Archives for April 2011

Feasting in Fellowship Friday/ Featured Recipe/Top 3

Anyone else happy it’s Friday?! 

Come visit me over at Women Living Well to get my “tried and true” Banana Bread recipe! It is SO moist and delicious…. I am never able to have just have one piece!







Friday’s Top 3 Picks 
Thanks to all of you who “link up” each week! 

“Lightened up” Coconut Cream Pie 

The “Better Baker ” shares this recipe from Amee’s Savory Dish. I love the combination of pudding with cream cheese. A great recipe for Spring! Thanks Marsha! 
Starlight Mint Surprise Cookies 
Eating in Winnipeg”  posted these fabulous cookies last week! Who doesn’t love a surprise..especially when chocolate is involved? Thanks Amanda! 
Sweet Potatoes in the Crockpot! 

“A Fixed Heart” tried making sweet potatoes in the crockpot and it worked! Hooray! She simply wrapped them up in foil and placed them smack dap in the crockpot! Sounds good to me Kris! Add butter and brown sugar and you have yourself a very tasty side dish. 
Link up with “Feasting in Fellowship Friday”! 
Simply copy and paste this button to your post. Then, include the link below that takes us directly to your recipe! Thank you for sharing…I love seeing what you  have cooking! 
~Love, Janelle 

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Thank you!






Thank you Ladies! 
Love to you, Janelle
“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” 
-Proverbs 27:17


This blog would have never happened without the encouragement and help of these 2 ladies. Thank you Courtney and Darlene. Love you girls! 






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"Sleep over Sisters" Meal Ministry Monday Welcomes Jen!

Hi Ladies, I hope you all had a wonderful Easter!


It is such a joy for me to post Meal Ministry Mondays …God has provided a testimony to share every week on this blog. As you know, I have no control over who e-mails me with a story and photos, it is all in the Lord’s hands. So, as long as God is working through you there will be this post on this topic each Monday! Thank you all so very much.


How amazing it is to learn the many different and unique ways there are to serve our Lord and serve others through this meal ministry. You have all taught me so much…I am very grateful. 


“Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another” 
Proverbs 27:17



Please help me welcome our dear sister-in-Christ Jen.  Jen hosts a girl sleep over once a month called “Sleep Over Sisters”. During these fun sleep overs the girls get to do “hands on” activities for their community that help spread the Word and share God’s love with others! 


It makes my heart sing that these girls can enjoy in sweet fellowship at this young age. I pray that their passion for serving will grow as they do. I also pray their peers will take notice at how joyous it can be to serve…what an awesome age to learn this. 


 I don’t want to give her story away, so I will stop here….May Jen and these young girls keep their fire for the Lord burning bright!!!! 


What a blessing you are Jen! Keep serving the Lord and others!!


Here is Jen’s letter to me…



“We Were Not Saved To Sit”

Dear Janelle,

3 years ago I heard about a local sleep over ministry that intrigued me. Anyone who knows me knows how I am a fanatic about throwing birthday parties, so why not take this passion and give it a purpose. The more I prayed about it the more God revealed a straight path of His will, in encouraging these young ladies to grow deeper in their relationship with Christ. As moms of then 2nd and 3rd graders we were already fretting about middle school. At the same time our church had a burst of growth that left our children feeling like a number. Thankfully our church has since remedied the problem, but at first it was a call to action for us moms. God revealed a group of girls who already knew each other from church but attended everything from public school to homeschool. We wanted these girls to grow in Christ and accountability to each other. Every time I turned God revealed ideas, games, crafts, even ten perfect t-shirts to kick off our little group. We began with a devotional book the girls could do at home with their moms, but as we came together once a month for a sleep over, God gave me words, lessons and verses to guide these young minds. I am not a writer, always despised it in school, but writing this curriculum just flowed like it was coming from God himself.


We are now completing our third year, meeting once a month, and sending off our oldest girls to middle school. This past year we stepped it up preparing them for serving at church and in the community. Each month, as we dove into and dissected scripture (yes we moved on from devotionals to large passages of scripture), we served someone in the community. We made bread for homeless, packed food boxes, made blankets for children’s hospital, raked rocks preparing a large garden for fall, made spa products for an outreach program and most recently made dinner for our local police department. I had no idea how 12, 10-11 year olds would handle themselves in my kitchen making dinner. They were fantastic. We had stations to make sauce, cheese, stuff shells, make bread and gooey butter cake. It went so smooth, that we fit in our Bible lesson about carrying the name of Jesus to the world before delivering the dinner.



Earlier that day I called all the surrounding police departments asking if there was anyone we could specifically pray for by name, and to let them know we would be praying for their departments. I had no idea how this idea would be received. Surprisingly each department was so open and grateful for my phone call. We went to the station and as the dispatcher waved us into the lobby a 911 call came in about an accident. We had the opportunity to drop everything and pray for those in the accident and the officers and paramedics that were pulling out of the parking lot with lights and sirens. An officer came and showed us into the break room where we left the dinner and another call came in. As he left we prayed, for the department for all those by name other departments gave me and the girls, so they would grow to always respect the officers in authority. It was an amazing experience made possible only by God’s hand and perfect timing. I attached some pics. I hope you enjoy them.





~Jen with “Sleep over Sisters”

Thank you so very much, Jen, for sharing your meal ministry with us! You and your “girls” are a bright light!! What a blessing you are to your community. Girls, keep up the great work and let all your friends know how fun it can be to share God’s love!!!! 
What a wonderful story.
Love to you, Janelle 


Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com to be a guest blogger on Meal Ministry Mondays. I would love to show off your love for the Lord and His people! 



I am participating at Living Well Wednesdays!
For more inspiring stories please click on the button below.


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Feasting in Fellowship Friday "Good Friday"

Feasting in Fellowship “Good Friday” 

“For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him, will not perish, but have eternal life” ~John 3:16

Ladies, Thank you for linking up your delicious recipes each week. I am grateful for our fellowship and  love seeing how God works through each of you to provide delicious meals and treats for your families! 
Have a blessed Easter weekend! 
Love to you,
Janelle 
Coconut Lime Cupcakes
While Becky at Ministry To Motherhood , was reminiscing the days when she visited the tropics, she concocted this delicious recipe for Coconut Lime Cupcakes. Becky, I would love to have one of these right now with a cup of coffee! (and some warm sunshine!) Thank you!

