Thursday, April 15, 2010

Spring Flavors in Beverage

At our Bible study salad luncheon today, I decjded to serve fruit tea as one of the beverages.  I thought it would be refreshing.  The days have been unusually warm and tea is such a great thirst quencher.  The recipe I used is one a pastor's wife passed along to me and I am happy to share it. 

As tea refreshes us, may we refresh others by speaking the truth of God's word to them.  Perhaps they will be so refreshed by it they will ask us for the recipe, and we will have the privelege of sharing Christ with them.  What a joy that would be!  Be refreshed then refresh.

Fruit Tea
2 family-size tea bags
1 c. sugar
1 can frozen orange-pineapple juice

Brew tea for 3 minutes.  Stir in sugar until dissolved.  Add juice and water to make a gallon.  Garnish with lemon or orange slices.

Monday, April 12, 2010

Spring Flavors

When I think about spring, images of daffodils, pansies, phlox, redbud trees, and Forsythia bushes are vivid. I see yellow, smell grass, and hear the chirping of birds. Refreshing, isn't it? How the Lord refreshes me each spring. As creation wakes from winter and bursts with new life, it reminds me of what God does in the heart of each of us who realize we are in darkness without Him, invite the Light of the World into our lives and accept His love and mercy. I say it every year, but spring is my favorite season!

Some of my favorite flavors for spring are citrus desserts. For Easter, I fixed a double citrus tart. It has a delicious gingersnap crust and uses frozen orange juice concentrate and lemon juice. Try it for a light yet rich dessert. One of my all-time favorite lemon cakes is a recipe I have had for many years. This recipe was given to me by a co-worker at Tenneco Oil in Houston, Texas, some thirty years ago. (I don't feel as old as I sound!). I love the fact though that recipes have stories and memories. They connect us to our past. I plan to make this cake for a salad luncheon this week after our ladies' Bible study. Who knows--thirty years from now, someone may say they got this recipe from their pastor's wife at First Church of God, Little Paint. Enjoy spring--in your life and flavors.

Lemon Jell-O Bundt Cake
1 yellow cake mix
1 small box lemon Jell-O
4 eggs
1 t. lemon extract
3/4 c. oil

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4 T. melted margarine
1 1/4 c. powdered sugar
Juice of 1 lemon

In large mixing bowl, dissolve lemon Jell-O in 3/4 cup of boiling water. Set aside and allow to cool. When cool, add cake mix and then one egg at a time, beating after each egg. Mix in lemon extract and oil. Pour into greased Bundt cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool in pan for 5 minutes then invert onto large plate.

In a small bowl, combine melted margarine, powdered sugar, and the juice of one lemon (approximately 3 T.). Mix well. (You may need to add more powdered sugar.  It needs to be a thick but not pasty.)  Pour over warm lemon cake. (Glaze will run off sides of cake some. I take a spoon and scoop up what comes off the sides and place it back over the cake to create a nice thick layer of the glaze.) Allow to cool.

Click here for a printable version of this recipe.

Best-Ever Apple Pie--Really!

You just can't beat a good ol' American apple pie for a great dessert. This recipe was featured in the September 2008 issue of Southern Living. It has five pounds of apples in it!! The picture above is the picture of the pie I made. It was so good! As you read the recipe, you will notice that the crust is a little different--it has cornmeal in it. It also uses apple juice as the wetting agent. The trick is rolling the top crust out large enough to cover that mound of apples. If you love apple pie, try this one. I don't think you'll be disappointed!