I hope your Christmas is filled with faith, love, hope and family. And your New Years is Blessed.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Friday, December 3, 2010
Baking for a Mission
Since just before Thanksgiving, I've been working hard in the kitchen. To help us raise money for our Haiti mission trip, I've started selling baked goods. Everything from pies, cakes, cheesecakes, fudge, layer bars (a popular item), banana-nut bread, zucchini bread, pumpkin spice cupcakes and the list goes on.... I so enjoy it and I'm thankful for those who have chosen to help us in this venture. It is so appreciated. Brian, Joseph and myself are very excited to go to Haiti. Here is a picture of the Pumpkin Spice Cupcakes that were a hit yesterday. Have A Blessed Day!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
'Tis the Season
Where has this year gone? Didn't we just start school? Didn't we just dress up for Halloween? Now, Thanksgiving is past and we're focusing on Christmas and all that goes with that. I did have a wonderful, but quiet Thanksgiving. My son Brian and his wife Ashlynn came in from San Antonio, but they spent the holiday with her family. (Which was pre-arranged, because Christmas is our holiday.) I only cooked for my husband and two sons and of course myself. Like I said it was quiet, but well worth it, and very enjoyable. We had tons of food leftover, but it has gone to waste. On black Friday, Ashlynn and I took off and went shopping. We left at 1:00am and returned at 9:00am. We hit two stores and Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Then came home and took a NAP!!
I now have most of my Christmas shopping done, but a few things left to do. But, thankfully, I get to focus on the holiday rather than stressing over making sure everything gets done. I hope you too get to enjoy every minute of this Christmas season. And let's not forget the most important reason for this season. Here's my favorite cartoon clip to help us remember. Enjoy and God Bless You
I now have most of my Christmas shopping done, but a few things left to do. But, thankfully, I get to focus on the holiday rather than stressing over making sure everything gets done. I hope you too get to enjoy every minute of this Christmas season. And let's not forget the most important reason for this season. Here's my favorite cartoon clip to help us remember. Enjoy and God Bless You
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
More Squash
Here are a couple more squash recipes. This was the first acorn squash that I ever tried and then became a fan. It's so good. The second is for butternut squash. I like to serve it with some meatloaf or in place of potatoes.
Craisin Stuffed Acorn Squash
Ingredients
3 medium acorn squash
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons butter
Directions
Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place squash cut side up in two 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes coated with cooking spray.
Combine the cherries, brown sugar, lemon peel, nutmeg and salt; spoon into squash halves. Sprinkle with lemon juice; dot each half with 1/2 tbls of butter.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until squash is tender.
Iserve them in the shell. 1 per person. If you have people like my dad that don't like to try new things, you can always scoop out the contents of each shell and mix well in a bowl. The first time I made these, my dad wouldn't try them. The second time, I put them in a bowl and he loved it. I guess it's all in the presentation for some people.
Next, Garlic Butternut Squash
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 large butternut squash (3-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the parsley, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add squash and toss to coat.
Transfer to an ungreased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 50-55 minutes or until squash is just tender. During the last 5 minutes, sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Then serve and enjoy. Again I use this in place of another starch on the plate, such as potatoes or corn.
Craisin Stuffed Acorn Squash
Ingredients
3 medium acorn squash
2/3 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup lemon juice
3 tablespoons butter
Directions
Cut squash in half; discard seeds. Place squash cut side up in two 13-in. x 9-in. baking dishes coated with cooking spray.
Combine the cherries, brown sugar, lemon peel, nutmeg and salt; spoon into squash halves. Sprinkle with lemon juice; dot each half with 1/2 tbls of butter.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until squash is tender.
Iserve them in the shell. 1 per person. If you have people like my dad that don't like to try new things, you can always scoop out the contents of each shell and mix well in a bowl. The first time I made these, my dad wouldn't try them. The second time, I put them in a bowl and he loved it. I guess it's all in the presentation for some people.
Next, Garlic Butternut Squash
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 large butternut squash (3-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the parsley, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add squash and toss to coat.
Transfer to an ungreased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 50-55 minutes or until squash is just tender. During the last 5 minutes, sprinkle with the parmesan cheese. Then serve and enjoy. Again I use this in place of another starch on the plate, such as potatoes or corn.
