Mandarin Orange Cake

My favorite light summer cake. Simple and delicious. Start with a cake mix, add a little of this and a pinch of that and you have cool luscious cake. Great for a potluck or a family dinner.

Assemble your ingredients

Cake:Combine cake mix, eggs, oil and undrained oranges.

Mix just enough to incorporate all ingredients well.

Pour into greased 9 x 13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes
or until toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

For Topping: Combine the dry vanilla pudding powder
 with crushed pineapple. 

 Mix enough to incorporate all the ingredients well.

Fold in Cool Whip.

Spread over cooled cake. Store in refrigerator.

Mandarin Orange Cake:

Cake:

1 large cake mix, either butter-flavored or yellow cake

½ cup oil

4 eggs

11-ounce can mandarin oranges, undrained

Topping:

3-ounce box vanilla instant pudding powder

8-ounce container of Cool Whip

20-ounce can crushed pineapple, undrained

Directions:

Cake: Combine dry cake mix, ½ cup oil, 4 eggs, and the undrained can of mandarin oranges. Mix just enough to incorporate all ingredients well.
For layer cake, pour the batter into 3 round 9-inch cake pans lined with waxed paper or parchment paper. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.
If you want a loaf cake, pour the batter into a greased 9x13 baking pan and bake at 350 degrees (glass pan 325 degrees) for 25 – 30 minutes.

Topping: Combine the dry vanilla pudding powder with crushed pineapple. Fold in Cool Whip. Mix enough to incorporate all the ingredients well.

If making a layer cake: Spread the topping just between the layers and on the top of the cake.

If a loaf cake: Spread the topping over the entire top of the cake.

Store in the refrigerator

Great for breakfast too! What? It's got eggs and fruit in it!

SUICIDE SURVIVOR

I hadn't talked to my older sister in six months to a year, but she called to wish me a happy birthday. She sounded anxious and flustered. I could hear the wind in the phone and the crunch of gravel as she paced.

“Randa, are you okay?” I asked after a minute of pleasantries. 

"No, not really. After I lost my job at Wal-Mart, I got a job helping emotionally challenged kids. I thought I could make a difference. I understand what they go through. The director said I wasn’t the fit they were looking for and let me go. I don’t know what I’m going to do now.

I’ve been clean and sober for two years, but it is so hard to stay that way. I don’t have any support at home. My husband says it’s his house and if he wants a drink, he’s going to have it,” her voice broke.

Alarmed, I asked, “Randa, are you on your medication for bi-polar disorder?”

“No, I can’t afford it without a job or insurance.”

“Honey, you’ve got to get some help. I can’t do anything from Texas. Is there anyone in Kansas I can call for you?”

“I’ll be fine. Talking to you helps,” she continued to pace.

“Lace, do you think God will forgive me for all the things I’ve done?” she asked.

“Don’t you know He only forgives the perfect people?” I responded. She guffawed. I teased her because we’d had this conversation before. I knew she knew the answer, but it worked to break the tension.

“Randa, no one is perfect. If I gave you a beautifully wrapped gift would you open it or would you put it on a shelf and wonder if it was for you?”

“I’d open it, of course,” she said.

“God’s forgiveness is the same. It was yours the first time you asked for it, but you’ve placed it on a shelf. Open the gift, Randa!"

I assured her of God’s unconditional love and begged her to get some help. She assured me she would be fine. I should have called her husband or sons and thrown a fit, but I didn’t want to interfere.

Last family photo, November 2003. Randa is in the middle of the front row.

    Five weeks later on October 2, 2004, my mother called with the news. In good spirits that morning, Randa had fixed a big breakfast for her husband. They sat and chatted before she saw him off to work with a goodbye kiss. He was clueless to her plan. 
     Her 32-year-old son was living in the basement of their home at the time. He had spent the night out and ran home before work to pick-up a few things. Entering the house, he called out for his mom, but got no answer. He ran downstairs to grab a clean shirt and saw Randa’s little Boston Terrier lying at the end of the bed. As he started back up the stairs, he called to her. She didn’t respond. Her eyes focused on the other side of the bed. He walked back downstairs and around the bed to see his mother’s lifeless body on the floor. She had used his gun to end her life. She was only 52 years-old.

