Owl Baby Shower

Posted by Lori:

This past Saturday was a baby shower for a sweet couple who are expecting their first child.  The church showered them with lots of love and gifts.  Showers always make me think of the scripture "Rejoice with those who rejoice...." Romans 12:15.  

Our congregation has been blessed with lots of babies this year!  So that means lots of decorating for baby showers for me! :)  I don't mind at all, of course!

I was really excited about doing an owl shower, but realized quickly that most of the owl decor is directed towards girls.  At first this baby was thought to be a girl, but a few weeks ago, the couple found out it was a boy!

I found these wooden owl shapes at Michaels, covered them with burlap and scrapbook paper - making the owl's features.  The baby's room is going to be owls and trees, so I had everything all worked out....or so I thought.....

My husband spent Friday afternoon cutting big tree limbs for me to use for the shower, but when I went to the building to decorate that evening, the limb's leaves were all wilted.  I thought they would last for at least a day, but they didn't.  Maybe it was just that particular tree.  So one to plan #2.....silk greenery.

These cute owl napkins were a little bright for the color scheme, but I couldn't resist them!  So cute!

If you keep up with this blog often, you'll remember my burlap wreath.  Here it is being used - yet again - for another purpose!  I like things like that!

This sweet lady has been writing shower poems for many years.  She puts a little humor into them and it is such a special keepsake for the couples and their child.  I have one she wrote for my wedding shower.

Isn't this knitted, stuffed owl adorable???!  What a fun gift for baby and mother!

Babies are blessings from God!

Coconut Pie (9 x 13)

Posted by Lori:

This is a delicious dessert!  It's a coconut pie and pudding delight (or quad, dilemna, or pudding cake - whatever it is YOU call it :) but because it is baked in a 9 x 13 inch pan, it serves a lot more than a typical pie.  One of my friends makes this.  Her daughter gave her the recipe several years ago.

Layer 1

1 stick butter
1 cup flour
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pat crust in 9 x 13 pan.  Bake for 20 minutes and and allow crust to cool.

Layer 2


8 ounce package cream cheese, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 of an 8 ounce Cool Whip

Mix ingredients together and spread over cooled crust.  Sprinkle layer with coconut and pecans.

Layer 3


2 - 3 ounce packages instant coconut pudding mix
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup cream of coconut

Mix together and spread on 2nd layer.

Layer 4


Cool Whip (I think you'll need more than the other 1/2 of the 8 ounce tub)
chopped pecans
toasted coconut


Top with Cool Whip, then sprinkle chopped pecans and toasted coconut.

Pecan Spritz

Posted by Lori:

There is a donut, cake and cookie shop in Altus, OK, that is a favorite of many.  Now it is called June's Tasty Treats, but as a child it was Ye Olde Donut Shoppe (this store sold and is still running with different owners.  June's now has what the previous YODS had sold and the same recipes her parents used from the beginning.)  Anyway, I really like their little "spritz" cookies, so this was my attempt to copy them.  It's definitely a good cookie, but it's certainly not a copy-kat recipe, either.  June's cookie is more of a shortening base, where this one is butter.  But, taking these to a softball tournament with high school girls and parents was a big hit, so I'm definitely going to be making these for many events for years to come.  As you can see, I tried shells with the icing - just like June's, but my shells aren't too pretty!  I liked the stars, so continued mostly with them.  And, in my opinion, pink is the best color tint for the icing! 

PECAN SPRITZ

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• crushed pecans
• 
  
• In a large bowl, cream together the butter and white sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the vanilla. Combine the flour and salt; stir into the sugar mixture. Cover dough, and chill for at least 30 minutes.  Roll into logs, then roll in crushed pecans.  Wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 30 minutes or dough can be frozen.

When ready to bake, use chilled cookie sheets.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Slice dough into 1/2 inch slices and place on chilled cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until lightly golden. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks. Ice with buttercream icing.  Click HERE for my recipe.

My Green Door

Posted by Lori:

I'm not one for change, and especially when it has a connection to my childhood, but on a whim, I decided to go for it!  I'm talking about my front door, which was previously brown and kind of faded and "dry" looking.  It's just like the front door on the house that I lived in for most of my childhood, in a house that was built during my kindergarten year and we lived in until spring break of my sophomore year in high school.  Kind of silly to be "attached", but that's how I am.

