Thankful

Even though the title may not be original, it truly expresses how I feel. Below is a picture of just 3 of the many things I am thankful for on this special day set aside for giving thanks. May remember that every day is full of a bounty of blessings and things, people, place, and so much more to be forever grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!
Carri

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy

This week my kitchen will not be permeating the aromas of turkey and dressing. Instead, I feel like doing a few twirls and having my dashing Prince Charming lift me into the air to perform the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies from the Nutcracker because I feel like I am dancing in pounds of sugar this week. For not only will we be celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday, but we will turn right around 2 days later and celebrate last year's true Thanksgiving blessing's 1st birthday!

I can't believe this blue eyed rascal, I mean angel, will be a year old already. Any ways...I digress.

So this week, I have "signed-up" to bring desserts to our family's Turkey Day gathering. I have chosen to make my heavenly Pumpkin Cheesecake and a newly pinned dessert Candy and Caramel Apple Pie. It drives my hubby crazy when I try out new recipes on family and friends but, hey, when else would I get a chance?! So the 2nd selection will remain a mystery to him until Thanksgiving, for now he thinks I am making my latest successful Caramel Apple Cheesecake.

After the sleep inhabiting chemicals from the turkey wear off, I will gear back up in the kitchen to make not one, but TWO birthday cakes. You see our Elijah-bug happens to share a birthday with one of SG's close friends (her best friend if you ask her), therefore, we have decided to throw her a little surprise into the mix. Since I want to keep Elijah's cake and her cake a surprise, I will have to suspend the details until later this week.

Until then, if you happen to hear an ambulance roll by during this week, it's probably just me. For I have probably inhaled a bit too much powdered sugar or slipped on another stick of butter!

Just kidding! But in all seriousness, I pray that you and your families are truly blessed and thankful during this Thanksgiving and beyond!

Truly Blessed,

Carri

Apples of Gold

Almost 7 years ago, I truly can't believe it has been that long ago, after first moving to my husband's first full-time ministry position in southern Alabama, I took my first ALL female Bible study. This study was set-up in a way that we would be studying about being "Apples of Gold" towards our husbands, basically following Proverbs 31.

Now I have to admit, if you had taken me to this study as a newly wed almost 9 years ago I would have thought you had lost your rocker. I was SO far from even glimpsing at what a Proverbs 31 wife should look like, let alone act like. For I was a young bride, by today's standards, of 21 ready to adapt to what society felt like a marriage should look like and act like today. Man! I sure am glad that God got a hold of my heart and turned me back around.

Back to "Apples of Gold"...Like I mentioned above this study was not only to help us realize what our roles were as Godly wives but there was also an aspect of the study I absolutely loved...cooking! For those of my readers that know me, who would have guessed that that was one of my favorites. We would end each study literally with a complete meal accompanied by the recipes that were prepared. It was like watching a mini live version of Food Network.

During one of the week's study's the meal's focus was on preparing ahead, so the women in charge used one of my favorite kitchen appliances...THE CROCKPOT! So today I though I would share 2 of my favorite soup recipes that were shared with me on that blessed evening. My family still refers to these as the Apple Soup recipes, even though they have absolutely nothing to do with apples. I hope you and your families enjoy them as much as we have over the last several years! As a bonus I have also thrown in 2 of my favorite staple seasoning mixes that I make!

Crock Pot Stew
We have renamed this Camper's Stew and is commonly referred to where we live now as Brunswick Stew.
1 can lima beans, drained
1 can cream corn
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 tub of premade BBQ
1 large can chunky chicken
1 can (16 oz.) stewed tomatoes
1 small can tomato sauce
1 chopped onion
2 diced potatoes

Put all ingredients in a LARGE (Trust Me! I have learned!) Crock Pot on low before you leave for work (8-10 hours). Enjoy!

Note: We like to top ours with shredded cheese, since everything is better with cheese. I also serve it with our favorite corn bread recipe found here. This recipe makes a lot, so either be ready to serve a crowd or have some gallon size freezer bags on stand-by to put some away for later!