     Today, I’d like to shine some light on the subject of suicide and depression. Every year at this time a spirit of depression descends on our entire family. It affects not just my parents and Randa’s three sons, but my siblings and my children.

     I have a wonderful life and do not consider myself depressed. I was surprised to recognize some of the symptoms listed below in myself. My doctor however explained it as a chemical imbalance and prescribed a low dosage of an antidepressant. I am amazed how the cloud in my brain has lifted. I no longer wake-up to a barrage of negative, self-defeating thoughts and my energy has returned. My only side-affect seems to be a dry mouth. It is totally worth it for the clarity which has been restored to me. I thank God for giving man the intelligence to create such a little pill.
     The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention lists the following warning signs of suicide:

Observable signs of serious depression:

• Unrelenting low mood
• Pessimism
• Hopelessness
• Desperation
• Anxiety, psychic pain and inner tension
• Withdrawal
• Sleep problems
• Increased alcohol and/or other drug use
• Recent impulsiveness and taking unnecessary risks
• Threatening suicide or expressing a strong wish to die

Making a plan:

• Giving away prized possessions
• Sudden or impulsive purchase of a firearm
• Obtaining other means of killing oneself such as poisons or medications

• Unexpected rage or anger

      The emotional crises that usually precede suicide are often recognizable and treatable. Although most depressed people are not suicidal, most suicidal people are depressed. Serious depression can be manifested in obvious sadness, but often it is rather expressed as a loss of pleasure or withdrawal from activities that had been enjoyable. One can help prevent suicide through early recognition and treatment of depression and other psychiatric illnesses.

      Ken Duckworth, medical director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, stated in an article in USA Today, “Ninety percent of people who die by suicide have a mental illness, and many are afraid to seek help. Sometimes people fear they will lose their jobs or be viewed differently if they acknowledge these problems."

     If you or someone you love exhibits any of these symptoms, I implore you to get help. There is no shame in seeking treatment. Depression is an illness which can be treated. If your loved one had pneumonia you would cart them off to the hospital whether they liked it or not. Mental illness should be viewed in the same way. You may save their life or your own.
     The National Suicide Prevention Hotline number is 1-800-273-8255.

     Gratefully, that is not the end of the story. Two years to the day of sister's death, my granddaughter, T-Bug, was born. She is the epitome of joy! He gave us the opportunity to celebrate life, rather than mourn a senseless death.

Because of my sister's death, my youngest daughter and her husband chose Budapest, Hungary to serve as missionaries.Budapest has the highest rate of suicide in the world. 

Please talk to your children and be aware of others' hopelessness. Light up the world with His love.

The Temptation of Eve

Art  from Access-Jesus.com

In reading about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden,* I noticed two things. First, the snake tempted Eve with a pretty thing which promised knowledge. Second, Adam succumbed to a naked woman carrying food. Today I want to talk about Eve.

 I see a little bit of Eve in myself. Okay, maybe more than a little bit. I love pretty things. If they sparkle, I like them even better. I love knowledge and wisdom. Even as a child I desired the gift of wisdom. When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up I responded, “To be as wise as Solomon.” Odd, I know, but it is true. I’ve quietly studied human nature and how best to please people

 My dad is a rageaholic. Knowledge of his triggers became a childhood survival tool. It irritated him to see me just reading a book. I read under my bed, in the closet, or in a tree to stay out of his path. I also knew how to placate him. Practicing the piano and singing were guaranteed to bring me favor. I watched him carefully at the dinner table. As soon as his gaze rested on a particular food, I passed it to him.Not a healthy way to grow up, but I gained the wisdom to survive.

I love knowledge. I love to study any subject that doesn’t include math. The knowledge you might call gossip is particularly titillating. Whether it’s good news or bad news, don’t you love to be the first one to share the apple of gossip? I guard myself from that particular temptation. I had to learn the hard way how it destroys.