For some reason Saturday, I got the urge to pain the front door.  Maybe it's because I know that we're getting new siding and rock trim and I wanted the door to look "newer", too?  Maybe because it was hard to tell from the road if our door was open or not because it was so dark?  Either, way, I used a green paint I had on hand (with the help of my mom via phone!).  I almost went turquoise because I had a gallon of it, too, but just couldn't do it!

I used a simple black sponge brush.  First I dabbed Vaseline on a few areas where I wanted to "distress" the paint, then painted over the door.  I liked how the paint didn't go into the designed parts and decided to leave them that way.  After the first coat dried, I went over the smooth areas again, let them dry, then wiped with a cloth and steel brush along where the Vaseline was.  The paint won't stick to the Vaseline.  And, there it is!  My new GREEN door!!!  I painted the wreath hanger the same color, then put the burlap wreath back up. (search: Burlap Wreath on our blog home page for directions).  The wreath needs a bow or something to decorate it up, but I'm not sure yet what I want.

So, maybe the door will stay green a while.  Maybe I'll try another color some day.  Who knows?!

Buttermilk Pie

Posted by Donna:

I have seen this recipe for years in my various cookbooks. After one of our sons-in-law was in the hospital recently, a friend baked him a Buttermilk Pie. He really liked this. I decided I should make one for Larry and me. Larry ate the whole pie by himself--minus the one piece that I ate. It's a good old-fashioned pie. From what I can tell, everyone uses just about the same recipe.

Buttermilk Pie

2 cups sugar
3 - 4 T. flour
4 eggs
2/3 cup buttermilk
1/2 cup melted margarine or butter
1 T. vanilla

After melting the margarine, add the sugar and flour and mix very well. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Lastly, add the buttermilk and vanilla. Beat about one minute. Bake in an unbaked crust 45 - 55 minutes. You want the center to be almost firm.

When I told Larry I was making a buttermilk pie, he really questioned the buttermilk.
He did say pecan, chocolate and coconut were still his favorites, but he definitely liked this. I told him I thought I would share it with some friends of ours, and he said, "No, you can share it all with me!" I think that was a compliment---not quite sure. Either it was or he was just being stingy!!!!!! (tee hee)

Patriotic Tea Punch

Posted by Lori:

This morning I was flipping through a Sam's Club flyer I got in the mail recently.  It's advertising their "Taste of Sam's" that will happen next weekend.  This recipe was inside, so I snapped a photo to share with you.  Isn't it PRETTY??!!  What a great addition to a shower, birthday party, or patriotic celebration!

Fresh Peach Pie

Posted by Lori:

Mom posted this recipe when we first began our blog, but according to the stats, not many saw it.  I decided to re-post it for you today.....because it sounds good and I'm hungry!  It was my grandma's recipe, but mom and I both enjoy making it now.

Fresh Peach Pie

Slice 5 or 6 large fresh peeled peaches, enough to fill an unbaked pie crust

Mix together 2 cups sugar, 6 T. flour, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. nutmeg and 1/8 tsp. cloves.

Pour over the sliced peaches.

Put small dollops of butter on top of the peaches and sugar mixture.

Cover with the top unbaked pie crust. I always make a lattice topped crust. If you do a solid crust on top, be sure and cut slits in it.

Sprinkle sugar on top.

Bake at 375 degrees for about 45 minutes.

Be sure and have some vanilla ice cream (*My family would prefer BLUE BELL!) on hand to put the finishing "yummy" touch on the pie!!!!

Bob's Vinegar Cobbler

A Facebook friend and grandmother-in-law to my niece posted this recipe a few days ago.  It's her husband's recipe and he was making it that day for a church potluck dinner.  I can't remember when I've heard of a vinegar cobbler, if ever, but remember hearing of a vinegar pie years ago.  I was impressed with the straight he made cutting the dough!  He used a pizza cutter!  Thought you might enjoy this interesting, unique recipe!


Bob's Vinegar Cobbler


Preheat oven to 390 degrees.

1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup honey (optional)
4 cups water
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick margarine
1 tsp. cinnamon

Crust:

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup shortening
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp salt
Enough cold milk to make dough workable.

