. flour
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1 unbaked 9-inch deep dish pie shell ( I use a 10-inch pie shell)
Toss apples with sugar, flour, lemon juice and cinnamon. Place mixture in pie shell.
Pumpkin Layer:
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 15-ounce can solid-pack pumpkin
1 cup undiluted evaporated milk
1/2 cup sugar
2 Tblsp. melted butter
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt

Combine all ingredients and beat well. Pour over apples in pie shell. Bake in preheated 375º oven for 30 minutes. While pie is baking, mix together ingredients for
Crumble Topping:
1/2 cup flour
5 Tblsp. sugar
3 Tblsp. softened butter
1/3 cup chopped walnuts
Remove pie from oven and sprinkle with topping. Return pie to 375º oven and bake for 20 more minutes or until custard is set. Cool.

Now, I know some people have trouble with pie crust, so I'm adding my foolproof recipe just in case.  The 1-crust batch is what you will need for the pumpkin-dutch apple pie recipe.

MRS. T’S OIL PIE CRUST
(for a 1-crust pie)

1 1/3 c. flour
1 t. salt
1/3 c. canola oil
3-5 T. milk

Stir together flour and salt in a small to medium bowl. Measure oil into glass measuring cup, add milk to oil. Pour milk and oil into the flour/salt mixture. Combine with a fork till it forms a nice ball of dough. Take a wet dishcloth and wash off a section of your counter. Lay a large piece of wax paper on the wet area (so it’ll stick). Put the dough on the wax paper and lay another piece of wax paper on top. Roll out the dough to desired size and shape between the 2 pieces of wax paper. This works really well and saves you having to flour the counter!

For a double crust pie, use

2 cups flour
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup milk

Mix and roll out as above.

I have double or tripled this recipe with no problems. However, I do find that when doubling or tripling, I end up with an extra crust or two, so keep that in mind when figuring how much pastry you’ll need.

Many people think they wouldn’t like a pie crust made with oil. I always use an oil crust for my pies, and they always turn out well. I think an oil pastry is much less finicky than one made with shortening or butter; the dough is much easier to work with. And of course, a crust made with canola oil is healthier, too!

I should also add that many pastry-challenged people use the refrigerated, already-rolled-out sheets of pie crust, and they like them a lot. I'm too frugal to buy them, but I like them too.

Enjoy this wonderful pie -- and do let me know if you try it!

Today I am linking up to Sandi's No Place Like Home party at Rose Chintz Cottage.

Question # 19

The beautiful graphic is by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings.

I mentioned in an earlier post a list of questions -- 31 Questions for the New Year -- which I had downloaded from Revive our Hearts.  I answered the first ten questions in that earlier post, but have still been thinking about the other 21.  In fact, there are still five that I haven't come up with answers for.

Question # 19 is one that I puzzled over for a few days.  It reads:
19.  What's one thing you could do this year to enrich the spiritual legacy you will leave to your children and grandchildren?

I was at somewhat of a loss as to how to answer that.  I've made family Christmas books packed with memories, I've handwritten recipe books for my daughters, I even filled out one of those "Grandmother Remembers" types of books.   I've been able to lead two of my granddaughters to faith in Christ and have tried to encourage all of my children and grandchildren spiritually.  The best answer I could think of to question # 19 was to continue trying to grow spiritually strong so I could be a good example and encourager to them spiritually.  What else, I wondered, would the Lord have me to do concerning a spiritual legacy?

The answer to that question came in a surprising way.  My daughter in Nevada had their Christmas gifts for Mr. T and me shipped from Amazon to our local daughter, who wrapped the gifts and got them to us early in the new year.  When I opened my gift, I was stunned to see this book:The Power of a Godly Grandparent.  The book's authors are Stephen and Janet Bly, and its subtitle is Leaving a Spiritual Legacy!

