Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Oatmeal Cookies

 

(Picture from Quaker's website)

This week I want to continue with my tried and true recipes with my two daughters again in mind.  My Kentucky  son-in-love really likes oatmeal cookies.  This recipe gets rave reviews everytime.  I am quick to tell people it comes from the back of the oatmeal box but they always tell me mine are somehow better.  

Maybe my cookies are extra good because I only use butter and real vanilla.  I add lots of walnuts and raisins too.  So give the cookies a try and let me know what you think.  While you are at it don't forget to go see Lisa and check out all the goodies shared there.

Quaker's Best Oatmeal Cookies

• 1-1/4  cups (2-1/2 sticks) margarine or butter, softened
• 3/4  cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1/2  cup granulated sugar
• 1  egg
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 1-1/2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2  teaspoon salt (optional)
• 1/4  teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 3  cups Quaker® Oats (quick or old fashioned, uncooked)
• chopped walnuts and raisins

Heat oven to 375°F. In large bowl, beat margarine and sugars until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Add combined flour, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg; mix well. Add oats; mix well.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.
Bake 8 to 9 minutes for a chewy cookie or 10 to 11 minutes for a crisp cookie. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely. Store tightly covered.

The Wise Woman Builds

The wise woman builds her house,
   but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.  

Proverbs 14:1

Reading today's Proverb I came upon the following notes that I wanted to share.  The following paragraph is from the Woman's Study Bible.

The fact that this woman is called “wise” indicates that she fears and reverences the Lord. She conscientiously builds her house, making her entire household thrive, because she has learned that wisdom brings the happiness and prosperity she desires for her family. The wise woman cares for her home, causing it to flourish and become a haven to those who live there. She builds her home by making wise choices in her relationships with her husband and children. She works on her marriage, knowing that intimacy does not happen naturally but must be developed. All building takes time, picturing brick set on brick until a sturdy safe home is constructed. In contrast, the foolish woman does not build. She tears down both her possessions and her relationships. She destroys by her own efforts- with her hands, her tongue, her idleness, and her lack of interest. (taken from The Woman’s Study Bible, unknown author)

So quick lesson from Proverbs 14:1

The wise woman:

1. conscientiously builds her house - nothing hap-hazard here.
2. cares for her home - TLC
3. makes wise choices
4. works knowing nothing comes instantly or easy
5. is patient laying brick upon brick one at a time

 In contrast the foolish woman:

1. does not labor
2. is destructive

• with her hands
• her tongue
• her idleness
• her lack of interest

The wise woman - definitely a roll model for me and I hope for you too.

Happy Valentines Day

 

Happy Valentines Day!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, 

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

What greater Love could there be?

Share His love with someone today - especially your family 

and then anyone else He brings in your pathway.

Using What You Have

When it comes to decorating and especially creating table scapes I love to use what I already have around the house.  Using what I have and thus decorating with a frugal flare.  It is fun.  It makes me use my imagination.  Getting an idea from someone else and adding a twist of my own.  One of my favorite things about reading blogs is seeing all the beautiful decorating ideas ladies come up with.  This often fuels my imagination for my own decorating.  Shopping from my own shelves to create something fresh and new -- a fun and frugal thing.

Techno Problems?

Well Blogger seems to be giving me problems this morning with photos.  I get the Cloud and then it gives me an error.  I had this problem several weeks ago and just had to wait it out. 

Because blogs aren't fun without pictures in my opinion I will just wait to post what I wrote today.  After all it was a decorating post and like I said, what is a blog without pictures?

I am sure glad God never comes back with a screen that says "error, try again" or that His site has too much traffic and He can't help me at the moment.  Yes, Hebrews 13:8 says, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  No surprises, no technical difficulties to put up with. 

As for God, his way is perfect. Psalm 18:30

Mémère Fun

Fun time spent with my 4 TLC's on Wednesday.  Sure miss my 3 special grandchildren in Kentucky and hoping to see them this spring. 

If Fish Could Talk . . .

If our fish could talk I think they would say, "brrrrrrr!"  

 

And this my friends is why:

Can you believe it?  And this is Arizona at 2 in the afternoon.  Unreal!