Combine first 7 ingredients to make vinegar mixture and bring vinegar mixture to boiling.
Mix flour, baking powder, salt and shortening together with fork, fingers or pie knife until resembles cornmeal. Add enough cold milk (a little at a time) to make dough workable. Roll out 1/2 of the dough and cut into strips and drop into boiling vinegar mixture by pinching off dough into approx. 1" x 1" pieces. Boil 5 minutes to cook dumplings. Pour mixture into 9 x 13 " baking pan or pyrex dish. Top with remaining dough. This can be rolled and placed on top like a pie, or cut into strips and placed on like a lattice top pie. (Or whatever you want it look like!) Sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on top and bake at 390 degrees until crust is light brown.

Note: If you leave out honey, add another 1/2 cup sugar.
For diabetics, who can eat honey....you can use 2 cups honey and omit sugar.

Spring

Posted by Donna:


Two things I'm lovin' about spring are: my yellow roses and decorating. I finally decided I needed to prune my rose bush last fall since it was looking sick. That made a huge difference. It immediately started looking better. This isn't a very good picture of the umbrella because of the reflection in the glass door. I've seen this idea several places and loved the look. People amaze me with their creative ideas.

Everything is so beautiful this year---I think people everywhere are enjoying this early spring with the green, green grass, early blooming flowers, and the much needed rain. We have so much to be thankful for.

Dish Towel Dress

Posted by Lori:

A friend posted this picture of these "Dish Towel Dresses"!  Aren't they cute????!! I asked to use the photo and she also supplied me with the little poem that can be made to go with it.  Here is a link to the instructions for the "dresses".  Thanks, Carla!

Link: http://calamitykim.typepad.com/photos/whip_up_a_darlin_dress_to/index.html

POEM

Though I am a little dress
I was not made to wear,
But I'll help with my apron...
Come cleanup time I'm there!

(from craftsayings.com)

Spiced-up Hominy

Posted by Donna via Larry:


Larry came home from drinking coffee Monday and said he needed me to buy a can of hominy because a coffee-drinking friend shared a recipe with him that was really good. Larry loves hominy--so, this was right up his alley. The man told him he had made this and taken it to a fellowship meal at his church, and that the men loved it.


Ingredients:

1 can of hominy
Salsa--at least a cup or to your liking
Larry also added some hot sauce to his.


Heat the hominy,undrained. After the hominy is hot, drain the juice off and add the salsa. He said he thought this made hominy not taste so bland.

As far as I'm concerned, most men can put picante sauce or hot sauce or salsa on anything and they'll think it's great.

Roast, Potatoes and Gravy

Posted by Lori:

While I haven't had time to make any new recipes lately, I have been trying new ways to use up leftovers.

 I've also finely gotten our roast dinners exactly like we like them.  Through the years some have been good and some have been okay.  A few have just been bad.  Some of those times I may have bought the wrong type of roast for the way I cooked it.  Not sure.

If I was in a hurry, I would skip a step and it just never turned out exactly like we liked it.  Now that we all agree this way is best (according to what we like, that is!), we've had it several times lately.....then have lots of leftovers. (I'll share the roast technique soon.)

You may remember the Roast Beef Sundaes.  They're fun!  And we use it for making roast sandwiches or mixing it with barbeque for sandwiches, but this time I decided to make a layered casserole with the leftover roast, potatoes, and gravy. 

It was a big hit with everyone!  Our mashed (creamed) potatoes are usually with the skins off, but did them differently this time.  Most everyone liked them this way just as well.  The littlest in the family did not!

So, as the pictures show....just layer potatoes, roast, gravy and then repeat.  Bake at 350 for about 30 minutes or until bubbly.  I had some frozen rolls (Sister Shubert's brand) that they opened up and put the casserole on top.  It was very good!  

Cupcake Party

Posted by Lori:

Several weeks ago I bought some cupcake plates and napkins at Target.  I commented to a few people that I wanted to have a cupcake party.  The idea grew and the party became a reality last week!

For the church announcement I had it to invite "girls of all ages".  However, next time, it might be best to say girls and ladies of all ages, since most of the older ladies didn't show up!  I was trying to be polite!

I had several friends volunteer to help make cupcakes and punch.  I made the icing in four different pastel colors and bought sprinkles.  Lots and lots of sprinkles!

The girls enjoyed picking out their cupcake, icing color(s) and decorations.

But most of all, they enjoyed eating them!

It was interesting to see just how much time and effort some of them put into decorating the cupcakes.

They were proud of their creations!