I haven't finished reading this book all the way through yet, though it is relatively small (14 chapters, 166 pages), but what I have read has been so encouraging and so practical.  Some of the chapters include The Power of Loving Long Distance, The Power of Your Family History, The Power of Being There if Your Grandchildren's Parents Divorce, and The Power of Praying for Your Grandchildren.  That last one looks especially helpful, but every chapter I've looked at has been good.

Now I know why I hadn't yet come up with an answer to Question # 19.  The Lord knew that a book filled with practical answers to that question was on its way to me.

If you are a Christian grandparent, you will want to read this book.  You can find it in  the "Journey of Faith" section of my A-store here at my affiliate link: The Power of a Godly Grandparent.  Or you can go directly to Amazon or look at your local Christian bookstore.

Answers to 15 more questions may be forthcoming later today or tomorrow...

Another fabulous Gooseberry Patch giveaway at Faithfulness Farm!

(Photo by Faithfulness Farm)

Yes, Gail, over at Faithfulness Farm, is doing another fabulous giveaway of a new Gooseberry Patch book -- The Harvest Table.  Gail is one of Gooseberry Patch's early bird reviewers, so she shares recipes and reviews on this post and will be sharing a few more on an upcoming post.  Gail is actually giving away 2 copies of The Harvest Table -- which looks fantastic!  -- and each book will be accompanied by a beautiful Faithfulness Farm apron and tea towel set.  You will want to check out this giveaway, so head over there right away -- Harvest Table Giveaway!

About the MORE-WITH-LESS-COOKBOOK

Today for Building our Homes Together, I thought I would share an older post about one of my favorite cookbooks.  I believe it is out of print now, but am sure copies could be found via the Internet.

This cookbook is a wonderful resource for frugal cooks. It's a Mennonite cookbook, written by Doris Janzen Longacre. The first several chapters contain information concerning planning, shopping, cooking, and eating responsibly. Next comes a set of tables and charts covering protein content of foods and how to combine foods to create complementary protein. An obvious effort has been made to keep this material from being dry and dull; still, I imagine that most people will find the recipes more interesting.

Then the actual recipes begin. The categories are : Yeast & Quick Breads; Cereals; Beans, Soybeans & Lentils; Main Dishes & Casseroles; Eggs, Milk & Cheese; Meats & Fish; Soups; Vegetables; Salads; Desserts, Cakes & Cookies; Gardening & Preserving; Snacks & Miscellaneous. There are hundreds of recipes in the book, and they are written in a step-by-step, easy-to-follow style. Even the recipes from more exotic locales around the world use basic, inexpensive ingredients. In addition to the actual recipes, there are many other hints, ideas and mini-recipes scattered throughout each chapter at the tops of pages. Here’s an example of one:

“In Africa we seldom saw brown sugar. Missionaries gave me this recipe: To each cup of white granulated sugar, add 2 T. old-fashioned molasses. Stir well and store in airtight container. Excellent flavor in cookies or cake toppings, or on oatmeal. I make it since we’re back because it’s much cheaper and we like the flavor better.”
-- Evelyn Fisher, Akron, Pa.

And I can vouch for this particular hint; I’ve used it many times when I’ve run out of brown sugar for one reason or another.

At the end of each chapter is a section called “Gather Up the Fragments”, which suggests great ways to use leftovers of that particular type of food. I’ve used many of these ideas and they are wonderful.

I thought I’d go through and note for you some of my favorite recipe titles from the chapters and perhaps share a short recipe or two.

From Yeast & Quick Breads: There’s a great basic recipe called
EDNA RUTH BYLER’S POTATO DOUGH BAKED GOODS. From this one basic recipe one can make cinnamon buns, sticky buns, dinner rolls, coffee cake, and/or doughnuts. It makes about 100 doughnuts or rolls, so you could divide up the dough and make some of each. These baked goods also freeze well.

From Cereals: The BASIC DRY CEREAL FORMULA is a wonderful recipe for granola-type cereal. It gives you many ingredient choices to use with a basic formula to make the cereal uniquely your own. It can be different every time you make it -- or perhaps your family will want your own “house blend”, incorporating all of your favorite ingredients.