But this 'ole hen will take this cold any day compared to this:

I am thankful for warm boots and thick sweatshirts today.  You can always add more to get warm but it is hard to get cool in the summer when it is 115* in Arizona.

Advice on Clutter

My greatest homemaking challenge has to be CLUTTER!  Does paperwork multiply when we turn our back?  Sometimes in my home I think it does and then like a magnet it draws in other odds and ends from all the far corners of our life. 

My homemaking tip today that works for me is simple but it works for me.  If I take an area that is vulnerable to clutter I focus on making it so pretty and attractive that I would not to mess it up with clutter again. 

Works for me.  My kitchen island is a great example.  It is such a handy place to be tempted to lay things down that don't belong there.  To leave too many kitchen things out but if I make it simple and pleasing to my eye I will do what it takes to keep it this way. 

A spiritual tip that Mrs. Billy Graham shares is keeping your Bible open on the counter to give the busy homemaker refreshment through out the day.  I have done this for a long time and I have benefited by her tip.

Good Basics

 

With today being Tempt My Tummy Tuesday thought I would share my motherly advice along with my recipe.  Find some favorite foods you want to fix your family and then really work to perfect them.  Look for the best tasting recipe you can find.  Try new techniques in preparing the recipe.  Can you substitute ingredients or can you give a favorite dish variation with the addition of different ingredients?  How can you simplify it.  Then just practice and practice and practice till you have a real winning family recipe.

Have some recipes marked in your cookbook that you know will be successful and please your family and you can't go wrong.  Takes the stress out of a long day when you can go to one of your tried and true and quickly whip up a meal that will bless your family.

Being raised on a dairy farm we had lots of biscuits and gravy growing up.  Biscuits are rather plain and simple but never underestimate plain and simple.  You can do so much with a good biscuit recipe.  Biscuits and sausage gravy for breakfast - a family favorite here.  Biscuits with herbs and cheese to accompany hot soup on a chilly night is always a winner. 

One of my favorite all purpose recipes is the following simple biscuit recipe.  It meets all the above criteria.  Last night I had left over roast beef with vegetables which I heated and poured in a casserole dish and then topped with my biscuits.  Quick and easy and got the "good stuff!" response from Precious Husband that always makes my heart smile.

 

Mémère's Simple Biscuits

2 cups flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons butter

2/3 cup milk

Get our your yellow bowl and dump in the flour, baking powder and salt.  With your pastry thingy (do you have one?) cut in the cold butter and then add the milk.  This makes a soft dough that I turn out on my counter.  I simply pat it out with my hands rather than dirty a rolling pin.  I like my biscuits fat and fluffy so I pat the dough probably a half inch thick.  Cut out your biscuits with a biscuit cutter or simply use a drinking glass or jar of appropriate size.  Bake at 450* for about 12-15 minutes or until nicely browned on top.

Two Special Reasons - My Daughters

Well, much thinking has been done about my blog.  I have neglected it lately with the addition of some new responsibilities and areas of need around me.


My blog is something I don't want to give up though.  It has brought me a lot of delight as I contemplate my posts even when they are not as frequent as I would like.


One thing I have decided is that I want to get back to one of the original reasons I started blogging.  My two daughters Michelle and Danielle.  I want to use this medium to communicate my heart as a child of God, wife, mother, grandmother and friend.  From my posts I truly hope my two beautiful daughters can glean some wisdom in their roles as wife and mother.


So as I  blog today I am praying.  Praying for wisdom and direction in what I share.  Wisdom to create something of lasting value.  Yes, I am returning to the old paths.

So now the LORD says, "Stop right where you are! Look for the old, godly way, and walk in it. 

Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls.

 Jeremiah 6:16a

Custom Built By M.E.

From Mary Engelbreit's Children's Companion

Don't you just sigh when you take this picture in?  Oh ya!

Growing Pains

 More teacups ready to be washed and packed to be shared at women's ministry this week.

Since I have committed to directing our women's ministry at church I am definitely being challenged with my time management. 

Studying 1 Peter today I read a passage in several translations and was convicted when I read 1 Peter 1:17 in The Message Bible.  It says, " You call out to God for help and he helps - he's a good Father that way. But don't forget, he's also a responsible Father, and won't let you get by with sloppy living."

