OK, Y’all. I’m not even kidding. A half hour ago I opened a box Melissa overnighted to me filled with home-made goodies. I’m not talking chocolate chip cookies here (but I do like those). I’m talking – are you ready for this? – Russian Tea Cakes, Seasoned Parmesan Cheese Sticks (FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!), and this thing she called an “Apple Crostata.” (Different than that apple tart on her last blog. Did it come from one of your recipes or is she outsmarting us again??) Y’all, as I live and breathe, I have never had a more pleasant taste in my mouth – delicate, crusty, buttery, apple-y – than that darn thing. I stuck it the the oven per her instructions for 15 minutes to reheat it and it came out looking like a French chef’s masterpiece. I took it downstairs to the staff (she sent it to work so it wouldn’t sit all day on the front porch at home) and my LPM sisters and I lost our minds, it was so good. It honestly melted in our mouths with flavors so delicate you had to stand up to eat it. I could taste the slightest hint of orange in it. Don’t know what that was. Orange I guess. (Laughing at my own self.) The Apple Crostata doesn’t throw a party in your mouth like a kickin’ salsa. It offered more of an afternoon tea with Princess Diana, God rest her soul. This is a dessert for the unhurried. For those with a discerning pallet. And mine discerned all right. Mine discerned, “DANG, CHILD! THAT IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS I’VE EVER PUT IN MY MOUTH!”
(I just grabbed the dictionary to see if I spelled the right “pallet” that meant taste buds instead of a thing you take to mother’s day out for your three year old. I didn’t spell the right one but I can’t find the right spelling to save my life. I found a word “pallette” but it means an armpit plate from a suit of armor. I sure am glad I didn’t use that word because this post has nothing to do with armpits but it does have to do with plates and with food so good you could work up a sweat. I guess, then, you could use a discerning pallette to keep it covered. Hey, did you know that Paraclete is in the Webster’s Dictionary? I just found it. WOW! Way to Go, Merriam!)
OK. That’s all I wrote to say. I don’t have time for blogging today. But sometimes matters of highest urgency arise and you just have to stop and post.
I hope if any of you Siestas are having a crumby day, it’s coming from a home made Apple Crostata. I’ve gotta go wash my hands now. They’re sticking to the keys. Apple. With a hint of orange.
PS. I’m going to wait just a tad longer to have Melissa deprogrammed from the cooking cult. She’s still studying Scripture between oven buzzers best I can tell.
Okay, this has nothing to do with the post all though I laughed hard.
If we wanted to send a letter would it still be addressed to the P.O. Box address or is there a current address? I ask this because of the new move.
Thanks.
With this you would need a good 20oz cup of Kennedy Coffee here in Bentonville Arkansas. Their coffee sorry to say, well not really sorry is MUCH better than Starbucks. My friend and I call it the underrated Starbucks. Anyway if you find yourself in Wal-Mart country you will have to visit Kennedy Coffee. I will let you know what to order. 🙂 Sorry Starbucks fans your coffee house is overrated. 😉
I’m sure someone has probably already offered up a prayer to the Almighty that Melissa will feel the freedom to share her amazing recipe with us all, but I don’t have time to scroll through 163 comments to see how many please have been made.
My PALATE is quivering just thinking about such apple-y goodness.
Post quickly, girl!!
My mouth was watering as I read this…oh well…back to my 0 Point Sugar Free Chocolate Pudding Snack…*sigh*
Thanks for the chuckle!
Hey Girls! If you Atlanta Siesta’s are serious about getting together, then click on my profile and leave me an e-mail. We’ll try to pick a spot that is in the middle for as many as possible AND easy to get to. (In Atlanta that is quite funny isn’t it! But we can try!!)
Blessings!
Hey there Beth!
I can’t think of anything better than some apple goodness with a hint of orange yum yums!
