A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

I've had a moment of reflection only to discover that I love cranberries. Not to pop one of the tart fruits in my mouth to savor, as that would pucker even the strongest of women. But the red-jeweled fruit is amazing, I think, and often under valued. While shopping this week, I saw the first opportunity to purchase cranberries. There were two options; the small 12 ounce bag, or the large two pound bag. It's when I took note of the thought in my head when I saw the options that I realized, "I really do love cranberries!" While shopping, I began to think of the ways I'd use the cranberries, and also wondered if I needed to grab another bag, "just in case one bag wasn't enough." Today, I made roasted cranberries. I think this will be delicious as a smear on a chicken sandwich or wrap a topping in a quinoa bowl with a bit of crumbled goat cheese, roasted butternut squash, and a few chopped pecans a sauce for a turke...

Cranberries are usually thought to be "holiday" food. Served mostly as cranberry salad . . . or "jellied" cranberry sauce. Now, I'm not knocking either of those, as my family does love cranberry sauce and salad. But truthfully, cranberries are delicious, although slightly tart and does go better with sugar. If you are like me, during the holiday months, when cranberries are plentiful, you stock your freezer. That way, you have these red-jeweled fruits ready to use anytime during the year. I've recently made this recipe to serve and it was most wonderful. While I do think this would be a nice dessert or brunch salad during chilly winter months. You could easily serve it anytime of the year; especially if you have cranberries in your freezer! This is a simple recipe from Southern Living.  Sometimes "simple" and "Southern Living" do not fit into the same sentence.  But here, it does! Cranberry and Cream Dessert 1 1...

It's getting close to trick or treat time and I wanted to do something creative! Our neighborhood is not "traditional." By that, I mean it is very small and off the beaten path. If you talk to my mom, you'd think we live off the grid! But truth is, by most standards, we might be considered "in the country." But by those who really live "in the country," we are close to city-dwellers. Regardless of such, we won't have a lot of little trick or treaters running up to our door. Matter of fact, I had to tell our neighbors to come see us that night! And with that, comes the fact since we won't have too many kids I wanted to go BIG! I bought BIG candy for the kids! Who doesn't love getting full-sized candy bars when they trick or treat? I mean, really!! To make your candy mummy, you'll need: any kind of full-size candy bar strips of white cloth; muslin, cheese cloth, even crepe paper if you have it.  (I used...

It's a 4th of July Celebration! My girl cherub has been making plans for a week now of things to make; both food and decorations! She's made the spread sheet, gathered ingredients, secured craft supplies and borrowed some much needed accessories and décor from a friend of hers. That would be a grown up friend of hers who knows how to throw a party! Last night, it was like a party company delivery at our house! The patriotic bunting, baskets, and other goodies were dropped off to help my cherub achieve the best 4th of July party ever! My cherub found a sweet snack treat on the internet and used the recipe as a guide for her own snack mix.  The jar she is serving it in is one of her entertaining creations too; thank goodness for google!  It's an endless supply of ideas!  She modified that too, and it's worked well! For the jar, that she's using to serve a patriotic drink in, she dipped the rim in white dipping chocolate then rolled it in red and bl...

Dying Easter Eggs is a fun activity at our house. I have a collection of tools and dying paraphernalia that we can use to create the perfect egg. After Easter, I always buy egg dying kits on sale.   It's a great way to get plenty of stuff for real cheap! Cuter than any decorated Easter egg are these two little cherubs of mine!

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day." 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 Happy Easter! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbJtqYow3Q (song:  I Have a Hope)

Image from Google Today we remember as the day Christ willingly bore our sins; suffered anguish and a cruel death so that we may know Him, His truth, and fulfill Scripture. Christ agonized on the cross for six hours. During his last 3 hours on the cross, from noon to 3 p.m., darkness fell over the whole land. With a loud cry, Jesus gave up his spirit. There was an earthquake,  tombs broke open, and the curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom. The Centurion on guard at the site of crucifixion declared, "Truly this was God's Son!" Matthew 27:45-54

Image from the Internet We've been making Resurrection Rolls for years now.  When my cherubs were itty-bitty, we began making these. This has been around for many years; I didn't create it -- I simply duplicated it! It's one of the ways we celebrate the Easter season and my cherubs still ask when we're going to make the Resurrection Rolls! We read the Resurrection Story found in Scripture and then we make these treats. This is usually an activity for us to do on Saturday before Easter, but any time you can carve out this week would be a fun experience for your family. Prior to making the treats, read John 19 while the oven is pre-heating according to the package directions.  If you have time, or if your cherubs are older, you can actually read John 12-19, which will give you the entire story. Resurrection Rolls 1 can of Crescent Rolls 1/3-1/2 cup melted butter Bowl of Cinnamon/Sugar Mixture 8 Large Marshm...

