Recipe Monday: Pumpkin Cheesecake

I love fall.

Seriously, I do.  To me, it is the best season of the year.  And no, not just because my birthday is in October.  There is just something simply magical about the crisp air in the morning, leaves turning a myriad of reds, golds, and browns.  It doesn't surprise me at all that I fell madly and deeply in love with my now husband during the fall of 2005... it was inevitable!

So in the light of celebrating fall, here is another pumpkin recipe!

Pumpkin Cheesecake

Ingredients:
1 graham cracker crust
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
3 egg yolks
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground mace
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese
3/8 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract

Directions:
1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2.  Combine 3/4 cup of the white sugar, the pumpkin, 3 egg yolks, ground cinnamon, ground mace, ground ginger and salt in a medium bowl (or if you don't have the individual spices, use pumpkin pie spice). Mix well, and set aside.
3.  Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until light and fluffy; gradually add 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons white sugar and mix well. Add the whole egg, remaining egg yolk and the whipping cream, beating well. Add cornstarch and vanilla and lemon flavorings, beat batter until smooth. Add pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour batter into the prepared pan. 
4. Bake for 50 to 55 minutes. Do not overbake. Center may be soft but it will firm up when chilled. Let cheesecake cool on a wire rack, then refrigerate.

Someone Doesn't Like Me

My super-wise mother shared this with me a few weeks ago, and I had to re-read it last night after dealing with the frustrating part of being a pastor's wife (it's true - it's not all unicorns and glitter!).  I am inclined to agree with the thought of mind that some have that being a pastor's wife is just as much as a calling as a pastor, though our ministry is different.  Anyway, it was good enough I had to share it!

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Someone Doesn't Like Me by Cecil Murphey

Across the street lives a neighbor with whom I had a minor run-in last year. Since then, she doesn't "see" me when we pass each other in the neighborhood. If her husband stops to talk to me, she keeps walking.

She doesn't like me and probably never will. I figured out long ago that there will always be a few people who probably won't ever like me.

That's true with all of us: Some people don't like us. Won't like us. Ever. Often we don't know the reason.


I've tried to engage her in conversation and several times I gave her plants from our garden, but she hasn't warmed up to me.

I recently admitted that regardless of anything I do, she'll probably continue to have no use for me.

Years ago I began to pray for individuals who disliked me or spoke against me. I prayed for God to repay them for their sins and their hardness of heart. That was self-righteous, indignant praying, and I no longer pray that way.

To my neighbor I owe thanks for helping me to change my attitude. I pray good things for her every day. I expect no change, not even a friendly smile.

From that situation, I understood something significant for me. First, those don't-like-me individuals push me toward self-examination. I honestly search my heart to figure out if I'm guilty of wrongdoing toward them. Most of the time, no answer comes. (When it does, I apologize.)


Second, whenever my neighbor walks down the street, I see her slumped shoulders and the lack of joy on her face. I don't know much about her and I don't ask other neighbors. I simply believe that she must be an unhappy woman.

Each day and each time I see her, I pray for God to fill her with peace and joy.

Maybe God will answer my prayer.

Ready to Move On!

Sorry for the lag in posts over the past couple of weeks; if you follow Jonathan and I on facebook, or on his blog at www.pastorjonathandavid.com, you will know we've been through the ringer in a few areas!

First, Ethan has started having night terrors.  Much worse for us than him, I know, but good grief!  They make him cranky and tired and my we won't even start on the topic of my nerves.  However, he has not had one in four days now.  Yay!  We are learning that not skipping naps, or being late for them, and a consistent bedtime make a big difference, as well as other tricks to help him settle back into sleep more quickly when he does have them.