It’s a bit off topic from your blog but I must say I’ve been thinking a lot about something. I keep thinking how much you remind me of my best friend down here in Florida. Seriously we joke that you two are long lost sisters lol. It’s a hoot.
But I was thinking about what you said in your Daniel study about sittin down with (insert whoever watched the series :P) anywho I really just wanted to tell you how much you have affected my life. I guess you could say I’ve been through many storms and currently tryin to crawl out of one, and it’s either your kind heart or the great God speaking through you but either way thank you so much.
Well that’s it for now I reckon…have yourself a lovely weekend!
God Bless
Recipes!!! We want recipes for these delectable desserts!!! Is there a cookbook coming? I am ready to make a donation right now! Go, girl!!!
Beth, my dear Siesta, tell me again….WHY are you gonna deprogram the Parmesan Cheese Princess? The Apple Aristocratiss? The Crostata Countess?
Sweetie, I think I’d wait a LONG while on that one…
Like maybe forever.
What a wonderful new obsession. Hobby. Whatever…
My mouth is watering! Please give us these recipes! Beth, you sure can describe that Apple Crostada…my lips were smackin’! I bought the workbook No Other Gods and between reading those recipes and this blog, I’m constantly hungry! Can’t wait for the study to begin.
I would like to know how to get on Melissa’s mailing list? If she’s needs a taste tester, I volunteer!
Wow…I’m in Ga, I’m going to have see where I have missed those things…Tabatha
Beth, I’ve read your blog for awhile now but have never commented…but this post was so hillarious I just had to say something! I love you and your wonderful way of telling a story. If I had shared this experience it wouldn’t have conveyed half of the fun and deliciousness of it like you did!!
thanks for giving me a laugh today!!
A crostata??? I had never heard of this and I am known to dabble in gourmet cooking (with a good healthy dose of Southern thrown in :)))) So I got on on-line and found tons of recipes for the said thing. I will making my first crostata this afternoon – a cherry crostata since I have cherries in the house. Melissa, you are truly an inspiration!
Blessings,
Rebecca
Central Asia
If I were you Beth I would willingly sacrifice my child to the cooking cult if it meant she kept sending yummy treats! =)
I am just now reading your blog from Thursday and it is hilarious!! Those goodies sound delicious and I can almost taste them myself!!
Dear Sweet Beth,
It is PALATE….that’s the one in your mouth! You are so sweet. Probably sweeter than the apple with orange Crostata thing you ate yesteday!
I think I just gained a pound from reading your description! Sounds divine! My daughter got married last August, and I just love the calls, “Mom, how do you make X” and “Mom, is $1.99 a pound good for boneless skinless chicken breast?” She’s such a good little wife!
I can’t wait for the cookbook full of all these wonderful recipes. It makes me want to cook which is totally out of character. I like to eat way more than cook!
I love you girls! I needed a good laugh this morning.
Blessings to all,
Kasey
As my daughter…You’re funny! Thank you for making me laugh this morning.
Oh! Thank you for making me laugh and grin and crave some pastries! I just started a trip to Europe and you know I took my little bitty laptop with just so I could keep up with this blog! I would be lonesome without y’all! (okay, and to keep track on my pictures and email my Bible study girls). Now I’m on a quest for a hint of orange and there might be some pallettes in some ol’ castle here too!
Love y’all!
Oh, I wish I could bake, I mean, really, I can mess up a cake even using a box cake mix!!! That is truly not my forte!! But oh! how I love eating desserts! Those sound so yummy!
On a side note, responding to your post about “worry”…right now my little mother (almost 87) has 2 spinal fractures and in lots of pain. She has been admitted to the hospital and I’ll be heading back up there shortly to stay all night with her..Please pray that all of us (family) will not “worry” as we have been doing so, but have peace….and we know that can only come from Jesus (and healing, too). He truly is in control of all things…we just hate to see her suffer…
Awesome dessert! Got the recipe off food network.Can’t wait to try it.Love your blog I check it every day you always make me smile.
i don’t know how you could be surprised. you moores do everything exceedingly well!
