Day 2of My December New Recipe Challenge

I've been so busy trying to catch up from last week, however, nothing is keeping me from my "December New Recipe Challenge". 

While some think the new recipes should only be "dessert" related, I am including anything new so I can keep my sanity.  After looking through all my "pinned" recipes, which took hours, I came up with a grocery list and ventured out.  By the time I arrived home, I didn't want to make dinner and a new dessert recipe so I opted for a new dinner recipe only.

And the recipe is.........

Baked Spasanga

http://www.plainchicken.com/2012/02/baked-spasanga.html#more



This is a total "comfort" meal. If you plan to make losing weight one of your New Year's resolutions, I would suggest you try this meal PRIOR to January 1st.


Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.—Colossians 3:1-3

Recipe 1 - My December Challenge

It's been a crazy week.  I spent a couple of days at Children's Hospital sitting in a rocking chair while Luke laid in a bed undergoing treatment for his Indeterminate Colitis.

While at the hospital on Thursday, as the hours ticked by and with my laptop being my best friend, I decided I would log in to Pinterest.  And.....pinning began.  If I was able to accomplish everything I pinned, my bathroom would be remodeled, Christmas gifts would be made and a cookbook published.  Then came this brilliant idea.....let's find and make a new recipe every day for the month of December.  If I could have moved my kitchen into that hospital room, I would  be well on my way. except for the fact it wasn't yet December.  Oh the things I come up with when I'm sitting with my computer with no place to go.  What's even crazier is the fact I posted my brilliant idea on Facebook for all to see.  So as to not disappoint myself and accept the challenge I presented to myself, I made my first new recipe last night...Pumpkin Pie Croissants.

The recipe can be found here: http://www.justapinch.com/recipe/lucille-hoerle/pumpkin-pie-croissant/quick-easy-vegetarian-healthy-other-dessert-for-kids#.UHBlzy0-WnM.pinterest

 

 

It was an easy recipe with a great taste.  It's just what the day called for. 

And, while enjoying one of these croissants, I received another treat - a picture text of my Little Lucy.

Isn't she the cutest?

I had the blessing of soaking up all of this in my decorated house.

It's absolutely my favorite time of year. 

There is no time to rest, I need to find another recipe. 

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Psalms 107:8    Let them thank the LORD for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man!   

Lollihood

My official last day of the school year was to be June 14th.  However, on Wednesday, June 6th, I became a grandmother (hereinafter referred to as "Lolly") for the first time.  Lucy Rae made her debut 15 days early weighing 7 lbs. 2 oz. and measuring 18.5 inches long. Whenever asked about her, I seem to reply with the same words every time....She's PERFECT!

It's amazing how I can be entertained by watching her different facial expressions or simply sleeping.  I look at her and truly see the miracle of life.  I've been told on several occassions that "lollihood" is so much different than motherhood and I just couldn't grasp how or why. Now that I've entered into Lollihood, I get it. I don't have to care for little Lucy's needs 24/7, her feedings, burpings or changings. I can simply love and enjoy her. Don't misunderstand me, I would care for her needs if I needed to, but she has been blessed with two amazing parents who are doing a wonderful job.  Therefore, I simply love.

My heart melts at the sight of her. I find myself smiling at the thought of her. And the funny thing is....Lucy doesn't have a clue.

I lift my voice to the LORD and thank him for this little bundle of life that He has blessed me with. Lucy is confirmation to me that big blessings can come in small packages.

Lolly loves you little Lucy!

My Life in a ......Pie Shell or Cinnamon Roll Pancake?

It's been somewhat of an odd couple of days for me.  My days started out full of energy and very productive but dwindled rapidly. Two weeks into my summer break and I am starting to act like its the "lazy dog days of summer".

I have been spending so much of my time either scraping, painting or candle making. However, melting wax and creating inedible pies was getting old for me.

So yesterday I decided to do something I truly miss - bake something! One of the things I love most about my job is spending a portion of my day with my 16 year old son, Jacob. I am a Guidance Office Secretary at Darby High School where he attends.  During his Freshman year, I decided that once a week, I would bake for his lunch table. It allowed me to spend a couple of minutes conversing and laughing with the guys.

So to the Internet I went in search of something to make/bake.  I decided to search blogs for an idea.  I came across the most amazing recipe blog ever....Recipe Girl (you can find her too @ http://www.recipegirl.com/). I decided on Cinnamon Roll Pancakes (recipe below). Jacob loves cinnamon rolls and my 13 year old son, Luke, loves anything made with butter and sugar. It was sure to be a hit! And a hit is was!

I pulled out the ingredients and my fun began!

And, if sugar and butter are a part of it, it has to be good.

And good is was!

Cinnamon Roll Pancakes

Yield: 4 servings (4 pancakes)

Prep Time: 25 min

Cook Time: 10 min

These are AMAZING!!!