From Beans, Soybeans & Lentils: BASIC COOKED LENTILS offers three tasty variations to serve over rice.


From Main Dishes & Casseroles: I’ve made many recipes from this chapter. Some of my favorites are: VIETNAM FRIED RICE. PAKISTANI KIMA, and EASY MOUSSAKA (especially the meatless variation), Here’s a priceless hint from this chapter:

“Lasagne is popular but expensive since it calls for ground beef plus several cheeses. Lasagne’s unique flavor is the blend of cheeses and herbs; omit ground beef from the tomato sauce and you still have a delicious high-protein Italian specialty.”
-- Bonnie Zook, Leola, Pa.

From Eggs, Milk & Cheese: SUNNY SCALLOPED EGGS (especially the EGGS FLORENTINE variation); ARGENTINE SPINACH PIE; and EGGS FOO YUNG.

From Meats & Fish: FIESTA SLOPPY JOES (these extend the ground beef with rice; they are much less “sloppy” than the usual, and my kids really enjoyed them); HONEY-BAKED CHICKEN; CREAMED CHICKEN OVER CONFETTI RICE SQUARES.

From Soups: We love soup and eat a lot of it. The stains on the pages tell the story. I’ve been using this cookbook for years, and many times we didn’t have a lot of money. But we were well fed. Some of my favorites: GOOD FRIDAY VEGETABLE SOUP (I leave out the caraway seed); GREEN BEAN SOUP; GOLDEN POTATO SOUP; CREAM OF CAULIFLOWER SOUP; and SPINACH SOUP. Any of these, along with homemade bread, rolls, biscuits or cornbread, would make a wonderful meal.

From Vegetables: VEGETABLES AU GRATIN; PUFFY GREEN BEAN-CHEESE BAKE; SWEET-SOUR BEETS; BROCCOLI STUFFING BAKE; SKILLET CABBAGE (we love this, especially the Indonesian variation); GINGER-GLAZED CARROTS; EGGPLANT PARMESAN; ZUCCHINI OMELET; and MAHSI (MIDDLE EASTERN STUFFED VEGETABLES) which has variations for using many different vegetables.

Here’s the basic recipe for SWEET-SOUR BEETS :
Grate finely (I shred them):
1 large or 2 medium RAW beets, peeled
Melt in saucepan:
2 T. margarine
Add prepared beets. Cover and cook slowly until beets are tender, stirring occasionally. (15-20 minutes.)
Add:
salt & pepper to taste
1 T. vinegar
3 T. sugar
2 t. cornstarch dissolved in 1/4 c. water
Cook, stirring, until sauce clears. Serve hot.

We love this nice, easy way to cook beets. Shredding them makes this side dish really different and tasty.

From Salads: DELUXE COLESLAW; SUMMER NIGHT SALAD; MAIN-DISH TUNA SALAD; and SALADE NIÇOISE.

From Desserts, Cakes & Cookies: NO-BAKE CEREAL COOKIES; MOLASSES CRINKLES; COCONUT-DATE BALLS.

Here is the recipe for NO-BAKE CEREAL COOKIES:

Combine in saucepan and heat to boiling:
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. light corn syrup
Stir in:
1 t. vanilla
3/4 c. peanut butter
Mix until smooth. Stir in:
3 c. ready-to-eat cereal flakes
1 c. flaked coconut (optional)
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper. (Let stand until set.) Makes 2 to 3 dozen.

From Gardening & Preserving: I love the freezing and drying ideas at the end of this chapter, and the gardening ideas at the beginning.

From Snacks & Miscellaneous: ORANGE JULIUS; HONEY MILK BALLS; YOGURT POPSICLES; FUDGSICLES.

Hope this information has been helpful to all of you frugal cooks out there! Even though, as I said, the book may be out of print, I am sure you could find a copy online or through a used book store. I managed to unearth the tattered back cover of mine, but the publisher’s name was not in evidence. I’m afraid the front cover is long gone...