Recipes and Ruminations

I truly appreciate it when my children or husband remembers to thank me for the meal. Sometimes my dear husband even thanks God for " all of Mom's hard work" when he prays. I appreciate this and it lifts lifts me up. So if I value the thanks and acknowledgment for my efforts, I think our family should remember to also thank our creator who has so abundantly blessed us. Sometimes when we pray we just say what is on our heart. Other times we sing a prayer or recite a memorized prayer. I like to add some variety especially for the children. I would like to share some of my favorite prayers with you. I hope you will share them with your family.

One of my favorite prayers I found in a Mennonite poem book called "poems for memorization". We sing it to a popular hymn melody. "We fold our hands that we may be..... from earthly work and play set free. We bow our heads as we draw near....the king of kings our Father dear. We close our eyes that we may see.....nothing to take our thoughts from thee. Bless now this food before we take....and this we ask for Jesus sake. Amen "

"Come, Lord, and with us dine, Into our darkened hearts please shine, direct our speech to all things pure, that we may live steadfast and sure. Amen"

"For life and health and common things, which every day and hour brings, for home and love and happiness, we thank thee Lord, Amen"

"Be present at our table, Lord, be here and everywhere adored, these mercies bless and grant that we, May strengthen for thy service be. Amen."

"Bless, O Lord, this food to our use... and us.... to Thy service, Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."

The Hebrew Blessing: "Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu Meleku ha-olom, ha-motzee lechem meen ha-aretz." "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.

" Barukh atah Adonai, Elohaynu Melech ha-olom, boray pri hagafen." "Blessed art Thou, O Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine.

" Children's Prayers: "Come, Lord Jesus, be our Guest, and let your gifts to us be blessed.Amen"

"Bless this food, dear Lord, we pray. Make us thankful every day. Amen"

"For warm, safe homes, for clothes to wear, for food to eat and food to share---Thank You, Lord. Amen."

"Dear Jesus, now I bow my head, Before I eat this daily bread. To you, O Lord, my thanks I say, For food and drink another day. Amen."

"Dear Lord, hear us pray, Bless our food today. Lord, we pray again: Bless us too. Amen."

"We thank you, Lord, for happy hearts, for sun and rainy weather. We thank you for the food we eat, and that we are all together. Amen.

" The Johnny Apple seed Song: "O, the Lord is good to me, and so I thank the Lord, for giving me the things I need, The sun and rain and the apple seed, the Lord is good to me." Amen

I hope you and your family can enjoy some of these blessings. Whether we use spontaneous prayers, memorised prayers....whether we express our thanks before during or after the meal is not really so important but just than we all continuue to have grateful hearts. We are so blessed.

Thank you for reading my ramblings.
Brenda

Hello Everyone. I came across this poem and I wanted to share it. Although it is so simple it touched my heart deeply.

DEFINITION

"MOTHER"---A WORD THAT HOLDS THE TENDER SPELL
OF THE DEAR ESSENTIAL THINGS OF EARTH;
A HOME, CLEAN SUNLIT ROOMS,
AND THE GOOD SMELL
OF BREAD, A TABLE SPREAD, A GLOWING HEARTH,
AND LOVE BEYOND THE DREAM OF ANYONE...
I SEARCH FOR WORDS FOR HER....
AND THERE ARE NONE.

GRACE NOIL CROWELL

I really miss my dear Mom. This poem brings me back to the days when I'd arrive home from school tired and hungry. My mom usually had something just out of the oven. It was not fancy. Usually just muffins or a quick bread or cake. She used to make an apple cake that was really good.....almost like a coffee cake with apple slices on top. Let's keep on making delicious treats for our families so they will have some happy memories too.

APPLE CAKE WITH HOT CARAMEL SAUCE

1/2 CUP SHELLED PECANS
2 LARGE COOKING APPLES
1 CUP SUGAR
1 EGG
1 TEAS. BAKING SODA
1/4 TEAS. SALT
1 TEAS CINNAMON
1 TEAS NUTMEG
1 CUP FLOUR
WHIPPED CREAM
FRESH APPLE SLICES

CARAMEL SAUCE:

1/2 CUP BUTTER
1/2 CUP BROWN SUGAR
1/2 TEAS SALT
1 TEAS VANILLA
1/2 CUP EVAPORATED MILK

PREHEAT OVEN TO 350. CHOP PECANS AND SET ASIDE. CHOP APPLES TO EQUAL 2 1/2 CUPS. CREAM BUTTER, ADD SUGAR AND BEAT TIL FLUFFY. ADD EGG AND BEAT TIL BLENDED. ADD BAKING SODA, SALT, CINNAMON AND NUTMEG. ADD THE FLOUR AND STIR JUST UNTIL BLENDED. STIR IN APPLES AND NUTS. POUR INTO AN OILED 9 INCH ROUND CAKE PAN AND BAKE FOR 30 MINUTES .

PREPARE SAUCE. MELT BUTTER, BROWN SUGAR AND SALT. BRING TO A BOIL AND WWHISK IN VANILLA AND MILK. (THIS SAUCE COULD BE PREPARED AHEAD OF TIME AND THEN REHEATED OVER HOT WATER) TO SERVE, LADLE 2-3 TBSP HOT SAUCE ONTO 8 SERVING PLATES. CUT CAKE IN 8 WEDGES AND PLACE ON TOP OF SAUCE. GARNISH WITH A DOLLOP OF WHIPPED CREAM AND 2 THINLY SLICED APPLE WEDGES, PEEL LEFT ON. CAKE SHOULD BE SERVED WARM.

PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF YOU LIKED THIS RECIPE. I GOT IT OUT OF A GREAT COOKBOOK CALLED "COOKING FROM QUILT COUNTRY" THIS BOOK HAS A COLLECTION OF AMISH AND MENNONITE RECIPES AS WELL AS LOVELY PICTURES OF AMISH COUNTRY LIFE.

BRENDA