Carmella

I am blessed to be the mother of Carmella.  Scott and I had been married for about 8 years when we were told that we would probably never be able to have children.  This broke my heart because since I can remember I have loved babies and looked forward to having my own. But, in July of 1995 the Lord blessed us with our beautiful baby girl.  Since Carmella's birth it has been my desire to be here for her.  I am so thankful that I was blessed to be a Stay at Home Mom.  I never planned to go back to work after her birth, but God had other plans.  When Scott lost his job as an Architect in 2009, the Lord provided a part-time job for me working in an elementary school kitchen.  When I did a pros and cons list before accepting the job, the only con I could come up with was that I had to do it!  The Lord had taken care of all my concerns.  Although I did not want to do it, after four years I can say I like my job.  It really is the best job for a Mom because I am still able to be here for Carmella, because when there is no school I don't work!  God is so good! 

I am the second in the kitchen, so I don't do the cooking but I have purposed to serve the girl I work with.  I have thought about being a lead, but that would mean more hours and Carmella is a Senior in high school and graduating in June.  Three short months!  However, a couple of weeks ago I was asked to train for a lead position.  I should have said no but I did tell them it's very important to me to continue to take Carmella to school these last few months.  They understood and were willing to work with me, so I said I would try it.  It was one of the most stressful weeks of my life!  I was anxious and had knots in my stomach all week until I told them I didn't want to continue.  When they said I could return to my normal schedule, all my anxiousness went away.  I didn't really understand why it was so hard for me, but in talking to a friend she said I had discovered that I am more comfortable in a supportive role and that is okay! What a relief that was.  Also, I believe all those nerves were God's way of telling me that was not the job for me.  Why do I say that?  Because all week I was praying, begging that He would take away my anxiousness and not until I was told I could return to my original job did it go away. 

I want to be able to enjoy these last few months of Carmella's Senior year with her and not be all stressed out.  I will have a lot of years to possibly work more hours, but I will never get this time with Carmella back.
It says in 2Corinthians that we walk by faith and not by sight.  God has been faithful to meet our needs and I know that He will continue.

Below is one of Carmella's favorite treats. 

I love you Carmella and am so thankful to the Lord for allowing me to be your Mom.


Welcome Home Bars

1/2C Butter (one cube)
1 1/2C Graham Cracker Crumbs
14oz can Sweetened Condensed Milk (not evaporated milk)
1C or more of Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
1C or more of Reese's Peanut Butter Chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In a 9x13 baking pan, melt butter in oven.  Sprinkle crumbs evenly over butter, pour Sweetened Condensed Milk evenly over crumbs.  Then sprinkle with the chocolate chips and peanut butter chips; press down firmly.
Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.  Be careful not to over bake!  Cool.  Cut into bars.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

A Favorite Muffin

I make a lot of muffins (I am a carb addict), and also make them into mini loaves.  Jeanne, Carmella
and I are going to Portland this week-end and will be staying over night at some friends home.  I like to
take some kind of baked goodie when I go to someone's home.  I was thinking about what kind of
bread I could make and remembered that I had some grated zucchini in the freezer. This is a recipe that I got from a Taste of Home Annual Recipe book that I have.  (Taste of Home has really good recipe's).  Like I said it is a favorite because it is very easy and moist.  It is also a favorite of my sister Jeanne. 

I made a double recipe and made some into muffins and a couple of mini loaf pans.  My friend Dorothy
has invited us to dinner tomorrow night so I will take her a muffin as well.

Zucchini-Chocolate Chip Muffins

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4    cup sugar
1       teaspoon baking soda
1       teaspoon cinnamon
1/2    teaspoon salt
1       egg, lightly beaten
1/2    cup vegetable oil  (I use canola oil)
1/4    cup milk  (I like to use some half and half with the milk)
1       tablespoon lemon juice
1       teaspoon vanilla
1       cup shredded zucchini  (If you are using frozen, thaw first and drain the water)
1/4    cup semisweet miniature chocolate chips  (sometimes I leave these out)
1/4    cup chopped walnuts  (I always leave these out)

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Combine the egg, oil, milk, lemon juice
and vanilla; mix well. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips and
walnuts. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups (or greased mini loaf pan) two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until the muffins test done.

I most always use a Texas or big size muffin, muffin pan.  If I am going to eat a muffin I like a big one!
Actually I usually cut it in half but feel like I am eating more.  :) 

Even if you don't like zucchini, try them!  I don't think you will even taste the zucchini.

Starbucks at Home

Yesterday I didn't have to work so I had a couple of friends in for coffee.  As I was preparing I had the idea (the Holy Spirit at work) to make my living room like we were sitting at Starbucks.  So I asked my husband to turn on our gas fireplace, (there is more to it than just flipping a switch) and I arranged three chairs in front of it and put an end table in the middle.  I got out my nice china cups and made some cranberry scones and we had a very nice time sitting by the fire drinking our coffee, eating our scones and talking the morning away.  It was so much fun and my friends said that it was better than Starbucks!

Now so I don't get Starbucks mad at me, I enjoy going to Starbucks and do.  But for yesterday this was a nice alternative.

Next time I will try to think ahead and take a picture so I can include that in my post.

I got the recipe for the scones from my cousin (by marriage) sister.  For some reason I used to think that Scones were hard to make, but they aren't.  Its basically like making biscuits.

Darcie's Cranberry Scones

2 C flour
2 T sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/4 t salt
1/2 C butter
2/3 C buttermilk (I like to let my buttermilk sit out for a little while, overnight is okay before baking with it)
1/2 C dried cranberries (or more)

Mix the dry ingredients, cut in butter until crumbly.  Add cranberries, mix in buttermilk.
 Pat dough into an 8" round on floured surface.  Cut into 8 pie wedges, place on lightly greased baking
sheet.  Brush with milk and sprinkle with sugar. (I don't sprinkle on the sugar)
Bake at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes.  Be careful not to over bake.

