Archives for June 2011

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs

June 30, 2011 · by · 10 Comments

This is one of my favorite chicken recipes EVER! I make this often in the Summer for guests. These kabobs taste amazing and look beautiful. The pineapple juice in the marinade makes the chicken so juicy…Mmmm! Enjoy!

Marinade: soy sauce, pineapple juice, vegetable oil, brown sugar, garlic powder (I used garlic, garlic),
ginger, dry mustard. 

For the pineapple juice, I simply use the juice from a can of pineapple. But, for the pineapple in the kabobs- I use fresh pineapple. Call me crazy..but I can taste a big difference in canned vs. fresh pineapple! 

Grate your ginger. You can find ginger root at your grocery store. It is typically by the fresh lettuce. Peel the skin off and simply grate it with a zester or your cheese grater. No biggie here. 

This is what it will look like. DO NOT omit this if all possible-it really adds a kick to the marinade! 

Put all those ingredients into a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins. Take off of  burner and let cool in the saucepan. 

Cut up raw chicken (get rid of fat)

Place your cut chicken in a 9×13 pan and pour marinade over top

Cover and refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours or overnight. 

Prep your veggies. I have fresh pineapple, red peppers, green peppers, cherry tomatoes, and onions. 

When you are ready to “kabob” water your skewers so they don’t catch on fire on the grille. 

Ready! 

And away we go! After I finish “kabobing” I sprinkle them with seasoned salt and freshly ground pepper. (I use Tastefully Simple Seasoned Salt-it is so good).  

Fire up the grill! I lay grill foil down every time I make kabobs- it keeps them from sticking and if anything falls off it just falls onto the foil. I cooked these on medium high heat (I have a gas grill) for about 6 mins then flipped for another 6 mins. 

Our menu that evening also included fresh watermelon, corn on the cob, mashed garlic red potatoes, pickled cucumbers and bread twists (and berry cobbler). I put most of my effort into the main course and made sure to make very simple sides.

Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs(Makes enough for 6- you may double as I did in the photos)

Marinade:
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/2 c. pineapple juice
1/4 c. vegetable oil
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp fresh ginger
1 tsp dry mustard

6-8 chicken breasts
2 green peppers
2 onions
2 red peppers
1 container of cherry tomatoes
1 pineapple cored and cut into cubes

Wooden skewers
Seasoned salt and pepper to taste.

Combine all marinade ingredients in a saucepan. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15 mins. Cool. Cut off fat on raw chicken and cube. Place chicken in a 9×13 pan and pour cooled marinade over top. Cover and put in refrigerator for at least 3-4 hours (or overnight). Prep/cut all veggies up and place in another 9×13 and refrigerate until you are ready to “kabob”. Run water over wooden skewers so they do not catch fire on grill. Alternate chicken with veggies and pineapple. Sprinkle kabobs with seasoned salt and pepper. Heat grill to med-high heat and cover with grill foil (or regular foil with cooking spray). Grill covered appx 6 mins a side until chicken is cooked through. Utter deliciousness.

Enjoy!
~Janelle 
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Filed Under: Comfy In My Jeans, Entrees ·

Speedy Gourmet Green Beans

June 29, 2011 · by · 8 Comments

Who would have thought there were so many different ways to prepare green beans? Cooked in bacon, stirred in marinara, french cut, fresh cut, frozen, canned, fresh, boiled with a ham hock…I could go on and on. This is my husband’s favorite way I make green beans. They are fresh, crisp, nutty, flavorful and they look fancy (don’t tell anyone your steamed them in the microwave, lol). Oh, I forgot to add quick and easy too!

I purchase a large bag of fresh green beans from my grocery store. Then, I poke holes in the steam bag and microwave for 5 mins.

While the green beans are steaming, place olive oil in a skillet and lightly brown slivered almonds. Then, add steamed green beans to skillet with almonds. Season with garlic powder, seasoned salt and fresh ground pepper. Saute for appx 10 mins.

