Thank you

Thank you for the encouraging comments. I will continue to trust that God is in control. Reading His word and trusting in Him to bring us through this has really helped me today.
Here are the recipes from yesterday. (We will be having leftovers tonight!)

Encouragement Pot Roast
one 2-3 pound beef roast
one envelope french onion soup mix
one can cream of mushroom soup (or mix tobether: 1/2 c. milk, 1 T. flour, 1 T. melted butter, 1/2 t. pepper if you don't have the mushroom soup)

Put roast in glass baking dish with cover. Sprinkle soup mix over roast and pour can of soup or milk mixture over the roast. Bake covered at 300 degrees for 3 hours. (There will be a well-seasoned gravy left in the baking dish, perfect for the potatoes.)

Sour Cream Mashed Potatoes
about 4 pounds of yukon gold potatoes, peeled and diced
large pot of boiling water
1 t. salt
1/4 c. butter
1/4. sour cream
salt and pepper to taste

Add salt and potatoes to boiling water. Boil 15 minutes or until potatoes are soft enough to mash. Drain potatoes, but leave just a little water so they will stay moist. In a large serving bowl, use masher or mixer to mash remaining ingredients into the potatoes.
Delicious alone or with gravy.

Maple Green Beans
2 cans green beans, drained
1T. butter
1T. pure maple syrup
salt and pepper to taste

Heat the beans with remaining ingredients. I do this in the microwave for 5 minutes, stirring after 2 1/2 minutes.


I hope you enjoy this meal. It is an easy one to prepare.
Love,
Laurie

Encouragement Pot Roast

Yesterday was one of those days. I woke up with anticipation. It should have been a day of new beginnings. Life had been tough, in some ways, for the last few years. But it looked as if things were improving. We felt that we were about to turn the corner, having learned much from past mistakes. However, we were let down when an agreement was broken. It felt like a kick in the stomach. I felt helpless and hopeless. I know that people will disappoint us. I needed to be reminded that God never will. He is always with us, no matter what the situation. And no matter how bad things seem, He is right there, with His arms around us. Yesterday has left its scars, but I made it through today. God gave me the strength He has promised. Oh, I had moments of tears, anger, and fatigue. But then I decided to receive God's grace and then share it! My husband did not deserve to come home to a sad, sloppy house with nothing to eat in it. So... I made him Encouragement Pot Roast! It smelled wonderful when he got home. I served it with homemade mashed potatoes and maple green beans. You see, he needed encouragement today. He needed to know that we are in this together, and I am strong enough to help him! I will post the recipes tomorrow. My husband needs a kiss goodnight! :)

From the Kitchen with Love

There is nothing more inviting than a cozy kitchen filled with the aroma of a cake in the oven or spices simmering on the stove. For me, preparing a meal or a special dish for someone is an expression of love. From birthday cakes to comfort food to holiday goodies, I love to treat the ones I love with something delicious. When I see a smile slowly stretch across the face of my husband after a long day at work as he stops at the stove to smell one of his favorite dishes, or hear a sigh of contentment as he takes a bite of his favorite dessert, I know I have succeeded.