BY GLORIA YODER

“Gloria, do you have anything planned for today? Are you needing help with anything?”

It was Susan, a sister in church who is a dear friend, yet also like a mother in ways her own. She went on to explain: “My 11-year-old daughter, Judi, likes to go help young mothers and she would be available to come to your house for the day.”

What I was hearing was too good to turn down.

“Sure!” I responded. “We’d love to have her here, I might be doing some deep cleaning in preparation for our upcoming turn of hosting church services at our house.”

  Before long Judi had peddled the three miles to our house where Julia and Austin welcomed her with delight. After spending time with the children and helping me with some cleaning we shifted our focus to the kitchen. Judi helped me mix up all kinds of dry ingredients for convenience foods during the busy summer months ahead. I dug out some of our standby recipes such as pancakes, waffles, Swiss roll bars, baked oatmeal, and cornstarch pudding while one at a time she measured and dumped ingredients and with Julia’s help whisked them up. 

Next she poured the mixes into containers that were marked stating the contents and how many cups of mix to what wet ingredients would be needed. We did large quantities of each one. Perhaps I’ll even use some of it for church.

For instance, the cornstarch pudding could be used for vanilla, peanut butter, lemon, chocolate mocha, or banana pies! When I’m ready to use it I’ll add whatever flavoring I chose at the moment.

Judi did an amazing job of swiftly and dependably doing whatever needed to be done. Not only that she assured me that she’ll be happy to come back and help again as needed in order to help get ready for church.

We had a simple lunch of chicken and hotdog sandwiches. Thanks to my husband for once more grilling large amounts, thus giving me leftovers for a time like this.

Next it was naptime. As always Austin snuggled up with his blanket and two little dolls.

My after lunch project was sorting through my recipes. Talk about all kinds of them! There are “old faithful” ones, new ones, and even recipes from some of you readers!

By the way I like how some of you put your name and address on the recipe you send that way I can later think of you personally if the letter somehow gets separated from the recipe.

Sue, from Dayton, Ohio, I have just been waiting for my corn and tomatoes to get ready so I can try the recipe for “Summer Garden Goody” that you sent. It looks very unique and tasty, perhaps I’ll also be able to pass it on to the rest of you soon.

When I was showing Judi some of my  recipes from readers she was especially intrigued by one called “Miracle Pie.”   

“Let’s try it!” I suggested. Judi is a baker at heart so the job was perfect for her. Being fascinated with the Bible references in the recipe we looked up each of them and found them quite interesting.

The Miracle Pie turned out to be a custard-type dish. As with any type of custard I like eating it with yogurt or fruit, it was a refreshing pie for the warm summer months. Unfortunately, the recipe did not have a name on it, so thank you to whoever shared it with us.  Make it a family project to look up the ingredients all in the King James Version of the Bible.

Miracle Pie

1 cup Jeremiah 6:20 (sugar)

1/4 cup Genesis 18:8 (butter)

4 Deuteronomy 22:6 (eggs)

1/2 cup 2 Kings 7:18 (flour)

2 cups Hebrews 5:13 (milk)

1 cup Genesis 13:11 (coconut)

1/4 teaspoon Matthew 5:13 (salt)

1/2 teaspoon 2 Kings 23:15 (baking powder)

1 teaspoon vanilla

 Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend thoroughly.  Pour into a 9-inch pie plate that has been greased and floured. Bake at 350 for 60 minutes. A crust will form on the bottom, pie filling is the center, and a coconut topping above.

Alternate:

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup butter

4 eggs

1/2 cup flour

2 cups milk

1 cup coconut

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon vanilla

Put all ingredients into a blender. Blend thoroughly.  Pour into a 9-inch pie plate that has been greased and floured. Bake at 350 for 60 minutes. A crust will form on the bottom, pie filling is the center, and a coconut topping above.