Lyn Cote's Tart 'n' Cheesy Green Beans

Here is a recipe I made up years ago when I was harvesting a rich crop of green beans.

Ingredients:
2 Tb margarine or butter
2 Tb flour
1 tsp salt
1 Tb onion flakes (or 1/2 chopped onions)
dash of pepper
1/2 c. plain, unflavored yogurt
2/3 c. cottage cheese
3 cups fresh green beans (or frozen), steamed tender and drained
1/2 to 3/4 c. shredded mild cheddar cheese
1/2 to 3/4 c. bread crumbs
2 slices of bacon

Make white sauce of butter, flour, salt and pepper. Then add onion, yogurt and cottage cheese. Mix well. Heat just to bubbling.
Mix in green beans and 1/2 bread crumbs.
Pour into greased casserole dish.
Top with the rest of bread crumbs, cheddar cheese and bacon strips.
Bake at 350 F. for 30 minutes. Serves 2-3 adults.

This is a mild recipe but choosing a different cheese, such as a jalapeno mix and adding such spices as garlic powder could change the flavor.

I suggest you try it and then experiment.
People rave when I serve this.

To quote Julia Child, "Bon Appetit!"

Author Lisa Harris Writes about Revenge

Writing from the Heart of Africa

Today my guest is Lisa Harris, who is a wife, mother, missionary, and award-winning author who has been writing both fiction and nonfiction for the Christian market since 2000. Her husband and she, along with our three children, are currently living in Mozambique were they are focusing on discipleship training. They are also involved in leadership training and orphan aid throughout Zimbabwe and Zambia. So here's Lisa:

"We’ve all heard of the Mary/Martha syndrome. Martha was the woman in the Bible who ran around, taking care of all the household preparations when Jesus and his disciples came to stay. Mary, on the other hand, left the preparations to her sister to sit at Jesus’ feet.

I often feel a mixture between these two women. In wanting to serve others, I’m quick to jump in, but like Martha, too often get caught up in the details like she did, and forget to take time to stop be still. To learn and glean from those around me. To find peace and strength in God’s word.

When I think about being a strong woman of God, I long to find the combination of both women. Martha opened up her home to Jesus and his disciples, and had the heart of a servant. But Mary was the one who, despite all that had to be done, remembered what was most important.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

In our rush, rush world, I find these words a breath of fresh air. God knows the responsibilities we as women have. But He also wants us to sit down, be quiet, and like Mary, draw from His strength.

Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio

In my latest historical, Catherine Morgan wants to find her strength from God, but also has habit of allowing worry to take over. Catherine is bound by a promise to care for her three sisters until they marry, and will do anything to keep them safe—which isn’t easy. Especially when her old beau, Sheriff Corbin Hunter stands in her way. He has evidence that her sister’s fiancé is really an infamous bank robber—and the man who murdered his father. Because of this, Catherine finds herself torn between saving her sister’s heart and losing hers to the man who jilted her seven years ago.

Through Catherine’s journey in this story, she learns the important lesson of forgiveness, trust, and how to find joy, and in turn, to become a strong woman of God.
What helps you, in your busy day, to connect with God and find your source of strength?

And here's my Family Recipe

When I think of summer, I think of my grandmother’s angel food cake topped with strawberries and whipped cream. Definitely one of my summer favorites along with the memories of time spent in the kitchen with her.

Angel Food Cake

12 egg whites

1 ½ tsp Cream of tartar

1 cup sugar

1 cup flour

1 ½ tsp Vanilla

½ tsp Almond extract

½ tsp salt

In a large bowl, beat egg whites with cream of tartar on high until foamy. Gradually add ¾ cup of the sugar, beating until sugar is dissolved and stiff peaks form. Add vanilla and almond extracts.

Sift together flour, remaining sugar and salt. Gently fold flour mixture, ½ cup at a time, into egg mixture just until flour mixture disappears. Pour into an ungreased tube pan. Gently cut through batter with a knife to remove air bubbles.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until the cake springs back when lightly touched. Invert cake pan and cool completely.

Serve with whipped cream and fruit or simply enjoy plain!"--Lisa

To learn more about Lisa and her books drop by

http://myblogintheheartofafrica.blogspot.com

OR www.lisaharriswrites.com

OR www.summersidepress.com

Thanks so much, Lisa. Your recipe looks easy, but I'm death to cakes. I'm a pie maker GRIN--Lyn

Second half of Coffee Cake Recipe & My Mom

Second half of Coffee Cake Recipe & My Mom

Hey! This is the day I launch my first story of a strong woman and half a recipe.

Now for the recipe first. I posted the ingredients on a brand new blog today, called Craftie Ladies of Romance by Love Inspired Authors. So if you want the ingredients, go to http://www.craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/

And here's the how to:

Spray bundt pan with non-stick oil. Open tubes of biscuits, pat each biscuit larger, then put about a teaspoon of cream cheese on each, fold over and seal with fingertips. Dip in butter and then in nuts. Arrange in a row around the bottom of the bundt pan and sprinkle each layer with cinnamon sugar. This recipe should make around 3 layers in the pan. Then bake at 400 F. for 20 minutes. Take out and upend on holiday dish.
Optional glaze: Take 1/2 cup of orange juice and mix with 1-2 cups of powdered sugar. Should be pourable. Pour over cake.
Done!

Now this recipe can be tailored to your family's tastes. I used honey-nut cream cheese this time and I had some apple and cinnamon and sugar juice I had poured off a few pies that were overflowing their pie shells (oops I didn't say that, did I?--My pies never run over!)
so I used it with the powdered sugar. You could also substitute lemon juice or a buttery mix of cinnamon, sugar and water warmed and stirred till sugar is dissolved. Be creative! What would make this a favorite with your family? And if you have younger children or grandchildren, this is a perfect recipe for them to help with.

Now to finish this post.

I have known many strong women in my life. However, I think it only right that my first post of a strong woman be my mother. She passed away over a year ago. Unfortunately, her last years were clouded with dementia and its paranoia. I'm sure many of you have had similar experiences. After her funeral, I began remembering all the remarkable things about her. And especially what a fun mom she was when my brother and I were kids. I grew up in Waukegan, IL, which is on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, halfway between Chicago and Milwaukee. Waukegan had the most wonderful beaches! These were the days before pollution took its toll on water quality. Waukegan's North Beach had beautiful white sand, a WPA built bathouse, a lovely shady picnic area and miles and miles of shoreline.

The highlight of summer were the days when the usual westerly wind would shift to an east wind. An east wind drove the warmer waters back to the shore in HUGE waves that gave us hours of fun. My mother was running the family business (May's Floors), kept a spotless house, cooked fantastic meals and still took time for afternoons at the beach. And she didn't even like to wade! So it was just me and Bobby. Whenever I hear the call of a seagull, it takes me back to those wonderful times, dancing in the waves, shouting and laughing and splashing and making friends with every other child lucky enough to be at the beach. Did you have a fun mom too? What is your best childhood memory that your mom made possible?