March 2012

Prayer Time

The while she darns her children’s socks

She prays for little stumbling feet.

Each folded pair within its box

Fits faith’s bright sandals, sure and fleet.

While washing out, with mother-pains,

Small dusty suits and socks and slips,

She prays that God may cleanse the stains

From little hearts and hands and lips.

And when she breaks the fragrant bread

Or pours each portion in its cup,

For grace to keep their spirits fed,

Her mother-heart is lifted up!

Oh, busy ones, whose souls grow faint,

Whose tasks seem longer than the day,

It doesn’t take a cloistered saint

To find a little time to pray! - Author Unknown

Mother to

Mother

Page 2

Hello, friends… Tribute

In life there are times we come up against circumstances and events over

which we have no control. Some are small and relatively inconsequential,

such as when a 6-year-old drops the juice pitcher and the sticky liquid runs

under the fridge and into other hard-to-clean spots, just before we were

ready to head out the door to church. Other events in life are truly tragic,

as seen through our earthly, finite eyes.

On February 4, 2012 one of our Mother to Mother subscribers passed on to

her eternal reward after a 3½ month battle with liver cancer. Violet Martin,

of New Bethlehem, PA left her husband and five young children behind,

the youngest being a little son just 6 weeks old. In her short battle with

cancer she suffered greatly, yet her peace and acceptance of God’s will

for her life was evident and an inspiration to those around her.

To us with our human eyes and our inability to see the “bigger picture” as

God can, Violet’s death seems like a senseless tragedy. Those children

need a mother! Why did God allow this? At times like this we can only

bow before God’s greater purposes and say, “Thy will be done.”

As I ponder Violet’s experience and have wrestled with the seeming

unfairness of the whole situation, I’ve come to realize that it’s not for us to

figure out the “why” but to take it as a challenge in our own lives. Am I so

submitted and committed to God that I could be truly resigned to His

will… no matter what? No matter if it were months of wracking pain? No

matter if it meant separation from my loved ones? No matter if it meant

death, that last great enemy? And that brings another set of challenges:

What would my family remember about me if I were taken? Would it be

precious memories or would there be things that would rankle and hurt?

Hopefully all of our testimonies could be expressed with Paul’s words in

1Timothy 4:7-8. “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I

have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of

righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that

day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Glenn & Mary Beth Martin

595 Skyline Trail

Chester, MA 01011

Phone & fax: (413) 354-7860

Email: mother-to-mother@live.com

Page 3

You Ask, You Answer…

Granted, not every infraction warrants a spanking, but in your search

for “other effective methods of discipline” do not overlook what God

has to say in His Word.

“The blueness of a wound cleanseth away evil” (Proverbs 20:30).

My marginal reference says, “is a purging medicine against.” When we

were young parents a wise older minister observing our struggles with a

willful child kindly told my husband, “Correct thy son, and he shall give

thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul” (Proverbs 29:17).

Many times parents look for other ways to achieve their goals and

neglect God’s way. May God grant you His wisdom and love. - Pennsylvania

The daily grind of child training sometimes makes us wish for a “fresh

approach.” It is valuable to have the punishment fit the crime. I have

realized though, that most times the Bible way does not need a “fresh

approach.” God’s way doesn’t need improvement. I have needed to

realize that the desire for a “fresh approach” may lie more in my own

heart, than in the method of punishment. Am I growing weary of the

Bible principle, “Line upon line, precept upon precept” aspect of child

training? “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we

shall reap, if we faint not.” (Galatians 6:9) Practical Pointers for Training

Your Child says, “You need to be strict with your child. Being strict does

not alienate children from their parents. There is no better formula for

teaching obedience than a mixture of equal parts of strictness and

love. Strictness without love is tyranny. Love without strictness is

hypocrisy. Tyranny is destructive, and false love will lead to

permissiveness, which also destroys.” - Indiana

I’m wondering if we need a fresh approach to discipline. The world is

trying it and we know what it is producing! Disobedience and lying

warrant a spanking. There is a place for other methods such as sitting

on a chair and withholding privileges for smaller infractions like

quarreling or poking unduly with an assigned job. We must be

convinced that the Bible way is the best guide we have to disciplining

our sons and daughters. - Illinois

Question : Are there other effective methods of discipline besides

spanking? Is there any “fresh approach” that punishes for the

infraction and clears the conscience? Are there pointers for what

conduct warrants a spanking? I’d be glad for some pointers.

