Frosting To Go With That Cake!

If you're going to make cake, you most certainly need some frosting to go with it! And that's what I've got for you today -- frosting recipes!
These are all recipes I've used countless times. They've stood up to the test of everybody who's tried them, including my hubby, who isn't a big fan of either cake or frosting. That's a good sign, right!?!

The first recipe is for good ol' vanilla frosting. It is a bit soft so if you live in the tropics, you'll need to keep this refrigerated.
Vanilla Frosting

2 1/4 c. confectioners'/icing/powdered sugar
6 Tbsp. butter or margarine, softened
3 Tbsp. whole milk
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar, butter, milk, and vanilla until blended. Increase speed to med-high; beat until light and fluffy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula.

Variation: Chocolate Frosting
Prepare as above, but beat in 3 oz. semisweet chocolate, melted.


This second recipe is a relatively new one for me, but we love it!
Cream Cheese Frosting

16 oz. cream cheese
10 Tbsp. butter, softened
4 tsp. vanilla
4 c. confectioners'/icing/powdered sugar

Beat together cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until combined. Beat in sugar until desired consistency.

Variation: Add fresh lemon juice to taste! (This is my favorite!)


This last frosting recipe is used with my chocolate cake recipe from last week. This is by far my family's favorite way to eat cake!
Mint Frosting

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. solid shortening (could recplace with butter, too)
2 tsp. peppermint extract
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 lbs. confectioners'/icing/powdered sugar
6-7 Tbsp. milk

On low speed, beat butter, shortening, and extracts until combined. Gradually beat in sugar and 6 Tbsp. of milk, until smooth. Add extra Tbsp. of milk if needed.

*On a side note, each of these recipes make various quantities. I just make the full recipe and then freeze the extras. They all freeze quite well, and then they are ready to go at a moment's notice!

Now how about you? Do you have any go-to frosting recipes? We'd love to see them!

Missionary Monday

Thank you all for linking up last week!  I enjoyed reading through everyone's posts!  We will continue to do this every Monday.  You don't necessarily have to have a specific Missionary Monday post, feel free to link to something you have written recently.  Could you also spread the word about our Missionary Monday?  Just copy and past the entire code on the right and add it to your post or your sidebar.

Next Monday, we'll start a feature that I plan to post on the first Monday of every month - Interview of the Missionary Women!  I'm not very creative, maybe you can help think of a better title.  :)  If you'd like to be interviewed (it only takes a few minutes or so to fill out, depending on how wordy you want it to be!) please email us at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com.

Now onto your links!

In The Carpenter's Hand - Devotional Friday

This was written by my husband several months ago.  I thought it is also appropriate for us missioanry wives.  How many times do we feel as though we aren't "good enough" for this job?

A church recently sent four people to help us remodel our new building in order to make it ready for holding church services. The carpenters and cabinet maker were concerned that they might not have the proper tools to get the jobs done. Upon arrival, they discovered that some of the tools were old, too worn and not in proper working order. There was a circular saw in which the bearing went bad and a straight cut was no longer possible. The men also used demolishing tools in order to do finishing work. A SawZall had to be used to cut a hole for a sink, simply because a Jig saw was not available. The carpenters knew what they were doing and instead of complaining about the inferior tools, they used the tools. In their hands, the worn-out, old tools were used to get the job done and something beautiful was made.

There is another Master Carpenter that we all know very well. He has been building His Church for 2,000 years. Christ goes to the tool shed. He has a job to do and He reaches for the tool He needs, but it is not available. However, there lay another tool broken and marred by years of misuse. It is good for nothing, yet it is available. The Carpenter always uses what’s available. He takes this broken tool which at one time was used as a demolition tool, but now in the carpenter’s hands something beautiful is made.

