familiesforhim.com » Recipes

St. Patrick…..Worthy of Celebrating!

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:52:26 +0000

Patrick was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387. In his sixteenth year, Patrick was carried off into captivity by Irish marauders where for six years he tended his master’s flocks. He relates in his “Confessio” that during his captivity while tending the flocks he prayed many times in the day:

“the love of God”, he added, “and His fear increased in me more and more, and the faith grew in me and the spirit was roused, so that, in a single day, I have said as many as a hundred prayers , and in the night nearly the same, so that whilst in the woods and on the mountain, even before the dawn, I was roused to prayer and felt no hurt from it, whether there was snow or ice or rain; nor was there any slothfulness in me, such as I see now, because the spirit was then fervent within me.”

After escaping to Britain, Patrick reported that he experienced a second revelation-an angel in a dream tells him to return to Ireland as a missionary. He returned where he devoted his life to teaching the Irish people about Christianity. He is credited with beginning over 300 churches and schools. Clearly, Patrick is a Joseph-like example of a man sold into slavery who later impacted the world.

St. Patrick’s Day Ideas

Shamrocks – Use a 3 leaf shamrock to describe the Trinity: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.
Irish Floats – Make “Irish Floats” for your family. Scoop lime sherbet into parfait glasses. Top with Sprite or your favorite lemon-lime soda.
Key Lime Cake – The green layers in this cake are great for celebrating the Green!

Key Lime Cake

1 ½ c. Sugar

1 (3 oz.) Lime Jello

5 Eggs

1 ½ c. Oil

½ t. Vanilla

1 t. Lemon Extract

2 c. All-Purpose Flour

½ t. Salt

½ t. Baking Soda

1 t. Baking Powder

¾ c. Orange Juice

Sift flour, salt, baking soda and baking powder together. Mix the oil and sugar and lime jello together. Add eggs, beating well after each. Add vanilla and lemon extract. Alternate adding flour mixture and orange juice, mixing well after each. Cut three wax paper inserts to fit three round cake pans. Grease the pans with Baker’s Joy then insert wax paper liner. Pour batter into the pans then bake at 350 degrees for 30 – 40 minutes.

Glaze

After baking layers, mix:

½ c. Lime Juice

1/3 c Confectioners Sugar

Leave layers in the pans. Prick warm cake with a fork then pour glaze over each layer. Allow layers to cool completely.

Frosting

1 (8 oz.) Cream Cheese

1 stick Margarine

4 c. Confectioners Sugar

1 t. Vanilla

1 c. Chopped Pecans

Mix all ingredients. Remove wax paper from cake layers. Frost between layers then the sides then the top.

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole…The Perfect Meal on Wheels!

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 18:50:02 +0000

“Of course, I’d love to bring a meal.”……..This statement comes out of a southern woman’s mouth as quickly as “Bless your heart!” We bring meals for every occasion…..birth of a child, sickness, funerals, moving into a new home, beginning a new job….the list is limitless. Even if you don’t like to cook, develop one or two recipes as your “meal on wheels” when an occasion arises.

I have found that Chicken Wild Rice Casserole is my favorite “to go” recipe. I usually keep the ingredients on hand so that my prep time does not include a trip to the grocery store. This recipe also lends itself to doubling the ingredients…..You might as well feed your family also! If you really want to be prepared, make two casseroles and freeze them. “Bonus meals” in your freezer will bless your family and impress your friends.

Chicken Wild Rice Casserole

6 – 8 Chicken Breasts ½ c. Margarine

Water 1 (8oz.) package sliced Mushrooms

1 c. White Cooking Wine ½ c. Celery, chopped

½ t. Salt 1 (8oz.) Sour Cream

½ t. Curry 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup

2 boxes of Uncle Ben’s Wild Rice Shredded cheddar cheese

Boil chicken in water, white wine, salt and curry. Cook rice according to package directions except use half each stock and water. Chop chicken. Cook celery and mushrooms in margarine. Mix all ingredients. Top with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 – 50 minutes.

Tip: As you mix the casserole, make sure that it has a moist consistency. Extra water may be added to achieve the desired result. Casserole freezes well.

Speed Tip: If time does not permit cooking the chicken, omit the first step. Buy a rotisserie chicken from the grocery store and chop. When cooking the rice, use one can of chicken broth as a portion of the water to give added flavor to the casserole.

I hope you enjoy this recipe as you minister to others!

There are even more recipes and time saving tips in the 2010 Family Organizer. It’s not just a calendar!

Homemade Hot Chocolate……the Recipe for Winter Fellowship

Fri, 12 Feb 2010 18:35:05 +0000

Snow doesn’t often come to Alabama so “snow preparation” includes making sure that we have all of the ingredients for Leigh’s Hot Chocolate recipe. The first time I made this, snow fell on Alabama. We lived on a street filled with children. I made pots of this delicious winter treat and served it on my porch to neighbors chilled by the outdoor games…..We still talk about this special time and the memories that we made that day. Enjoy the winter wonderland and the fellowship!

Leigh’s Hot Chocolate

½ c. Sugar 1/3 c. Hot Water

¼ c. Hershey’s Cocoa 4 c. Milk

Dash Salt ¾ t. Vanilla

Mix sugar, cocoa and salt in saucepan; stir in water. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture boils; boil and stir for two minutes. Stir in milk and heat. Do not boil. Remove from heat then add vanilla.