Santa Fe Soup
2 lbs. ground chuck
1 onion, chopped
2 (5 oz.) pkgs. dry ranch dressing mix (see homemade version below)
2 pkgs. taco seasoning (see homemade version below)
1 (16 oz.) can black beans, undrained
1 (16 oz.) can great northern beans, undrained (You can also use pinto beans, which was in the original recipe we just like the taste of the northern beans a lot better)
1 (16 oz.) can Rotel, undrained
1 (16 oz.) can tomato wedges, undrained
2 cans corn, drained
2 C water
Sour cream, Corn chips and Cheese for garnish

Brown meat with onion. Drain and set aside. In a LARGE crock pot, add beans, tomatoes, corn, water, ranch dressing and taco seasoning. Stir. Add in cooked meat. Stir once more to combine. Turn on low for 8 - 10 hours or high for 4-6 hours. I like to stir mine, if I am home, periodically throughout the day. Serve with cheese, sour cream and corn chips.

Note: This recipe, too, makes A LOT! It can easily be cut in half or if you make the entire recipe be prepared to serve a crowd or freeze some. 

BONUS RECIPES
The first of these came from one of my favorite eBooks Easy. Homemade. by Mandi Ehman

Homemade Ranch
2 tablespoons dried parsley
1 tablespoon sea salt
2 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Combine all ingredients in a jar with a tight lid. Shake until all ingredients are well combined. Store in a cool dried place for 6 - 12 months.

To Use: 2 Tablespoons of the mixture equals 1 envelope of dried ranch dressing. For homemade ranch, combine 1 cup buttermilk, 1 cup mayonnaise and 1 tablespoon of dried mixture. Stir and chill in air tight container.

Taco Seasoning
1/4 C chili powder
1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1 1/2 t cumin
1 1/2 teaspooon oregano
1/2 t paprika
1 t salt
1 t pepper

Mix all ingredients together in jar with tight lid. Stores 6 -12 months, if you can keep from using it that long!
2 tablespoons of mixture equals 1 taco seasoning packet.

A Little Slice of Heaven

This week at our house we have been talking A LOT about heaven, for we had to say good-bye to a close friend who unexpectedly passed away Sunday. Then, as the circle of life would have it, some new friends are getting ready to plant their roots just a few minutes away from us with a family make-up very close to ours. We are so excited to say the least!

I was discussing with the wife of our new friends some of our favorites during this time of year. We came upon the AMAZING combination of chocolate and peanut butter! For her, this discussion became quite painful, for you see she is allergic to peanuts, but, oh, how she remembers what a heavenly experience came when she used to be able to enjoy such things.

With all this discussion of chocolate and peanut, I thought I needed to share one of my favorite pie recipes. Now I will say it is an involved pie, meaning there are a lot of steps, but do not let this intimidate you! All the work is SO worth it!

Heavenly Peanut Butter Silk Pie

Yields: 8 - 10 servings (All dependent on how big you slice it!)
Prep: 30 minutes
Bake: 8 minutes
Freeze: 30 minutes

Ingredients
1 3/4 C crushed Ritz crackers
1/3 C Granulated Sugar
1/3 C melted butter
1 (4oz.) milk chocolate candy bar, broken into small pieces
2 C whipping cream, divided
1 (8 oz.) package Cream Cheese, softened
1/2 C powdered sugar sifted
1 C Creamy Peanut Butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, divided
1 (4 oz.) white chocolate baking bar, melted
1 C chopped lightly salted cocktail peanuts
1/4 C powdered sugar

Preparation

1. Combine crushed crackers, 1/3 cup granulated sugar and melted butter in a medium bowl. Press mixture on bottom and up sides of an ungreased 9-inch deep dish pie plate.
2. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool on wire rack.
3. Stir together chocolate candy bar pieces and 3 tablespoons warm whipping cream until chocolate is melted and smooth. Pour into cooled pie crust.
4. Beat 2/3 cup whipping cream at medium-high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form.
5. Beat together cream cheese and powdered sugar at medium speed with an electric mixer until blended. Add peanut butter, 1/3 cup whipping cream, 1 tsp. vanilla, and white chocolate, beating at medium speed until blended. Fold in whipped cream. Spread mixture evenly over milk chocolate layer in pan. Cover and freeze 30 minutes or until slightly firm.
6. Spread Ganache (recipe below) evenly over peanut butter layer, and sprinkle with chopped nuts.
7. Beat remaining 1 cup whipping cream at high speed with an electric mixer until soft peaks form. Add 1/4 cup powdered sugar and remaining 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, beating until stiff peaks form.
8. Spoon whipped cream mixture into a 1 quart zip-top plastic bag, and pipe onto edges of pie by gently squeezing bag. Cover and chill at least 1 hour. Garnish with crushed peanuts and chocolate curls, if desired.