Beth,
I just fell off the diet wagon with this Apple Crostada! Used the recipe from Ina Garten on Food Network’s website as suggested in a previous post – didn’t have the orange zest, so substituted a quarter tsp of orange flavoring. (Had to get the same flavor you raved about!) My hubby had two slices and wanted a third! This reminds me of my mom’s quick fruit pies she would make in the summer with fresh peaches. She would use a frozen pie crust on a cookie sheet and just wrap up the fruit and put the crumb topping on it and bake – She probably never knew she was making something as fancy sounding as a Crostada!!!!!! Nancy
I might just have to find out where your daughter is living and go cook with her. 🙂 Sounds absolutely wonderful. I’ve learned a many a lessons in the kitchen that apply to my walk in Christ.
Marietta GA Mama
Greeting from Atlanta! Thank you Beth, Amanda and Melissa for sharing your day-to-day lives with us via the blog. You are a blessing. I have smiled over recent entries, because it was 25 years ago that my husband and I moved to Houston as newlyweds and bought our first house in First Colony in Sugar Land. I began to cook for the first time and was shipping Apricot Thumbprint Cookies to friends and family. Melissa, I also have a lasagne recipe that I began cooking my first year of marriage in Texas, and I continue to make for my family. We have 3 children now, and I must tell you too that our oldest son’s’ baby pictures look just like he could be Jackson’s brother. He’s 21 now and still very handsome. Melissa, hang in there. Atlanta grows on you. The sky in Georgia is big too. We attend Northpoint Community Church in Alpharetta where Andy Stanley is the minister, and it is a wonderful body of believers who are reaching the lost.
God Bless you dear sisters,
Momof3
If possible – whoever checks these blogs – please alert Melissa that this one is for her. Thanks.
Hey Melissa. I wanted you to know about a family business in the Atlanta area (Woodstock) – the Bread Beckers. They specialize in teaching people how to mill wheat and make their own flour from whole grains. It is very easy and so, so good! I have been milling for my family for almost four years now. The health benefits have been incredible.
Since you have an interest in cooking, you may want to check this out. There web site is http://www.breadbeckers.com. On the web site there is a link to a message by Sue Becker. It explains how they started milling wheat, the history of white flour, and the importance of whole grains. This is a strong family of faith. God has blessed them in so many ways. They have cooking classes at their store in Woodstock.
Blessing upon you and your husband. Rita.
Beth!
You are soo funny! I am super glad that Melissa could “treat” you all with her culinary genius! I wish I was that good at cooking-hats off the Melissa!:) Hope you had a wonderful weekend so far-today is Sunday! Lovin’ my Sunday-I had a great time at church this morning, hope you did too. Same goes for all you siestas!
Had a busy weekend too-(finished VBS (thanks for prayers:), my lil’ sis b-day party, and a wedding) I think I also got a few more girls to do the Kelly Minter study with us from my lifegroup. Two at least are very interested:) My sis from TX is also starting a group too:)
Much love and blessings to you, your fam, LPM, and the siestas!
katiegfromtennessee
Eph. 3:20-21 (AMP, or whatever version you like:)
ocean mommy,
I tried to e-mail you, but I’ll try regulare e-mail-would love for my group to meet up with you and your group in Atlanta!
Any other siestas want to join us?:) Come on ladies!:)
katiegfromtennessee
How hard it is for me to find out that Beth is unknown either to the blogging world or the bible study world ! God Bless your ministry, Praise God there is always room for improvement in our walk with Christ and those people we can reach ! Glory to God, Thankful for your realness and in sharing your life with us ! Praise God for my online mentor, may she ever give Glory to the Almighty! One day either here or in glory we’ll meet and of course be like old friends the first time we meet ! Love ya sis’ Praying for you and yours !
