Recipes

I love to cook. I guess it is a trait I inherited from my mother and my grandmother. If I had time, I would try a new recipe every day. (that doesn't happen, by the way!) In fact, I am really good at following recipes. I find it comforting knowing that if I follow certain steps and procedures, I will have a wonderful (most of the time!) meal or dessert in front of me, ready to enjoy. Sometimes I venture out and try to concoct my own recipe. I try to look for that special ingredient that will make my recipe better than all of the rest. A dash of this, a teaspoon of that, trial and error. But in the end, if I go back to the basic recipe, I know it will turn out okay.



As I was looking through my recipes the other day, it occured to me our lives are similar to a cooking, especially when it comes to experiencing joy and peace. I would LOVE if it were so easy as to following these certain steps, like a recipe, and everything would fall into place, like cooking. But life is not like that. No matter how hard we try to do everything right, our lives will not measure up. Even if we try all sorts of different ingredients (more material items, more friends, more activities), there will be something missing from our lives. UNLESS we find that one special ingredient that will make us complete. And that is Jesus. He is the only one who can make us complete in our joy and peace. When God created us, he left a place in our hearts that can only be filled by Him. So if it is not, we will always feel an emptiness. Try some Jesus in your recipe for life. I guarantee it will fill you up to the brim!!!



"I am the LORD your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it." Psalm 81:10



P.S. I leave you with a fun, summery, easy dessert recipe. I will be bringing this to the Ladies Night out tonight! Enjoy!!!





Bountiful Berry Bowl



1 pkg. of angel food cake, cut into cubes

3 Tablespoons orange juice

1/4 tsp. almond extract

2 1/2 cups cold fat-free milk

2 pkgs (4 serving size each) Jello vanilla flavor fat free sugar free instant pudding

1 1/2 cups thawed Cool Whip sugar free whipped topping

2 pkgs (12 oz each)frozen mixed berries, thawed, well-drained



Place cake cubes in large bowl. Mix orange juice and extract. Drizzle over cake and toss.



Pour milk into another large bowl. Add pudding mix. Beat with whisk 2 min. or until well blended. Gently stir in 1 cup of cool whip.



Reserve a few berries for garnish. Place half of the cake cubes in a large glass serving bowl. Top with layers of half each of the remaining berries and pudding mixture. Repeat layers. Cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate two hours. top with remaining whipped topping and garnish with leftover berries just before serving.