Tasty Bites: Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Syrup

By Beth

I don’t know about you, but when fall comes, I cannot get enough of pumpkin! Last year, I posted about how to roast a pumpkin and create pumpkin puree. I shared a recipe for Pumpkin, Apple and Bacon Soup and these deliciously moist Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins. Today, I am going to share with you one of my most favorite pumpkin recipes over the last several years - Pumpkin Pancakes with Cinnamon Syrup.

These warm, autumn-spiced pancakes are so fluffy and moist. They are made with a combination of all-purpose flour and white, whole- wheat flour. These do not taste remotely “wheaty,” but rest assured, there is a little hit of extra fiber from the whole wheat flour plus all of the wonderful added nutrition from the pumpkin puree.  You can find white, whole-wheat flour, sometimes called whole-wheat pastry flour, at most grocery stores. 

This flour is made from soft, white wheat, which contains the same nutritional benefits as regular whole-wheat flour, but can be used in most recipes that call for all-purpose flour. It yields more delicate texture and more mild flavor than traditional whole wheat flour, which is milled from hard, red wheat.  I often add some white whole-wheat flour into my pizza dough, pancakes, muffins and quick breads, and, of course, it makes a very mild and soft loaf of whole-wheat bread. 

First, we are going to combine all of the liquid ingredients in a large bowl - pumpkin puree, milk, egg, vegetable oil and vinegar. Vinegar, you ask? Vinegar or lemon juice combines with the milk and basically “sours” the milk and turns it into buttermilk. This ingredient helps yield a lighter, fluffier pancake and you will not taste it at all in the finished product…just a necessary ingredient in the chemistry of fluffy pancakes.

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God says... "You were never meant to understand My Word on your own."

By Jason V (Ponderings of a Pilgrim Pastor)

Be honest: Have you ever read a passage of Scripture and thought, “What in the world is going on here?”  Have you ever thought that maybe God never intended you to be able to understand it on your own.

The Lone Ranger is a quintessentially American style of hero.  The iconic image of the lone gunman, enforcing the law against all odds, is one of our favorite images.  Bruce Willis picked up the Lone Ranger motif in his series of Die Hard movies and Kiefer Sutherland played that role of man-alone-against-all-odds as Jack Bauer in the hit TV series, 24.

In the Middle Ages, images of heroism and villainy were quite different.  The great heroes were those who were most loyal to their Lord or King and who stood with their brothers in arms.  The “Lone Rangers” were the black knights, who were almost always bad guys.  The knight who rode off into the forest alone was perhaps brave but also shifty, unreliable and not to be trusted.

As American Christians, we need to realize how much of our life of faith is shaped by our culture and not by God’s Word.  One example is the belief that every Christian can understand the Bible on his own.  God did not say that in His Word.  Ephesians 4:11-12 says, “It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.”

The apostles and prophets received God’s Word and wrote it down for us.  Evangelists proclaim the Gospel to unbelievers to bring them to Christ.  Pastors and teachers serve the church by preaching and teaching God’s Word.  Christ calls us to belong to His church, where we can each exercise our gifts in building up the whole body together.  Cut off and left on our own, we just don’t grow and thrive as God intended.

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Trust Like a Child

By Pat

Any time I am with my little grandchildren, I am amazed and how completely trusting they are. When I throw them in the air, they laugh, knowing I will catch them. When we're crossing a street or walk in a parking lot, they hold my hand, knowing that I know when it's safe to proceed. They never question the safety of what we put on their plates, because they know that, even if they don't like it, it's safe to eat it if it's been given to them by someone who loves them.

It reminds me and helps me to truly understand what Jesus meant when He said we must have the attitude of little children. Children trust us to care for them, keep them safe, and lead them. They know we can help with their cut and bruises, and they open their hearts to us with honesty and purity. They don't have to question our motives...they feel safe. How I want to be that way! How I want to show Jesus that same, sweet, childlike love, trust and faith, and stop doubting. I want the same hearts my grandchildren have!

"Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  (Mark 10:15)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.

God Says... "You are not alone."

By Dusty (Reflections on the Life of a Christian)

Alone. Image by SSpivak. Courtesy of stock.xchng.

Have you ever felt alone? Have you ever thought you were swimming against the current of life? Have you ever said: "No one understands me." or "No one wants me around." or "No one cares."

I have, and I would venture to say most everyone has at some point. Maybe it was during your childhood or teenage years. It could have been as you were going through a very difficult situation. Or perhaps, it is because you seem to struggle with what others take for granted.

This may seem like a pat "Christian" answer, but you are NOT alone. No matter the circumstance. God cares for you, and He is there with you.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)

Some may respond and say, "God is not a 'real' person. He's up there, and I am down here going through 'xyz' all alone." Others might feel as though God has never been there for them or done anything good for them.

I'm sure Job could have felt that way when he lost his farm, his family, and his health. I imagine Daniel may have wondered about it as he was thrown into a lion's den after being caught praying. Maybe Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego feared such just before they were thrown into the fiery furnace....Or even Paul as he was imprisoned.

There are so many accounts in scripture of God's people going through trials, standing alone, and needing Him. In every one of them, God was there and He came through for them. But I would say none of them would have elected to suffer as their preferred method/solution. I am sure every one of them would have chosen to skip the bad situations all together, but that did not happen... but they were not alone... and God had a plan... and His plan was good.

I don't know what you are facing. I don't know what it is causing you to feel as if you are all alone. Whatever it is, I encourage you to trust God with it. He is there for you. The problem may not disappear. You may still struggle and suffer, but He will see you through... and His outcome will outshine your expectations.

It has for me. More than once. Never how I would have chosen, but always in a manner that has brought me further along in my journey. He has strengthened me, matured me, and blessed me. I have come to know: I am not alone for He is there with me.

Will you trust Him? Will you seek His companionship? Will you allow Him to see you through to the other side... even when things are not going your way?

Dusty Rayburn is a lay minister and fellow blogger. He lives in Locust Fork, Alabama, has been married six years and has one amazing daughter. In his words: "I am a Christian. I am not perfect, nor do I imagine I ever will be. My God is perfect. I am forgiven. I am loved. I am His." You can find him on Twitter and at Reflections on the Life of a Christian.

Be Calm

By Pat

Yesterday was a windy, rainy day, and as I looked out my kitchen window, I noticed a little hummingbird at the feeder on my deck. She sat there on the feeder drinking the sugar water, seemingly oblivious to the nasty weather. As the rain beat down and the wind shook the feeder about, she sat there calmly until she was done drinking. I found myself wishing I was more like that little bird...

Oftentimes when storms rage around me, I retreat in fear until calm, sunny weather returns. Instead of keeping my eyes fixed on Jesus, I allow my fears and worries to overtake me and, like Peter, I let the storms through me off focus. I remove my eyes from Jesus, and find myself unable to find peace in my life in the midst of the storms. I need to be like that tiny little hummingbird, and just hang on! For it's when we turn from Jesus that fear overtakes us and we begin to sink. But just as He did with Peter, Jesus will reach to us. We need only keep focused on Him!

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you."  (Psalm 56:3)

Pat is a good friend who is passionate about her faith and her family. She works from home supporting a family business, and loves to read, write and garden when she can, and spends every spare moment with her grandkids.