Speedy Gourmet Green Beans
5 cups (appx) fresh green beans
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/4 cup olive oil
1 tsp garlic powder
salt and pepper to taste

Steam green beans in the bag for 5 mins. Heat large skillet on med-high heat and add slivered almonds. Lightly brown. Add steamed green beans and season with garlic powder, salt and pepper. Saute for appx 10 more mins.

Enjoy!
~Janelle

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Filed Under: Comfy In My Jeans, Sides ·

Oreo Madness

June 28, 2011 · by · 14 Comments
So, here is it..my husband’s favorite dessert. It’s really bad for you. I am so sorry. I try not to make this too often because it is more than tempting to keep scooping away. As you can see, I made a HUGE amount of this for our church picnic on Sunday and it was gone…I mean…GONE! 
(I was glad because I would have taken the rest home-not good.)


Crush Oreos (I put them in a plastic ziploc and crush them with a meat pounder).

 Mix them in a bowl with melted butter and press mixture out on a 9×13 pan. Place in the refrigerator.
Move on to the next step.

Add milk to your pudding mix and whisk well. Place in refrigerator until set (appx 5 mins). 
Beat cream cheese, sugar, vanilla and milk together with mixer.
It will be thick and creamy like so…

Then, you will fold in 1 cup of  Cool Whip (Stir vertically). This is important NOT to beat with mixer- it will get soupy. Also important NOT to add the entire container of Cool Whip!! 

Take the Oreo crust out of the refrigerator and carefully spread cream cheese mixture on top .

When your pudding is set,
pour over top of cream cheese mixture and spread evenly.

Top with Cool Whip. I drop heaping spoonfuls all over the top, then spread carefully. 

Sprinkle Oreos on top. WHALA!

Oreo Maddness

1 package of Oreos
6 Tbsp melted butter

3 cups cold milk
2 oz instant chocolate pudding

8 oz cream cheese
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp milk
12 oz Cool Whip

Crush entire package of Oreos. Place crushed Oreos in a large bowl (reserving 1 cup or Oreos for topping-important!) mix well with butter. Press crumb mixture at the bottom of a 9×13 pan and place in refrigerator. Whisk milk with pudding and place in refrigerator and let set. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese, sugar, and 2 Tbsp milk well. Fold in 1 cup of whipped topping. Place cream cheese mixture on top of oreo crust. Pour chocolate pudding over cream cheese mixture. Then, top with Cool Whip and crushed Oreos. Enjoy! 
Here are some photos of Oreo Madness Love….
Action shot of my friend Nikki -Love her. 

Oreo Madness it is. 

My 2 year old “stole” my husband’s plate! lol.

Love to you,
Janelle 

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Filed Under: Dessert ·

Mashed Redskin Potatoes

June 26, 2011 · by · 14 Comments
 
I had the blessing of having my Grandma Ruth over for dinner last weekend. Since then, she will not stop ranting and raving about these mashed redskin potatoes! 
Because I love you Grandma..here is my recipe. I suppose I owe you one 😉 lol.
 Love, Janelle 
4 lbs of redskin potatoes. I peeled any “brown spots” I didn’t like off and kept the good skin on. Boil these on high heat until very tender. Pierce with a fork to test – if the fork goes through easily they are done. Drain in colander. Transfer to large bowl.
Mash potatoes with sour cream, butter, milk, salt, pepper, and garlic powder
( I used Garlic, Garlic from Tastefully Simple)
This made enough for 10 servings. I also made corn on the cob, bread twists, cucumber salad, watermelon , Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs, and Triple Berry Cobbler.

Mashed Redskin Potatoes
4 lbs redskin potatoes (brown spots peeled off)
1 stick of butter
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp garlic powder (or more to your liking)
salt and pepper to taste.

Peel brown spots off of potatoes keeping some of the red skin on. Boil potatoes in a large pot until tender. Pour out into colander. Transfer hot potatoes into a large mixing bowl. Add butter to potatoes and mix with mixer (or mash with a potato masher). Get out most lumps (I always leave in a few). Add remaining ingredients and mix ( or mash) well.
(If you want thinner potatoes add additional milk 1 Tbsp at a time.)

