Luncheon Recipes

The past weekend was so much fun fellowshipping with friends! We hosted an annual Father/Son Camp at Walnut Point State Park. Us ladies had fun preparing food for 400+ campers...and all of this certainly wouldn't have been possible without the generous help of many friends and family. Last Wednesday, Mom, my sisters, and some of the ladies who helped out, came for lunch at my house. I'm posting these recipies for you, Emily. :) ...and anyone else who would like to try them out. Happy cooking!

Sweet Potato Soup

3 T. butter
1 c. finely chopped onion (in food processor)
3 large sweet potatoes, peeled and chopped
6 cups chicken broth
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/4 tsp. salt
1/8 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup sour cream or plain yogurt

1. Melt butter over medium heat. Add onion and saute for 5 minutes. Reduce heat and cook onion till soft and nicely browned, about 10 minutes. Stir in sweet potatoes and chicken broth. Bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer, partially covered for about 25 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

2. Strain soup through colander, reserving liquids. Transfer liquids to a saucepan. Puree solids in food processor till smooth. (I had to add some liquids) Wisk puree into reserved liquid in saucepan.

3. Stir cream, salt, pepper and sour cream into soup and simmer over low heat till heated through.

Note: Soup can be made ahead through step 2 and covered and chilled for up to 3 days. Also, I doubled this recipe last week. For a thicker soup, don't add as much broth.

Chicken Strudel

Boiled and diced chicken breasts (I used a big pkg. frozen chicken breasts)
2 medium onions, finely chopped (easy to chop in food processor)
2 Tbsp. olive oil
10 oz fresh spinach sliced into fine strips (I added a bunch!)
2 egg
2 cups shredded Muenster cheese (I used white cheddar, and doubled it)
Thawed phyllo dough
1/2 cup butter, melted
Bread crumbs, paprika, waxed paper

*Heat oven to 375 degrees.
1. Saute onions in olive oil. Add spinach and cook till wilted...about 3 minutes. Remoe from heat and add eggs and cheese, stir. Add diced chicken to spinach mixture.

2. Place 2 sheet of phyllo dough on waxed paper. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with bread crumbs. Repeat 3-4 x's for 4-5 layers of dough. On the short end, place several spoonfuls of chicken mixture, leaving 1/2 inch border on 3 sides. Roll up jelly roll fashon and place on cookie sheet, seam side down. Brush with butter. With a knife make diagonal cuts 1/2 way through the rolls. Sprinkle with paprika. Bake 15-20 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Salad:
Chopped romaine lettuce
Chopped mushrooms (1 large package)
Chopped green onions
Sprinkle with feta cheese
Toss with 1/2 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup organic apple cider vinegar, salt and pepper, parsley and oregano. (for smaller salads, just make sure ratio of oil and vinegar is equal)

Pumpkin Pie Squares:

Crust:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup oats
1/4 cup brown sugar {Press into 13x9" pan and bake at 350 for 20 minutes}
1/2 cup butter

Filling:
2 cans pumpkin (15 ox. each)
2 cans evaporated milk (12 oz. each)
4 eggs
1 cup sugar
2 tsp. cinnamon (I always add more)
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1 tsp. salt
~~Stir together and pour over crust--Bake for 45 minutes.~~

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
2 Tbsp. butter (soft)
~~Put on top and bake for 15-20 minutes. Cool. Serves 16-20. Store in fridge~~

Note: I cut back on the sugar. We liked it better that way. But, the "correct" amt of sugar is 1/2 cup for the crust and 1 1/2 cups for the filling.

Samuel and Mommy making cookies for Daddy~

Random Photos~10/19/06

Farm Boys~

WEEKEND VISITORS

Conner, Eric, Carrie, Samuel and Justin~~


We had a great time with our nephew, Conner, this weekend. He and Uncle Justin, rode on the 4-wheeler, ran some errands, read books and played at the house. Samuel and I had a fun time too!
We all attended our student recital on Saturday evening. There were almost 40 participants, which made for an almost 2 hour concert! Conner had fun making up songs on the piano for us! Sunday evening, his parents came to pick him up. We had supper together and visited. Conner is also going to be a big bro this spring...so we're pretty excited about that!