Applesauce Spice Muffins

Lisa over at Happy in Dole Valley, shared these delicious Applesauce Spice Muffins. These are simple to make and most likely, you have all of the ingredients on hand! I will be trying these soon…Thanks Lisa!

Spinach and Feta Pasta Salad
Money Wise Moms shared this beautiful Spinach and Pasta Salad. I love the addition of feta and spinach. A recipe I will be making this Spring for sure! Thank you!!
Link up with “Feasting in Fellowship Friday”! 
Simply copy and paste this button to your post. Then, include the link below that takes us directly to your recipe! Thank you for sharing…I love seeing what you  have cooking! 
~Love, Janelle 

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One of my favorite poems/ WLW Featured Recipe!

A local restaurant in my town had this beautiful life sized tomb on display….





I shared this poem in bible study today and felt led to share it with all of you too….this is something I play over and over in my head daily. My life changed since I first read this poem…I pray yours does too.


Anyway Poem

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.
What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.
Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.
You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

~Mother Teresa



Everything I do is for God…from cooking, to cleaning, to loving people, to blogging…it is for my Savior, my Father, my Maker…His best for me is enough. His death on the cross is enough. 
Thank you, Lord for what you did for us on the cross and for giving your spirit to be with us always.


Enjoy your week leading up to Good Friday and Easter! Love to you, Janelle



Bunny Cupcakes! 

Please visit me at Women Living Well to see these adorable bunny cupcakes I made to take to my son’s school this week!

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Meal Ministry Monday Welcomes Welcomes Gina!


Please help me welcome our Sister-in-Christ, Gina. This “old lady” exemplifies DAILY what it means to be a Titus 2 woman. I am amazed at all she does for the Lord in this way. Oh, how I wish I could just sit indian style on her couch with some coffee and see what goes on in her home!

I simply cannot wait for you to read her testimony..


Gina and her husband 

“Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God”
Titus 2:3-5

I am a 47 year old Christ follower who desires to glorify and serve God in any way I can. I grew up in a Christian home and was introduced to Jesus at a very early age. At 20 years old I left home to attend Bible College in hopes of preparing for full-time ministry. I met my husband while I was in college and he was in seminary. We have been married for 22 years, and have been in some type of full time ministry for most of that time. We have two children: Brianna is 20 years old and a Jr. in college, and Caleb is 17 years old and will graduate this year from high school.

I have had a burden to find ways to encourage women since I was about 29 or 30! It has grown over the years as I found myself, at times, looking around for older women I could spend time with, and there were very few who were making themselves available. I would often read the passages about what we are supposed to be and do as women and read any book I could get my hands on that dealt with Titus 2, discipleship or mentoring. As a result of my praying and asking the Lord if there was anything more I could be doing to reach out, I felt led to start a blog. My vision was that I might be able to reach out to the women at the college, by writing and sharing Biblical truths. I had no idea that what God had in store for me would reach way beyond the campus where I live! I now have the privilege of writing and reaching out to a couple hundred women a day, through my blog and monthly at The Internet Cafe.

My husband is an ordained pastor, has a masters degree in sports medicine, and a masters in theology. I have a degree in Bible, and have been a stay at home mom for 20 years. God has combined these gifts and decided that our family would live life with college students. We live on a college campus where Brian is a faculty member and athletic director/trainer and we are both on staff. It has been a perfect fit for us! My first love and priority is being a wife and mother, keeping my home in order, and then living life with students, and serving anyone that happens to come to my door. Much, if not most of our ministry takes place in the kitchen! It includes serving alot of coffee and hot chocolate, fun and easy meals, and as many desserts as possible! College students regularly drop by our home to talk, do homework, relax, and EAT!


I jokingly refer to myself as “the old lady”. The title of my blog (Chats With An ‘Old Lady’) came from the fact that even though I am not really that “old”, because I live with 19-21 year olds, I am the “old lady” on campus. That, and the fact that I love the Titus 2 model and am learning how to be an “older woman”. Someone told me once that I am an “old lady wanna be”! I know they were joking, but I have to tell you that they are absolutely right! I am sensing such an urgency to “step up to the plate” and get involved in the lives of women as the Lord leads. I believe that now is the time! Things are getting worse. Satan is fighting hard. I want to be one that holds up the stop sign! To warn them. To point them in the right direction! And that is what my life revolves around.

God led me to Janelle’s blog, and I not only fell in love with the yummy, practical recipes, but I fell in love with Janelle and her heart to serve people from her kitchen. I guess I see her as a “kindred spirit”, since so much of what I do is from my own kitchen! I regularly consult Janelle’s blog for creative ideas for meals. She never lets me down!!!



Gina’s Daughter Brianna making my “Better than a Hug Cake”



We do have “regularly scheduled” planned events in our home for the students. One of them is “pancake night”-a night when we open our home from about 6-11:00 PM and I serve pancakes with all the toppings. The students love it and look forward to a time to take a break from studying. And of course the always love to eat! I love to have groups of girls in my home, and over the years have hosted “dorm meetings” here, a time for the girls in the dorm come over and have a meeting and then I serve them some fun, yummy snacks. But most of our ministry is relaxed and spontaneous. They know we are here and that they can come over for coffee or a meal, and they are always welcome. Many nights our couches and kitchen table are lined with students with laptops on their laps, playing on facebook and doing homework!

We also have the privilege of taking kids to the doctor, to the store, bringing them with us to church, and even get to take them to the ever important emergency McDonalds run! We get to travel with sports teams, have movie nights, and have even occasionally “kidnapped” a student or two and have taken them on vacation with us. I often tell people I love that I get to live the “college life” but without the studying!!!



I often feel very unqualified to be where I am at. Life is hard, and the issues that many young people face are huge as they are fighting the battle of the Christian life! They come from many different backgrounds, many of them being from broken homes. But God continually reminds me that all we are required to do is depend on Him, pray for wisdom, and then love, love, love the kids He brings to our door. We are trusting that as we attempt to do that, He will do His powerful work of sanctification in the lives of these precious students we have been called to serve! I am so thankful!

Please visit Gina over at “Chats with an Old Lady” Isn’t she fun? I ADORE how God works through her.




 


Gina, I can’t image the impact you have on the college students who pass through your doors. Your story brings a huge smile to my face and a joyfulness to my heart. I sincerely wish every young person had a mentor like you and your family…thank you for sharing your “life song” with us and for being a light for God. 
Love to you, Janelle 


Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com to be a guest blogger on Meal Ministry Mondays. I would love to show off your love for the Lord and His people! 



