Chocolate Chip Cookies

I LOVE to make chocolate chip cookies and I think they are definitely worth the mess!  I wish I could tell you I have a fabulous secret recipe but I don't.  The truth is, I use the Nestle Toll House recipe but I do add an additional 1/2 stick of melted butter.  I find it makes the cookies extra yummy. I've got a reputation for my cookies and I've found they speak to people's hearts.

Chicken made easy!

It's no secret, I do NOT love to cook. However, it is a necessity and these past 16 months, thanks to Janelle at Comfy in the Kitchen, I've been growing to like it a bit :-)

I've have a time saver that I want to share. I have several recipes that call for chicken. My favorite chicken recipe is chicken enchiladas, Comfy in the Kitchen has the BEST recipe! I also have recipes for soups, stir-frys, casseroles and the list goes on, that require chicken.  I've found that the BEST, quickest, yummiest and money saving way to get chicken is to buy fully cooked rotisserie chickens from Costco.  If you don't have a Costco membership you can buy these rotisserie chickens at Sam's Club and most grocery stores.

I run to Costco once a month, the rest of my shopping is done at Aldi, LOVE Aldi!  At Costco I buy 3-5 rotisserie chickens.  They cost $5 each.  When I get home I spend about 30 minutes pulling off all the meat.  I LOVE the combination of white and dark meat.  I think it gives a great flavor to my chicken dishes.  I package the meat in 1 lbs. quantities and freeze them.  Over the next few weeks, when I need chicken, I just grab it from the freezer!  It has been such a time saver for me.

On my Costco shopping day I also plan to eat one of the chickens for dinner that night, along with fresh baked Costco bread and a nice salad.  After a big shopping day it is nice to not have to cook a big meal!  I hope this cooking tip helps you get "Comfy in the Kitchen"!

 

This post is linked to

The Ultimate Meal Ministry

I am a guest blogger today over at my favorite blog Comfy in the Kitchen! Check it out! The post is also below. A HUGE thanks to Janelle for letting me share this special meal ministry with so many.


How do you feed a starving child? It's easy...

Chicken, veggies, soy, rice...YOU!

Feed a starving child recipe
2 Tbsp of protein powder, vitamin enriched with chicken flavor
1 Tbsp of dried carrots and potatoes
1 cup of soy
1 cup of rice
YOU!


You mix ingredients in the order listed above, package with love, seal with zeal and send with prayer.

Once the package is received ingredients are boiled in water and a child is fed.
It really is that simple!


FACT: 18,000 children will die today because of malnutrition. There is NOT a food shortage in this world, there is a food distribution problem.

Feed My Starving Children is a Christian 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Minnesota. This meal ministry started in 1987 when a local businessman traveled to Honduras. After witnessing incredible needs, he returned and began working with local food companies. After a couple years of sending food donations, he received feedback that the highly processed food was not meeting nutritional needs. He switched gears and worked with food scientists to develop a meal that would meet nutritional needs of children ages 5-8, be acceptable worldwide, have a long shelf life and be easy to prepare. The "recipe" above was created and is still used today. Over the years FMSC has had food scientists and nutritionists reevaluate this meal and they are told it is just what starving children worldwide need.

This ministry is AMAZING! Volunteers, as young as 5 years old, pack the food. It is a hands on way to fight poverty, educate people and provide "local mission" opportunities. This ministry is growing. In 2003 they packaged 3 million meals and in 2011 the goal is 127.5 million! FMSC provides meals free to over 120 mission partners in over 70 countries. The goal is that mission partners are working to make long-term changes in their communities. FMSC is providing the food which is the fuel to help these ministries do the sustainable work. It is piece of fighting global poverty. It truly is a meal ministry!

Last year FMSC had over 500,000 volunteers package their food in 6 permanent locations (3 in MN, 2 in Chicago and 1 in Temple, AZ) and mobile packs. Through their mobile packs churches and organizations all over the country can pack meals on site. You raise the money and FMSC will bring a semi of supplies and staff to oversee and instruct your group.

