Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

On the rare morning that I prepare a breakfast casserole, I wonder why I don't do it more often. It is so nice to have a casserole to slide in the oven with no prep - especially the past months when I'm trying to feed the baby and make breakfast at the same time.

This recipe is a variation of a couple other recipes and a winner at our house.

Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

12 slices of bread
8 oz cream cheese, softened
8 eggs
2 cups milk
2-3 T honey
2 cups blueberries
nutmeg

In greased 9x13, layer bread. I use one whole loaf of homemade bread, cutting it in six pieces and wedging in the pan. Spread cream cheese over the entire top of the bread. Mix eggs, milk, and honey. Pour over bread. Sprinkle blueberries and nutmeg. Cover and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes, uncovered.

Watch happy faces surround your table.

Favorite Bread Baking Gadget

I'm in a bread baking binge right now. I've probably made more bread the last two months than the whole year before. My family loves it. They have missed homemade bread. 

I tend to be a minimalist when it comes to kitchen gadgets. I hate cluttered drawers so if a gadget doesn't earn its keep, it joins the giveaway pile. I love that I can make bread without much more than a mixer and measuring utensils.

But I'm adding a new item to my list of necessary gadgets.

Ed's boss (who doubles as his brother) gave him an instant-read thermometer for Christmas. While Ed looked forward to using it the next time we made pork loin, I wondered if it would help my bread baking.



Even though I've made bread for many years, I have one problem I can't seem to improve. I often under-bake bread. I think my oven must run a little hot because if I bake as long as some recipes require, the result if over-baked bread. But in my fear of over-baking, I pull bread out too soon. Far too often I watch bread sag on the cooling rack as it collapses into a doughy center. I've had loaves that had an awful gummy hole in the center from under-baking. Such a disappointing end to an afternoon of baking.

But this winter, though I've made a number of new recipes, the loaves have been perfectly baked every time. Except this week, when I forgot to use my new handy-dandy thermometer and pulled the sticky buns (a recipe I've made many times) out of the oven too soon.

Ed's new thermometer (which I've claimed, but he enjoys the results from) is a ThermoPop. I've been impressed by its ease of use. One handy feature is the light which allow me to read it easily in the shadows of the oven. Just this week I picked up the latest issue of Cook's Country magazine and saw they were reviewing instant thermometers and ThermoPop received the very highest rating.

Just a note, though I love Amazon for many purchases, the ThermoPop is far cheaper when purchased directly from the company (ThermoWorks) than from Amazon. This is one time you can't assume that Amazon is cheaper.

What kitchen gadget do you consider indispensable?

Derby Car Race

Last week our children enjoyed making a pinewood derby car. We were invited to join the derby race at Allegany Boy's Camp on Thursday night. Ed is on the camp board and it was a special treat to be included in this event. Ed served as one of the judges for the most creative and realistic cars.

To make our cars, we bought a simple kit that included a block of wood and the wheels. The children carved out the kind of car (or truck or stretcher) they wanted.

Ed encouraged the children to do most of the work. Still, by the time he had helped four children with their cars, he had a new respect for the camp chiefs (counselors) that were helping assist nine or ten boys!

These are the results from our house. None of them were prize-winners but it was a fun project.

I'm not going to share any photos of the race. Instead, to see oodles of photos of the race and the massive amount of creativity that went into the cars, go to the Alleghany Boys Camp page.

Don't miss the video of the final race where you catch a glimpse of the camp excitement. The noise was deafening. I'm sure there were many hoarse throats the next day. But I loved to see the campers cheering for each other and having a great attitude when they lost.

Book Review - Going Till You're Gone

I've enjoyed several books in Gary Miller's Kingdom-Focused Living Series. But I didn't plan to read Going Till You're Gone.

The subtitle is "Rethinking Retirement; A Kingdom-focused vision in midlife and beyond." Though I might not what to admit it, I'm squarely in the mid-life years. But retirement seems too far away to even contemplate, much less read a book about.

But my dad gave us Going Till You're Gone. He said that he wanted us to reach his age and not have regrets.

And now I'd recommend anyone, whatever their age, to read Going Till You're Gone by Gary Miller.

Going Till You're Gone includes the expected advice on wills and estate planning but contains much, much more. The majority of the book is a call to evaluate your life, get a vision for living for the Lord, and change your priorities to live a life with no regrets. I found the book convicting, inspiring, and encouraging. Almost every chapter revealed a new area in which to evaluate my present life according to God's Word. Gary encourages each of us to set an example of godliness to those younger than us. (And we all have someone who is younger than us.)

