Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Today's Daily Devotion

Then he said to me: "This is the curse that goes out over the face of the whole earth; "Every thief shall be expelled," according to this side of the scroll; and, "Every perjurer shall be expelled," according to that side of it."  Zechariah 5:3 NKJV

I am struggling with this, especially today.  This is my devotion today, and the little story that came with it was about a woman witnessing another woman shoplift.  She did nothing about it, and thanked the security cameras so that she didn't have to confront the person or security to take up her time.  The decision of confronting the person or turning her in was a difficult one.  Is it to be made?  All of us sin.  We are all forgiven if we choose it.

The prayer that went along was this:
Dear Lord, heavenly Father, I pray for Your righteous justice for this woman and for everyone, because we're all sinners.  Bring us discernment and judgment as we go through each day, and help us to make the right decisions.  In Your holy name, amen.

I truly want to do the right thing.  Is it always what we should do?  We are supposed to confront our brother or sister in Christ when we are aware of wrong doing.  Someone else took care of that for her.    I pray that I do what God wants me to do, especially in difficult situations.  It doesn't always work that way.

Do you watch and do nothing just to let past be the past?  Do you pray for that person that you are aware of wrong doing? I struggle with that more than anything.  Pray for the person?  Seriously?  Yes, Lord I know, what I am supposed to do, but I don't always WANT to do it.  I don't always want to do what people tell me to do either.  hmmm, I think I see a pattern.  It is easier sometimes not to do anything.  It causes less conflict, stress, and issues. 

Then I think about my character.  Is my witness and character what God would want it to be?  Do I show in my daily actions of doing the right thing?  Does it show that I am loving and forgiving? 

Lots to pray about today.  I pray that you have a good day, and that you make right decisions.

Blessings.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

100th Post

Wow.
I have written 100 posts.  I did this?  No, not I? Really?

And who is reading such garble?  You!  Seriously people. Hahahaha.  I am amazed that anyone is reading this blog.  I love it, I really do. 

I also love the commitment I am making to cook more for my family.  I have convinced myself that Carmen and Stephen will have all of my recipes in my blog, since none of them are written down (but there are here).  So, this is for my children. For my family.  Yes, that is why I do this.

Thank you for reading.  I hope that I can keep you entertained as you keep up with my ADD.  =)

Enjoy your day! 

Praline-Apple Bread

Oh my!
You have got to try this!

Praline-Apple Bread

I followed the recipe, although I did add a bit more apple, and pecans.


Mixing the ingredients.
Adding the apples.
I don't keep pecans well.  I normally have them in the freezer for months and months.
Yes, these were in the freezer, but I oven roasted them for about 10 minutes.
They turned out nutty, and yummy.
I followed the instructions! 
This is important for me, I normally don't.
Yes, even this...
Yummy, this is good all by itself or dip some of your leftover apples in it!
I did let it rest in the pan for about 15 minutes.
Then out on a cooling rack (that you can't see).
I got smart, and decided that the picture showed the gooey stuff
overflowing into the cooling rack (I don't do well with gooey messes).
So I placed some aluminum foil between the bread and the cooling rack.
Now all the gooey goodness is together.

Try this!!!
Enjoy!

Oma's Rouladen

I have said that I would post pictures later.  And, I have posted my mother's recipe without making it.  Rouladen is an acquired taste.  I love it.  It takes way too long to prepare for just a little bit, so when you make it, make a lot of it so you have left overs to enjoy the next day as well.

Oma's Rouladen

Round Steak (pounded very thin and cut into 3 x 5 strips)
Bacon (cut into 1x2 strips)
Pickles (kosher dills - cut in half)
Onion - slices
Dijon mustard - about 3 tablespoons
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 mushrooms
Oil
Flour
Salt/Pepper
tooth picks

Begin by pounding out round steak until thin.

