Crusty Bread

Hi Everyone!

Today I am going to share with you a recipe that a friend of mine recently directed me to, and I LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe!!!!  At first, it may sound like it is a lot of extra work, but once you make the recipe you will realize that it is really quite the opposite--easy, fun, healthy, and most important, yummy!

In a nutshell, this is what is called a "No-Knead" bread.  Kind of sort of similar to things like cornbread, except that with THIS bread recipe you are going to end up with a pretty awesome crust.  In fact, the name of the recipe is "Crusty Bread!"

So trust me on this one, and just TRY it--I'm sure you will love it as much as I do.  The only "tricky" part to making this bread is that you need to find something special to bake it in.  A cast iron dutch oven would be ideal, so if you have one then use it.  But if you are like me and are dutch-oven-less, then start thinking about what other things you have in your kitchen that you can use instead.  I ended up using the ceramic insert to my crock pot, and used my cast iron skillet on top of it for a lid.  I couldn't use my crock pot lid, because this is going to bake in the oven and I didn't want to melt the plastic handle on my crock pot lid.  I have also heard of people using a baking stone with a glass bowl inverted on top, and the friend who shared this recipe with me used an Anchor casserole dish/lid that she picked up at Walmart several years ago.  Anyway, start looking around your kitchen.  Below you can see my set-up.

Crusty Bread

3 cups unbleached all purpose flour (I used 2 cups whole wheat and 1 cup white)

1 3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. yeast (If you are using whole wheat flour like me, increase this to 1 tsp.)

1 1/2 c. water

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, salt and yeast.  Add water and mix until a shaggy mixture forms.  Cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside for 12-18 hours.  Overnight works great.  Heat oven to 450 degrees.  When the oven has reached 450 degrees place pot and lid in the oven and heat the pot for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile, pour dough onto a heavily floured surface and shape into a ball.  DO NOT KNEAD!!!!  REMEMBER THIS IS A NO KNEAD BREAD.  Just shape it a bit and cover with plastic wrap and let set while the empty pot is heating.  Remove the hot pot from the oven and drop in the dough.  Cover and return to the oven for 30 minutes.  After 30 minutes, remove the lid and bake an additional 15 minutes.  Remove bread from oven and place on a cooling rack to cool.

Now, this is a great bread for adding in whatever "flavors" you like.  My first loaf pictured here I added in 1/2 c. dried chopped onions as well as a bunch of chopped up fresh Rosemary.  That loaf barely lasted the day.  I currently have another batter rising on the counter that I put Orange zest, slivered almonds, and dried cherries in.  Yum!  I can't wait to bake that one in the morning!  Use your imagination, stare at your cupboards, and see what inspiration comes to you.  And if you make a combination you really like, please share it with me here!  :)

Have fun!  And happy baking!

~Susan

52 Weeks, 52 Verses--Week 44

Happy Fall Everyone!

O.K., so I realize it has been Fall for some time now, but this weekend brought that Fall feeling for sure!  It's brrrrrrrrrr outside now!  Friday I was running around outside in short sleeves--today it was bring out the winter coat and ear muffs!  I even switched the kid's sheets to flannel sheets this morning. . .

I am plugging away on my Bible in 90 Days reading.  Getting close now, as this past week brought my reading into the Gospels.  I LOVE reading the Gospels, and the timing will be especially nice with this being the beginning of the holiday season.  Great time to be focusing on Jesus and what He did for us.  What a true miracle--that our God would love us SO much, that He would allow His Son to come and die on this earth for undeserving us.  I can hardly wrap my brain around that one.  I finally have to give up and stop trying to understand.

This past week's reading brought me to an absolutely beautiful passage.  One I have read before, but every time it strikes me with it's loveliness. . .   So I just had to choose it for this week's verse!

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish.  No one can snatch them away from me. . . "  John 10:27, 28

Isn't that beautiful?  I told you!

My sheep listen to my voice--that's the part that "I" need to do.  Listen.  Listen to God, not to the rest of the world, who will stear me wrong.  He never will.  And once I have listened, part two is to follow.  But I cannot follow if I have not first LISTENED to what He wants me to do.

And He will do His part.  Because of Him, I have eternal life and will never perish.  Forever with Jesus in heaven.  And no matter what bad things may happen to me here in this sinful world, no one can snatch me away from Him.

I love Jesus!

Have a beautiful week with your lovely Savior.

~Susan

52 Weeks, 52 Verses--Week 43

One month.

One month ago today, my sweet mother-in-law woke up and started her day.  She cared for her husband.  She thought about her grandkids.  She dropped a newspaper article into the mail that she thought my son would enjoy reading.

That night, she died from a heart attack.

Today would have been her birthday.