In my early twenties, I lived in a very small town which considered gossip to be an acceptable and desired pastime.  I worked in an even smaller law office. I heard from a very reliable source that a popular teenage girl was pregnant. I shared this juicy tidbit with the woman with whom I worked. On her break she trotted next door to clarify this news item with the father of the teenage girl. He followed her back to our office and confronted me. His anger and the force of his words left me in tears for the rest of the day.It seems my reliable source was the girl’s disgruntled ex-boyfriend. My news, a total fabrication, was created to destroy the reputation of an innocent girl. Unknowingly, I carried the weapon of destruction with my tongue. Now I consider every confidence to be a secret unless I’m instructed otherwise.

I specifically despise “church” gossip. Many a man, and thus a church, has been destroyed by backbiting and gossip. As a preacher’s kid and a missionary kid, I am acutely aware of the fallibility of people in leadership. They are human and as such they will always fail. Even if I never repeat their failings to another soul, knowledge of the specifics has the potential to turn my heart toward bitterness and resentment. “They are such hypocrites,” is probably the number one reason why people avoid church. Yes, they are hypocrites and so am I. Roman 3:23 says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Emphasis added.) I will walk out of a room to avoid hearing about the failures of my pastor and church staff. Unless they are breaking the law, I don’t want to know about it. Like any temptation, the best way to avoid it is to run! Combat those who choose not to run by praying for them, your pastor, and church leaders.

*Genesis 3 Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You can’t eat from any tree in the garden’?”2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit from the trees in the garden.3 But about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden, God said, ‘You must not eat it or touch it, or you will die.’”4 “No! You will not die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “In fact, God knows that when[a] you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God,[b] knowing good and evil.” 6 Then the woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves. (HCSB)

FRENCH SILK CHOCOLATE PIE

Absolutely the easiest chocolate pie I have ever made. It only requires a baked pastry shell and four ingredients. It's also one of the richest chocolate pies EVER! One 8 inch pie will serve 8 to 10 people. If you have any leftover, it freezes well. 

FRENCH SILK CHOCOLATE PIE

8-inch Baked Pastry Shell

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

6 Tablespoons powdered cocoa

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs

In small mixing bowl, combine sugar, butter, chocolate and vanilla. Blend well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating at medium speed for 3 to 5 minutes after each. Pour into baked pastry shell. Chill at least 2 hours. Serve with whipped cream and nuts if desired. 

That's it! People will think you slaved in the kitchen on this one! Here are the pictures for my friend, Margie. 

Assemble your ingredients

I used a refrigerated pie crust. Roll it out just enough to fit your pie
pan. Roll it onto your rolling pin for easy transfer to the pie plate.

Crimp the edges by pinching between your thumb and forefinger.
NOTE: I've been known to put a Mrs. Smith's pie in my pie plate,
recrimp the edges, bake, and serve! I never said I made it from
scratch. I simply said I "baked" it! Feel free to use my little cheat!

Use a fork to prick the crust.

Bake at 450 until golden brown (11-13 minutes)
Cool while you make the filling.

In small mixing bowl, combine sugar, butter, chocolate
and vanilla. Blend well.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating at medium speed
for 3 to 5 minutes after each.

Pour into baked pastry shell. Chill at least 2 hours. 

Soften dark chocolate bar. Use vegetable peeler to make curls for garnish.

Serve with whipped cream and nuts if desired.

I skipped the nuts this time and used chocolate

curls. You can make your own whipped cream

or RediWhip. Either way it is delicious!

My dinner guests raved over the depth of chocolate flavor. There were two slices leftover. I ran them up the street to a sick neighbor. She's all well now. I'm not sure it was the pie, but it could have been. I'm just saying!

BEWARE OF SNAKES!

“Lace, would you be able to keep Max and Maya for a couple of hours so I can get a pedicure?”
“You bet. Drop them off and I’ll make sure they are alive when you get back,” I laughed.

Caring for a five-year-old girl is easy! I have three granddaughter. I know what to do with girls. Elaborate tea parties, fashion shows, dress-up, crafts and cooking. These are endeavors at which I excel. My only grandson is one and lives in Budapest. I’m clueless when it comes to boys. I grabbed the phone and began calling mothers of boys for recommendations on activities for a seven-year-old boy.I got the same advice from everyone—Legos, cars, or put him outside and give him something that makes noise or a mess.