How many lives battered by sin and stained with the scars of this world has God used in His service! How many times has God used despised things to bring about His Will! Often, we look at others and think to ourselves, “If God would use them, just think what could be done! They have so many gifts and so many talents to offer God.” We wonder why God hasn’t called them to do something great. We question why God has called us who are but the scrapings at the bottom of the barrel. The answer is simple…They have not made themselves available to the Carpenter. He uses what is available. God uses the broken worn-out tool and with the completion of His work, He, not the tool, gets ALL the glory. In His hands, He makes all things beautiful. All believers are tools. Are you available?


For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.

I Corinthians 1:26-29 (KJV)

Banana Bread

 I recently received a Facebook message from a pastor friend from Kenya. He was recalling the impact my husband Bill had made on him as he taught through the book of Revelation, and how he appreciated me making banana bread for he and the other Bible Institute students. You know how many years ago that was?? About 16!

Do we really know that the little things we do that minister to others?  Jesus tell us in Matthew 25:36-45:

^"For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:  Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me:  I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?  And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

The other day I was visiting with some missionary women - most of them young mothers. The topic got onto how we can minister from within our homes. I told them about the young preacher and the blessing of a simple loaf of banana bread. We then began to discuss other ways we can minister from our homes. What are some ways you ladies have found to minister through your homes? I would love to read your comments!

Birthday Time!

In our house, we've got lots of birthdays this time of year. And what do you need when you've got lots of birthdays? Why, cake recipes, of course!
I don't know about your field, but IF you can find a boxed cake mix, it's going to be really expensive. And to tell you the truth, after eating cakes from scratch for so long, the boxed mixes don't seem to taste quite as good to me anymore! {Just my opinion :)}

All recipes courtesy of missionary mama, Rosey Dow.

White Cake Mix

2 1/4 c. flour
1 2/3 c. sugar
1/2 c. shortening, margarine, lard, or very cold butter (use what you have)
1/3 c. powdered milk
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. water
3 egg whites

Stir together dry ingredients. Cut in shortening. Sprinkle vanillla over flour and stir well. Add water and egg whites. Beat on high for 3 minutes. Bake at 350 degrees until center spring back when touched, about 30 minutes.
*Use a greased and floured pan and adjust time according to pan used.

Chocolate Cake Mix

1 2/3 c. flour
1 3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. shortening, margarine, lard, or very cold butter (use what you have)
3/4 c. powdered milk
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. water
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. softened butter or margarine

Stir together dry ingredients. Cut in shortening. Sprinkle vanilla over flour and stir well. Add water, eggs, and softened butter. Beat on medium one minute after blended. Bake at 350 degrees until top springs back when touched, about 30 minutes.
*Use a greased and floured pan and adjust time according to pan used.

Yellow Cake Mix

2 c. flour
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/3 c. shortening, margarine, lard, or very cold butter (use what you have)
1/4 c. powdered milk
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. water
3 eggs
2 Tbsp. softened butgter or margarine

Stir together dry ingredients. Cut in shortening. Sprinkle vanilla over flour and stir well. Add water, eggs, and softened butter. Beat on high three minutes. Bake at 350 degrees until center springs back when touched, about 30 minutes.
*Use a greased and floured pan and adjust time according to pan used.

Spice Cake Mix

Use exact same recipe as Yellow Cake Mix but add the following ingredients:
1 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. cloves, 1/4 tsp. allspice, and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

Next week I'll post my frosting recipes, but until then, do you have a
go-to cake recipe? I'd love to hear it!

Missionary Monday

I do apologize for not posting the Missionary Monday last week as I promised.  It has been a huge hassle getting internet in our home, but Praise the Lord we now have it!

Lord willing, from here on out every Monday we will host the Missionary Monday here at the Baptist Missionary Women Blog.  When you write your Missionary Monday post come back here and link it. 

Not sure what to write about?  Here are some ideas: a funny cultural experience, share a Scripture or song in your field's language, experiences of a Missionary women, wife, or mother, or whatever the Lord leads  you to share.

I think it's important for us missionary women to remember we are not alone.  As we have found from the Baptist Missionary Women Group on facebook, there are lots of us enjoying the fellowship and sharing prayer requests.  So, would you consider linking up?