I read some verses this past week about hearts.  One promise I found went like this:

"And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you.  I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart."  Ezekiel 36:26

I need a new heart.

But I think my favorite heart verse I read is this one--so I have chosen it for this week's verse:

"But this is the new covenant I will make with the people of Israel on that day," says the Lord.  "I will put my instructions deep within them, and I will write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people."  Jeremiah 31:33

God is going to write His instructions on my heart.  And it's not going to be a surface thing, not something that could be washed off.  No, it's going to be carved deep. So deep that the two will be one--my heart and God.  He will be mine.  And I will be His.

Forever.

He promised.


~Susan

God Will Provide

Happy Sabbath Everyone!

It is a beautiful Fall afternoon in my neck of the woods.  I have been spending some time this afternoon reading in some Christian books, somewhat looking for some things in particular, and somewhat just following "rabbit trails" as I read from one thing to the next.

While doing so, I ran across this beautiful section--I'm sure it will already be familiar to some of you. But it is so beautiful and encouraging that I felt impressed to share it here.  May it bring courage and blessings to you, the same that it has to me.

"Worry is blind and cannot discern the future;  but Jesus sees the end from the beginning.  In every difficulty He has His way prepared to bring relief.  'No good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly.'  Matthew 11:30; Psalm 84:11.

"Our Heavenly Father has a thousand ways to provide for us of which we know nothing.  Those who accept the one principle of making the service of God supreme, will find perplexities vanish and a plain path before their feet.

"The faithful discharge of today's duties is the best preparation for tomorrow's trials.  Do not gather together all tomorrow's liabilities and cares and add them to the burden of today.  'Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.'  Matthew 6:34.

"Let us be hopeful and courageous.  Despondency in God's service is sinful and unreasonable.  He knows our every necessity.  To the omnipotence of the King of kings our covenant-keeping God unites the gentleness and care of the tender shepherd.  His power is absolute, and it is the pledge of the sure fulfillment of His promises to all who trust in HIm.  He has means for the removal of every difficulty, that those who serve Him and respect the means He employs may be sustained.  His love is as far above all other love as the heavens are above the earth.  He watches over His children with a love that is measureless and everlasting.

"In the darkest days, when appearances seem most forbidding, have faith in God.  He is working out His will, doing all things well in behalf of His people.  The strength of those who love and serve Him will be renewed day by day.

