Christmas time is here! My favorite time of the year!

The joy of this season is measured by what we prioritize. Christ being first, Family, friends, those less fortunate and the lost that need to here "His Story" and why we Celebrate!

What a beautiful cold , crisp fall day today. Winter is officially here in Florida. A great day for vegetable soup and corn bread. I have such wonderful memories of my moms cornbread with lentils or soup over the years. One of my favorites that she always cooked in an iron skillet. I loved the crispy outside with melted butter on top! Yum ,makes me hungry! The square iron skillet below was my great grandmother we called "Mama White" She and my great granddaddy lived in Beamiston, Alabama. I have a few distinct memories that stand out like my granddaddy always telling us there was a boogy man in the basement which  was his way of keeping us out of there, and it worked!
Dancing and singing to the Chipmunks record but.........

                           My favorite memories were always  the smells that came from the kitchen!
        Treasure the memories with your children and grandchildren in the kitchen. It is becoming a lost art but one that is important to make time for. Don't worry about the mess, just enjoy the time you share together!

Hope you are having a wonderful week so far! Are you soaking in this wonderful weather and all the beauty God has provided for us to enjoy! I often just love to go outside and take deep breaths, look at the trees and listen to the birds and or look at the stars at night! It is soothing and peaceful and provides a calm that is so needed in the busy days we live in. Speaking of calm, I have a new favorite
tea! It has a wonderful flavor by itself but I like to add a teaspoon of honey to make it just right!

Thank you Lord for your PEACE that transcends the busiest of days.

Your JOY that enables us to live above our circumstances.

Everyday with you Lord is sweeter than the day before!

 

 There is noting like a crisp fall day in Florida. We Floridians get so excited that we bring out the sweaters and jackets and scarves when it hits 45-50 degrees! I even turned on our gas fireplace and had some hot chocolate:)   My favorite part of this week has been sitting on the porch swing with my cup of coffee and bible. Setting time aside for yourself like this is so important especially in the busy days we live in. "Create a clean heart , Renew a steadfast spirit within me Lord. We renew our spirit and cleanse our heart by spending time in His word. I have often found that when I am feeling overwhelmed and weary Gods word is the source that renews my joy and strength.  Hope you can sit awhile today and be refreshed and renewed. Set aside your "YOU" time , this allows you to better love and serve those around you.

 

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Take some time for yourself and rest in Him. Treat yourself to a warm cup of cider while your at it!
                                              
                                                                  APPLE CIDER
                                                    1 half gallon of 100% apple juice
                                                    1 teaspoon of Allspice
                                                    1/2 cup brown sugar
                                                    4 cinnamon sticks
                                                    1 tablespoon of cloves whole
                                                    1 nutmeg whole
                                                    optional 1 orange cut in 4 wedge slices.
* MIX ALL TOGETHER IN MEDIUM SAUCEPAN AND SIMMER ON LOW TILL YOUR HOME IS FILLED WITH A WONDERFUL AROMA. AT LEAST 1 HOUR.  ENJOY!
YOU CAN DOUBLE OR TRIPLE RECIPIE AND PUT IN CROCKPOT ALL DAY TILL READY TO SERVE.

 

     Hope your having a blessed Friday. I cant believe we are already into our second week of October
Even though it is still quite warm here in Florida we are still having fun decorating for the Fall Season..

             Have a blessed day and Happy Fall Decorating! Ps I make the Chalkboard frames if your interested message me.  Thanks for taking the time out of your day to stop by and visit!

So excited to offer another Giveaway ! All you have to do is invite your friends to like my blog and whoever has the most friends like it will win! Ends Sunday 12pm.

Simple Fall Decor

I'm all about keeping things simple! You can add Fall touches in your home without spending a lot of time or money. Here is how:
 Use things you already have and just add small touches.

I just bought a roll of burlap ribbon from HOBBIE LOBBY (My favorite place).  All the silk leaves
came from Dollar General.  Just be creative and have fun. Look at magazines and copy them if that helps. Some people need a visual and some don't. Have FUN!

I just wanted to congratulate KIM ZASTROW for winning the  Giveaway!!
Message me your address Kim and I will get it in the mail to you right away!!
Enjoy your FROSTIES!! Thank you to each of you who went to my blog and shared it with friends!!
Your the best!!

