Grape Freezer Jam

Recipe and photo by Susie Reuter

Instead of making grape jelly, I always prefer to make grape jam. When you leave the skins on you get a juicy flavor mixed with a bit of tartness. The texture is more appealing as well.

4 cups crushedseedless Concord grapes
1 1/2 cups sugar
1  package Ball freezer pectin

Mix sugar and pectin together in a large bowl. Heat crushed fruit to a boil in a large saucepan. Reduce heat and simmer until skins are tender, 3-5 minutes, then add to pectin/sugar mixture. For all, stir 3 minutes. Ladle into clean 8-ounce plastic freezer jars to fill line, or any other freezer-safe containers. Twist on lids. Let stand until thickened, about 30 minutes. Refrigerate for three weeks or freeze up to a year.

Ice Cream from God

Mary Fran Heitzman

“Hey kids, let’s go out for ice cream,” I said to my grandson and granddaughter.

“Let’s go to Dairy Queen!” Max said, his brown eyes lighting up.

“No, I want McDonald’s,” Abby voted, her blue eyes pleading.

I was in a compliant mood—“Let’s do both,” I said.

So off we drove to DQ where Max ordered a Blizzard. Then we went to McDonald’s where Abby and I decided on ice cream cones. Oh, how I enjoyed the chatter and the time together eating a cool summer treat with Max and Abs. But then as we licked the last melty drops of ice cream, I shifted from indulgent grandmother to responsible adult.

“Okay, kids, now that we’ve enjoyed our ice cream, we’d better balance it out with a little exercise. We’re going to walk around the lake.” I hoped I didn’t sound too much like a drill sergeant.

“Oh, Grandma, no,” they pleaded. “It’s too far. We can’t walk all the way around the lake.”

I thought for a moment and approached my proposal from a different angle. “Okay,” I said, “We won’t walk all the way around. We’ll just walk half way and then come back.”

“Well,” they agreed, “I suppose we could do that.” A conniving old grandmother smiled in victory.

Have you, like me, accepted “ice cream” from God with eager anticipation and full enjoyment—and then whined when God said, “Okay I’ve got a job for you to do?” God knows best and wants to help us build up our spiritual strength and stamina so we’ll always be fit to walk with Him. With that in mind, let’s pick up our Bibles, read a devotional, or spend a little time in prayer just talking to Him. As we build ourselves up, we’ll find that God sends more work and more treats our way.

Cranberry Apple Relish

Recipe and photo by Susie Reuter

Okay, I admit that I’m normally not a big fan of brats, but this dinner was amazing! The relish is tart and is a nice change from mustard or pickle relish. I used apple bratwurst that is made fresh at a local meat market.  I bought a food chopper last month, and I use it almost every day. It was a great investment, saving me an average of 10 minutes per use. In the winter, my George Foreman grill is very handy.

1/3 cup dried cranberries
1 large red apple
1 large green apple
3 shallots
1/4 cup crystallized ginger
1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/2 teaspoon salt

Finely chop apples, shallots, and ginger. Place in 2-quart saucepan along with remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling over high heat, reduce heat to low and simmer for 8 minutes, stirring frequently. Remove from heat, let cool to room temperature. Serve immediately or cool longer in refrigerator. Cover tightly and store up to three days.

A Visit with Yvonne Partyka

Yvonne Partyka (no photo available) is the co-author of Surviving Shattered Dreams: A Story of Hope After Despair (WinePress, 2009). Her co-author, Joanne Klinger, was featured on this blog October 6^th. Both women were married to pastors who led double lives that plunged their churches and families into chaos. Yvonne has now remarried and works with her second husband in marriage mentoring, blended families, single parent groups and adult Sunday School. Look for her Book Give-away below.

 

Am I Abandoned? 

(NOTE: This excerpt from the book comes after Yvonne remarried.)

He wasn’t there. Oh well, I thought, he’s probably standing at the baggage claim. I walked to the nearest phone. No answer would reassure me that he was tied up in traffic and would be there shortly. The phone rang twice and then I heard Bill say, “Hello.”

“Bill?” I can’t believe I’m hearing his voice. It would have been a relief to get the answering machine. How could he do this to me? I felt confused and betrayed.

“Hi, honey, how’s it going?” Bill asked much more cheerfully than I could imagine.

Doesn’t he get it? My voice was etched with anxiety. “Do you know where I am?”

“No, where are you? Is something wrong?”

“I’m at the airport—waiting for you to pick me up,” I said icily.

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I thought you were coming in tomorrow. Well,” he said apologetically, “try to hang in there, OK? I’m leaving immediately. It’ll take me about an hour.”

Bill must have sensed the insecurity in my voice, as he tried to assure me. “Honey, I love you! I’ve missed you terribly and I’m sorry I goofed on your pick-up day.”