"He is able and willing to bestow upon His servants all the help they need.  He will give them the wisdom which their varied necessities demand."

~~~The Ministry of Healing, p. 481-482

My favorite part in this passage is when the author refers to God as the "covenant-keeping" God.  When you really think about it, all the beautiful promises in the Bible would be worth nothing if God didn't keep His promises.  They are only valuable because He is so trustworthy.  He CAN do what He promises, and He WILL.  He will never forget you.

Have a beautiful week with your covenant-keeping God!

~Susan

52 Weeks, 52 Verses--Week 42

Good Morning Everyone!

And happy new week to you!  We had a fantastic weekend, being blessed to listen to a sermon series by Pastor Doug Batchlor.  He was putting on a special program at our local college here, specifically aimed to be appropriate for the college kids, but I sure was blessed myself--even though I am (ahem) a bit past college age!

The series was called "Ultimate Purpose," and was all on how we can know what our purpose is here on this earth. It was REALLY really good, and I learned last night that it will still be possible to view the programs if you want to, as they were recorded.  Now, I haven't checked out all these places myself yet, so I cannot personally testify that you will find the links there--but from what I have been told, these are the places that someone might be able to find this sermon series.

1)  www.audioverse.org--supposedly this site will have the audio recording of each meeting.  Pastor Doug preached Thursday night, Friday night, Sabbath morning, and Sabbath evening.  I believe that you can download sermons from this site, so you might be able to put them on your mp3 to listen to later like when driving, etc.

2)  www.3ABN.org--this Christian T.V. station was broadcasting the programs live.  This is how I watched them, actually, as I did not want to fight the crowds or drag my younger child out late at night. So we dropped off our college student and he was there at the programs in person, and then we drove back home a mile and a half and watched them on 3ABN!  I figured I could see better from where I was at home, as it was like having a front-row seat!

3)  www.amazingfacts.org--this is the organization that Pastor Doug works for, and if I understood him correctly he mentioned last night that the programs would be recorded and available on this site.  Like I said, I haven't explored this yet, but you might poke around if you are interested.

O.K., so those are all the ways one might be able to see this series still even though it is over.  I would say it would be well worth your time--I was SO blessed!

But on to this week's verse!  I love this verse.  Just found it in my reading this morning.  Try and picture this in your mind--God--the Creator of the whole Universe--is being questioned about His power by a tiny little speck of dust that He brought to life.  A speck of dust that He loves so much He knew He would give His only beloved Son to die for.  But they are SO doubting!  And here is God's answer:

"I am the Lord, the God of all the peoples of the world.  Is anything too hard for me?"  Jeremiah 32:27 NLT

Can't you just hear the bit of a sigh and exasperation in God's voice here?  Reminds me of me when I am trying to assure my daughter of something.  I KNOW she will be fine, but she is still doubting.

Why oh why do we do the same thing to God?

Because we do not trust enough, is what my mind answers. . .

Yet we know that God will answer a prayer asking for more faith.  And even just a little bit of faith is a powerful thing. . .

"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them.  "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move.  Nothing would be impossible."  Matthew 17:19-21

Because nothing is impossible for Him.

Have a wonderful week with your is-anything-too-hard-for-me God!

Susan

52 Weeks, 52 Verses--Week 41

Happy New Week Everyone!

How can it be October already???  Hard to believe--except that this weekend the weather definitely starting FEELING like October--emphasis on the burrrrrr part! How it can be hot and summer feeling one day, and I-want-hot-chocolate weather the next I'll never know, but it happens!

As most of you already know, I am currently working my way through reading the Bible in 90 days.  It is awesome, to say the least.  The only down side of going through this fast is I run across so many wonderful verses, and cannot possibly remember them all!  I have started jotting down the texts that are really speaking to my heart on the back of my 90 day bookmark--this week I had so many verses I wrote down, I ran out of room--and this is on the back of an 8 1/2 x 11 inch piece of paper!  I wish my brain could memorize ALL of them, as they are ALL precious promises to us.  But--since I can't do that, I will make myself choose just one.

I have a dear friend who is going through a trial right now, and I dedicate this weeks verse to her.

"I took my troubles to the Lord;  I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer."  Psalms 120:1 NLT

Isn't that beautiful!  Of course, I realize that God does not always answer our prayers in the way that we want them answered.  I also believe that sometimes He would LOVE to answer our prayers in the way we want--but people do not always follow God's way.  But He will never leave us.  We can always take our troubles to Him.

Beautiful, wonderful Savior.

Let Him carry you through this week.

Susan

52 Weeks, 52 Verses--Week 40

Happy October 1 Everyone!

Sorry I am a bit late in posting my verse for this week, but as they say better late than never!

This has been a hard week, because at the end of last week's beautiful Sabbath day, my lovely mother-in-law died very unexpectedly from a heart attack.  This has been a real shock to everyone, as except for the few old age things such as arthritis, needing to wear a hearing aid, etc. she has been in GREAT health.  In fact, she was the caregiver for my father-in-law who is in poor health!  None of us EVER expected this to happen.  Not now.  Maybe if her health went down for a long time, but not to wake up perfectly fine and then pass away at the end of the day.

It hurts.  We miss her.  It still feels like a shock, as if it cannot be real.  At times like this people naturally try and make sense out of things--but it is my belief that we can never make sense out of death because we were not designed by our Creator to be exposed to it.  No, God designed humans to live in the beautiful Garden of Eden, in a sinless world.  It's no wonder we cannot make sense of death--we were not created to die, but to live!

But even though we messed things up here on our earth home, God loved us too much to leave us to what we deserved.  I'm glad, because really--we didn't deserve Jesus offering His sinless life to pay for our sins.  When I think about it, it still boggles my mind--how very much God loves us.  Much more than  we can wrap our brains around.

As I was reading through my Bible this week, trying to comprehend all that had just happened, I ran across a verse that I do not think I have really noticed before.  It just reminded me of my beautiful mother-in-law, as she loved the Lord very much.

So this is the verse I have chosen for this week:

"Those who fear the Lord are secure;  he will be a refuge for their children."  Proverbs 14:26 NLT

This verse describes my mother-in-law.  She is secure.  For awhile now, she will sleep in the grave.  She is not in pain or grief, she is resting.  (Ecclesiastes 9:5, Psalm 115:17)  Waiting.  Until her Savior comes to wake her up.

And then she will live with Him.  ". . . and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God."  Revelation 21:3

And while we will miss her while we are waiting for that great day when Jesus will return, we are not left without help.  We are not on our own.  Because did you catch the last part of that verse in Proverbs?

"he will be a refuge for their children"

My sweet, kind, loving mother-in-law may not be with us any more.  But she has left us an inheritance.  Our inheritance is Jesus.

Beautiful, wonderful Jesus.

He created us.  He redeemed us.  And he is coming to rescue us from this sin-filled planet.

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;  there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  Revelation 21:4

I can't wait.  I will see her again.  And we will live together with Jesus--forever.

What a beautiful inheritance she has left us.