Ganache
1/2 cup whipping cream
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Bring whipping cream to a light boil over medium-high heat. Remove from heat, and pour over chocolate morsels in a medium bowl. Stir until smooth.

Hope this is as divine to you and yours as it is to me!

Mixing It Up

This week our little house hold has been busy...staying at home! We have loved it! My house has stayed relatively clean (as clean as one can with a 4 year old and almost 1 year old), dinner has been almost ready when Daddy gets home and kiddos and Mommy have stayed away from all the germies floating around this time of year.

During my time at home this week, I have felt a bit "Suzy Homemaker-ish". I have to admit I was inspired by a newly discovered blog by a lovely lady by the name of Danielle. I stumbled upon her blog via a pin I had pinned quite awhile ago concerning menu planning on a budget. Well, let's just say she kicked my money saving booty to the curb and is making this OCD planning type A momma step it up a few notches. (I also give credit to a friend giving me a call about good 'ol Dave Ramsey and his budgeting/money saving ideas.)

So in my extraordinary efforts this week, one of my main goals was not to even venture to some of my frequent stores this week that usually get me in trouble because just like Lay's potato chips ("You just can't eat one."), I have a hard time just buying what's "on the list", especially at places like Target and Hobby Lobby! Secondly, I had been convicted by Blissful and Domestic to make a lot more of my "staple" items from scratch. Therefore, I turned to my good old friend Pinterest and one of my favorite e-books Easy. Homemade. to start acquiring some of these items.

First item I tackled, I believe, is something everybody can benefit from this time of year. I don't know about your family but our family, especially in the fall/winter time period, make a lot of recipes using creamed of something soups. The cost of a store brand can is usually around 98 cents, which on the surface doesn't seem too bad. But just like anything, that cost can add up quickly. So after some quick searching, I found this recipe for creamed of something soup mix. It costs pennies on the dollar compared to buying the cans, not to mention I know what is in it and it doesn't come out in a perfect cylindrical shape that often times worries me. I know what your thinking, "Does it taste as good in the recipes?" Well, my answer is...it tastes even better!

I also would like to share two of my favorite mixes that my family enjoys and are easy go-tos when you need either an easy dinner or dessert. My favorite part about both of these recipes, and all homemade mixes for that matter, is I see and know every ingredient that goes into them! Plus my family has said that both of these recipes when prepared into various creations taste better than the prepackaged boxed stuff!

Homemade Bisquick
5 C flour (can use half whole wheat and half all-purpose unbleached flour)
1/4 C baking powder
2 T sugar
1 t salt
1 C shortening or butter (Our family likes the buttery taste!)

Mix dry ingredients together then cut in shortening or butter until pea size crumbles are formed. Store in airtight container or gallon size zip top bag in refrigerator. Lasts at least 6 months. Use just as you would regular Bisquick in any recipe.

Better than Betty Crocker Brownie Mix
1 C Sugar
1/2 C Flour
1/3 C Cocoa
1/4 t salt
1/4 t baking powder

Mix together all ingredients and put into ziplock bag. Onto bag write or create a label with the following:
Add 2 eggs, 1/2 C vegetable oil, 1 t vanilla. Pour into 8x8 pan sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 - 25 minutes.

Mix lasts 6 months in pantry.

NOTE: My family likes to personalize our brownies by adding various add-ins such as chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, M&M's, walnuts, cranberries, etc. Our ultimate favorite is to pour half the batter into the pan, then layer our favorite candy bar and finally pour the remaining batter on top. Bake as directed and you have delicious Candy Bar brownies! YUMMY!

I hope some of these simple mixes bring you some ideas for the holidays for easy gift giving or simply just make your life in the kitchen a little easier and yummier too!