TASTING GRACE – A Mentoring Ministry in the Kitchen!

April 30, 2015 12:57 PM 6

Psalm 34:8
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Even with all the ways for people to connect through social media nowadays, nothing replaces a face-to-face conversation. And there is something REALLY special about gathering around a good meal at the table. TASTING GRACE wants to do just that! TASTING GRACE is a new ministry of encouragement for women of all ages to connect and share together while learning cooking (and life) skills. My sweet friend Jan Hamil and I are so enjoying this outreach. The book of Titus exhorts the older women to teach the young! We get together and cook and talk and laugh and share. I’ve heard many women say over the years that the “quilting bees” of long ago were good for women to share and connect, and it wasn’t all about the quilting! Women need women like never before in our social media driven society. I’m thankful to have the blessing of sharing my life’s experiences (and love for cooking) with these precious young women. When I was a young pastor’s wife I had the same blessings from older women in my life, but we didn’t know it was mentoring. We were just doing life and it happened along the way, nothing forced or organized. It was just the pure joy of coming alongside another woman to be an encourager. You can’t get that from a computer screen, or texting, or an iPhone chat. I certainly don’t want to take away from modern technology, because I sure do love my convection oven, Kitchen Aid stand mixer, dishwasher, and air conditioning! We wouldn’t have had nearly as much fun at TASTING GRACE if we’d had to chop wood to load the stove before making these biscuits! Can I get a witness? 🙂 But these are GIRLs – Girlfriends In Real Life!

These pictures are from my church’s (Second Baptist)   April 11, 2015 session of TASTING GRACE in one of our big old church kitchens. Learning to make homemade biscuits was on the menu. [Our Winter session included two different soups, cornbread, and a delicious Honeybun Cake.] Our devotional was from John 6 where Jesus talks about the True Bread of Life! We are meeting again in July and October also with much deliciousness and delightful conversations planned.

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TASTE & SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

GRANJAN

 

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April 30, 2015 12:57 PM 6

Cream Cheese Pound Cake – Recipe

February 16, 2015 9:12 PM 2

Yesterday was my sweet husband’s birthday and that man of mine dearly loves a pound cake, so I made a special one for him using my heart-shaped pan. You can order one for yourself by visiting this Williams-Sonoma Site.IMG_8978

RECIPE
Cream Cheese Pound Cake
3 sticks butter (softened – room temperature)
1 8-ounce block of cream cheese (softened – room temperature)
3 cups of sugar
6 large eggs (room temperature)
1 Tablespoon vanilla
3 cups White Lily all purpose flour (sifted)

1. Butter and flour the pan generously. [I used Butter Flavor Crisco, but Baker’s JOY spray is my go-to.]
IMG_8993

2. Whip softened butter and cream cheese well, then add sugar and beat at medium speed for 3 minutes, until light and fluffy.
[I LOVE THIS MIXER. It literally makes me so happy to use it. Baking becomes an EVENT, not a routine thing. And celebrating my wonderful husband’s birthday and love for pound cake is an event in itself! AND did I mention it was also Valentine’s Day while I was baking?]IMG_8990

3. Add eggs one at a time, mixing after each addition.

4. Add vanilla.

5. Lower mixer speed, and slowly add sifted flour.

6. Pour batter into pan. (It is a thick batter, so it is more of a “spooning” into the pan.)IMG_89917. Place in a cold oven and set temperature to 300 degrees. Bake for 1 and 1/2 hours.

There was too much batter for this pan, so the cake began to rise over the top of the pan…  WOW! It rose so high I literally sliced the top off before I turned the cake out of the pan! Gary loved eating that buttery crunchy top. IMG_8992

8. Let cake cool about 10 minutes in pan and then gently turn onto a platter or cake plate.

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband, Gary. I love him so much and I’m so thankful he loves my cooking and is enjoying his pound cake. These are the beautiful pink roses he gave me for Valentine’s Day. He had them waiting at the table when we went out to dinner.IMG_8979

I close with this beautiful picture of the clouds set in the shape of a heart framed by the valley and mountains. Enjoy your loved ones, make time to bake their favorites and celebrate love and family. Each day is a gift and treasure from the Good Lord.IMG_8994

Job 37:16 (NLT)
Do you understand how he moves the clouds
    with wonderful perfection and skill?

