Good morning, peeps! Food and beverage to help me wake up and stay alert! (1 Peter 5:8)
— Cheri Henderson
Author Archives: Cheri Henderson
Green beans, anyone?
Sounds pretty healthy to me, both physically and spiritually!
Green beans, anyone?
— Cheri Henderson
A Preface to Preparing the Recipe
My hard-workin’ man nurturing the ingredients for future recipes!
Sometimes I think the more difficult work falls on the one who plants, waters and tends, over the one who has to prepare it!
“If any would not work, neither should he eat!” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
– Cheri Henderson
Missing Ingredients
I don’t know about you, but Friday evenings at our house are usually slim pickin’s for finding anything in the cupboard, fridge or pantry that could make for a decent meal. Since I do most of my grocery shopping on Saturday morning, Friday evening is usually a good excuse for dinner out with hubby!
As usual, this past Friday, we’d planned a visit to one of our favorite restaurants, but when I arrived home from work, I learned my husband had gotten wrapped up in a home project. By the time he finished, it would be too late to eat out. So what to do for dinner?
I thought about running out and getting some fast food, but the thought was unappealing. I looked in the freezer, but found nothing that could be prepared in short order. The fridge revealed one leftover chicken breast and some mushrooms from Wednesday evening’s meal (https://cookinwithcheri.com/molto-delizioso/) and a single avocado in the crisper. Hmmm. The beginnings of a great salad . . . but no lettuce.
And then I remembered! At the close of last year’s summer, my husband had tossed the remains of our lettuce out of our raised garden bed and into the surrounding mulch. Much to our surprise this spring, large tufts of lettuce were growing out of the mulch. So with garden scissors in hand, I went out to snip away and, as I passed our strawberry plants, also discovered some large ripe strawberries ready for picking! A delicious dinner was soon to be served!
Summer Salad
Ingredients:
Butter (Boston Bibb) lettuce
boneless chicken breast
1 clove of crushed garlic
¼ tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon white cooking wine
6 oz. sliced mushrooms
sliced avocado
sliced strawberries
Flour, salt and pepper the chicken breast and brown in olive oil. Add a clove of crushed garlic, ¼ tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon white cooking wine, and 6 oz. of sliced mushrooms and sauté for 15-20 minutes.
Tear the lettuce into edible pieces. Slice the chicken breast, avocado, and strawberries and display each in a pretty circle atop the lettuce. Scatter the mushrooms across the salad and serve with an Italian vinaigrette. Very delicious and most satisfying!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
As a Christian, do you ever feel like your “pantry is bare”? That you don’t have what it takes to make a difference in this world for Christ? You don’t have enough knowledge about scripture, or you don’t have the right words to say, or you’re a young Christian and you don’t have a lot of experience. You can’t see beyond your human lack, so you just don’t bother, and your neighbors, friends or family members “starve to death” because no one will introduce them to the Bread of Life!
You may think you don’t have the ingredients on-hand to make a difference, but if you take a look in the “garden” of God’s Word, “all scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching and training, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (Timothy 3:16-17) “May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will,” (Hebrews 13:20-21 ) “All things are yours … and you are of Christ, and Christ is of God”. (1 Corinthians 3:20-23) “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work;” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
God has equipped us with every single thing we need to do what He has called us to do. He goes before us into every situation and has prepared the way for us. All we have to do is be available, willing, and yielded to the leading of the Holy Spirit.
Our pantry is full and our garden is overflowing! So let’s get busy and “feed” the “hungry”. They’ll find it to be spiritually fulfilling and eternally satisfying!
–Cheri Henderson
It’s Rib Time!
Anytime is the perfect time for barbecue ribs, especially when it’s summertime! And in my opinion, there’s nothing better than a plate of tender, barbecue ribs and hot, buttered corn-on-the-cob on a beautiful summer evening! Perfectly cooked ribs can be a challenge, however, and the secret is low and slow cooking.
What better way to cook low and slow . . . than a Crockpot? And here’s a perfect recipe for doing so!
