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June 29, 2012

What Do You Have In Your House? Just A Bottle Of Oil


I would like to share with you the story of the woman with the bottle of oil, the fears she faced, her victory and miracle. I took this story from the Bible, and for the story-line added scenes but the story remains the same; the Lord came through! The prophet's name is Elisha, the bible does not tell the woman's name nor of her children. I hope you enjoy the story and find hope in what God can do with what you have when you let Him use it.

2 Kings 4:1-7
What am I to do? I  am  in  debt  and  my  children's  father  is  no  longer  with  us; he passed away. I do not have the money and the collectors will expect to be paid. I am so scared they will come to my door soon and take away my boys and make them bond-servants. "Will they sell them to a far off country", "Will I ever see them again", and, "Will they be alright", these are the fears I face each day. Someday, my greatest dread may come knocking on my door.

Knock, knock.
We stood in silence hugging each other, afraid to move. Will they go away or will they break down the door?
Knock, knock.
“Nooo”, I whispered, “Nooo”, as I wiped the tears from my eyes with my apron, I hugged my children and began to pray silently, but with a desperation that only a mother can know when she fears losing her babies.
Then, silence. We waited for what seemed an age before we began to move about in the darkened room; we do not light any lamps out of fear of being found out.
After a while one of my sons wanted to go outside and we ventured out cautiously. A stranger approached my sons and they tur ned and faced me. The man also tur ned around and started walking my way. “It’s a trap!”, I thought. He looked very serious and I became afraid to run. Then, I realized it was Elisha and I hurriedly went to speak to him. I could not help it, my eyes filled with tears as I tried to speak calmly.

"Now a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant, my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the LORD; and the creditor has come to take my two children to be his slaves.”

“What  do  you  have  in  your  house”,  he  asked?


What do I have? I thought his question strange and must have shown it on my face when he asked if there was a problem?
I explained my financial situation and my fears to him. I felt he understood my plight, since, he listened so intently and did not walk away.
After I finished speaking he asked again, "What do you have in your home", as if though I was overlooking something. I told him I have a bottle of oil left.

He looked at me and my sons and advised us to borrow from our neighbors every jar, bottle and container  we could and to not stop with just a few, then pour out the oil until every jar is filled. We hurriedly asked our friends and came back with so many vessels that I wonderingly thought, “What are we going to do with them all”, when I began to pour from our small vessel of oil into the other jars.
The oil kept flowing and filling every container in the room and when I asked if there was another vessel? No, Mother, that was the last one, was my son's reply.

I set down my bottle that still had oil in it and went and told Elisha. He then told me to take the oil and sell it. I was amazed and excited all at the same time. I would be able to feed my sons as well as pay off every debt!


That night, when all were asleep, I crept to the larder and reached for my own bottle of oil and wondered about it. As I held it in my hands, my eyes welled up with tears; it was a miracle, indeed. I cried with joy and my heart was glad.  I felt relief and became hopeful for the first time since my husband died. Jehovah had changed my situation with a miracle: He used what I had to show how He can make much with so little. With gratefulness of heart, I said my prayers and went to bed. That night, the fear had left me and I slept the sleep of the beloved. 


Psalm 127:2
It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.

God will use what you have for your miracle to happen; the oil of His anointing, if we would let Him use it. His goodness overcomes our worries and calms our fears.


To God be the glory for the things He has done and will do for you!

XOX


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June 25, 2012

Cupcake Sundays


I am amazed that cupcakes are all the rage. Cakes have had to move over as the cupcake takes center stage for formal occasions such as weddings and celebrations. I decided to try for myself to decorate cupcakes with a theme, Cupcake Sundays.

Once the cupcake has cooled dip it into the candy-quik chocolate.
Place in the refrigerator until hardened.

Candy-quik chocolate is ready made and sold at Walmart. It covers 30 cupcakes.

Pink frosting:

4 oz butter
13 oz powdered sugar
1 T milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. almond extract
2 drops food color
chopped nuts (optional)

To the softened butter add milk and half of the sugar. Once completely mixed add the remaining sugar, vanilla and almond extract. Put in refrigerator for a few minutes until slightly hardened then put into a decorating bag with tip 199. Start on outside of  circle with a continual squeezing motion make second ring for height. Spoon chocolate on half of the pink frosting then add the cherry. Add the chopped nuts. Cool again in the refrigerator until ready to serve (pink frosting will soften with room temperature).

I will be taking these to work for a potluck. My kids are asking if any are for them?
Yes, of course. I made some for our dessert, too.

I had so much fun making these Sundays with you, today.
Thank you for stopping by. 
Blessings,

June 24, 2012

Apricot Croissants


I enjoy Sunday mornings with my children. Or, perhaps I should say, I enjoy waking my children and having breakfast ready for them on Sunday mornings. I have my sideboard set up with plates, napkins, and something they can eat after they have gotten themselves ready for church. Today, I made apricot croissants from the apricot jam I made the other day. You can read the original post here, Chabacan.

