Valentine Cake For Your Sweetie

YUMMY MUMMY RECIPE
posted by guest blogger Jacqueline Schwenke
Door County, Wisconsin 4 kids (3 girls 1 boy)
Penny Savvy Dollar Wise on Facebook

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner! If you want something sweet for your ‘sweet’, then take a look at this recipe. It’s not only easy, but it’s delicious! If you want to make this really fancy or special, make them into small Bundt sized cakes. You can even decorate it with melted white chocolate (Almond Bark), and possibly add a half-dipped maraschino cherry on top. (Drain it first) Maybe some chocolate curls or tiny heart shaped candy deco’s. Be creative- serve it on a silver or gold heart-shaped doilies.
This recipe is one that Gooseberry Patch has provided for free on their website! It comes from a cookbook they sell called Almost Homemade. I love all Gooseberry Patch recipe books, and in fact I own quite a few of them. The drawings inside are wonderful and homey, as are the cookbook fronts. The catalog they send out is the same- just a joy to flip through!
I have included a few pictures of Almost Homemade, taken from the Gooseberry site. You’ll find the link for Gooseberry Patch with the others I have provided, at the bottom. Take a stroll through the Gooseberry site- you’ll be glad you did.

Chocolate-Cherry CakeSubmitted by: Renee Redcloud from Nashville, TN
18-1/2 oz. pkg. devil's food cake mix21-oz. can cherry pie filling2 eggs1 T. almond extract1 c. sugar
5 T. butter1/2 c. evaporated milk1 c. milk chocolate chips1 t. vanilla extract

Combine cake mix, pie filling, eggs and almond extract in a mixing bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on high speed until well mixed (cherries will break up somewhat). Pour into a greased 13"x9" baking pan and bake according to package directions. About 5 minutes before cake is done, whisk together sugar, butter and evaporated milk in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil; boil for one minute. Remove saucepan from heat and stir in chocolate chips and vanilla extract. Remove cake from oven; immediately pour icing over cake. Let cake stand for at least one hour. Serves 8 to 10.


Paper Embellishments
Looking for paper embellishments? You must visit Fancy Flours. They have every color and pattern of cupcake liners, Dragees, picks, toppers, stencils, transfer sheets, cake jewels, and so much more! I’ve included a few pictures to help spark your imagination- and don’t let these pictures discourage you, if you are a beginner baker..they are all simple to make. Look, click the links, and enjoy!
Look at these adorable heart-shaped cookies! ..and have you ever seen more lovely cupcake liners?
Delicious and easy Old fashioned cookie or cake toppers


Links:
Here is the Gooseberry Patch page with the recipe. Gooseberry is also on Facebook and Twitter! http://www1.gooseberrypatch.com/gooseberry/products.nsf/v.weball/M918?editdocument&cartprocess=trecipeweek
The link for Fancy Flours:
http://www.fancyflours.com/

Sick Days

It's this time of year when the holidays are over and we are looking forward to spring that cabin fever sets in and so does the sick season. We are in full swing at our house with every child sick. We give new meaning to "No Child Left Behind".

I posted good sick food just last week, but we have both cold and stomach symptoms listed and I the mom, have started to get sick too. Who knows what to cook and who feels like cooking it anyway.

Soooo, my post is short and sweet today. I know it is hard when mommy gets sick with everyone. It stinks actually. I mean I am so out numbered here 5 to 1. I think of that verse, "Never grow weary of doing good." It looms over me on days like today, but it keeps me going too. Even on our sick days when everyone is cranky we are creating memories, we slow down and I may sit with a child in my lap that has needed it and hasn't had it in awhile. Work is out the door and just being with each other in our sickened state is in. There is that moment when everybody is almost well and all bodily functions have stopped there flowing states and there is that lull, sort of a peace. Then, the energy kicks back in and it's back to the hustle and bustle. I won't say I enjoy it I just know I'm doing good. Even if it does smell weird.

Mothering my mother

I am not the daughter that is dealing with an aging mother at this point in my life, but my mother is and so are many others. So, here's a short story that is just a little glimpse in honor of all of them.