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February 16, 2015 9:12 PM 2

Blackberry Cobbler & 37 Years of Marriage!

June 15, 2014 8:49 PM 1

Cobbler

It’s been a great week – Gary and I celebrated 37 years of marriage this past Wednesday on June 11th.  I’m thankful for my sweet husband…for the way he leads and loves. I had no idea as a young 19-year-old bride what a great man he was. I just knew I loved him and wanted to be his wife. God in His great plan for me unfolded a happy home that now includes two sons, two daughters-in-love, and five amazing grandchildren.  All because two young people fell in love and got married.  Here we are…about to begin our journey.  We’d only just begun…  I wish you could see Gary’s baby blue leisure suit because it matched the baby blue Pinto car.  He was also very proud of his white patent leather boots that matched his wide white belt.  And the platform wedge shoes I had on? They are back in style today!

PINTO

Today before church the discussion turned to cobblers as a group of us ladies were in the choir room.  Some of us cook the fruit, some don’t, some of us sweeten the fruit, some don’t.  All I know is last night I made a blackberry cobbler that my husband told me was the BEST I HAD EVER MADE! So I wanted to share my recipe that happens to be the way my mama and my Granny also made cobblers.  Starting with these beautiful berries right from my garden sure made it even more wonderful!

Blackberries

BowlofBerries

I have posted my recipe for CHOCOLATE COBBLER on my blog as well as my recipe for PEACH COBBLER if you want to see those recipes.  The blackberry cobbler recipe below is identical to the peach cobbler recipe, but I didn’t take pictures while making it last night as our “Father’s Day Celebration” grew and Gran Jan had to hurry! [First it was just me and Gary and my mom and dad. Then my younger sister Jo called and had a change of plans, so she came. Next we heard from our son Jonathan and he and his wife and two children came, so the party of four quickly turned into a party of 9!]  It was great except for I sure missed my Cartersville Crew…

BLACKBERRY COBBLER – 9″ x 13″ casserole dish or 12″ cast iron skillet

FRUIT
4 cups of fresh blackberries
2 cups of water
1 cup of sugar

CRUST – the good part!
1 and 1/2 sticks of butter
1 and 1/2 cups of self-rising flour (I use White Lily)
1 and 1/2 cups of sugar 
1 and 1/2 cups of whole milk 
1. Pre-heat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Put the 1 1/2 sticks of butter into your 9×13 baking dish or a 12″ cast iron skillet (my preference), and slide into the oven to melt completely.
3. Rinse the blackberries and check them to remove leaves, stems, etc., drain well.
4. Now make a “simple syrup” by bringing the 2 cups of water and 1 cup of sugar to a boil until the sugar dissolves. Stir well.
5. Add the blackberries to the simple syrup and simmer 4-5 minutes.
6. After simmering, remove the blackberries/simple syrup pan from the heat and set aside.
7. Now take a wire whisk and mix the self-rising flour and sugar well, removing ALL lumps! 
8. Then pour the 1 1/2 cups of milk to the sugar/flour and whisk until creamy. It will be thin – that is fine! Just make sure it is mixed well – no lumps. No lumps! 
9, Remove the baking dish with the hot melted butter from the oven, and gently pour the flour/sugar/milk “batter” over the melted butter in the pan. DO NOT STIR the batter into the butter.  I repeat – DO NOT STIR!
10. Now spoon your simmered blackberries over the batter so they are evenly placed. Gently pour in the simple syrup. DO NOT STIR! You don’t have to use all the syrup, but trust me, it will be so good if you do! The cobbler will be juicy and not dry.
11. Slide the 9 x 13 casserole or skillet into your pre-heated oven and bake until bubbly and browned on top, about 45 minutes.
The Beautiful Crust (it deserves to be capitalized) will rise up through the berries and will be so delicious!
Serve warm and topped with vanilla ice cream.
This has been a great weekend that began Saturday morning with coffee on the front porch and ended this evening with sitting in the swing by the pond while Gary fished a bit off the bank. There was also blackberry cobbler making, an awesome time of worship at church, playing with grandkids, honoring my dad and husband for Father’s Day today, and even weeding the garden! Life’s simple pleasures really are the best, so don’t forget that vanilla ice cream on the cobbler… 
GRANJAN
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June 15, 2014 8:49 PM 1

