Pumpkin Bread

1 1/2 c. canned pumpkin
1/2 c. oil
1/3 c. water
2 eggs
1 1/4 c. sugar
1 3/4 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. raisins (optional)
1/2 c. chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Stir pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs together.  In another bowl, mix sugar, flour, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Combine the two mixtures.  Stir in raisins and pecans, if desired.  Pour into 2 loaf pans or an 8x8 baking dish.  Bake for ~45 minutes. 

*Best if served warm!  I like to serve this with honey butter.

Cincinnati Chili

Cincinnati Chili (or Skyline Chili) is a favored dish in Ohio.  This recipe came from a lady in the church that my husband grew up in.  I first ate this while visiting with his parents and became a fan of this unique creation right away!  Don't let the ingredients overwhelm you.  This may start off as an expensive dish, but once you have the spices, it takes several dishes before you have to restock them.  I hope you will enjoy this dish as much as we do!  

3-4 c. Water

2 lbs. ground beef

1 T. unsweetened chocolate

2 T. vinegar 

1 medium onion, finely chopped 

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce 

4 cloves garlic, minced 

1 1/2 tsp. salt 

16 oz.tomato sauce 

1 tsp. cinnamon 

1/2 tsp.ground cumin

4 T. Chili powder 

5 whole Allspice                  

5 whole cloves

1 large bay leaf

Boil ground beef in water in a 4 qt. pot.  Stir until fine texture.  Boil slowly for 30 minutes.  Drain water off beef, add 3-4 c. fresh water along with the next 11 ingredients.  Stir.  Place Allspice, cloves, and bay leaf in a cheesecloth or tea ball before adding to chili.  Bring to a boil; reduce heat, simmer uncovered for 3 hrs.  Pot may be covered the last hour if desired consistency is reached.  Serve over cooked angel hair pasta.  Top with cheese and chopped onions, if desired. 

Five Minute Chocolate Cake (Coffee Mug Cake)

On Monday afternoons, the kids and I are a part of a local home school co-op.  For the past several weeks, they have been learning about Africa, manners and etiquette, and practicing cooking skills.  Today, we combined the three skills and had an "African dish" lunch!  Late last evening, I found this South African dessert dish which was quick, easy, and delicious!  Because of it's simplicity and taste, I thought you all would enjoy it as much as we did!

Five Minute Chocolate Cake  (Coffee Mug Cake)

 4 T. all purpose flour
 4 T. sugar 
 2 T. cocoa
 pinch of salt
 1 egg
 3 T. milk
 3 T. oil
 3 T. chocolate  (chocolate chips or grated chocolate candy bar) - optional
 splash of vanilla
 1 large coffee mug, soup mug, or 2 souffle cups sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

 Place the dry ingredients in the mug and mix well.
 Add the egg and mix thoroughly. 
 Pour in the milk and oil and again, mix well.
 Add the chocolate (if using) and the vanilla, then mix again.
 
 Put the mug in the microwave and cook for 2 minutes on high.  Allow to cool for a few minutes and then tip onto a plate.  Enjoy!

 Variations:  Use dark chocolate or drizzle with chocolate syrup & powder sugar.

Chocolate Streusal Bars

1 2/3 c. flour                                              1 egg
1 c. sugar                                                  1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/4 c. cocoa                                              12 oz. chocolate chips
1/2 c. butter, softened

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 pan.  Mix flour, sugar, cocoa, butter and egg; cutting butter mixture to make coarse crumbs.  Reserve 1 1/2c. mixture.  Put the rest into pan and press down.  Bake 10 minutes.  Melt 1c. chocolate chips and sweet milk in microwave (1-2 min.).  Melt until smooth when stirred.  Pour over baked crust.  Add rest of chips to the reserved crumb mixture.  Sprinkle over top.  Bake 25 min. or until center is almost set.  Cool completely. 

Enchiladas

I've had many requests for more recipes, so I thought I'd get busy during my break this morning and post two!  This particular recipe was given to me by my mother-in-law and it is a family favorite.  I have also copied this recipe on several occasions for friends and family and they too are enjoying it.  If you're having friends over for dinner, and they like Mexican food, this dish is an excellent choice as it involves very little clean up and provides you more time to spend with them after dinner.  I serve corn as a side dish with this meal, and the next recipe I'll post (Chocolate Streusel Bars) makes a great dessert to go with it.  I hope you'll enjoy this as much as we do!