Page 4

I don’t think spanking is the only method of correction, but I do think we

must be careful not to drop it as being worn out, because that is what

the Bible teaches.

In small children, sometimes denying them a privilege or making

them sit quietly on a chair for 5-10 minutes may be effective.

It may be hard on us moms to mete out discipline so often, but

let’s remember that pain now will bring happiness and rest in the future

and spare us from a much greater pain then. - Pennsylvania

God’s ways cannot be improved upon! Sometime, do a study on all the

verses in the Bible that speak on child training, such as Hebrews 12:5-11

and in Proverbs. I quote from the book What the Bible Says About Child

Training (by J. Richard Fugate; available for $9.95 from Christian Light

Publishers; 800-776-0478). “The only way parents can re-establish their

challenged position of authority with a rebellious child is by the proper

use of chastisement. It is the only way to end the alienation, frustration,

and unhappiness that exist under conditions of rebellion. It is the only

way harmony, peace, and order can be returned to the family unit so

that parents can continue to fulfill the responsibility to teach their

children.” This book has been helpful to us. It is very easy to be subtly

affected by the world’s methods. - State withheld

We surely don’t feel like we have many answers, but there are a few

things we’d like to share. We are in the thick of struggles with our own

two-year-old right now, and have wondered if there isn’t a better way.

But God promises, “Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest.” We

mean to be in the way of His blessings, so we are continuing on in faith

that someday we will see results!

First of all, be careful in your desire for a “fresh approach.” No, we

don’t have to spank for every little thing. But God has given us the

“Instruction Manual” for our children. Why do we look for a new way?

We need to be cautious about the thousands of child-rearing books

available. Most of them are full of humanistic reasoning and fresh

approaches. We can’t afford to take the world’s way if we would raise

godly offspring.

That said, please do not infer that we think spanking is the only

punishment. There is the option of tailoring a privilege/denial to the

infraction. Scribbling on the wall – no crayons for the day; neglecting to

feed animals – no dessert; grabbing from siblings – sit on a chair awhile.

But there are some things that should always be “rewarded” with

the rod: disobedience, lying, cheating, disrespect, laziness, and

rebellion. Simple enough to say, but these do cover an enormous area!

If you do decide to do something other than spanking, don’t

resort to hand-beating and ear-pulling. These only serve to make the

continued

Page 5

child furious (though they may hide that from you) and leaves them

feeling unloved. This is counterproductive to teach right conduct. You

can’t support them from the Bible; spanking you can.

Do a study on God’s way of child-training in Proverbs and other

places in the Bible. See what He says and then apply it. In order to train

our children obedience, we need to obey God ourselves. - Missouri

God's way is always the best way (Proverbs 13:24). Don't try to avoid

spanking, especially for young children. We would especially use

spanking for things like lying and disobedience or being mean (moral

issues). However, there may be times for them to lose a privilege if the

privilege is abused. While in a situation where the children just can't

seem to get along I tend to find work for them to do. Not as a

punishment so much as a help to get their minds off themselves and

onto something productive. Depending on the age of the child (2-4

years old) Mom may need to get involved in the work to guide and see

that it gets done. We are training for adulthood and this is all part of

that training. - Wyoming

Our children are pros at making bedtime a long drawn-out affair, so I'm

not sure that I'm qualified to reply! However, there has been

improvement in the past year which I credit to one brainwave in

particular. After the rituals – devotions, drinks, etc. – Daddy would tuck

in the preschoolers while I tended the baby. But somehow there were

always a multitude of things that needed to be discussed – fears or

things that happened during the day – and it seemed to us that it was

mainly a ploy to keep an adult in the room as long as possible.