Sloppy living!  Ouch, I don't want to be guilty of that and yet I know at times I most certainly am.  My encouragement and hope comes from the fact that God in His love points out shortcomings to us and wants to help us experience victory in these areas.   


So today I am most thankful for the convicting power of God's Word and the encouragement I receive for victorious living from that same Word.

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Blondies

Blondies

* 3/4 cup nuts, coarsely chopped
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, plus more for pan
* 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1 cup packed light-brown sugar
* 2/3 cup granulated sugar
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips


1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Butter a 9-inch-square cake pan, and set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside.
3. In the bowl of electric mixer, combine butter and sugars. Beat until light and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes, scraping sides occasionally. Add eggs and vanilla; beat until well combined. Add flour mixture; beat just until combined. Fold in chips and nuts.
4. Using an offset spatula, spread batter into pan. Bake until surface is golden brown and a cake tester inserted into center comes out barely clean, 45 to 55 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool. Cut into squares. Store in an airtight container up to 3 days.

These Blondies are like a big delicious chocolate chip cookie only in a bar and a little richer and butterier.  I have them all ready to go to Bible study tonight and will send a pan with Precious Husband for the guys too.

Linking up with Lisa over at Tempt My Tummy Tuesday

Signatures

I get a lot of torment from family and friends concerning my handwriting.  I understand their predicament because I often cannot read my own writing, sad to say.  I think it is due to neurological damage brought on by age because my writing was not always ineligible.  That's my excuse anyway : )

Now you know one more thing about me.  I have terrible handwriting.  When you receive a note or letter from me it will very likely be produced on my computer to make things easier for you.  If the note or card comes with a gift you will know the gift is from me even without a card because it most always is wrapped with my signature lace.  Sometimes it will also include a bookmark made from the lace.

I have used this for years and it got its name (signature lace) many years ago when my mother-in-law would recognize my gifts wrapped with the lace and say, "Oh, I know who this is from."

I love to give to others and I love including my signature lace - a good thing.

I also want to leave heart prints wherever I go and hope the following little blurb will encourage you to do the same.

"Heart Prints"

Whatever our hands touch-we leave fingerprints!  On walls, on furniture, on doorknobs, dishes, and books.  There's no escape.  As we touch we leave our identity.

Oh God, wherever I go today help me leave heart prints!  Heart prints of compassion, understanding and love.  Heart prints of kindness and genuine concern.  May my heart touch a lonely neighbor a runaway daughter or an anxious mother or perhaps an aged grandfather.

Lord, send me out today to leave heart prints.  And if someone should say, "I felt your touch," May that one sense Your love touching through me.

 --author unknown

Beautiful Season of Life

Can you believe it is the middle of January so soon?  I personally enjoy the time from New Years through April the very most.  Our yard is truly showing the signs of frost damage but the days are warm right now and wonderful.  Sunsets are especially beautiful this time of year here in Arizona and I so enjoy watching for signs of spring.  Hope to get some little baby pansys planted this week.

I am working hard to establish a new weekly schedule.  I enjoy having lots on the calendar because it challenges me to keep my priorities straight and keep up my routine.  Priorities and routine - always a good thing.

My little refuge/sanctuary I often speak of is at this time in total disarray.  The floor is literally covered with papers that I have been sorting through for future use with our Women's Ministry.  Tonight I am determined to get the floor all cleared up and the table made tidy again. 

Now I shall bid you all a good night and head up and remake my little office into my cherished refuge. 

Leaving you with a quote I found tonight that I hope will bless you:

"A gentle and quiet spirit is not only imperishable; it is precious in the sight of God. It's also one of the hardest qualities to cultivate. Far from a sign of weakness, a gentle and quiet spirit is the sign of a woman who is strong in faith, mind and character." --Anna Sofia & Elizabeth Botkin

 

Thinking About JOY Again

 

I started the new year off with new excitement.  I am the new Women's Ministry Director for our church.  Once again I must refer back to one of my two life verses:

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

  

My desire was to see more organization and ministry and so the Lord is giving me the honor to help bring that to pass.

It all happened very quickly but God blessed me with ideas and material to give our kick off night last Tuesday a great start.  Normally things would be done as a group and plans and decisions made as a group but to start I just jumped in and did it : )

It was all so good.  Thank you Jesus!