Book Review: The Mission of Motherhood~Touching your child's heart for eternity

I am reading a very good book by Sally Clarkson, titled, "The Mission of Motherhood" She sets forth a fresh, and Biblical, perspective of the important role of motherhood. We, as mothers, have an influence on our children, that no one else has. It is a high calling to be a teacher and nurturer of our children. Despite today's cultural view of motherhood, we have the responsibility to rise up to the challenge and live out God's plan for us. We have the power to influence our children for eternity!

I was reminded and convicted that motherhood is about serving others and laying my desires, plans, and agenda down. There's a chapter titled, "The Servant Mother"~Mothering with the Heart of Jesus. John 15:13 is the entrance into the chapter, which states: "Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends." Sally Clarkson says that she looks to Jesus' relationship to his disciples for a model for how she is to lead her own "disciples." John 13 provides a clear picture of the Lord's self-less serving to his disciples. The Lord was able to serve because of his love--He was looking to eternity. "When we choose to sacrifice our own goals and desires to serve our children, we, too, are furthering His eternal work. We know that, through our labor and love, over time He will faithfully build our children into a righteous heritage. But for this to happen, we must willingly lay our lives down."

In the chapter,"The Discipling Mother", Sally Clarkson's desire for her children to walk in the truth, rings in my heart also. Justin and I both desire that our Lord will be our children's Lord. Clarkson states this very clearly... "I don't just want my kids to be moral. I don't just want them to know all of the biblical rules for behavior. I don't just want them to make it through my home with good grades, no drug addiction, and no premarital s--.
I want them to leave my home with a hunger and passion to know God personally and to be used by him to accomplish great things for his kingdom. I want them to personally hear God's voice and hive his Spirit's gentle tough and impression ontheir hearts as they read the Scriptures and struggle with the issues of their lives."
So, in conclusion...there's nothing like an encouraging book to be inspired, yet at the same time, convicted! I'd recommend the book to any mother who's in need of a little inspiration.
~Megan~

Continuing THE tradition! Licking the Beaters~~~

Samuel is hard to photograph...but enjoy!!

Miracle Baby: Reuben Marquez

Justin and I had the privilege of praying so much for our good friends Daniel and Faith at the beginning of the year. You see, we would wake up in the middle of the night and just have a great burden to pray for Daniel and Faith, and soon to be born, Reuben. The Lord works in amazing ways. Reuben was born after many hours of long labor and a placental abruption. Despite many concerns and medical issues, Reuben is a thriving, beautiful little boy. He was seen by a pediatric neurologist here in the States and was declared healthy and advanced in his babbling development. :)

We're standing with our friends as they rejoice in the mercy and grace of our Great Physician. "Many, O Lord, my God are thy marvelous works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward..." Psalm 40:5

Friends!

We are SO blessed to have wonderful friends! This week, Jonathon and Cari Marquez,from IA and Daniel and Faith Marquez, from Okinawa, Japan, came to visit. All the children had fun on the farm, even the big kids. :)

The Lord has amazing ways of bringing people into our lives. We met the Marquez family when we were traveling home from Minnesota in 1993. They were here in the States visiting, and soon to return to Paraguay, South America as missionaries. We stood in the gas station parking lot for several hours talking to them. The rest is history and now they're like family to us! We've enjoyed getting to know Jonathon, Melody, Julia and Daniel, plus their spouses and children.

The pictures will reveal the great times we all had...not pictured is us talking the nights away at 12 and 1 am!!!

It was very encouraging to be with like-minded young couples, who place a high priority on their marriages and training their children. It's easy to get weary in well doing...nothing like having real-live examples to encourage us with!! Thanks you guys for blessing us!

AMEN!

The Great Pumpkin Patch

We met some friends and took our little ones to the Great Pumpkin Patch. Samuel had a great time! His favorite pumpkin was a dark green one. My digital camera is being repaired, so I don't have too many pictures. Enjoy!

FAMILY TIME!

Eden String Quartet DVD Project

So the latest happenings around the Goff and Miller households has been working on a project with Franklin Springs Family Media. (www.franklinsprings.com) We were very blessed to meet and work with gracious, hard working, and friendly brothers and sisters in Christ. For more pictures and information you can visit this blog: www.cmmillerblog.blogspot.com The Lord really helped us with the quartet concert last night, despite the heat and the lengthy performance.

We just completed our newest cd project. You can find more information about the cd and our quartet, if you are interested, at: www.edenstringquartet.com

The Many Faces of Samuel Justice