Friday, October 1, 2010
Fall Recipes
Wow! I can't believe we "just" started school, but hmmm, now it's already October 1st. Time is just flying by. I really Love this time of year. It gets a bit cooler after a long hot summer. And all the fall veggies are available. I love squash. And I've tried a few new recipes with acorn squash in the last couple of weeks. Here is one of my new favorites. I'll share more later. Enjoy!
SAUSAGE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash
1 pound bulk spicy pork sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Directions
Cut squash in half; remove and discard seeds.
Crumble sausage into a large skillet; add onion. Cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. In a large bowl, beat egg and milk; stir in the spinach, bread crumbs, cranberries and sausage mixture.
Turn squash cut side up. Stuff with sausage mixture. Bake in oven on 350 for 55 minutes.
SAUSAGE STUFFED ACORN SQUASH
Ingredients
2 medium acorn squash
1 pound bulk spicy pork sausage
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and drained
1-1/2 cups soft bread crumbs
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Directions
Cut squash in half; remove and discard seeds.
Crumble sausage into a large skillet; add onion. Cook over medium heat until meat is no longer pink; drain. In a large bowl, beat egg and milk; stir in the spinach, bread crumbs, cranberries and sausage mixture.
Turn squash cut side up. Stuff with sausage mixture. Bake in oven on 350 for 55 minutes.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Getting Ready for School
The past two days, I've been cleaning, organizing and decorating my room for pre-school. Here are some pictures of the finished product. Can't wait to get the kiddos tomorrow.
Monday, August 23, 2010
The Last Hurrah!!
School has now begun! But, before it did, here are a few things we did. On Thursday evening we spent a wonderful night out at the local vineyard visiting with friends and listening to some good music.
On Friday afternoon, we left home for San Antonio with our first stop in Spring Branch. There, we met up with some friends at their house for some bbq and visiting. What a beautiful place they have. We watched the deer come up to the feeder in the back yard. Saw a jack rabbit and a few bullfrogs.
Leaving their house around 11pm we headed to our son and daughter-in-laws house, getting there around midnight. We talked with Brian for just a few minutes, then went to bed.
The next morning (Saturday) Ashlynn and I got up and headed off to North Star Mall. That is an Awesome mall! We got there early and found up front parking!! We went from one end of the mall to the other. We spent most of the day there. Didn't find as many deals as we really wanted, but what fun we had spending time together.
On to Saturday evening. After all day shopping, we got home changed clothes, picked up the guys and off to the River Center Comedy Club. Ashlynn had the directions, new exactly where we were going. We got to the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club right on time. Only it was the wrong club! We got back in the car, raced to downtown, got parking and got to the right club just as they were closing the doors. We got seated before the show started. The first comic was not good at all. The second was a bit better, except for his language was horrible. The headliner, Justin Worsham, was so funny! He was worth the price of admission. We all had a good time listening to him. You can check him out on www.youtube.com The majority of his comedy is about his family.
We got home about 11 and went to bed...at least Ashlynn and I had gone to bed. Brian, Sr and Brian, Jr and maybe Joseph not real sure what did, stayed up and watched the rest of the Steelers preseason game, which they had recorded.
Sunday morning brought church. We tried out a new church with Brian & Ashlynn. They wanted to go to Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. Oak Hills is where Max Lucado preaches. That is one LARGE church!!!! The message was good, but I was a tad disappointed that Max wasn't the one preaching this week. Although he was there and he opened and closed the service. The preacher was Randy Frazee. He was very good. So not disappointed at all about listening to him. He taught on the importance of living out Christ in you own neighborhood, to your neighbors. Building relationships with them, so that when the time comes you can help in what ever area necessary. At the end Randy mentioned the tv show Worlds Strictest Parents that is put out by the BBC. They applied and were accepted as a strict parent family. The are getting 2 British teens to live with them for, I believe, 10 days. They are to try to turn these kids around by showing them a different way to live. They are evidently teens that are into things that they shouldn't be. That will be neat to see the show when it airs here.
After church, we packed up our car to head back home. We left around 1pm got to the house, to drop off Joseph, at 5. We left him here and went on to our small group Bible study. They are an aweseome group of people, so we didn't want to miss even one session. Got home around 9 and pretty much went straight to bed!