My high school daughter and a few of her friends even joined in the fun.  Since softball practice was canceled, they had some free time to have some fun.

I may need to have another cupcake party soon!  How about you?

Easter Ideas

Posted by Lori:

Fabric Carrot Candy Holders

Kimberly made these cute fabric carrot candy holders last year for everyone at Easter.  She said she had a pattern for them, but I found a tutorial that would work for the fabric cone shape.  Here is the link: http://www.ehow.com/how_6573523_make-paper-fabric-cone.html

To finish the carrot candy cones, slit the top of the fabric down to where you want to tie off your carrot.  Insert desired candy into cone and tie off with ribbon.  So cute! 

Oven Baked Hard Cooked Eggs

At Easter, a friend put on Facebook that she cooked her eggs in the oven.  I had never heard of it, but thought it sounded great to be able to cook them for a certain amount of time and not have to watch for the water to boil on the stove and then time the cooking process.  The oven-baked method worked wonderfully! 

Here's how you do it:

Place desired amount of uncooked eggs directly on rack in the oven (rack should be in the center).  Place cookie sheet or foil on bottom oven rack - just in case one cracks or has a small, unseen crack. Set oven to bake and 325 degrees.  Bake for 30 minutes.  After baking, place eggs in ice water.  Allow to cool for a few minutes then peel.  At that point you can either continue to cool them in the water, cool then in the water, or eat them!

Deviled Egg Chicks

I've made a variation of these before, for one of my children's elementary classes several years ago.  They were adorable!  These are too!  It's a Taste of Home recipe found at this link -http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Chicks-on-the-Ranch-Deviled-Eggs

Have a blessed Easter, everyone!

Seasoned Crackers

Posted by Donna:

I've been teaching piano ever since I retired from teaching. One of the students brought me these treats at Halloween. They were so good. She told me how she made them--I think this is basically what she said. They were so good.

Seasoned Crackers

1 1/3 cup canola
1 Packet dry ranch dressing mix
4 sleeves crackers
(Of course, this can be adjusted for the amount to be made.)

**1 T. each of red pepper flakes and cayenne can also be added for more spice. I'm sure you can adjust this and do any kind of seasonings that you prefer.

I've read where some people mix all the ingredients together first, then add the crackers to coat. I can't remember which way my student said she and her family did theirs--just the oil on the crackers first, then dry ingredients or mixed.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 - 15 minutes.
Store in an air-tight container.

I haven't made these yet, but I want to ask about spraying the crackers with canola--then coating the crackers with the seasoning. I think that would work also. I can see me making a big mess the other way.

I've read where some people use these crackers in place of chips to dip in various dips. It sounds really good.

Cucumber Salsa

Posted by Lori:

When I spoke at the  Waynoka church last Saturday, the ladies gave me one of their cookbooks they had put together last year.  It has some great recipes I can't wait to try!  This is one of them.  It just sounds really good, doesn't it?

CUCUMBER SALSA

1 can Rotel tomatoes and green chilies
1 cucumber, chopped
1 package dry ranch dressing mix

Mix together and eat! Refrigerate any left-over portions.

How simple is that!!
 

Ladies' Day Salad Luncheon

Click HERE for my post about speaking at the Waynoka, OK church ladies' day this past Saturday.  It talks about the theme and my lesson points. This post is more about the food :).

For the salad luncheon, the ladies has three of these serving jars.  One had raspberry tea and another had peach tea.  This one was just plain ice water, but look how pretty they made "plain water"!!  I love the addition of the cranberries and ice in layers.  BEAUTIFUL!

Trifles are one of the prettiest desserts to serve, in my opinion.  This one was delicious, as well.  I have a few trifles posted on this blog, if you're interested.

Fruit pizza is always a hit and these individual fruit salads are a great way to serve desserts.  Spring time fruit is in season and so pretty right now!

Have you notices the little cards by each dish?  One of the Waynoka ladies goes to great lengths to make sure each dish is labeled.  However, she goes above and beyond by making the cards "pretty", in the theme colors, and also makes the cards double-sided, so that it is visible from both sides of the table.  Both lines of people can see the name of the dish.  BRILLIANT!

More delishness!! (My spell check says this isn't a word, but it's a new word.  I made it up! :)

....and even more!

....and more!....

My plate.  Isn't it pretty?  Tasted absolutely wonderful, too!

Great job, Waynoka church ladies!!