Get in my belly | Apple Strudel

This may be my new favorite easy, go-to recipe for a quick dessert! So delish. Rich, tangy, cinnamon-y goodness.

This is from the February issue of Martha Stewart magazine. I made it twice this weekend.

Ingredients

1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar
1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
3 Granny Smith apples
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup finely chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup dried fine breadcrumbs
6 sheets phyllo dough (roughly 13 by 16 inches), thawed if frozen
1 stick unsalted butter, melted

MS \ Chris Court

Lightly sweetened whipped cream, for serving

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Combine sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl; set aside 3 tablespoons mixture. Peel and core apples; cut into quarters, then cut crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces. Toss with lemon juice; stir into sugar mixture with apricots and breadcrumbs.

Brush 1 sheet phyllo with butter, and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon reserved sugar mixture. Top with remaining 5 sheets phyllo, layering with butter and sugar mixture. Scatter filling on phyllo, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Starting with a long end, roll up to enclose filling; place strudel, seam side down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush top with remaining butter; sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake until golden brown and cooked through, 45 to 50 minutes. Let cool on a wire rack 10 minutes. Cut into slices; serve warm with whipped cream.

"Revelation" Online Bible Study! Launch party 1/30 - RSVP today.

Revelation: Discovering Life for Today and Eternity. 

Join the online Bible study (2/4 - 4/8) with Sue Edwards! And  invite your friends to join you. 

Sue will be posting weekly on the Year of Discovery Facebook Page and interacting with groups and individuals around the country going through the study at the same time. Women will be able to discuss the study with each other and ask questions via Facebook. Once readers complete the Revelation study, Edwards will be going through the Ephesians study in the same way. (An April 11 Facebook launch party will be followed by an April 15 – June 17 online study.)

Completing each lesson requires about one-and-a-half hours. Readers still receive in-depth Bible study but with a minimum time commitment. For those who desire a more thorough study, including an opportunity to learn more about the history, culture and geography related to the Bible, Edwards has provided “Digging Deeper” questions. Answering these questions may require outside resources such as an atlas, Bible dictionary or concordance and challenge readers to examine complex theological issues and differing views more closely.

More about the Revelation study: Edwards and Kregel are especially excited about the new Revelation study that has been added to the series. “I have focused on five special chapters—the first three and the last two—passages that I believe are most pertinent for Christians today,” writes Edwards. “I find a thorough investigation of these five chapters the most beneficial as we consider how God wants us to prepare for the end.” “The first three chapters paint a glorious picture of the resurrected Christ and record his seven letters to first-century churches. These early churches represent the different kinds of churches that have existed through the ages. The letters both commend and point out deficiencies in these churches, providing lessons to help us get ready for our future,” Edwards continues. “The last two chapters unfold with unspeakable energy, beauty and promise, as John describes what Jesus shows him: a new Eden, redemption’s climax and our eternal home. Walk with me through these incredible pages, and experience the blessing that God promised to all who read and heed.”

Purchase a copy of Revelation and join the on-line Bible study today.

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Win a "Glacier Bay" Prize pack from Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss

Celebrate with Tricia and Ocieanna by entering their "Glacier Bay" Giveaway and RSVPing for their Facebook Party on Feb. 12th!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A gorgeous handmade “Glacier Bay” bracelet
• A handmade cowl in "Glacier Bay" blues and greens
• A bottle of custom-made "Glacier Bay" sparkle polish in blue
• Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss and their two other “Love Finds You” titles {Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana, and Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington}

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 11th. Winner will be announced at the "Glacier Bay" Author Chat Party on February 12th. Connect with authors Tricia and Ocieanna, get a sneak peek of their new book projects, try your hand at the Alaska trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be great giveaways—gift certificates, books, and more!

So grab your copy of Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska, and join Tricia and Ocieanna on the evening of February 12th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 12th!

Secretly Smitten | An Evening of Giggle, Gab & Prizes

The "gals" are celebrating the release of the next Smitten book with a fun Live Webcast on February 5th. They'll be debuting the *NEW* animated Secretly Smitten trailer, giving away tons of prizes, dishing on the book and their friendship. They'll also be wrapping up the Secretly Smitten blog tour, answering audience questions and testing your trivia skills. Don't miss the fun and bring your friends. Click here to RSVP and set up a reminder.

"The Tutor's Daughter" by Julie Klassen! Enter to win a "Downton Abbey" Kindle Prize Pack

Julie is celebrating by giving away one of the new Paperwhite Kindles, Downton Abbey (season 3) and hosting a fun Author Chat Party on Facebook. (January 31st)

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Paperwhite
• Downton Abbey, Season 3
• A Julie Klassen library (The Tutor’s Daughter, The Maid of Fairbourne Hall, The Girl in the Gatehouse, and The Silent Governess)

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 30th. Winner will be announced at "The Tutor's Daughter Author Chat Party on January 31st. Connect with Julie, get a sneak peek of her next book, try your hand at the trivia contest, and chat with readers just like you. There will also be great giveaways - gift certificates, books and season 3 of Downton Abbey!

So grab your copy of The Tutor's Daughter and join Julie on the evening of the January 31st for a chance to connect with Julie and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book - don't let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 31st!

Enter to win an iPad from @SuzanneWoodsFisher in "The Lesson" Giveaway!

Celebrate the release of The Lesson with Suzanne Woods Fisher by entering to win one of TWO iPads!

Two winners will receive:

• A brand new iPad
• A $15 gift certificate to iTunes

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on January 20th. Winner will be announced on 1/22/13 at Suzanne's Blog.

Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Get in my belly | Pork Chili Verde

This recipe is so easy and SO good. We serve it over cheddar cheese grits (grits from this recipe), use it in burritos, enchiladas, serve it over brown rice. We're not real picky.

I got this recipe from my mom ... I'm not sure where she got it from.


4 lbs pork butt, cut into 1-inch cubes, trimmed of fat
4 yellow onions, chopped
4 anaheim chiles
2 jalapeno chiles
4 T garlic, chopped
1 lb tomatillos, husk removed
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup white vinegar
1 cup chicken stock
2 t ground oregano
3 t ground cumin
1 t salt (or more to taste)
1 T ground black pepper

Lightly grill the anaheims, jalapenos and the tomatillos on open flame until lightly charred.  Remove from heat and place the anaheims and the tomatillos in separate Ziploc bags to sweat for 20 minutes.  After 20 minutes, peal the char from the anaheims, split and remove the seeds and pith...roughly chop...rough chop the jalapenos...

In medium dutch oven, heat the oil, add the onion, peppers and garlic.  Saute until translucent.  Do not brown.  Remove and set mixture aside.

Add pork butt to dutch oven and cook over high heat until browned on all sides.  Or you can slice the pork butt into 1 inch pork steaks, grill those on the BBQ and then cut into 1 inch cubes and finish browning in the dutch oven. (I usually do the BBQ method.)

Add the onion-pepper mixture and tomatillos to the pork.  Mix thoroughly and then deglaze with white wine and vinegar.  Let reduce for 5 minutes then add chicken stock, oregano, cumin, salt, and pepper.

Let simmer for 1-2 hours or until pork is fork tender.