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Filed Under: Sides ·

Feasting in Fellowship Friday/ Featured Recipe/Top 3

June 24, 2011 · by · 8 Comments
Friday is Here!!! 
Love french fries as much as I do? Come visit me over at Women Living Well where I share my recipe for homemade “Oven Baked Carnival Fries“! 
They are a huge hit with children and grown-ups alike.



Pair these with a cheeseburger hot off the grill, a garden salad, and some cool watermelon and you will have a delicious Summer dinner. 

Friday’s Top 3 Picks! 
Thanks again for sharing your delicious recipes! 




Fruit Pizza 
Served By: Hospitality at Heart

Roasted Eggplant and White Bean Dip
Served By: Ministry To Motherhood

Free Form Apple Tarts
Served By: Shop Girl

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! Post as many recipes as you wish…
~Love, Janelle 

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Octopus Hotdogs!

June 22, 2011 · by · 13 Comments
I will admit, I will NOT get “cook of the year” with this one, lol. However, I WILL get plenty of smiles, giggles and clean plates! This is a cute little dinner I made for my children when we were getting ready to go to my son’s baseball game. They got a huge kick out of it….hope your children will too.
(This would be super cute for a pirate themed child’s birthday party-inexpensive too!)
Simply slice a hotdog in half leaving the top in tact for the head of the “octopus”. Then, turn and slice again. You will have 4 “legs”. 
Boil water in a large pot on the stove. Add hotdogs. The legs will begin to curl up.
Boil for appx 5 mins. 
Serve on top of Kraft Mac n Cheese! I made eyes with mustard- you can get as creative as you wish.

May this bring smiles to YOUR table.
Love to you, Janelle

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Filed Under: Entrees, Kiddos · Tagged:

Triple Berry Cobbler (EASY!)

June 21, 2011 · by · 7 Comments

Just the smell of this delicious dessert will have you drooling! Summer has arrived and I can’t think of a better dessert to make with fresh berries. Using pre-made pie crust makes this a very quick and easy recipe, but still tastes every bit as homemade. Serve this warm with vanilla bean ice cream. Mmmm….

Sugar, flour, butter, vanilla

Whisk together into a paste

Rinse and drain fresh blackberries, blueberries, and raspberries in a colander 

Stir together gently with a large spoon.

On a clean and floured surface roll out 1 pre-made pie crust. 

Slice in strips with a pizza cutter

Lay dough strips over berry mixture in a lattice fashion

Bake and serve warm with vanilla ice cream! 




Triple Berry Cobbler
(Serves appx 10)


1 cup sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/2 cup butter melted
2 tsp vanilla
1 container (appx 1 pint) each of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries
1 refrigerated pie crust
 (I used pilsbury in a roll-its by the crescents at the grocery store)
sugar for dusting
Vanilla ice cream 


Preheat oven to 425


Mix together sugar, flour, butter and vanilla in a round casserole dish (you will also bake in this dish). Rinse and drain berries, then add to flour mixture. Gently stir together with spoon. Cut pie crust into 1 inch strips and lay in a lattice fashion across the berry mixture. Dust top with sugar. Bake at 425 for appx 35 mins or until crust is lightly browned and berries are bubbling. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream.
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Meal Ministry Monday Welcomes Lori! (Cooking Classes for Married Couples)

June 20, 2011 · by · 6 Comments

Hi Ladies! What an encouragement this “Meal Ministry” testimony is to me. I have a feeling you will love it has much as I do. Please help me welcome Lori…

Lori and her husband Kevin have been married for over 27 years and have 3 sons, Sean (26), Dave (24), and Jordan(20).


” As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
-Joshua 24:15


Here is the sweet letter I received from Lori a few days ago:
Hi Janelle,

Stacey contacted me to share with you about the cooking classes I have hosted in the past. 

When my husband and I were mentoring engaged couples at our church, we realized that many brides had little or no cooking experience. It seemed to me that the need, desire, or interest in cooking just was not being passed down from prior generations.