 
This is my Oma Anna's meat tenderizer (pounder thingy).
Then smear some mustard on the inside of the meat pieces.  
Lay the bacon piece, pickle and then onion on top.
Roll up tightly, and secure with toothpicks.
Cover in flour, and add to hot oil (vegetable).  
Brown, and remove until all the meat is coated and browned.
Once the meat is browned, add the remaining onion and mushroom.
Add a little water and if you like a beef bouillon or even red wine.
Add the cooked meat back into the pot.
Roast in the oven at 350 degrees for 3 to 4 hours or until meat is tender.
I serve this with noodles, but you can do potatoes as well.
Enjoy!

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Menu for September 27th

Well, lets see shall we?

Last week (Menu for September 20th)
Monday:  Chicken Pot Pie, salad (homemade croutons) with artichokes, black and green olives. I did this. =)
Tuesday:  BBQ Chicken legs and thighs, Jasmine rice, green beans this too, but had peas instead of green beans.
Wednesday:  Pot roast (at church) We all ate this. 
Thursday:  Date night this we changed.  David wasn't feeling well, so it was Chick-Fil-A night. 
Friday:  Calzone, salad Nope on this one.  I ended up going to the Melting Pot with girl friends, and David went grocery shopping.  (I did not accomplish that on Thursday either.)
Saturday:  Roladen (recipe to come), macaroni noodles, cucumber salad I will be fixing this today (Sunday)
Sunday:  Meat Loaf, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, peas, salad Bumped until Monday or maybe later in the week. As you can see, I didn't do as well as I had hoped, but much better than I anticipated.  


Menu for September 27th

Monday:  Calzones, cucumber salad.
Tuesday:  Baked chicken breasts, my ratatouille version with zucchini, yellow squash, and onions
Wednesday:  Church - pork chops, macaroni and cheese, salad
Thursday: I have a stampin' workshop (Julie =)) to attend for a friend, so we might get to eat out before I go?
Friday: Meat Loaf, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, green beans
Progress I suppose.  At least part of last week was accomplished.  I will be posting the Roladen recipe later today (when I make it for supper, dinner, or whenever).

Have a good day! Blessings.

Fall, ya right.

Okay - it is officially fall.  Well, not here in Northwest Florida. 
Here it was 90 degrees yesterday. 
No rain for a  while so things are starting to die.

This is our crepe myrtle outside our front door. 
 
Things here turn brown, not a pretty red, orange or even a yellow just brown.
Today is an overcast today.  We need the rain, so I will not complain about that.
I am moving slow this morning.
I think I would enjoy the rain and clouds if our trees would be in pretty colors.

Monday, September 20, 2010

Menu for September 20th

I am trying to be more aware of what we are eating, and our budget.  Menus have always helped with both of these, it is just sticking with it.  So, maybe if I put it in writing, than I must stick with it...right?


So, here is this week (planned):

Monday:  Chicken Pot Pie, salad (homemade croutons) with artichokes, black and green olives.
Tuesday:  BBQ Chicken legs and thighs, Jasmine rice, green beans
Wednesday:  Pot roast (at church)
Thursday:  Date night
Friday:  Calzones, salad
Saturday:  Roladen (recipe to come), macaroni noodles, cucumber salad
Sunday:  Meat Loaf, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, peas, salad

So...there it is.  I will grocery shop on Thursday, see a nephew's football game, and have date night.  Not what I would truly do on one of our date nights, but David and I consider our dates just time together. It really doesn't matter what we are doing, and grocery shopping can be fun with someone you love.

I will keep you updated.  My family is not hopeful. Carmen rolled her eyes (not that this doesn't normally happen coming from a 17 year old teenager).

Blessings!

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Nutella Bundt Cake (Part Two)

Well, I finally got eggs.  I should give that credit to David as he did physically get them for me.  So thank you David for purchasing more eggs so that we would have more chocolate cake.  Like we need this!?  I did send 3/4 of this Bundt with our Childrens Minister that was being moved this week.  Brandon is a baker, and would always bring in treats for me to try.  I will miss that.  Hopefully, Brandon and Kristen will enjoy this.

