Bread for the Journey

 My Hope is Built

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my hope and stay.

Refrain

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

Words: Edward Mote, cir­ca 1834; first ap­peared in Mote’s Hymns of Praise, 1836:

It is always good to be reminded where our hope lies. We do not hope in our talents, finances, possessions, health and circumstances but our hope is in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray that you will be encouraged today no matter what is going on in your life to remember that you are clothed in His righteousness and you will be faultless before the throne.

Oven Baked Honey BBQ Chicken

If you are looking for a convenient make ahead dish for busy week day meals or preparing in advance for company this is one of those dishes. The chicken gets parboiled and marinated until you are ready to bake and serve.

• 3 lbs or about 10 chicken pieces
• 1 1/2 cups Ketchup
• 2 tablespoons vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of yellow mustard
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 cup liquid honey
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• salt and pepper to taste

1. Skin the chicken pieces if that is your preference and simmer in 1 inch of water for 30 minutes. Pour off the water and marinade the chicken in the sauce for 2 hours of over night. 
2. Bake the chicken in a covered roaster for about 45 minutes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees. Serve the sauce with rice and nice side dish of green beans. Remove the lid the last 15 minutes of baking if you want a stickier glazed chicken. 

Loaded Baked Potato Soup

After having delicious potato soup at several local eateries lately, I decided to come up with my own version at home.  On a cold day last week, we enjoyed baked-potato-in-a-bowl...or 'loaded baked potato soup' as it is appropriately called. 

• 1 lb. bacon, diced
• 4 large russet potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 3 cups chicken stock
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 1/4 cup flour
• 2 cups milk
• 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper 
• 3 green onions, sliced
• sour cream, garnish (optional)

1. Cook bacon until crisp...and drain on paper towel.
2. Place potatoes and chicken stock in large pot and bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, and simmer for about 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.  With slotted spoon, remove several scoops of potatoes.  Place in a bowl, mash and set aside.
3. In a small saucepan, melt butter.  Add the chopped onion and sauté until tender.  Stir in flour and cook for about a minute.  Whisk in milk, a little at a time, bringing to a boil and simmering until thickened.  Add cheese, salt and pepper and stir until cheese is melted.  
4. Slowly stir cheese sauce into soup pot.  Bring to a boil on low heat.  
5. Add mashed potatoes, three-quarters of the crispy bacon and half of the sliced green onions. Stir to combine. Heat through.
6. To serve, ladle into individual soup bowls, topping with additional shredded cheese, bacon, green onions and a dollop of sour cream.

Cherry Delight

This light and fluffy no-bake dessert was a favorite in our home many decades ago. I've changed it up a bit from the original recipe, using a chocolate wafer crust instead of graham wafer and opting for sour cherries from the orchard rather than canned pie filling. Any way you slice it, it is delightful!

• 1 1/4 cups Oreo baking crumbs
• 1/4 cup butter, melted
• 8 oz. cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup icing sugar (confectioner's sugar)
• 1 cup whipping cream
• 2 tablespoons icing sugar 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 can cherry pie filling 21 oz. / 540 ml or  1 recipe cherry pie filling (recipe below)

1. Combine cookie crumbs and melted butter in mixing bowl, and stir until well-mixed.  Press crumbs into a  9" x 9" glass pan.  Refrigerate while preparing the filling.
2. Beat cream cheese and icing sugar with mixer until smooth and creamy.
3. In a separate bowl, beat whipping cream, 2 tablespoons icing sugar and vanilla until fluffy and stiff. 
4. Add whipped cream to cream cheese mixture and beat until light and fluffy.
5. Spoon cream cheese mixture over the prepared crust. Refrigerate.
6. Spread cherry pie filling over dessert and chill 4-6 hours before serving.

 *When using the homemade cherry sauce, I prefer to spoon it over each individual piece when serving.

Sour Cherry Pie Filling:

• 3 cups pitted sour cherries, fresh or frozen and thawed
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 3 tablespoons water
• 1/4 teaspoon almond extract

1. Combine cherries and sugar in a pan and stir. (If cherries are soft and mushy, you won't need additional water, but if there is no cherry juice you may want to add a few tablespoons of water.) 
2. Bring to a boil.  
3. Mix cornstarch with 3 tablespoons cold water and whisk to remove lumps.
4. Once cherries are boiling, add cornstarch solution.
5. Stir until the cherries bubble and the juice looks clear.
6. Add almond extract.
7. Remove from heat and cool before using as a dessert topping.

 

Applesauce Banana Bread

This bread was an experiment because I only had one ripe banana. I decided to try my banana bread recipe using applesauce in place of 2 of the bananas. I'm happy to say it worked. 

Ingredients:

• 2-1/2 cups flour, sifted
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup soft butter
• 1 egg
• 1 small ripe banana, cut up
• 1 cup applesauce
• 1/2 cup milk

1. In medium sized bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

2. Chop walnuts in a blender and add to the dry ingredients.

3. In same blender container add the sugar, butter, egg, banana, applesauce, and milk.

4. Blend for 12 - 15 seconds, stopping motor to push down banana if necessary. 

5. Pour the blended ingredients over the dry ingredients and mix until all ingredients are well moistened.

6. Pour batter into greased 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan.

Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 55 - 60 minutes. Cool on rack.

Creamy Feta Cheese Dressing

On New Years eve we enjoyed a long leisurely dinner allowing each course to settle and give time to visit while the next course finished.

I served this simple salad after the soup course.

It is simple dressing prepared in the blender early in the day with just a touch of tang and creaminess to satisfy.

• 1/3 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1/4 cup mayonaisse
• juice of 1/2 a lemon
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions
• 6 cloves roasted garlic (slice top of garlic bulb and drizzle with olive oil, wrap in foil and bake)
• enough milk to make a pourable consistency

1. Place all ingredients in blender jar and pulse until creamy and smooth.
2. Refrigerate until ready to serve.  Store in refrigerator for several days.

Bread for the Journey

Isaiah 54:10

For the Mountains shall depart and the hills be removed,

But My kindness shall not depart from you, Nor shall My covenant of peace be removed,"

Says the LORD, who has mercy on you.

We live at the foot of Mt. Cheam on the eastern end of the Fraser Valley.

Every morning when I go into my kitchen, this mountain dominates the view outside my window.

It is 7200 feet high, snow capped for 10 months of the year and is a bastion of permanence.

This verse from Isaiah caught my eye last week and I've been pondering it for awhile in light of the mountain outside my window.

In Isaiah 54 God speaks to the discouraged and despairing telling them not to fear, that their disgrace, their fear, their reproach will not last forever. God promises them that He has not forsaken them, that His wrath is not forever, but that His kindness and mercy are everlasting.

Then He uses the imagery of the mountains - these massive  landmarks, these symbols of permanence to assure them that His kindness will outlast even the mountains, His promise of peace will stand long after the mountains have crumbled.

In times of discouragement, when life is overwhelming and fear dominates,

remember that God's kindness will never depart from you;

His peace and His mercy will outlast the mountains.