Blueberry Crumb Cake

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Courtesy of Barefoot Contessa  

For the streusel: 

1/4 cup granulated sugar 

1/3 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed 

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 

1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg 

1/4 pound (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour  

For the cake: 

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature (3/4 stick) 

3/4 cup granulated sugar 

2 extra-large eggs, at room temperature 

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 

1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest 

2/3 cup sour cream 

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 

1 teaspoon baking powder 

1/4 teaspoon baking soda 

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt 

1 cup fresh blueberries 

Confectioners' sugar for sprinkling  

 

Directions: 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour a 9-inch round baking pan. For the streusel: Combine the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Stir in the melted butter and then the flour. Mix well and set aside.  

For the cake: Cream the butter and sugar in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment on high speed for 4 to 5 minutes, until light. Reduce the speed to low and add the eggs 1 at a time, then add the vanilla, lemon zest, and sour cream. In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture to the batter until just combined. Fold in the blueberries and stir with a spatula to be sure the batter is completely mixed. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan and spread it out with a knife. With your fingers, crumble the topping evenly over the batter. Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until a cake tester comes out clean. Cool completely and serve sprinkled with confectioners' sugar.

Parmesan Chicken

6 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 extra-large eggs

1 tablespoon water

1 1/4 cups seasoned dry bread crumbs

1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus extra for serving

Unsalted butter

Good olive oil

Salad greens for 6, washed and spun dry

1 recipe Lemon Vinaigrette, recipe follows

Directions: Pound the chicken breasts until they are 1/4-inch thick. You can use either a meat mallet or a rolling pin.

Combine the flour, salt and pepper on a dinner plate. On a second plate, beat the eggs with 1 tablespoon of water. On a third plate, combine the bread crumbs and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan. Coat the chicken breasts on both sides with the flour mixture, then dip both sides into the egg mixture and dredge both sides in the bread-crumb mixture, pressing lightly.

Heat 1 tablespoon of butter and 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saute pan and cook 2 or 3 chicken breasts on medium-low heat for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until cooked through. Add more butter and oil and cook the rest of the chicken breasts.

Toss the salad greens with lemon vinaigrette. Place a mound of salad on each hot chicken breast. Serve with extra grated Parmesan.

Lemon Vinaigrette:

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (2 lemons)

1/2 cup good olive oil

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions: In a small bowl, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
Yield: 6 servings

Does God Still Speak?

A young man had been to Wednesday night Bible Study. The Pastor had shared about listening to God and obeying the Lord's voice. The young man couldn't help but wonder, "Does God still speak to people?" 

 

 After service he went out with some friends for coffee and pie and they discussed the message. Several different ones talked about how God had led them in different ways. It was about ten o'clock when the young man started driving home. 

 

Sitting in his car, he just began to pray,"God. . . If you still speak to people, speak to me. I will listen. I will do my best to obey." 

 

As he drove down the main street of his town, he had the strangest thought, stop and buy a gallon of milk. He shook his head and said out loud, "God is that you?"He didn't get a reply and started on toward home. But again, the thought, buy a gallon of milk. 

 

The young man thought about Samuel and how he didn't recognize the voice of God, and how little Samuel ran to Eli." Okay, God, in case that is you, I will buy the milk."It didn't seem like too hard a test of obedience. He could always use the milk. 

 

He stopped and purchased the gallon of milk and started off toward home. As he passed Seventh street, he again felt the urge, "Turn down that street."This is crazy he thought and drove on past the intersection. Again, he felt that he should turn down seventh street. At the next intersection, he turned back and headed down Seventh. Half jokingly, he said out loud, "Okay, God, I will." 

 

He drove several blocks, when suddenly, he felt like he should stop. He pulled over to the curb and looked around. He was in a semi-commercial area of town. It wasn't the best but it wasn't the worst of neighborhoods either. The businesses were closed and most of the houses looked dark like the people were already in bed. Again, he sensed something, "Go and give the milk to the people in the house across the street."The young man looked at the house. It was dark and it looked like the people were either gone or they were already asleep. He started to open the door and then sat back in the car seat. "Lord, this is insane. Those people are asleep and if I wake them up, they are going to be mad and I will look stupid."

