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The next section is Breakfast Ideas.

Leftover cooked cereals can be turned into greased molds; heated in the oven; turned out in dishes and served with hot maple syrup or honey.

Add raisins, dates, or nuts for a change.

Add to meat chopped fine to mush before putting in pan.

Basic Recipe for Buttermilk or Sour Milk Griddle Cakes

3 cups all-purpose sifted flour

2 tsp baking soda

3 tbsp brown sugar, honey or molasses

2 tsp salt

1 egg well beaten

2 tbsp melted shortening

2 cups buttermilk or sour milk

Sift together flour, soda, and salt; add sugar. Beat egg, add milk, shortening (and honey or molasses if used instead of sugar). Stir the egg and milk mixture slowly into the flour mixture, beating well. Have all ingredients at room temperature. Serve with syrup, butter and honey, or brown sugar, hot applesauce with dash of nutmeg, fruit juices boiled until thick; or crushed pineapple, fresh strawberries or raspberries.

Thrifty Changes for Griddle cakes

1/2 cup grated apples added to batter with a dash of nutmeg or cinnamon

1 banana mashed and added to batter

Corn cakes – 1 cup yellow corn meal, 1 1/2 cups white flour

1 cup leftover minced or ground ham added to batter

1/2 cup finely chopped nuts

1 tbsp grated orange rind

Rye cakes –  1 1/2 cups rye flour, 1 cup all-purpose flour

Try serving some of the griddle cakes in short cake style with a little creamed dried beef, ham, tuna, or any other leftover meat cut into small cubes.

Any leftover batter can be baked up into cakes and meat loaf mixture rolled into them. Place close together in greased baking dish, cover with tomato soup or well seasoned tomato juice. Bake in over 350-375F 45 – 50 minutes. Serve with baked potatoes.

Try spreading the cakes while hot with thick stewed dried apricots and roll – good for dessert, too.

A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn

By Shelley Shepard Gray

Litfuse is partnering once again with Avon Inspire and Shelley Shepard Gray to bring you the third installment, A Wedding at the Orange Blossom Inn, in Shelley’s Amish Brides of Pinecraft series.

 
In the third book of New York Times-bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s Amish Brides of Pinecraft series, a wedding brings together two young widowed parents . . . and gives them a second chance at love.

 
Emma Keim was heartbroken when her husband, Sanford, passed away, leaving her to raise three young daughters alone. Though several years have passed, her relatives have made it no secret that they expect Emma to remain a widow, mourning Sanford indefinitely. But when she meets Jay Hilty—a handsome widower with three young sons of his own—Emma is delighted to have a new friend who understands her struggles. Still, she is dismayed that her family is so opposed to their friendship—and the idea of it ever becoming anything more. She honors her husband’s memory every day, but is she destined to be alone forever?

 
Emma’s gentleness with Jay’s boys stirs something in his heart that’s been quiet for far too long. But when his oldest son becomes engaged to a local woman, suddenly Jay, Emma, and their children are swept up in wedding preparations. Witnessing his son’s joy, Jay wonders if it’s time for him to move forward, too, and find happiness again.

 
Once again, love has come to Pinecraft. But can these two parties of four become a happy, healthy family of eight?

 
ISLAND BREEZES

There’s going to be a wedding, but who will be the bride and groom? There are three couples who may or may not be heading toward matrimony. The main couple consist of a lady and her three daughters and a man and his three sons. Just like an Amish Brady Bunch.

The guys are new in town and meet the ladies during the stolen pizza caper. Emma and her daughters are trying to track down their overweight dog Frankie. Frankie loves pizza. When they found him, he had just stuffed himself with an entire pizza that Jay had just purchased. While Jay’s oldest takes the boys to get more pizza, Jay carries Frankie home for Emma.

And so the adventures begin. Even though this book is the third in the Amish Brides of Pinecraft series, it is a good stand alone read. But it’s better if you read The Promise of Palm Grove and The Proposal at Siesta Key first for background. I especially like the Pinecraft settings as I live near there. I would really like to spend some time at the Orange Blossom Inn.