I am participating at Living Well Wednesdays!
For more inspiring stories please click on the button below.

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How to Avoid an Easter Eggtastrophy!

Don’t laugh…I am serious here. There IS a trick to boiling eggs! 


Has this ever happened to you? Your water is boiling, you drop the eggs in then…..crack….tiny bubbles come up from the eggs, then egg whites slowly rise to the top of the boiling water. Now, instead of hard boiled you have accidental poached eggs. Or, an Easter Eggtastrophy if you will… Bummer.


(This is what I have been told happens anyways…hehe)


This is how to make the hard boiled eggs of your dreams…drum roll please….

Start off by placing eggs in COOL water in a large pot on the stove.
Then, turn the burner on high heat to boiling. As soon as the water boils, you know this is the time to …
take the pot off of burner and cover. Then, allow the eggs to steam for 15 mins.
Pour half of the hot water out of the pot and add some cool water. Let sit for 5 mins. Then, take eggs out of pot and place on a paper towel lined plate.
Now you are ready to decorate!
Beautiful!



He is Risen! 


Love to you, 
Janelle 

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Feasting in Fellowship Friday- Friday’s "Featured Recipe" and "Top Picks"

Easter Ham


Looking for a delicious ham recipe for Easter? Come visit me over at  Women Living Well where I share a secret ingredient that takes the “salty taste” away from the ham and makes it juicy and sweet! If it isn’t a Honeybaked Ham…it is this recipe through and through. Enjoy Ladies!
Feasting in Fellowship Featured Recipes!

I love looking through all of your amazing recipes. I can’t thank you enough for taking time to share them! You are SO talented, creative…and COMFY! I made a recipe this week from the link up and my, oh my, was it GOOD!

Cauliflower Cheese submitted by 21st Century Housewife – Thank you April! 
Non- Cheeseburger Pie submitted by The Inspired Housewife– Thank you Dianne- make sure to thank your sister-in-law too! A GREAT dish for brunch! YUM!

Caramel Corn submitted by Set Your Heart To Seek God– Thank you for this quick, easy, and yummy treat Robin! My family will love this one.

So are you wondering what one of these I made this week?!!!

Cauliflower Cheese submitted by 21st Century Housewife!!!

Last Sunday I was at a loss for what to make for dinner. I grocery shop on Monday and was left with an array of different ingredients in my refrigerator. I had most of the ingredients for April’s recipe so I went for it! I supplemented some of them as seen below.
Ladies, DO NOT be afraid to supplement ingredients!
(BTW- My husband who doesn’t typically eat left overs had this for lunch the next day…he LOVED it!)

April…Girl, I know you said this is NOT a one pot dinner…look at what I did to your beautiful recipe! I just threw it all in there! LOL! Basketball was starting and I had to hurry! 

I steamed the cauliflower with just a little water on the stove on high-10 mins.

Threw in a little garlic and sauteed.

All I had were bow tie noodles…it did the trick

Started with a basic white sauce

Threw in the steamed cauliflower with the rest of the veggies

Added the cheese to the white sauce…this was delcious

Put it all together in a 9×13, topped it with cheese and placed it under the broiler

Whala! This did not take more than 35 mins to make and was DELICIOUS!!! 

This is April’s recipe word for word…
Cauliflower Cheese Pasta
1 pound of macaroni or pasta shapes 
½ to ¾ cup chopped bacon or pancetta
One medium cauliflower, washed and broken into florets
1 leek, washed and thinly sliced (or substitute one onion, finely chopped)
1 bunch asparagus (or substitute 1 cup frozen peas if asparagus is unavailable)
1 red pepper, finely chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all purpose (plain) flour
approximately 2 cups of milk
1 generous teaspoon of Dijon mustard
2 good handfuls of cheddar cheese plus more for sprinkling
Salt and pepper to taste
Steam the cauliflower, leek (*for onion see note below), asparagus and red pepper in a steamer until cooked. You will probably need to put the cauliflower in first for about ten minutes and then add the rest of the vegetables as they do not take nearly as long to cook.  Once they are cooked – firm and not soggy – set them aside.
Cook the pasta according to package directions.
Fry the bacon or pancetta in a small pan until crisp. Set aside and keep warm. 
(*If you are using onion, do not steam it, rather add it to the melted butter in the step below and gently sauté in the saucepan for two to three minutes before adding the flour.)
Meanwhile, melt the butter in a small saucepan. Add the flour and stir together thoroughly.  Cook for a couple of minutes, stirring constantly.  Gradually pour in the milk, continuing to stir, to make a thick sauce.  You will need to stir this constantly until it thickens. Stir in the mustard, then add the cheese and let it melt.  Now gradually add a bit more milk until you get a nice consistency that is not too thick or too thin, just enough to coat the vegetables and pasta. Add the salt and pepper to taste.
When the pasta is done, drain it and set aside. 
When everything is ready, mix the cooked pasta and cooked vegetables together in a large casserole.  Pour the cheese sauce over and toss until everything is coated.  Sprinkle a bit more cheese over top and place under the grill.  Let it brown up a little and serve it sprinkled with the crispy bacon or pancetta if using. Taste and sigh.
As I said, it isn’t all that quick and maybe it’s less than easy, but oh my, is it worth it for this bowl of comforting yumminess! You can also make this ahead of time, store it in the fridge and reheat it when you need it. Just fry up the bacon or pancetta at the last minute if you are going to do that. 



Thank you All SO much again for sharing your recipes every week on Feasting in Fellowship. Thank you April for making my family happy this Sunday!

Love to you, Janelle

It’s Feasting in Fellowship Friday!!!!!!
Whatcha got cookin?

Link up with “Feasting in Fellowship Friday”! 
Simply copy and paste this button to your post. Then, include the link below that takes us directly to your recipe! Thank you for sharing…I love seeing what you  have cooking! 
~Love, Janelle 

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I Just Can’t Do It All!


I woke up this morning thinking about all that I had to get accomplished today. The laundry, meals, getting children ready for school, driving, cleaning…I got overwhelmed just thinking about it all.

