Author Archives: Cheri Henderson

Another Boneless Chicken Recipe

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BonelessChickenRanchAs I was preparing this recipe last night, I began to laugh as I remembered Gary Larson’s “Far Side” illustration of the “Boneless Chicken Ranch”.  When it first appeared in the newspaper back in the 1980’s, my husband and I thought it was so funny, we displayed it on our refrigerator for months! Those poor chickens!  What a terrible way to live!

But when it comes to making a recipe, I’m very thankful for the availability of boneless chicken breasts! I realize they are a little more pricey than buying bone-in chicken, but I find the ease and time saved from not having to remove the bones is worth it!

Crispy Cheddar Chicken
Crispy Cheddar Chicken(Serves 6)

Ingredients:
2 lbs. chicken tenders or 4 large chicken breasts
2 sleeves Ritz crackers
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup whole milk
3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon dried parsley

Sauce:
1 10 ounce can cream of chicken soup
2 tablespoon sour cream
2 tablespoon butter

Directions:
Set oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray.

Crush crackers in a gallon-sized zip lock bag. If using chicken breasts and not tenders, cut each chicken breast into 3 large pieces. Pour the milk into a small bowl and in another bowl, stir together the salt and paper, cheese and crackers. Dip each piece of chicken into the milk and then the cracker/cheese mixture. Generously press and mold the cracker mixture around the chicken with your fingers and lay the chicken inside the pan. Once all of the chicken is in the pan, cover with any remaining cracker mixture and sprinkle the dried parsley over the chicken. Cover the pan with tin foil and bake at 400 degrees for 35 minutes. Remove the tin foil, bake for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the edges of the chicken are golden brown and crispy.

In a medium sized sauce pan combine the cream of chicken soup, sour cream and butter with a whisk. Stir it over medium high heat until the sauce is nice and hot. Serve over the chicken.

Delicious! And wonderful served with mashed taters and a vegetable or side salad!

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:
When Christians lack the power to stand, I wonder if the enemy views us in a similar way to the boneless chicken ranch . . . as “spineless little chickens”, prime for his recipe of destruction? In that scenario, what an easy target we would be for a good kick in the head . . . or perhaps a 40-yard punt into a territory we were trying to avoid!

When faced with a situation where we’re feeling a little “weak in the knees”, what is our best recourse? How do we remain standing?

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  (Ephesians 6:10-17)

And the last verse of this passage is key:

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6: 18)

The best way to remain standing is to first kneel.

“For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].  May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].” (Ephesians 3:14-16 Amplified)

Amen?

Amen!

–Cheri Henderson

Terms of Endearment

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Pumpkin Apple Pie

I love the traditions of the holidays, especially those surrounding our family meals.  One, in particular, is Mom’s Pumpkin Apple pie.  It matters not whether it’s Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas (and although Mom has pretty much handed off the responsibility of creating it to one of the daughters or daughter-in-laws), it is still a “must have” at our family holiday dessert table.

Mom’s Pumpkin Apple Pie

Ingredients:
1 – 1 lb. can apple pie filling
1 unbaked 10” pie shell
1 tablespoon cornstarch
½ teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon ginger
¼ teaspoon powdered cloves or pumpkin spice
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup of sugar
1 – 1 lb. can of pumpkin
2 tablespoons molasses
1-1/2 tablespoons melted butter
1-1/2 cup milk
2 eggs – slightly beaten

Directions:
Place pie shell in a 10” pie pan. Pour apple pie filling into shell.  In a large bowl, combine cornstarch, spices, salt and sugar. Add pumpkin, molasses, and melted butter. Blend well. In another bowl, combine milk and eggs. Stir into pumpkin mixture. Pour over apple pie filling. Cover crust edges with aluminum foil or a pie crust shield and bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn oven down to 350 degrees and continue to bake for 45 – 60 minutes.  (Insert a knife in the center and if it comes out clean, it’s done.) Cool. Top with whipped cream.

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:
This particular dessert has always seemed to be such an appropriate creation for my Mom because my Dad’s pet name for my mother was “punkin”. I remember Dad using that term of endearment for Mom many times during my childhood, and whenever he used it, it was delivered with a gentle, loving fondness for her.