I don’t have cars or Legos, but I remembered a lovely park with a sand box, two sets of swings, two slides, and a huge pirate ship with a rock wall! Ahhh, that’s the ticket! I’ll take them before it gets too hot. They can get messy and make all the noise they want. Off we went!

The kids were wowed at the sight of the pirate ship. 

A small creek with a six to eight foot embankment ran behind the park. I noticed a sign in front of the creek which read, “Beware of Snakes.”

Hummm….how brave do I feel? Should I resort to Plan B? I didn’t have a Plan B. After a thorough inspection for sticks that wiggle and hiss, I gave the children a very stern warning to stay in the play area and not venture toward the creek. I showed them all the wonders of the park and told them to play anywhere they wanted, except the creek.

For half an hour they played on the swings, climbed the rock wall, and commandeered the pirate ship. I enjoyed watching their delight in creating maritime adventures and battling with imaginary swords. Arrrgh, a pirates’ life for me!

And then what do you think they did? Yup, they headed toward the creek. From several yards away they gently pitched a few rocks into the creek hoping to scare up a snake. Failing that, they crept closer to the creek throwing rocks harder in an attempt to hit the opposite creek bank. After each attempt I cautioned them to be careful. I told them I didn’t want to spoil their fun, but I was concerned for their safety. I went so far as to draw a line in the dirt they were not to cross. They didn’t. They moved to another portion of the creek edging closer to the embankment. They raised small tree branches overhead and heaved as hard as they could. The biggest splash won!

 Looking for snakes became a secondary issue. My main concern was what I would do if they fell in the creek? Even if I could jump down to them, I’d never be able to get them back up. In that event, do I call their mother or 911 first? Horrified I even had these thoughts, I told them to head to the car. Fun time ended!

Does this sound at all familiar to you? Maybe a little like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden?

Genesis 2 and 3 described the creation of man and woman.  God planted a garden in Eden with all kinds of trees, “beautiful to look at and good to eat. The Tree-of-Life was in the middle of the garden, also the Tree-of-Knowledge–of-Good-and-Evil. God commanded Man to eat from any tree in the garden, except the Tree-of-Knowledge–of-Good-and-Evil. God warned Adam, "The moment you eat from that tree, you’re dead."

A cunning serpent convinced Eve that God commanded them not to eat of the Tree-of -Knowledge–of-Good-and–Evil because they would become just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil.”

 Genesis 3:⁶ When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she’d know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.

⁷ Immediately the two of them did “see what’s really going on”—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves. The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

Long story short, God banished them from the Garden for their disobedience. They lost all the privileges of playing in the Garden. It had much more than a sand box, two sets of swings, two slides, and a huge pirate ship with a rock wall! It included room and board!

God gave us rules to protect us. When we break the laws, we have to suffer the consequences, i.e. don’t commit adultery you will get your heart broken. To enjoy an abundant life we must follow His laws. But in our shortsightedness we edge closer to the creek for the thrill of the splash.

I commit each day to dwell in the blessings He has provided for me and not go snake hunting.

PS. The children’s only punishment was leaving the park. We went to the house, played with the dogs, and watched a movie. I learned that boys like to do crafts and cook too. Especially if they get to make and eat a huge sugar cookie!

Yeah, they don't look to injured! The dogs were happy too!

Peach Cobbler!

I promised you a peach cobbler. When I took the grandgirls to Ham Peach Orchards we picked our own blackberries. I know we picked blackberries at a peach orchard. What can I say? I'm just glad it's available. A short road trip to Terrell, Texas and we had lovely morning picking blackberries, eating peach ice cream, and buying way more overripe peaches than we needed. So we gave away some, made a cobbler with some, and froze the rest.
Did you know you can freeze peaches whole! Peel and all. Place them on a cookie sheet in the freezer. Once they are frozen, throw them in a ziploc bag, and back in the freezer. When you are ready to use them, run under warm water. The peel will slip right off. Slice and enjoy!
You can make the crust I described last week, buy a refrigerated one, or make this one. You have options. Ain't American Grand!

