Dorothy and Banana Cream Pie

In March my good friend Dorothy had a Birthday!  So I had her and my sister come for dinner.
One of Dorothy's favorite dessert's is Banana Cream Pie, so I decided to make one for her.  It turned out so good!  Everyone liked it and my sister kept saying how good it was and that I could sell it!

A couple weeks later I was in Idaho over Spring Break and made a couple more for some family there and they really liked it as well.  So I thought I would share with you how I made it.

Jill's Banana Cream Pie

Make a vanilla wafer crust using about a cup and a half of crushed vanilla wafer's
Mix that with 1/4 to 1/3 cup melted butter.  Press into a pie plate and then set in refrigerator for five to ten minutes to harden.

Meanwhile, mix a small package of banana cream pie and a small package of vanilla pudding and pie filling.
(the instant kind).  Mix according to package directions for pie filling.  I used part milk and part half and half to make it creamier.  Then top that with whipped cream that you whip!  You can use Cool Whip if you want but making your own whip cream doesn't take very long and its so much better!  Then put in refrigerator.
Should let it set in refrigerator for a few hours before eating.

With summer around the corner this would be a good dessert for your picnic's and bar-be-ques.  Its not real heavy and it is very good if I say so myself!  :)

Enjoy!

Tip:  When whipping your cream make sure your bowl and beater's are cold!


P.S.  I am so thankful for Dorothy and am blessed to have her as my friend.

Fried Chicken & Biscuits

You are going to love this!  I fixed fried chicken for dinner tonight. (I like to thaw chicken breasts and then cut them up into strips and fry them, so good!)  Anyway, Carmella was at Golf practice and then hanging out with some friends so I sent her a text and told her that fried chicken was for dinner as it is one of her favorites.  As I was frying the chicken I thought that I should make some biscuits.  I remembered I had a
biscuit recipe that I had received from a friend a few years ago that I hadn't made for a long time.  So I whipped some up.  I had the chicken frying and the biscuits in the oven when I got a call from Carmella and she asked if I had enough chicken for some friends.  I said sure and that I had also made some biscuits.  (Mm interesting) So in a little bit she and four friends showed up and chowed down.  Last night I had asked Scott to stop at Fred Meyer on his way home and buy a bag of salad because I had a
coupon.  He bought a big bag and as a result I had plenty of salad to offer the girls.  They came, ate and left all in a matter of about 45 minutes.  Very fun! 

Now,  you might say all  of these things are coincidences.  I say they are Kitchen Mercies!!


I learned how to fry chicken from my Mom, and if I say so myself it is very good.  Others have said so
also. :)  I just season it with salt and pepper, toss it in flour and then fry it in either olive oil or canola oil.

Cheddar Bay Biscuits:

2 C Biscuit mix (like Bisquick)
2/3 C milk
1/2 C shredded cheddar cheese (I used Mexican blend cheese from Costco)
1/4 C Parmesan cheese

Mix above ingredients, cut into biscuits; then melt and brush on top of the biscuits the following:
1/4 C butter - melted
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon parsley flakes

Bake at 450 for 10-20 minutes. 

Paid for Cooking

I love how the Lord has allowed me to do something that I really enjoy in a setting that I would never have
thought or even wanted with the added bonus of getting paid for it!  As I have mentioned, I work in an
elementary school kitchen.  This year I have also been working in a Middle School kitchen three days a week for a couple of hours before going to the elementary kitchen.  At the Middle School I get to
do a larger variety of things.  A few months ago I was making pumpkin cake, and recently I have made
instant potatoes.  I find myself thinking, how cool it is that I am getting paid to bake and cook! 

Last week I was cutting up stir fry vegetables and panning them to send to the elementary kitchen's.  My boss came by and said, that looks beautiful.  I am so thankful when she comments on how well I have done a task, even one that seems like a small thing, not just because I appreciate hearing that I am doing a good job, but because I believe it is honoring and pleasing to the Lord.  I want to be a light for Him at
my work and in my work.  It says in Colossians 3, Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance.  It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.

One more thing.  The Bible says that we will have work to do in heaven, and the work we do here is preparing us for that.  I have to tell you that that has got me thru several hum drum days of washing dishes.  The thought that this job may be preparing me for getting to cook and bake in heaven is very exciting.  Now, I know some people that think having to cook in heaven would seem more like hell.  But I get very excited because every thing will come out perfectly!!  I can't wait!  So, if you are one of those that do
not like the idea of having to cook in heaven, I will be happy to cook for you and you can wash the dishes.
Deal? :)
 

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!