BBQ Beef Country Ribs
Serves: 5-6
Ingredients:
¼ cup shortening
5 pounds boneless beef country ribs
1 medium onion, halved and then thinly sliced
1-1/4 cup catsup
½ cup celery, thinly sliced
¼ cup light brown sugar
¼ cup cider vinegar
1-1/2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon prepared mustard
2 tablespoons flour
8 oz egg noodles
In a heavy frying pan, heat the ribs in the shortening until browned on all sides. In a medium bowl, stir ¾ cup of water and the remaining ingredients except the flour and noodles. Pour over the ribs in the Crock-pot. Cook on low for 6-7 hours until fork tender. In a cup, mix the flour and 4 tablespoons of water until smooth. Gradually stir into the hot liquid of the Crock-pot (gently stirring around the ribs), and then cook until the mixture is somewhat thickened, 10-15 minutes.
Cook the egg noodles, per package directions, and drain. Serve the ribs and barbecue sauce over the noodles.
It’s rib time!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Several thousand years ago, it was also rib time, but one of a totally different kind. “And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall on Adam, and as he slept, He took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. Then the rib which the LORD God had taken from man, He made into a woman, and He brought her to the man. And Adam said: ‘This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh, and she shall be called Woman, BECAUSE she was TAKEN OUT OF MAN.” (Genesis 2:21-23)
Did you know the rib is the only bone in the human body that not only has the ability to repair itself, but can actually regenerate itself? I’m not ribbing you! When a human rib is removed from the periosteum (the sheath that surrounds it), the rib will eventually grow back! And because this happens, ribs are often used for facial and other reconstructive surgery or when bone grafts are needed for other parts of the body. Additionally, the cells in bone marrow (which are found in the center of the rib) can be turned into almost any tissue in the body. How appropriate that the “Great Physician” would have anesthetized Adam and taken a rib from his side to create Woman. Eve was literally of Adam’s bone and flesh and blood. And if she was “taken out of man”, then what was needed to create her was already within Adam. She was there all along.
Eve wasn’t created from the dust separately from Adam. She was custom built to be Adam’s partner. Matthew Henry once eloquently said, “Woman was made of a rib out of the side of Adam; not made out of his head to rule over him, nor out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be beloved.” I love that statement! It’s such a beautiful word picture of what I believe God intended.
It’s true that woman was created last. But perhaps God did so because woman was the crown of His creation?
– Cheri Henderson
Hidden Treasure
Depending upon your family traditions or country of birth, you may call it a pot sticker, pierogi, dumpling, gnocchi, gnudi, or spaetzle. But whatever you call it, it is a yummy bundle of pastry, filled with hidden treasures that (unless named beforehand) can only be found by opening it!
I choose to call my yummy pastry a “Bundle” . . . and in this case, the hidden treasures are strawberries, cream cheese and toasted sliced almonds! And because it is harvest time for this delicious fruit, there’s no better time than now to share the recipe with you!
Strawberry Bundles
Serves 8
Cinnamon-Sugar Topping:
¼ cup sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Bundle Ingredients:
1 pkg. refrigerated pie crusts (2 crusts)
4 cups fresh sliced strawberries
½ cup sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
½ teaspoon almond extract
3 tablespoons of toasted sliced almonds
2 egg whites
whipped cream
Directions:
To make cinnamon-sugar, combine ingredients and set aside.
Bring pie crust to room temperature according to package directions. Combine strawberries, sugar, lemon juice, lemon peel and cinnamon. Mix cream cheese and almond extract. Divide pie dough into 8 equal pieces. Form each piece into a ball and then flatten into a 6 inch circle. Spoon ¼ cup of the berry mixture into the middle of each round. Top with 1 tablespoon of cream cheese and 1 teaspoon of almonds. Lift up the edges of the dough and crimp with your fingers to seal. Pierce tops with a fork to allow steam to escape. Brush with egg whites; sprinkle each with ½ teaspoon cinnamon sugar.