Then on Saturday/Sunday... BAM!  Bring on the longest course of stomach virus we've had in a long while.  Four days.  Literally.  All four of us.  Completely miserable.  So I pretty much lived on the couch for four days and four nights, stripped sheets off of beds as the kids threw up, taught Emily how to get sick in a bucket, and changed a multitude of dirty diapers.  Jonathan was left to fend for himself in our bedroom.  The worst day for me was the day after the puking stopped.  I was so weak I couldn't stand for more than 30 seconds at a time.  The worst moment of that day was laying on the kitchen floor, water running, bottle on the counter and I was bawling because I couldn't even get to my knees without blacking out to make Ethan his bottle, who was screaming in the other room.  You don't get much lower than that...ugh.

However, we hopefully will get out and about tonight.  We have missed our church's entire fall revival due to this bug, but are going to try to make it to their fall festival this evening, so be watching for pictures!  And lord willing, I will try to go for a jog tonight.  It's literally been a week since I ran, and with a 5K only 7 1/2 weeks away, I need to be training.  But it is starting to pay off, though:

I think I am liking being 30!  :-)  Still have a ways to go, but I'll get there, sooner or later!  But it's time to finish this year strong - two more months left to go!

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood and probably themselves will not be realized. Make big plans; aim high in hope and work, remembering that a noble, logical diagram once recorded will not die." Daniel H. Burnham

Dream big as you enter into the homestretch of 2011!

Recipe Monday... on Tuesday

So, I am a day late this week... having sick kids will throw you off a little bit!

Some of you have asked why I like to post a recipe once a week?

The answer is easy:  I am a firm believer in cooking from scratch.  Love it.  It is (usually) healthier, saves money, you control what goes into it, and it can be a fun experience.  However, I am NOT a firm believer in slaving over a hot stove.  Good grief, we have kids and families and jobs and responsibilities!  Most of these recipes I post can have their prep time done in about 15-20 minutes, then bake/cook/throw in crockpot, eat and enjoy!

But in honor of a friend of mine, who does not believe I spend little time cooking in the kitchen in the evenings, I am posting my easy homemade chicken divan recipe.  It's a bit different from what you'll find in online recipes, but tastes good and can be customized to your own family's preferences.

Easy Chicken Divan

(makes one 8x8 or 9x9 square dish)

Ingredients:

1 16 oz bag frozen vegetable of choice (broccoli, green beans, asparagus, etc) 

1 cup chicken broth (or make your own with chicken bouillon)

2 chicken breasts, thawed and salt & peppered (or to get an extra awesome flavor, use McCormick's steak rub.  I use it in tons of recipes and it is an awesome spice mix)

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 large dollop of mayo or sour cream

1/4 cup milk

1 TBSP lemon juice

2 TBSP curry powder (or more to taste)

1 tsp garlic salt

1 TBSP butter

2 TBSP bread crumbs

4 oz shredded cheddar cheese (optional)

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray square baking pan.

2.  Boil chicken broth on stove, then cook vegetables according to package directions until soft-crisp.  Drain, and spread in bottom of baking pan.

3.  While vegetables cook, sear chicken at medium-high head until golden brown on both sides, then reduce heat to medium low and cover until cooked through, turning as needed.  When cooked, either shred or chop into bite-sized pieces and spread over vegetables.

4.  While your chicken cooks, go head and mix in small bowl the soup, mayo or sour cream, milk and seasonings.  Don't be afraid to go a bit strong on your seasonings, as the veggies and meat will pick it up while it bakes.

5.  Pour/spread sauce over the vegetables and meat.

6.  Melt butter in separate bowl, and toss the bread crumbs in it.  Sprinkle on top of sauce.

7.  If desired, top with shredded cheese.

8.  Bake for 20 minutes and until golden brown and bubbly.

Serve over rice or egg noodles, which can be cooked while the chicken divan bakes.

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FAQ's:  I like to cook with chicken, but my family always complains that it is too dry.  What can I do about that?

My Answer:   Besides changing how you cook your food, the easiest answer is to brine your meat!  I do this with both poultry and pork, but basically, fill a bowl with lukewarm water, add 1 TBSP each of salt and sugar, and put your meat in for at least 10 minutes before you cook with it.  Makes a huge difference and will keep even baked chicken tender and moist!  You can even get creative and add other spices to the the brine to enhance the flavor of your meat (for example, for chicken divan, I add some curry into the brine).