So that's it! Our last hurrah before school. It's now Monday morning, Joseph is off to his first day as an 11th grader. In just awhile, I'll be off to the pre-school to get my classroom in order. Pre-schoolers arrive on Wednesday!
So long summer, it's been great!
On Friday afternoon, we left home for San Antonio with our first stop in Spring Branch. There, we met up with some friends at their house for some bbq and visiting. What a beautiful place they have. We watched the deer come up to the feeder in the back yard. Saw a jack rabbit and a few bullfrogs.
Leaving their house around 11pm we headed to our son and daughter-in-laws house, getting there around midnight. We talked with Brian for just a few minutes, then went to bed.
The next morning (Saturday) Ashlynn and I got up and headed off to North Star Mall. That is an Awesome mall! We got there early and found up front parking!! We went from one end of the mall to the other. We spent most of the day there. Didn't find as many deals as we really wanted, but what fun we had spending time together.
On to Saturday evening. After all day shopping, we got home changed clothes, picked up the guys and off to the River Center Comedy Club. Ashlynn had the directions, new exactly where we were going. We got to the Laugh Out Loud Comedy Club right on time. Only it was the wrong club! We got back in the car, raced to downtown, got parking and got to the right club just as they were closing the doors. We got seated before the show started. The first comic was not good at all. The second was a bit better, except for his language was horrible. The headliner, Justin Worsham, was so funny! He was worth the price of admission. We all had a good time listening to him. You can check him out on www.youtube.com The majority of his comedy is about his family.
We got home about 11 and went to bed...at least Ashlynn and I had gone to bed. Brian, Sr and Brian, Jr and maybe Joseph not real sure what did, stayed up and watched the rest of the Steelers preseason game, which they had recorded.
Sunday morning brought church. We tried out a new church with Brian & Ashlynn. They wanted to go to Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. Oak Hills is where Max Lucado preaches. That is one LARGE church!!!! The message was good, but I was a tad disappointed that Max wasn't the one preaching this week. Although he was there and he opened and closed the service. The preacher was Randy Frazee. He was very good. So not disappointed at all about listening to him. He taught on the importance of living out Christ in you own neighborhood, to your neighbors. Building relationships with them, so that when the time comes you can help in what ever area necessary. At the end Randy mentioned the tv show Worlds Strictest Parents that is put out by the BBC. They applied and were accepted as a strict parent family. The are getting 2 British teens to live with them for, I believe, 10 days. They are to try to turn these kids around by showing them a different way to live. They are evidently teens that are into things that they shouldn't be. That will be neat to see the show when it airs here.
After church, we packed up our car to head back home. We left around 1pm got to the house, to drop off Joseph, at 5. We left him here and went on to our small group Bible study. They are an aweseome group of people, so we didn't want to miss even one session. Got home around 9 and pretty much went straight to bed!
So that's it! Our last hurrah before school. It's now Monday morning, Joseph is off to his first day as an 11th grader. In just awhile, I'll be off to the pre-school to get my classroom in order. Pre-schoolers arrive on Wednesday!
So long summer, it's been great!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Summer Vacation Is Done
Wow! It's always amazing to me how fast summer vacation goes. School is starting next Monday! My son Joseph will be in 11th grade. How time does fly.
As the summer ends (we're in Texas, it doesn't really end) and school begins, I start to think of Fall. While at the grocery store I found the first of the fall squashes out. I then got excited to make dinner that night. So here is the menu of the fall dinner I made with recipes to follow.
Harvest Pork Chops
Garlic Butternut Squash
Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Biscuits
Harvest Pork Chops (this is for 4 chops, if you have more, double the amounts)
Seasonings:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
4 boneless loin pork chops (1/2 inch thick)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, sliced
Directions
Combine salt, pepper, paprika, sage and thyme; sprinkle both sides of pork chops.
In a skillet, brown chops in oil for 1-2 minutes on each side. Place chops in 9x13 baking dish, top with onions, cover with aluminum foil.
Bake at 450° for 25 minutes
Garlic Butternut Squash
Ingredients
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 large butternut squash (3-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the parsley, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add squash and toss to coat.
Transfer to an ungreased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 50-55 minutes or until squash is just tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Ingredients
12 Portobello Mushrooms
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 can diced tomatoes
1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed
3 tablespoons green onion
1/4 cup Romano or Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
Directions
Remove stems from caps. Cook Caps and stems in oil on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, turning only once, until mushrooms are tender.