So, instead of keeping everything separated in the Marbled Cake, I blended the Nutella 
throughout the cake mix.  I also omitted the almond extract.
So 1 box cake, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 2/3 cups water, 1 stick butter, 2/3 cup mayonnaise, 4 eggs, 
1 cup Nutella, and confectioners sugar.  Beat, bake, and enjoy.

I didn't take the butter out to soften naturally, so I microwaved it for a bit (30 seconds I think). 
I didn't bake this one as long either.  About 42 minutes at 375 degrees. 
Darker batter, and a dark pan.
Cool for about 15 minutes, invert onto your favorite cake plate.
As I have stated, I normally use too much flour in the "grease/flour" pan part.
This time David helped me, and I believe the flour didn't want to stay.
As you can see, part of the top didn't come out well.
So...this turned out to be tasters. Yummy!
I added the confectioner's sugar to the top.  It didn't cover the mistake all the way,
and I think it isn't too sweet with all of the chocolate like icing would be.
I also like the simplicity and contrast of colors.
It was moist, again!  Yes.  This was good.  I don't know if it was better than 
the Marbled Bundt, but it was moist and favorable. 
I think that I prefer the Marbled Bundt.  
It is what my Mom made, and I grew up on it.

Let me know if you try this one.
Try to enjoy!


Cards

I love making cards.  Once a month, Julie (wonderful, crafty friend), who sells Stampin' Up, hosts a stamp-a-stack weekend. I always feel NOT crafty when I attend these things.  Julie always is the first to tell you that she follows directions, and will take from scrapbook pages or other ideas and make it her own.

I loved learning this technique.  We weaved ribbon around a card stock.  I fumbled around a lot this day (my hands were not cooperating), but it was so worth it.  Ribbon, card stock, color paper, and a stamp.  Simple, and really cute.


And then - change the paper, and ribbon...and you have a completely different look.  
This is really great for using up extra ribbon.  
 And, then this rose:
Tear some paper.  Emboss the white outer part of the rose.  Water paint (yes, with drops of ink on a wet card).  Blot if you wanted it lighter (which I did), but I LOVE the effect.  You can also dry with an embosser.

Then Marie (another crafty friend - jealous!) had a workshop, and Julie had to step it up.  And we did!  

These bubbles are a riot!  Fun, and really easy.  

These petals almost killed me, but OH did I feel crafty!  And, I think I could repeat what I did. 
Simple concept, and very easy, just detailed.

You can find her here...
www.craftasticpassion.com 

Tell her where you found her!  =)
Enjoy!


Friendship

Why do you need your bestie?  Yes, best friend.

Phone...I have a bench from my Mom that she referred to as a "gossip bench."  It used to have the phone on it's shelf, and underneath the shelf a telephone directory (all of her family, and important numbers), and a telephone book.  You could sit by the phone (well, you had to - the phone cord was short and connected to the wall), and chat for hours.  This is before cordless phones, and most certainly, cell phones.  I remember sitting there for hours chatting to friends.  I truly can talk for hours, and hours.  Talk about troubles, funnies, irritants, and just general stuff.

Friend. How often do you talk to your friend?  Sometimes I wish that telephones were still connected to walls.  So you would need to sit and think about what was being said.  You took time to talk.  Not always on the way to the store, or later.

I look at my bench, and always think of my friends.  Now it is a spot for things to be dumped, and not ever in its appropriate place.  Or for the cat to sleep away the hours.  I wish there was a phone, and time to spend hours on the phone with my best friend.

Monday, September 13, 2010

Busy

Schedules.

Mine is normally not that busy on weekends mainly due to needing rest.  This past weekend there were commitments that I wanted to keep.  I did - I kept all of them.  Surprising even to me.

Do you say "no" when asked to do things?  Do you feel guilty if you do?  It seems lately that I do say no more.  The kids are extremely busy, but not as much as some I know. 

I am the social one in the family I think.  I like people --friends!  I enjoy them.  I want to be an encourager.  Hug, smile, and love on them. Some days are just busy.  Not enough of hugging, smiling or loving on anyone.  Schedule that time.  I plan to.  Our days are too short not to love on our friends and family.