By the way, Missionary Monday was started by Jolene at With Love from Ukraine.  Thanks, Jolene, for letting us use it!

Would you please share our Missionary Monday button on your blog?  It's there on the right.  Just copy the link and click 'Add a Gadget' in your settings or layout page.  This link will lead your readers back here to our blog.

To link up, you just need to click on the blog post your wrote, copy the html at the top, then paste it below.  If you still can't figure it out, just send me a message, and I'll help.

By the way, are you interested in making your own button?  Click here.

Okay, ladies, now it's time.  Please share your weekly Missionary Monday! 

Hot Fudge Pie

Oh boy, do I have a recipe for you!
I'm not sure where I picked up this gem, but I'm so glad I did!
I'm thinking this might be perfect for an upcoming romantic holiday...
A little hot fudge pie with my Sweetie Pie sounds like the best of both worlds!

Hot Fudge Pie

3 1-oz. squares unsweetened chocolate OR 9 Tbsp. cocoa plus 3 Tbsp. oil
1/2 c. butter
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. flour
1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 eggs

Place the chocolate OR cocoa and oil and the butter in a medium size saucepan. Cook over low heat, stirring until everything is melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove from heat immediately. Add sugar, flour, and vanilla and whisk together. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, whisking until smooth. Turn batter into a greased 9-inch pie pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until just set in the middle, but not dry. It should remain fairly moist.

We love to eat this warm and topped with vanilla ice cream. It is melt-in- your-mouth good!

The Heavens Declare

Listen to the waves of the ocean

Crashing with the rhythms of praise;

Listen to their song of devotion

Dancing with the sun's golden rays.

Listen to the music of nature,

Floating from the birds in the sky,

Singing the song of their Maker,

Lifting His praises on high.

Listen to the song of the sunrise,

Listen to the voice of the light;

Watch as the moon give the signal

Starting the music of night.

Listen to the song of creation;

Listen to the language of praise,

Filling the earth and the heavens,

Praising the Ancient of Days.

The heavens declare the glory of God;

All nature is singing His majesty.

The mountains prepare a tribute of love;

Creation is filled with His honor, glory and praise!

Written by: Ron Hamilton

Tasty Tuesday

Green beans with Onion

submitted by Patty over at Mrs. John in Ghana

Good morning! Hope all is well for you and yours! Also hoping you had a wonderful time celebrating Christmas and New Years!

Here's the post!

 

I don't know about you, but after all the sugar and carbs of the holidays I'm ready to get back to healthy eating! Unfortunately....I'm not sure this qualifies!

Yes, these may be vegetables, but they are so tasty that you'll have to wonder about their nutritional value :)

Green beans with Onion (snappy title, isn't it!?!)

{slightly adapted from Rachael Ray}

1 Tbsp. extra-virgin iolive oil

1 Tbsp. butter

1 small onion, chopped

1 cup chicken broth (you can really use whatever kind you have!)

1 lb. trimmed fresh green beans

salt

To a medium pan (you'll want to use a shallow rather than deep one!) over medium-high heat add oil, butter, and onion. Saute onion three minutes, add

broth and bring to a boil. Add beans, season with salt and let simmer 8-10 minutes, until tender.

The secret is to let that broth reduce until it is almost the consistency of gravy. This may take a little more than ten minutes, but it will be well worth it!

I'm not including a picture with this recipe, because honestly, these don't LOOK very yummy. They look like brown green beans....

Maybe I should change their name to brown beans.......but.....I don't think that sounds any better, do you?

Tasty Tuesday

{Better Than} Campbell's Cream of Whatever You Want Soup

submitted by Patty at Mrs. John in Ghana

When we first went to the field I knew a little bit of basic cooking. I had a tiny

collection of recipes I'd gotten from my mother. Unfortunately, my mother hardly used

recipes; I hadn't paid much attention to what went on in the kitchen; I just figured

cooking from scratch couldn't be that hard. Let's just say....that there wasn't a lot

of variety or very good stuff for John and I to eat our first year or so on the field.