By afternoon, the sun was shining and my girls were begging to go outside. But I couldn’t help to think about how much I had to do inside the house. I went outside to play anyways…
Off for our walk
The girls and I went for a walk. I prayed for every house we passed. Then, started to talk with God about how much I had to do again…I prayed for energy. I also prayed that I could enjoy this time with my girls instead of thinking of everything else I could be doing..
Don’t miss these precious moments

Then, His words spoke to me and said “Janelle, I am GOD and it took me 7 days to make the universe. I did not get all I wanted to accomplish done in one day, neither should you. I also rested on the 7th day, so should you”.
Spend time with your children…it goes by so fast.
I do believe God could have gotten it all done in one day if He wanted to, but because of His infinite grace He didn’t…I love Him so much for this.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
~Philippians 4:6
“I will give thanks to you oh Lord, with all of my heart”
– Psalm 9:1


Enjoy YOUR day!
 Love to you, 
Janelle

This is the day the Lord has made, rejoice and be glad in it!
~Psalm 118:24 




I am participating in Women Living Well Wednesdays! Love you Courtney! 

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Meal Ministry Monday Welcomes Welcomes Ann!

Please be so kind to welcome our fellow Sister and Christ, Ann (all the way from Australia)! She has been so kind to share a beautiful testimony of how we can give under any of life’s circumstances.


You will see how Ann’s story reminded me of my own…Could this be coincidence or a “God thing”? I will let you decide 🙂



Ann is a homeschool mother of seven children. She lives in Australia in a forest setting she calls her ‘Eight Acres of Eden’ where koalas live in the gum trees and the sub-tropical climate allows them to grow their own bananas.

  



Ann believes that homes, family and hospitality are inter-twined’. Hospitality is a way of life and is part of their Family Vision Statement. ‘Learning to serve others is what hospitality is all’ about says Ann. But it’s not just about learning how to set a table or cook a lavish meal. I don’t want hospitality to be a checklist or a process; I want my children to know that people are more important than the preparations and this is what we do together as a family – look after people.

Ann has been married for over 20 years and in that time, people from all walks of life have been welcomed into their home. There have been different ‘seasons of hospitality’ but the kitchen has always been a ‘base of operations’ for ministry to others. I am thrilled when I see my teenage daughter, says Ann, ‘ making one of her special desserts for the family and setting aside a portion to take across the road to our widowed neighbour.’


If you have a willing heart and say to God ‘Lord send us people’ – well you better be prepared! I prayed that prayer as a young married wife and God answered – not always in the way I had imagined and not always at times which were convenient for me!’


Tea and Honey Sandwiches’ is one of Ann’s real life stories and a lesson about hospitality and humility that took place in New Zealand where Ann lived until moving to Australia in 2002.


You can read more of Ann’s hospitality stories at her blog eightacresofeden.com where she shares about raising beautiful children in a beautiful place’ and all that she takes delight in as a Christian wife, mother and homemaker.

Please visit Ann at her blog Eight Acres of Eden


“As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.“Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”-Luke 21:1-4


Tea and Honey Sandwiches: A Hospitality Story

‘Is it okay to wash hands?’ The young woman with a European accent and oil stained hands had come to the back door of the church building where the Sunday creche was in full swing. She had come to the right place for help that morning. A sink with hot water, a towel and meeting a young mother who just happened to be married to a mechanic. She explained their predicament. They had broken down right outside the church on their way north. They were in New Zealand as agricultural exchange students and today was their day off and they were traveling to the hot pools. They were too far from their farm to expect their hosts to come and rescue them. It was also a Sunday and many garages were closed.

I told her to wait for a moment and went back into church to find my husband. He was sitting in the middle of a row near the front and the Pastor had just commenced his sermon. Never mind, I was now on a mission to help these stranded Danes!

Husband found three Danish girls and one young American guy (another exchange student from the same farm) with their second hand car – an old Austin, funnily enough the guy’s name was Austin and we are fairly certain that he bought it for the name rather than its mechanical dependability! The car needed some work to get it back on the road and then the realization of what I had set in motion that day dawned. ‘I’ve offered to tow them home after church and fix their car and suggested they come for lunch.’ You have? But….’ Before I could respond, my husband had disappeared back into church with Austin who taken up the invitation of joining him for the rest of the service! I still try to imagine what it what have looked like had he taken the three Danish girls into the service instead!

On the trip home with our two year old son strapped in his car seat sharing the back seat with two friendly Danish girls my mind was fixed on what I was going to offer these people for lunch. It was not that I had forgotten to do the grocery shopping that week. We had not shopped for food because we had no money and the pantry was literally bare.

You see, I had taken a step of faith and given up my career to follow the desire that God had placed on my heart to be a full time stay at home mum. My second baby was due in just a few months. We had to leave the desirable seaside city we were living in as we could no longer afford the rents and my husband could not find work. We still owned a home in the North Island and had rented it out prior to my ‘career move’. At least we would have a roof over our heads and hopefully my husband would find work again in the small town we had left. The last of our savings were spent on the move home.

It was good to be home but we were now in a predicament. No job was forthcoming and we had found out that because I chose to leave my post there was no entitlement to any benefits for six weeks from the time of application. We had no income at all. I had already been in touch with the bank, the power and telephone companies as deadlines for payments approached. And now we had run out of food and my husband had invited home for lunch a bunch of overseas students!

I invited the students into our home and my husband and Austin began working on the broken down Austin! The girls seemed very happy to be in our home. They told us all about their time in New Zealand and about their lives in Denmark. To be truthful I was not taking it all in, I was so focused on what I could feed them with and no boy had strolled past recently with loaves and fishes! But God had brought these people to my doorstep and it was lunch time!

But the cupboard was not entirely bare. There was a loaf of sandwich bread and a jar of honey – a welcome home gift from a beekeeper friend. I knew it was there but I had thought I could not possibly just serve up bread and honey sandwiches to our guests. But this is what God laid on my heart to do. To use all that I had left to bless these strangers. We had tea and some milk left so I brewed a pot of tea to serve with the sandwiches. I made an apology for not having coffee or sugar but there was sweet honey available.

And do you know what happened? They absolutely loved the sandwiches and declared how wonderful it was to taste real New Zealand honey! They kept on thanking us for our kindness. My husband managed to get their car running again and when they offered to pay for the work and forward the money to us he turned it down. We were in desperate need of money but we knew that this was the right thing to do. They insisted on giving my little boy the lollies they had brought with them for their trip and showered him with sweets and lollipops. They were able to resume their journey and as they left ‘Thank you’ and ‘We will never forget you’ was ringing in our ears.

