J is for Jezebel

and Johnny Jackelope, You Must Believe in Hope

Well, Jez-e-bel!

Here we are a little over one-third of the way as we cook our way through the alphabet.

Ya’ll still with me?

Just a reminder that once we get to the letter “Z” you are going to have a great little cookbook.

That’s right, you will have what I hope will be 4 appetizer, 4 breakfast, 4 side dish, 4 soup/salad/sandwich, 4 main dish and 6 dessert recipes that you didn’t have before.

You’re welcome.

Because that’s what I do…I problem solve.

In fact, I can solve everyone’s problems but my own.

It’s just a gift I have.

Speaking of gifts…my family got a gift about this time last year…my sister and brother-in-law adopted my little niece, Solina.

Yes, we adopted Solina from Haiti and what a year it has been.

I’m actually going to have my sister and brother-in-law write a blog post for my blog soon, as their story inspires me every time I hear it.

This past year has definitely been one of immense struggle and adjustment, but also one where you could see the hand of God at work…a true lesson in obedience to God’s calling.

Only adoptive parents who have had the honor and privilege of adopting a child understand the emotions you go through, both before and after the adoption.

And adopting a young child from another country has been a roller coaster with about 8 huge loops in it.

How’s that for an analogy?

But look what we got…a beautiful child with a life she would have never known, adopted into a family that have showered her with more love than she could have ever imagined.

Everyone wins.

Many people have ask our family why Shelley and Terry adopted a child from another country when we have so many children who need homes in the states.

I’ll let them give you the long answer to that, but the short one is: Shelley and Terry didn’t go to another country with the expectation or intention of adopting a little girl, but they found themselves in a situation that only God could have orchestrated.

As a result, three years later, they adopted Solina and brought her home.

I actually wrote a book about adoption early in the publishing days of Alpha-kidZ, Johnny Jackelope, You Must Believe in Hope, which was the 10^th book in my series, and way before Shelley and Terry adopted Solina.

In the book, Johnny’s foster dad, who ends up with the privilege of adopting Johnny, was actually named after our “Baby Jake” who succumbed to cancer when he was 4 years old.

I keep the circle tight, in case you haven’t noticed.

It’s an honor really, to write about people in my life…my own children, my family and friends, because the reality is, we all have stories.

Right?

We all have stories we can share to help others, and that’s what I’ve tried to do with my children’s book series.

I’ve tried to write books that will make children laugh; that will make them think; that will encourage their good behavior; that will remind them to be good friends; and books that just might heal their broken hearts.

It’s a privilege to have this platform and I appreciate you being along for the ride.

A ride that has us swinging on a vine from adoption to Jezebel sauce.

Jezebel. Wonder who named this dish?

Was it actually Jezebel herself?

Wait.

I just looked up the definition and Merriam-Webster defines “jezebel” as being “an impudent, shameless, or morally unrestrained woman.”

Wait.

Are you telling me I’m about to offer my readers a sauce that has “shameless, impudent and morally unrestrained” origins?

Wait.

For the most part, we are “G” rated around here, so with that being said, let’s go ahead and get the “Jezebel” out of here and get this recipe on the books.

And try not to worry who Jezebel was and what she did for fun and recreation.

First, the thing I love most about my kitchen is sharing. Right?

Because as Barney says, “Sharing is caring.”

Cooking for family and friends is my love language and nothing gives me greater joy than being able to cook good food and sharing when opportunities arise.

Or when I create opportunities.

Like holidays for instance.

I make up several batches of Jezebel and share with family and friends.

It’s an easy appetizer that looks festive and tastes great when served over cream cheese.

Wait.

You could serve an ant bed over cream cheese and it would be good.

This recipe doubles and triples easily for gift giving, or keeping it on hand to have for parties, or when you have company. Just put it in the fridge and it will keep indefinitely, not that it will last that long.

I like giving it for gifts in cute jars like this one…with a little raffia. Nothing too fancy or difficult about that.

Refer to my previous comment about being a problem solver.

So here’s what you will need for Jezebel…pineapple preserves, apple jelly, horseradish, ground mustard and pepper.

5 ingredients and a block of cream cheese later you have this lovely dish.

First, start with your apple jelly…all alone in the bowl.

Next, add your pineapple preserves, to make friends with the apple jelly deliciousness.

Wait.

Has anyone ever used pineapple preserves on their toast? Not this writer, but it sure is good in Jezebel.

Next step is adding your spices which go like this:

Dry Mustard…

Horseradish…incidentally, the original recipe calls for a small jar but I personally think it’s too much, so I use 2 tablespoons. It’s one of those things if you like your Jezebel spicier, by all means dump the entire jar in!

But if you do use the whole jar, get ready for your nose hairs to fall out.

Finally, add 1 tablespoon of cracked pepper.

Combine all the ingredients and mix well.

Serve over cream cheese with crackers, I like Wheat Thins.

It also makes a very nice condiment with roast beef or pork.

I have been making Jezebel for years, but I want to give credit where credit is due, I found the recipe in my Cotton Country cookbook, published by the Monroe Junior League.

And I’m sure it will be in your recipe war chest for years, too.