Jesus Chick “wanna be blogger”
NC
I’m smiling, b/c i am thinking if Melissa has taken to marriage in this robust & wonderful way, how in the world will she be when she has babies of her own? 🙂 She will be a wonder to watch!
So happy for you, Beth…even though Melissa lives away, you can still feel very close through thoughtful things like this! 🙂 (I will be sure to mention this thoughtful thing to my young daughters…gotta plant that seed now! 🙂 )
Blessings to your clan,
Sharon
My 8 year old daughter got saved this past week at Bible school. God is so good. I just wanted to share this with you; I knew you would all rejoice with me.
We should all get more excited when something like this happens. God is so good.
Yummy! I just love a good party in my mouth! Lucky you and all your staff members. You deserve a good break (tea) along with a mouth watering treat.
FYI, my summer Bible study workbook came in and I’m all excited and ready to get started. So looking forward to doing this will you and all the sweet siestas.
Sherry
Hi! Just wanted to say that my sister and I are so excited about the Deeper Still conference in Atlanta. It will be the first time we’ve done something together (away from all the kids) since our first Mary Kay Convention years and years ago. We are looking forward to going together since one of Kay’s studies was the first we did together and Beth, I can’t tell you how God blesses me through each study I’ve done of yours. Our bible study is half way through Patriarchs right now (summer break) and I’m chompin’ at the bit to get back to it. I have been so blessed to learn about Abraham, Issac and Jacob. God uses different teachers at different times in my life and he’s been using you for several years now. I love your love for the Father and the way you show us your passion for The One and ONLY. You point us there each and every time you open your sweet southern mouth! Thanks for being a seeker and lover of Christ.
Julie
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/juliestew
I’ve been re-reading “Feathers From My Nest,” and thought your daughter’s love of baking and wonderful, delicious desserts is a real triumph for her. God can do anything! He turns our garbage into glory. Go Melissa!
LPM and Beth,
You all are such sweet people! You bless me to no end! I just got my men’s bible study this morning in the mail for my man! (I’m going to give it to him anyway-couldn’t hurt:) Bless your sweet souls! Oh, and Beth! Thankyou for your Quick Word today:) It is worth it:)-OH GOD GIVE US THE ABILITY!!! WE NEED YOU!
Blessings:)
katiegfromtennessee
2 Corinthians 7:4 (AMP)
(my thoughts toward you all)
4I have great boldness and free and fearless confidence and cheerful courage toward you; my pride in you is great. I am filled [brimful] with the comfort [of it]; with all our tribulation and in spite of it, [I am filled with comfort] I am overflowing with joy.
All I can say is WOW!!! I need Melissa to start a cooking blog. This woman is making food to die for:) I feel a business starting up already:)
I just got home yesterday from a camping trip to Natchez state park and read this blog! wow does that sound good! Will she be feeding us when we come to Atlanta at the end of this month? If so I will bring my fat jeans!
His Princess writes –
Beth, what is your ultimate comfort food indulgence? And how do you stay in such good shape?
Love and Blessings,
M Summer
Spiritual Mom Beth,
I found the other radio links at oneplace.com and listened to Romans 24 for this week-I didn’t know those were on there! Yea!
I took notes, and I am so blessed! You know this is what I needed to hear! (can I put enough exclamation points in this post?!)
Quote from the radio broadcast: “There is nothing that the enemy can do to you that cannot turn into a crown and a blessing!…How can we lose?…Who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of His chosen?”
Chosen-chosen ones…I cried. It was too much!
I really want to live it for Him Beth! I am serious-I know you do too.
I will always pray for you, your fam,and LPM.
Blessings:)
katiegfromtennessee
Although this may be considered aiding and abetting the cooking cult I had to pass on this site that I “stumbled” on. http://www.tastespotting.com OH MY GOODNESS is it the “bomb”! I am totally in awe of the culinary masterpieces presented on this site and most are presented from the “Melissa’s” of the world trying their hand at chefing!!! Praise God for your gift Melissa and your efforts. I am a recipe reader but not much of a doer. I am inspired by your zeal for trying things. It makes me want to try too!! Way to go girl…please check out the site, you do NOT want to miss it. I promise you will want to try EVERYTHING!!!