On top of that, we had minimal internet access. Very minimal. So......no recipe sites to save

the day.

When we came back to the States for our first furlough, I knew my cooking needed help.

I began searching for meal ideas in magazines, but most of them required 'cans of this' or 'boxes

of that'. What could I do with those? Then one day, I was given a gift....a cookbook written by a

missionary! Thus began my adventure in cooking real food, good food, from scratch!

Today I present you with a basic condensed cream soup. It can be made into so many

delicious dishes!

Now maybe you already have a recipe like this. But maybe there is somebody out there

like I was. Somebody who needs just such a recipe.....

{Better Than} Campbell's Cream of Whatever You Want Soup

3 Tbsp. butter

3 Tbsp. flour

dash of garlic powder or 1 clove garlic, minced

dash of onion powder or 1 small onion, minced

1/2 tsp. salt

1/8 tsp. black pepper

1 c. milk

Melt butter in medium pan. Stir in flour and seasonings. Stir until blended and bubbly. Add milk.

Stir constantly until very thick. This is as condensed soup would come from the can. Makes about

1 1/2 cups or the equivalent of one 10-oz. can.

If you'd like to eat it as a soup, stir in milk until it is the consistency you desire (app. 2 cups).

Variations:

CREAM OF MUSHROOM: Saute 1/4 c. chopped mushrooms in butter before adding flour.

CREAM OF CELERY: Saute 1/4 c. chopped celery in butter before adding flour.

CREAM OF ONION: Saute 3 Tbsp. chopped onion in butter before adding flour.

CREAM OF CHICKEN: Add one chicken bouillion cube with the flour and seasonings.

CHEESE SOUP: Add 1/2 c. grated cheese after the milk.

Slightly adapted from Missionary Manna by Rosey Dow

Missionary Monday

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.  We have some exciting things planned for the Baptist Missionary Women Blog in the new year.  Starting with the Missionary Monday.  I want to encourage all you bloggers to begin writing your own Missionary Monday and then come back here and link up every Monday.  It will be just like our Christmas blog hop.

What should your write about?  Anything!  Your family, your country, your culture, etc.  It's a glimpse into your life for us to read about.  What are some weird things you eat?  What words have you messed up?  Fun cooking experiences?  Please share!  I love reading through all the missionary blogs.  I find it comforting to see what other women are experiencing on the field, and being reminded I'm not alone.  So please come back next Monday to link up your first weekly Missionary Monday!  Lord willing, we will have internet in our home by then and I will also be able to provide a button for you to share on your blog!

By the way, if you are new to our blog, I'm Jen and I'll be hosting the Missionary Mondays.  We recently moved to Australia, and we love it here.  God has been so faithful to us, as always.  The Lord provided a wonderful home and vehicle for us.  He never ceases to amaze me. 

 

If you would like to be intereviewed or have a devotional or recipe to share, please email us at baptistmissionarywomen@hotmail.com.  We'd love to have you be a part of our blog.

Just a recap of our weekly themes...

Monday - Missionary Monday

Tuesday - Tasty Tuesday

Thursday - Thankful Thursdays

Friday - Devotional Fridays

Devotional Friday

“Alone With You”

Billie Sloan

December 5, 2008

Written on my husband’s 4th Anniversary in Heaven,

And dedicated to his memory

Alone with you, my husband.

It is very early in the morning, but I have already read two Scriptures and softly sung a song that reminds me that my Heavenly Sweetheart is not with me. Isaiah 53 and Revelation 22:1-5 brought to my creative imagination visions of him actually seeing the face of Jesus. And then as I softly sang “Oh, I want To See Him,” tears filled my eyes.

I have been alone with my Sweetheart this morning, if only in my mind, and in my heart. Heaven is more real than ever before. If you still have your spouse with you, the most precious gift you can give the one you love is “alone time”…just the two of you.

I remember sitting in a crowded room, and looking across to my soon-to-be husband. And in that moment, in that glance, just the two of us existed. His smile provoked me to respond with a smile, and even without touching, or talking, I was alone with him, and he with me.

