Encouraging Deep Roots

I feel like all I've done is post recipes lately, but I've come across a string of good ones that are worth sharing. This is what we had for dinner last night. Sloppy Chicken Combine all ingredients in crockpot: 6 cups diced cooked chicken 2 cups chopped celery 1 cup chopped onions 1 cup chopped green peppers 4 Tbsp. butter 2 cups ketchup 2 cups water 2 Tbsp. brown sugar 4 Tbsp. vinegar 2 tsp. dry mustard 1 tsp. pepper 1 tsp. salt Cover and cook on low for 8 hours. I served it on homemade Italian rolls and with a side salad. Enjoy!

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.'[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." Matthew 9: 10-12 If you were a first time visitor to our church and are used to a traditional setting, you will probably feel uncomfortable. We don't look like your normal church. In fact, we have quite a few messy people. In fact, our church might make you not want to come back. It's not a traditional church. We allow people to drink coffee during the service. We have an extended greeting time during the service that sometimes is difficult to get people to come back to the...

I have a large patch of rhubarb outside my door and I'm trying to use it up without constantly making pies. I found this recipe recently and it is very good. It's a moist, snack cake and it is very simple to make. Rhubarb Cake Cream together: 1 1/2 c. brown sugar 1/2 c. butter Then add and mix well: 1 t. vanilla 1 egg 1 c. buttermilk Add: 2 c. flour 1 t. baking soda Stir in: 2 c. rhubarb sliced thinly Spread in a 9x14 greased pan and sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes.

I found this recipe for granola bars and made them yesterday and let me just say, "YUMMO"! Every recipe I've ever tried is either too dry and falls apart or the children won't eat them. These were so delicious that I thought I'd share them with you. Chewy Granola Bars Mix together: 1 c. brown sugar 2/3 c. peanut butter (We have a severe peanut allergy here so I used soynut butter) 1/2 c. honey 1/2 c. melted butter 2 t. vanilla Then add: 3 c. oats 1/2 c. coconut 1/2 c. sunflower seeds 1/2 c. raisins 1/3 c. wheat germ 2 t. sesame seeds 1 c. chocolate chips I omitted the raisins, wheat germ and sesame seeds. I would imagine you could add any combination of seeds and nuts and dried fruit you wish. Stir in well. Then press into a greased sheet pan. Bake 20 minutes at 350. Cut while still warm, then let cool before serving. Enjoy!

My favorite time of the year has begun! I've been working the past few days to put out my autumn decorations. I don't have a lot of them and sometimes I think people overkill on the holiday decorations. However, I do have a few things that I do to make the house look like Fall. I make a centerpiece every year from things I just have around the house. I change the table runners to my autumn patterns. Garland. I put up my wreathes, door, and wall hangings. Add a pumpkin and a spray of leaves and viola! I'm done. Even Emily looked in the autumn mood this morning as she left for school.

I saw this plant by the corner of the house the other day and I have no idea what it is. Any ideas? Here is a closer view. I have never seen anything like it before. The only thing that is normally there during the summer is very tall blades of some sort of grass. Hopefully, someone can give me some ideas.

I made this a few weeks ago and it is delicious, especially with cream cheese and crackers. Hot Pepper Jelly 2/3 cup jalapeno peppers 1 bell pepper 1 1/2 cups white vinegar 6 cups sugar 2 packets of Sure Jell 1 teaspoon green food coloring 1. Chop peppers and put in blender with vinegar. 2. Blend well and pour into large boiler. 3. Add sugar and mix well. 4. Bring mixture to a rolling boil and boil for 1 minute. 5. Remove from heat, strain through sieve and return liquid back to a boil. 6. Boil for 5 minutes. 7. Remove from heat. 8. Add Sure Jell and food coloring quickly. 9. Put into prepared 6 (1/2 pint) jars and seal. 10. Boil in a hot water bath for 5 minutes.

I decided to make everyone happy this morning by making old-fashioned doughnuts. These are very easy to make and everyone loves them. Mix together: 2 eggs 1 c. sugar 1 t. salt 1 1/2 t. cream of tartar 1/4 t. ginger 1/2 t. cinnamon 1 t. nutmeg 1 t. vanilla 1/2 of a third cup filled with oil (the original recipe was double this, so this is it halved) Combine and add to the above mixture: 1 c. sour milk (1 T. vinegar added to sour the milk) 1 t. baking soda Stir in 4 cups of flour to make a dough easy to handle, but not too stiff. Roll out to 1/2 inch thick and cut with a doughnut cutter. Fry in hot oil (I have a deep fryer), turning after one minute until nicely brown. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with cinnamon & sugar. Enjoy!