Sunday, October 29, 2017

Easy Slow Cooker Baked Apples


With an abundance of apples this time of year, how do you like to use them up? In the past, I have made apple cobblers, dutch apple pies, spice apple cake, and homemade applesauce. But, so far this year, I have only made these yummy baked apples in the slow cooker. My mom used to make her version of  "baked apples" in a saucepan on top of the stove. This slow cooker version is very similar to those, and they give a nice smell to the house while they are cooking. They are also great to take along to potlucks and family gatherings and - for those who are gluten free, or those who are watching their sugar intake - they are a healthier option than pies and cobblers. You can also do the same thing with an overabundance of pears.  

For a 4 quart slow cooker, you will need at least 6-8 large apples, or double that if they are small. Peel and slice the apples and place into the slow cooker.

You will want enough apples to almost fill the slow cooker.

Mix together 3 TB of melted butter, 2 TB of lemon juice, 1 tsp of cinnamon, and 3 TB of brown sugar or honey.

Pour the mixture over the apples and gently stir to evenly coat the apples. You have the option of also sprinkling 2 more TB of brown sugar on top if that is what you are using. Cover them and cook on low for 4 hours, high for 2 hours. Stir and enjoy!

I forgot to get a photo of the finished apples while in the slow cooker, but here is a look at some of the leftovers. Everyone in my family loves these, except for my son. He doesn't like the "mushy" texture, as he puts it, and prefers raw, crunchy apples; but to each their own.

The recipe is below if you want to make this dish for your next church potluck or Fall fellowship. It is always good to meet together with others, especially other Christians, so we can be encouraging one another in our Faith. Unfortunately, living in this world is not getting any easier, but we can lean on each other for strength.

Hebrews 10:25 - Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.  (ESV)


Slow Cooker Baked Apples

My mom used to make her version of "baked apples" in a saucepan on top of the stove. This slow cooker version is very similar to those, and they give a nice smell to the house while they are cooking. They are also great to take along to potlucks and family gatherings and - for those who are gluten free, or those who are watching their sugar intake - they are a healthier option than pies and cobblers. You can also do the same thing with an overabundance of pears.
Ingredients
  • 6-8 Large Apples
  • 3 TB Melted Butter
  • 2 TB Lemon juice concentrate
  • 1 tsp. Ground cinnamon
  • 3 TB Brown Sugar or Honey
Instructions
Peel and slice apples to almost fill a 4-quart slow cooker. Mix butter, lemon juice, cinnamon and brown sugar (or honey), and pour over apples. Stir gently to mix. Cover and cook on low 4 hours or high 2 hours.


Sunday, October 22, 2017

Taste and See That the Lord is Good


The word of the week is:  TASTE or PERCEIVE

When we mention the word "taste," we normally think about recognizing or trying a new flavor with our tongues. But, there is another definition that is our main focus today - the definition that is used in Psalm 34:8.

The Hebrew word for "taste" here is ṭa·‘ă·mū, which means: to taste, or perceive

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines them like this:

TASTE : to become acquainted with by experience : to have perception, experience, or enjoyment
PERCEIVEto become aware of through the senses

Psalm 34:8 - Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (ESV)

So, if we look at this verse with those definitions in mind, we notice the writer of this psalm (David) is telling us to become acquainted with the Lord, to become aware of His presence in our lives, and to experience His goodness.

In other words, when we are in fellowship with the Lord (i.e. talking to Him daily about our circumstances, seeking His guidance and direction by reading His Word, and allowing our faith in Him to comfort us and help us through the difficult days), we will begin to recognize His goodness, and we will be blessed when we focus on the abundant love He has for us.

Be blessed today, as you "taste and see that the Lord is good."



Sunday, October 15, 2017

A Frustrating Adventure with My New Treadmill

These past few years, I have become a lot more sedentary than I should be, and I'm pretty sure that's not a good thing for my health. So, with determination to become more active, I decided to get a treadmill and start walking more consistently.

After being unable to find a good, used treadmill (yes, used, because it makes sense to be frugal whenever possible), I spoke with David about ordering a new one, and he agreed. So, I bought it online from Walmart and was really looking forward to getting it. Then, the frustration began.

