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.

Stillness

Be still, and know that I am God....~~ Psalm 46:10 KJV ~~ 

 Are you so busy that you rush through the day with scarcely a single moment for quiet contemplation and prayer? If so, it's time to reorder your priorities. 

 If we are to maintain righteous minds and compassionate hearts, we must take time each day for prayer and for meditation. 

We must make ourselves still in the presence of our Creator. 

We must quiet our minds and our hearts so that we might sense God's will, God's love, and God's Son. 

Has the busy pace of life robbed you of the peace that might otherwise be yours through Jesus Christ? Nothing is more important than the time you spend with your Savior. 

So be still and claim the inner peace that is your spiritual birthright: the peace of Jesus Christ.

 A Woman of Prayer - 365 daily devotions, Freeman-Smith LLC, Publisher

Lemon Bar Trifle

Ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup butter, melted

LEMON LAYER:

1-1/2 cups sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1-3/4 cups cold water
3 egg yolks, beaten
2/3 cup lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter
4 teaspoons grated lemon peel



CREAM CHEESE LAYER:

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 carton (8 ounces) frozen whipped topping, thawed

Directions: In a small bowl, combine flour and pecans; stir in butter. Press into an ungreased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for 18-20 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.

In a small heavy saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and flour. Stir in water until smooth. Cook and stir over medium-high heat until thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Stir a small amount of hot mixture into egg yolks; return all to the pan, stirring constantly. Bring to a gentle boil; cook and stir 2 minutes longer. Remove from the heat. Gently stir in the lemon juice, butter and lemon peel. Transfer to a bowl. Cool to room temperature without stirring. Cover surface with waxed paper; refrigerate until chilled.

In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Crumble the baked pecan mixture; set aside 1/2 cup for topping. Just before serving, in a 3-qt. trifle bowl, layer 1 cup each pecan mixture, lemon mixture and cream cheese mixture. Repeat layers twice. Sprinkle with reserved pecan mixture. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield: 9 servings.

BBQ Chicken and Strawberry Salad

Ingredients
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves
(1 lb.) 1/2 cup KRAFT Original Barbecue Sauce
1 pkg. (10 oz.) mixed salad greens
2 cups fresh strawberries, cut in half
1/2 cup sliced red onions
1/2 cup KRAFT Light Ranch Dressing

Directions

HEAT greased grill to medium-high heat.

GRILL chicken 10 min. on each side or until done (170F), turning and brushing occasionally with barbecue sauce. Cut into strips.

COVER plate with greens; top with berries, onions and chicken.

TOP with dressing.

NotesKraft Kitchens Tips:

Substitute - Substitute blueberries or blackberries for the halved strawberries.

Special Extra - Brush French bread slices with KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade. Add to grill for the last few minutes of the chicken grilling time. Grill until toasted on both sides. Serve with the salad.

A New Sense of Joy

Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light. ~~ Matthew 11:29-30 ~~  

Even the most inspired Christian women can, from time to time, find themselves running on empty. 

The demands of daily life can drain us of our strength and rob us of the joy that is rightfully ours in Christ. 

Are you tired or troubled? Turn your heart toward God in prayer. Are you weak or worried? Take the time -- or, more accurately, make the time -- to delve deeply into God's Holy Word. 

 Are you spiritually depleted? Call upon fellow believers to support you, and call upon Christ to renew your spirit and your life. When you do, you'll discover that the Creator of the universe stands always ready and always able to create a new sense of wonderment and joy in you. 

But while relaxation is one thing, refreshment is another.We need to drink frequently and at length from God's fresh springs, to spend time in the Scripture, time in fellowship with Him, time worshiping Him. ~~ Ruth Bell Graham ~~

Do You Need Wisdom?

James 1:5 

 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.

Balance

by Charles R. Swindoll 1 Kings 9:3-5 

Both adversity and prosperity confront our equilibrium, but prosperity is perhaps the more challenging test. 

Today we look at another biblical person who rose to the top and kept his balance. The classic example is David. According to the last three verses of Psalm 78: [God] also chose David His servant And took him from the sheepfolds; From the care of the ewes with suckling lambs He brought him To shepherd Jacob His people, And Israel His inheritance. So he shepherded them according to the integrity of his heart,And guided them with his skillful hands.(Psalm 78:70-72, emphasis added) 

As Jehovah scanned the Judean landscape in search of Saul's successor, He found a youth in his mid-teens who possessed a unique combination: the humility of a servant, the heart of a shepherd, and the hands of skill. And by his thirtieth birthday, Jesse's youngest son held the premier office in the nation. King. At his fingertips were a vast treasury, unlimited privileges, and enormous power. And how did he handle such prosperity?

Read that final verse again. He shepherded the nation "according to the integrity of his heart." In spite of his limitations and imperfections, he was one of the few who passed the test of prosperity. 

Are you? If so, when you give your word, you do it. Exactly as you said you would. Because integrity means you are verbally trustworthy. Furthermore, when bills come due, you pay them. Because integrity means you are financially dependable. Also, when you're tempted to mess around with an illicit affair, you resist. Because integrity means you are morally pure. You don't fudge because you're able to cover your tracks. Neither do you fake it because you're now a big shot. 

Being successful doesn't give anybody the right to call wrong right. Or the okay to say something's okay if it isn't okay. Adversity or prosperity, both are tough tests on our balance. To stay balanced through prosperity---ah, that demands integrity. The swift wind of compromise is a lot more devastating than the sudden jolt of misfortune. That's why walking on a wire is harder than standing up in a storm. Height has a strange way of disturbing our balance.  

Excerpted from Come Before Winter and Share My Hope, Copyright © 1985, 1994 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission