September 2006
Dear Friends,

I hope you have enjoyed the summer! Perhaps you tried the ice cream in a bag recipe from last month’s Online Letter. A web visitor from the U.K. wrote with a very good question: “What is half and half?” That is a dairy product which is half cream and half milk, commonly sold in pints and quarts here in the U.S. It’s a great way to get most of the thick creamy benefits of cream but with less fat and calories. If you were to make the ice cream with only milk, it would taste watery, more like ice milk. If you don’t have a “half and half” dairy product where you live, you can substitute a mixture of half cream and half milk and you should get the same results. Use a higher ratio of cream if you want a richer, creamier ice cream (and don’t mind the additional fat and calories).

In July I shared my mother-in-law’s memories of growing up in the early 1900’s. Menus were simpler back then, and sweets were few. Many thanks to Lisa H. in Oregon who shared one of her family’s favorite recipes from 1910! Her great-grandma’s recipe for Banana Fritters is still one her children enjoy today. Although the recipe says to deep fry the fritters, you should be able to fry them in a skillet with an inch or so of oil, and then turn them over to brown the other side.

Banana Fritters
3 bananas, mashed fine
1 Cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
2 Tablespoons sugar
¼ teaspoon salt
1/3 Cup milk
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 egg, lightly beaten

Powdered (Confectioner’s) Sugar for topping

Mix the flour and other dry ingredients. In another bowl, mix the milk, lemon juice and egg. Add milk mixture and bananas to dry ingredients. Stir only until blended. Drop by spoonfuls into deep fat and fry. Drain on paper towels; sprinkle with powdered sugar.

A few weeks ago I received a copy of a new book, Queen of the Castle, by Lynn Bowen Walker. Oh my, was I blessed as I read it, and I think you will be, too. The subtitle of the book is: “52 weeks of encouragement for the uninspired, domestically challenged, or just plain tired homemaker.” This book will encourage all of us, whether you’re tired, or feel on top of things at home. Honestly, it is one of the best books I’ve read in a very long time! Although the book is divided into 52 weeks, I read through most of the entire year and found myself laughing and learning at the same time. In between all the useful advice, Lynn shares “Chocolate Breaks” - some great chocolate recipes including one for Chocolate “Crookies” that I reprint below. Sounds quick and wonderful

With Lynn’s permission, let me share a little of her book from Week 37: “Schedules (or, Which of the 568 Volunteer Opportunities Should I Sign Up For?).

Lynn writes that September feels like the beginning of the new year with a new school year and so many new activities beginning for the children. “Can the kids really handle flag football and still stay on top of their homework? Do they have time (and motivation) to practice those trumpet lessons we’re considering? Are we pursuing an activity for them because everyone we know is signing up, or does the activity really reflect their natural ‘bent?’

“We need to count the cost as a family, too, recognizing that a yes to one activity means a no to other things. I get myself in the most trouble when I forget to pray, when I forget to ask God for His guidance in our schedule. I need wisdom in steering not only my children’s activities buy my own, as well.

“So many choices, and all good ones.

“Some years I have overvolunteered, excited at the opportunities to serve and to try new things. In the end, I learned being room mom/soccer mom/field-trip mom/Sunday School mom, all in the same year, made me not super mom but super crabby mom. Hours I should have spent shopping for groceries were given away to other causes.

“So now I try to be prudent in my volunteering. I’ve cut back on church commitments that took me away from my family too many evenings when I should have been home helping the kids study for a science test. I’m trying to be wiser with my time. Because if I’m elected volunteer of the year but neglect to feed my family a decent dinner this fall, I’m spending too much of my energy in the wrong place.”

Amen, sister! Yes, I think we’ve all been there. We’ve said “yes” to too many good things and missed our Lord’s best. At times I’ve been guilty too of being too much like Martha, rarely like Mary. And, sometimes, I’ve paid a heavy price for my decisions: exhaustion, stress, illness, not enough time for my Lord, my husband and family. We do reap what we sow, and eventually our frantic pace will catch up to us.

A few years ago I realized that often I succumbed to peer pressure. Yes, that pressure we so often tell our children to rise above! I said “yes” to too many opportunities and activities because someone at church, or a friend asked me to, or told me that I was the “only” person who could do the job, etc. etc. Now I have learned not to give an immediate answer, but to take time to take the matter before the Lord in prayer, and to my husband for his wise advice. Then I look at the calendar and carefully consider what impact the new activity will have on our family life.

In the margins of Lynn’s book, she shares helpful quotes. Here’s one that I like from Sandra Felton, author of The Messie’s Manual: “Vegetables that are planted too close together jam each other so tightly that none develop properly. In order to have full, healthy vegetables, some good plants have got to go to leave room for the others. Some of us have so much jammed together that none of our activities are really producing well. The quality of life improves as the quantity of activities is reduced, if we have overscheduled ourselves.”

Each week, Lynn shares two new words to increase our vocabulary. She uses each in sentences that always make me smile. One of the words for Week 37 is “Chary” meaning, careful or wary. As in, “If our family is not chary of overscheduling ourselves this school year, we will hardly recognize each other by the time Christmas comes!”

Here are just a few of the other topics you’ll find in “Queen of the Castle:” Giving Homemaking our Best, Fostering our Health, Delighting in the King: Building Healthy Spiritual Habits, In Search of a Peaceful Home, Chore Time: Training the Children, The Queen is Rejuvenating: Nurturing Ourselves, Feasting on Fruit, The Bountiful Garden, How Can I Make Dinner When I’m Always in the Car? Dinnertime Solutions, Keeping Christ in Christmas, Slow Down,” and so much more!

Thanks, Lynn, for a terrific book that has certainly blessed me. If you would like to read more excerpts from “Queen of the Castle” or to order the book, go to the Search Box in the bottom of our sidebar on the left. Type “Queen of the Castle” in the box, click “Go” and you can read more about the book at Christian Book Distributors. This 300+ page book retails for $15.99; CBD price is $11.99.

Here is Lynn’s recipe for “Crookies”. Lynn says this is a wonderful Christmas candy that makes a great gift and takes only a few minutes to make.

Crookies From “Queen of the Castle,” Used with Permission.

On baking sheet, spread out:
1 sleeve of Saltine crackers

In small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt:
1 stick of butter (1/2 Cup)
1 Cup brown sugar

Once the mixture is gooey, pour evenly over crackers. Bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, until bubbly. Remove from the oven, and sprinkle on top:
2 Cups chocolate chips

As the chocolate melts, spread it with the back of a spoon. Pop into the refrigerator until set, then cut apart the candy and put into gift containers, if desired.

I hope you enjoy the recipes for these treats. Yes, they have fat and sugar! Use treats such as the Banana Fritters, or Crookies sparingly. Have plenty of fresh fruit, veggies with a little dip, and other nutritious snacks on hand so your family has a variety of healthy choices.

Yours in Him,

 

Copyright, 2006, Laurie Latour.  www.FutureChristianHomemakers.com

You may make one printed copy for your own personal, private use.  FCH leaders may make one printed copy for each person in their group.  Copyright line above must be included in all copies.  Permission for any other use must be requested in writing. 
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