PEACH COBBLER

INGREDIENTS:

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons white sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1 cup shortening 1 egg 1/4 cup cold water 3 pounds fresh peaches - peeled, pitted, and sliced 1/4 cup lemon juice

3/4 cup orange juice 1/2 cup butter 2 cups brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 tablespoon cornstarch 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 tablespoon butter, melted

DIRECTIONS:

1.	In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, and salt. Work in the shortening with a pastry blender until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and cold water. Sprinkle over flour mixture, and work with hands to form dough into a ball. Chill 30 minutes.
2.	Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Roll out half of dough to 1/8 inch thickness. Place in a 9x13 inch baking dish, covering bottom and halfway up sides. Bake for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
3.	In a large saucepan, mix the peaches, lemon juice, and orange juice. Add 1/2 cup butter, and cook over medium-low heat until butter is melted. In a mixing bowl, stir together 2 cups sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cornstarch; mix into peach mixture. Remove from heat, and pour into baked crust.
4.	Roll remaining dough to a thickness of 1/4 inch. Cut into half-inch-wide strips. Weave strips into a lattice over peaches. Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar, and drizzle with 1 tablespoon melted butter.
5.	Bake in preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until top crust is golden brown. I like my middle dough cooked as described in step 2. My husband and daughter like it as I described last week with a layer of fruit, then cobbler, fruit, and more cobbler. You can do this recipe either way. All this needs is ice cream and a spoon!!!

BEST BLACKBERRY COBBLER EVER!

Love, love, loved taking the grandgirls blackberry picking. I had no idea they would enjoy the hunt for ripe, juicy bits of deliciousness. I thought the Texas heat, spider webs, and prickly bushes would deter them. I was wrong! I had to make them stop once we reached six pounds. Delighted with our haul we mopped our brows and headed home to continue our adventure in the air conditioned kitchen. Ahhhh, air conditioning--God's special gift. I've lived without it, but hope to never again.
My mom makes a delicious blackberry cobbler. She cooks the blackberries, sends them through a sieve, removes all the seeds, and uses only the juice. My daughter loves it, but I like a little more substance. Here is my recipe.
I make up my pie crust first and cover it with a damp paper towel while I put my berries together. You can use refrigerated pie crust, but this one is easy and tastes so much better.

I use my stand mixer with a wire whisk to combine 
flour, sugar and salt.

Cut in shortening until it is pea size.

Sprinkle cold water a tablespoon at a time until dough holds together.
(If there is too much water, it will be sticky and tough; if there's too little water,
 the edges will crack, the pastry will tear easily and it will be hard to roll out)
Roll into two balls. Cover with damp paper towel while you
combine your berries.

Sprinkle sugar, flour, and lemon juice over blackberries in large bowl.

Gently stir. Let stand for 10 minutes

Spoon half of blackberry mixture into a lightly greased
9 x 13-inch baking dish. 

Flatten one pastry ball into 1/2 inch thickness on floured surface.
If the shortening marbles the crust, you've done it just right.

Fold pastry in half or roll it around your rolling pin and
unroll it on top of  the berries. Dot with half the butter.

 Cobble means putting together different parts in a quick way. It doesn't have to be pretty.  If your pastry breaks just cobble it together. I've seen beautiful lattice-work cobblers. You can do that, but I want to get this cobbler under the ice cream and in my belly as soon as possible!

Repeat the layers.

Dot the top crust with remaining butter and sprinkle with sugar.

Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until pastry is golden
and mixture is bubbly. Serve with vanilla ice cream.
Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla is my personal favorite!

FRESH BLACKBERRY COBBLER

Yield: Makes 8 to 10 servings

Crust:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 Tablespoons sugar 

1 teaspoon salt

2/3 cup shortening

5 to 7 Tablespoons cold water 

Filling:

2 cups sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice

8 cups fresh blackberries

1/4 cup butter, cut into 1/4-inch pieces and divided

1 tablespoon sugar

Variations-- Substitute gluten-free baking flour for a yummy gluten-free dessert. For my granddaughter who has a dairy allergy, I used a dairy-free spread for the butter. 

If you have enough berries for two cobblers bake and eat one. Make up the other to the point of baking. Freeze it until you need it. Thaw and Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes.

 This didn't last long enough to get a pretty picture, but trust me it's worth the effort. Next week--A variation on Peach Cobbler!