THE TIMELINE OF EVENTS... AND MY ACCOMPANIED THOUGHTS:
1.  I bought the treadmill online on Sunday, September 10th, and it was shipped to the house for free, arriving a week later on Monday the 18th. 
My thoughts after ordering: Yay! I'm so excited for it to get here! Thank you, God, for providing the funds for us to get this. This is something I have been wanting, and needing, for a long time!
2.  David started putting the treadmill together on Tuesday evening (the 19th), and discovered two connectors would not fit together. Disappointment literally overwhelmed me and I went to bed early that night feeling sad and glum.  

My thoughts:  This is something I had my heart set on, God. It is a big disappointment to have to wait even longer for it. Why did this have to happen? Isn't it a wise decision to become healthier, so I can continue caring for the family You have given me? 

3.  After several phone calls and e-mails to the company that week, they finally put in an order for the right part to be sent to us. It was sent out on September 25th and took almost another week to get here, finally arriving on Saturday, September 30th. I tried to get them to put a "rush" on the shipment, but they wouldn't do that, so I just had to have patience. 
My thoughts:  I thought I already had enough patience. Caring for my special needs daughter, homeschooling my son who doesn't enjoy school, and adjusting to my husbands inconvenient work situations for so many years - I don't think I need anymore patience! This isn't fair, God!
4.  We were busy on the Saturday the parts arrived, so David wasn't able to put the new connectors on until Sunday, October 1st. In order to install the new part, he needed to remove the cover to the motor and, when he did, we noticed the motor was also broken.
My thoughts:  You have GOT to be kidding me! Really, Lord? I don't ask for much. I try to be content with what I have (or don't have) and I have never been demanding about material things. So, I just don't get it. Why is this happening? What did I do wrong to receive this kind of treatment? I admit, I was feeling somewhat hurt by God for not giving me this long-awaited desire.
5.  David called the company back again on Monday, October 2nd. They said they would ship us a new motor. Then, in a few days, someone would be giving us a call to set up a time for a technician to come out and install the new motor, as well as the new connectors.
My thoughts:  More waiting... sigh ....
6.  I received a call that a technician would be out on Friday, October 13th. In the meantime, the motor showed up on Monday, October 9th.
My thoughts:  Well, good, at least we have a technician on the way. As long as nothing else goes wrong, it should be working by Friday.
7. On Friday, October 13th, the technician arrived at 8:30 in the morning and immediately got to work. The treadmill was finally working within an hour.
My thoughts:  Phew! It has been more than a month since I first ordered it, and I'm  finally able to use it! I don't understand why all this happened, but thank you, Lord, for getting it working and for helping me through the frustration.
~~~~~~~~~~~

So, why did this happen? I honestly don't know. Whatever the reason, I have chosen to get past my frustrations and search for the good. If nothing else, at least I have the following reminders to look back on - for myself, and whoever else may be needing them:
  • God doesn't always give us what we want, or give us something WHEN we want it. Regardless, He is a good God, and I will still love Him.
  • We can be honest with God about our feelings. He cares about us, wants to hear from us, and wants to help us through the difficult days.
  • We can remain faithful in our Christian walk, believing there is a reason for what we are going through, even if we don't understand it.   

Romans 8:28 - And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. (NASB)



Wednesday, October 11, 2017

CHILDREN'S BOOK REVIEW: "God's Great Love for You" by Rick Warren


God’s Great Love forYou, was written by New York Times bestselling author Rick Warren. It takes children on a little journey that helps them understand God’s love is with them wherever they go.

I love the adorable illustrations by Chris Saunders. They are cartoonish, yet still somewhat realistic-looking. Beautifully done and very appealing to young children.   

The book is a short read, with a few simple-to-understand words. Great to use while snuggling with a young child. The only thing I would personally change about it is where the book says God's great love for us is perfect "on good days, and bad days." I totally understand what this means, and I think most kids will understand it also. It helps kids realize God is with them and loves them no matter what kind of day they are having. But, for me personally, I try not to refer to any day as a "bad" day. To me, every day is a gift from God and, therefore, it is not a bad day. So, if I were to read this book to a young one, I would use the words "hard days" in place of "bad days." But, like I said, that is just a personal preference and not something to keep you from reading the book.

