By Kristine Amundrud
@kamundrud
While searching in my freezer, I came upon a bag of misshapen bread crusts–a plethora of broken and forgotten ends. An odd thing to keep, I could hear the wise voice of Meta, my Danish paternal grandma: “Waste not, want not.” An immigrant to Canada as a young teen and a pioneer on the stark Alberta prairies, Grandma lived frugally and made every crust of bread count. Modeling after her, I quickly threw a portion of the crusts into a roast pan and turned the oven onto low to dry them for breadcrumbs.
My birthday “cake” was already in the making–a traditional Danish Apple Trifle. This simple dessert transports me back to the warmth of Grandma Meta’s kitchen. I can almost smell her sweet crumbs toasting in the skillet. Beyond obvious scarcities, our ancestors surely grappled with a shortage of hope from time to time. Can you relate?
In desert seasons, we all want to hear more than platitudes such as “everything will be okay.” I am walking through estrangement with my mother. I can no longer protect my children from dysfunctional and toxic patterns. I’d prefer to hide the crusts of this heartache in a dark freezer of numbed feelings. God has yet to turn them into crumbs that can be used; something glorious for his kingdom.
For over a decade, the crumbs of my hope have been put solely into God healing my mother and restoring our relationship. He has given me unending grace as I grappled with the sad reality of it all. Solomon mentions how hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. [Proverbs 13:12 ESV] To be fulfilled means to be satisfied or content. My situation remains difficult, but my heart is no longer sick, for I have sought intimacy with God. Fulfillment can never be found in another person, nor are we responsible for anyone else’s happiness or behaviors.
For now, the bread crusts are drying out as I draw closer to God. I know he is willing and able to work all things for good, as he has done time and time again in my life [See Romans 8:28]. He promises that the discards of my life can be transformed and made new!
I don’t know what challenges you are facing today. Perhaps you are dwelling in the disappointment of brokenness and loss. Life has not turned out the way you imagined it would. These parts of your story are not trivial, a trifle to initiate shame. While using the food processor to grind up dried bread heels, God reminded me that he does not waste anything! The crumbs in life are stretching your soul’s capacity for more joy, more worship, greater trust, and increased intimacy! Can I encourage you to cling to Paul’s reminder from Romans? God is so supremely in charge of the world. Be patient as he turns your crumbs into something decadent for his kingdom!
Enjoy this simple no-bake dessert as a reminder of God’s extravagant love for you!
Traditional Danish Apple Trifle
SERVES 4
8-10 tart apples, peeled and cored
¾ cup granulated sugar
¾ cup plus 1 Tbsp water
Seeds from 1 vanilla pod/bean
100 g minus 1 Tbsp butter
2 cups dried breadcrumbs
1 ¼ cups whipping cream
Cut the apples into bite-sized pieces. Add them to a saucepan along with 4 tablespoons sugar, the water
and vanilla and cook over a gentle heat until completely soft – around 20 minutes. Add more water if
needed during cooking. Leave to cool completely.
In a frying pan/skillet, melt the butter, then add the remaining sugar and stir. Add the breadcrumbs and
keep stirring until the mixture is toasted through. Be careful, though, because the breadcrumbs burn
easily.
When crispy, remove from the heat and spread on a plate. As the breadcrumbs cool, use your fingers to
ensure that they don’t stick in clumps.
Whip the cream until stiff peaks form.
Layer your trifle, beginning with a layer of apple, then the breadcrumbs followed by a layer of cream.
Add a larger layer of apple and finish with the breadcrumbs (save a few to decorate). Top with the
remaining whipped cream and decorate with the remaining breadcrumbs.
Opinion is divided about when to serve this. Some people prefer to serve it straight away while the
breadcrumbs are still crunchy. However, in Grandma Meta’s kitchen, we wait a few hours until the trifle
has settled.
About Kristine Amundrud
Kristine Amundrud is a wife and homeschool mom to three kids, living in Central Alberta, Canada. In the busy day to day, she’s pursuing healing through story work and writing. Kristine hopes you will find traces of God’s immeasurable goodness in the words she shares. She finds joy creating in the kitchen, walking alongside her husband, adventuring in the Canadian Rockies, and cuddling up with her children and a good storybook. She loves friendships that go beneath the surface.
Connect with Kristine on Instagram @kamundru +Read more from her here.
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About Chevonne O’Shaughnessy-As Co-Founder and President of American Cinema, I have dedicated my career to producing films that inspires and promote strong moral values. I started my career at Quest Entertainment as the President of International sales in Florida. I continued my career at PM Entertainment in 1990, as Vice President of international films where I helped oversee the production and sales of over 150 feature films. In 2000, I founded American Cinema International, producing films that secured international acclaim and prime-time broadcasts on platforms like USA, SyFy, and HBO Premier. Our work includes multiple romance movies for networks like Hallmark and UPTV, known for their heartwarming narratives and strong family values. Mission Pictures was my next project, with Cindy Bond, which started in 2008 and counted with over 75 faith based films. In 2014 I co-founded ACI Inspires, focused on creating family-oriented films that convey messages of faith, hope, and love. Our commitment is to produce content that not only entertains but also enriches lives, encouraging viewers to reflect on their values and beliefs. Our latest project, ACI On the Go YouTube channel, has reached over 650,000 subscribers, offering free, inspirational content worldwide. My mission is to produce entertainment that enriches lives and upholds the values cherished by Christian communities.
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