Jessica Honegger Visits ATS

Welcome back to All Things Southern y’all. School bells are ringing in these parts. I imagine they are in your corner of the world, too. Which means, of course, that the lazy days of summer have come and gone. Not that there were that many of them, but it’s all good. There’s always something to celebrate. Like Fall’s Spice Tea—I’m sipping on a cup now, but this season’s first batch. You can get that recipe in my storytelling cookbook Hungry is a Mighty Fine Sauce, but you can also find it here on my website.

Here in the Louisiana Delta our farmers are knuckled down trying to get our crops out of the field in and around rain showers, and of course we all have an eye on the hurricane season and what that can mean to our livelihood. Full disclosure, it can be an anxious time of year—if we let it. We choose not to, even if it means we need to roll our worries back on the good Lord’s shoulders more than once. God is our provider and fear is a liar. End of story.

 

Speaking of saying no to fear, I’m looking forward to introducing you to my guest today. Author and entrepreneur Jessica Hon-a-ger will be joining me during the show to talk about her debut book, Imperfect Courage. She’s a remarkable woman with a fascinating story. Don’t miss it!

Afterwards, I’ll close with my Hearty Cornbread and Meat Pie (pics coming soon!) and then I’ll close with some devotional thoughts. But first, let’s chat…

Did you hear about FUR-TERNITY LEAVE? It’s a new employee benefit created by a digital marketing agency in Minneapolis It’s a few days off with pay – for employees who have new pets. It gives them a chance to stay home and help the new puppy adapt to its new surroundings.

I don’t know. I’m treading lightly here because I know how special our pets are, but y’all, really? On one hand, our two labs, Beaux and Hank, also known as the canine terrorists, needed plenty of adjusting when we brought them home as puppies…they chewed on everything in sight, harassed my guests by insisting on smelling areas they shouldn’t smell, you get my point… On the other hand, after their latest escapade, I was ready to take a leave from them— not with them. Did you miss that story?

In short, those two tried to drown all three of us. Okay, that’s not entirely true. They actually set out to join me, albeit uninvited, on a morning kayak adventure…the near drownings were strictly incidental. If you’re curious, you can find the video where I told the story on my Facebook wall, and I’ll drop it  and some pics from that adventure here on the website.

And they’re thinking, “Didn’t we have fun?” The answer was no. 

 

The rest of the story

In other Straight Running Crazy news…Did you see where Nabisco agree to PETA’s push to remove the circus bars on their animal cracker boxes? Can’t make it up, folks. That’s the world we live in. Someone has time to complain about the bars surrounding animal pictures.

They know we’re talking about cookies, right? No word yet on whether they realize that little children will still be biting the heads off first…

And because I heard about this so you should…

A 93-year old woman in Augusta, Maine is a huge fan of the TV show COPS. So, to grant one of her bucket list adventures, the woman’s daughter talked local police into coming to her mama’s house and arresting her. Yes, 93-year-old Mrs. Dumont was put into the back seat of the squad car and allowed to turn on the siren. She told the officer – he made her life!

To which he replied, “My privilege!” before tazing her.
Joking—that was fake news.

BUMPER
RECIPE

Ok, y’all, welcome back to the All Things Southern kitchen. This is the type of cooking one uses to feed hungry farmers. You should have these ingredients in your pantry, refrigerator, or freezer to lay down some hearty sustenance for your bunch. If you don’t have the exact ingredients, you may have similar ones. Remember what I taught you about substitution! Learn that art and you’re on top of the game!

Hearty Cornbread and Meat Pie

1-pound hamburger meat
1 large onion chopped
½ cup chopped green pepper
1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
1 (12 ounce) can whole kernel corn
1 can water (use corn can)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon each of sea salt and black pepper
1 recipe of Jiffy Brand cornbread mix

Begin by browning a pound of hamburger meat with a large chopped onion. Drain and return to the skillet. Add one 8 ounce can of tomato sauce, one can of whole kernel corn, a can of water (use the corn can!) and a ½ cup of chopped green pepper. Season with a tablespoon of chili powder and salt and pepper to your taste. Mix this well and let it simmer fifteen or twenty minutes. I’ll keep mine in my big old cast iron skillet, but you can turn this out into a 9×12 casserole dish if you don’t have a big skillet.

Stir up one box of jiffy brand cornbread mix. (Or make your own cornbread. That’s super easy too and I’ll include those steps on the website if you prefer.) We’ll pour this cornbread mixture on top of our beef mixture and let it bake in a 350-degree oven for about 20 minutes or until your cornbread is golden brown and just right! ENJOY my Hearty Cornbread Meat Pie! It’s good eating from the All Things Southern kitchen to yours~

BUMPER
INTERVIEW with Jessica Honegger (Find interview on iTunes podcast or audio file at the end of this post)
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Southern Comfort
Let’s read the Word together…

The Lord is Near Philippians 4:5b-7

The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭ ‬‬ ‭‭Is this scenario familiar to you? ‬‬ ‭‭You try not to be fret about “it”, you make your requests, and you find momentary rest from your thinking. But it is tenuous, fleeting relief before the barrage of thoughts about that troublesome thing, person, or situation begins again? I can describe it because I know it well. ‬‬ However, I have also learned, and the Spirit of God continues to teach me how to break the chain and stop the circling train.

The Lord is near.

My hope for an escape from a troublesome persistent train of thought is always found here, knowing and believing He is near. Immanuel, dwelling with me to do what I can’t.

When I find myself caught in the vicious circle I now know to bow before Him and confess that once again, I’ve been trying to pray it down and lay it down under the force of my own will. I surrender to the truth that on my own I can’t stop thinking on the thought and analyzing it from every angle, that I am needy and He holds my supply. And I begin to celebrate that He is in me to do what I can’t. This is when I experience the Guard, guarding.

Not me trying. Immanuel doing.

Oh, the pressure busting Presence of God that guards a mind given over to Him. I would that I could pack this peace up and hand it to you, but I can’t wrap the Almighty and the peace I’m describing doesn’t exist outside and apart from Him. Seek Him.

Think about it.

That’s it for this week, y’all.

This is Shellie with hugs for all~

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