You can find it available for purchase at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book, and Lifeway.


Disclosure:  Thanks to Propeller/FlyBy Promotions, I received a sample of this book in exchange for my honest review and post. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Sunday, October 8, 2017

My Simple Fall Decor

I like to decorate my home for the different seasons of the year - but I do it simply. I'm not a "Better Homes & Gardens" type of decorator. I don't have hay bales and pumpkins, scarecrows and corn stalks all over my yard and home. I do love those things, and I love seeing them around town and in other people's homes, but they can sometimes be expensive, and kinda messy too. So, I stick to simple and inexpensive, which works fine for me and my family.

Our dining room table is an antique, at least 100 years old, passed down from David's side of the family. A few years ago, we had it refinished. So, instead of covering it up with a tablecloth, I use a clear plastic cover on it (purchased in the yard goods section at Walmart). Then, for each season or holiday, I am able to put decorations underneath the plastic, along with a table runner on top. For Fall, I found a free printable file on Currclick.com of Christian Fall Decorations.  After downloading the file, I used a color printer and cardstock paper to print out the deigns, and then cut them out. The printable file includes various leaves and pumpkins with Scripture verses on them (See examples below). I love including Scripture in our home decor. It always helps remind us of God's love and care for us.
Example #1
Example #2

For our windows, I found gel stickers of colored leaves at the Dollar Tree. I purchased two sets at $1.00 each, which was just enough for our kitchen/dining room windows. 
For our front door, I found a large colored leaf made of some sort of felt material, and a bell decoration to place in front of it, again at the Dollar Tree. I was going to try to make my own Fall wreath this year but, when I saw these, I decided to save time and money. This works just as well as a Fall wreath and was only $2.00. 


My family and I are not big fans of Halloween. So, these Fall decorations go up at the beginning of September, and stay up through Thanksgiving. I hope you enjoy these simple ideas for Fall decorating, and enjoy the beauty of this cooler-weather season.

Monday, October 2, 2017

Responses to the Survey, and My Current Plan for this Blog



I was a little disappointed that more people didn't respond to my survey about this blog. It made me feel as if there are very few who care about it, and caused me to wonder how much longer I should continue. But, I do love to write, and I love to serve the Lord through my writing; so, for now, I don't plan on giving it up. Thank you to those of you who did respond; there were 16 of you in total.

Out of those who responded:
  • The majority are accessing the blog from Facebook. Then, e-mail came next. 
  • The majority are reading from a PC screen or Laptop; then cell phones are next.
  • Most of you do not enter the giveaways for various reasons.
  • Most of you prefer a once per week post, but about the same amount said it didn't matter to you how often I post. 
  • The topics that seem to be most popular are:  (1) Devotionals and Inspirational Thoughts, (2) Personal Life Events, and (3) Home Life & Hospitality. Here is a link where you can view all the responses to this final question: VIEW RESPONSES

After taking all of this under consideration, this is my current plan:
  • I will do my best to continue posting once per week as I am able (and occasionally twice per week).
  • I will plan to continue focusing on the top three topics as listed above, unless the Lord guides me to head in another direction.
  • I will still post some reviews of faith based or family friendly products. However, I will no longer be posting giveaways for the items I review. There just isn't enough interest. 

If you have any other thoughts or recommendations, I am always interested in hearing from you. Press on in serving the Lord, wholeheartedly, with the talents and gifts He has given to YOU, and thanks again for being a reader of He Holds My Right Hand.









Sunday, October 1, 2017

PHOTO(S) OF THE WEEK #27: 6 Years of Pix from Lost Creek Orchards

Proverbs 25:11 - A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

We started going to Lost Creek Orchards back in 2011, when EL was 12 years old and JJ was 8. They have a variety of pumpkins, peaches, and apples, as well as animals to see, a corn maze, and a little store with country collections. We especially enjoy the apple cider slushies!

Apparently, we skipped going to the orchard in 2012, but then went five years in a row from 2013-2017. It is a Fall tradition that we enjoy.

2011

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017