Hug a friend, especially when they say no.  =)
Have a good Monday, and be an encourager.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Nutella Marbled Bundt Cake

I had this yellow cake mix, and wanted to make some sort of marbled cake with it.  I love my Mom's bundt pan. So...
 I used about 1 cup of Nutella, mixed together with an egg.  
Used 3 eggs, 1 stick butter, and 1/3 cup water per the cake mix instructions. 
 I used 1 egg and about 1 cup of nutella, mixed.  
I also added about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon to the nutella mix.

I added 1 teaspoon of almond extract and about 2/3 cups of mayonnaise, yes mayonnaise! 
My Mom used to use it--swore that it made the cakes moist.  And, I believed her.  I mixed together the cake mix and mayo.  Took about 1/3 of the mix and mixed it with the nutella and egg mixture.  

Sprayed the pan, and coated it with flour.  (I always use too much flour.)  
Pour the yellow mix in.  Drop the pan onto the counter several times to 
make sure that it is even (and to release any air bubbles).  Spoon over the nutella mix.  
Take a knife and slice into the yellow mix (this should make your swirl).  
Add the remaining batter. Drop pan again making sure all bubbles come to the top.
Follow the directions for a bundt pan on the cake mix (38-43 minutes) at 375 degrees
in the middle part of your oven.  Remove when done (use a cake tester).  
Cool on a cooling rack for about 10 minutes.  
Invert onto a plate.  Once cake is completely cooled, sprinkle some powdered sugar on top.
Not really swirled - all of the chocolate mix went to the bottom (or top) it was too heavy.  
I will have to lighten this part up next time (although my family says NO).
It is really moist!  I sound surprised! ha.  It really is though.  
You don't have wait 3 days for this one to be really moist.
My family raved about it so much, David had seconds.  So much for this being for the entire week.  =)

Enjoy!

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Down Days

The weekend has become my down time.   Monday through Friday I work outside the home.  One day, hopefully sooner than later, I will be able to work from home.  But for now that is the way life has it.  I have been off of the medicines recommended by my RA doctor for over a year now.  Overall, I believe that I have less issues without the side effects from the medicine than being on so many different prescriptions.  I hate taking pills.

Although there are days that are extremely difficult with joint pain, and fatigue.  Weekends seem to get me more now than ever.  The weather is becoming really nice outside, and with low humidity.  This just makes me sad.  I  need to rest, if I don't - Monday will not be a good day, or the rest of the week.  I have off Labor Day Monday, but we had activities this weekend.  The family goes and does, and here I sit, resting, with my hips throbbing, and thoroughly exhausted.  I slept until 1030 or until my back couldn't take it anymore.  You would think that I had plenty of sleep.  Nope, not today.  I have been focusing less lately as well.  It has been a long while that I have felt this bad. 

So another weekend, and I have spent my time either in bed or on the couch.  I am grateful that my determination is better come Mondays but overall, I still don't feel well.  Days like today I wonder if I should go back on the medicines, but they seem to make the bad days every other day, then allow me to wait until the weekends.

So, the house is quiet, and I think it is time for a nap. 

Saturday, September 4, 2010

SEC Football

Life seems back to normal around here.  Fall is in the air.  Not really, but it seems that way since football has begun.  My family is divided in teams.  I am an Arkansas Razorback girl.  David is a graduate from LSU, hence he is a fan of the tigers.  Carmen was a little razorback, then LSU (all because we saw a game), and Stephen is a razorback but really doesn't like football .Talk is cheap when it comes to football,  but in the SEC we talk big.  Whether you bleed in purple and gold, red and white, orange and blue...enjoy the game. Spend time with family and friends.

And Go Hogs!


This was taken in November of 2007.  We, as a divided family, 
attended the Boot Game (Arkansas and LSU).

 A very tiny Stephen proudly wearing piggie...with his Mom.
David and Carmen wearing LSU - hrumpf.
 David NOT happy with the ending score.
ARK 50 to LSU 48 in 7 overtimes!  Long day but a lot of fun!
Hope you are enjoying your football time.