No Cook Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bars

Well, autumn is in the air here in Florida! As native Floridians we are so excited to welcome cooler evenings and mornings and crisp fall breezes! Football games, festivals, fresh apples, cider, pumpkins and colorful mums to name a few are my favorites. Oh dear , I almost forgot my favorite thing; sitting on our porch swing with a cup of coffee and my Bible! 
  A little sweet treat doesn't hurt either!
                   
                                                 Peanut Butter Crispy Rice Bars
                           
1 Cup of Honey
3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup semi sweet chocolate morsels, divided
3 cups crisp rice cereal
1 cup regular rolled oats
1/2 cup dry roasted peanuts chopped
1/4 cup shredded coconut, divided
1 teaspoon sea salt, regular is fine if that is all you have.

* Line an 8x8 inch baking dish with parchment paper or foil, allowing parchment or foil to extend over the sides of the pan; set aside, heat the honey, peanut butter and 1/4 cup of the chocolate morsels in a small saucepan over low heat until melted and smooth, stirring often.
* Meanwhile, combine the cereal, oats, peanuts and 2 tablespoons of the coconut in a large bowl. Stir in the warm honey mixture with a wooden spoon until well combined. Press evenly and firmly into the prepared baking pan. Sprinkle with salt, then remaining 1/4 cup chocolate morsels and 2 tbls coconut, pressing in gently. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until firm. Use the parchment to lift the bars out of the pan; cut into 2 inch squares. ENJOY!

Fall is around the corner and that means cooler weather!! Yea!! I have to say I cant think of anything I don't love about fall. One of my many favorite fall recipes is PUMPKIN BREAD. I love it right out of the oven with a dollop of whip cream and  a cold glass of milk. Yummy, I think I might have to make some today.
                                                    Pumpkin Bread Made Easy
                           
                                                    2 Cups all purpose flour
                                                    1/2 tsp Salt
                                                    1/2 tsp baking powder
                                                    1 tsp baking soda
                                                    1 tsp ground cloves
                                                    1 tsp ground cinnamon
                                                    1 tsp nutmeg
                                                    2 cups of sugar
                                                    3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter,softened
                                                    2 large eggs
                                                    1 (15oz) can 100% pure pumpkin
Directions
  1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease two 8 1/2 x 41/2 loaf pans
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, salt, baking soda and spices; set aside
  3. Beat butter and sugar on medium speed until just blended. Add eggs one at a time, beating well
      after each addition.  Continue beating until very light and fluffy, a few minutes beat in pumpkin.
  4. At low speed, beat in the flour mixture until combined.
  5. Turn the batter into the prepared pans, dividing evenly, and bake for 65 -75 minutes, or until a
      cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. ( You can use a butter knife also)  Let the    
      loafs cool in pans for about 10 minutes, then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely.

*Come sit a spell, share some stories and enjoy! My front porch is always open!
                                                   

Give Thanks

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! Thanks in the greek is translated "grace or"favor,this is the indescribable gift.  A gift given to all those who believe. A gift that demands a response to give generously and freely to the needs of others. Our giving should be an overflow of a worshipful heart. As we celebrate this Thanksgiving may we show our gratitude by giving to others!

Guest Blogger-Chocolate Eclair Cake

-The following post was written by my daughter Anna-

I am excited to share one of my go to dessert with you!

I am blessed to have so many wonderful women in my life who have taught me how to bake and cook.

This recipe comes from the kitchen of my husbands grandmother. We call her "Mom"! 

When Ethan and I got married his grandmother made me a recipe book filled with many of the family favorites. Ethan's grandmother is a fantastic cook and has always treated me like one of her own grandchildren. The Chocolate Eclair Cake is one of Ethan's favorites. It's really easy and always a crowd pleaser!

-Chocolate Eclair Cake-

What you need:

-2 small boxes of instant vanilla pudding mix

-2 cups of cold milk

-1 thawed 16oz container of cool whip (must be thawed)

-1 box of graham crackers

-1 jar/can of milk chocolate icing

-Pecans or favorite kind of nuts(optional)

What you do:

Mix together pudding, milk and thawed cool whip.