Transfer to shallow baking dish. Mix the next 6 ingredients together. Spoon mixture into caps. place stems on outer edge of pan and cover with any remaining mixture. Sprinkle top with Mozzarella cheese. Bake @ 375 for 10-15 minutes.
Enjoy!
As the summer ends (we're in Texas, it doesn't really end) and school begins, I start to think of Fall. While at the grocery store I found the first of the fall squashes out. I then got excited to make dinner that night. So here is the menu of the fall dinner I made with recipes to follow.
Harvest Pork Chops
Garlic Butternut Squash
Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Biscuits
Harvest Pork Chops (this is for 4 chops, if you have more, double the amounts)
Seasonings:
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
4 boneless loin pork chops (1/2 inch thick)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 small onion, sliced
Directions
Combine salt, pepper, paprika, sage and thyme; sprinkle both sides of pork chops.
In a skillet, brown chops in oil for 1-2 minutes on each side. Place chops in 9x13 baking dish, top with onions, cover with aluminum foil.
Bake at 450° for 25 minutes
Garlic Butternut Squash
Ingredients
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 large butternut squash (3-1/2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Directions
In a large bowl, combine the parsley, oil, garlic, salt and pepper. Add squash and toss to coat.
Transfer to an ungreased shallow 2-qt. baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 400° for 50-55 minutes or until squash is just tender. Sprinkle with Parmesan.
Spinach Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Ingredients
12 Portobello Mushrooms
2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
1 can diced tomatoes
1 package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed
3 tablespoons green onion
1/4 cup Romano or Parmesan cheese
1/4 teaspoon red pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
Directions
Remove stems from caps. Cook Caps and stems in oil on medium heat for 10-15 minutes, turning only once, until mushrooms are tender.
Transfer to shallow baking dish. Mix the next 6 ingredients together. Spoon mixture into caps. place stems on outer edge of pan and cover with any remaining mixture. Sprinkle top with Mozzarella cheese. Bake @ 375 for 10-15 minutes.
Enjoy!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Family Vacation
Our family vacation this year took us to Quitaque, Texas (pronounced kitty quay) to Caprock Canyons State Park. It was a beautiful place.
We tent camped for the week. All of the family came except for our middle son Jeremy. He had to work that week. He was missed. I know he would have had as much fun as the rest of us did.
We saw a lot of different critters during the week. Our first critter was a rosehair tarantula. He was on the edge of our campsite. I was startled when I first saw it. I was not expecting to see a tarantula. But I think he was even less excited about seeing us, as he vacated the area.
We also saw a couple of snakes, some mule deer, turkeys, roadrunners, a painted bunting, a golden eagle and skunks! Ashlynn and I had been at the lake with guys while they were fishing. We went to the restrooms and on the way back, we smelled the skunk on the trail. The next thing we saw was "pepe le pew" running from the left side of the woods, down the trail, and off to the right side of the woods. We then decided to take the long way back to the lake. Just in case.
The canyon was absolutely gorgeous! Here are a couple of pictures, but they just don't do it justice.
We also spent a bit of time at the lake doing some fishing. We caught a few fish, but all were too little to keep. But it was relaxing. In the first picture, they were catching bait. There was an insane amount of grasshoppers around. So several were caught and used to catch the fish.
We spent one day up at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Canyon, Texas. It too was beautiful and had a lot of hiking trails.
It was an awesome vacation and we will remember it for quite a while. Here are the last pictures we took. One of our final sunset on the lake, and the sunrise of our final morning. Truly beautiful and for me breathtaking.
We tent camped for the week. All of the family came except for our middle son Jeremy. He had to work that week. He was missed. I know he would have had as much fun as the rest of us did.
We saw a lot of different critters during the week. Our first critter was a rosehair tarantula. He was on the edge of our campsite. I was startled when I first saw it. I was not expecting to see a tarantula. But I think he was even less excited about seeing us, as he vacated the area.
We also saw a couple of snakes, some mule deer, turkeys, roadrunners, a painted bunting, a golden eagle and skunks! Ashlynn and I had been at the lake with guys while they were fishing. We went to the restrooms and on the way back, we smelled the skunk on the trail. The next thing we saw was "pepe le pew" running from the left side of the woods, down the trail, and off to the right side of the woods. We then decided to take the long way back to the lake. Just in case.
