Chicken Salad with Grapes and Pecans

"This recipe was inspired by a favorite dish served at the former Sweetbriar restaurant in Gadsden, Alabama," says reader Linda Banning. Serve it with assorted crackers and grapes for a filling lunch or a delicious brunch contribution.

Yield: Makes 4 servings

Ingredients
1/2 cup light or regular mayonnaise
1/2 cup light or regular sour cream
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 pounds skinned and boned chicken breasts, cooked and chopped
3 cups red and white seedless grapes, halved
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
Lettuce leaves (optional)

Preparation
1. Stir together 1/2 cup mayonnaise and next 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Add chopped chicken and grapes, tossing gently to coat. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Stir in pecans just before serving. Serve in stemware lined with lettuce leaves, if desired.

Linda Banning, Decatur, Alabama, Southern Living, AUGUST 2006

Cream Cheese Brownies

Courtesy of Cooking Light Magazine

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1 brownie)

Ingredients
Filling:
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup (3 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg white

Brownies:
Cooking spray
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup sugar
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup butter or stick margarine, melted
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large egg
2 large egg whites
3 tablespoons raspberry preserves

Preparation: Preheat oven to 350°.

To prepare the filling, beat the first 5 ingredients at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended, and set aside.

To prepare the brownies, coat the bottom of an 8-inch baking pan with cooking spray (do not coat the sides of the pan). Lightly spoon 3/4 cup flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl. Combine 1 cup sugar and the next 6 ingredients (1 cup sugar through the 2 egg whites), stirring well with a whisk. Add to the flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Spread two-thirds of batter in bottom of prepared pan.

Pour filling over batter, spreading evenly. Carefully drop the remaining batter and preserves by spoonfuls over filling; swirl together using the tip of a knife to marble. Bake at 350° for 40 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out almost clean. Cool on a wire rack.

James 5:16

James 5:16 (King James Version)

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Life, Love, Chocolate

An entry I read on a favorite blog caught my eye. It was the morning of his ninth wedding anniversary. Not having a lot of money, the writer ran out to get his wife, Heidi, their favorite French pastry—pain au chocolate. 

After sprinting several miles, he arrived home, exhausted, to find her in the kitchen just pulling a chocolate-filled croissant out of the oven. It was pain au chocolat. 

 That husband, Jeff, compared his life with Heidi to the lives of the people in O. Henry’s short story “Gift of the Magi.” It tells of a man who sold his lone possession of value—a pocket watch—to buy hair combs for his wife, who had sold her long, beautiful hair to buy a gold chain for his watch. Having no money concerns would be great—but realizing the immeasurable value of the people we care about is more important. 

We sometimes need a reminder that acquiring “things” is not nearly as important as appreciating the people God has placed in our lives. When we practice putting others’ interests before our own (Phil. 2:3-4), we learn what it means to love, serve, and sacrifice. 

In fact, that’s how we pattern Christ in our relationships (Eph. 5:1-2). Life, love, and chocolate taste better when shared with others. — Cindy Hess Kasper 

 I want to share with those I love The highest joy I’m thinking of, Not just what brightens all their days But what will give God highest praise. —Hess 

Love is never afraid of giving too much Courtesy of Our Daily Bread

25 Secrets of Endless Love

1. We remember the moments in life, not the days.
2. Face-to-face conversations don't work by phone.
3. Gifts are not a substitute for caring.
4. People are not yo-yos. Drop them, and they may not return.
5. When kids are ready to talk, be ready to listen.
6. An ounce of love outweighs a pound of promises.
7. You can prepare your children for life, but you can't live it for them.
8. Uncles and aunts are the parents who didn't give birth to you.
9. A strong marriage is the union of two staunch individualists.
10. Turning your back and walking away ends more than just a conversation.
11. Marrying for money is a high price to pay.
12. Yell at your children and get the same in return.
13. If you take things for granted, you won't have them for very long.
14. Caring should be demonstrated 365 days a year, not just on holidays.
15. A well-fed child can still be starved for affection.
16. The most important things a child can inherit are fond memories.
17. Sharing an hour of memories with an elder is often better than a week's worth of medicine.
18. The two greatest time savers are saying, "I don't know" and "I was wrong."
19. Watch your children grow, and they will teach you what you've taught them.
20. Never go to bed before settling an argument.
21. There's a difference between nurturing your children and smothering them.
22. Relationships are built on the little things.
23. If we give our children everything, we deprive them of aspirations.
24. Celebrate holidays as a family.
25. Never stop courting your spouse.