 
Thanks, Ms Shepard Gray, for always giving us such enjoyable reading.

***A special thank you to litfuse for providing a review copy.***

Shelley Shepard Gray is a two-time New York Times bestseller, a two-time USA Today bestseller, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time Holt Medallion winner. She lives in Southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail.

To the pure all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure. Both their mind and conscience are defiled.

They claim to know God but their deeds deny Him. They are despicable and disobedient and worthless for any good deed.

Titus 1:15-16

This was an interesting section in Thrifty Cooking for Wartime. Fat. No, not the kind of fat you’re thinking of. We’re talking about leftover fat during cooking. Of course, it could have led to body fat if food wasn’t rationed and the cooks had modern day appliances.

Leftover fat or drippings

Keep it in three different containers.

1. Bacon, sausage, ham, and salt pork
2. Beef, fresh pork, chicken, and goose
3.  Lamb and mutton

The fats  in the first  container can be used to fry potatoes, omelets, liver and onions. Add to split pea or potato soup. A few tablespoons can be added to a pot of beans as a substitute for meat. It  can also be used for gravies and as a substitute for butter in white sauce.

When cooking green beans, peas and greens, lift the vegetables from the juices. Thicken juices with a little paste made with flour and water. Stir until thick; add 1-2 tablespoons drippings to one cup thickened liquid, salt and pepper and add a dash of nutmeg or mace. Pour over vegetables. A few drops of lemon or vinegar can be added.

From the second container: Fats can be used in mashed or creamed potatoes. Use in cream sauce for creamed chicken. They’re also good in scalloped potatoes. Of course, you can use them for frying. Leftover fats may also be used for pastry crusts, cakes or biscuits by sweetening with 1/2 teaspoon soda to one cup fat.

Third container fats can be used fr frying lamb hash or patties and for making lamb gravy. If these fats become rancid, heat and fry a few pieces of raw potato until brown, drain and place in a clean container.

In the next installment of wartime recipes we’ll be looking at some breakfast ideas.

All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching, for reproof, for restoration and for training in righteousness, so that the person belonging to God may be capable, fully equipped for every good deed.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

While cleaning out a drawer a couple days ago I found some notes that I as a new bride had copied from a library book. The book was Thrifty Cooking for Wartime by Alice B. Winn-Smith. I thought I would share them with you. Today I’ll share what I wrote down about almond flavoring and bread.

First the almond flavoring

Save peach, plum and apricot pits; when they are dry enough to handle, crack the pits and save the meats by spreading them in a warm place to dry. Pound to a pulp or grind in a food chopper. Keep any unused in a tightly covered container in a dry warm place.

Now the bread

It should be kept in a dry, almost airtight container in a warm, dry place. Quick cooling prevents mold. If bread shows the least sign of mold, cut in slices and spread to dry in a warm place. If you have a slow oven for baking, place thin slices in a shallow baking pan and when they are thoroughly dry and crisp use them for melba toast.

Try sprinkling leftover toast with a little grated cheese; place under broiler until cheese is melted; cut into strips and serve with salad and fruit dessert.

Separate the sweet and plain dried breads. When thoroughly dry, run them through the food chopper or roll them into fine crumbs. Store in dry containers in a warm dry place. Cover tops with cheesecloth tied down tightly. Do not seal too tightly, or they will become rancid. Use the sweeter crumbs for puddings, etc.

Bet your mother never passed along these tips, but maybe some grandmothers remembers these kinds of things happening in kitchens during WWII. This book was published in 1942. Next week I’ll share some more interesting things from this book.

See that picture up there? That man is holding a flounder. There are so many authors, journalists and especially bloggers who don’t have a clue. I would presume that the word floundering means fishing for flounder. Logical, right? That’s what always pops into my head when I see that word.

Then why are so many people fishing in all kinds of situations? I think they would more likely be foundering. This is why I think writers need to know what they are talking about. They really should know the difference between a noun and a verb.