Image from Google I'm headed to a girl's night out where we're going to get mani's, pedi's, and have snacks! Doesn't that sound like fun? I thought so! But since we'll be hanging out in a nail shop, I wanted to take something that was a "grab and go" kind of snack.  I didn't want anything that required serving spoons, refrigeration, or a crockpot! But I wanted it kind of "Valentine-y," as if that's a real word! So here's what I googled and found. I looked at lots of recipes and they were all basically the same. I haven't made this yet; so I don't know if it's good or not . . .but how bad could it really be? I thought this would be cute as a little teacher treat, or a special snack in my cherub's lunch, too! Valentine's Puppy Chow 5 C. Rice Chex cereal 3/4 C. white chocolate melts or chips 1/4 C. chocolate melts or chips 2 oz cream cheese, room temp 1...

It's almost here . . . the celebration of Christmas! My cherubs are finally out of school and today is their first day to sleep in! Never mind that it's a Saturday! Sleeping in is sleeping in! With the festive lights, fun family activities, and the wrapping paper and ribbons that surround this season, I have decided to not make any recipe posts until after the Christmas celebration and the ringing in of the new year.  May you know the truth that is wrapped in the gift of Christmas; Jesus!   . . .until 2013!

Ever since my cherubs were little cherubs; since the time when we only had one cherub, Mimi has been doing the 12 days of Christmas. She stole   borrowed this idea from a friend at work. Each day, starting on December 13, the cherubs get to open one gift each. One little something. One little treasure. One little surprise that counts down to Christmas. When the cherubs where small the gifts were a little easier. Now the cherubs are bigger and the gifts are a little harder. But Mimi is Mimi and nothing is impossible for Mimi! Here's how it works: Mimi wraps 12 small gifts for the boy cherub and 12 small gifts for the girl cherub. Each gift is in its own gift sack Each cherub has their own sack color/design. Each day, each cherub can pick whatever sack they want to open. They call Mimi in the morning and, while on the phone with her, they tear open the sack and tell her what their surprise of the day is! It...

 Image from the Internet My boy cherub is raising money for a trip that he will go on this Spring. He is raising money in two different ways.  First, he is willing to be "hired" to do small jobs around the house:  lawn mowing, leaf raking, grocery shopping, and the likes. The second way might surprise you. He is selling "treats of the month." That's right! I'm helping him with different treats that people have ordered. This month, it is caramel corn. The "old fashioned" kind! I told him, perhaps we should have thought through what we were doing! Each recipe takes about 1 1/2 hours to make from beginning to end! But I love this recipe because it starts with fresh popped corn. Like the kind that you pop in a pan. I guess you could use microwave popcorn for this recipe. But I don't. I get out the popper and we go to town! If you're looking for something fun to do with your family -- maybe gathering i...

If ever there should be a marriage, this is it. Candy Corn and Peanuts. It was meant to be. Promise! It's the best of two worlds: Nasty Holiday Candy and Dry Roasted Peanuts! In no other recipe would you mix the two. But here, it works! And if that's not enough. It's a science of two great elements! And you have to find the right concoction that fits best with your taste. For me:  2 to 1. 2 candy corns to 1 peanut. I line them up on the counter in their little family groups. And if it turns out with an uneven mix, I'll fix it. 2 candy corns to 1 peanut. Always! I only allow one bag of candy corn and one container of dry roasted peanuts into the house during the Fall. When it's gone . . . I cry! 

A long time ago, there was a lady who made peanut brittle. It was her "Seasonal Job!" Once her kids were out of school and she had done it as long as she wanted, she made her last box of peanut brittle and handed the wooden spoon to me! Now it's my "seasonal job!"  I've already been perched at my stove this week, stirring and smelling and waiting for the hot syrup to "spin a thread."  Once it does . . . . we end up with a table full of thin, golden brittle that has just the right amount of peanuts!  Box and after box line our kitchen table, ready to be delivered!  The cherubs used to help me get the boxes ready for the brittle. It's amazing, though, this year they're both so busy with school??!!?!  However, neither one of them seem to be busy when it's time for a "quality control check!" Look at that super-yummy, incredibly thin and perfect piece of brittle! If you're in my area, it's not...