 

Little note cards folded over couple of packages of tea.

Back of the card had our theme verse of Psalms 126:3 The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY.

 

Each lady received a gift bag that included a teapot and teacup with the verse on it.  I had bought 12 of these a few years ago with other intentions but God put it all together as I said.

 

We will use Elizabeth George's book to study and share each week and it was in the gift bag.  One of Precious Husband's customers gave him a check for the ministry when he shared with her about our church.  It was exactly enough to pay for the books : )

 

A note book was in their gift bag with special tabs for:

Bible Study, Prayer, Family, Encouragement and Notes

Precious Husband has been very encouraging and I am so thankful for that encouragement.  I couldn't do this without him.  Now he wants me to bake enough "goodies" so he can take them to Men's Ministry too.  I think I can handle that request.

Truly:

The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with JOY

Psalms 126:3

Tempt My Tummy Tuesday - Dinner Rolls

Bread machines were very popular at one time but don't know how many still use them.  I for one use and dearly appreciate my bread machine.  I especially like having a day where something is simmering in the crock pot and the bread machine is filling the house with additional wonderful smells.  Makes for a wonderful supper.

My family enjoys good bread and for Christmas Eve dinner I made the recipe I am sharing with you today.  The rolls came out wonderfully and we actually would have eaten more if they had been available.  This recipe is definitely a keeper.

ABM Best Dinner Rolls

1 1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup softened butter or shortening

1 egg

3 1/2 cups all purpose flour

2 tsps. yeast

1/4 cup sugar

1 tsp. salt

optional: additional 2 Tbsp. melted butter to brush on tops

Just put all ingredients in bread machine and put to work on dough cycle.  When done take out, cover dough and let rest for 10 minutes.  Then divide dough into 16 rolls and place in greased baking pan.  Set to rise in warm spot covered with a tea towel.  Let them rise till double in size.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until lightly golden on top. 

Sharing recipe over at:

 http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/

New Every Morning

What amazing hope seems to come to a child of God with a new year.  Another clean slate because of God's mercy.  A new calendar to make daily notes on.  A new Word of encouragement from the Lord.  A new beginning.  Eyes that have been given a fresh vision from time with the Lord in prayer and in His Word.

I am looking forward to this new year with fresh enthusiasm that has been missing for a while to be sure.  Enthusiasm that is definitely needed by all of us in my opinion because it gives us encouragement for a new day.  Enthusiasm.  I like the word.  It fits into the same word category as joy.

21  This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.
22  It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
23  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
25  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
26  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.
–Lamentations 3.21-26

Happy New Year

Happy New Year and prayers for a blessed 2011 for you all.

Wonderful Christmas spent with family.  The 4 little TLC's were so much fun to watch as they received their gifts from Precious Husband and me.  Tyler, 4 year old TLC#2 opened a package to find Star War pajamas and the next thing we knew he had stripped down to his undershorts and was trying to get into the new jammies.  We all laughed so hard at his innocence and excitement over Star War jammies.

Oldest son was happy to find new supply of white socks for the year.  For me it is the simple.  The tradition. The predictable that often makes me smile the biggest.  For Jason it just wouldn't be Christmas without new white socks from Mom.

New Years will be quiet with just Precious Husband cozied up together - probably both with our puters on our laps.

God has blessed us beyond measure this past year and we are looking forward to 2011 and all that it may hold.  Precious Husband will be retiring from running his own business the last 20 some years and that should make for some interesting changes in our lives.  Looking to God for His best for us and for our family and loved ones in the new year because I know without a doubt I can trust His hand in our lives.

God bless you all in this coming new year.

Merry Christmas

At Christmas and Always

God loves you with a Father's heart

and guides you with His light -

Created in His image,

you are precious in His sight.

You can trust He'll bless and keep you,

though life's problems may arise,

For His grace is never-failing

and His plans, divine and wise.

You have a friend, a champion,

a help in all you do,

You have an everlasting love -

because God cares for you.

Celebrating with you at Christmas, knowing how very special you are and always will be to Him.* 

 (*above all taken from an American Greetings card)

Praying CHRISTmas blessings to all of you and your families this week and for the new year.

I will sing of the loving kindness of the Lord forever . . .

Psalm 89:1