No doubt you have seen the recent news about the famine that is plaguing eastern Africa. FMSC has committed to packaging 5 million meals to help with the crisis. They are raising additional funds to meet this need. As a believer, living in America, I know that God has blessed me with knowledge, resources and abilities (like blogging!). In Luke 12:48 it says,

"...from everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

In this passage Jesus is telling his disciples a parable about the master, who is returning, and his servants are to be ready. The master wants to find them faithful and wise managers of what he has given them. It is interesting that this section, Luke 12:35-48, immediately follows several verses that begin with, "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life..." (Luke 12:22) and goes on to speak of the lilies of the field and how if God cares for them how much more will he care for you? So don't worry! You have enough, more than enough, so what are you to do with what you have? Perhaps, feed a starving child?

This famine is real, children are at risk and they are dying. Even without a famine 18,000 children die everyday because of malnutrition. And we eat and eat and eat.

I recently visited FMSC, interviewed staff and photographed a packing session. It was neat to see people who have been given SO much, giving back. Check out the pictures below to learn how these meals are put together with love!


FMSC staff giving a demonstration to volunteers.

Volunteers package the meals in 2 hour packaging sessions. Many churches, individuals, businesses and both Christian & public school groups participate. The day I visited a group of summer interns from US Bank were volunteering.

FMSC orders the 4 ingredient in bulk. It costs $.24 per meal. 93% of all donations go toward the meals. 7% cover fundraising, administration and overhead costs.




After ingredients are packaged they are weighed.

Sealed with zeal!


Packed 36 count into shipping boxes.

There are jobs for everyone, ages 5 to...!

Packed With Love by Volunteers!

In 20 years 99.97% of shipments have reached their intended destinations. FMSC believes that it is because every pallet is prayed over!

Check out FMSC's website www.fmsc.org TODAY and get involved in THE ULTIMATE MEAL MINISTRY!

Comfy in the Kitchen

In case you missed it I was recently featured on my favorite blog, Comfy in the Kitchen. Check it out!

Chocolate Chip Cookies from Jesus!

I was inspired to do this post by Janelle over at Comfy in the Kitchen. Her blog is one of my favorites and has helped me so much with cooking. Recently, she asked her readers to share their stories of how they use food as ministry. I enjoy baking and particularily love to bake chocolate chip cookies! God has placed us in an inner-city neighborhood and for the past 13 years we have been striving to love our neighbors and show them who Jesus is by our actions and words. As our ministry has developed I believe that God has used countless chocolate chip cookies to touch the hearts of our neighbors for Him! We frequently open our home to kids who need a place to hang out, do homework, play, eat or just see life from a Christian perspective. Several kids come to our church and once every 4-6 weeks we invite them over for lunch. Lunch is usually simple but chocolate chip cookies are always freshly baked! I am amazed at how quickly a whole batch can be devoured! This past Sunday we had 12 kids over, ordered pizza, played some xbox and ate some cookies!




For years I have used the standard Nestle Toll House recipe but to honor Comfy in the Kitchen I decided to try Janelle's chocolate chip cookie recipe and deliver a few to my neighbors today. First, I printed out the recipe with her handy-dandy print button located at the bottom of each post.


Then I put it in my notebook where all my printed recipes are located. A good portion of those recipes are from Comfy in the Kitchen. A few weeks ago, when my 9 year old was suffering from cabin fever (I live in Minnesota) and needed something to do, I asked him to make a cover for my notebook.


Next, I gathered all the ingredients, mixed and baked!




Then I sent a text to Chuck. I have known this young man since he was 6. He is now 18 and 6'5"! He LOVES my cookies. For 9 years he lived 3 houses away. Whenever I baked cookies I would turn on the exhaust fan and before too long I would hear a knock at the door and Chuck would be standing there with a BIG grin, "You baking cookies?!"

Here's a helpful hint: If you buy the 72 oz. bag from Costco or Sam's Club you definitely save money!

Over the years my cookies have become famous in this little neighborhood. The past couple years I have baked a batch for everyone's birthdays, even the parents. I believe that to best reach these kids for Jesus I need to also reach their parents. It takes time to build relationships and trust but when you do hearts are opened!

Finally, I delivered a bag of cookies to a dear family down the street. They have been our neighbors for 13 years. The kids are involved in our youth group, Awana program and attend on Sundays with us. This past year their mom started coming to a neighborhood evangelistic Bible study. I see God working in their lives and I know that He uses many things to touch hearts, including chocolate chip cookies!