The canyon was absolutely gorgeous! Here are a couple of pictures, but they just don't do it justice.
We also spent a bit of time at the lake doing some fishing. We caught a few fish, but all were too little to keep. But it was relaxing. In the first picture, they were catching bait. There was an insane amount of grasshoppers around. So several were caught and used to catch the fish.
We spent one day up at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in Canyon, Texas. It too was beautiful and had a lot of hiking trails.
It was an awesome vacation and we will remember it for quite a while. Here are the last pictures we took. One of our final sunset on the lake, and the sunrise of our final morning. Truly beautiful and for me breathtaking.
More Summer
June - We went to Denton, Texas for youth camp. That was a wild and crazy week. It's only about 5 hours or so from here, so much closer than last year, going all the way to TN. Runks Runkles was our speaker and he's the most ADHD person I've ever met! But he was an awesome speaker. Our worship team was Branch. They are some amazing singers and players. We had a lot of fun with our rec team too. They dressed up as nerds all week and kept things interesting. The games they came up with were so much fun. We had a few practical jokes too. Some boys turned off the water heaters to the girls cabins. So in retaliation, we cut the breakers to their a/c and stole their thermostats.
It was a beautiful camp as well. Here are a few pictures.
Our Cabins
The Lake
Relaxing in the shade
Playin' some putt putt
It was a beautiful camp as well. Here are a few pictures.
Our Cabins
The Lake
Relaxing in the shade
Playin' some putt putt
Friday, July 9, 2010
SUMMER!!!
What a busy summer this has been so far! And still more to come! Memorial Day Weekend...we had lots to celebrate. First, My niece graduated from 5th grade. She's now on to Junior High this fall. Second, My son Brian and his wife Ashlynn celebrated their 2nd wedding anniversary. Third, My Dad FINALLY was able to retired after many years of Truck Driving. And last but not least, My youngest son Joseph and his friend Logan share the same birthday, they turned 16 on May 31st. Here are some photos of our celebrations from Memorial Weekend!
There were so many of us that we would have been sleeping all over the floors, so we opted to bring our camping gear for the weekend and set it all up in My mom's side yard.
All this for Memorial Weekend. We had a lot of fun! My parents live way out in the country, so they took the guns out in the woods for a little practice shooting, we did lots of grilling, eating and laughing. Having a great time all together.
They blew up a bottle
Logan
My three boys
My brother John and his granddaughter Kadence
There were so many of us that we would have been sleeping all over the floors, so we opted to bring our camping gear for the weekend and set it all up in My mom's side yard.
All this for Memorial Weekend. We had a lot of fun! My parents live way out in the country, so they took the guns out in the woods for a little practice shooting, we did lots of grilling, eating and laughing. Having a great time all together.
They blew up a bottle
Logan
My three boys
My brother John and his granddaughter Kadence
Sunday, July 4, 2010
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY
Happy 4th of July Everyone! I hope this National Holiday is finding everyone happy and healthy. We are having a quiet celebration. Joseph is making lunch for us (inside) not grilled this time. Sometime after lunch we will go to Bicentennial Park for town festivities and fireworks. Just a reminder to all: Remember those who have fought for our freedom. Those past, present and future. They are the reason why we are able to celebrate today. Enjoy and have Safe and Happy Independence Day!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Spring
Haven't posted for awhile, thought I would share our most recent trip to San Antonio. My son Brian needed some help with his car, so dad to the rescue! Ashlynn and I went to do some house comparisons. I love looking a model homes to get decorating ideas and just to see what's out there. We checked out several housing subdivisions, but the ones we checked out weren't really any better than what they have. On Sunday we went out for a photo shoot. Brian and Ashlynn's 2nd anniversary is on the 24th, so I wanted to get some really cute photos of them. Got some of me and my honey as well. Enjoy the pictures!
These were all taken in a field near their house. We had several people drive by and blow horns at us. Kinda funny. We then went in search of another location. We found some tracks. Here are some of those pics.
These were all taken in a field near their house. We had several people drive by and blow horns at us. Kinda funny. We then went in search of another location. We found some tracks. Here are some of those pics.
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