Sixteen years have passed and I have never forgotten the Danish students (and Austin the American) that we brought home that day. It was an important lesson in hospitality and humility. I learned that even when it seems we have nothing to offer that God still expects us to reach out and help others. That you do not need to cook a fancy meal or offer five different choices of special teas. That sometimes just a humble plate of honey sandwiches and a pot of hot tea served with love can minister to the people God places in your path. To give unconditionally and not expect any kind of reward.

The following week amazing things did start to happen. People at church began blessing us – bringing us groceries and I learned how to swallow my pride and just say thank you and allow God to work through His people to help us out in our time of need. We never went hungry and that jar of honey seemed to last an extraordinarily long amount of time. There was still honey in the jar when after a few weeks my husband found employment. I was feeling just a little bit like a certain widow in the Bible who fed Elijah with the last of her flour and oil. Do you remember that story. As a result of her willingness to use what she had, her son was raised back to life!

Since that time God has sent us many more people over the years. Friends, strangers and just last week Canadians! Some just came for tea or to spot koalas! Others shared in more substantial meals as God enabled and my kitchen abilities improved and for some we were able to offer significant help in their time of need and distress. I need to save those stories for other posts but our tea and honey hospitality experience is still one of my sweetest memories. I pray that it has encouraged you, especially if you are feeling that you do not have much to offer. A willing heart, an open home, sharing the talents that God has blessed you with and reaching out to those God places across your path. This is what hospitality is all about!

With Love and Joy,
Ann

I felt a connection with Ann’s testimony because it was during the time my husband lost his job (for 1 1/2 years) that God led me to my meal ministry. During that time I began cooking dinner twice a week for a man who had severe MS and lived alone. We had NO income, a new baby (#3), and an awful economy giving us little promise. God used this man to help ME…I got tremendous joy out of this ministry. For a few moments during the week I forgot all about our monetary stress and got to feel God work through me to help someone else. God is so amazing.



From the bottom of my heart, I thank you Ann.. Even though we are miles and miles away from one another, I feel so close to you because of our faith in Jesus. It is so beautiful to see how God has used you to serve others and your family! 
Love to you, Janelle

Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com to be a guest blogger on Meal Ministry Mondays. I would love to show off your love for the Lord and His people! 



I am participating at Living Well Wednesdays!
For more inspiring stories please click on the button below.


I am participating in Titus Tuesdays and 2 Tasty Tuesdays- Please check these wonderful sites out for more delicious recipes from fellow bloggers! YUM!

Beauty and Bedlam


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Feasting in Fellowship Friday and Friday’s "Featured Recipe" and "Top Picks"

Friday’s Featured Recipe:

Come visit Courtney over at Women Living Well as she shares her resurrection roll recipe with us. You will be so touched by the meaning behind these delicious treats. This recipe is perfect to make with your children as you share the truth of God’s word with them. Thank you Courtney!!!! Love these!

Happy Friday to you my friends! Thank you so much for sharing your delicious recipes with all of us. I would like to take the opportunity to feature 3 recipes that were posted last week. Great job!  Continue serving your families and others. What a blessing it is to see your amazing cooking abilities displayed on the “Comfy” blog!

This recipe is so suiting for the season! How adorable AND simple! My children will enjoy making these! Thank you Missy!

What a beautiful salad! I can almost taste the fresh herbs and veggies just by looking at this photo! Mmmmmm…I can imagine pairing this with a cool glass of lemonade and a beautiful Summer evening out the deck! Thank You Jan!

Baseball season is such a busy time of year for my family. Two nights a week my boys (hubby and son) run out the door with dinner in hand on their way to practice. This delicious yet simple recipe will be great addition to my menu this week! Thank you Suzanne!

It’s Feasting in Fellowship Friday!!!!!!
Whatcha got cookin?

Link up with “Feasting in Fellowship Friday”! 
Simply copy and paste this button to your post. Then, include the link below that takes us directly to your recipe! Thank you for sharing…I love seeing what you  have cooking! 
~Love, Janelle 

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Italian Wedding Soup "Your Way"

This is such a wonderful soup to take to someone who is sick, just had a baby, or for truly any reason you please. I make this often for my family-my son gobbles up the meatballs first (he calls this meatball soup). I have included a semi-homemade method for the times you are in a hurry and a very homemade way of making it if you are up for a challenge. Honestly, there is not a huge change in taste…so drop the guilt if you don’t have the time to make the meatballs. For those of you who like to experiment, have at it! Enjoy and share! Love to you, Janelle 
2 large cans of chicken broth, frozen meatballs, chicken breasts, carrots, celery, onions, acini de pepe noodles, parsely (many people choose to add a leafy green like spinach or arugula, as hard as I have tried, my children stick their noses up when I add this…but I enjoy it)
Heat chicken broth to boiling

Rinse chicken breasts

Chop veggies

Now, add the chicken and veggies to broth and allow to simmer and cook chicken through

Take chicken out and dice

Add meatballs, noodles,parsley, and parmesan cheese- simmer until meatballs are heated through (they are already pre-cooked). Then, add chicken back into the pot. Sir and simmer until ready to serve.

Whala! Simple and delicious!

Easy Wedding Soup

2 large cans of chicken broth (low-sodium)
6 chicken breasts
1 cup dry Acini de Pepe noodles
1 small bag frozen meatballs
1 cup diced carrots
1 cup diced onions
1 cup chopped celery
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
1 Tbs of parsley
(salt and pepper to your liking)

Boil chicken broth in a large pot. Add chicken and chopped veggies. Simmer until chicken is cooked through. Take chicken out and dice into bite sized pieces. Add meatballs, dry noodles, parmesan cheese, and parsley until noodles are tender and meatballs are cooked. Add chicken back into the pot. Simmer until ready to serve. Top with additional Parmesan cheese, a sprinkle of parsley, and serve with crackers.

Variations- Only if you want it “more” homemade. 

To make your own broth:
If you prefer to make your own broth rather than using canned (of if you just want to experiment!), follow these simple instructions. Broth is not hard to make, but it is more time consuming. Homemade broth tends to be less salty and more flavorful. However, I still am of the opinion that canned broth is a close substitute. 
Chicken breasts- VERY important that your chicken HAS SKIN and BONES (NOT boneless, skinless like above), carrots, onions, parsley, garlic, celery, bay leaves (lemon juice).

Boil water and add all ingredients

Add lemon juice, let simmer for 2 hours. 

