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Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

January 11, 2014

My Top {5} Fav Bread Machine Recipes

I am a self-professed bread machine addict.  I love love love my bread machine {which, fyi, I bought for $5 at a yard sale}.  There are so many things you can do with your bread machine and it’s so super easy!  Not to mention the control you have over what your family eats.  I wanted to list my top 5 fav recipes for y’all to enjoy!  I use a West Bend 41410 Hi-Rise Loaf Programmable Breadmaker, 2.5-Pound

English Muffins

1 cup milk
3 tablespoons butter
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons sugar
3 cups all-purpose flour (or more)
1 1/2 teaspoons dry yeast
cornmeal

Directions:
Put ingredients in the machine in the order listed.
Start the dough cycle.
Sprinkle corn meal over your work area.
When the cycle is finished, use your hands to pat the dough into a 1/2 inch thick rectangle.
Turn the dough so that each side gets lightly coated with cornmeal.
Using a biscuit cutter, cut into 8 to 10 rounds.
Place the rounds on a baking sheet.  Cover and let rise for 20- 30 minutes, until not quite double.
Heat a dry cast iron skillet or griddle over a low flame.
Cook the muffins about 5 to 7 minutes on each side, they should be golden brown when you turn them.
Split the muffins with a fork or serrated knife and serve warm.

White Bread

1 cup + 1 tbs water
1 large egg
4 1/2 teaspoons vegetable oil {I also use garlic olive oil}
3 1/4 cups flour
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast

Directions:
Place all ingredients in bread machine in order recommended.
Select the basic bread setting.
Check dough after 5 minutes of mixing, if needed add 1-2T of water or flour.
Bake as normal.
Take out of pan and let completely cool slightly before slicing.

Cinnamon Rolls

1 cup warm milk
2 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup margarine or 1/3 cup butter, melted
4 1/2 cups bread flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup white sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons bread machine yeast

Filling
1 cup brown sugar, packed
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/3 cup margarine or 1/3 cup butter, softened

Frosting
3 ounces cream cheese
1/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions:
Place all ingredients in bread machine in order recommended by manufacturer.
Select DOUGH cycle press Start.
In separate bowl combine cinnamon and sugar.
After dough has finished, turn it out onto lightly floured surface and roll into a 16×24 rectangle.
Spread dough with butter and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
Roll up dough and cut into 12 rolls.
Place rolls in lightly greased 9×13 pan.
Cover and let rise until almost doubled (about 30 min).
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Bake rolls for 14-16 minutes.
While rolls are baking, beat together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Spread frosting on warm rolls.

Dinner Rolls

3/4 cup water
2 extra-large eggs
3 tbl butter
3 tbl sugar
1 tsp salt
3 1/2 cups flour
2 1/4 tsp yeast

Directions:
Put all ingredients in your bread machine, according to your manufactures directions.
Select the dough setting. Mine lasts 1 hr 20 mins.
Once your dough cycle is finished, punch down dough and let it rest for 5 minutes.
Pull apart the dough in small sections to make balls a little bigger than a golf ball. It really depends on the size of roll you want. Just remember they will rise again.  (I normally grease my hands well before I do this. It not only helps the dough to not stick to you but it helps to make the tops of the rolls buttery golden.)
Place them on a lined baking sheet, sprayed with Pam cooking spray.
Let rise for about 10-15 minutes.
They will rise a little, but won’t necessarily double in size.
Bake at 350 for about 10 minutes. I check mine often.
Once they are light brown on top I pull them out, rub the tops with butter and let them cool on the pan.

Homemade Hotpockets

white bread dough {from above}

Filling choices
meatballs and sauce {I use leftover meatballs + sauce from spaghetti night}
ham and cheese
egg, cheese and bacon
chicken, bacon and cheese
chicken, broccoli and cheese
taco meat and cheese

Directions:
Use white bread recipe above.  Use dough setting rather than bread setting.
After dough has finished, turn it out onto lightly floured surface and roll into a rectangle.
Cut dough into 6×8 pieces.
Fill middle with filling then fold in half and crimp edges with a fork.  Wet the edges a bit with water to make sure it sticks well.
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Place on a stoneware or baking sheet, and bake for 10-15 minutes until lightly browned.

**See an updated version of this post by clicking HERE

Filed in: recipes • by Amy • 3 Comments

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January 10, 2014

Endowed by Our Creator {Book Review}

Endowed by Our Creator
By Keith W. Johnson

About the book:

Endowed by our Creator asserts that our constitutional rights are not merely political but are gifts from God, and that we have a responsibility to exercise stewardship to preserve them. It is particularly important for Christians to promote a political environment which allows them to carry out the Great Commission, be salt and light in society, experience religious freedom, and be personally obedient to God. The author maintains that a Christian worldview as presented in the scriptures is the most important consideration in defining the proper role of government – one which provides for life on earth being lived most closely to the way God intended, and which permits individuals to follow God’s will. Such a “worldview” has ramifications for all political issues, many of which are discussed in Endowed by our Creator. The author also presents a Christian perspective on “The Religious Right”, “The Religious Left”, the courts, globalism, the Afghan and Iraq wars, “The Global War on Terror”, and the role of conspiracy in political developments.