We finally told them they have 5 minutes each (generally with

Daddy, with Mommy occasionally taking her turn, providing the baby

cooperates) in which to discuss whatever was on their hearts, and then

we leave the room. It worked! They relaxed more because they weren't

constantly thinking up things to keep Daddy in the room. “Five minutes”

has become an important part of the bedtime ritual. It is a very flexible

five minutes – brief when the clock says 'past bedtime', and expanded

when something important is needing to be discussed. But the adult,

not the child, determines how long is necessary. - Ontario

Question : How do you get your children to prepare for going to

bed without it becoming a long, drawn-out process?

Page 6

We have not had much of a problem with our children going to bed,

and I've been a little puzzled by other mothers that groan about

bedtime/naptime. My husband has been very strong about having a

bedtime/naptime schedule. At a certain time we take baths (even if

they don't need it, it does help with the schedule part), read a story

and/or Bible story and then everyone goes to the bathroom and they

can get drinks, give kisses, etc. before heading to bed. If there are still

complaints, the child is usually punished, unless it is a legitimate excuse

(a bleeding scratch, bad cough, etc.). Staying in bed can often times

be an obedience issue. Our children need love and attention, but let’s

make sure they are getting it at other times so that there is no need for

extended bedtime routines. How relaxing to put the children to bed

and know that most of the time they will stay there! - Ohio

We try to have a routine that we go through every night and stick to

that. Children (especially at a young age) like schedules. Have baths,

say Bible Memory, say prayers, have hugs and kisses and drinks and

tuck them in. They like to know what's coming next. If they have a story

or a question or two, that's okay, but once the light is out it's time for

quiet. There are how many hours in a day to visit and talk to Mom or

Dad, and bedtime is bedtime. I think that if I take time for my little ones -

one on one during the day there is less need for them to do that at

bedtime. - Wyoming

Offer an incentive to speed preparation along, when practical. Most

younger children enjoy a bedtime story – read one if they are ready by

a certain time. Give older ones permission to read in bed until “lights

out.” Or a special snack could be an occasional incentive. - State withheld

To help your children get ready for bed in a timely way, try reading a

book to them as an incentive to hurry. Tell them you will begin reading

at a set time each evening, and they will need to be completely ready

for bed in order to listen to the story (if they miss out on some of the

story, they cannot read what they missed). Then when you’re finished,

give them five minutes or so to be in bed. If they don’t make it, they

forfeit the next evening’s reading. It is surprising how fast some get

through the shower when they know they may miss out on story time. - Georgia

Page 7

At our house, we recycle old falling-apart Bibles with our other paper.

I’d be glad to hear other ideas. - New Jersey

If it’s just a page or two, I often put those in the waste can. My aunt

used to have a box of old ragged Bibles in her attic and then

eventually she buried the box somewhere. - Ontario

I don’t feel it is disrespectful to dispose of old Bibles. We and our

children must understand the distinction between our regard for the

contents (God’s Word), and the paper copy we handle. God’s Word

will last forever – but the paper copies will not. - State withheld

Use half the amount of chips that the recipe calls for – most recipes are

quite generous with the amounts called for. I have occasionally found

M&M’s to be cheaper than chocolate chips after a holiday. Watch for

them and stock up if you find them. You can also substitute raisins for

half of the chips. - New Jersey

Question : What is a good substitute for chocolate and butterscotch

chips? I am trying to cut down on the grocery bill but it seems we use

these items for many things. We can do without, but if there is a good

cheap substitute I'm all ears!

Question : What is the respectful way to dispose of old, falling-

apart Bibles?

Patience

Give me patience when little hands Tug at me with small demands,

Give me gentle words and smiling eyes And keep my lips from sharp replies,

So in years to come when my house is still Beautiful memories its rooms may fill.

-Author Unknown

Page 8

A.

It may not look so dainty and elegant, but I have a mink blanket thrown

over our rocker and wash it as needed. That eliminates scrubbing the

wooden arms, and pads it at the same time. - Ohio

B.