When I would talk to these young women I would ask them “what do you plan to do about meal time?” We also started to realize that there was a missed connection between meal time and family connections.

During a visit to Europe- I realized that have such a different attitude when it come to sharing  a meal together. Sadly, here in the states our attitude of nurturing ourselves and our family has become almost an inconvenience, to say the least. 

It became my prayer to help these young women and others to find the joy and creativity that can be found in cooking.

One evening, I ran into Brad, a friend from the past, who offers his love and talents of cooking as a ministry and does some catering for events. I approached him with my burden for these ladies and asked if he would be willing to demonstrate his cooking skills! I was praying to not only help others to not be intimated by the thought of following a recipe, but also to begin to enjoy preparing a nutritious meal for their families!  He did not hesitate to join me. So we began with 12 to 15 ladies gathering in my kitchen! 







Brad would choose a complete meal and I would make copies of the recipes for everyone to follow. It wasn’t long before they began to want to have a hands- on cooking experience. In some of the pictures you can see the fun in the participation. 


Soon we learned that some husbands had interest as well and a few of them joined us! (Especially when we did our grilling classes).


 We would meet once a month and we did this for two years.



I have had many of the women express to me that the classes helped them  become much more comfortable in the kitchen and helped them to realize the importance of preparing a meal for their families.


 I have always loved to cook and find it a wonderful way to extend love to those we care for. I have 3, now grown sons. Preparing meals for my family has always been a sure proof way of bringing everyone to the table each evening.  It has been an amazing way to keep that much needed connection with my family that can be so easily lost with our busy lives going in different directions.  It was always a joy for me to see their friends anxious to join us as well. My youngest is 20, and his friend John has gone away to college, but whenever John is in town I make it a point to make him a meatloaf. He says it is his favorite.


Your blog is a wonderful way to encourage and help families get “back to the table.” I believe that is a title of a book that emphasizes the importance of the connection that is gained when we come together around a lovely meal. The Europeans still do this . But many of us have seemingly lost this over the past couple of generations. I’m am realistic and realize this will not happen every evening, but it could become the goal.

I pray blessings as you continue this most important ministry.

Blessings, Lori


Dear Lori, 
Thank you so much for sharing your story with all of us. What an inspiration you are! I would absolutely love to do this very thing one day in my home. What a blessing you have been to these families, to your church, to your family and now to us! You are so right about how it isn’t just about eating..it is about togetherness. 
 May God bless you and keep you.
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! 

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Filed Under: Meal Ministry ·
June 17, 2011 · by · 9 Comments
Happy Friday Ladies! 
Come visit “Women Living Well” where I share an
 “Easy Pizza Panini” recipe your whole family will enjoy! 

Friday’s Top 3 
Keep posting me your inspiration! Check out these yummy recipes below…Thanks for sharing!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From : “Simply…This. That. And The Other.

By: “My Heart’s Desire

Peanut Butter Cookies
By: “Catz in the Kitchen”
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 







*A very sincere thank you for your prayers from last week. My uncle went home to be with our Lord and we are feeling very carried by all of you. 
“You give and take away, You give and take away, my heart will choose to say, 
Lord blessed be Your name”. 

http://comfyinthekitchen.com/2011/06/happy-friday-ladies-come-visit-women/

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Convenient can be healthy…

June 15, 2011 · by · 11 Comments

Let’s face it…we live in a fast paced world right now. Convenience has become a huge factor in what we feed our children and what we eat ourselves. The food industry has made it easy for us with individually bagged chips, fruit snacks, cookies, etc. Yes, there are the 100 calorie bags, which I appreciate, but I know they aren’t always healthy.

There ARE ways to make “healthy” choices AND have them be convenient. One way that I practice this in my home is by “bagging” healthy foods. When I get home from the grocery store, or farmers market…I simply wash, cut, and individually bag fruits, veggies, and cheese. I place the bags in the bottom drawer of my refrigerator and allow my children to take a snack from there whenever they get hungry (with moderation). I love that they can get to it on their own, and that they are getting a healthy snack. If we are in a hurry to get out the door, I also grab bags from this drawer and put them in an insulated bag.