Bake at 350 degrees about 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with a light drizzling of the leftover berry mixture and a dollop of whipped cream! Refrigerate any leftovers. Store the remaining cinnamon-sugar in an airtight container.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Have you ever literally found a hidden treasure? Several years ago, the television program, Good Morning America, interviewed a gentleman who had just unearthed a large, rare emerald while digging in his own backyard in North Carolina! It was huge, and while they didn’t place a value on it at that time, judging from the size of it, I’d say this man was set for life! I watched in amazement and quietly wondered if there were any treasures buried in my own backyard . . . hmmm, what did I do with that shovel??? But then, at that moment, the Lord spoke to me that I truly am “set for life” because I have a treasure far, far greater than any emerald a man could ever find in this earth.
Matthew 13:44 says “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.” Back in those days in the poor communities, people buried their treasures in the ground because it was the best, most inexpensive, safe place to protect their valuables. The man in the parable “went in his joy” to sell everything he had. Why? Because he found a treasure worth having above all else he owned. He didn’t have enough money to buy the treasure, but after selling all he had, he could afford the field.
32 years ago, I found my treasure of all treasures, a personal relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. While there is no amount of money and nothing I could ever do to earn this treasure, selling all that we have, as described in the Matthew 13:44 parable, means a surrender of all that we own and everything we are to His Lordship. “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) Treasure has a special connection to the heart, the place of desire and longing, the place of will and focus. The thing we most set our heart on is our highest treasure.
And as this adventure continues, there are more treasures to be discovered! Just like the bundle of pastry has to be opened before you find the hidden treasure in it, so too His Love Letter to us, the Word of God, must be opened and searched out. What we seek does not consist of silver and gold . . . or strawberries. Rather our quest is to gather the precious gems that come from a full knowledge of Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Colossians 2:3). If we truly are to get to know Jesus, we must be immersed in His Word and led by His Spirit. God’s truths must be sought earnestly with all the attention of someone seeking hidden treasure.
The psalmist said, “I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure.” (Psalm 119:162). For I have “laid up treasure for myself as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that I may take hold of the life that is truly life.” (1 Timothy 6:19)
So with a warm “Strawberry Bundle” and cup of coffee in hand, I’m off to open His “Love Letter Bundle” and discover the treasures inside! I hope you have a treasure-filled day!
– Cheri Henderson
The Remedy for Being Overcooked!
For those of you who don’t know me, I have to admit I can be a bit of a perfectionist at times. As such, I’m always disappointed on those occasions when things don’t turn out the way I originally planned. Case in point: my Memorial Day Flag Cake.
I was so looking forward to bringing this decorative cake to a friend’s Memorial Day cookout this past weekend and gratifying the guests with a real taste treat. I thought I had followed the recipe to a “t”, and was sure, as I put the last dab of icing on the cake, that my endeavor was a success. But later, as I and the other guests lifted our forks to our mouths and took the first bite, I knew in an instant – the cake was overcooked and too dry. Everyone “mmmm’d” as they tried to swallow the cake without aid of a beverage to help wash it down, and they were generously complimentary. But I knew they were just being kind. Although the final creation was beautiful on the outside and the taste of the icing was superb, the cake itself was not great. I wanted great. And I was sorely disappointed.
Often in cases like these, if you retrace your steps a bit, you can usually discover where the problem originated, but even after I read and re-read the recipe, and confirmed that I had followed all of the directions completely, I was at a loss. A 5-star recipe with glowing comments on the internet suggested the problem was mine, but what was it?! As my husband watched my consternation, he quietly asked “Could your oven temperature be off? Maybe you need to get one of those oven thermometers and measure it.” Such a simple suggestion . . . and it turned out to be the perfect one. A new oven thermometer indicated my oven temperature is off by 25 degrees! Easily remedied, I look forward to giving this recipe another try!