I have found several things that work for ink removal. To remove ink

from fabric, spray it liberally with hairspray just before throwing it into the

washer. I’ve often done this with my son’s white Sunday shirts and the

ink usually comes right out and leaves no trace. Sometimes you may

have to repeat the process a few times, though. Be careful not to put

clothes through the dryer with ink marks on, as that seems to “set” the

ink into the fabric and then it’s impossible to get out. To get ink off walls

or wooden painted doors, use a Mr. Clean Magic Erase pad (available

at Wal-mart). Sometimes it doesn’t get everything, but it at least makes

the marks much less visible. - Massachusetts

Alcohol will remove a lot of ink marks. I keep the 91% concentration on

hand for that purpose – it’s a bit stronger than average. It removes ink

on walls too, but rub very gently because it will also remove the paint. - Kentucky

Question : Several cleaning questions:

A. The wooden arms on our glider rocker get terribly

dirty. Scrubbing them with Murphy's oil water

takes off the varnish by the time the dirt is off. Is

there some solution that works better?

B. What can you use to remove ink from fabric,

walls, or other surfaces?

C. How do you keep afghans/throws on couches

smelling sweet? I don't like to wash them too

often, as that wears them out faster. Or how

often do you wash them?

D. How do you shine up a well-used ceramic, flat-

topped stove top? I’d like some ideas using

something other than the crème specially

designed for ceramic stove tops.

Page 9

Mean Green often takes take care of things like pen marks. For shop

grease and oil and also very dirty barn clothes, I really like the Shout

Advanced Stain-lifting Foam. I also use this for pen marks, food stains,

grass stains, etc. Of course, stains always come out the best when

treated before you wash the garment the first time. And if they seem to

be extra bad stains, treat and let it set half a day and maybe scrub a

bit before washing. I like to treat any garment that needs treated when

I sort the clothes and then save that load till last to wash. In summertime

on our farm there are always more stains to deal with. - Ohio

If the fabric item has not been washed, use alcohol; soak the spot, then

rub until the spot disappears. If the item has already been washed, hair

spray may work better. Apply liberally, then rub until ink fades. - New Jersey

C.

Try misting your throws with Febreeze or Fabric Freshner. Both can be

purchased at Wal-mart. Another thing to try would be to put Bounce

dryer sheets between the furniture and the throw. They usually are

clingy enough that they will stick fast and not fall out. - Pennsylvania

Wash as soon as they have a noticeable “not sweet” smell. When they

wear out, find cheap replacements at a thrift store if you don’t have

time to make a simple throw. - New Jersey

D.

Have you tried the Miracle Cleaning Eraser or Mr. Clean Magic Erase?

Both are available from Wal-mart. I've been very impressed with them.

They can remove quite a few unwanted marks and grease, etc. from a

lot of things, except wood or fabric. - Ohio

I use Soft Scrub (it’s not cheap, but a bottle goes a long way) and a

non-scratch surface scrubbing sponge. Careful use of a paring knife tip

can help remove tough spots. I have seen the use of a Brillo soap pad

too (but this application may not be recommend – read the labels).

Prevention is best – that is, clean your stove top after every use instead

of allowing spots to accumulate over multiple uses. - New Jersey

Page 10

We were blessed with four boys (now ages 14-22) and then a girl, so the

boys did learn how to clean, dust, bake, etc. Now our daughter is 11

and her help really comes in handy… and the boys do much less

housework. I do make sure she also gets free time. One thing we have

established from little on up is that we almost always have quiet time

after lunch. That gives everyone some time off, including me, as I now

get up early with the sons that go to jobs.

