Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad -- a new twist on an old favorite

If you love Strawberry Pretzel Salad, then I believe you will enjoy its first cousin, Mandarin Orange Pretzel Salad. The bottom and middle layers are exactly the same, but the final layer uses crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges and orange jello. I think it would be particularly good to serve in the fall when you have all of the pumpkin themes around, or maybe in the summertime when you're serving a fruit plate with some fresh banana bread. But, most especially, it would be good for Auburn tailgate parties, served on blue plates, of course. Steve has suggested that a few blueberries on top would also give a nice touch, but I'll let you decide about that. :)

MANDARIN ORANGE PRETZEL SALAD

First Layer:

Mix 1 1/2 cups of crushed pretzels, 3 tablespoons of sugar and 1 stick of softened butter together and spread into a 9" by 13" Pyrex dish. Bake in a 350-degree oven for 10 minutes.

Let this cool.

Second Layer:

Whip together 8 oz. softened cream cheese, 8 oz. Cool Whip, and 1 cup of confectioner's sugar.

Spread this on the cooled pretzel crust.

Third Layer:

Drain and save the juices from a 15 oz. can of mandarin oranges and a 15 oz. can of crushed pineapple. Add enough water to make 1 1/2 cups and bring this liquid to a boil. Stir in a 6 oz. package of orange jello until it is thoroughly dissolved. Let it cool and then add the drained fruit.

Let this sit on the counter for a little while until it begins to congeal and then spread it over the cream cheese layer. Refrigerate until serving. This will make about 15 servings.

Make it soon and have some friends over to enjoy it with you.

MY MOM -- A Tribute to Her on the 25th Anniversary of Her Death

A mattress can't be both firm and soft, but my Mom could.
A steak can't be both tough and tender, but my Mom could.
"Prissy and smart" might say it a little better, but she was most certainly firm, tough, soft and tender all wrapped into one unique and special lady.
One morning in Ecuador a dear friend commented that she "wished she had grown up in the South." What prompted the remark appeared to be the printed napkins and roses I had on the table for our refreshments during a weekly Bible study. She said that I always "did things in a special way," and that she wished she'd been taught to do that. I felt highly complimented. Now I don't know whether growing up in Alabama had very much to do with it, but I'm SURE that being reared by Mildred Rose Collier was primarily responsible. She was feminine in every cell of her body and was always aware of the ambiance she was creating or in the places she visited. We never had to wonder whether she preferred the chain cafeterias or a sit-down restaurant with tablecloths, music and menus. She loved setting an attractive table and pleasing her guests. She had a beautiful smile and was loved by everyone. She even enjoyed going to the grocery store because she looked forward to visiting with some friends she might run into there. Her hair and nails were always done to perfection, and, even though she died suddenly at the very young age of 55, my youngest daughter who was 7 at the time remembers that "Grandmomma always smelled good."
I like to think that I am my mother's daughter, but I see her traits far clearer in my daughters and now in my five granddaughters, who enjoy pretty dresses, perfume, a touch of blush and sparkly nail polish! We all relish being "prissy" Southern Belles, and from our perspective, "prissy" is a word we like and understand.
My mother was also smart, shrewd, and direct -- a "tough cookie" in a very disarming way. She was competent in the jobs she undertook and was respected for her insight and the ideas she contributed. To my brother, sister, and me, she was our greatest cheerleader, but she also pulled no punches when it came to "speaking the truth in love." We could count on her for honesty and support, but she also fearlessly confronted us (and others) when she felt we weren't following the truths of the Bible. She was a perfect example of a submissive wife who was also a fully-functioning partner with my Dad.
Today is the 25th anniversary of her untimely and unexpected death, and I still miss her. I have wished for her so many times as my children have gotten married, and I would so love to have watched her with my own grandchildren. I'd like to think that by being my own version of "prissy and smart" I'm honoring who and what she was.
Some people probably thought I was too prissy to be on the mission field, but God knew before He called me exactly how He had wired me together, and He chose to use me "just as I am." I believe that it's okay to surround myself with pretty things and to create a lovely, welcoming environment whether I'm in the midst of a Third World country or living beside the Tennessee River. I believe that making myself look appealing and attractive is both a way of honoring my husband AND of being a positive witness for Christianity. I am convinced that God wants to draw from all the aspects of my personality to bring honor and glory to Him.
Queen Esther is a wonderful example of a person who had both outward beauty and inward strength and wisdom which God used to fulfill His purposes. The Bible described her as "lovely and beautiful" (Esther 2:7), but we also read that she was obedient and submissive to Mordecai, her cousin and guardian, and to Hegai, the custodian of the women brought into the king's palace. Subsequently, when the lives of her people the Jews were threatened, she displayed amazing courage and insight in approaching her husband the king and in orchestrating the confrontation with wicked Haman. Esther was a firm/soft, tough/tender woman who was used by God at a crucial point in the history of the News. My mother's similar qualities were used by God in my life, and I pray that her legacy will continue.
I love you, Mom.
I'll see you in Heaven.