It helped a little. We agreed on an exact pick-up spot. I gathered my luggage, walked to the nearest restroom for some privacy and fell apart. I sobbed uncontrollably for several minutes. Drained emotionally, I washed my face, pulled myself together and walked to the area where we were to meet. True to his word, Bill pulled up shortly. As he got out of the car to help me with my luggage, he took me in his arms and held me. I clung desperately to him and wouldn’t let him go for the longest time.

…I was suffering the trauma of a long history of feeling abandoned. I felt abandoned when Ted said he was leaving me for another woman. I felt abandoned when I moved clear across the country by myself. I felt abandoned when…

Where are you, God? Have you abandoned me also? I used to ask these questions. Sometimes I did feel God’s presence, but other times it seemed as if no one was out there. The sense of loss and loneliness was often greater than I could handle, and the process of coming to grips with all of this took time. There were no instant fixes but there were reassuring words in the Bible: “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).

BOOK GIVE-AWAY: Leave a comment in the box below to be entered in a drawing for a free book. The drawing will take place Wednesday, November 4.

Egg Rolls

Recipe and Photo by Susie Reuter

1 pound chicken breast, cut into 1/2″ cubes and cooked fully
8-10 green onions, sliced
1 small can water chestnuts, diced
1 package fresh bean sprouts
Salt and pepper to taste
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1 package of shredded coleslaw cabbage mix with carrots
1 package refrigerated egg roll wrappers

Cook chicken, set aside. Mix rest of ingredients (except wrappers)  in large bowl, add chicken. Toss thoroughly. Drain of excess liquid. Fill small bowl with warm water for sealing the rolls. Place one egg roll wrapper on cutting board. Use fingers to moisten all four edges of the wrapper with water. Place a small amount of filling in the center of the roll diagonally. Fold over the two sides, then fold up the bottom corner of the wrapper. Roll until sealed. Use additional water to moisten if needed.

To bake, heat oven to 400 degrees. Place egg rolls on non-stick cookie sheet, or on non-stick foil as shown. Bake 15-20 minutes until golden brown and crispy. Serve with pre-made dipping sauce, such as sweet and sour or teriyaki.

To freeze, wrap three uncooked rolls at a time in wax paper, then place in freezer Ziploc bag. Thaw two hours in refrigerator before cooking.

A Prayerful Imagining

Sharon M. Knudson

You are reading your Bible when you look up and imagine Jesus standing before you. He is looking right into your eyes, and his arms are ready to embrace you. He sees how tired and emotionally spent you are, and his calming gentleness beckons you to relax. “Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” he says. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me.”

You picture a yoke with your head and shoulders under it. Jesus lifts the heaviest part of the weight off, and carries the load himself. What a relief you feel… so free and liberating. How grateful you are! You express your thankfulness to him.

Then you pause to study him carefully… after all, he invited you to do that. “Learn of me,” he said, “for I am gentle and humble in heart.” So you take a long moment to consider his gentleness and kindness. He exudes graciousness and love, and yet, he’s so humble. King of the Universe, and yet the most humble Person on earth. You wonder how he can exhibit both characteristics at once, and you wish you could be more like that yourself. You think of an instance where you could work on that very thing— starting right away. Hmmm….

And finally, Jesus says, “You will find rest for your soul, for my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” What reassurance and promise of blessing this is.

“Thank you, Jesus,” you say to him. You tell him that you love him, and picture many times in the future when you’ll be resting with him close by. You’ll be tired, but your conversation will be enlightening and soothing.

Then you think about the key words you just experienced: come, weary and burdened, rest, yoke, gentle and humble in heart, burden, light. While your prayerful imagining is still fresh, you bow your head and pray.

This is one way the Holy Spirit, who brings Jesus Christ alive for us, works through the Word of God. What a treasure our precious Bible is! Let’s take the time to slow down and contemplate what is on its pages.

(This vignette is based on Matthew 11:28-30)

Crepes

Photo by Susie Reuter

Recipe by Christine DeRyckere

My boyfriend’s mom makes the best crepes in the world. One of the best parts of our trips to Canada to visit John’s family is having fresh crepes with berries and maple syrup in the morning. The cooking technique is a little tricky the first time, but the key is to pour the batter into the center of the pan like you would with a pancake, then quickly swirl the batter outwards until it covers the bottom of the entire pan in a thin layer. Once you’ve had these crepes, you’ll find it well worth your time to learn how to make them!

1 cup flour
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
2 cups milk
2 tablespoons melted butter

Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Add rest of ingredients, whisk 3 minutes until completely blended. Batter will be very thin. Preheat oven to 200 degrees if you would like to keep the finished crepes warm while the others are cooking.