Another great tip: Freeze “Gogurt” and place in an insulated bag with the fruits. They keep everything cold and they thaw when the children are ready to eat them!

My bottom refrigerator drawer
Hope this tip can help get you started on being convenient AND healthy!!!

Love to you,
Janelle

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Filed Under: Comfy In My Jeans, Kiddos ·

Signed, Sealed, DELIVERED, I’m YOURS! (my meal ministry testimony)

June 13, 2011 · by · 10 Comments

When I was 12 a neighbor invited me to church with her. I went up to an “alter call” and asked the Lord into my heart. I don’t think I completely knew the commitment I was making at the time…but I knew that the Lord wanted me and I certainly craved His love.

Throughout my teenage years I felt the Lord’s protection and the holy spirit’s convictions and managed to stay on a fairly straight path (praise you God!).  But little did I know I had SO much room for growth…I hadn’t grown at all spiritually. I was still that 12 year old little girl in a young woman’s body. After college, I started craving things of this world….

I wanted the degree…the husband….the high powered job…shnazy suits…the Mc mansion…the beautiful children…the fancy car…the spa treatment….success…the envy of my friends…I wanted it ALL.

And guess what? For the most part, God gave it all to me.

Then…..he took it all back for a while and humbled me in a very hard way….My husband lost his job for a year and a half during a hard economic time…bills, phone calls, embarrassment, pride crushed, ugh.

Why? Because as as Hebrews 12:6 says “Because the Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son.” He wanted more for me than I wanted for myself. He wanted me to have true happiness that can only come from Him. 


It was during this time that I started growing in Christ. I decided to TRULY open my arms and say “Ok, I am done with this world, you are right God! Use me how YOU want to use me and help me excuse myself!!!”

That is when He spoke to me and told me to start cooking for a man with MS. I had a hard time understanding why God wanted me to give to someone when I had nothing extra. But, I submitted to this request….and there began my “meal ministry”. I cooked for Kevin for a year, visited him, and prayed for him….I remember him telling me (as he sat in his wheel chair)  “You don’t have to look very far to find a person who has it worse than you do.” God used this man to help ME while I thought I was helping him.

I got hooked….

“God, keep using me please!” I would pray at night. The more I served people the closer I felt to God. The more and more I submitted to His will on my life…the better my marriage got, our financial situation turned completely around, and my spiritual life grew leaps and bounds. God blessed me with a church family, friends, many ministry opportunities, and this blog!

What would I have done if I hadn’t given it to God? I would have continued to desire what only God could give me and would have accepted a subpar world to fulfill my needs.

People think I am crazy that not only do I not make money off of my ministry…it costs me money.  But, I am God’s and everything that I have is God’s…and it feels so good and freeing to live life this way. I don’t have to even the score…I just have to submit to Him!!!!

Me and my sweet hubby bringing in food for the church
Signed, Sealed, DELIVERED I’m Yours (His)!
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! 

 

 

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Filed Under: Devotionals, Meal Ministry ·

Easy Cucumber Sandwiches

June 11, 2011 · by · 7 Comments

Last week was the “Meet and Greet” for our Summer Women’s Bible Study. With our group of sweet ladies, when there is a get together…you KNOW there will be some yummy snacks (lol). These delicious Cucumber Sandwiches were my contribution to the evening! They are inexpensive to make, quick, easy, delicious, and make enough for a large group! I make these often.

