Tag: thank God

Food, mustard seed sentinel

Sweet Potato Souffle

meghanewhite

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Every cook has a signature dish. It’s the recipe that you get asked to make at each holiday gathering, or get together. One of my mom’s iconic dishes at Thanksgiving was sweet potato souffle. Mom started making these wonderful sweet potatoes many years ago after getting the recipe from our pastor’s wife. Sweet potato souffle is synonymous with Mom, and Thanksgiving.

Before I experienced the joy of this souffle, I never touched sweet potatoes. Yams with some marshmallows had no appeal to me as a child. Everything changed after the first delicious bite of these delightful sweet potatoes. This is hands down, the best sweet potato recipe.

Even though this is a classic side dish, it really could be a dessert. The sweet potatoes are light and fluffy from the eggs, with plenty of sweetness from the sugar. Toasted pecans and brown sugar on top make the perfect pairing. Sweet potato souffle is scrumptious and a great addition to any celebration.

Happy Eating!

I will praise God’s name with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving. Psalm 69:30

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Sweet Potato Souffle

 

Ingredients

3 lbs. sweet potatoes cooked and mashed (3 cups)

½ cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. salt

 

Topping

½ cup flour

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup finely chopped pecans

¼ cup butter, softened

 

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°
  2. Pierce each sweet potato several times with a fork and place on a baking sheet. Bake for 50 minutes or until tender.
  3. Reduce the oven to 350° after removing the sweet potatoes. Cool the potatoes slightly then scoop the sweet potatoes out of the skins, and into a large mixing bowl.
  4. While the sweet potatoes are still hot, mash them with a potato masher, or use an electric mixer. Add the butter and mix well with an electric mixer.
  5. Add the eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla, and salt. Mix well with an electric mixer.
  6. Pour sweet potato mixture into a buttered 2 quart casserole dish.
  7. In a small bowl mix flour, brown sugar, pecans, and butter. Spread the topping evenly across the top of the unbaked sweet potatoes.
  8. Bake for 40 minutes until browned and the filling has firmed up.
  9. Cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving.
  10. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

 

Notes 

*The mixture is pretty runny before it’s cooked.

*The souffle is soft and will set up as it cools.

*Canned sweet potatoes work well if you don’t want to cook fresh sweet potatoes.



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For this recipe and more go to Mustard Seed Sentinel, Meghan’s Corner.

https://www.mustardseedsentinel.com/post/meghan-s-corner-sweet-potato-souffle

Food

Pumpkin Bars

meghanewhite

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It’s that time of year. Pumpkin time. Pumpkin everything is everywhere. It wasn’t that long ago that the only big thing happening pumpkin-wise this time of year was the now infamous pumpkin spice latte. If you got your hands on one of those, then you felt pretty special. Now, pumpkin has taken over all aspects of food from yogurt to cereal, and even candy. We are pumpkin obsessed for some reason. For the non-pumpkin eaters, I’m sorry. For the rest of us, yay!!

In honor of all things pumpkin, I give you pumpkin bars. You’re welcome. I’ve been making these divine treats for close to twenty-six years. The bars are really more like a moist delicious cake. The pumpkin flavor is there, but it’s subtle, not overpowering. And, the piece de resistance, cream cheese frosting. The combo of the scrumptious cake and sweet icing make this dessert irresistible. It’s hard to stop at one. Pumpkin bars are addictive. You’ve been warned. 

I was blessed with this recipe from my boss all those years ago. She brought them into work one day and it was love at first bite. I got the recipe from her, which she was given by her mother many years before. And the circle of life continues as I pass this fantastic recipe on to you. Maybe you will share it with someone in your life too. Whenever I make these for potlucks or any event, they get devoured every single time. So be ready with the recipe, because you will be asked. 

Pumpkin bars are a nice alternative to pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving. Or, if you’re feeling really adventurous, make both. Pumpkin fans everywhere will rejoice. I have to admit that I’ve made these in the summer. I know. It’s a bit bold, a bit daring, but so worth it. Try pumpkin bars in the off season too. They are just that good.

Happy Eating!

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.  1 Corinthians 10:31

 

Pumpkin Bars

 

2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. baking soda

¼ tsp. salt

In a medium sized mixing bowl whisk together dry ingredients and set aside.

 

4 eggs

1 2/3 cup sugar

1 15oz. can pumpkin

1 cup vegetable oil

pecans or walnuts, chopped (optional)

 

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Cream eggs and sugar.
  3. Add the vegetable oil, pumpkin, and pecans.
  4. Add the flour mixture and mix thoroughly with a hand mixer.
  5. Pour into an un-greased 15x10x1 inch pan. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown.
  6. Cool completely before frosting. 

Cream Cheese Frosting

3 oz. cream cheese softened

¼ cup butter softened 

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

Cream together with a hand mixer until smooth.

 

Notes:

Store at room temperature in a sealed container.

I never add the nuts, but I’m sure it’s delicious. 

Let the cream cheese and butter soften at room temperature before making the frosting.

Faith, Trials, Uncategorized

Count Your Blessings

meghanewhite

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Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

 

We all have Christmas traditions. One of ours is to play the movie White Christmas while the tree is being decorated. I love all the music from that classic movie. Of course the iconic “White Christmas” song by Irving Berlin is one of the most beloved Christmas songs of all time. And I do love that song. But there’s another song from the movie that I love. “Count Your Blessings” was also written by Irving Berlin. He wrote it during a time he was suffering from insomnia brought on by stress. A doctor suggested to count his blessings instead. Good advice.

When I’m worried and I can’t sleep
I count my blessings instead of sheep and I fall asleep counting my blessings
when my bankroll is getting small I think of when I had none at all
and I fall asleep counting my blessings.

 

I think about a nursery,
and I picture curly heads,
and one by one I count them
as they slumber in their beds.

If you’re worried and you cant sleep,
just count your blessings instead of sheep
and you’ll fall asleep counting your blessings.

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Worry and stress are exasperated during this “Most Wonderful Time of The Year”. While it should be one of the happiest times, for many it can be one of the hardest. I think of this song often throughout the year when I feel stressed. When I stop and count all of my many blessings it gives me perspective. The problems will always come, but the gifts from our Heavenly Father will come too. So let’s thank Him for all He has given us, for all He has done and continues to do.
The Word of God is clear about what we are to do with our worry. Give it all over to Jesus. Here are just a few verses:
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Phillipians 4:6-7 (NIV) 
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. Psalm 56:3 (NIV)
No matter what you are facing today, stop and take a few moments to thank God for everything He has blessed you with. Write these blessings down and look at them daily to remember how faithful God is. Let’s count our blessings! Our lists should be so long that we run out of paper. If you are in a painful place, at least write a few blessings down. There is always something to be thankful for. Your list will grow as you begin to think about all the good God has done.
Here is a big blessing to start you off. Jesus came into this world as a tiny baby to save us. Thank you Jesus for the blessing and miracle of Christmas.
When we thank God for His many blessings something happens. We stop focusing on the problems and stress and start focusing on God. That changes our mood and our attitude. Our faith grows, and our praise gets stronger. That’s powerful!
May your load be a little lighter today. May God give you fresh joy and perspective when you think on all He has done.
Love you all,
Meghan
P.S. If you need prayer leave your request in the comments or on my contact page.
Images by monicore from Pixabay