Written from a Christian worldview with Biblical references to parallel political topics, “Endowed by Our Creator” is a very interesting easy read and presents a personal challenge to the reader to take freedom, voting privilege, and political activity personally and, hopefully, very unselfishly. Mr. Johnson has presented information in a way that has certainly changed my personal perspective and understanding from a political stance.

What most do not know, is that the Declaration of independence has written right in it “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”.  Keith W, Johnson shows in this book how Christians can not only preserve, but use Gods gifts in political activity. From todays issues on health care to morality, this book covers it all. For anyone who is thinking of getting more involved, I would say this is a good read.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookCrash.com book review program, which requires an honest, though not necessarily positive, review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

Filed in: book review, Uncategorized • by Amy • Leave a Comment

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January 9, 2014

Your Words = Your Testimony

This is not what I had on my mind to blog about today.  But during my quiet time this morning, God spoke to my heart.  I just could not get the Proverbs 31 woman out of my head.  I’ve learned over the years that when God nudges, I had better sit up and listen.

She speaks with wisdom, 
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 
Proverbs 31:26

This girl right here likes to talk, a lot. And as we can see from Proverbs 10:19, when there are a lot of words there is a lot of room for there to be slip-ups. I cannot count how many times I’ve put my foot in my mouth. The Proverbs 31 woman didn’t neglect her mind, she filled it with wisdom from Gods word. Wisdom that allowed her to pick and choose her words carefully. Wisdom of when to speak, and when to not.

In the multitude of words there lacks not sin: but he that refrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:19

She speaks with wisdom and teachers others to be loving and kind, using her own words as an example. She is slow to speak and her words are like a honeycomb. She adds value to the conversations she is part of. When she talks, it’s definitely something worth hearing. And I can almost guarantee she never once referred to her husband as her “old man”. Her words were always respectful and when people refer to their spouses that way (which irritates me) it isn’t showing respect at all.

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 
Proverbs 16:24

This noble woman would never participate in gossip or cut others down during conversations. As women, we simply love to discuss things, especially when we can enlighten someone else about an issue that they are uninformed about. Why this brings such recreation to us, i wish i knew, but this is simply the nature of women as God created us. God does not seem to distinguish between whether the information is true or false or bad. The scriptures simply say that we are a gossiper if we reveal the secret. If we conceal the secret, we are of a faithful spirit. Gossip is bad. Period. We disappoint God when we listen to gossip or spread gossip ourselves. We need to show God our faithfulness by not participating in the spreading of other people’s secrets.

As I’ve said before, this girl likes to talk. And I totally admit at times my conversations would absolutely be considered gossip. Over the past few years, God has really strengthened my walk. Through that, I’ve noticed something new occurring. When a conversation is taking a turn towards gossip, I get a little pang inside me that warns me. Danger Will Robinson, danger. This is the Holy Spirit revealing the truth, convicting me of my sin and appealing to my conscience. And I sure need to sit up and listen.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 
James 1:19

The Proverbs 31 woman had a filter and stopped herself from saying anything that wasn’t kind. Her words were filled to the brim with grace, faithfulness, kindness and mercy. Can you say that? I know I can’t. So many days the first thought that hits my mind comes straight out of my mouth. And this girl right here, sadly, she has a big mouth. And a small bit of a temper.  But I am learning to control my tongue. There are times to speak up and speak truth, but seek Gods wisdom and discernment to know those times.

From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
Proverbs 18:20

As Christian women, our speech should be completely different than what the world’s speech looks like. This takes me back to last February. I was having my pre-surgery appointment and getting my kidney removed the next day. It was just a normal norm day for me. As the nurse started taking my medical history, and it never seemed to end, she stared at me in amazement. I’ve always ended my story with how many blessings it was filled with along the way {which it totally was thanks to Him}. The nurse started crying and rushed over to hug me. She told me more people should be like me and go through their trials with smiles on their faces. You never know who God is going to bring into your life for you to touch with your words!!  Are you going to be a Negative Nancy or Positive Patsy?  Remember, our words are part of our testimony!

We need to live this life, so our children can watch us. So they will be the wives and husbands God intended them to be. So our daughters know how to act towards their husband and children. So our sons know what to look for in a wife.

Did you ever feel like He is trying to drive His point home? While I was writing this I was listening to the radio. Words by Hawk Nelson came on and directly afterwards Let Them See You by Colton Dixon played. I cannot tell you much I love love love when He does that! Just when I’m questioning if that was what He really wanted me to write today, He gave me the answer. Loud and clear!!! 

Filed in: proverbs 31, Uncategorized • by Amy • 1 Comment

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