Corn Pudding for 25

Ecclesiasates 7:8-9  The end of the matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride.  Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools.

We served this at our last Manna Meal  (Free Meal Program) and it was a big hit.  This is one of the best recipes that I have found.  You need a VERY large pan for this.  This would make three-four 9×13 pans.  Leave about an inch for this to rise when you fill the pan(s).

1 #10 can – large commercial size can of corn – drain if using regular corn and do not drain if using creamed corn (I used the regular corn)

1 quart milk  (4 cups)

10 whole eggs

4 oz. melted butter

1 pint (2 cups) bread crumbs – these should be fine

1 cup sour cream

salt and pepper to taste

Whisk the eggs in a bowl.  Add the milk and sour cream and mix.  Add the corn and butter and stir.  Add the remaining ingredients.  Place in a buttered (Pam coated) pan and bake at 350″ for 30-45 minutes.  The top should be browned and a knife inserted in the center should come out clean.  The smaller the pan the shorter the baking time. 

We served this with baked pork loin.  Great.

Retirement

Galatians 5:22-23  The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

Sorry I haven’t posted in so long.  Hubby decided mid-December to retire.  He had planned on retiring at the end of 2010, but some changes to the company’s pension plan and other rumored changes spurred him to retire this year.  When he retires we lose our vision and dental health coverage, SOOOOOO, I have been trying to get all the dental work done that I needed (three crowns) before the end of December and an eye exam.  UHG.  I don’t like going to the doctor, but this needed to be done, so I won’t have future problems. 

Tomorrow he is coming home and will finish up some paperwork on Thursday and then he is DONE.  For those of you who don’t know he has worked away from home (leaving on Monday and returning on Friday) for several years.  Living together again will definately be an adjustment for both of us.  We get alone great and I have really missed having him around, so I know we will get through this, but it will be different. 

The new year begins a new phase in our lives.  He has worked for 37 years.   We got married at the end of finals week in college (Thursday) and we both went to work on Monday.  We are both in good health (Thank God) and we hope to enjoy some of our retirement time. 

We are not fully retired since we have rental property and own a laundromat.  At least he will be home to help me with managing the rentals.  This year is a time to declutter and organize the house.  We have both been so busy that we have not had time to take care of our own house.  I began this week by cleaning out my office, filing, etc.  Hubby says the garage is his first project. 

We’ll keep you posted.

Chocolate Spoons

Isaiah 62:5  As a young man marries a maiden, so will your sons marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you.

These are sold in Gourmet Stores, but are so EASY you can do these at home.

Purchase melting wafers or bark from your local grocery or craft store.  I use basic white and milk chocolate, but you can use any color that you wish.

Use red, green or white spoons.  Have mini-marshmallows, crushed peppermint or mini-chocolate chips available.

You will also need plastic bags (sandwich size) that you can place melted chocolate into.

Melt the candy according to package directions.

Dip spoons into the chocolate to cover and place on parchment paper.

Top each spoon with marshamallows, crushed peppermint or additional chips while the spoons are still WARM.

Allow to harden.  Put topping into the sandwich bags.  Snip off a small part of one corner.  Drizzle the chocolate over the spoons.  Allow to harden.

You can wrap into sucker bags or simply wrap 3-4 together with plastic wrap. 

Package with Hot Chocolate Mix or flavored Coffee mix for a great holiday treat.  Hope you enjoy.

Rollout cookie – Christmas Cookies

Psalm 126  2-3  Our mouths are filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”  The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

These cookies are GREAT for making rollout cookies for cutting out to decorate.  I used this recipe for years when my children were young.  It is originally from a Wilton Cake decorating book.  There are cookies that are more flavorful, but these handle great and have good flavor.

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1/2 cup sugar

1 egg

Cream the above ingredients together.

2 tsp. baking powder

2 3/4 cups flour

Mix these together. 

1 tsp. flavoring – vanilla, lemon, almond – whatever you desire

Add the flavoring to the egg/sugar mixture.  Mix in the dry ingredients.  The dough will be stiff so you will probably have to mix this together by hand, unless you have a dough hook mixer. 

Roll out to 1/4 to 1/8 inch on lightly floured surface.  Dip cookie cutters into flour and cut dough into desired shaped. 

Carefully transfer shapes onto non-stick cookie sheet or one covered with parchment paper.

Bake at 400′ for 6-7 minues, or until lightly browned.  Cook and then frost with icing, sprinkles, etc.

Skiping CD’s and Splinters

Romans 8:25  If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

A couple of helpful hints that I heard this week.  I have not tested these, so I don’t know if they work, but they are cheap and would warrant an experiment.

Splinter in your child’s finger, etc.   -  Cut a small slice of onion (about the size of a stamp), place on the splinter and cover with a bandaid.  The chemical in the onion will draw the splinter to the surface so it can be removed easily.

Skipping DVD – place a small amount of toothpaste on the DVD.  Take a cottonball and work from the inside out in a circular motion to the outside of the DVD.  Wipe off the paste.  The toothpaste fills in the groves that makes the DVD skip.  According to the VIEW this will not harm your DVD player, but will fill in the scratches.

Let me know how these work.