I would recommend that the sons learn to do some of the

housekeeping jobs, even though they have an older sister. Make the

work fun; make lists and cut them up, then put them in a container to

pull from, etc. Knowing they will not have to do housework all day helps

to make it enjoyable. Many a boy is glad for cleaning experience when

he goes to Bible School and helps clean dorms and wash dishes. It may

even produce a thankful wife in years to come, to have a husband that

is not totally lost in knowing how to do some housework, if necessary. If

the boys are not impressed, tell them they are practicing for keeping

their car clean someday. That might cheer them up! - Pennsylvania

I was the oldest and only girl in my family, too. As I remember, I did not

get much playtime. But my Mom tried to give me some jobs she knew I

enjoyed every now and then such as baking, sewing on buttons,

working in flower beds, making scrapbook pages, etc. I also enjoyed

trying recipes and she would allow me to pick out and make something

for supper. Of course, there were many days that went by and I did

only the routine. But I feel that helped me learn to be profitably

occupied all the time and not just live for my next free time. - Pennsylvania

It is a challenge to know how much free time our children should have,

but I think it’s better to err on the side of giving them plenty of work than

to give them too much free time. I remember hearing of a grandma

that said until a girl is 12 she should have more play than work and after

she is 12 it should be more work than play. We have to be sensible and

reasonable, of course! - Illinois

From previous issue: How much time should you give 10-13 year olds

to play? Our daughter is the oldest in our family, followed by a row of

boys. Of course there is always something to do. Sometimes at the

end of the day I realize our daughter has had hardly any free time. I

especially think of it now that the children are back in school and

don’t have as much time at home.

Page 11

When your question first appeared I didn’t think I was the one to try to

answer – first because my children aren’t that old and also because I

have all boys! One question has come to my mind since then: Do your

boys have free time? A bit of time to pursue their own interests is equally

important for boys or girls. Since my only option for help is my boys, they

sweep floors, do dishes, fold laundry, help dust, mop floors… you get

the idea! True, my sweeper may be anything but a sweeper at times

and toy loaders are used to put wash away, and the boats get “sunk”

in the dish water! But the floors get swept, the wash put away and the

dishes washed! - Ohio

My mom often gave us 1½ - 2 hours of free time in the afternoon. She

took a break then too. Or sometimes she helped us learn to crochet or

do hand sewing. During school we got free time after we did some

chores. Then it was supper and dishes, followed by homework or a

game. Another friend’s mother also gave afternoon “free time” and I

recall how she said she needed it herself. So while I’m not there yet for

myself, maybe this can help you out. Do you have time to show your

daughter how to embroider, crochet, or sew when she asks?

Another friend made this observation – 10-13 year olds can be

willing workers, especially if it’s for someone else! Have you let her help

an aunt or Grandma recently? Yes, we want them to learn to be

servants and to be a keeper at home, but from my observations and

experience, I believe that some burn-out can happen. I know there are

families where it was work, work, work and it has caused some of those

children to say they don’t want a large family or at least not right away.

Is your row of boys profitably occupied? Maybe they could help

their sister so she could have some free time too! - Ohio

Children this age need some free time. In our home, after a school day,

the rule was to “report for work” by 4:00 with clothes changed. They got

home around 3:10, so diligence in changing clothes gave more play

time. Again after supper and dishes were done, unless it was a church

night, generally the evening was free time except for homework. The

summer schedule, of course, was different, but often had designated

play time for an hour or more after lunch while I either started the

afternoon job or sometimes relaxed for a short time too. (It’s good for

boys to learn to work in the kitchen too!) - State withheld

Page 12

We grapple with this too, and I don’t really feel I have an answer, either.

We feel like it is good for children to learn to work and be responsible.

But the fact remains: they are children who need some leisure as well.

Our oldest is 10, generally quick to dig in, and I depend heavily on

him. Last year when our baby was tiny, he began to have trouble falling

asleep and we knew he was tired. We began to conclude maybe I was

putting too much on him. It seemed to help some if my husband or I

gave him some assistance with dishes after supper, and let him be free

after that to read and relax till bedtime.

And I tried to remember I must train the next boy to pitch in, too.

He can help even if the quality is not quite the same. The oldest one

doesn’t have to do it all.

Sometimes after school I tell the boys if they are done with their

jobs by a certain time, they may play for half an hour. If they set the

table first, they don’t have to come in as early.

If our work and time just don’t hold out, I try to at least let them be

free when supper clean-up is done (or do the dishes mostly myself). The

other work never runs away!

One father told my husband they let their children play, or do

whatever, after school until 4:00. Then they get to work. - State withheld

She Has No Occupation She rises up at break of day And through her tasks she races. She cooks the meals as best she may And scrubs the children’s faces, While schoolbooks, lunches, ribbons, too, All need consideration. And yet the census man insists She has “No Occupation.” When breakfast dishes all are done, She bakes a pudding, maybe. She cleans the rooms up, one by one, With one eye watching baby. The mending pile she then attacks By way of variation. And yet the census man insists She has “No Occupation.”

She irons for a little while, Then presses pants for Daddy.

She welcomes with a cheery smile Returning lass and laddie.