Italian dressing mix, cream cheese, mayo, loaf of party pumpernickel, cucumber, (dill weed)
Combine dressing mix, mayo and cream cheese
Mix well with mixer
Peel and slice cucumbers
I find this bread by the deli section at my grocery store. 
Spread appx 1 1/2 tsp of mixture on bread slice. 
Top with cucumber
Sprinkle with dill weed
Continue until bread is gone
Line em up! Aren’t they beautiful? 
And here we are at bible study!
(We are studying “The Ministry of Motherhood”- check out the online study at the Good Morning Girls website!)
Cucumber Sandwiches
1 (8oz) Cream Cheese
1/4 cup Mayo
1 pack of Good Seasons Italian dressing mix
2 cucumbers (peeled and sliced)
Dill weed
1 loaf of party pumpernickel bread
Mix well: cream cheese, mayo and Italian dressing mix. Spread about 1 1/2 tsp of combination onto one piece of party bread. Top with a cucumber slice and a sprinkle of dill weed.
Repeat until all the bread is used.
Enjoy!
~Janelle
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Friday’s Feature/Top 3 and Feasting in Fellowship Link UP

June 10, 2011 · by · 9 Comments
Please visit me over at Women Living Well where I am sharing my Strawberry Spinach Salad recipe. This is one of my favorite salads. I have tripled it and have made it for many church functions. It never fails that I get asked for the recipe each and every time! A perfect salad for Summer! Enjoy…
 Love to you, Janelle

Friday’s Top 3 
Thanks again Ladies…I love to see what YOU have cookin! 

Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries by “My Perfect Mess”
Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

Pancake Muffins by “Eating My Way Back”

A very sincere thank you goes out to those who have prayed for me and my family. We have had a long year of illnesses and death. We are blessed to be such a close family. If you would, please say a special prayer for my “Grandma Ruth”(many of you have made her recipes!) She has lost a husband this year and is expecting to lose her son this week. This is the very first time I have asked for prayer, but I believe in the power of it and and would be so grateful if you would be willing to do this for me.
Love to you, Janelle

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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A "Good Morning Girls" Brunch

June 7, 2011 · by · 8 Comments

I am so blessed to be a part of a “Good Morning Girls” group. Have you ever heard of it before? If not please take a look at the “Good Morning Girls” blog.

Simply put, we are a group of ladies God put together to send one another daily e-mails about what we read in the bible that morning. Sometimes morning becomes afternoon becomes evening…but grace is all over that for moms <wink>. We also pray for one another, ask for prayer, and get together for fellowship.

Below are some photos of our most recent brunch…God gave us a beautiful sunshiny day, provided us with a delicious meal and sweet fellowship. It was so nice to be “in person” with the ladies I e-mail every morning!

I hope you get some great ideas below and perhaps I could encourage you to put together a “Good Morning Girls” group of your own! Simply ask a group of friends if they are interested in “devotion accountability”and register your group on the GMG’s website. There are “breaks” and “times” to register, but there is no reason you couldn’t start e-mailing now!

Here is a sample:

GMGs! It’s 7:00 and I just had my quite time in Jer 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. I prayed this over my family and over my life. I am getting ready to take the kidos to school…here they come running down the stairs! Oh,  please keep praying for my uncle who is in the hospital.  Love you, Janelle 

Then, we hit “reply all” when we want to respond to the chain of GMG’s in our group. It is wonderful!

And the brunch begins…..
The lovely ladies chatting
Mmmmm…we have fresh berries, pastries, grapes and melon, and of course my favorite “Quick and Easy, Ham and Cheesy Quiche” (you gotta try this!)
Tania is one of my very dear friends. She is the most AMAZING hostess. This girl can keep a home, let me tell you! She also has the gift of decorating …we were blessed to have such a beautiful home open to us on this day. 
The children had a great time playing AND got to see their moms together in fellowship with other Christian moms. 
Another very dear friend, Courtney, from Women Living Well prayed over our brunch, our families, and our sisterhood! Courtney started “Good Morning Girls” so I feel especially blessed to be part of her group. She is the BEST accountability partner. 
Beautiful Courtney slicing up the quiche for us! 

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Matthew 18:20



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Filed Under: Breakfast, Entrees ·

Meal Ministry Monday Welcomes: Chef Bruno "Motel Kids"

June 6, 2011 · by · 13 Comments

A few months ago, Dawn, a reader of “Comfy in the Kitchen” brought this story to my attention. I was so touched and felt it very necessary to share it with you.

“Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” ~1 Timothy 6:18
“Making sure motel kids don’t go hungry”-CNN.com
Anaheim, California (CNN)

In the shadows of Disneyland, often referred to as the “happiest place on Earth,” many children are living a reality that’s far from carefree.
They are living in cheap motels more commonly associated with drug dealers, prostitutes and illicit affairs.
It’s the only option for many families that are struggling financially and can’t scrape together a deposit for an apartment. By living week to week in these cramped quarters, they stay one step ahead of homelessness.
Some people are stuck, they have no money. They need to live in that room,” said Bruno Serato, a local chef and restaurateur. “They’ve lost everything they have. They have no other chance. No choice.”
While “motel kids” are found across the United States, the situation is very common in Orange County, California, a wealthy community with high rents and a large number of old motels. In 2009, local authorities estimated that more than 1,000 families lived in these conditions.
When Serato learned that these children often go hungry, he began serving up assistance, one plate at a time. To date, he’s served more than 270,000 pasta dinners — for free — to those in need.
“Kids should not be suffering,” Serato said. “[I had] to do something.”
Serato, 55, has always given back to the community where he achieved his American dream. When the Italian immigrant arrived in the U.S. 30 years ago, his poor English skills forced him to settle for a job as a dishwasher. But within five years, he had become chef and owner of the Anaheim White House, an Italian restaurant that is now a local hot spot.
In 2003, he created Caterina’s Club, which raises money for underprivileged children. The charity is named after Serato’s mother, who taught him how to cook at the family’s trattoria in Verona, Italy. Video: Life of a ‘motel kid’
When she came to California in 2005 to visit her son, he took her to the local Boys & Girls Club, the main recipient of the charity’s funds. There, they saw a small boy eating a bag of potato chips and learned that this snack was his supper.
Bruno said his mother was shocked by the boy’s meager meal. She had raised seven children and always made sure food was on the dinner table, even during the lean years after World War II.
“My mama … her whole life was to feed kids,” he said.
The Seratos found out that the boy lived in a motel with his family. The situation was so common in the area that the Anaheim Boys & Girls Club had a “motel kids” program, where vans pick up the children after school and drop them off at the motels every night. While these children receive free breakfast and lunch through school programs, their parents often don’t have the resources to give them dinner.
Caterina found it unacceptable that the children would go to bed without supper. Speaking in rapid Italian, she made her feelings clear to her son.
“Mom said, ‘Bruno, you must feed them the pasta!’ ” Serato recalled.
When he discovered that this meant feeding around 70 children, he demurred. But his mother insisted. He went back to his restaurant and prepared 70 pasta dinners to serve at the club.
His mother helped him that first night, and Serato has maintained the ritual nearly every night for more than six years — even through the recession.
The economic downturn was a challenge, though. Serato lost 30% to 40% of his customers, and the number of children he fed each night more than doubled. He often found himself giving away more meals than he served in his restaurant, and he was forced to refinance his home to keep going. But Serato found that his work with the children helped sustain him, at least on a personal level.
“So many nights … it was not too many customers,” he said. “[To] know that I served 150 kids … it made me feel better.”
Today, Serato’s business has rebounded, and his program feeds nearly 200 children, in two locations, seven days a week. He also pays for drivers to transport the kids to the Boys & Girls Club, and he has purchased another van. All told, he estimates that the endeavor costs him around $2,000 a month.
Michael Baker, the executive director of the Anaheim Boys & Girls Club, says many of the “motel kids” he serves depend on Serato’s meals. He also relishes the irony of the situation.
“These are some of the poorest kids in Anaheim eating from one of the most exclusive restaurants every night,” he said. “I love that!”
Carlos Gomez, 12, has lived in a motel room with his family — a total of six people — for almost his entire life. He and his younger brother Anthony often eat Serato’s pasta, and his father, Martin, says it’s a relief to know that his children can get a free meal.
“I no longer worry as much, about them [coming home] and there being no food,” he said. “I know that they eat over there at [the] Boys & Girls Club.”
This spring, Serato plans to expand his program to an additional 100 kids a night, and he will partner with another organization to give 100 children three meals a day.
He is also calling on other restaurants around the country to work together to feed “motel kids.” He believes that providing just a few dinners a night could make a significant difference.
“Every restaurant in the country — Chinese, Indian, Mexican, French — let’s do it all together,” Serato said. “We would have no hungry children.”
Serato’s love for the children is clear, but he’s quick to give all of the credit to his beloved “mama” back in Italy. Although she suffers from Parkinson’s disease, he still talks to her via Skype every morning and believes that if she knew how their work has grown, she would be proud.
Although his mother made him start the work, he now says he could never stop helping the children.
“They’re customers,” he says with a smile. “My favorite customers.”