I place a colander on top of another large pot in my sink

Then, I simply pour everything in from my stock pot. The broth falls into the pot.
Delicious and homemade broth.
Tear apart the chicken breast meat and add any veggies back into the pot. Be careful of bones!
Continue on with the same directions for wedding soup above. (looks pretty tasty hu? lol! I wanted you to see that yes…it DOES look like this. haha! Sometimes cooking just isn’t pretty)

Homemade Chicken Broth


1 gallon of water (16 cups)
6 chicken breasts (BONE IN, SKIN ON- this is important for flavor)
2 cloves of garlic (simply placed in, not chopped)
1/4 cup chopped parsley (fresh works best in homemade broth)
1 onion (I cut it in large pieces and took it out after making the broth, the person I made this for does not like onions, just the flavor)
1 cup chopped carrots
1 cup chopped celery
1 Tbsp lemon juice
2 Bay leaves
salt and pepper to your liking

Simmer all together for 2 hours. Place colander in a large pot in the sink and pour all ingredients into colander, letting broth drain into the pot below. Tear meat off of chicken bones carefully. Add any veggies you want back into the broth. Continue with rest of recipe above. 


To make homemade meatballs for wedding soup


Italian sausage, ground beef, bread crumbs, eggs, shredded romano, fresh parsley



I simply cut off a chunk of fresh Romano and put it in my hand held cheese grinder.

Combine all ingredients by hand (use gloves if you are cooking for anyone other than family-just because)


Shape into 1 Tbsp balls

Place raw meatballs right into simmer broth

This is after just 2 mins of dropping them in the broth- boil for appx 30 mins until cooked through

Continue on with wedding soup recipe…this is the VERY homemade version. I can tell a slight difference between the semi-homemade and very homemade, but both are delicious! I wouldn’t say that if I didn’t mean it! Enjoy!

Homemade Meatballs for Italian Wedding Soup

 1 1/2 lbs of Italian Sausage (Bob Evans is just fine)
1 1/2 lbs ground beef (80% lean)
1/4 cup shredded Romano cheese
1 cup bread crumbs
3 eggs
2 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley

Combine all ingredients together by hand and roll into 1 Tbsp balls. Drop raw meatballs into simmering broth and let cook for 30 mins until done.

Choose “Your Way”Ladies! You are going to love this no matter what!

 Beauty and Bedlam

I am participating in Titus 2sdays and Tasty Tuesdays. For more blogging articles on homemaking please refer to these sites.

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Meal Ministry Monday Welcomes Mem! (Delicious Thai Spring Rolls)

Mem and me at her house for lunch after our ladies bible study
It is an absolute joy for me to introduce Mem Luton…my sister-in-Christ, valued friend, heart-felt bible study leader, encourager, and yes…fellow “foodie” (this girl can cook Thai food like no one else!). Mem is pure at heart, shares God’s love with everyone she meets, radiates joy, has a passion for life, and has the kindest smile. Her testimony is one of the most unique testimonies I have ever heard. When I ever feel “not prepared”, “not good enough” or insecure about anything I try to accomplish in my life, I think of Mem. I am reminded of all of the obstacles she has had to overcome living in a “foreign” country, how much she puts herself out there for the Lord dispite language barriers, how she had to get used to a completely different culture, and how she has had to lean on God for strength in so many ways. Did you catch that she is my bible study leader? Yes….incredible for someone who has only lived in the United States for 10 years and was born Buddhist. God is that good. I am so blessed to have this sweet woman in my life…I could go on for days about how much I love her but will let her take it from here…
She is “Comfy in her Kitchen!”
leading bible study at our church; “Stepping Up” by Beth Moore. 
Mem cooked a delicious Thai meal this year for our
 bible study over at Courtney’s house (www.womenlivingwell.org)
PERSONAL TESTIMONY
By: Mem Luton
“And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as unto the Lord and not unto men.”—Col. 3:23

Cooking is like an art for me. Although there’s a lot of hard work involved, it’s more than just rewarding, especially when I see people enjoying what I’ve prepared and wanting more. I never dreamed when I came to America ten years ago that I would be as heavily involved in cooking Thai food as I am now, nor that there would be as many people who like my cooking as has turned out to be the case. I began learning to cook “American style” after I got married, but experimented with new recipes I was coming up with for Thai food at the same time. (Fortunately, I have a family here who are always eager to be my willing guinea pigs). This is one of the reasons why it has been such a delight to know Janelle Nehrenz, with whom I have so much in common. She not only loves the Lord, but also enjoys cooking as much as I do. As a full-time housewife and a stay-at-home mother of four, I experience a great deal of fulfillment and satisfaction in life. Nevertheless, I have also found it very fulfilling to have people over for dinner and to minister to others out of my home.

I enjoy cooking, not only for my family, but also for my friends at church and at the school where my children attend. Since I became an American citizen, one of the things that I have come to love about this country is the fact that here I am free to still be who I am while being an American at the same time. Consequently, while being fiercely loyal to the United States and the American flag, I enjoy introducing people to what is best from my former life in Thailand as well. Most important of all, it has been my desire to model the new life I now have in Jesus Christ ever since the day I surrendered my life to Him before I left Thailand. Considering my Buddhist background, however, people often find it surprising to learn just how I became a Christian in the first place.

I was born the youngest of 7 children in a strong Buddhist family in southern Thailand. My father was the second richest man in the area, but I never saw those riches. By the time I was born, my father had lost everything. He and mother were separated before I was born, so one of my greatest desires was for a loving father and a happy family.

I almost died at birth because there was no doctor. My father just happened to be home that day and delivered me despite having no experience. When the local midwife discovered how badly he had performed the delivery, she said that both my mother and I were lucky to be alive. That would not be the only time I almost died.

Soon after I was born we lost our house, and my mother and I moved in with my grandmother who lived deep in the jungles of southern Thailand. We had no electricity or running water, and lived in very primitive conditions, but it was a lot of fun for me. I loved seeing the elephants, watching the monkeys in the trees, and being able to swim in the nearby river, but I always had to watch out for alligators. One time when I was 4, I was bitten by a cobra while walking through the jungle. My leg began swelling greatly and I began to fall into the “death sleep.” My brother ran as fast as he could with me in his arms to a village to get help but was told there was not much hope. Cobra bites are usually fatal, but somehow I recovered instantly. Some people said it was a miracle.

My great-grandmother belonged to royalty, but fell from grace when she married a commoner. Her daughter (my grandmother) continued to teach us to speak the cultured Thai dialect anyway, even though we were poor. She always took me to the temple and taught me in the ways of Buddha—that good deeds were important to atone for past sins and go to heaven. One day in the temple I saw several pictures of hell showing lost souls suffering in the fire and being tortured by demons. I was so terrified that I devoted myself to doing good deeds and being a good person so that I would not go there when I died.