 

Again, he felt like he should go and give the milk. Finally, he opened the door, "Okay God, if this is you, I will go to the door and I will give them the milk. If you want me to look like a crazy person, okay. I want to be obedient. I guess that will count for something but if they don't answer right away, I am out of here." He walked across the street and rang the bell. He could hear some noise inside. A man's voice yelled out, "Who is it? What do you want?" Then the door opened before the young man could get away. The man was standing there in his jeans and t-shirt. He looked like he just got out of bed. He had a strange look on his face and he didn't seem too happy to have some stranger standing on his doorstep. "What is it?" The young man thrust out the gallon of milk, "Here, I brought this to you." 

 

The man took the milk and rushed down a hall way speaking loudly in Spanish. Then from down the hall came a woman carrying the milk toward the kitchen. The man was following her holding a baby. The baby was crying. The man had tears streaming down his face. The man began speaking and half crying,"We were just praying. We had some big bills this month and we ran out of money. We didn't have any milk for our baby. I was just praying and asking God to show me how to get some milk." 

 

His wife in the kitchen yelled out, "I ask him to send an Angel with some...Are you an Angel?" 

 

The young man reached into his wallet and pulled out all the money he had on him and put in the man's hand. He turned and walked back toward his car and the tears were streaming down his face. 

 

He knew that God still answers prayers and that God still speaks to His people. God talks to us daily! We are to be in obedience unto the functioning of the Holy Spirit. When God speaks to your heart of hearts, obey, for in your sacrifice of obedience, God rewards you bountifully! Praise God, for every opportunity to be used of Him, for He is Faithful to answer prayers of those who seek Him. Author Unknown

In the Time of Trouble

Cast your burden on the Lord,and He shall sustain you.~~ Psalm 55:22 ~~ 

Years ago I came across this oft-quoted prayer: "God grant me the serenity to accept things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference." 

This prayer expresses an important thought; one we should all pray -- and live. Some things in life cannot be changed -- and some can. Some things God has given to us as fixed realities that we must accept. And some things He would have us not accept but (with His help) work to change. 

If we fail to do both of these -- to accept some things and work to change others -- we will end up burdened with worry, undeserved guilt, and frustration. 

Someone once said, "Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it comes due." Instead, God would have us learn to trust Him. "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you."The Reverend Billy Graham in Hope for Each Day - Words of Wisdom and Faith, J. Country, Publisher

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalms 34:8

Shepherd's Pie

Recipe courtesy of Paula Deen

1 small onion

1 1/2 pounds ground beef

2 (8-ounce) cans tomato sauce

1 1/2 cups mixed vegetables or niblet corn

Salt and freshly ground black pepper

8 to 10 medium red new potatoes

1 1/2 cups milk

12 tablespoons butter

1/2 cup sour cream

2 cups instant biscuit mix

Beef Layer: Saute onions in 2 tablespoons butter. Add ground beef. After beef is browned, add tomato sauce; Mix in vegetables. Add salt and pepper, to taste.

Potato Layer: Peel and slice potatoes 1/4-inch thick. Cook in boiling water for approximately 15 minutes or until fork-tender. Whip potatoes with electric mixer; mix until moderately smooth. Don't over beat them; a few lumps are nice. Add 1/2 cup heated milk, 1/2 cup butter, and sour cream. Salt and pepper, to taste. Whip until mixed. Adjust thickness by adding more milk, if desired.

Biscuit Layer: Combine biscuit mix and 1 cup milk. The mix should be thinner than normal biscuit mix but not runny.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 9 by 9 by 2-inch pan, or any similar casserole dish. Layer half way up with the mashed potatoes. Next, spread a layer of mixed vegetables or niblet corn on top of potatoes. Then add a layer of the meat. Pour biscuit mix over meat. Melt 4 tablespoons of butter and drizzle over top. Bake for approximately 35 to 45 minutes until top is golden brown.

Note: Leftovers make this dish easy to put together. So if you have leftover pork roast or beef roast with gravy and mashed potatoes from Sunday dinner then this is an easy mid- week meal that will take only a few minutes.

Which Way to Go, Lord?