Enchiladas

2 lbs. beef                                                                    1/2 lb. Monterrey Jack cheese
onion                                                                           1/2 lb. cheddar cheese
garlic powder                                                                flour tortillas
1 1/2 T. chili powder                                                      2 cans enchilada sauce (I use mild)
1/2 T. cumin                                                                1 can mushroom soup
1 can black beans (rinsed and drained)

Brown beef, onion, garlic powder, chili powder, and cumin.  Drain.  In a separate bowl, whisk together the enchilada sauce and mushroom soup.  Set aside.  Add beans, half of the cheese, and 1/4 of the sauce to the meat.  Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non stick cooking spray.  (I use glass.)  Pour 1/2 of the remaining sauce mixture into the bottom of the baking dish.  Now roll the meat mixture into the flour tortillas being careful not to over stuff the tortilla shells.  As you roll them, lay them into the baking dish so they touch tightly.  (When you are finished, they will be covered with sauce and cheese and you will slice them, so don't worry about trying to figure out how you're gonna get each individual one out of the dish.)  Top the rolled enchiladas with the remaining sauce and cheese.  Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbly. 

Hint:  To prepare ahead of time, you can roll them, leave the sauce and cheese off of the top, cover and refrigerate.  When you're ready to bake them, cover them with the sauce and cheese.  If you choose to do this, I recommend sitting them out for 30 minutes prior to baking and allowing a longer baking time as they will be cold.  Also, if you choose this method, it is best to NOT use a glass baking dish unless you allow it to come to room temperature before baking as you will run the risk of it cracking and breaking.  My sister-in-laws have prepared this and frozen it as to have a meal ready when the day does not allow for much cooking time. 

The Struggle With Sin Romans 7:15-20

Anne of Green Gables is one of my all time favorite movies.  She goes from being an unwanted orphan to a beloved daughter, friend, teacher, and wife.  Along the way, Anne had many lessons to learn.  She had a problem with controlling her temper and holding grudges.  Ouch!  One of the reasons I am drawn to her character is because she demonstrates many of the qualities I possess.  At one point in the movie, Anne is reminded by her school teacher of something she had once quoted.  "Tomorrow is always fresh with no mistakes in it." 

Too often, I "lose it".  I allow things to frustrate me, and my response is either to blow it or bury it (until I eventually blow it).  Why do I continue to struggle with this sin?  Can't I just acknowledge it, confess it, and ask God to zap it away?  Why does it have to be so hard?  Oftentimes, even after I have dealt with an issue, I will continue to beat myself up over past regrets and try to work so hard to "fix" it.  Then there is yet another sin to be dealt with... pride!  For when I think I have it under control and try to handle it in my own power, I have become prideful.  It is only through His strength that we are made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). 

Paul reminds us in Romans 7, that sin is a struggle.  It always will be!  But if we are saved, we have a new desire.  We love God's Word and hate our sin.  We stand before Him blameless.  Through Jesus, not by our own works, we are clean.  Our salvation is not dependant upon us, but Him.  Yes, we will struggle.  But praise be to God we do not live under condemnation anymore.  (Romans 8:1)

This week, I have had to remind myself that each day is precious.  How I spend each day counts!  The love I show (or don't show), the people I minister to (or choose not to minister to), the attitude I carry (good or bad), is the only memory I will leave behind.  Do others see Jesus in me? 

Remember... no matter what you've done or where you've been, "Tomorrow is always fresh, with no mistakes in it."

Enjoy this video as you remember that each day is a precious gift from God.
This Day

Surgery postponed!

I mentioned in my last blog about our daughter having to undergo foot surgery to correct a bunion on both of her feet.  We went Thursday for a second opinion, and this Dr. wants us to wait and check her again in 12 months.  He showed us in her x-rays where her growth plates were not fully fused and cautioned the surgery at this time may lead to another surgery later in life.  During the next 12 months, the appearance of her feet may worsen, along with the pain.  But we trust this opinion and will wait to be reevaluated in a year.  Thank you for all of your calls, texts, and emails concerning this situation.  Your prayers and encouragement mean more than you'll ever know.