Heat 10 inch nonstick skillet on medium. Once hot, spray with Pam cooking spray. Pour 1/3 cup batter into the center of the pan, rapidly swirl the pan in circles to spread the batter out to the edges of the pan. Cook 2 minutes or until bottom is light brown, then turn over and cook 1-2 minutes until browned. Stack crepes on plate in preheated oven until ready to serve.

When serving, place crepe on plate and spread jam or fresh berries in a line down the center. Fold into a rolled shape, then top with syrup and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

In Memory of…

Mary Fran Heitzman

On Saturday I took a power-walk through the streets of my neighborhood. But at one house, several blocks from mine, I slowed down and took note of a plaque I’d never seen before. It was leaning against a great pot of geraniums. I shielded my eyes from the sun and read the inscription etched in stone:

“In memory of my lovely wife, Barbara.”

Oh, how that tender message tugged at my heart and touched my soul. I ached for the man who now lived in the big house without his companion. I thought about how we humans, even those of us who love God, grieve for loved ones who have gone to meet the Lord. It’s so natural for us to do because we’re focused on our part of creation—this finite earth and its temporal rewards.

As we make plaques “in memory of…” to our loved ones, we realize we cannot rejoice fully. We are trapped in this world, unable to appreciate their present joy. Maybe it is they who grieve for us. Remember what the Bible says: “Rejoice, and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great” (Matthew 5:12).

Apple Cinnamon Cake

Photo by Susie Reuter

Here is one more apple recipe for the end of the season! This recipe is by Mrs. Donald Hill, which was published in the 1971 cookbook from St. Paul Lutheran church in Monroe, New York. I have loved this cake since I was a little girl, and was about 8 years old when I started making it myself. Tart apples,  sweet raisins, and walnuts join together to make a sweet and savory dessert. I usually double the recipe and make it in a 9 x 13 cake pan.

3 medium, tart apples
1 cup sugar
1  1/4  cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1 stick butter, melted
1 egg
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Core and coarsely chop the apples into a large bowl. Add sugar; let stand 10 minutes. In the mean time, sift the flour, soda, salt, and spices together. Blend butter and egg into apples, Add flour mixture, stir until thoroughly blended. Fold in raisins and nuts. Pour into greased 8-inch square cake pan, the batter will be thick. Bake for 50-55 minutes, until top center of cake springs back when pressed lightly with your finger. Let cool before cutting. Serves 9-12.

A Visit with Joanne Klinger

 Joanne Klinger (no photo available) and co-author, Yvonne Partyka, recently released, Surviving Shattered Dreams: A Story of Hope After Despair (Winepress, 2009). Both women were married to pastors who, unknown to them, led double lives that plunged their churches and families into destruction. In addition to being a church administrator, Joanne speaks to women’s groups, teaches Bible studies, and conducts storytelling workshops.To take advantage of her Book Give-away, see below.

Maybe I Should Just Die…

…I heard his voice but it sounded far away. My response was what it always was when Greg began to attack me verbally—I shut down inside and could not speak or think, just wait until he was through. I did have presence of mind enough this time to ask our 21-year-old daughter, Emily, to please come into the room and listen to what her father was saying. Greg was in such an irrational state by this time he didn’t even notice she was there.

“I may as well give up trying to have any kind of ministry.” His voice was accusing and angry and he fired his words at me like rapid gunshots. “Every time I get something going, you leave and it all goes out the window. We are supposed to be a team, but you constantly change your mind and turn against me.”

He was blaming me for everything that had happened to us—the loss of our ministry, the loss of our home and his inability to pastor any church—because in the past 10 years I had left him three times.

“I’m going for a walk.” As abruptly as he had started the verbal accusations, he stopped and left the house.

Turning to Emily I said in a voice filled with hopelessness, “If he is right then I’m nothing but a worm, not even worthy of living—I think I’m crazy. Maybe I should just die.”

She grabbed my shoulders and said urgently with horror on her face, “Mom, it’s not you, it’s him. You are not crazy.” She persisted until realization swept over me that once again I had almost allowed his attack to destroy me.

It came to me then that I could not stay in this marriage. For 25 years I had endured these verbal attacks, temper outbursts, lying, justifying an affair and hiding pornography. I had left three times before but then returned thinking that if I could just be a better wife I could hold this marriage together. Greg could then stay in the ministry that he always insisted God had called him to do.

This time I knew that leaving meant I would not return to my marriage. Growing up in a pastor’s family, I had thought life would always be like my happy, contented childhood. Thank goodness when I asked Jesus Christ to be my Savior and live His life through me, He knew the path to a strong faith would not be an easy one. Today I can say that God’s faithfulness and love brought me through some of the darkest days of my life.

BOOK GIVE-AWAY: Leave a comment about this book excerpt, and you will be entered into a drawing for a free copy of Surviving Shattered Dreams.

 

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