Jalepeno Cornbread Recipe

January 21, 2014 10:19 AM 0
Muffins-Tin
Muffins-Plate

I love cornbread and I love spicy food. So jalepeno cornbread is my favorite as I especially love jalepeno peppers. When I make this cornbread, I add in lots of chopped pickled jalepenos.  My recipe makes 12 muffins or a 10-12″ cast iron skillet of cornbread.

Gran Jan’s Jalapeño Cornbread

Ingredients:

  • 2 beaten eggs
  • ¼ Cup corn oil
  • 1 Cup buttermilk
  • 1  medium to large onion, diced
  • 1 14.5 ounce can of creamed corn
  • 2 Cups self-rising cornmeal – White Lily preferred
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese (freshly grated)
  • 4-5 Tablespoons of diced pickled or fresh jalapeños (or less or more)

Prepare:
1.  Mix eggs and oil together, whisking until well blended.
2.  Pour in buttermilk, add diced onion, and then fold in creamed corn.
3.  Next add cornmeal and stir well. 
4.  Lastly, add shredded cheese and diced jalapeños. 
5.  Bake in a 450 degree pre-heated oven for about 25-30 minutes. Batter will be thick. You won’t be able to “pour” it out into the skillet, but it should not be too thick. You can add a splash of buttermilk if it seems too thick. You will learn the right consistency in time.

BAKING OPTIONS: Use a muffin tin or a cast-iron skillet.

You may pour about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of the batter into each tin of a greased muffin tin (makes 12), or use a  good old Southern cast-iron skillet two ways:

First and “easier/safer” is to grease your skillet with solid Crisco shortening and then sprinkle it with cormeal and scrape the batter from your mixing bowl into the cold skillet to bake, OR:

you can pre-heat your skillet with oil or shortening in the oven or on the stovetop until the oil is hot and “glistening.” When you scrape the cornbread batter into the skllet, it will sizzle and be so crunchy. Be so careful handling that hot skillet. I like to pre-heat my skillet on the stovetop so I only have to move it in and out of the oven one time! Skillets are heavy – be careful!

Jalepeno cornbread is so good with chili, soup, stew, or my favorite…a bowl of either pinto beans, great northern beans, or black-eyed peas!

I hope you make some soon!
GRAN JAN

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January 21, 2014 10:19 AM 0

Thankfulness Giveaway!

November 22, 2013 8:59 AM 23

ThankfulPumpkinThanksgiving is very special to me – so wonderfully uncluttered…if you don’t count my kitchen while I’m in there cooking up a storm! (I’m a messy cook, but a good one…according to my husband and sons).  I treasure the simplicity of what Thanksgiving stands for: thankful hearts, grateful hearts, family time, and delicious food. Thanksgiving isn’t ruined with commercialization by the media (only because marketing for Christmas begins in August and that is where their focus is). I love to celebrate one holiday at a time – and I want to savor Thanksgiving before I begin the countdown to Christmas.

I celebrated my birthday last Saturday (November 16) and it was a good one! While counting my blessings I decided to host a giveaway here on my blog! The gift is a wonderful book by Liz Curtis Higgs entitled “The Women of Christmas.”  I’ve given copies to my mom, by dear friend Lanie and I have one for YOU too!TheWomenOfChristmasTo enter the giveway, all you need to do is leave a comment below and tell me about your favorite Thanksgiving tradition or food.  I will take comments through Thanksgiving Day.  A winner will be randomly selected, and I will get your book in the mail right away! I want you to be able to savor this joyous time of year that we celebrate Emmanuel, God With Us.  I’m so thankful He is with us every moment of every day.  Another reason I love Thanksgiving: EVERY DAY is Thanksgiving when you live with a grateful heart and count your blessings and realize it’s all grace.

Let Every Heart Prepare Him Room,

Thankful

 

 

Jan

PS: Make sure to leave your email in your post so I may get in touch with you if you WIN!

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November 22, 2013 8:59 AM 23

Tomato Sandwich – Southern Summer Staple!

June 29, 2013 3:58 PM 1

Summertime in the South is wonderful with all the delicious fresh fruits and vegetables we enjoy…corn, okra, watermelon, butter beans, squash, cucumbers, blueberries, zipper peas, peppers, blackberries, cantaloupe, zucchini, peaches, green beans, purple hull peas, and of course, THE TOMATO! I planted 10 tomato plants this year in my garden. Below are the different varieties…Early Girl, Husky Red Cherry, Super Fantastic, Goliath, Big Beef, Park’s Whopper, and Better Boy. What fun names!
TomatoVarietiesWe had four ripe tomtatoes this week, and today for lunch I enjoyed eating my first tomato sandwich of the Summer of 2013. 🙂
TomatoSandwichFollowing is the “recipe” for a truly Southern delicacy, a tomato sandwich:
Ingredients:
Vine-ripened tomatoes
Mayonnaise (preferably Hellmans)
White bread (a must, although I did use “white wheat”)
Salt and Pepper

Directions:
1. Remove core from tomato and then slice.
2. Put mayonnaise on BOTH slices of the bread.
3. Carefully place tomatoes on bread, overlap if at all possible.
4. Salt and pepper the tomato slices.
5. Put one piece of bread on top of the other.
6. Carefully lean over the kitchen sink with your sandwich.
7. Say the blessing and thank God for your delicious tomato sandwich.
8. Take a bite and then let the juice run down your chin…

Happy Summer!

GRANJAN

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June 29, 2013 3:58 PM 1

Spring 2013 – Lots of Living Being Lived!

June 10, 2013 11:12 PM 10

So much “living has been lived” since I blogged a month ago! Life is good because God is good, He is always good. He continues to faithfully reveal His love to me in wonderful ways. I take pictures all the time with my iPhone camera, so I really want to let my pictures do the blogging for me…as I did when I was counting grace gifts to 1,000 here on my blog the past two years. There have been lots of celebrations this month in our family! My life continues again with familiar themes of faith, family, fun,  farm, and always of course…the flowers…

FAITH
June 1st marked a very special day for my husband and me – the 25th anniversary of  ministry at our wonderful church! Our church family gave us a love offering and a paid vacation trip of our choosing.  Last night (June 9th) we celebrated with a reception and so many memories flooded our hearts. They are precious people, a  loving and generous church family. God surely blessed us when He led us there with our two little boys 25 years ago…1989-MortonFamily25 Years

I was blessed to serve on the planning team for the recent Living Proof Life event in Atlanta. My church had 76 ladies attend and we had a wonderful time.  Beth Moore and Travis Cottrell make a great team as the Word was shared and the Worship was divine. The last session was a celebratory time of responsive reading, singing, praying, and dedication like nothing I’ve ever experienced – unprecedented for one of the LPL events.  So thankful for the time I shared with friends there.

This group of ladies with our fearless leader Mandy Parker were tremendous servants.
(Mandy is in the white blouse kneeling on the first row.)LPL Team

LPL2013

My friend Sophie Hudson, author of this book below, “A Little Salty to Cut the Sweet” was at the conference  (on the far right in the picture above).  She is a genuine, precious woman of faith.  I LOVE HER and this book is one I will re-read and go to often. She loves her family, her Southern heritage, and I so get her.  She is one of the blessings that have come to  me from “the internets.” Sophie'sBook