Yellow Pound Cake with Butter Cream Icing (Flag Cake)
adapted from Barefoot Contessa Family Style by Ina Garten
Serves: 20-24
Ingredients:
18 tablespoons (2-1/4 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs at room temperature
1-1/2 cups sour cream at room temperature
1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
zest of one lemon
3 cups flour
1/3 cup cornstarch
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
For the icing:
1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
1-1/2 pounds (20 ounces) cream cheese at room temperature
1 pound confectioners’ sugar, sifted
1-1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
To assemble:
2 half-pints blueberries
3 half-pints raspberries
Directions:
Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour an 18 by 13 by 1 1/2-inch sheet pan.
Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed, until light and fluffy. (Don’t skimp on this – light and fluffy is a must!) On medium speed, add the eggs, 2 at a time, then add the sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest. Scrape down the sides and stir until smooth.
Sift together the flour, cornstarch, salt, and baking soda in a bowl. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the butter mixture until just combined. Pour into the prepared pan. Smooth the top with a spatula. Bake in the center of the oven for 20 minutes, until a toothpick comes out fairly clean. Cool to room temperature.
For the icing, combine the butter, cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, mixing just until smooth.
Spread three-fourths of the icing on the top of the cooled sheet cake. Outline the flag on the top of the cake with a toothpick. Fill the upper left corner with blueberries, approximately 12 blueberries across and 8 blueberries down. Place 2 rows of raspberries across the top of the cake like a red stripe. Put the remaining icing in a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and pipe two rows of white stripes below the raspberries. Alternate rows of raspberries and icing until the flag is completed. Pipe stars on top of the blueberries.
Serve the cake right in the pan, or if you want to turn it out onto a board before frosting, use parchment paper when you grease and flour the pan. Any leftover cake freezes really well – just wrap it in foil loosely a few times over.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
It’s virtually impossible to produce something that’s excellent when you’re working with a defective tool, but I now have a remedy. I will adjust the temperature for the oven discrepancy . . . and will make this cake again, perhaps for the 4th of July! Next time, I know it will be excellent in every way!
In a similar way, no matter how many great ingredients go in to the mix, all human beings are incapable of attaining an excellent eternal outcome through their own defective efforts.
- For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23)
- And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.(Revelation 20:13-15)
Talk about an overcooked cake! I promise you, eternity in hell is not the desired outcome for anyone! But God has provided a perfect remedy for each one of us.
- For God so love the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16)
- For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
- For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
- If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17)
And the icing on the cake!
- But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.” ( 1 Corinthians 2:9)
- Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelations 21:1-5
I hope you will choose the perfect remedy for an excellent ending . . . Jesus Christ.
–Cheri Henderson
Forget the Fuss!
Sometimes you just need to set aside those special recipes and the time they require in the kitchen . . . grab you a pack of juicy brats and slap those babies on a hot grill! Cook ‘em through, lay each one on a bed of warm sauerkraut in a fresh hot dog bun, top with some spicy brown mustard, and serve ‘em up with a side of chips and a glass of iced tea!
Easy fixings! The kind of meal you don’t have to fuss over . . . so you can relax, enjoy the day, and focus on more important things!
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
As we celebrate Memorial Day this weekend, what a great time to relax, enjoy the day, and focus on what this special day is really all about . . . remembering those who’ve died in the service of our country, and honoring and thanking our veterans and those who are currently serving in our military. To give honor to our soldiers isn’t a political stand, nor does it represent our agreement or disagreement with governments or wars. It’s about recognizing that there are people out there who are willing to sacrifice their lives for ours.
“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)
Oh! thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
Between their loved home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: “In God is our trust.”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
(Final verse from the Star Spangled Banner, Francis Scott Key, 1814)
Let’s forget the fuss and focus on the important things this weekend! And have a blessed Memorial Day!
– Cheri Henderson
And a Cherry on Top!
The great lover of all things sweet, my brother, John!
As I looked at this picture with a smile on my face today, I began to wonder exactly where the term, ice cream “sundae”, came from. After a little research, I am now fully informed and happy to share this bit of trivia with you!