  

 

Born To Run

My exercise habits are taking an interesting turn of events.  If you knew me at all during and post-college, you knew I was a morning person when it came to working out.  I was the one up at 5:30 off for a walk or jog, rain or shine, mp3 player cranked up and blasting anything from Steven Curtis Chapman to Evanescence to Les Miserables.  Marriage, two ugly bouts of mono, and two kids later have me in a different place.

When on earth did I begin enjoying jogging at night?

There is something cathartic about taking out the stress and tension of the day on the pavement.  Normally, it is quiet and calm, a slight breeze, and a time to sort out my thoughts.  If I'm ticked off, it is a great anger management tool.  If I'm stressed, I can pound my frustrations into the asphalt.  

But it is mentally different, too.  I don't bring music anymore, or even need it; my head is full of thoughts and emotions and ideas and passions that for 30 minutes or so, I can bring some sort of clarity and order to them.  Some days it is a time to connect spiritually as well; God and I have a lot of conversations in my head! 

Tonight was one of those nights; loved my girls in small group tonight, though some of their stories about bring tears to my ears and furious anger at the one who deceives and is hell-bent on destroying our next generation.  And it got me thinking about a topic that has been, and continues to be, near and dear to my heart:  mediocrity or exceptionality?

If you know me at all, you know that I have an addictive personality.  Well... addictive may not be the right word.  Obsessive may be better.  When you give me a task at to, I will do it not just good enough, but take it to the top.  110%.  Overachiever?  Maybe.  I like to think of it as I am the sort of person who would rather do one thing magnificently than five things that are only okay or decent.

A few weeks ago, Jonathan asked me to speak to his students during the message time on Wednesday night.  In reality, it became more of challenge:  are you going to settle for just getting by, just being mediocre, or are you going to be exceptional?  God designed us, created us, to run for Him.  Now running is hard; most people's bodies have a love-hate relationship with it.  Their soul loves it and learns to love it and even long for it; their lungs and legs physically can hate and struggle with it.  But it was a challenge, and one God has put on my own heart over the past few months:  am I going to settle for what the world tells us "normal Christianity" is suppose to be, or am I going to run?

Unique Sweet Love

     Grampa took Mary Ellen inside away from the crowd.  "Now, child, I am going to show you what my father showed me, and his father before him," he said quietly.

     He spooned the honey onto the cover of one of her books.  "Taste," he said, almost in a whisper.

     Mary Ellen savored the honey on her book.

     "There is such sweetness inside of that book too!" he said thoughtfully.  "Such things... adventure, knowledge and wisdom.  But these things do not come easily.  You have to pursue them.  Just like we ran after the bees to find their tree, so you must also chase these things through the pages of a book!".
   - excerpt from The Bee Tree by Patricia Polacco

This book is one of Emily's schoolbooks this year and I absolutely love it, nor does she tire of reading it over and over!

In a nutshell, the plot of the story is thus:  the main character, Mary Ellen, is tired of reading and wants to do something "fun", so her grandfather takes her on a wild goose chase following honey bees back to their tree.  They encounter new friends, learn lessons, and in the end, the analogy of the sweetness of knowledge and learning.

As I read through this story and come upon the above scene where Mary Ellen is asked to taste the sweetness of her books, I am vividly reminded of a professor who would kiss the front of his Bible before we pulled it out to do our reading for the day.  Truth be told, I have done that as well, especially in times when I needed a physical reminder of the power of Scripture.  So often in our indoctrinated society that is numb to Christ, it is a powerful practice to treasure the Word of God.

Is God's Word sweet to you?

Or is one of several versions of books gathering dust of your shelf?

Is it alive and breathing and warm and vibrant?

What are you pursing?

