Corn Cob Jelly

This time of year sweet corn is everywhere we look. We're surrounded by corn. Fields of corn or soybeans seem to line every road and highway around. Delicious creamed corn has become a staple on our menu!

So, then what to do with all of the leftover cobs (aside from letting the little one play with them)? I saw this recipe for Corn Cob Jelly and just had to give it a try! The result is a delicious jelly that tastes just like honey.

I do believe we've found a new tradition to our Summer...making creamed corn for the freezer and corn cob jelly for the pantry!


*Warning* This recipe does contain an unreal amount of sugar!

Ingredients:
24 cobs of sweet corn
8 cups of water
2 boxes of powdered fruit pectin
8 cups of sugar
yellow food coloring (optional)

Directions:
While preparing the recipe, heat jars and lids as you would for any water bath canning recipe.
Use cobs after the corn has been cut off for another recipe. Place cobs and water in a large stock pot. The water will not cover the cobs, but this is fine. Bring to a boil.
Boil for ten minutes.
Remove cobs and throw away.
You should have about 6 cups of liquid. You can add water if you are short.
Return the water to the stock pot and add the pectin. Bring to a full rolling boil.
Add sugar and return to a rolling boil. Boil for one minute.
Remove from heat and skim the foam from the top. You can reheat this foam to make a little extra jelly for the refrigerator.
Pour hot jelly into hot jars. Place the lids and rings on.
Process for ten minutes in a water bath canner.
Add a few drops of yellow food coloring.

In Him Who First Loved Us,

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Busy Summer Days!

This year Summer has brought with it a new perspective. In years past, Summer has been a time for relaxation, perhaps a vacation or two... This year, Summer is all about gardens and food preservation, and tending to our little farm. It's been busy, oh, delightfully busy! It's also been so filled with wonder, amazement, and rejoicing. When we planted these tiny seeds, we hoped for something to grow, and now, wow! Baskets overflowing with big beautiful squash, juicy tomatoes, yummy radishes...and so much more to come!

I've had lots of sewing to do as well. I wouldn't normally have planned to have sewing work during the busy season of gardening, but, with a new blessing on it's way there isn't much choice but to sew! Of course, a new blessing is always a very happy reason to have extra sewing work!

We've been trying to squeeze in some school work as well. Jacob is really enjoying the first grade. It's been so neat to see such a difference in this year's work verses earlier years. He's enjoying being able to be more independent and reading his own pages! :) I just love watching children learn.

We have had a tremendous amount of rain this season. It seems like every rain is a downpour! So many of my friends are facing droughts, and many of the farms in our surrounding area are flooding! It's unbelievable to see such deep flood waters covering the fields. So many of them look like lakes...until you notice the tops of trees out in the middle of it! In several places the flood waters are almost covering the road. It doesn't seem like it would take much more for us to lose access into Kansas City for a while, at least from the main stretch of highway. We actually received a letter from the power company saying that if waters rise too much they'll cut off power! We don't appear to be at risk for personally flooding out, although both of our gravel roads could easily flood. I suppose it's a complicated balance, too little rain and the crops can't thrive, too much rain and you have a flood!

One afternoon, Jacob and I sat watching an intense but brief Summer storm. We watched the rain moving towards us until it was actually over us. It was so neat to be able to see it coming! Once the rain stopped, this beautiful rainbow appeared behind the silo. I love how even today, the rainbow is such a symbol of God's promises to us.

Well, I should probably get back to being busy! I have sweet corn from a local farm that I plan to make creamed corn for the freezer with. I also still have an overflowing basket of squash and zucchini to put up, with lots more that will be ready in the next few days. It's busy busy, but busy is good!

With Love,

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Porcupine Meatballs

I promised several friends that I would share my recipe for Porcupine Meatballs. This dish seems to be quickly becoming one of my "signature dishes"!

My version is slightly different than the traditional recipe, with an addition of crushed red pepper and a few other things for an added kick of flavor. The uncooked rice gives the meatball a delicious texture. This recipe will feed your average Mennonite family, or a small crowd. :)

Ingredients:
2 lbs. ground beef
4 slices of white bread (I've used both my Amish Loaf Bread and Potato Bread with great success)
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 c. milk
1 onion, finely chopped
1/2 c. rice, uncooked
2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/2 tsp. (or so) black pepper
4 c. tomato juice
1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Directions:
Tear bread into pieces and place in a small bowl. Pour the milk over the bread. Soak for a minute until bread disintegrates. Add eggs and mix again with a wire whisk until well integrated. Set aside.
Mix together tomato juice and Worcestershire sauce and set aside.
Grease two 9x13 casserole dishes.
In a large bowl, mix together the remaining ingredients. Add milk mixture. Using hands (you will get messy!) mix together and shape into meatballs. Place into greased casserole dishes.
Pour sauce over the top.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 1 hour. Remove foil and continue baking for 30 minutes.