Merriam-Webster says:

Definition of FLOUNDER
noun floun·der \?flau?n-d?r\

: a type of fish that has a flat body and that is eaten as food

plural flounder or flounders

Full Definition of FLOUNDER
:  flatfish; especially :  a marine fish of either of two families (Pleuronectidae and Bothidae) that include important food fishes

founder
noun found·er \?fau?n-d?r\

Definition of FOUNDER
:  one that founds or establishes
: to experience failure : to be unsuccessful
of a boat or ship : to fill with water and sink

Full Definition of FOUNDER

intransitive verb

1:  to become disabled; especially :  to go lame
2:  to give way :  collapse
3:  to become submerged :  sink
4:  to come to grief :  fail

transitive verb

:  to disable (an animal) especially by excessive feeding

So, now are you going to founder or be a flounder?

It seems that I haven’t been making any seams. I moved to a smaller place on the island, and have just flat out been busy unpacking boxes rather than doing any sewing. Oops! Just remembered that I did some mending on a couple of Consumer Man’s scrubs. Almost forgot that since it’s been awhile. In fact it’s been so long that I now have another set of his scrubs reclining across the top of my sewing machine. I guess that’s a hint.

Since September is National Sewing Month, I guess it’s a good time to rev up my machine and get back into action. Yes, you just heard a big sigh. I’m going to have to start with mending.

It’s so much more fun to start from scratch and make something new. Except for the cutting out part. I always do better if I make myself cut out several projects at once since I really don’t much care for that part of sewing. Do any of you all have that same dislike? Or do you have a different part of the process that bugs you?

But understand this, that in the last days hard times will come – for people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, hardhearted, unforgiving, backbiting, without self-control, brutal, hating what is good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to an outward form of godliness but denying its power. Avoid these people!

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Amish Values for Your Family

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Award-winning author Suzanne Woods Fisher inspires readers to slow down and understand the values that help build a strong family in Amish Values for Your Family. Studies are finding some alarming trends in the daily life of modern families -family time is a vanishing commodity. Compared to thirty years ago, today’s parents spend 40% less time with their children. This decline coincides with the rise in internet use, the popularity with social networks, and the swell of children’s organized sports and activities. What is competing for your family time? Who is winning?

The Amish have maintained one of the strongest and most stable family systems in America. Harvard School of Medicine recently found that Amish people have a lower rate of heart disease than do average Americans as well as lower rates of cancer. Could their simple way of life, hard work, and value of family contribute to a healthier way of life? And, if so, how is it possible to incorporate some principles of the Amish into a modern family without “goin’ Amish?”

In Amish Values for Your Family, Fisher shows how you can adopt the wisdom of the Amish when it comes to family matters. In this inspiring and practical book, readers will find true stories interlaced with solid, biblical advice about parenting, marriage, and all aspects of family life – without selling your car, changing your wardrobe, or moving to the Amish countryside. Readers will learn to prioritize what’s truly important, simplify decision-making, slow down as a family, safeguard time together, and letting go when the time comes

ISLAND BREEZES

I’ve been drawn to the simple life of the Amish for a long time now. Even though I’m not going to become Amish, I still feel a deep connection.

We can learn so much from Amish values. I’m grateful for this book which both rounds up the values and teaches us how to apply them to our non-Amish lives.

The “Read, Read, Read” chapter stood out for me as I (as well as the rest of my family) love to read.

I think that we as a family need to direct our children away from the overpowering distraction of technology. We need to focus more on the wonders of our world, as well as it’s Creator.

The first section reminds us that Amish children are loved but not adored. Now doesn’t that bring things into proper perspective?

Two more things about this book that I appreciate are the sections that tell us how to “get there from here” and the Amish proverbs. There are so many that spoke to me, but I will only leave you with one. You’ll have to get your own book to read the rest.

Keeping a neat house is like threading beads on a string with no knot on it.

***A special thank you to the author for providing a review copy***

Suzanne Woods Fisher is the bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, The Search, and Anna’s Crossing, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. She lives in California. To learn more about Suzanne visit her at suzannewoodsfisher.com

While there you can download a free Amish Wisdom app.