A Proverbs 31 Kind of Day

I'm sure you've heard all about making your own laundry soap. It's a novelty. Well, a novelty these days! Normally you think of tree-hugging, nut-eating, broom-stick skirt wearing, Birkenstock shoe wearing people as the only ones who would be interested in such. Not that trees, nuts, broom stick skirts and Birkenstock shoes are bad .  . . but sometimes when they're all put together; well, you know! Back to the laundry soap making . . . it's kind of coming back in style to be "in control" of things! That's probably because the things we need to be in control of  we aren't, so we're choosing random things to "take control of" so that we feel better about being out of control. Wow! I think that might be a deep thought to contemplate! Do I hear rhythmic snapping and "cool man" in the background? I have been making  my own laundry soap for several months now. It is cheaper. But I'm not so sure that it...

  Fruit Cocktail!  What's it possibly good for?  Not much except Jell-O cups and this cake! This is an old recipe . . .been around for years! You can find it in countless church cookbooks from "back in the day!" Back when, the recipe would call for "oleo" - - which is the old way of saying "butter!"  Today, I'm not sure that you'd find it in a newly published cookbook, but that's OK -- it's still good! Matter of fact, when you make it, there will be somebody that asks for the recipe because they've never had it before and they'll think it's something new! Don't you love that? This cake throws together in a flash and is easy enough for your cherubs to jump in and help you! Fruit Cocktail Cake 1 1/2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 2 eggs 1/2 cup of oil 1/2 tsp. salt 2 tsp. baking soda 1 can fruit cocktail (I used "in it's own juice") Sauce 1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter 5 oz evaporated mi...

Image from Betty Crocker This recipe is from a librarian friend of mine.  I've not made these cookies yet, but I may  just make them today! I'm posting this because: I trust her; she says they're yummy! The recipe is easy!  You don't have to measure anything! These are easy, on-hand ingredients You can make these cookies cheaper than you can buy some from the store With the Summer here, and kids home, and company coming, and vacations, this recipe should be an easy, go-to cookie with little effort and great results! Speaking of vacation, if you pack a goodie basket to carry in the car with you, then you could bake up these treats and store them in a clean, but empty Pringles container as you travel!  Isn't that a novel idea?  They'll be keep safe, won't break, and when you're done, you can toss the can in the nearest trash bin! If you really want to be creative, you can decorate the outside of the Pringles can with a decoupage road map,...

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...

I can't take credit for this recipe or the picture! Nope! Pillsbury and my son! I get e-mails from Pillsbury. Like almost every day -- it's c.r.a.z.y! But one day, my cherub was breathing down my neck reading over my shoulder and saw the picture of this recipe. "Oh momma, that'd be good!" And being a good momma, I said, "Sure thing!  Whatever you want!" (Because that's what I say most of the time to him . . .NOT!) We read the recipe; decided the changes we would make to it and then we got the ingredients the next time we went grocery shopping. This recipe calls for pre-made meatballs. Which I really don't like. For many reasons. One being texture. The others -- you don't want to know. Because truthfully, you probably didn't even care about the first reason! But what we did is make our own little meatballs.  Here's the link for that! http://www.karen-proverbs31.blogspot.com/2011/06/spaghetti-and-mea...

The Mr. had a birthday last week. At our house, when it's your birthday, you get to pick your birthday meal. But it's the Mr. He usually doesn't have a preference. So I picked his birthday meal. When I told him, he whinned like a 2 year old that it was " his " birthday meal. " He " gets to pick! Really!  Because I had a good  birthday meal all picked out for the Mr. But NOOOOOOO ! He gets to pick! He picked his usual: Creamy Poblano Chicken over Cornwaffles with a salad and blackberry cobbler. But I hate making blackberry cobbler the way he likes it. And since his birthday, I've sworn off making anymore cobblers the way he likes cobblers. Let me make cobblers they way I know how and lets all be happy! There! That feels better! So, since I didn't get to make the Mr. the birthday meal I was going to make for him on his birthday, I made it a different day. It was so yummy! It smelled so great cooking. And ta...

 Happy Father's Day to my Mr. You are just who we need; designed that way by God! When a dad is doing "his job," then his kids rightfully give him the title, "Best Dad in the World!" Here's to our "Best Dad in the World!" You give us more than a place to live; you give us a home. You give us more than just good times; you help us make memories. You take the time to teach us; You give us love; and plenty of opportunities to laugh . . . sometimes with you and sometimes at you! You don't do everything perfectly . . . . and that's ok! You have embraced the two gifts God has given us; made no excuses, and you have given it your all! You've taken the opportunity of being a father and turned it into the privilege of becoming a dad! All of our love! The Cherubs and me!