Did you know that God also has many terms of endearment for each one of us? He not only calls us by name, “I have called you by name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1), but just as we use affectionate terms of endearment to assure our children and spouses of our love, so does Our Father.  When we become Christians and are adopted into the family of God, here are some of the names He calls us:

Child (John 1:12-13)
Friend  (John 15:14)
Heir (Romans 8:17)
Saint (Ephesians 1:1)
Chosen (Deuteronomy 7:6 & Colossians 3:12)
Dearly Loved (Colossians 3:12)
Beloved (Song of Songs 2:16)
Priest (1 Peter 2:9)
Son / Daughter (2 Corinthians 6:18)
His (John 17:24; Isaiah 43:1)

In the same way Mom would smile and lovingly respond to Dad whenever he called her “punkin”, our hearts are filled with joy when we “hear” our heavenly Father’s terms of endearment for us. With tears of love, we respond back to Him “Abba, Father”! (Romans 8:15)

— Cheri Henderson

Bogged Down and Sour No More!

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Baked Cranberry Chicken

Cranberries by themselves can be a pretty sour eating experience!

But when combined with other complimentary foods, spices, or sugars, they contribute towards a unique blend of flavors . . . and a nutritious, finished entrée!

Here’s a perfect example!

Baked Cranberry Chicken Breasts

Ingredients:

4 (5 ounce) skinless, boneless chicken breast halves – flattened
¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of chicken soup
¼ cup white wine
1 cup stuffing mix
1/3 cup dried cranberries
¼ cup melted butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a glass baking dish by spraying with cooking spray.

Place chicken breasts into baking dish and sprinkle with cheese. Stir together chicken soup and wine; pour over chicken. Sprinkle chicken with stuffing mix and cranberries, drizzle butter over top.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes.

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:

According to “How Stuff Works.com”, cranberries are a very sought-after crop because they’re versatile and packed with nutrients and antioxidants. They also grow in a most unique environment – a bog … which is a wetland full of sphagnum moss, acidic waters, and peat deposits.

While growing in a bog, cranberry plants have to contend with a host of unfavorable conditions, and it’s amazing they have the durability to survive in this habitat.  Cranberries need fresh water to survive, but bogs consist of mostly acidic water. God has designed this plant, however, with tough woody stems and small leaves that have a leather-like consistency. This design enables the plant to retain as much fresh water as possible by restricting the amount of usable water that passes through. The plant’s fine roots also absorb and use organic nitrogen to survive, despite the scarcity of nutrients in the bog’s sterile soil. What’s more, cranberry vines are resilient — an undamaged one can last indefinitely. In fact, some vines have been found to be more than 150 years old!

Considering the cranberry’s delicate nature and vibrant ruby red glow, it’s hard to imagine that the ideal environment for its survival would be such an unusual and harsh place. But God created it to survive and thrive . . . just as He has each of us. When we gave our hearts and lives to Jesus Christ, we became new creations that day, old things passed away, all things became new … and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives from that point forward has given us the “durability to survive in this habitat”!  “The Spirit also helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” – Romans 8:26.  We live in an unusual and harsh place, but we are not part of it! “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;” – 1 Peter 2:11. “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10.

“Bogs filled with acidic water” may surround us, but John 7:38 tells us “He who believes in Me, from his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” And just as the cranberry plant’s fine roots absorb organic nitrogen to survive … if it were left up to the nutrients of this world, we would spiritually starve to death!  Jesus is, however, the vine from which we draw our nutrients!  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” – John 15:5.

And just as the cranberry vines are resilient and can last indefinitely, we too will live forever! “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16.

Lastly, just like cranberries by themselves can be a sour eating experience, Christians facing tough times alone may find their walks weakened and their dispositions soured.  That’s one reason why God places the children He has adopted into spiritual families, the faith communities where we both give and receive encouragement.

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” – Hebrews 10:23-25.

Those of us who follow in the steps of Jesus are called to fellowship with each other, to encourage and build one another up. And as we do, the unique gifts He’s given to each of us will blend together to deliver a spiritually nourished church full of love and good deeds!

— Cheri Henderson

What Color are Your Leaves?

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maple leaf cookiesjpg

Soon the crisp coolness of autumn will be nipping at the air, and nothing inspires me to spend more time in the kitchen than when the temperatures start to drop a bit!  The warmth of the oven, the hearty aromas of simmering soups, chowders and stews, baking breads and sweet desserts are so welcoming when it’s chilly outside! So in celebration of the soon-arriving fall season, I think some colorful sugar cookies would be the perfect way to welcome it in!  Any leaf-type cookie cutters are great for this project, but if you have a maple leaf design, that’s even better! So grab your cookie cutter (or if you’re in need of one, take a look at http://www.cookiecuttersonline.com/?maple_leaf_cookie_cutter), and let’s get busy!