Leave space around the edges for a clean roll-up or the jam will run out the sides. Bake at 350° for approximatly 18 minutes or until browned (Cooking time is longer due to the apricot filling).

While it is hot sprinkle with powdered sugar and set on a lovely tart plate. I have a pink depression tart plate that I purchase for my hope-chest back when I was just a young girl. It is so pretty and I have kept it all these years.

Are those Poppy's?
Yes, the creamer and sugar set are Chikaramachi.

 The Daily Bread scriptures in something pretty, I put them in the small vase, Noritake.
 I am protected every day and every hour.
 
The table runner I bought at an estate sale, the runner, tablecloth and napkins all for 10.00 (YAY!!)

It's a good thing I made extra on a separate plate, these were gone by the time I looked for them.
Enjoy your Sunday and thank you for the visit.
XOX
Blessings,

June 15, 2012

Peach Walnut Galette


The French
Peach Walnut Galette
It sounds so pretty, you will want to know how to pronounce it, Galette.
Just click here, howjsay.com
Peaches and walnuts with a lemony tang. This recipe is simple with just a few ingredients and it's delicious!
Oh, it's beginning to taste a lot like summer, 
With every bite I take! 

Have ready:
5 sliced peaches
pie shell

mix together
1 C. finely chopped walnuts
1/4 C brown sugar
2 egg yolks
(save the egg whites for coating the pie shell)
entire zest from 1 lemon
Preheat oven at 375 degrees. 
Roll out the pie shell and set on a pizza tray sprayed with Pam and floured.
Spread the walnut mixture leaving 1 1/2 inches of free edge.
 Arrange sliced peaches on top of the mixture.

I made more of the walnut mixture for the top but instead of egg yolk I added 1 T. of butter.

Walnut Crumble

mix together
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 T. butter
lemon zest
1/2 C chopped walnuts
1 T. flour

Spread crumble on top of peaches.
Fold-over the edge of the pie shell and wet the over-layed edge with water and slightly press to keep in place. Coat the edge with egg white.

Bake for 35 minutes and crust is browned.
Let cool for 10 minutes then transfer onto a floured surface.
Do not use a cooling rack because the galette crust might fall apart.

Once completely cooled, set on a pretty pie plate.
Top it off with vanilla bean ice cream and
Bon Appetit!
Enjoy your summer and thank you for stopping by to bake with me.
XOX

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Cabbage and Cilantro Pesto



With all the health benefits in cilantro, I thought I would try it as a pesto with steamed cabbage. There are times when I will use cabbage when a recipe calls for pasta. It is healthier than pasta and has such a wonderful flavor that I am sure you will like. And the cooking time is by far less than what it takes to cook pasta. The ingredients are fresh and it makes a wonderful meal with very little preparation time. Enjoy.

Pesto

1 bunch cilantro with stems
2 garlic clove (sauteed in 1 tsp. Olive oil)
aprox. 1/4 C water
2 T. lemon juice
sea salt to taste (I used 1/2 tsp)
pepper to taste or
sliced almonds
(almonds sauteed in Olive oil until slightly softened but not browned)
1/3 C. Olive oil


In a food processor add red ingredients start with 1/4 C. water add more if needed.
We will come back to this in a few minutes so let it stand and absorb the blended flavors.

In a separate bowl mix together the green ingredients until well blended pour into a sauce pan adding the cilantro mix. On medium-heat, cook three minutes, then lower the heat while the cabbage is getting steamed.




Pasta Cabbage
Steam sliced cabbage strips for a few minutes until slightly tender but not too soft nor translucent.
Drain and add to the pesto sauce. Mix and cook for another minute or two. (The cabbage should have some firmness to it and not soggy) Serve hot.



I served it with grilled salmon.


Another family favorite you might like to try is Cabbage Alfredo. Make your Alfredo sauce, add cream cheese, cooked shrimp and pour over lightly steamed cabbage strips.


¡Buen Provecho, Bon Appetit, Buon Appetito!
xox

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Blessings,

June 14, 2012

An Olde Fashion Flavor


Mary Coyle's Ice Cream Parlor
Since 1951
5521 North 7th Avenue
Phoenix, Arizona
602-265-6266

The entrance is in the back.
It is like going back in time, the Fifty's, as a matter of fact.
 They have a way of doing things the old fashioned way.

So delicious and big enough for two.


It is so hard to decide with so many choices.

We decided on the The Peak.
Homemade vanilla ice cream, caramel topping, chocolate chip ice cream, with hot fudge,
and penuche nut ice cream covered in caramel, cashews, almonds, and pecans.
Incredible, is all I can say.

 


 You will want to take your best friend to Mary Coyle's Ice Cream Parlour.

I have three best friends and I took one of them, Kristen, one of MY three bestest friends.

Across the street of Mary Coyle's is my favorite Mexican restaurant,
Sylvia's La Canasta
Where you will find the real taste of Mexican flavor.

Gracias por la visita.
Buen Provecho!
XOX


Blessings,
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