God wants you to know exactly where you're going in life. He doesn't want you to stumble around, unsure of whether the steps you are taking are the right ones. Instead, He desires that you have crystal-clear spiritual hearing so you can receive specific instructions regarding the path He wants you to take in life. In other words, God wants you to stop and ask Him for directions daily! Like the prophet Jeremiah, you have a God-given mission (Jeremiah 1:4-10; 29:11). 

The key to carrying out the mission, or vision, God has given you is your ability to receive directions from Him and your willingness to immediately obey what He tells you to do. God wants to give you detailed instructions about which way to go as well as every situation that concerns you. He doesn't just want to deal with you in vague impressions either, but in specifics. When you increase your awareness of God's voice, you position yourself to step right into His perfect will for your life. Proverbs 6:23 says, "For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life." 

God's directions give light to your vision. They are the steps you must take to accomplish His master plan for your life. The greatest asset you have as a Believer is an unbroken connection with God. Through daily fellowship with Him and the study of His Word, you empower yourself to recognize His voice and obey Him in even the smallest act. 

Like pieces of a puzzle, each step you take gradually enables you to see the bigger picture. The will of God for your life is not something that is handed to you on a silver platter-you must discover what God desires for you to accomplish. That means quality time communing with Him and making His Word the final authority in every area of your life. 

Being born again is the prerequisite to discovering your God-given assignment. Accepting Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior is the doorway to your destiny. Without Him guiding you, you won't reach your final destination. But once you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and begin seeking Him daily, He will begin revealing your purpose to you. 

In locating your purpose, consider those things for which you have a passion. What attributes and characteristics do others consistently notice about you? 

Determine the abilities God has given you and the areas in which you get consistent results. These are signposts to help point you in the direction of your destiny. 

The Holy Spirit will guide you into all truth, including what it is you are supposed to be doing. The apostle Paul said, "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain" (1 Corinthians 9:24). 

There is a set race for you to run, and God wants you to discover it. Make a concerted effort to pray and yield to His instructions daily. Before long, you will find yourself walking in your divine destiny! Author: Dr. Creflo A. Dollar

Creamy Cheddar Soup

1 small onion, diced
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups chicken stock
1 1/2 cups cream
3/4 cup grated sharp Cheddar
1/2 cup green onions
Salt and black
pepper Dash cayenne pepper, optional
Suggested Serving: your favorite bread or croutons

Directions: In a saucepan, saute onion and pimentos in butter for 5 to 7 minutes. Blend in flour. Add stock and cream. Cook until thick. Add cheese and stir until melted. Add 1/4 cup green onions, salt and pepper, to taste, and cayenne if desired. Garnish with remaining green onions.

The Scrap Heap

You perhaps recall the story of the blacksmith who gave his heart to Jesus. Though living a more Godly life, still he was not prospering materially. In fact, it seems that from the time of his conversion more trouble, affliction and loss were sustained than ever before. Everything seemed to be going wrong. 

 One day a friend who was not a Christian stopped by to talk to him awhile. Sympathizing with him in some of his trials, the friend said,"It seems strange to me that so many afflictions should pass over you just at the time when you have become an earnest Christian. Of course, I don't want to weaken your faith in God or anything like that. But here you are, with God's help and guidance, and yet things seem to be getting steadily worse. I can't help wondering why that is." 

The blacksmith did not answer immediately, and it was evident that he had thought the same question before. But finally, he said, "You see here the raw iron which I have to make into horse's shoes. You know what I do with it? I take a piece and heat it in the fire until it is red, almost white with the heat. Then I hammer it unmercifully to shape it as I know it should be shaped. Then I plunge it into a pail of cold water to temper it. Then I heat it again and hammer it some more. And this I do until it is finished." 

"But sometimes I find a piece of iron that won't stand up under this treatment. The heat and the hammering and the cold water are too much for it. I don't know why it fails in the process, but I know it will never make a good horse's shoe." He pointed to a heap of scrap iron that was near the door of his shop. "When I get a piece that cannot take the shape and temper, I throw it out on the scrap heap. It will never be good for anything." 