Maple Leaf Fall Cookies

Ingredients

Cookies:
•          1 cup butter, softened
•           1 cup sugar
•           2 eggs
•           1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•           3 cups all-purpose flour
•           2 teaspoons cream of tartar
•           1 teaspoon baking soda
•           Dash salt

Frosting:
•           4 cups confectioners’ sugar
•           2 tablespoons butter, softened
•           1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•           1/2 teaspoon salt
•           3/4 cup maple syrup
•           Maple leaf cookie cutter (2-3/4 inches)
•           Red, orange, and yellow (and green if desired) paste or liquid food coloring
•           Pastry or heavy-duty resealable plastic bag
•           #3 round pastry tip, optional

Directions:
In a bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture and mix well. Roll out on a floured surface to 1/8-in. thickness; cut with a cookie cutter dipped in flour. Place them 1 inch apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 8-10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned (do not over bake). Remove to wire racks to cool. For frosting, beat confectioners’ sugar, butter, vanilla and salt. Add syrup; beat until smooth. Divide the icing up into 3 bowls, and if leaf veins are desired, set aside an additional 1/2 cup; stir in a drop or two of red, orange, and yellow food coloring (and green if creating veins) to each frosting bowl. Add more food coloring, if desired, to darken it to the shade you want. Spread the frosting on the cookies. Cut a small hole in the corner of a plastic bag and insert round tip into bag. Fill bag with the brown frosting and pipe veins onto the leaves. Yield: about 6 dozen.

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:

Every autumn, I am always awestruck by the beauty of God’s creation. As the green leaves transition to a spectacular blend of fiery yellows, oranges, and reds, they are such a breathtaking demonstration that there is NO artist like our Father! What the painter’s brush can only imitate, He has created!

I did a little research about this God-orchestrated activity . . . and did you know that seasonal conditions (such as a lot of rain or too little rain) are the key factors in the timing and coloration of the leaves? When we experience a summer drought, the fall colors are more muted and less colorful. However, a summer with an abundance of rain, followed by clear, sunny days and cool nights in late September-early October bring about the most striking autumn colors.  Similarly, as Christians, there are certain conditions that can cause spiritual changes in our lives, aren’t there?  In the spiritual sense, when we position ourselves in a drought-like situation . . . with little or no prayer or intimacy with the Lord . . . little or no reading of His Word . . . when we quench the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives . . . we, too, will lack His beauty, His brilliance, and His strength.  Send your rain, Lord!

As the temperatures cool and the days shorten, cells at the base of the leaves disintegrate, blocking passages from the leaves to the branches and causing the chlorophyll to decompose. Chlorophyll is what gives most plants their green color. As the chlorophyll dies away, the yellow pigments (carotenoids) and red pigments (anthocyanins), come to the surface.   And so it is when we die to self . . . when we block fleshly desires from ruling our bodies and allow the Holy Spirit to take control, His character permeates us . . . and the beauty of Christ comes to the surface.

Trees with leaves having a lot of carotenoids (like beech, birch and willow), turn varying shades of yellow. When anthocyanins predominate (as in the case of many maples, dogwoods and sumac), the reds appear. Variations in color from tree to tree, or even from branch to branch, are often caused by stress factors like disease, injury, or unusually wet or dry conditions. These factors contribute to the timing and degree of brilliance of the changing colors.  As followers of Christ, when we fully yield to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to mold us (painful though sometimes that may be), our transformation will be complete.  And just as the Master Artist ordained it, our individual gifts will complement the needs of the Body and we will radiate the brilliance of Jesus Christ!  There are beautiful variations from Christian to Christian and even church house to church house – and all were created by the Master Artist to complement each other, so that when we are united in harmony, we are a breathtaking picture to the world!

–Cheri Henderson

When the Harvest is Ready

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Spent 1-1/2 hours in our garden this afternoon, pulling green beans in the rain! When the harvest is ready, you have to put aside personal comfort and agendas and just go for it, because if you put it off and there’s no one else to do the reaping, the harvest will rot on the vine! (“The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.” Jeremiah 8:20)

And while I’m not looking forward to the next 3-4 hours of work: washing and snapping the beans, and the heat of the whole canning process (“So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves.” 1 Thessalonians 2:8), the end result will be a wonderful blessing for me . . . and for many others who weren’t even involved in the work! (“I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.” Romans 1:8)

Bleu, Bleu . . .