“I’m going to go and see Rachel and the new baby, Mom” Anna said, walking into her aging mothers room.
“Rachel?” her mother said with a little bit of a grimace on her slim face.
Anna knew her mother had once again forgotten what she was talking about. It was painful to see her mother forget the things that would normally have brought such joy.
“I told you that girl was going on too many car dates unchaperoned. Now, a baby!” she said grief stricken with this news she had just pieced together. “That’s okay,” she said, straitening her petite frame. “We will get through this. She can live with your daddy and me. We will help..”
Anna interrupted, “No, mom. This is Rachel and Michael’s third child. They’ve been married for fifteen years. You remember.” She needed so badly for her mother to remember. “And dad has been gone over a year and half now. You’re living here with me and Tom.” she finished with a sigh, raising her voice as she spoke.
Anna didn’t really know why she did that. Raising her voice as if speaking in a louder volume would make it somehow clearer to her mother helping her comprehend.
She looked around at the little things in her mother’s room that were left from the large two story home they had brought her from. The memories of a time when everyone who had passed on was still here. Gifts her mother had received over all the past Christmases and Birthdays. Anna wished somehow those times could be preserved the same way the nic-nacs were.
She looked into her mothers frail features and realized she probably wouldn’t be going anywhere today. Anna saw an older version of herself in her mother. They both were short and petite with fair features.
Her mother broke into her thoughts. “What? I know, I know.....did they have a boy or a girl this time?,” she said clearly not knowing, but trying to get her brain to operate in the here and now.
“They had a boy momma. They named him Joseph after daddy. See, look over there on your book shelf. She sent you a picture of him. I was going to go and see them and stay a few hours.” Anna said with her mothers eyes still fixed on the picture of the tiny baby that was the name sake of her Joe. “Momma, do you hear me? Are you listening? I said Tom is going to stay here so if you need anything he’ll be right here.”
“You don’t need to raise your voice. I can hear you.” she answered cooly.
She wasn’t unpleasant, just firm. Anna’s mother never had been an ugly person. She was always quite delightful to be around. She just hated to be reminded by her own daughter of all she had lost and of those that had gone before. It was even more frustrating to be reminded that she was beginning to forget them. She was afraid of the abyss she was slowly slipping into. Even worse was that her own child was having to witness it. She wanted to stay strong.
Anna realized she wouldn’t be able to go anywhere today. Her mother was having another bad day. She sat down slowly in the chair next to her mother with a bitter sweet feeling, sad she was missing the first moments with her brand new grandbaby, but Understanding she was trading it for the last moments with her mother.
Her mother looked over to Anna with a spark in her eye, “Why Anna, when did you get here? I was just getting ready to put on a pot of coffee while I was waiting for your daddy to get home. Would you like a cup? There’s nothing like a hot cup coffee to lift the spirits. You look like you could use one right now. Making a cup of joe for my Joe I always say. Your daddy can join us when he gets here.” She said with a little bit of a giggle.
It made Anna feel good to hear her mother remember one of her common sayings. Even if it was painful to think about the loss of her daddy and her mother’s inability to accept it.
“Sure momma, I’d love a cup of coffee.”

copyright 2010

Game day favorites

YUMMY MUMMY RECIPE
Guest Blogger
Amy
Mom of three

I have recently switched from stay at home mom to working mom, but I still love to cook and make yummy things for my friends and family. Now that I work I am always on the look for things that I can make without hours in the kitchen but still taste homemade. There is never a reason to sacrifice taste.

With the Super Bowel approaching I thought it would be fun share a couple of my easy crowd pleasing recipes.
Oreo Yums-

1 pkg of Oreos

1 - 8oz pkg of cream cheese

1 – pkg chocolate or white chocolate Almond Bark

Crush the entire package of Oreos with potato masher or food processer (Mashing is a kid friendly job if you have help in the kitchen). Add the entire package of cream cheese and mix into the crushed Oreos. The mix will start out looking like dirt and then as the cream cheese mixes in it will start to look wet and sticky. After it is fully mixed roll into quarter size balls. For the best results freeze the balls for at least an hour before dipping. Melt Almond Bark in the microwave or by using a double boiler on the stove top. Remember to lay out wax paper to set the balls on after they have been dipped. The easiest way to dip the balls in the chocolate is by using toothpicks. After dipped set on wax paper and allow Oreo Yums to dry.


This recipe is versatile feel free to try different things with it. During Christmas I bought candy cane flavored Oreos and it tasted delicious. You can really use any flavor Oreo or sandwich cookie. If you want to use for a Valentines or Super Bowel party one could use the white Almond Bark and add your favorite food coloring.

I made this recipe for my daughter and her friends and they ate them before the chocolate could even dry. My husband, who doesn’t usually like chocolate, loves them too.

Sly’s Bean Dip
My family loves Mexican food or anything closely related. My grandmother-in-law always made a yummy bean dip that quickly disappeared. I was surprised when I finally watched her make it, what a simple recipe it was. I have added a few things to make it my own over the years but it is still delicious and simple as ever.