FAMILY & FUN
May is the month my two middle grandchildren celebrate their birthdays exactly two weeks apart! They each celebrated their 3rd birthdays with sweet parties planned by my daughters-in-law.  Madie had a “Bubblegum Party” theme (since she is now allowed to have bubble gum), and Jackson had a “Jake the Pirate Party.”  They each had so much fun at each others’ parties with family and friends, and Gran Jan had fun making the birthday shirts they wore at their parties.  Here are the hugging cousins at Madie’s party…it just doesn’t get any sweeter!HuggingCousins

Here is the Birthday Princess wearing her “#3 Bubble Gum Machine” shirt made with love by Gran Jan.  She is a sweet girl!Madie-3

Here is Jackson’s  “#3 Pirate Birthday” shirt made with love by Gran Jan.Jacksons3

My daughter-in-law Carrie took this picture of Zeke and Madie on their last day of playschool.  She couldn’t have captured a sweeter moment! It is perfection and I’m so thankful to have it here to share with you.  One of my favorite pictures ever. I pray these two will always be there for each other…nothing like siblings!ZandM

We also celebrated my nephew Payton’s graduation from high school on May 25th with a HUGE FAMILY GATHERING complete with matching “Maloy Family” shirts compliments of my sister Joan. We enjoyed delicious King Crab and all the trimmings at the “Crab Fest 2013.”  It was so great to have everyone together and my daughter-in-law Erin has great skills for setting up a photography shoot! Crabfest2013

Both my boys have celebrated wedding anniversaries recently…Jeremy & Carrie celebrated 9 years May 22nd and Jonathan and Erin celebrated 5 years on June 7th.  NO GREATER JOY for this mom than to see my sons and daughters-in-law building homes together!JandC

JandE

Zeke played tee-ball with Upward Sports Ministries at our church this Spring and we had a great time watching him “play ball!”
My son was one of the coaches and we enjoyed watching him too! 🙂Zeke-TeeBall

Little Miss Emery is now 8 months old and brings everyone JOY with her sweet and precious disposition. She is a GOOD GIRL!Emery 8 monthsEmeryandMe

Grandbaby #5, our gender tie-breaker! (We have 2 grandsons and 2 granddaughters.)
We love you already and can’t wait to meet you in just under  3 months. TieBreaker

Mother’s Day 2013 was special and I’m thankful for my boys’ wives who gave me great gifts – pretty red jewelry from Carrie and this photo collage flowerpot that Erin put together with all the grandchildren’s pictures around the whole pot! I love it!PhotoPot

Today is Memama Morton’s 91st Birthday. She is the Morton Family Matriarch and the best mother-in-law this daughter-in-law could ever have.  She loved me from the start, she prays for our family, and she has never once “interfered” with our lives.  I pray I can be as good to my daughters-in-law as she has been to me. We love you so much Memama! Memama91


FLOWERS!
We’ve had a great Spring 2013. The weather has been cool and rainy, my flowers and garden are flourishing, and best of all
God’s tender mercies are new every morning…image

Daylilies… MidnightMagic

PurpleJoyJan'sTwisterGlorious gardenias and roses…GardeniasRedMrLincoln My “Blushing Bride” Hydrangeas…BlushingBrideHydrangea

Blackberries…Blackberries

Wonderful sweet-smelling Confederate Jasmine over the spring arbor…Jasmine

As I close this post tonight, I am thinking toward a very special day, the most special day a man and woman can celebrate.  Tomorrow is our 36th wedding anniversary.  Gary and I began our lives together 6-11-1977. God has blessed us with a wonderful family, a fruitful ministry, and a solid marriage based on trust and love. I am so thankful that 36 years ago as a young (way too young to be getting married) 19 year old woman that God knew what I needed and provided you for me when I didn’t even know He was taking care of me.  I love you Gary – and my love for you is stronger than ever. Being your wife has been my life’s greatest joy.  Thank you for taking such good care of me… even going to the blueberry garden early in the morning last week to pick blueberries for my yogurt.  You’re a fine man and I’m one spoiled, blessed woman!GaryPickingBlueberries61177

Love to all of you and thank you for reading all the way to the end…life’s SIMPLE JOYS are really the best,
and only made sweeter when surrounded by the love of Christ.

GRANJAN

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June 10, 2013 11:12 PM 10
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