Weekend Brunch

The fall brings football, and football brings guests for the weekend.  What will you serve your overnight guests for breakfast?  I would like to recommend one of my favorite recipes, Overnight Apple French Toast.  The best part is, not only is it delicious, but you can also prepare it the night before, then stick it in the oven in the morning!  Give it a try:

Overnight Apple French Toast

1 c. brown sugar

1/2 c. butter, melted

2 Tbsp. light corn syrup

3 tsp. ground cinnamon, separated

1/4 c. dried cranberries or raisins

3 apples, peeled and cut into 1/4 inch slices

6 eggs

1 1/2 c. milk

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 loaf day old French bread, cut into slices

Prepare 9x13 pan with cooking spray.  Combine brown sugar, butter, corn syrup, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/4 c. dried cranberries or raisins.  Set aside.  In separate bowl, beat together eggs, milk, vanilla, and 2 tsp. cinnamon.

Layer in 9x13 pan, apple slices, brown sugar mixture, slices of French bread, and lastly, egg mixture (soaking bread completely).  Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

For optional syrup toppings:

Comine and heat 1 c. applesauce, 1-10 ounce jar of apricot or apple jelly, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, and 1/8 tsp. ground cloves.

Adding Autumn Warmth

As each day passes, the subtle change of seasons can really inspire us to welcome fall, especially when craft stores everywhere bring out their brightest shades of yellow and orange.  So why not add warmth to your home by bringing a little bit of the outside, in, with the changing leaves and fall harvested fruits?  I love decorating with freshly inspired ideas from Better Homes and Gardens at www.bhg.com.  Websites such as these offer great ideas for the home, from adding autumn flavors in delicious desserts, to creating simple fall decor. Pictured here is a lovely idea I put together for a centerpiece.  I simply filled a mason jar with candy corn, then topped it with a bright bouquet and some festive ribbon.  What are some websites that inspire you?

Tea for Two

What are you saving your grandmother's tea cups for?  This weekend, have an impromptu fall tea on your deck with a friend.  Pair a pretty tea cup with a store bought treat, then watch God show up in the conversation!

A Healthy Alternative

Now that school is back in session, get together with some friends and ask them to share their favorite fall memories from when they were growing up.  You will get to know them better and they will feel loved and cared about.  This may lead to a "walking group" where the relationships will continue to grow.  You may even want to have a speaker talk about the value of exercise.

If you invite them to your home, serve smoothies as a healthy alternative.  Here is a recipe I like to use for Easy Blender Fruit Smoothies:

• 1 apple
• 1 orange
• 1 banana
• 1/2 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup any fruit juice, cranberry or orange
• Optional garnish: whipped cream

Prepare fruit by cutting into large chunks.  Blend all ingredients on low first, then gradually turn blender to highest speed.  Blend until smooth. Serve in small glasses with garnish of whipped cream.

This Smoothie recipe also serves as a healthy and refreshing after school snack when your kids return home in the afternoon!

Staying Organized

One morning a friend arrived early at my house for Bible Study.  As she watched me put the finishing touches on the refreshments, she asked, "Is having us here every week causing you too much work?"  I  knew she had asked this because she has a difficult time keeping her house organized.  

Fall Entertaining

Check out the Better Homes & Garden web site again this month for some great ideas. Plan a first day of Fall coffee on Tues. Sept. 21st. Invite the moms home from the bus stop for morning coffee and donuts. Or invite folks from your neighborhood over for dessert Pull out your fall decorative leaves and spread them around on your kitchen table and heat up some cider or spice tea. It doesn't have to be fancy. Pick up an apple pie and ice cream from the local grocery store on your way home from work or school. BTW, Trader Joe's has some great molasses spice cookies that go great with tea or coffee or cider.

May

Nan will be on Family Life Today's national radio broadcast May 3,4, & 5. Go to their web site www.familylifetoday.com and click on radio programs and enter your state location and find the local station and time of day for a broadcast in your area. Also on their main site scroll down on the right hand side to where they tell about upcoming broadcasts. There will be a recorded interview with Dennis Rainey and Bob Lepine and Nan re. the upcoming broadcast.