A hearty dinner next she cooks (No time for relaxation),

And yet the census man insists She has “No Occupation.”

For lessons that the children learn

The evening scarce is ample; To mother dear they always turn

For help with each example. In grammar and geography,

She finds no relaxation; And yet the census man insists

She has “No Occupation.”

- Elsie Duncan Yale

Page 13

New Questions…

1. I enjoy making gifts for my sisters and friends but I run out of ideas. What

are some fairly simple things you’ve crafted that would make nice,

relatively inexpensive gifts for other women?

2. I am wondering if there are parents who sleep on a different floor of

the house than both your boys and girls. Is that wise and safe? How do

you know they are behaving?

3. I would be glad for tips on making travel with a family easier. Anything

from packing, to activities on the way, to food ideas and packaging….

I’d love to hear from you!

4. Our child comes home from school bringing along foolishness (song

parodies, jokes, stories, etc…). I’ve noticed that most of the foolishness

originates with one family, whose father frequently points out other’s

failures (supposed or real). How do we address this without appearing

to be “getting back” at him?

5. How do you teach children that not all people can be trusted,

without making them terrified of all friendly strangers?

P.S. Our supply of questions is running low. If you have some, send them in!

Please respond with answers by April 15, 2012.

“The walks and talks we have with our two-year-olds in red boots have a great deal to do with the values they will cherish as adults.”

- Edith E. Hunter

Page 14

The Most Sacred Call

We went to the ordination today To see how the lot would fall

To fill the spot that was meant, Which man the Lord would call.

The house was filled with emotion, Our hearts were drawn to the Lord, As we listened with rapt attention To the truth of God’s Holy Word.

Soon we’d know the will of our Father,

Whom He’d chosen to fill the place; A calling that must be the highest

Ever laid to the human race.

Then the words of a visiting minister Struck my heart like a two-edged sword – For he asked, “What’s the highest calling

Ever given to man by the Lord?”

He went on and said, “You mothers At home with your children so small –

Yours is a very great calling, Yours is the most sacred call.

“The minister’s load would be lighter, If parents would all strive to guide Their precious lambs to the Father, And teach them in Him to confide.”

I lowered my head in submission,

For the lot had fallen on me – To carry the most precious calling, For I’m a young mother, you see.

So mothers at home in your corners,

Though you think your achievements are small – Let us strive to do our duties,

For we have the most sacred call. - Author Unknown

Page 15

Across My

Kitchen Table… Had an extra-busy day and

suddenly it’s only an hour till

mealtime? Boiled hot dogs or

cold cereal are not your only

options…see the following

recipes for ideas. For next time,

share your favorite breakfast recipes. Casseroles, pancakes, egg dishes,

muffins….tell us about them! Send them by April 15, 2012.

Canned Turkey Cut boneless, skinless turkey thighs into pieces and stuff in a quart

jar, just up to the neck. Add 1 tsp. of salt per quart; no liquid is necessary

as it makes its own broth. Pressure can at 11 lb. pressure for 90 minutes.

My fastest quick meals are usually centered around the oh-so-

convenient canned turkey I keep on hand as much as possible. I buy 40

lb. cases and get about 21 quarts of canned turkey from a case. With

cooked rice or pasta and a pack of frozen vegetables from the freezer

(thawed in the microwave to speed up the cooking process, if needed),

you're all set to go. Sometimes I keep everything separate and other times

I stir everything together and add some broth, white sauce (or cream

soup) and/or shredded cheese.

Jodi Wise, PA

Black Bean Quesadillas 2 (15 oz.) cans black beans,

drained & rinsed

1 cup salsa

10 (8-inch) flour tortillas

2 cups shredded cheese

Mash beans and add salsa. Place tortillas on ungreased baking sheet.

Divide bean mixture between tortillas, spreading on half the tortilla.

Sprinkle with cheese and fold other half of the tortilla over the beans and

cheese. Bake at 350° for 15 –18 minutes. Cut into wedges and serve with

additional salsa and sour cream if desired.