1 can refried beans
2 big tablespoons of Miracle Whip
¼ cup Picante Sauce
¼ shredded cheese

Preheat oven to 350. In a medium size bowl mix the first three ingredients. Pour into small baking dish and bake for 10-15 min. Remove and add cheese, place back in oven until cheese is bubbly. Serve hot with tortilla chips.
This recipe can be spicy or mild depending on your family’s taste. You can add Tabasco or jalapeños if you have a taste for the spicy. If you like it milder, forget the picante and add extra cheese. My grandmother-in-law usually warmed it up in the microwave, which is great if you have hungry unexpected friends or family.

Sick Food

Not all food is created equal when your sick. For example I make chicken noodle and wassail when we have the cold or a flu. I did however make the mistake of making wassail when one of my kids had a stomach virus. Big mistake. Citrus doesn’t sit well on an upset stomach we both suffered for that one.
I am giving our family sick food recipes. Usually by this time a year at the end of sick season someone says, “I never want to eat chicken noodle again.” But when the next sick season rolls around their ready and it’s the only thing they want.
COLD or FLU
Listen Family Wassail
1 qt apple cider
2 cups OJ
2 #2 cans pineapple juice
1 stick cinnamon
1 tsp whole cloves
Sweeten to taste with honey or sugar.
Bring to boil then let simmer for 30 minutes.
The pineapple cans are the big cans usually on the bottom shelf at the store. I play with the recipe a bit because we like more of the sweet cider taste. Wassail is loaded with Vitamin C and great no matter what.

Chicken noodle soup
2 10 1/2 oz cans cream of chicken soup
8 cups water
1 lb bag of Amish Country Chicken Homestyle noodles
1 tbsp onion powder
1/2 cup chopped celery
Salt and pepper to taste
8 Chicken flavor cubes
Directions
Pour soup and water into pot on high.
Add chopped celery, onion powder, and cubes. Bring to a boil.
Add noodles and bring to a boil. Turn down heat and simmer until noodles are softened.
You can add more water if you enjoy more broth in your noodles. Remember to add 1 chicken cube for every 1 cup water added.

STOMACH VIRUS
I usually do the B.R.A.T. diet when the kids have this type of sickness. Bananas, Rice, Apple Sauce, and Toast is what the letters stand for. We start with one and see how the kids handle it and move on from there. Not real glamorous but after all I did say I learned my lesson with the wassail.

A Legacy Of Discipline

As I have been going through my week praying about "legacy" and how that would apply to discipline wouldn't you know one of my own little chicks pulls a big doozy. I honestly thought about not posting or choosing another subject. I mean how can I encourage other moms about something it feels at this moment, I'm not great at myself? Isn't that what the devil wants us to believe? That we are no good as parents let alone disciplinarians. However, I can't change that this is still my focus for our family. To live a life of legacy, something worth passing on to the next generation.

When I was first married with out kids. We attended a church with many young families. Knowing we would one day have children, we couldn't help to observe them. To our benefit every Sunday there was two families that sat close to us that was most entertaining for a young couple.

The First family had six kids and they all sat perfectly in service like little angels. The other family had three kids with one that was everywhere. He would sit on the floor, climb under the seats, and mess with other peoples feet, Bible, or whatever. All the while his mom looking on and admiring his spirit as one that shouldn't be tamed. As young marrieds of course we wanted to have offspring like the first family. To be honest I think they ended up somewhere in between the two. Although, taming does often take place.

My hope was that one day I would have children that were not naughty. I didn't think about character or the heart of the child. I just didn't want a child crawling under a pew and bothering other people and let's face it, with a child that wasn't naughty they wouldn't bother me either. Alas, we learned in order for a legacy to take place a discipline of the heart must. Our children are future adults and character must be cultivated.

I can't tell you in this short blog exactly how and what to do to discipline your children. This week alone, there have been moments when I myself am at a loss and seek the Lord in earnest prayer for guidance. What I do know is that consistency is key.

In Deuteronomy 11:18-21
Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them to your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be many in the
land...

If we are not consistent with our children we cannot expect our children to be in a word tamed. Obedience is a heart condition that takes discipline from parents to be obedient to God's word. If we are only disciplining our childrens' action and not their hearts character will not develop. In doing both we bring God's word to light in the legacy of discipline we live as a family.

I do like technical advice as well from a Godly perspective I'm going to attach several links for you to further research and pray over.

LINKS

Raising Godly Tomatoes

Shepherd Press

Family Life

Focus On The Family

Blessings on you and your family as you search out God's wisdom in the legacy your family would leave in this world.

Adoptive Mom Martha Shares Her Story

ORDINARY DAYS EXTRAORDINARY MOMS

Martha and her husband Scott live in the Tulsa area where they are parents of five kids. They have three biological kids and two adoptive and this is their story about their adoptive son and daughter.



Quicktime Player




Links
Dillion International
The book Martha was referring to in our conversation was Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. You can find more info on this book and others at blackaby.org.
If you have any further questions for Martha I can forward them to her.