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Anybody remember the 1960’s tune, “Love is Blue”? “Blue, blue, my world is blue. Blue is my world when I’m without you.”  Well today I’m re-writing the lyrics a bit!  Everyone sing along!

Bleu, bleu, my meal is bleu. Bleu is the meal I’m about to serve you!

Bleu cheese is one of those unusual foods that people either really enjoy or totally dislike: a cheese that is spotted or veined throughout with blue, blue-gray, or blue-green mold and has a very distinctive odor. Understandably, some people can’t get past the appearance or smell . . . but, if you’re able to do so . . . or if you’re already a bleu cheese aficionado, you’re gonna love this meal!

Black & Bleu Salad
Serves 3

Ingredients
1 lb. of ground sirloin
Small head of chopped lettuce
2 cups of spinach leaves
4 tablespoons of olive oil
1 red bell pepper
1 yellow bell pepper
2 small zucchini
1 small yellow squash
2 carrots
1/4 cup of coarsely chopped red onion
1 clove garlic
1 avocado
1 cup cherry tomatoes
1 tsp. of seasoning salt
Dash of pepper

Bleu cheese dressing (I use the Pine Club brand – delicious!)

Chop the lettuce and remove stems from the spinach leaves and then toss the two together.  Cut the red & yellow bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash and carrots into ¼ inch wide and 2” long strips. Combine all and place in a large frying pan with the olive oil. Add the crushed clove of garlic, chopped red onion, salt and pepper and then sauté for 15-20 minutes or until tender.  While the vegetables are cooking, make 3 ground sirloin patties and grill or fry until done according to your taste.

Divide and spread the lettuce & spinach mixture onto 3 plates. Top with the sautéed vegetables. Apply a circle of avocado slices and halved cherry tomatoes and place the grilled burger right in the center. Drizzle with bleu cheese dressing and enjoy!

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:
The song says “Blue, blue, my world is blue. Blue is my world when I’m without you”.  But as followers of Jesus Christ, we don’t have to be blue because we’re not alone when we face the trials of this life! Deuteronomy 31:6 says “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”  The One who created us, our loving Heavenly Father, is the Alpha and the Omega – the beginning and the end. He is already there in our tomorrows and He knows exactly what we’re going to be facing before we even get there.  Who better to be there before we even arrive? Psalm 46:1-3 says: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”


In Habakkuk 3:17-19, it says: “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as surefooted as a deer and bring me safely over the mountains.”  Habakkuk’s vision ended with a beautiful word picture: No matter what happens, I will find joy in the Lord and he will make me as surefooted as a deer. Habakkuk does not say that the Lord will make his way easy, but, rather, that the Lord will sustain him along his path.

And so Matthew 6:34 makes perfect sense when it tells us “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself”, and Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you”, and Philippians 4:7: “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Blue, blue, I will not be blue. Jesus Christ is with me and He will see me through!

Life.
I can’t control it,
direct it,
correct it,
or perfect it;
but when I submit it,
commit it,
and to the Lord give it,
the burden becomes His and not mine
And whatever the situation that lies ahead,
He’ll give me the grace to endure it,
and someday quite soon,
I won’t even recall it
When the reality of eternity is mine . . .
and there’s great peace in the knowledge of that.

–Cheri Henderson

Un Gran Relleno – Chicken Chimichangas!

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Who loves Mexican food? I do! I do! And for Mexican food lovers, the Chimichanga is a definite favorite!

For those of you who haven’t yet had the pleasure, Chimichanga is a flour tortilla, filled with a wonderful ingredient like chicken, or steak, or seafood, and is usually accompanied by great  side items like salsa, sour cream, cheese, guacamole, and Mexican rice!  And the wonderful thing about the following recipe is you can prepare the chicken and the sauce a day or two ahead and refrigerate it if you’d like! A real time-saver for the evening when you actually make the Chimichangas!

Ready? Gimme some Chimi!

Chicken Salsa:
Ingredients
4 lbs. chicken breasts, boneless and skinless
2 cups salsa, homemade or purchased
2 cups petite diced canned tomatoes
4 tbsp. taco seasoning
2 cups onions, diced fine
1 cup celery diced fine
1 cup carrots, shredded
half cup water
6 tbsp. sour cream

Place the chicken in a slow cooker. Sprinkle the taco seasoning over the meat then layer the vegetables and salsa on top. Pour a half cup of water over the mixture, set on low and cook for 6-8 hours. The meat is cooked when it shreds or reaches an internal temperature of 165°F. When ready to serve, break up the chicken with a fork then stir in the sour cream.