Recipe for Key Lime Cake -- which could become your "Hospitality Cake"

The new neighborhood into which Steve and I have moved has a gracious ritual that was eagerly-anticipated and wonderfully-enjoyed when it was our turn. A couple of the neighbors set up a convenient time to come for a visit. They brought with them lots of information and brochures about the in's and out's of this area AND a yummy dessert. We were the happy recipients of a delectable Key Lime Cake.









Since then, I, in turn, have made it for other folks and shared it just this past Saturday with some dear friends. It is not TOO rich, it is very moist, and it has a certain zing to it. So far, everyone to whom I've served it has liked it. Now, the lime jello gives it a green color -- which is what we always associate with lime -- but I learned on a long-ago trip to Key West that actually Key Limes are yellow, rather than green. So, the next time you order Key Lime Pie in a restaurant, you will know it's "the real thing" if it is NOT green. :)









Have you thought about developing a file of easy and delicious recipes that you can share easily, either by taking them to new neighbors or by having folks into your home? I have a lot of thoughts about hospitality. Is it becoming a lost art? How can the lost world know what a Christian home looks like and feels like if they are never invited to come inside one? Maybe this cake could be the "start of something good." :) Enjoy! Share!

KEY LIME CAKE

1 box lemon cake mix

1/2 c. vegetable oil

1 (3-0z) box lime Jell-O

1 c. orange juice

5 eggs

4 T. powdered sugar

1/2 c. Key Lime juice (if you simply can't find it, then regular lime or lemon juice will do)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine cake mix, Jell-O, orange juice, eggs and oil. Beat for about 2 minutes at medium speed. Pour batter into 3 round greased and floured cake pans (or I used a 9" by 13" pyrex dish). Bake for approximately 25 minutes if you make 3 layers or 30 minutes if you use the 9" by 13." While the cake is baking, mix together 4 T. of powdered sugar and the Key Lime juice. Drizzle on the hot cake layers. Cool completely. Ice cake when cooled. Store in the refrigerator.

Icing:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

1 stick butter, softened

1 box powdered sugar, minus 4 T.

1 t. vanilla

Cream together the cream cheese and butter. Blend in the powdered sugar and vanilla.

"Be hospitable to one another without grumbling." 1 Peter 4:9

(I think that "without grumbling" part is SO funny -- ha!)

BEFORE'S and AFTER'S

Don't you just love "Before and After" stories and pictures? A person loses weight or has a makeover and starts out looking less-than-stellar (to put it generously), and then with a new eating/exercise program or using the skills of a professional stylist or make-up artist they look better, and are likely, much happier. . . . at least for awhile.

Recently I put my hair into the very capable hands of my friend and stylist extraordinaire, Kim Buckelew. Not only is Kim my friend, she is also a former junior high chorus student, a friend of my daughter's, and her parents are long-time friends to Steve and me. Not only do I LIKE Kim and enjoy her personality, I also trust her to do what's best for me and my hair. As you can see from the pictures above, she took me from pitiful to at least acceptable in just a couple of hours. Yay, Kim!

This appointment and these pictures got me to thinking about other "before and after" times in my life. There were those three special occasions when I was "great with child" one day and holding a beautiful infant the next. Also, the three times we built houses. We've gotten so excited on the day the foundations were dug but even more excited 6-8 months later when the house was complete and we were finally able to move in. In all of these incidents, we were eager for people to hurry up and come and see . . . the babies and the houses.

The most wonderful before and after story from my life happened the day I accepted Jesus as my Savior and was saved. I have already shared the details of that in a blogpost from several months ago entitled "New Revelations from My Childhood." Since I was only 8 when that happened, the outward signs of change were probably not very noticeable, but the inward changes were eternally important. I remember being so happy that I wanted everyone to know, especially my aunt and my cousin who happened to also be my best friends.

I'm sure you've read the dramatic story of the conversion of Saul of Tarsus into Paul the Apostle. In Acts chapter 9 we can read about this man who dedicated his life to persecuting followers of Christ, then met Jesus on his way to Damascus and became one of the most ardent preachers and missionaries for the cause of Christ in history. He himself was persecuted many times because of his conversion/transformation, but his commitment to telling others about Christ remained unwavering.

Listen to the graphic details in the story of the demon-possessed man who was healed by Jesus told in Luke 8:26-39.