Back in the day, soda was marketed as a miracle cure and was often considered a substance that required oversight and control like alcohol. So, in many conservative areas of the country, just like alcohol, the law prohibited soda from being served or purchased on Sundays, and in some “dry” counties, not at all! After these laws were put in place, soda fountain owners had to figure out a way to turn a profit in those cases, and so they began to serve only the ice cream . . . and topped it with whipped cream, chopped nuts, and a cherry for added appeal! “Sundaes” became the coined term for the ice cream concoctions they ingeniously created to serve on “soda’s day of rest”.
Isn’t it amazing how a difficult situation can be the catalyst for birthing a wonderful blessing that will live on and be enjoyed for generations to come?
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28) “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” (Psalm 100:5)
– Cheri Henderson
In a Pickle
After several hours of stooping over freshly tilled earth to drop dozens of tiny seeds into the ground, my husband and I stepped back with gratification last weekend to look upon our freshly planted garden!
Mmmm . . . soon and very soon: home-grown green beans, sugar-snap peas, beets, lettuce, carrots, shallots, zucchini, tomatoes, and cucumbers!
One of the recipes I’m particularly fond of at “canning time” is bread and butter pickles. I could literally sit with a jar in my lap and devour the whole thing, they are so delicious! They’re almost like eating candy!
So, let’s make some!
Bread and Butter Pickles
Ingredients:
25 small cucumbers, thinly sliced
6 onions, thinly sliced
2 green bell peppers, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
½ cup salt
3 cups cider vinegar
5 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons mustard seed
1-1/2 teaspoons celery seed
½ teaspoon whole cloves
1 tablespoon ground turmeric
In a large bowl, mix together cucumbers, onions, green bell peppers, garlic and salt. Allow to stand approximately 3 hours. In a large saucepan, mix the cider vinegar, white sugar, mustard seed, celery seed, whole clovers and turmeric. Bring to a boil. Drain liquid from the cucumber mixture. Stir the mixture into the boiling vinegar mixture. Remove from heat shortly before the combined mixtures return to a boil. Transfer to sterile canning jars. Seal and chill in the refrigerator until serving.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT:
Did you know, in times gone by, the word pickle referred to something totally different than what we now call a pickle? The earliest pickles were spicy sauces that consisted of a mix of many different types of vegetables. Later, in the 16th century, the name pickle was also given to a mixture of spiced, salted vinegar that was used as a preservative. Later still, in the 17th century, the vegetables (such as cucumbers and gherkins) that were preserved by this mixture came to be called pickles. The phrase “to be in a pickle” came from the earliest concoction. Someone who was deemed to be “in a pickle” was considered to be in a mixed up situation or one that was difficult to sort out.
Have you ever been “in a pickle” where you were in such a mixed up situation, it seemed no matter what choice you made, it would be the wrong one . . . or to use another idiom, you felt like you were “caught between a rock and a hard place”? But if you think about it, as a follower of Jesus Christ, our Solid Rock, there really is no better place to be than pressed against the Rock in a difficult situation!
When trouble or hardships strike, they usually will move us in one of three directions:
1. They discourage us temporarily;
2. they push us away from God;
3. or they draw us close to God.
And it’s our hearts that will determine in which direction we will go.
In those times when you’re “in a pickle” or “caught between a rock and a hard place”, I encourage you to “think on these things” and let your heart draw you close to God:
“But now, God’s Message, the God who made you in the first place, the One who got you started, ‘Don’t be afraid, I’ve redeemed you. I’ve called your name. You’re mine. When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you. When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down. When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end—because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior. I paid a huge price for you: all of Egypt, with rich Cush and Seba thrown in! That’s how much you mean to me! That’s how much I love you! I’d sell off the whole world to get you back, trade the creation just for you.’” – Isaiah 43:1-4 (MSG)
“We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.” – 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
“The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall (or out of a pickle jar)! This God—his way is perfect, the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.” – Psalm 18:2, 29-30
— Cheri Henderson
Cookin' with Cheri 