Chimichanga Sauce:
Ingredients
6 tablespoons vegetable oil
1-½ cup chopped onion
6 chopped garlic cloves
1 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. cumin
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
4 4-oz cans of chopped green chiles (drained & rinsed)
3 cups chicken broth
¾  cup chopped cilantro (if desired)

Saute chopped onion and chopped garlic cloves in a skillet with vegetable oil. Add chili powder, cumin, sugar and salt; cook 30 seconds. Stir in chopped green chiles; cook 2 minutes. Add chicken broth and simmer until thickened, then puree. Stir in chopped cilantro.

Chicken Chimichangas:
Ingredients
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
10 10-inch flour tortillas
20.5 oz refried beans (I use La costena brand – yummy!)
Chicken Salsa (recipe above)
Chimichanga Sauce (recipe above)
2-1/2 cups Mexican style shredded cheese
1-1/2 cup sour cream
2-1/2 cups chopped lettuce
Guacamole (I use “Wholly Guacamole” – delish!)
2 large tomatoes, chopped

Mexican rice

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Melt the butter and vegetable oil in a small pan.

Brush a rimmed baking sheet with some of the butter-oil mixture. Spread 2 tablespoons refried beans down the center of each tortilla, leaving a 2-inch border on both ends. Top with 1 cup chicken mixture and 1/4 cup cheese. Fold in the ends and roll up.

Put the chimichangas seam-side down on the baking sheet; brush with the butter-oil mixture. Bake 8 to 10 minutes per side, brushing again after you flip.

Remove from oven. Place each chimichanga on a plate and top with warmed Chimichanga Sauce, more cheese, and sour cream. Surround with chopped lettuce, guacamole, and diced tomato. Serve with Mexican rice.  Muy bueno!

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:
In the same way that these flour tortillas are filled with a wonderful ingredient, so are you as a follower of Jesus Christ! The Spirit of God dwells in you!

Each of us possesses the Holy Spirit from the time we repent and believe. “You are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. And if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” (Romans. 8:9-10).

Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 5:18, “Be filled with the Spirit.” The Greek word for “be filled”, plerousthe, literally translates “keep being filled.” When the greatest evangelist of the nineteenth century, D.L. Moody, was asked why he said he needed to be filled continually with the Holy Spirit, he replied, “Because I leak!” Like Moody, we all run out of gas and need the power of the Holy Spirit to recharge our lives. To be filled with the Spirit means we are continually seeking, submitting to and experiencing the Holy Spirit’s guidance and control in our lives. Unlike the filling in a Chimichanga – once it’s depleted, it’s gone, but we can continually be refilled as we yield moment by moment to the leading of the Spirit.

And as we surrender to the control of God’s Spirit, we’ll find Him producing some amazing things in us! The filling of the Holy Spirit is accompanied by some great “side items” that Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit.  They are: “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (Galatians 5:22-23)!

So . . . ser llenos del Espíritu Santo. ¡Es muy bueno!

–     Cheri Henderson

Wake Up!

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frappuccino
Today is June 21st – the first day of summer and the longest day of the year!

And what better way to get through a long, hot, sleepy day than by imbibing in an icy, sweet, caffeine-infused beverage?!

So let’s do it!

 

Homemade Frappuccino
Serves: 1-2

Ingredients
¾ cup double-strength coffee – chilled (brew double-strength coffee by using twice the coffee required by your coffeemaker, approximately 2 tablespoons per cup)
1 cup sweetened condensed milk
2 cups ice
3 tablespoons of chocolate syrup

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until ice is crushed and drink is smooth. Pour into two 16-ounce glasses and apply desired toppings:

  • Whipped cream or chocolate Cool Whip
  • Sprinkle with cinnamon, chopped nuts, or coconut
  • Drizzle caramel syrup or chocolate syrup (or both!) over the whipped cream

and serve with a straw.

Delish!!!

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Did you know there is another kind of sleepiness for which caffeine and sugar are not a remedy? It’s a spiritual sleepiness and, in fact, a bible verse tells us, “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you”! (Ephesians 5:14) This is a verse often used in sermons to speak to those who don’t know Jesus, but if you read the scripture in its entirety, it is speaking to us – followers of Jesus Christ . . . and the “remedy for the sleepiness” (ignorance, complacency, and compromise) is clearly described in Ephesians 5:

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:

‘Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.’