In a 9x13 pan put a layer of graham crackers then top with a layer of the pudding mixture. Add another layer of graham crackers and then the rest of the pudding mixture. Then add one final layer of graham crackers. In the microwave heat chocolate icing for about 30 seconds or until it is creamy. Poor over the top of the graham crackers and spread out. At this point you can add the nuts on top of the icing but I don't because Ethan doesn't really like nuts. Place in refrigerator and let sit over night. 

Enjoy!

A story that comes to mind when I think about Ethan's grandmother was the first time I went to his grandparents house. It was on a Sunday afternoon and it was to celebrate Ethan's 16th birthday. I took a change of clothes since we went there right after church. I went into a spare bedroom to change and as I went to exit the room I couldn't get the door open. At first I panicked because I thought I was stuck in this room and I was already nervous about making a good impression then I realized that the door was locked. I calmly walked out of the room pretending that nothing even happened. Funny to look back on now, but not so funny in the moment!

Applesauce Anyone?

Well I decided to get domestic yesterday and make some homemade applesauce. I wanted to make it the way our Grandma D used too! I even got to use the utensils she used when making it. Brings back special memories of her cooking in her kitchen. She loved to cook and often prepared 3 hot meals a day for her family. They had a large bell on a single pole with a string that was rung at meal time. My husband and his siblings knew that no matter what, they were to promptly come home for dinner! Now these were the days mind you when children would play outdoors for hours after school with other neighborhood children. Yes, I was one of those barefoot, skinny children running recklessly outdoors and I will always treasure those simple and innocent days!

Grandma D's Homemade Applesauce

 1 bag of gala apples but you can use any apples you choose. Some apples are better cooking apples than others so I would do some research.
1. Wash apples and then place apples whole in pot, cover with water.
 **using whole apples allows you to get all the good healthy vitamins from the skins.
2. Bring to boil till very soft, I use a fork to test them.
3. Remove apples from pot while hot.
4. Place whole apples in a colander with a pan under it and mash them real good!
  **Skins will remain in colander but the sauce and all the good juices will go into pan.
I then add 2 teas of cinnamon and  1 cup sugar or you can be healthy and
organic like I was today and use Organic Agave Nectar. I used the light Agave!
You use 2/3 syrup to every 1 cup sugar! One bag of apples fills a 1 quart size mason
jar. Place it in the frig to get cold and then enjoy! It is yummy warm too!
There is nothing like fresh applesauce! Great on toast!
My grandchildren and children loved it and have already requested that I make more!

Eggs Have It!

So excited to be able to share another great recipe with you today. Can I just say I love sweets!  You can love sweets , it is just all about moderation. The key is exercising off the extra pounds so that you can eat more! LOL
Hope you enjoy this recipe, it is a family favorite of ours!
                                   
 Aunt Melissa's Oatmeal Cookies
3 eggs               2 1/2 cups flour
1 cup raisins      1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla       1 tsp cinnamon
1 cup butter       1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 cup brown sugar   2 cups oatmeal
1 cup white sugar   3/4 cup pecans (optional)

** Combine eggs, raisins and vanilla. Let stand 1 hour. Cream together butter and sugars. Add flour, salt,cinnamon and soda to sugar mixture. Mix well. Blend in eggs and raisins, oatmeal and nuts. Drop by heaping teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes! Yummy!
**I have substituted chocolate chips for the raisins and left out the cinnamon on occasion, try it!

The story that came to mind when I was thinking of this recipe was the time I was in the grocery with 4 of our 5 children. On these occasions my grocery trips would take much longer and my brain would be fried by the end. As we were heading down the last aisle in the dairy section, I handed our sweet Anna, then 4 at the time, a carton of eggs and said" Hold these real careful for mommy so they won't break". She was thrilled and took the job at hand very seriously. I was then distracted ,which very easily happens when you have multiple children in the grocery store. As I turned around to check on Anna she had cracked several eggs in her lap. Oh dear Anna what happened ? I said. She replied "Mommy, I was seeing if there are any  baby chickens in our eggs! I just couldn't help but laugh as I proceeded to clean up the mess and get another carton of eggs! Children are such a joy and always seems make us laugh on days we need it the most!

Im Back!