He went on, "I know that God has been holding me in the fires of affliction and I have felt His hammer upon me. But I don't mind, if only He can bring me to what I should be. And so, in all these hard things my prayer is simply this: Try me in any way you wish, Lord; only don't throw me on the scrap heap."

Excited About the Opportunities

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.~~ Romans 15:13 NIV ~~ 

Are you excited about the opportunities of today and thrilled by the possibilities of tomorrow? Do you confidently expect God to lead you to a place of abundance, peace, and joy? And, when your days on earth are over, do you expect to receive the priceless gift of eternal life? 

If you trust God's promises, and if you have welcomed God's Son into your heart, then you believe that your future is intensely and eternally bright. Today, as you prepare to meet the duties of everyday life, pause and consider God's promises. And then think for a moment about the wonderful future that awaits all believers, including you. God has promised that your future is secure. Trust that promise, and celebrate the life of abundance and eternal joy that is now yours through Christ. Every day we live is a priceless gift of God,loaded with possibilities to learn something new,to gain fresh insights.~~ Dale Evans Rogers

Time

Time waits for no one... Imagine there is a bank which credits your account each morning with $86,400. It carries over no balance from day to day, allows you to keep no cash balance, and every evening cancels whatever part of the amount you failed to use during the day. 

What would you do? Draw out every cent of course!! 

Well, Everyone has such a bank. It's name is TIME. Every morning, it credits you with 86, 400 seconds. Every night, it writes off, as lost, wherever of this you have failed to invest to good purpose. It carries over no balance, It allows no overdraft. 

Each day it opens a new account for you, Each night it burns the remains of the day. If you fail to use the day's deposits, the loss is yours!There is no going back! There is no drawing against the "tomorrow". You must live in the present on today's deposits.

Invest it so as to get from it the utmost in health, happiness and sucess! The clock is running. Make the most of today. To realize the value of ONE YEAR, ask a student who has failed a grade. 

To realize the value of ONE MONTH, ask a mother who has given birth to a pre-mature baby. 

To realize the value of ONE WEEK, ask an editor of a weekly newspaper. 

To realize the value of ONE DAY, ask a daily wage labourer who has kids to feed. To realize the value of ONE HOUR, ask the sweethearts who are waiting to meet. 

To realize the value of ONE MINUTE, ask a person who missed the train. To realize the value of ONE SECOND, ask a person who avoided an accident. 

To realize the value of ONE MILLISECOND, ask the person who won a silver medal in the Olympics. Treasure EVERY moment you have and treasure it more because you shared it with someone special, special enough to spend your time... And remember.... That time waits for no one! Yesterday is history, Tomorrow a mystery, Today is a Gift That's why it's called the Present! Author Unknown

Psalm 63:7

Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Psalm 63:7

Hang On

Are you hanging on by your fingernails, dear one? Because God is who He is, because our times are in His hands, I have to tell you not to give up. Don't "get on with your life." Wait, wait, I say, for the lord, for His direction, His solution. He's never late. Kay Arthur

Isaiah 49:14-15

Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, they may forget, yet will I not forget thee. Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands;

Classic Sour Cream Coffee Cake

Filling
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Coffee Cake
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
3/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups sour cream

Light Brown Glaze
1/4 cup butter or margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 to 2 tablespoons milk

Directions: Heat oven to 350ºF. Grease 12-cup fluted tube cake pan or 10-inch angel food (tube) cake pan. In small bowl, mix all Filling ingredients; set aside.

In medium bowl, mix flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt; set aside. In large bowl, beat granulated sugar, 3/4 cup butter, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla and the eggs with electric mixer on medium speed 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Beat in flour mixture alternately with sour cream on low speed.

Spread 1/3 of the batter (about 2 cups) in pan; sprinkle with 1/3 of the Filling (about 6 tablespoons). Repeat twice.

Bake about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Cool 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, in 1 1/2-quart saucepan, heat 1/4 cup butter over medium heat until very light brown; remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Stir in milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, until glaze is smooth and thin enough to drizzle. Drizzle cake with glaze.

Psalms 27

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 

When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 

Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 

One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 

For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 

And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. 

Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 

Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 

Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 

I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Psalms 128:1

Blessed is everyone that feareth the Lord; that walketh in his ways. Psalms 128:1