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This may be the longest day of the 2013 calendar year, but spiritually time is short. Church, let’s wake up and . . . “make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil”.

— Cheri Henderson

When life hands you lemons, just hand ’em over!

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The Lemonade Maker
There’s nothing like an ice-cold glass of homemade lemonade to help you cool off on a hot summer day.

Refreshing and delicious, lemonade is easy to make and, unlike the powdered instant varieties, contains no preservatives or artificial flavorings!

Homemade Lemonade
Serves 6

Ingredients:
10-12 lemons at room temperature (plus 4 or 5 more for garnishing if desired)
1½ cups sugar (2 cups if you like it really sweet)
6 cups water, divided

Instructions:
Wash lemons and then roll them on a hard surface until they become soft.
Zest 2-3 lemons and set aside.

In a pot over medium heat, add sugar, lemon zest and 2 cups of water. Simmer lightly for about 5 minutes or until sugar has dissolved and the mixture has a light yellow color. Do not boil. Remove from heat.

Juice the lemons to come up with 2 cups of lemon juice. If you don’t have a citrus juicer or a reamer, cut the lemon in half crosswise, hold half in one hand, push a fork into the center and twist.

Strain the lemon juice into a large pitcher and then strain the sugar mixture into the large pitcher. Add in 4 cups of cold water.

Taste-test and if the lemonade is a little sweet for your taste, add a little more straight lemon juice to it.

Serve in chilled glasses with some lemon slices and ice (or lemonade ice cubes if you’re ambitious and want to make a batch just for that purpose!)  Or freeze some fresh strawberries in advance and add them along with the ice cubes!

Store remaining lemonade in the frig; will keep for up to 3 days.

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Have you ever heard the old saying, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade?” As over-used as this phrase has become, the saying holds a lot of truth . . . in part. Unfortunately, in our humanness, when faced with a difficult situation or a painful experience, we’re usually too incapacitated by the burden or encumbered by the pain to find the sugar . . . let alone measure it out and pour it into the bitter recipe that’s facing us.  We’re really not able to do it on our own, and so, I believe this saying is lacking a sentence. It should read:  “When life hands you lemons, hand them over to God.  He is the consummate lemonade maker.”

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

Has life recently handed you some lemons? If so, I encourage you to hand them over to God, wait, and “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4) It may be a quick fix . . . or it could take a lifetime. Only the Lemonade Maker knows the time that will be required.  But like a little child, as your Father works on your behalf, just cling to His apron, hide in His shadow, and listen to Him sing. “I am your hiding place; I will protect you from trouble and surround you with songs of deliverance.” (Psalm 32:7)

— Cheri Henderson

Two Plain Crackers…Transformed!

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001It always amazes me how a single ingredient – fairly plain and uninspiring alone – can have such a delicious end-result when joined with others.

Case-in-point: this recipe. Though it called for two graham crackers per serving (yawn-not a big fan of graham crackers), I knew the end-result was going to be fantastic! And I was not disappointed!  With the addition of such a sweet filling between them, two plain-old crackers ended up being a beautiful and delicious presentation!

Pineapple “Ice Cream” Sandwich

Ingredients:
1 (16 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed
1 (20 ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (3.4 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding
36 graham cracker squares

In a large bowl, beat together the thawed whipped topping, crushed pineapple, and vanilla pudding mix for 2 minutes. Spread the whipped pineapple mixture ½ inch thick between two graham cracker squares. Wrap gently in plastic and freeze for 2 hours.

Food for ThoughtFOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Just like two plain crackers can become so much more when there’s a sweet filling to join them together, so it is in our relationship with others. Ecclesiastes 4:12 says “A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.”  Whether it is a relationship between Christian friends or that of a husband and wife, when the two are closely joined in Christian love and fellowship, Jesus, by his Spirit, will come to them, bind them together, and be the sweet center of their relationship.

The Sweetness That Holds Us Together
For better, for worse; it’s no matter;
for richer, for poorer, you are mine.
God chose us and joined us together
and blest be the tie that binds!
It’s not important the things we attain,
nor how much we achieve in this life.
Our happiness isn’t measured by earthly gain,
but our love for each other and Christ!
And when the enemy tries to attack us,
we’ll lock our shields and together agree
that this threefold cord can’t be broken.
Through Jesus we will have victory!
I walk through this life totally complete
because I’m walking with you by my side,
and the sweetness of it all, the completeness of it all,
is Jesus – between us – for life!

— Cheri Henderson