So Good!!
 

A Prime Example

Hello,
I am excited to share a fresh example of a kitchen mercy!  Yesterday I bought a rotisserie chicken at Costco and decided to make a pasta salad with it with Pennie pasta and Cesar dressing, with the thought that if I made that yesterday we could have it for dinner tonight also.  But I felt that I should go ahead and make some chicken enchiladas with the left over chicken for dinner tonight.  As I was making them I thought wow, there is too much for just the three of us, I should see if my sister would like to come over for dinner.
I sent her a text and she called and said sure, and is it okay if Brandon, her son, my nephew, also comes?
Brandon happened to be in town and was leaving later this evening.  So I had enough for him and sent some home with him as well.  I just love it when things like that happen.  I didn't know that Brandon was going to be here, but the Lord did!  I firmly believe that the feeling I had was the Holy Spirit prompting me.  I also made a salad that is a favorite recipe from a good friend, and is a salad that even my daughter Carmella likes.  You use butter or romaine lettuce, a pear (fresh, not canned) diced up, granny smith apples diced, feta cheese, craisins and walnuts.   Then top it with poppy seed salad dressing. 

Listen to the Holy Spirit and see who might show up for dinner!  You will be blessed.


Poppy Seed Dressing:

1 Egg
1/4 C Sugar
1 T Dijon mustard
2/3 C Red Wine Vinegar
1/2 t Salt
3 T Grated Yellow Onion

Blend in blender until creamy white (2 min) then slowly add 2 cup corn oil. (I use canola oil but don't use olive oil).  Remove to bowl, stir in 3 Tablespoon poppy seeds.  Then put in a container to keep in the refrigerator.  I use a jar.

For better flavor let the dressing set for at least one day before using.

Enjoy!

Gift of Hospitality/Serving

Gift of Hospitality/Serving

My Spiritual gift is Hospitality.  Hospitality is more than just having people in your home, although that is a big part that I very much enjoy.   Several years ago I was challenged by a mentor to pray about a life purpose verse.  As a result my life purpose verse is Mark 10:45.  For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.  That's what I want my life to be about, serving others.

Two weeks ago this past Saturday I got to serve a co-worker by helping at her daughter's 16th birthday party.  She held it at an Eagle Lodge and the food was pot luck style.  She provided ham and a potato casserole and those attending were bringing dishes as well.  She asked me and another friend to be there to help with the food so that she could enjoy the party.  I was very happy to help her and had a lot of fun being there to do whatever needed done.  I was very thankful that I was able to exceed her expectations of what she had in mind I would do.  Thank you Lord.

Then last Saturday a good friend of mine asked me to come to her home and help her make a lasagna in preparation for a dinner party she was having for some of her neighbor's.  Again I was very happy to help her and we had a lot of fun working together.  She was very gracious and allowed me to come into her kitchen and take charge in putting the lasagna together.  I was a help to her but she also blessed me by sending me home with some groceries.  Another kitchen mercy from the Lord thru my friend. 

My friend's potato casserole is good, but I really like the one I make.  I got the recipe from another good friend of mine who is also a very good cook.  It is requested at every major holiday meal by my daughter and nephew's.


Potato Casserole

9 potatoes cooked in skin
1/4 C Butter
2 C Sour Cream
1 Can Cream of Chicken Soup
1/3 C green onions, chopped (I use dried onion's from Costco)
1 1/2 C grated Cheddar Cheese 

  Cook potatoes and let cool then grate into a big bowl.  Add onions and cheese and mix together.
Put into a buttered 9 x 13 pan.  Heat soup with butter until butter is melted.  Blend in sour cream.
Pour over potatoes.  Dot with butter.  At this point you can put in the refrigerator for one or two days before baking.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until the sauce is a little brown.  Cover with more grated cheddar cheese and bake 15 more minutes till cheese is melted and casserole is bubbly.

It is very good and good the next day for breakfast with eggs or just by itself.  Enjoy!

Welcome!

Hello,
This is my very first post on my new blog!
When I started thinking about starting a blog, the title for it came to me pretty quickly.  My Mom always talks about how the Lord blesses her with kitchen mercies and He does that for me as well.  What does that mean?  For me it means He gives me ideas of things to fix or I have just the right things on hand for unexpected guests and spur of the moment meals.  Sometimes I will be at the store and buy something because it is on sale or I feel led to and then the reason for that purchase becomes clear.  It has happened several times and is very exciting.  I pray before I go into the grocery and especially before going into Costco that the Lord will help me to be wise in my purchases.

I very much enjoy cooking and baking.  I learned to cook from my Mom.  I grew up on a ranch in Idaho and learned how to cook good old fashioned meals.  I am not a gourmet cook but still a pretty good one.  I enjoy being in my kitchen cooking and baking for my family and it gives me a lot of joy to share with family and friends.   

One of my most favorite recipes is Buttermilk Salad Dressing.  I have it in my fridge all the time and have been asked for the recipe often.  It is so easy and will ruin you for store bought ranch dressing.

Buttermilk Salad Dressing

Minced Garlic  3 tsp.
Mayonnaise     1 1/2C
Buttermilk        1C 
Parsley Flakes  2 tsp.
Onion Powder  2 tsp.
Salt                   1 tsp.
Pepper              1 tsp.
A little tip: put in the mayonnaise before putting in the buttermilk otherwise you may get buttermilk on you!
Yes, I know this because I have done it!  :)
This only needs to set for a few minutes before ready to use. 

I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to sharing with you in the days to come.

Blessings,
Jill