Christmas is Coming

Zephaniah 3:17  The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

This is from a devotional under the heading of Joy.  At this wonderful season we should truly be experiencing Joy.

Thanksgiving is over and the shopping days until Christmas are numbered.   With “8″ grandchildren I will definately be doing some shopping.  I am also trying to shop for items that will make a difference in their lives:  educational type toys.  Of course you have to have some JOY also.  My oldest grandchild is 7, so they are all very young.  Last year we did some ornaments.  This was a tradition with my children as they got old enough to create things.  This year I hope to do the same.  The other tradition we had was decorating cookies.  We may try that this year also.  These memories are precious.  We still decorate the tree with the ornaments that our children made.

Try to incorporate some traditions this year in your family.  Remember the “Reason for the Season” – Jesus.  If you do not attend church services, consider doing so this year.  Having your family involved in a congregation gives them a wonderful sense of why they are here, the love of Jesus and a group of people who will love and nurture them.

Thanksgiving Posting

James 1:17  Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

As we prepare to have our annual Thanksgiving Celebration I thought I would share some recipes with you and yours.  This year we will be dining with our youngest son, his wife, three grandsons, her parents and brother.  Our other son and family will be traveling to his wife’s family in Indiana and our daughter and family are in Colorado. 

We prepared a Thanksgiving meal (Free Meal) for our church last Saturday with Turkey, Dressing, Mashed Potatoes/Gravy, Green Beans and Cranberry Salad.  We served 160+.

Menu this year will be:  Turkey/Dressing,  Mashed Potatoes/Gravy,  Sweet Potatoes,  Cranberry salad, Corn,  Green Bean Casserole, Tossed Salad,  Relish Tray,  Broccoli Salad, Yeast Rolls,  Pumpkin Cake,  Pecan Pie,  Apple Pie,  Angel Food Lemon Curd cake and who knows what else we will come up with.

Cranberry Salad

Drain crushed pineapple – save the juice

2 pkgs. cherry jello – 2 cups hot water – mix until dissolved and add 1/2 cup cold water and 1 cup of pineapple juice (add more water if you don’t have quite enough juice)

Let set in the fridge until it begins to set.

Add

1 pkg. cranberries – chopped

1 cup drained crushed pineapple

1 cup chopped celery

1/2 cup chopped nuts – optional

Pour into a mold and allow to chill overnight.  Unmold and serve.

Pumpkin Pie

1 3/4 cups pumpkin

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 t. salt

1 t. cinnamon

1/4 t. ginger

1/4 t. nutmeg

1/2 cup evaporated milk

2 eggs

1 8 inch pie shell

Mix all ingredients together and pour into the unbaked pie shell.  Bake at 450′ for 15 minutes and then reduce the heat to 350′.  Bake for 35 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and hope you enjoy these two recipes.

Chocolate Spoons

Psalm 97:11  Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart.

A great, gourmet and inexpensive gift.

Buy plastic spoons:  red, green or white

Melting chocolate wafers:  milk chocolate, white chocolate, green color, dark chocolate

Toppings:  Chopped peppermint, marshmallow, shaved chocolate, sprinkles, etc.

Melt the dipping wafers.  Dip the spoons into the mixture and allow to coat the entire spoon.  Place the spoon onto parchment paper or waxed paper.  Place peppermints, marshmallows into the bowl of the spoon while still wet.  Allow to set.  Drizzle other melted toppings of differing coloring onto the spoons.  Allow to set and package into individual bags or 4-6 spoons into a pretty bag.

Cracker Candy

Psalm 98:8  Let the rivers clay their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.

This is a recipe that my daughter-in-law brought from her relatives in Michigan.  I had never eaten this, but it is GREAT.  It is very easy and if you love sweet and salty you will love this simple candy.

1 Sleeve of saltine crackers ( I have seen recipes using graham crackers also)

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

12 ounces (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips

3/4 cups chopped nuts – optional

Preheat oven to 400′.  Line a 10/15 inch cookie sheet with foil.  Spray with cooking spray.  Cover the sheet with crackers.  Boil the sugar and butter for 3 minutes.  Pour the mixture over the crackers and spread evenly.  Bake at 400′ for 5 minutes.  Remove from the oven.  Sprinkle with the chocolate chips.  Let stand 1 minute and then spread the melted chips over the crackers with a spatula.  Sprinkle the nuts on top if desired.  Press down lightly.  Cool until firm and then break into pieces.

Mediteranean Dip

Jermiah 15:16  When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name.

My daughter-in-law prepares this often for Birthday parties.  I plan on making this for a Women’s Circle meeting on Thursday.  The amounts vary depending on how many people you are serving.  Place the ingredients onto a large plate or platter in the order given.  Serve with Pita Chips.  You can make these yourself or buy premade chips. 

First Layer — Hummus (make your own or your favorite flavor)

Second Layer — Feta Cheese – crumbled

Third Layer — Spinach – chopped fine or torn into small pieces

Fourth Layer — Cucumber – chopped, use English cucumbers or remove seeds from other cucumbers

Fifth Layer — Red Pepper – chopped fine

Sixth Layer — Tomatoes – chopped fine

Seventh Layer — Black Olives – sliced

This is a great fresh flavor to accompany a Pizza Party for the adults.