These meatballs go beautifully with mashed potatoes!

Blessings,

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Garden Progress!

This was the garden spot in May. It was so exciting to see the neat rows of baby plants popping up!


And now, at the end of June and into July, the plants are huge and starting to produce food! It's so neat to see these little seeds become beautiful plants, and even more exciting to see these plants giving food.

I'm excited to see what all will come from the garden. It's so rewarding to see the hard work bearing fruit!

In His Love,

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Faith of a Child

Jacob has been asking a lot of questions about faith lately. Really good questions! He's always been the type to seek knowledge and understanding, even from a very early age. But, lately his questions have been deep and challenging!

He loves to listen to the sermon excerpts at the end of the "Home" cd from the the Esh funerals. Wednesday we were listening and the minister said, "If you don't accept the salvation that God provided, you're going to go to Hell!" Jacob turned to me with wide eyes and says, "The world needs to hear this! I need to hear this! We all do!" Oh, such wisdom there!

Then Thursday forenoon we were listening to another segment from the same cd. The minister is recounting a story of a ship captain and a young cook boy. The boy is reading Isaiah 53:5 to the dying sea captain. He reads it again, but this time inserting his name in the verse. Jacob came up to me as I was sewing and said, "Mommy, will you read it to me, putting my name in it?" Of course I immediately stopped what I was doing and grabbed my Bible! I began reading it to him,

But he was wounded for Jacob Goodman's transgressions, he was bruised for Jacob Goodman's iniquities: the chastisement of Jacob Goodman's peace was upon him; and with his stripes Jacob Goodman is healed.

He listened intently and then asked, "Will you write it down for me, with my name in it?" Is there any other answer than "YES!" Oh my heart was leaping with joy to see my precious son embrace the sacrifice that my precious Jesus made for each of us!

This week he also asked me to explain the difference in knowing that Jesus died on the cross, and accepting it. Wow! It is so amazing to have these talks with him, to watch him crave more understanding. I can just see his heart growing by the day.

What a responsibility to us as parents! I pray God will lead us and guide us as we direct this little child, and train him up in God's ways!

Love in Christ Who Died for Even Me,

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Love Your Enemies

Love your enemies...Returning good for evil... Yes, this is something that I've written about before. Something that I struggle with, and something that I'm determined to live out.

God knows my heart. He knows this is not something that comes easily to me. People sometimes assume that because I am "nice", this must come easily to me. It's true, niceness and sweetness does come easily to me, but loving my enemies...well, that's a whole 'nother story! Truthfully, my human nature can be vicious, especially in regards to protecting my family. If someone is unkind to those I love, it's very, very (shall we add in another very?) difficult for me to not want to lash out. Sometimes it has felt like simply holding my tongue was enough of a challenge. I didn't lash out, isn't that enough?

Jesus didn't tell us that "it would be nice if maybe you could not hate your enemies." No, He said, "Love your enemies". It goes further than that...He even tells us how to love them.

"But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloak forbid not to take thy coat also.

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again.

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful."

Luke 6:27-36

Giving to those who take from you. Showing kindness to those who are so cruel. Loving those who hate you. It's not easy! But, it's not impossible either.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

How is our Father merciful?

He created this world, this beautiful world, for us, and we defiled it with our sin. He destroyed the world we defiled and made it new again for us. We defiled it again. He then went a step further. He gave us His Son. And what did we do? We set out to destroy Him, too. And yet...and yet, He chose to give His life for us...for ME. We spit in His face with our sin and He looks at us and says, "Yes, my child, I will die for you. I love you that much!"

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Can we show this kind of love? Can we choose to sacrifice even for those who wish us harm?

When our enemy knocks on our door, can we invite them into our home? Can we share our bounty of food with them? Can we offer them a warm comfortable place to sit? Can we be kind to them?

Can we love them that hate us? Can we show the mercy our Father shows us?

I believe that we can. We serve a loving Father, and He will not ask us to do something that He won't equip us to do. If He sends us to serve as missionaries, He will provide the grace, If He sends us to die as martyrs, He will provide the strength. If He asks us to suffer for His sake, He will send contentment. If He asks us to live in prosperity, He will send us the self control to be good stewards. If He asks to be a mother, He gives us what we need to fulfill this role. Whatever He asks of us, He gives us the strength, ability, courage, restraint, love...He provides. It's just a matter of whether or not we accept this.

He asks us to set aside self. Take up your cross, and follow Him.

When my enemy knocks on my door, I pray He will give me everything I need to show them love. Let my self decrease and only Your precious love shine through instead. Let my enemies see only the love that You have for them, and not my own selfish heart.

In His Name,

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