"There is such sweetness inside of that book... but such things do not come easily.  You have to pursue them."

An October Tradition

For the past two years, I go a bit pumpkin crazy during the first couple days of October and start baking the flavors of fall.  This year is no different!

I have always said I am in general a better cook than a baker, but when I find a great recipe that is tried and true, I will share it!  So enjoy my Amazing Pumpkin Bread!

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Amazing Pumpkin Bread
(makes 2 loaves or 3 dozen muffins)

Ingredients:
3 cups bread flour
1 TBSP pumpkin pie spice
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, very soft (not melted!)
3 eggs
1 15 oz can pure canned pumpkin
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Steps:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease either loaf pans or muffin tins.

2. In medium bowl, mix the flour, spices, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, and set aside.

3. In large bowl, beat together softened butter and sugars. Add the eggs. Beat for two minutes with mixer until fluffy (do not under beat!).

4. Add the pumpkin to butter/sugar/egg bowl and mix by hand until well combined.

5. In three batches, add the dry ingredients and mix gently by hand until each batch is just incorporated (scrape the sides between each batch). If desired, gently stir in nuts. Batter will be thick and fluffy, not liquid. Do not over mix!

6. Fill each loaf pan with half the batter, or fill muffin tins half full. Bake loaves about an hour, muffins about 20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean and tops are golden. Cool in pan for ten minutes, then run a knife around the sides and finish cooling on wire rack.

7. Eat and enjoy!

I'm not always one to separate the dry and wet ingredients when I bake, but it does make a difference with this recipe, and keeps it from being very dense and crumbly. In addition, mixing the dry and wet together gently keeps this light and airy. It is worth it, though, and one of my guilty pleasures in the fall. My favorite way to eat it is with a light layer of cream cheese and a delicious cup of coffee (or apple cider!).

A Season of Loss

Why grieve death?  It is inevitable; we all die, and we all know that one day, our time with come.  Those who are not here and just that:  not here.  They don't see the tears, experience the heartache, shoulder the weight that settles so heavily.

The living grieve death.  Life cut short, gone from us from this present world.  The passing of time does not make the sadness of living without them any easier.  And so many reminders as of late.  Seven local students dead.  A college friend dying of cancer.  A child murdered.  My own daughter almost drowning just three months ago.  The miscarriage we just went through a month ago.

I know, I know, I'm being melancholy.  But it's October 1st again.

Don't get me wrong; I love fall.  Changing leaves and apple cider.  Cooler weather, breezy days.  But ever year since the year I turned eight, fall begins with death.

I can close my eyes and still see the pictures of our smashed mini-van, and his totaled pick-up.  I can still see her in her casket, feel her cold and dry skin; I can still remember the vow I took that day that I would not cry over her death again, and I didn't, for five long and hard years.  I still feel the rage bubble up at times, over his stupid and senseless driving after a day of fishing and drinking beer at the lake that resulted in the loss of two lives.  After so many years, I still want to scream at God at the senselessness at her death; she was only thirty-six and had four children who desperately needed her.

But I don't.

No, I don't scream.  The tears ceased falling some time ago.  Life in its own way moved on without her.  Somehow, we picked up the shattered pieces of our lives, clumsily glued them back together, and life continued.  Dad remarried.  Two more siblings.  High school graduation.  College.  Another graduation, this time with honors.  Boyfriends.  Heartaches.  Ministry.  Adulthood.  Marriage.  Two children of my own.

But I still grieve.

Beneath the surface, my heart still bleeds.  It weeps for things I never got to share with her.  A good exam.  My first kiss.  The rise and fall of the ministry with Wycliffe. All four of her childrens' weddings.  A cup of coffee.  Snuggling newborn grandchildren.  Late night phone calls.  Becoming the woman she wanted me to be.  Time.

I was robbed of time.

I may be days away from turning thirty, but I still yearn and long and ache for my mother as much as I did that fateful autumn day so many years ago.  God, will I ever understand why?

I miss you, Mom.