For my birthday this year, my mom gave me this beautiful sign. A friend that she works with made it! It's on an old cabinet door -- it weights a ton! I was so excited for the holiday season to come around so that I could put it on my dining room tablescape! That's why we have a dining room table -- to decorate, not to eat at! Matter of fact, sad truth is, we haven't sat at this table in 2 years! Really! Look at all the stuff on the table -- it'd be such a hassle to move! So instead, we just decorate it every season and look at it! I just LOVE  this sign and knowing me I'll be using it in different ways all throughout the year -- not just at Christmas! My great grandmother simply loved birds, especially cardinals. I remember as a young girl, going to her house and in her backyard were lots and lots of bird feeders and we'd watch the cardinals peck away at the food. My grandmother has been in heaven for nearly 2...

My cherub and his friend, Coleman. My cherub went to the Fall festival as a middle schooler . .  . creative! Our little friend went as a "plain cowboy." "Plain Cowboy" is 5 years old! There you go! My cherub and her friend; "plain cowboy's" big sister! My cherub has worn this skeleton outfit since she made it in kindergarten ! I'm going to say that this was the last year of sporting it out in public! Her friend was "Princess Elizabeth." Elizabeth isn't her name  . . .but she said if she were a Princess, then she'd be "Elizabeth!"   After the Fall Festival at church we came home and changed into different costumes and went trick-or-treating in the neighborhood! Someone asked my cherub if she was a housewife! "No, I'm a girl who just got up!" Walking down the sidewalk, my cherub said, "I don't even know what a housewife is!" My cherub s...

Our own waffles, but the idea came from the blog "Random thoughts of a Super Mom." This is what happens when the Mr. looks at blogs! He gets ideas! Ideas that he thinks would be fun to do . . . but then needs my help to do! Friday, the Mr. saw this on a blog and said, "That'd be fun to do for the cherubs for breakfast tomorrow!" Saturday morning breakfast is "His" thing. Has been since we've had cherubs. So, on Saturday, I'm trying to look real busy being "comfy" when I hear him say, "I'm going to need your help!" Here's where it started: He  had no waffle mix; so I had to search for a waffle recipe.  Found one! He didn't really know how to add "my" food colorings to the batter; so I did that too.  Looks pretty close to the real color! He didn't know what he was going to put the different waffle color mixes in so that he could pour the different colo...

I love caramel apples. The big, gourmet ones! The ones that sit on display, begging you to indulge! When we're on vacation, that's a temptation I'll succumb too! There's a little shop in Santa Fe that have the best gourmet caramel apples. But I don't live in Santa Fe! Making my own is my task today! Because Fall is coming . . . it's been here once or twice, already . . . and gone . . . and now it's coming again! In honor of Fall, I whipped up one, lonely, delicious, caramel apple treat! I'm kind of picky when it comes to caramel apples. I like real caramel apples. Where the caramel is thick and sticks to the apple . . .and my teeth, occasionally! I like the apples with a little extra splash of chocolate and rolled in something delicious and sprinkled with something fun and drizzled with a bit more goodness! So tonight, I didn't do all of that -- it's just me, after all!  And you too, but you won't know about...

Look into my crystal ball . . . .  . . . what do you see? Halloween Candy Bark! Yummy! Making bark is the easiest thing in the world to do!  You can mix just about anything into the melted bark and POOF !  You've got a new creation! Halloween Candy Bark 1 package white or chocolate almond bark 3 cups pretzels, broken 2 cups candy corn 15 Halloween Oreo's, broken into pieces (I didn't use them because I couldn't find them!) sprinkles On a silpat or foil-lined cookie sheet, place about 2 cups of the broken pretzels and the broken Oreo's, if you're using them.  Melt the almond bark in the microwave, being careful not to scorch the bark.  Almond bark typically holds its shape, even when it's melted, so stir often to prevent burning. Pour the melted almond bark over the pretzels and smear it around, covering as much of the pretzels/oreos as possible.  Quickly sprinkle the top of the almond bark with the remaining pretzels and cand...

My girl cherub has an auction at school today. Parents have been asked to donate items. My cherub begged me to make sugar cookies. She thinks that everyone will LOVE cookies! So I made 3 different pumpkin cookies and 2 spider cookies. I like the spider cookies the best. My cherub is so excited -- she wants to bid on the cookies. But guess what! My cherub is home sick today -- she has strep throat! She's not going to school OR bidding at the auction! Guess what I did! I left one of the cookies at home for her to have! That's a nice momma -- don't you think?