Faith Ann Horning, MA

Page 16

Pretzel Dogs 2 Tbsp. yeast

2¼ cups warm water

½ cup brown sugar

½ tsp. salt

7 cups bread flour

20 hot dogs

Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add sugar, salt, and flour. Knead till smooth

and elastic. Let dough set 5 minutes. Divide into 20 pieces and roll each

piece into a rope approximately 18 inches long. Wrap around hot dogs.

Place on a greased baking sheet and bake at 425° for approximately 10

minutes or till golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter.

Option: Before baking, top with pretzel salt. Brush tops with a

mixture of ½ cup water and 1 Tbsp. baking soda, then sprinkle with salt.

Serve with Honey Mustard Dip:

1½ cups mayonnaise

¼ cup mustard

½ cup honey

Mix together well.

Marlene Good, PA

Fried Chicken Tenders Sprinkle chicken tenders (or boneless, skinless chicken breast sliced in thin

strips) with salt and pepper. Roll in flour and fry in oil, on medium heat for

15-20 minutes, turning a few times.

Carolyn Hurst, PA

COF (Clean Out Fridge) Casserole This quickie is met with varying degrees of (un)enthusiasm by the

rest of the family! I pull out whatever starch, vegetable, and meat I can

find (that seem somewhat compatible), and mix it all together with a

white sauce and/or cheese – or else make soup with it. (My husband is

very tolerant, not caring much what is placed before him as long as it's

food.) I tell my children, as my mother-in-law told hers, “Enjoy it, ‘cause

you'll never have it again!”

Sometimes I warm the fridge leftovers separately and place each

container in a row on the counter for our very own cafeteria-style meal.

It’s definitely not conducive to a calm and peaceful mealtime... but the

children love it!

Jodi Wise, PA

Page 17

Macaroni & Cheese I like to keep boxed macaroni and cheese on hand. When the macaroni

is almost done cooking, I add some peas and cook a little longer. Add the

cheese sauce and some sliced hot dogs. Children love this!

Janet Weaver, IL

Creamed Hamburger ¾ lb. ground beef

Onion

1 Tbsp. butter

1 tsp. salt

Pepper, to taste

2 cups milk

3 Tbsp. flour

¼ tsp. Worcestershire sauce

Melt butter; add ground beef and onion and fry until browned. Stir in flour

and seasonings. Add milk and cook until thick. Serve with mashed

potatoes or noodles, and a vegetable.

Carolyn Hurst, PA

Creamed Chicken ¼ cup margarine

¼ cup flour

2 cups milk

1 tsp. chicken soup base

½ tsp. parsley

Chopped onion

1½ - 2 cups chicken, cooked

and chopped

1 cup corn and/or peas

Salt and pepper to taste

Melt margarine in a saucepan. Add chopped onion and fry a bit. Add

flour and stir in milk. Add remaining ingredients. Heat thoroughly. Serve

over potatoes, rice, toast, split hamburger buns, or noodles. Get a jar of

applesauce and/or pickles and you have a meal!

Carla Amstutz, OH

Yorkshire Pizza ¼ cup butter

2 eggs

1 cup flour

1 cup milk

¼ tsp. salt

Melt butter in glass 8”x12” pan in 425° oven. Beat batter till smooth and

pour into hot pan. Put pizza sauce on top, then other toppings. Bake at

400° for 15-20 minutes. This is so easy and fast and you don’t even need all

the good toppings – sometimes I only put cheese on.

Christine Krahn, ON

Page 18

Hotdog Boats Hot dogs or sausage Grated Cheese

Instant (or left over) mashed potatoes

Split hot dogs down the center (don't cut all the way through) and spread

them apart in a 9x13-inch or jelly roll pan. Put a generous serving of

mashed potatoes down the center of each hot dog. Top with grated

cheese and bake at 350° until heated through. Open a jar of applesauce

or heat a canned vegetable to go with them. This is a family favorite.

Sharon Torkelson, WY

Meatballs to Can 30 lb. lean ground beef

1 Tbsp. black pepper

1/3 cup salt

1 Tbsp. garlic powder

3 large onions, chopped

4 cups quick oats

10 eggs

1 quart ketchup

4 cups water

Mix all ingredients together and shape into small balls. Place on a cookie

sheet and bake at 350° approx. 15 minutes or until semi-firm. Remove from

pan and place in jars. Make a broth of 1 tsp. beef bouillon to 1 cup water

and add 1 dipperful to each jar. You may also add pan juices, if there are

any. Pressure can for 60 minutes at 10 lb. pressure. Yield: 21-28 quarts

(depends how full you stuff the jars).