Then they (the disciples and Jesus) sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. and when He (Jesus) stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, "What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!" For He (Jesus) had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

This man was in a terrible condition. It must have been gut-wrenching to look at him and hear his pitiful cries. Jesus drove the demons out of him, and the change was amazing. Word spread quickly and people came from all around to see for themselves if the stories were true. Now notice the way the healed man is described.

Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.

The people who saw what happened were afraid of someone and something so powerful, so they asked Jesus to leave their area. But, the healed man -- the one with such a wonderful "after" story -- begged Jesus to stay with him.

But Jesus sent him away, saying, "Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you." And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Isn't that the test of a real "after" experience? Don't we want the world to know who did it or how it happened or what good thing we have as a result?

Do you have a Before and After Story about what Jesus did for you? Are you sharing it with all who will listen?

Do you know this song? If so, sing it with me:

"I'll tell the world that I'm a Christian.

I'm not ashamed His name to bear.

I'll tell the world that I'm a Christian

And take Him with me everywhere.

I'll tell the world how Jesus saved me

And how He gave me a life brand new.

And I know that if you trust Him

That all He gave me He'll give to you.

I'll tell the world that He's my Savior.

No other one could love me so.

My life, my all is His forever

And where He leads me, I will go."

Confession Time: Today I Completely "Missed It"

As I type this morning, I am embarrassed, convicted, remorseful and eager to make amends. In my haste and eagerness to get to a Bible study OF ALL THINGS, I have been short-tempered and impatient. I even left (hopefully) uncharacteristically terse messages on the answerphone of a person I had never even met. And, to add to my sense of "Connie, what were you thinking?" -- I was doing my daily Bible reading between my bursts of un-Christ-likeness. Perhaps I can relate just a tiny bit more to how Peter must have felt when he heard that cock crow right after the third time he said, "I do not know the man!" The Scripture says that "he went out and wept bitterly." Matthew 26:75
Our tankless gas water heater has been behaving badly for over a week. Generally speaking, this is a great device that we learned to appreciate when we lived in Ecuador. What could be better than lower electricity bills, unlimited hot water and energy-saving-type tax credits? Right? As always, when something works well, you look like a genius. When it doesn't, you get pretty disgusted -- quickly.
We had one repair person out last week who "put a Band-aid on it," but who needed to talk to "the person over him . . . . who needed to talk to the manufacturer . . . who needed to talk to the installer . . . ." You know the drill. Anyway, it got to be Friday afternoon before the right person contacted me and made an appointment for 9:30 a.m. on Monday morning.
It was absolutely not his fault that I forgot that I was planning to start attending a Monday morning Bible study at my new church at that very time. Okay. Maybe it was a LITTLE BIT his fault that he didn't show up until almost 10:30, but still he didn't deserve the tone of my voice in the cell phone messages I left him. No, I didn't use any profanity or bad language, but neither was I kind, and I confess to you that I am sorry about that.
Fortunately, when he arrived a few minutes ago, he graciously accepted my apology. Actually, he even brought another man with him, and they are working diligently as I type. I am confident that the problem will be resolved before the sun goes down, and Steve and I will enjoy hot showers early tomorrow morning. And, it looks like NEXT Monday morning is the time God has appointed for me to start that new Bible study.
Now I've confessed this to you and to God. I hope you will learn from my mistakes and missteps.
"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9

BREAD, GLORIOUS BREAD!

Can you tell that I enjoy Broadway musicals? This title, of course, is borrowed from a song in the musical Oliver, entitled "Food, Glorious Food."

Is there anything more tantalizing than the smell of bread baking? Am I the only person who doesn't wait for it to cool before slicing into a warm loaf and experiencing a few moments of total bliss as I savor those first bites? Pictured above is my first attempt with Cinnamon Swirl Bread. As I type this blogpost, I have another loaf rising.





One of my Christmas presents this year was a Cuisinart Convection Breadmaker. Yes, I know. For some of you, that represents cheating, and I will admit there is a lot of satisfaction to be had from kneading until you can't knead anymore. :) But, whether I'm doing it the hard way or just following the precise instructions and pushing the Start button, the final product is still wonderful and very satisfying.





I catch myself laughing out loud whenever I recall the time I tried to make homemade cinnamon rolls in the Andes Mountains of Ecuador. Something about the high altitude made that dough rise and rise and rise. I started with a recipe for 24 rolls, but I ended up giving rolls to everyone in our building. I caught just a glimpse of what the disciples must have seen during the "Feeding of the 5000" event.