If you are willing to examine your life and be encouraged to use all your remaining time on earth to build the Kingdom of God, I highly recommend Going Till You're Gone. Available from TGS International.

A New Perspective on Doughnut Day

I'm sorry that the photos were not viewable earlier. I think (hope) that it is fixed now.

Every winter the ladies of my family get together to make doughnuts. And usually I chronicle the day's events here at Home Joys.

This year Mariann Martin, a writer for the small-town paper near my parent's home, joined us for doughnut day. After writing an article about our doughnut day for the paper, she shared all her extra photos with me and gave permission to share them here at Home Joys.

When looking through her photos, I was struck by the different perspective of her photos. In other words, I was in the photos.

 So, this is a once-in-a-lifetime post, a view from a different camera. All the photos from this post were taken by Mariann Martin and shared with her permission.




Are we working or talking?



We made glazed doughnuts, cream-filled doughnuts, and glazed apple fritters.




We had enough help that someone was always available to hold the babies. The older grandsons spent most of the afternoon in the haymow, only showing up when they heard the doughnuts were ready to sample.




The future doughnut makers - on the left my sister holds my baby and on the right my sister-in-law holds her daughter.




Mom and I discuss the merits of various types of custard for filled doughnuts.




There is no elegant way to eat a hot, dripping, glazed doughnut when you know someone is in the kitchen with a camera.

And yes, the doughnuts passed the quality-control test.

Thanks Mariann, for sharing your photos and joining us for the afternoon.

To read more on past doughnut days...
Mom's doughnut recipe - we have used the same recipe for over 30 years.
Apple fritter recipe - the new favorite
What happens when your memory fries on doughnut day

Wise Words on Doing It All

As I have been thinking recently about finding peace in not accomplishing all that I wish, I found several quotes.

First, God has created us to be creative but I need to learn to accept that because of my humanity my level of creativity is no where close to His. In Hidden Art, Edith Schaeffer describes our problem.

"We have to make a choice. We cannot do everything that comes into our minds, nor can we create everything that comes into our imaginations, whether it be in a very great or complicated area of science or art, or in a very mundane area, such as whether we should make a chocolate, vanilla, or spice cake for the evening meal.

"Man, because he is limited, has a very limited choice. He is limited by time, as well as talent. He is limited by the resources at his disposal as well as in the skill to use what he has...

"We each have a very limited number of hours in a day. Often I would like to add to those hours, but have never found a way to do it...We are limited by...talent and ability. So our creativity is not on God's level at all. His creativity is unlimited and infinite." - Edith Schaeffer

 Sandra Felton in Smart Organizing says that we should all have a "to-don't" list.

"Of course, the hardest person to say no to is ourselves. We have many interests, hobbies, and causes to which we want to say yes when we know we don't have the time and it is not one of our predetermined priorities. We must tell ourselves, Not here, not now--maybe later." - Sandra Felton

Of course we do have responsibilities that we need to do.

"It's a great release to know that the secret to 'doing it all' is not necessarily doing it all, but rather discovering which part of the 'all' He has given us to do and doing all of that." - Jill Briscoe

I still have far to go in learning how to let the things go that are not my present priorities. I have loved reading your comments in the last couple posts. So here is another question.

What helps you find balance in the frustration of limited time, energy, and skills? What encourages you in setting priorities and say "no"?

Defining a Perfect Day

In response to yesterday's post, a reader sent me the following email. I was so encouraged that I asked for permission to share it with all of you.

Your post this afternoon tied into my contemplation earlier today. Here was the quote for the day that set me to thinking... 

"You have not lived a perfect day...unless you have done something for someone who will never be able to repay you." - Ruth Smeltzer 

As I read this my heart fell. When do I have time in my day (every day) to do something so big for someone else? 

Then I realized, I AM doing just that everyday! Actually I do it for four people...my four children. My mind quickly went to some of the things we do for our children each day - things no amount of money could buy or repay.  

Money can never buy a godly upbringing. 

Money can never buy a secure, happy childhood. 

Money can never buy the unconditional love of a parent...two parents. 

Money can never buy character that comes from discipline. 

Money can never buy all the values we try to teach...a work ethic, respect, responsibility, honesty, contentment, humility, simplicity...and so many more important things. 

My heart was warmed and encouraged to realize that I am part of a great work every day, even though I buy diapers and bread, use the dryer and have conveniences, like hot dogs and paper plates on hand for rushed occasions. May you, likewise, be encouraged.

- Mom of four and fellow laborer

Thanks for sharing your encouraging words with us. Hopefully we can all have a proper definition of a Perfect Day - not comparing ourselves with other women, but fulfilling God's specific call for me.