After Church Treats

We're Lutherans.    And whenever Lutherans gather there is coffee (for as Cass from That Old House coffee is not in a Lutheran's blood -- it is Lutheran's blood!) and you can't have coffee without something to eat!!!

Our church is early -- one service only at 9 a.m. and we get out at 10 or a little after.     Breakfast is often  quick nibble so after church we're definitely hungry.     So week by week a family (or two) takes turns and brings treats for the congregation.     We're not a large church (so we're not feeding hundreds) and  so it's quite manageable to bring treats for Sunday.

I do the baking (the Saturday before) and Husband Jim helps with the Sunday toting and . .

The setting up.    He's filling little cups with cream cheese for the bagels!    Husband Jim is quite useful!

For this Sunday I made . . .

These cookies are ridiculously easy (easy peasy!) -- an 8 ounce container of Cool Whip, a box of Betty Crocker cake mix (I used chocolate -- my nieces like lemon) and 2 eggs.    Mix together.    Form dough into balls and roll in powdered sugar.    Put on a baking sheet (lined with parchment or silpat) and bake at 350 for 10 to 12 minutes (or until firm to the touch) -- cool and enjoy!

Stacy and Crystal's Cookies.    They're my nieces and when I had lunch with them Friday they gave me the recipe.    They really liked them and said that they were easy to make.    They said that if they take them anywhere they always bring an empty plate home!    And . . .

Sour cream coffee cake.    The old standard coffee cake with cinnamon nut streusel in the middle.  The recipe that is in so many cookbooks with little variations.     I gilded the lily by giving the cake a maple drizzle.  (And I cheat for I use yogurt instead of sour cream!) (And I used Ina Garten's recipe -- her cookbooks are always handy!)

Besides the sweets, I also added fresh strawberries and mini bagels and cream cheese to spread them with.    Not everyone likes sweets!

And the congregation came and ate . . . I had crumbs to bring home (and a few bagels!)  

With food and coffee after church, you stay and visit instead of rushing out the door after you shake the Pastor's hand.    We always enjoy our Sunday fellowship.