When I was eight, my grandmother died. She had a servant’s heart, was deeply loved by all who knew her, and was very devoted to Buddha. Her funeral was very sad for me, because I had no way to know if she was in heaven. To add to our grief, someone cheated my mother out of the property my grandmother planned to give her. My father had left us nothing, and my grandmother’s death now left us penniless. Most of my brothers and sisters had moved to Bangkok to find work, so my mother and I moved there too.

In Bangkok, I determined to do my best in school so that I might somehow regain the riches and prestige that had once belonged to my family. I let people see only the bright side of my past and tried to hide our poverty. As a result, I became very skilled at lying, and would fight anyone who provoked me. I boasted about how rich my father was and about my great-grandmother’s famous royal name of “Nahtnakorn.”

I also became a thief. If there was something pretty in a store, “I came; I saw; I took.” I first stole a toy ring, but my conscience bothered me because of what my grandmother taught me. After a few days, however, my guilt feelings faded, and the next time I stole something, it was easier. One time I stole a pair of shoes in a Buddhist temple, but those pictures I had seen of people burning in hell so bothered me that I returned them. From then on I only stole “little” things—like money out of pay telephones. My soul felt unclean. I was happy-looking on the outside, but very unhappy on the inside. I had no assurance that I would ever go to heaven, because I just could not become the kind of “good person” that deserved to go there. Thai people believe that babies are born clean and develop bad behavior only because of outside influence. But no one had ever taught me to lie or steal. Yet these had become regular habits. I wondered if I could ever earn my way to heaven. Just how many good deeds would it take to atone for my sins?

Praying to Buddha brought no satisfaction for me, because our prayers were not even in the Thai language. I wondered, “If Buddha is God, why is he dead and if his idol is alive, why can’t he eat the food we place before him?” We continued making offerings to idols, but were terrified of demons and erected a spirit house for them to live in. We burned incense daily, but nothing seemed to take away our fear of them. I will only say that my family’s experience with demonic spirits has been real and terrifying.

To satisfy them once, my mother gave me away to her sister who was a practicing medium and conducted séances. I had become very sick, and my mother believed that the spirits wanted her to give me to my aunt to raise. It was only when I suddenly recovered that my mother changed her mind and took me back. God had miraculously showed up to save my life again—this time from a life in the occult. Little did I know at the time that on the other side of the world a woman was praying for me every day for 50 years—even before I was born—that God would protect me and that I would be saved. I would not discover this until many years later after I got married. 
This woman was Edna Luton, my mother-in-law.

My oldest sister was largely responsible for providing for the family. In the absence of a father, she imposed discipline, which we hated. We feared her and called her the “black witch.” Therefore, I was surprised when I came home one day and saw her showing love and telling the family about Jesus. An American missionary had told her about Jesus, and now she was telling us about Him. She said that, according to the Bible, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” but that God loved me, sent His perfect son to die on the cross for me, and wanted to become my Heavenly Father. Not having even seen my earthly father more than twice in my life, these words flooded my soul with hope and joy. She shared John 3:16 with me and told how Jesus paid my sin’s penalty and that I could invite Him into my heart through prayer. Without hesitation, I eagerly prayed asking Jesus to come into my life, forgive me, and give me eternal life. I had no reservation about leaving Buddhism to become a Christian or, as the Bible says, a child of God. And, best of all, it was all free!—not something I had to earn or work for. I knew then that I wanted to be a missionary and tell others about Jesus.

Unfortunately, I had little follow-up or discipleship for two years until I was 14 years old when an American school teacher was invited to help with the ministry. He not only taught us the importance of Lordship, but he showed us how to memorize and meditate on God’s Word, how to have a daily quiet time, and how to put the Word into practice. He continues today helping me grow as a Christian. He’s my husband—Bryan Luton.

Living the Christian life was fun for me. I was taken out of school to live in the ministry center, which my sister and brother-in-law had set up in our house, and I was constantly surrounded by short term missionaries from America who came to help with the ministry. When my brother-in-law and sister moved back to America, however, I felt devastated and alone. I was about to learn two very painful lessons—that we must walk by faith, not by sight, and that my worst enemy was my own pride, which resisted God’s grace.

Feeling very alone now, I decided to go back to school and complete my high school education. I began making many friends among unbelievers and, although I knew better, I began dating an unbeliever, thinking that I could win him to the Lord. I neglected God’s Word, because it was too convicting, and I stopped going to church. Instead of influencing my friends for Christ, they were influencing me. I was letting go of God, but God did not let go of me. Time after time, God protected me from destructive temptations because of His mercy and the prayers of His people.

Longing for the fellowship that I had once enjoyed with the Lord, I accepted an offer to enroll in a Bible training college. God “showed up” again and provided my expenses. I now spent most of my time in God’s Word. Verses I had memorized years earlier ministered to me again with a new freshness, especially Romans 8. Reading, meditating and applying this chapter marked the turning point in my Christian life: There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. I prayed a prayer of genuine repentance, and the joy of my salvation returned. I set Jesus apart as Lord of my life, and this time surrendered ownership rights of my life to Him. I began making restitution to those from whom I had stolen, and I began confessing and asking forgiveness of those to whom I had told lies. This also meant forgiving those who had wronged me, even if they don’t apologize. I was learning to be a doer of the word, not a forgetful hearer, and to walk by faith, not by sight.

I am far from what I once was, but I am also far from what I hope some day to be. God continues to expose my areas of weakness (and often uses my own children to do so). But because of the assurance I have from God’s Word, I have no fear of where I will spend eternity when I die. I have something now I always wanted but never had—a Father—a loving “Heavenly Father,” who is more than any earthly father could ever be. It’s also no longer important to me that my earthly father was rich, because my Heavenly Father has given me riches in Christ. It’s no longer important to me that my great-grandmother had belonged to royalty, because I am a child of the King of Kings. And I also have the joy of a stable family, not just my husband and children, but the family of God. I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live. Yet not I, but Christ lives in me.—Gal. 2:20

Mem has been so kind to share with us her very own Spring Roll recipe! You will never taste Spring Rolls better than these. I have to tell you Ladies this (I am giggling)…I was at the grocery store today and I brought with me Mem’s recipe. I was a little bewildered at some of the ingredients so I called her. She said “Janelle, why don’t you let me bring the ingredients over to your house…better yet, why don’t you let me stay and help you make them!?”So, sure enough an hour later we were at my house making this delicious recipe together! What sweet fellowship…I am one lucky girl to have such kind people in my life. So, here we are…


Mem’s Thai Spring Roll Recipe Adventure


Spring Roll wrappers are a bit thinner than wonton/egg roll wrappers- 
but you mayuse whatever you are able to find, Mem suggests this kind.

