Apple Crisp

Apple Crisp

This is a recipe I have used for 20+ years. The original called for using less apples, more sugar, and putting this in a 9 x 9 pan. I found that to be too sweet for us, so I modified it into a healthier version.

Begin with 7 -8  large washed apples.

Peel, slice. and core the apples. Put the apple slices in a 9 x 13 pan or equivalent.  This should fill the dish at least half full.

Sprinkle apples with 1/4 c of white sugar. Then sprinkle 1/2 to 1 tsp of cinnamon over the apples as well. I like the cinnamon flavor so I use 1 tsp.

In a large mixing bowl place:
1 stick of butter (only REAL butter will do- both for taste and for your health's sake!)
1 c of brown sugar
3/4 c of flour
1 c of rolled oats (I prefer the quick oats vs the steel cut for texture.)
Cut these together well with a pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly.

Sprinkle oat mixture evenly over apples and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until the apples are  tender and have bubbled up into the oat mixture a bit.


Enjoy!


Note: As I prefer to eat this as a breakfast dish as well....many times when I make this I use 10 apples, filling the pan nearly full.

Yummy.

Life's Colorful Choices-- Fading, Dull, or Vibrant?

The leaves are starting to change color here in Maine. What was once such a beautiful, delicate green in early spring, is now changing to the colors of a vibrant fire...orange, yellow, and red. Each so amazingly beautiful... some leaves with a spectrum of all 3 colors combined with a little leftover green. And yet, on occasion we come across a branch with a crinkly, leaf devoid of any real beauty. One that has seemingly skipped that vibrant stage and went on to a very dull brown instead.  In spite of the occasional dull leaf, Autumn is a lovely time of year in Maine.

For me this is a melancholy time and I become retrospective. I tend to be of this sort of mind anyway, but in the fall these feelings are magnified.  As I walk about outside with leaves crunching under my feet, I think about my purpose in this life, my purpose for the rest of 2011, and my purpose for today. What have I accomplished this year? What can I accomplish in the time remaining in this year? What have I been doing and what should I be doing?

My life is at a crossroads, as much as the earth is starting the new season of autumn, I am starting a new season as well. Will I start it with vibrantly beautiful colors or will I hold onto the fading pale green that used to be? Or will I instead choose the dull, dead brown color that some leaves change to rather quickly? The choice is mine... will I hold onto the past, trying to live in it, crippled by it? Will I sulk and worry about the future, give up entirely on today and live a dull, colorless life? Or will I choose to live my life vibrantly, with passion, enjoying every moment, seizing every opportunity God gives me? The choice is indeed mine....

Growing

Growing

Time spent with Him

Growing, growing, 

Getting to know Him more.

So much more growing to do.

He prunes.. there is so much for Him to prune.

I want to grow lots of fruit...fruit for Him.

To grow properly, He must prune.

And it HURTS.

Growing in Him.

In His wisdom.

In His Love.

Learning.

So happy to know the Master.

to be pruned by His loving Hand.

This week's 5 minute Friday at  the gypsy mama was once again a stretching exercise for me. I enjoy these, makes me think on the spot. Although I did delete 2 lines (oops!) as I typed. I forgot I wasn't suppose to. And I sure do hate to leave typos..

Check out the link. It is interesting how a number of people can write on the same word for 5 minutes and have such different takes on it.

Real Men Love Pink

Just found this website through another blog:

Real Men Love Pink

There is only one problem I have with the site, it should be called "Real Men and Women Love Pink". 

Image title: Pink Smile

Love... cont'd in song...

 The sincere humility Keith Green sang with is evident. His music gave all glory to Christ and truly edified believers. 

I was exposed to his music after his death... one wonders why the Lord called him home so early, but thankfully, due in large part to the internet, we can still sing along with Keith. 

What glory it will be one day to sing praises to our precious Heavenly Father together....

He loves me!! I want to shout it from the mountain tops.

"The joy is in having the Beloved, not in loving what we have."

When things get broken, Ann Voskamp

   Mmmm.... 

the Beloved...

 

"Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering." Colossians 3:12 King James

The ESV words it this way:

"Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience."

Beloved....

Loved by God..

Think of that with me for a moment, will you? How incredible is it that I (and YOU) are God's beloved? The God who created all the universe... (everything that IS.. is because of Him)... 

and He loves me!

Why would He love me? Because I am so wonderful? No... matter of fact I could very well have penned the words of Romans 7:19 "For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do."  

He doesn't love me for what I've done -- thankfully. 

He loves me because...

He is the One who created me...

made me... 

Colossians 1:16b "All things were created by him, and for him." 

He created me... 

for Himself. (Awesome thought!)

And He sent His Son to die for me (and you!) 

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation (payment) for our sins." 1 Jn 4:10

Such love!

"We love Him, because He first loved us." 1 John 1:19

He loves me... 

He loves me!! 

I want to shout it from the mountain tops.