These meatballs are time-consuming to make, but I feel like my

efforts are repaid when I want a quick meal later. Spaghetti and

meatballs can be prepared in a jiffy, which so far is our favorite use for

them. They could also be used in stews/soups and sandwiches.

Mary Beth Martin, MA

Brunch Pizza Squares 1 lb. sausage

1 (8 oz.) tube refrigerated

crescent rolls

1 cup hash brown potatoes

4 eggs

2 Tbsp. milk

1/8 tsp. pepper

¾ cup shredded cheddar

cheese

Brown sausage and drain. Unroll crescent rolls into a lightly greased 9x13-

inch pan. Press dough ½ inch up the sides and seal seams. Sprinkle with

sausage and hash browns. Beat eggs, milk, and pepper; pour over

sausage and hash browns. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake uncovered for 20

minutes at 400° or until crust is golden brown and cheese is melted. Yield:

8 servings. If the sausage is fried the night before, this is a quick thing to

have for breakfast when we drive school van.

Diana Wenger, IL

Page 19

Spaghetti ‘n Meatballs Cook spaghetti noodles until soft. Add pizza sauce. Dice leftover

meatballs (or use leftover meatloaf, fried hamburger, chopped

pepperoni, etc.) and add to spaghetti. Heat till warm. Serve with a

cooked vegetable and bread and cheese.

Carla Amstutz, OH

Emergency Biscuits 2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

4 Tbsp. soft butter

1 cup milk

Stir together dry ingredients. Cut in soft butter until crumbly. Add milk and

stir until just mixed. Drop by spoonfuls onto a greased baking sheet. Bake

at 425° for 8-10 minutes. Stir up some biscuits for a nice, quick complement

to a jar of soup.

Miriam Brenneman, PA

Time-saving Hints One time-saver I've discovered is that it's possible to thaw

frozen ground beef in the microwave before frying it – on high if you're

really desperate, though it will need to be turned quite often. And if you're

really, really desperate, you can scrape the thawed parts off the frozen

chunk and start frying that while putting the rest back in the microwave to

thaw some more. (Only a desperate procrastinator would need to learn

that!)

And of course, there is always the inevitable tomato soup and

toasted cheese sandwiches. Homemade biscuits add a special touch--

especially if you're out of crackers. We crumble some of them into our

soup in place of crackers and eat the rest spread with butter and/or jelly.

Jodi Wise, PA

I like to keep fried ground beef on hand in my freezer. It not

only aids in general meal preparation, but also provides an “emergency

cushion” that I don’t like to be without.

Sloppy Joes stir up quickly if the fried meat is ready to go. I don’t

usually make potatoes if we have sandwich buns.

Spaghetti is a favorite for us. Meatballs are best of course, but we

often settle for the quickie of ground beef mixed with a jar of sauce.

Hamburger gravy made with thickened milk, onion and garlic

salts, pepper, and meat, served over top of instant mashed potatoes

makes a quick yet nicely rounded meal.

Miriam Brenneman, PA

The Mud!

We wish for winter snows to cease And bring us then sweet spring’s release.

We long for warmer rays of sun, But with the warmth of spring begun,

The mud!

The driveway which before was ice And snow, and wasn’t very nice Is for the present even worse

With nature’s dread – almost a curse – The mud!

It oozes through the cracks and doors.

It oozes through our very pores. It covers porch and step and lawn, Oh, how I wish that it were gone!

The mud!

It tries to catch us by the gate. We can’t escape the awful fate!

It sucks the shoes right off our feet To make our misery complete.

The mud!

And when at last we think it’s o’er, And walk across the kitchen floor,

We see the footprints here and there. (It almost makes me pull my hair!)

The mud!

But soon, at last, its time is past. Praise God! The spring is here at last! And though, for now, we give a cheer,

It will be back again next year – The mud!

- Philip Pothier, adapted