This is a sweet and sour dipping sauce -Mem pours it in a serving
 dish and adds a squeeze of lime juice to it…She purchases this at 
“World Market”If you cannot find this particular brand, you may use any 
sweet and sour sauce.

These are “bean threads” that Mem purchases at an Asian store.
 You may use rice noodles or bean spouts if you wish.

In a food processor, chop raw chicken- isn’t that interesting? I love it!

This is what it looks like…
Then she adds about a Tablespoon of soy sauce and 1 tsp of cajun 
powder to the chicken and lets it marinate while she prepares the other parts
 of the recipe

Just a simple Cajun seasoning you find anywhere

boil the noodles (or bean threads) until tender- this does not 
take long!

Mem with my daughter. They have a special bond 
(and both appreciate pretty shoes! lol).

chop carrots and green onion

Add about a Tablespoon of the green onion mixture to the chicken 
and mix it up

Then, in a wok heated on medium high with peanut oil add the 
chicken and the carrots, onions, and pre-chopped cabbage. Press down 
on the chicken with a spatula and stir…continue this pattern until cooked through.
Let the water out of the boiling noodles

Then add the noodles and additional Tbsp of soy sauce to the chicken mixture and 
stir well.

Take the Spring Roll wrappers out of the package and wet slightly
 with water

A quick video on how to roll up the Spring Rolls…

Cover in a damp cloth 

Roll em up! 
In the same wok (but cleaned out of course), I heat more peanut oil (appx 2 cups) on med-high to high heat and fry the Spring Rolls for about 1 1/2 mins per side until lightly golden. Then, place on a paper towel in a colander and let them dry before serving on serving dish.


Whala! Serve with a side of delicious sweet and sour dipping sauce.

You may also cut them at an angle for a smaller bite-sized portion

Mem’s Thai Spring Roll Recipe
(makes 24)

1 package of spring roll wraps
2 chicken breasts (processed/chopped raw)
1/2 cup diced carrots
1/2 cup pre-chopped cabbage (slaw)
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1 (2 oz) package of glass noodles (bean threads)
1 tsp cajun seasoning (or just cayenne)
2 Tbsp soy (separated)
2 1/4 cups peanut oil (1/4 cup to stir fry chicken; 2 cups to fry spring rolls)
(sweet and sour sauce/ juice of 1/2 a lime- for dipping)

Boil water in a small saucepan; add noodles, cook until tender, drain and cut up into 2 inch pieces. Chop carrots and green onions; set aside. Rinse raw chicken and place in food processor-chop well. Open processor and add 1 Tbsp of soy sauce, 1 tsp cajun seasoning, and 1 Tbsp of chopped carrots and green onions to raw chicken, stir. Heat wok and 1/4 cup oil on med-high. When hot, stir fry chicken, and all of the carrots, green onions and add additional Tbsp of soy sauce together. Press down on chicken with spatula, then stir…continue this motion until cooked through. Add noodles and stir.

Rolling
(see youtube video above)
Take spring roll pastry out of package sprinkle with water. Wet dish cloth with water and wrap pastry in it. Carefully peel one pastry at a time. Lay out one pastry and place a heaping tsp of chicken mixture at the bottom corner. Roll bottom corner over chicken mixture. Roll the right corner in, then left corner in, then roll up into finished. Do this until ingredients are gone.

Frying

Heat 2 cups oil in wok (or fry daddy) and place 4-6 spring rolls in at a time. Fry for appx 1 1/2 mins per side then flip over. Fry until lightly golden. Place paper towels in a colander, drain, and serve on serving platter.

Sauce

Mem suggests purchasing Mae Ploy sweet chili sauce from “World Market”, however any sweet and sour will do. She squeezes the juice of 1/2 a lime into about 1 cup of sauce.


Thank you Mem for sharing your testimony and delicious recipe with all of us! 
Love to you,
Janelle 


Questions for Mem? Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com and I will forward them to her! She is praying for you and is willing to help through her testimony! 

Please e-mail me at JMNehrenz@me.com to be a guest blogger on Meal Ministry Mondays. I would love to show off your love for the Lord and His people! 



I am participating at Living Well Wednesdays!
For more inspiring stories please click on the button below.


I am participating in Titus Tuesdays and 2 Tasty Tuesdays- Please check these wonderful sites out for more delicious recipes from fellow bloggers! YUM!

Beauty and Bedlam

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April Fools-My Top 3-Feasting in Fellowship Link Up



Mmmm….would anyone like a delicious grilled cheese sandwich for lunch??? Hehehe..
By Cindy A. Littlefield from Family Fun Magazine (for more great ideas, this is a wonderful site to visit!)


APRIL FOOLS!!!
This sandwich is simply toasted pound bread with orange colored frosting! I am sure your kidos will be pleasantly fooled by this one! Have a fun day…and don’t forget to LAUGH!



My Top 3
As promised, I searched through last week’s linked “Feasting in Fellowship” recipes and found my top 3 favorites!  Please…whatever you do, DO NOT be dismayed if your recipe is not in my top 3 this week. I would honestly eat and enjoy every recipe submitted! I will also continue to do this every week. I cannot express how beautiful it is to me to see your recipes posted to this blog…I am thrilled you are working with your heart and hands to produce meals for your family, friends, ministry, etc. Keep those recipes coming…and may God bless the cook! 🙂

Love to you, Janelle 

Homemade Scones   
For this recipe please visit: http://setyourhearttoseekgod.blogspot.com

                               Chai Iced Tea Latte 
For this recipe please visit : http://icantstopcrafting.blogspot.com

Peanut Butter Fudge Swirl Pie
For this recipe please visit: http://www.catzinthekitchen.biz 

Congratulations Ladies! I adore these recipes! GREAT JOB! 

Feasting in Fellowship Friday!!!!!!

Link up with Feasting in Fellowship Friday! 
Simply copy and paste this button to your post. Then, include the link below that takes us directly to your recipe! Thank you for sharing…I love seeing what you  have cooking! 
~Love, Janelle 

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