Yummy! A piece of that with a scoop of homemade vanilla would send my day right over the edge.
Oh man….I’m needing something sweet now
May I just place an order?! She is too cute – little newly wed. And it is really hotlanta hot in Carolina too.
Will we see the post on our Summer bible study today. I have a group in Killeen Texas that will be doing the Bible study. We have our books and will be ready to go next Tuesday. Thanks, Phyllis Bishop, Killeen, Texas
Beth,
I just had to return to this post and make a quick comment. Now please don’t think me crazy..but I had dream about you the other night. A dream about you and Melissa’s Apple Crostata!! I know I know!!
I was walking down a street with 2 of my best girlfriends, who we all happen to think you are just precious and have been so blessed by you, When we began discussing just how delicious the Famous Apple Crostatas must be!!(I do believe your post made an impression on me)
Then just as quickly we were standing in a house (I am guesing it was yours) enjoying those amazing treats!!! We all just raved and could not believe we were eating Melissa’s treats with her MOM!! Beth Moore!! I woke from my dream and just had to giggle at myself. What a treat of a dream!!
You truly are a blessing to me, Thanks for loving the Lord unashamedly and for loving all us Siestas.
Please add me to Melissa’s mailing list!
Hey Spiritual Mom Beth and fam and LPM:
I’m thinking we need a little musical encouragement, so here’s some praiseworthy songs for us to praise the Lord today:
“Praise Adonai” from Voices of the Faithful CD (I’m pretty sure you own this one:)
“My Passion” off of the same cd
“Days of Elijah” off said cd (one of my man’s fav worship songs:)
Your Word Will Be the Last Word off the cd-(you might as well just listen to the whole thing:):)
Love you allll!!!!
katiegfromtennessee
Spiritual Mom Beth and Crew:
Blessed morning to you!
I am praying for Deeper Still!! Also, continuing to pray for your healing over your loss. I am sporting my Deeper Still t-shirt today (wearing my reminder to pray:) I posted a pic of me wearing it on my blog. If I look a little tired, you understand why:) But, I am hopeful for us all:) Looking for that exceedingly, abundantly, more than we can imagine….
LOVE and ((HUGS)),
katiegfromtennessee
This is for Melissa who shares my joy of baking! I just had to send this Carrot Muffin recipe. (Wait! It’s not your average carrot muffin!) There’s grated apple, cinnamon and coconut involved! They smell delicious when they’re baking. My Bible study group loved them!
Recipe:
1/2 cup (50 grams) walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped
2 cups (270 grams) grated raw carrot (about 2-3 peeled carrots)
1 large apple, peeled and grated
2 cups (280 grams) all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups (250 grams) granulated white sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon (3.5 grams) salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)
3 large eggs (or 3/4 cup Eggbeaters)
3/4 cup (180 ml) safflower or canola oil
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place rack in center of oven. Place fluted paper liners in 18 muffin cups.
Toast the pecans or walnuts for about 8 minutes or until lightly browned and fragrant. Let cool and then chop coarsely.
Peel and finely grate the carrots and apple. Set aside.
In a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Stir in the nuts and coconut. Set aside.
In a separate bowl whisk together the eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Fold the wet ingredients, along with the grated carrot and apple, into the flour mixture, stirring just until moistened. Evenly divide the batter between the prepared muffin cups (I used an ice cream scoop to put batter in cups so I’d get a nice domed top) and bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack. After about 10 minutes remove the muffins from the pans and cool completely on a wire rack before frosting.
Makes 18 standard-sized muffins. I didn’t, but you can add cream cheese frosting if desired.