Speaking of Ecuador, one of my favorite treats while living there was the presence of "Panaderias" (bread stores) on every block. I quickly learned the morning schedule for the one just a few steps from our house in Quito, and several times a week I was there to get Pan de Agua (literally, water bread -- crusty on the outside, soft and delicious inside) and Pan Integral (similar to our wheat/multigrain breads here in the States) fresh from the oven. A special benefit of those breads was the fact that no preservatives were added, thus the need to buy it fresh and often. The loaves were small and inexpensive, so there were no worries about blowing the budget -- just "the diet." :)





Did you know that the word "bread" is found 360 times in the Bible -- 280 in the Old Testament and 80 in the New Testament? Many of those times it refers to all foods in general and not just the mixture of flour/grains, water, and yeast. From this we can surmise that the making and eating of bread goes back for thousands of years. Bread represented a way to sustain life. It even fell from heaven for years in the form of manna when there was no time for daily baking by the Israelite women.





A part of the Lord's Prayer instructs us to pray: "Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:11 Maybe the Ecuadorians "get this" better than we do when they go to the bread stores and get just enough for that day, recognizing that piling up or hoarding more will do no good because it will just spoil and ruin. It takes a strong element of trust to believe that what a person needs for tomorrow will be there, and for them, it is also an economic necessity because many of them only make a day's wage -- working one day at a time as work becomes available. How many times do we project far into the future when we give God our grocery list of prayer requests? How much different it would feel to merely ask God to provide whatever we need for the current day, knowing that "whatever we need" could well include healing or friendship or encouragement or guidance, rather than just physical food?


Jesus goes even further in John 6:35: "Jesus said unto them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst." In every area of our lives, He is the ultimate and supreme Need-Meeter. What a delectable, savory, tantalizing and amazing Truth that is!!

My next loaf of Cinnamon Swirl Bread is about to go into the oven. If you leave right now, you can arrive in time to watch the butter melt on a warm slice. Come join me for some "bread, glorious bread."

Beep! Beep!

For all of you who have ever moved into a new or different apartment or house, you realize that an adjustment period is necessary in order to become familiar with the sounds of all the gadgets and appliances of the new place. And, the more gizmos you have, the more different sounds there are that require a response, an action, or at least an acknowledgment.



In our current house, the first appliance to "act up" was the dishwasher (see panel above). This particular dishwasher has an apparent aversion to anyone opening the door before the drying cycle is completely finished. The first time Julie and her family came for dinner a beep-with-an-unknown-origin was occurring about every 30-45 seconds. It doesn't take long for something like that to become VERY annoying. Thanks to our son-in-law Brian, with considerable knowledge of electronics, we were finally able to pinpoint that the dishwasher needed to be reset because I had broken its cardinal rule. Relief!



Then, the oven taught me that it has a beep when the pre-heat temperature is reached, as well as a polite timer beep.

The refrigerator door beeps if it is left ajar or if you want to change from ice to water or set the freezer temperature to a setting other than the recommended one.

The alarm pads (shown below), by both the front and back doors, sound 5 quick beeps whenever anyone comes in or goes out -- something the grandchildren delight in hearing over and over and over. :)

On a recent cold morning, this tankless water heater remote unit beeped continually whenever we turned on a faucet letting us know that there would be no hot water downstairs. Those beeps, naturally, led to a frantic call to the plumber/installer.

But, probably the most annoying beep in my house occurs when the timer on the microwave goes off. Under no circumstances will it stop until someone touches the "Off" button. I am convinced it would sound for days on end if no one happened to be home to stop it. The timer on the oven sounds a discreet beep and then stops. But not the microwave. Oh my goodness! It is rude and insistent, yet I find myself using it often because I know I won't be allowed to ignore it.

As I have thought about all of these beeps -- which amazingly seem to be on the exact same musical pitch -- I have wondered why we don't have spiritual warning beeps in our lives to remind us or warn us when we are headed toward sin, bad decisions, or actions we will regret. Wouldn't it be helpful if a beep sounded just before we said something unkind about another person? Before we lashed out in anger? Told a lie? Took our husbands for granted? Put guilt trips on our children or family members? Drove above the speed limit? Accepted too much change from a cashier? Interfered when our words weren't welcome or necessary?

Or what about if a beep could go off in our heads when we're in the voting booth about to pull the lever for a candidate that would represent harmful causes? Or if we were about to make a bad purchase or financial choice that would jeopardize our future? A warning beep could come in mighty handy.

What if we could set timers that would not be silenced until we had completed our daily Bible reading and prayer time . . . had finished exercising . . . or had chosen healthier foods at mealtimes?
What would it be like if we could hear a series of quick beeps whenever a lost person was within our reach? Would we ignore it?

Well, in reality, we DO have a beeper-of-sorts for all of these situations. It's called the Holy Spirit. When Jesus is our Lord and Savior, the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, and, if we allow it, this Holy Spirit guides, corrects, convicts, teaches us and prevents us from going down harmful paths. The secret is in tuning into the Spirit's voice (those incessant beeps) and responding in the ways we've been taught in God's Word.

"And I(Jesus) will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. . . . But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 14: 16-17, 26