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How to Make Your Own Granola

I’m working on getting together some writing samples for a few writing/editing/proofreading companies, so I’m going to cheat today and share a recipe I posted on a blog I had a few years back. Give it a try – you’ll love it! 🙂

My mom makes her own granola. Once you’ve tried it, you’ll understand why! [The picture is from a batch Mom and I made one time when I was visiting.] It’s quick to make (though it bakes for about 30 minutes), and keeps quite awhile. In fact, during the time it bakes, you could download and read Mom’s little book, Around My Kitchen Table!

The cost is basically equivalent to what you would pay at the store, so I’m not saying it’s cheap – just worth it! Granola is great with milk for breakfast, over ice cream, with yogurt, or just by itself! Suggestion: Put four (4) cups’ worth in a Mason jar, tie with a bow, and give some of your very own homemade granola to a friend!

My Favorite Granola!

GRANOLA
From the kitchen of: Lorraine Strohbehn

Combine in large bowl:
5 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
1 cup sunflower seeds [I used raw to avoid the extra salt!]
1 cup powdered milk [I used fat-free; do NOT substitute with powdered creamer]
1 cup wheat germ
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup raw peanuts
1 cup chopped walnuts or sliced almonds
1 cup brown sesame seeds

Mix in a separate bowl:
1 cup vegetable or canola oil [or extra virgin olive oil]
1 cup honey

Add liquid ingredients to dry and mix well.

Spread evenly on two (2) cookie sheets – Bake at 250 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until slightly brown. Stir every ten minutes and re-spread in pan – so it browns evenly. [It keeps “cooking” once you take it out of the oven, so don’t let it get too dark – The raw nuts will still taste raw at this point, and you’ll think you need to cook it longer – but don’t! It actually only looks “almost done” when it’s really done!]

Once you let it cool for another ten minutes, you may wish to stir in one (1) cup of raisins [i.e. Don’t cook them.]

Can be refrigerated or stored in an airtight container. Makes four quarts.

Enjoy!

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Thanks for reading “You Cook; I’ll Write.” Please feel free to leave a comment or question.

By Petals from the Basket | May 15, 2012 | Entertaining, Family, Friends, Ideas |

Choosing Praise

One of the things I have been intentional about doing since losing my job almost two months ago is waking up early, getting dressed for “work,” and starting my day as I would if I were leaving my apartment for an out-of-the-house job. It keeps me productive, positive, and progressing! For me, that “waking up early” time is 4:50 a.m. – the time I rise when working outside the home – and now “inside the home!”

Part of my early-morning routine is to have a God-and-I-time once my mind is alert and I am free from distraction. I’m a firm believer that your time with God doesn’t have to be your first time chronologically, but rather your first-place time – a time when you can give Him your BEST attention and devotion! For me, that time just happens to be fairly early into my morning routine.

Well, in my promise of transparency, I will tell you that waking up was tricky this morning since I had just gotten to sleep. I have actually had amazingly-peaceful sleep during this time of uncertainty…until last night. I tossed. I turned. I looked at the clock. I tried to listen to the Bible via audio book, but got distracted by the thick English accent of the recorded reader. I turned on the radio, but found myself internally singing along. There were just too many things on my mind. I prayed, and prayed again, and then rolled over and prayed some more. I was troubled, yet at peace because I had the Creator of all things to turn to for help. The uncertainty of “tomorrow” became overwhelming in the darkest hours of the night.

But, yuck, let’s not dwell on the what-if’s and the uncertainties! I choose today to place my focus on the Unchangeable God!

This morning I read I Samuel chapters 16 and 17. Chapter 16 records the selection of David as the future King. (God told Samuel to anoint him.) Chapter 17 records the defeat of mighty Goliath with only one little stone (more clearly –  by the hand of God).

What gave me a peace that passes understanding this morning was seeing that God chose David and then led him all the way! David wasn’t perfect. David didn’t “deserve” any of it! But because of Saul’s bouts of depression, David was brought on staff at the palace to play his harp for King Saul and to be an armor bearer for the king. He was right where he could get the best possible training – in his future office! His defeat of Goliath then brought financial care for his family, as the king had promised to greatly reward the person who would conquer Goliath! His many Psalms record not only his cries for help, but more importantly, His praise to the Almighty for His all-encompassing care and for the help He freely gives!

God had every element of it covered…

…and I serve the same God that David did!

So today, I choose praise!

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Thank you for taking time to read “Choosing Praise.” Please feel free to leave a comment or a question.

By Petals from the Basket | May 14, 2012 | Bible Reading, God-and-I-Time, Life Changes |

Dear Mom,

I will speak to you directly, rather than in third person, because I know you will read this. You read every post on my blog, and graciously send me an email after nearly every one. You encourage me to continue pursuing my passion, even in the midst of an uncertain path. Thank you for that!

“Thank you for that” – – – this phrase could be said for so many things that I must force myself to narrow the list for the sake of time and space:

You love Daddy with the kind of love the Bible says a wife should have for her husband. Thank you for that.

You love all four of us kids with all of our unique personalities and talents. Thank you for that.

You have loved your sons-in-law and “grandchildren-in-law” as you have loved each of us. Thank you for that.

You are a proud grandmother and great grandmother – and rightfully so, this “auntie” thinks – with your greatest prayer being that your great grandchildren, grandchildren, and your children, walk in the ways of the Lord. Thank you for that.

You have given us a home, without binding us to it when it was time to begin our own. Thank you for that.