Ingredients:

PANCAKES:
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup milk
1 Tablespoon canola oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten

CINNAMON FILLING:
1/2 cup butter, melted
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

CREAM CHEESE GLAZE:
4 Tablespoons butter
2 ounces cream cheese
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions:

1. Prepare pancake batter: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Whisk in milk, oil and egg, just until batter is moistened (a few small lumps are fine).
2. In a medium bowl, mix butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Scoop the filling into a small zip baggie and set aside. You don't want this to remain super-liquidy. It's best if it becomes a consistency similar to toothpaste.
3. In a medium, microwave-safe bowl- heat butter and cream cheese until melted. Whisk together until smooth; whisk in powdered sugar and vanilla extract; set aside.
4. Heat large skillet over medium-low heat. Spray with nonstick spray. Scoop about 3/4 cup batter onto the skillet. Snip the corner of your baggie of filling and squeeze a spiral of the filling onto the top of the pancake. When bubbles begin to appear on the surface, flip carefully with a thin spatula, and cook until browned on the underside, 1 to 2 minutes more. Transfer to a baking sheet or platter and keep in a warm oven until ready to serve.
5. When ready to serve, spoon warmed glaze onto the top of each pancake.

Tips:

*Keep the heat low or your pancakes might cook up too quickly. Don't flip them until you see those bubbles starting to pop on top. Flip them with a wide spatula so you can grasp the whole thing without batter and filling dripping all over the place!
*It's best if you pour the batter onto your skillet, wait a minute or so and then swirl the cinnamon onto the batter. That'll give it a chance to set a little before you add the swirl.
*If your baggie of filling begins to get too thick, just pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it up again. On that same note, it shouldn't be too runny. The consistency of soft toothpaste is perfect. If it's melty and runny, it will tend to run all over your pancakes. Once you micro it, let it sit on the counter at room temp for a while until it thickens slightly.

Source: http://www.recipegirl.com/

After that, it was obvious that I needed to run and workout a little longer and harder. But it was worth it without a doubt.

It was so much fun, I have put the wax on the back burner and decided to do the real thing again today. However, I'm staying ahead of the game, it's off to the treadmill FIRST!

Verse for the day:

Mark 4:37 -

"And there arose a great storm"

When life has you down, no matter the circumstances, seek GOD. He will give you the strength and peace to bring you through it.



No time for lazing

What a day it has been.  I woke up bright and early this morning to my puppy Riley pawing at me. She is an early riser like myself. There's no time to sleep the day away. There are things to do and places to go. So out of bed we climbed.

I set out for Pataskala this morning to Makes Scents Candles to buy some supplies.  On the way, I decided that a Starbucks was just what I needed to get through my errands. However, before Starbucks I made a stop at Michaels Arts & Crafts in search of 6 3/8 inch terra cotta saucers. I was fortunate to find 11 on the shelves of which I purchased ALL.

Once home, I cleaned out Jacob's closet so my husband Dan could scrape the last of the ceiling. While Dan scraped, I stripped border and scrubbed the walls.  We are now ready to apply primer to the ceiling and Spackle the walls.  The goal is to start the laminate floors next weekend.  Until then....paint, paint and more paint.

Once my work was done, I settled down with a hot cup of tea and the book "the me I want to be" by john ortberg.  I pray that by reading it, God will show me who He wants me to be.  As I read, a couple of statements stood out to me:

"Life is not about any particular achievement or experience. The most important task of your life is not what you do, but who you become."

"...God did not create you to be anybody else. He pre-wired your temperament. He determined your natural gifts and talents. He made you to feel certain passions and desires. He planned your body and mind. Your uniqueness is God-designed."

I realize that when I question who I am, I question God's design of me. And, as the psalmist says, "Know that the LORD Himself is God. It is He who made us, and not we ourselves."

And so, my summer adventures continue.



Packing, Moving, Candle Making and Scraping

There is no "break" in My summer break. Last week I took a couple of personal days to finish out my school year. I headed northwest to Fort Wayne to help pack and move my daughter and son-in-law, Lauren and Eric, out of their first home and into storage. I see another move with "unpacking" in my summer break as well.

After that whirlwind adventure, I traveled back to Ohio and requests for candles. Not having much of an inventory, I filled my pouring containers with wax and so began my candle making adventure.

I am having trouble finding my 6 3/8 inch terra cotta saucers for my candle pies so I have focused on some jar candles and cast iron skillet candles. I mastered 28 jars of candles in the following flavors: Hot Apple Pie w/Vanilla Nut Streusel Topping, Spiced Cranberry w/Vanilla Nut Streusel Topping and Cinnamon Rolls with Warm Vanilla Frosting. I also managed to make 10 little skillets of Cranberry Spice Cake w/Vanilla Nut Streusel Topping.

As if packing, moving and candle making did not take enough of my days, I threw in the adventure of my son Jacob's bedroom. First, the popcorn ceilings had to go so I went to Lowe's and purchased a scraper and a mask and off to dust land I went.

I still have to finish the ceiling, but I am on my way to a new ceiling. Once that is complete, I will paint the walls and lay a new laminate flooring.  More pictures as the project progresses.

No matter how busy my days are, I take the time to thank the LORD for the family He has given to me to serve and my hands to serve with.

I pray you feel blessed as well!