Chef Bruno, what a blessing you are to these children. I pray God gives you the means to provide meals for them for many years to come. I also pray that you are planting seeds in others to do the same

 

(perhaps even in the children you are feeding!) Also praying for the families and children who are struggling in your area. It brings me such a joy to know you are a vessel in answering prayers. WOW.
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 and Titus 2sdays!
For more inspiring stories please click on the button below.
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Filed Under: Kiddos, Meal Ministry ·

Feasting in Fellowship/Featured Recipe/Top 3

June 3, 2011 · by · 11 Comments
Come visit me over at Women Living Well for this delicious recipe (my son’s favorite!)

Much love going out to Courtney and her God-honoring blog…her posts have been a blessing in my life!

Friday’s Top 3 
Thanks to everyone for posting delicious recipes each Friday. Post away today! 


Quick and Easy, Cheap and Healthy shares an excellent recipe for granola!
Love the addition of coconut!

Sausage and Pesto Pita Pizzas

 
Thank you Money Wise Moms! What a great idea to use a pita as a base crust for this delicious pizza!

BBQ Chicken Sliders

                           Lisa from This, That, and The Other…is gearing us up for Summer with this recipe! 
OH YUMMMmm….
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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Filed Under: Entrees, Fellowship Fridays ·

"That" Chicken Salad

June 1, 2011 · by · 16 Comments






Oooooo Ladies, we love a good Chicken Salad, don’t we?! It is just such a treat when this dish is served. Why? Because typically it takes a bit of time to make, is expensive, and yes…most times is deeeelicious (if you have a good recipe of course). 


Because this recipe calls for an already roasted chicken (which at my store is $5), it reduces the time and price it takes to make this delicious salad! Sound good? It is…


The mixture of sour cream, mayo and Marzetti’s Slaw Dressing makes the texture lighter, the grapes add sweetness and the nuts add a crunch. A mixture of utter yumminess.  


Feel free to be adventurous with your sweet/savory items and different ways to add texture. 


Beware, make this just once, and everyone will ask you how to make “That” Chicken Salad!!!! 


Enjoy! 

Chicken, pecans, celery, onion, mayo, sour cream, grapes, Marzetti Slaw mix.


Pound pecan halves


Quarter grapes


Dice celery


Dice onions


Place it all in a bowl


Slice white meat off of chicken (you may add the dark meat if you like!)


Cut into bite sized chunks


I typically save the legs for the children for lunch the next day. 


Add all wet ingredients


Mix well


And serve! (This chicken salad wishes it was on a croissant, but I didn’t have one! lol still YUMMY!)

“That” Chicken Salad

1 Roaster Chicken
1 cup quartered grapes
1 cup diced celery
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 1/2 cups mayonnaise
2/3 cup Marzetti’s Slaw Dressing
2/3 cup sour cream

(you may change fruit to apples, pineapples, or red grapes. You also may use water chestnuts and Chinese noodles in place of nuts)

Pull chicken off of breast and dice. Add all other ingredients and mix well. Serve on lettuce, croissants, or bread…also very pretty in phyllo cups!

Love to you, Janelle

Crabby Sandwich
Is this not completely adorable!!!!??? LOVE it!
Check out how you can turn your Chicken Salad Croissant into a cute little Crab by visiting Family Fun!
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Filed Under: Entrees, Salads, Wraps ·