You have given us the gift of failure so that we could learn and grow without your keeping us from the opportunities provided by those vital life lessons. Thank you for that.

You have lived at home what you have taught in public. Thank you for that.

Your own love for the Word of God has driven us to its pages for wisdom, guidance, reproof, and instruction. Thank you for that.

You have answered our questions with Scripture and with the promise of your prayers. Thank you for that.

Your prayers for us have been constant and heartfelt. Thank you for that.

You have taught us to keep moving forward since we can learn from, but never change, the past. Thank you for that.

Your laughter has brought smiles, futile attempts at imitation, and joy to our home. Thank you for that.

Your ability to find the positive in literally everything has been a haven in a world that delights in finding the negative. Thank you for that.

You were a Titus 2 woman long before books and classes were based on Titus 2. Thank you for that.

Because of the love you have for Him, you have loved us with His love and shown us His love. Thank you for that.

Above all, you have loved the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind, you daily choose Christ, you continue to serve Him, and you long to see Him reflected in you – and He is. Thank you for that.

Happy Mother’s Day – I love you, Mom!

Brenda

By Petals from the Basket | May 13, 2012 | Bible Reading, Events, Family |

My Friend Annie

The other day, I posted the lyrics of an old song, “He Giveth More Grace.” Though I had been singing it throughout the morning, I wanted to make sure I had the words right before adding it on my blog post. The site where I found the lyrics also contained a story about their author, Annie Johnson Flint, and I was drawn into reading it.

I have a new “friend” as a result.

No, I never met her. No, I had never heard of her before that time. Yes, she is deceased. But still, I now count her as a friend. She impacted my life and pointed it heavenward as her words crossed my path. I won’t tell the entire story, but here is the extremely-abbreviated version:

Born in 1866, Annie was the first child born to Eldon and Jean Johnson. Only three years after her birth, Annie’s mother died during the delivery of Annie’s younger sister. Knowing he could not properly care for the little girls, Eldon took them to the home of a widow of a Civil War soldier. They were only in that home for two years.

The widow’s neighbors, Mr. and Mrs. Flint, took the two Johnson girls into their home at that time, and not only loved them and gave them their name, but introduced them to Christ! Annie grew in her love for the things of the Lord and in her love of poetry. Her optimistic nature was clearly seen in her writings.

Skip ahead to her post high school years. Annie found out as a very young woman (barely out of high school) that she had arthritis. It was extreme and debilitating and rendered her as a crippled invalid in very little time. Her resources were minimal, but God allowed her to use the skills He had given her to begin creating greeting cards – not for her own sake, but to be an encouragement to others.

Her journals contain very little regarding the pains and sorrows caused by her illness, but tell of what God allowed her to do for others and how He provided for her every need! She took the comfort she received from the Lord, and used it to be a comfort to those around her – and beyond, to 2012! [II Corinthians 1:3-4]

“…she always stated that her poems were born of the need of others and not from her own need; but one knows full well that she never could have written as she did for the comfort and help of thousands of others if she had not had the background of facing those very crises in her own life.”

I am personally thankful for this dear servant of God whose life has left its imprint on my heart.

“Her life was lived, as someone has said, from hand to mouth, but as she liked to have it expressed, the mouth was hers, and the hand was God’s and His hand was never empty.”

Click here to read more about the life of Annie Johnson Flint.

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Thank you for taking time to read “My Friend Annie.” Please fee free to leave a comment or question.

 

By Petals from the Basket | May 12, 2012 | Friends, Life Changes |

“It Was God!”

This morning I woke up with literally seven thoughts not only vying for first place in my mind, but often trading places with each other in only a fraction of a second: But what if…? How did…? When am I going to…? Why did…? Eggs, bread, bananas, milk…. Did I remember to…? “This Little Light of Mine, I’m gonna….” True story!

After brewing some coffee, I headed straight to my “reading chair” to have some time with my Creator. My mind was still racing as I began my assigned reading for today. [Watch for a future post about this very dilemma that we all seem to face at some time or another, and how I use “assigned readings” to help combat this problem!] This morning’s reading was from Genesis 45, and my assignment was to answer the question, “What purpose did God have for Joseph?” The awesome answer came from a man (Joseph) who was speaking to those who had lied about him, taunted him, beaten him, and sold his nearly-lifeless body to the first-available buyers:

“But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives. This famine that has ravaged the land for two years will last five more years, and there will be neither plowing nor harvesting. God has sent me ahead of you to keep you and your families alive and to preserve many survivors. So it was God who sent me here, not you! And he is the one who made me an adviser to Pharaoh—the manager of his entire palace and the governor of all Egypt.” Genesis 45:5-8 [emphasis mine]

“It was God!” What amazing words! He allowed it, not to be mean or unloving, but because of a great love born out of His sovereign knowledge of what is best in order to bring about the desired result! WOW!

Following that time of reading, prayer, and the resulting praise, the Lord placed an old song in my heart and mind that reminded me of Joseph, and how God’s perfect peace was greater than all that Joseph faced! I’ll end today’s post with the lyrics. Tomorrow, I plan to share an incredible background story that goes along with this song! If these words and truths, along with the verses from Genesis 45, can’t calm a troubled mind, I don’t know what will!

HE GIVETH MORE GRACE

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure;
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

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Thank you for taking time to read “It Was God!” Please feel free to leave a comment or question.

By Petals from the Basket | May 9, 2012 | Bible Reading, God-and-I-Time, Life Changes |