Alone with you, my children.

Being the mother of eight children, I have read about Susanna Wesley, and how she mothered her nineteen children. One of the things that I admired in her was the special alone times she managed to spend with each one of them. When my children were little, their bath time was our “alone time.” Even after they didn’t need supervision, I would sit in the bathroom, and we would chat together, or I’d just watch them play while they bathed. As I would dry them, and dress them, and comb their hair, we would sing together. Nothing makes a child…young or older…feel as special as the “alone time” we give them…just the two of us.

While enjoy special gatherings with all my children and grandchildren, there’s nothing like spending one-on-one time with each of them. I love the special times my daughter, Anna, and I have been able to travel together…just the two of us. Sometimes my daughter in law, Liz, and I go out for coffee…just she and I. My son, David, and I have taken road trips of a thousand miles together, and spent the week alone together in Israel. What a wonderful time my son in law, Steve, and I had traveling through Mexico as he drove me south toward Chiapas right after my husband passed away. We spent one-on-one time talking and laughing, and I learned things about him I didn’t know. My oldest granddaughter, Joanna, and I recently spent a week together not only making trip, but memories as well! I love being surrounded by my children, but those alone times are the ones I will hold forever in my memory.

Alone with you, my friend.

I am a firm believer in the saying, “relationships have to be cultivated.” Good relationships with brothers and sisters and other family members, just like good friendships, don’t just happen. We have to work on them. Relationships are one of our most precious treasures. It breaks my heart to see grown siblings who were best friends when they were little, but become distant relatives after they’re grown. Friends are a gift from God. Family should be a guarded treasure. The Lord has given me a host of wonderful friends, and I’m determined not to lose them. I pray every morning that I will never do anything to forfeit the friendship of others. There’s nothing like sitting across the table in a restaurant or in a kitchen, and having what I call “soul talk” with a lady friend. I’ve laughed and had a wonderful time recently with a friend who is a pastor’s wife, as we went out on Saturday morning bus visitation. We don’t have to spend money, or even extra time in order to spend time alone with those we love. While working in the office, or driving across town, we can spend precious alone time with those we love.

Alone with You, my Savior.

Tomorrow will dawn, and the next time I commemorate this day, another year will have passed. If my Sweetheart were here, He would want me to spend more time alone with my Savior.

But how can I, while I’m surrounded by grandbabies, and shoppers, and music, and work to be done, and deadlines to meet, and lessons to prepare, and appointments and reservations to make? What is the meaning of alone, anyway, if it’s spent with someone? Isn’t that a contradiction of terms?

Alone is alone…no one but me. I long to be alone. Solitude is as foreign to me as Germany, or chopsticks, or Latin.

But I must find ways to be alone with the One who loves me more than I could ever love my Sweetheart. I can be alone with the Lord, while I’m driving, or folding laundry. I can be alone with Him, while playing with my grandchildren, or wrapping presents, or sitting in Church, or walking through the mall.

Sometimes, there is even seclusion in just closing my eyes, and letting Him fill my mind and my heart with unearthly visions of someday being perfect…while rocking a grandbaby, sitting in church and waiting for services to begin, while I’m driving or washing dishes, I can be alone with Him, if I tune my heart to His.

Being alone with Him calms my fears, and removes my worries, and gives me a sense of direction. My alone time with the Lord keeps me positive. It helps me to stay focused. It helps me to love the unlovely.

It keeps me content, and happy with who I am, what I have, and where I am.

Spending time alone with Him helps me to be a better mother, and gives me strength.

I can be alone with Him in WalMart, or in a crowded airport. The easiest way to hear His voice is to be quiet, and so I can be alone with Him while sitting in a dentist’s chair.

And while it seems I am forever trying to find ways to be alone with Him, I must remember that He, too, longs to be alone with me…even more than I want to be alone with Him.

So as I look forward to another year, I also look forward to feeling His presence, and walking closer to Him…alone with Him