    Hey friends, I'm excited to post again and hope you will enjoy! My goal is to post 1 to 2 times a week at least!  Have I told you already how much I love to bake? Well if not I'm telling you now. I think what motivates me is the finished product and enjoyment it brings to others.
    This recipe is a family favorite at our holiday family gatherings. My precious grandmother, who is now 93 still bakes this cake when requested. Once, after a family gathering at my sisters house, I was driving home with our 5 children in a Burgundy conversion  van with pink interior! Yes, that is a whole other story!  As I was driving, one of the children was crying hysterically, so in desperation I tried to hand a passey to the back seat. Yes, multitasking was how I survived! A few minutes later I saw a red siren in my rear view mirror so I pulled over. "Mam, do you realize you were swerving on and off the road, have you been drinking he said." "No officer" I replied ,"but I did have some of my grandmothers Rum cake. Well needless to say he did not find that at all comical and asked me to explain. After my attempt to explain my circumstances he released me with a warning and followed me all the way home!!
   
                         
Dede's Rum Cake
1 package yellow cake mix                     
1 cup sour cream
1 package instant chocolate pudding       
1 teas. vanilla
4 eggs                        
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup Wesson oil     
1 cup chopped nuts   (Optional)
1/2 cup light rum

Beat first 7 ingredients together for 8 minutes. Fold in Chocolate chips and nuts.
**Bake in well greased floured bunt pan at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.
Glaze: 1 cup sugar
1 stick butter
1/4 cup light rum
1/4 cup water
**Cook for 3 minutes and pour over cake immediately when cake is removed from oven!
Enjoy! But avoid driving in a Burgundy conversion van if at all possible!!

HERE WE GO!!

I cant wait to share with you one of my all time favorite recipes today. My Great -grandmother Whites Banana Nut bread! I remember very little about her but for some reason I remember listening and dancing to a "Chipmunks" record in her living room. I also recall being afraid of her basement and standing at the top of the stairs while my cousins tried to convince me to join them. Funny what sticks in our minds over the years isn't it.

                Grandmother Whites Banana Nut Bread
1 stick real butter-room temp         2 eggs
1 1/4 cup sugar                               1 teas baking soda
1 1/2 cup flour                                4 Tbls buttermilk
1/2 teas. salt               1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 cup mashed bananas                     1 teas, vanilla

Mix sugar and butter till creamy, Add eggs one at a time. Mix flour, soda and salt in a separate bowl. Add flour mixture alternately with milk. Add vanilla, bananas and nuts.
Bake 350 degrees for 1 hour or until fork comes out clean.
*I do use margarine and regular milk and it is still very good. But to get the taste of Grandmother Whites original Nut bread I would try the real butter and buttermilk at least once!
*Carrying on a tradition I grew up with, this is a recipe I love to share. I often bake it in 3 mini loaf pans and give to neighbors and friends. Hope you'll keep one and then be a blessing to others by doing the same. 
*The smell of homemade baked goods cooking helps to create a warm and cozy atmosphere where friends and family love to gather and reconnect.  I try to do this at least one a week just to draw everyone HOME at the same time!
* Baking is also a great way to keep your children and their friends close by. My mother was always baking something and all my friends always wanted to come to my house to see what was cooking. When I became a mom I realized what my mom was doing, she had an alternative motive, to keep me and my friends within eye and ear distance! Smart move MOM!
Our GOAL- Creating an atmosphere of good smells, good eating and the opportunity to teach and train  our children in the art of baking and hospitality ,while also being a blessing to others!

Returning Home: My Mission Statement

I am so excited to start my new blog! My prayer is that this blog will draw, cultivate and strenghen the hearts of women around the globe to return to the home front. I know this sounds like we are going to the front lines, well essencially we are. You see, I strongly feel that the home is key to strenghthening our families which in turn strenghens our churches and towns and nations! This is a big statement ,but I also believe the home is where it all starts. So this is my heart for beginning this blog; to draw the hearts of women everywhere to RETURN HOME!  To embrace the calling on our lives as daughters, wives,mothers and grandmothers.  I want this to be a fun place you can come to daily for inspiration, ideas ,recipies and more! Looking so forward as we journey together, learn and grow in our role of "Keepers of the Home" Titus 2.