Crunchers

Last night we hosted the football team, volleyball team, and cheerleaders for a meal.  It gave me an opportunity to make something new and let them be the guinea pigs :).

These "Crunchers" are very, very rich and sweet.  If you don't like rich desserts, you may not like them, but if you like butterscotch, you probably will.  I liked them.  The other dessert was a pudding delight-type, so it, of course, was the obvious favorite.  I'll share the "tweaked" version of that layered dessert next week.

I saw this recipe on Pinterest.  I'm not too "Pinterest savvy" and don't go on there often, so not sure how to always give the proper credit.  Hopefully I found the original poster of the recipe. There is a picture on this site, as well, so it gives you an idea of how it should look.

http://www.twirlandtaste.com/2012/07/crunchers-one-of-most-popular-recipes.html?m=1
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MLB Birthday Cake

If you read my devotional blog (Shine Like Stars), you've already seen this cake, but I have to share it with the rest of you.  My mother-in-law has made almost all of the cakes for my daughter's birthdays.  This one is for her 18th birthday celebration.

Lauren is a HUGE Texas Rangers' fan and this is the second year - in a row - she's had a Rangers' themed party.  I always told the kids they couldn't repeat themes and they couldn't duplicate each others' themes, but after having 57 (YES, THAT'S RIGHT!) parties for the four kiddos, well........it just had to.  So this year it was the MLB logo.  Isn't it great?!  It looks perfect!

Ever since she was little, Lauren would pick the part of the cake with her name.  I think we missed a few pictures, but for the most part, we have a yearly picture with her name on piece of cake.  She said "Grammy" made her name long this time, so she didn't want people to think she ate the whole piece!  I just had to have it on the plate for the picture! :)

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Welcome, Fall!

Yes, it's officially fall.  The calendar says so and my decorations say so, but for the past several days, the temperatures yell, "NO!!!!"  But it will come.  It actually did come for a few days recently.  It always does come.  It always will.  Just not always when "I" want it!  God is in control.

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful for fall.  Fall is my very most favorite time of year....meaning the real "fall" season and the first few days of winter, that extending to the end of December.  It's a busy time, but it's a beautiful time.  Beautiful colors.  Beautiful decorations.  Fun family times.

Lately a lot of people have been using our yard for photo ops for their kiddos.  It's my husband who does most of the yard work, with some help from our oldest son.  I decided to decorate for fall, making some fun places for more special photos.

I'm not a big fan of blue decor, but for some reason, I wanted to use some turquoise this year.  Kind of different.  Lots of fun!

An orange wooden pumpkin on a special rustic-red rocking chair.  It has a special history.  Some day I'll have to share that story!

A new makeover on the burlap wreath I made last year.  Search "burlap wreath" on the blog home page for directions on how to make the wreath.

And new fall flowers for my old bicycle from last years' Canton Trade Days trip.

Everything is ready!  Looking forward to the fall temps returning and the trees changing colors! 

Happy Fall, Y'all!

Join us for GRATITUESDAY at Heavenly Homemakers!

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Mason Jar Photo Display

Today I took pictures of a couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary.  Typically, gold is the 50th anniversary color, but for this celebration, red was also used with the decor.  It was beautiful.

The couple's daughter and her friend, who also happens to be one of my sisters-in-law, decorated with lots of mason jars.  The most unique photo frame ever was displayed on the gold tray along with floating candles and flowers.  She found this idea somewhere online, so thank you to whomever came up with the original idea!

To make the mason jar frame, get vintage photos copied onto photo paper.  Pour vegetable oil into the jar and insert the photo.  Surprisingly, the photos aren't damaged in the oil at all!  My sis-in-law said you can also use clear soap....like handwashing/dishwashing clear soap.

How pretty, clever, and simple.....yet beautiful!  I love how they "glow" going along with the Golden Wedding Anniversary theme!

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Fall Candy Bark Recipe

I saw a picture of a Fall Candy Bark a few weeks ago, but couldn't remember where I saw it.  After searching online for a recipe, I found several that looked good and combined them to make this bark.  I served it to our teachers at last nights' parent-teacher conference and also at my daughter's Senior class get together.  Many commented on how much they liked it and couldn't stop eating it!

Layer a large baking pan with waxed paper.  Using your chosen ingredients, sprinkle them across the pan.  I used mini pretzel knots, candy corn, and fall colored M & M's.

My baking pan was large so I used 2 packages of vanilla flavored almond bark and one package of white chocolate chips.  Melt it (watch it carefully and stir often - it burns easily!) and pour over the candy and pretzels.  

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 Sprinkle some more candy on top of the melted candy.

Add sprinkles, if desired.  Adds some fun to the bark!! :)

Allow bark to cool in refrigerator or just at room temperature.  Break apart into pieces as shown in top picture. 

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AN INTERESTING USE FOR CORN MEAL

A few days ago a friend posted on Facebook an old Indian remedy for an upset stomach.  Her husband had been throwing up for a few hours then happened to think of something he heard about as a child.  He decided to try it and it worked!  I asked if I could share it with you and she said I could.  

UPSET STOMACH REMEDY:
Brown 1/2 cup yellow cornmeal in oven. Then take 2 teaspoons of it in a cup and add a little cinnamon and sugar and a little hot water...about 1/2 cup or so. Let swell a few minutes while you stir it and then drink it.   (A side note from my friend:  "He did it and kept it down. He even got out of bed and drove down to the post office to get the mail. He's on his 2nd half cup now. just thought you might want to know this little remedy from early America. :)" )

What natural remedies do you know about or do you use?  Many times we just automatically stop at the drug store when maybe all we really need can be found in our kitchen pantry!  

If you have any natural remedies for ailments, pass them along to me and I'll be sure to share them with the rest of the readers!

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Mongolian Sloppy Joes

This weekend we attended the Oklahoma State Fair.  In one of the buildings, sponsors were giving away samples of this great beef dish, plus a mini cookbook featuring winning recipes in The National Beef Cook-Off.

This Mongolian Sloppy Joe recipe was submitted by Andria Gaskins from North Carolina.  What a delicious and unique recipe for the typical "sloppy joe"!

Mongolian Sloppy Joes
1 pound ground beef (90% lean)
1 medium onion, chopped
2 serrano peppers, seeded and chopped
3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon honey
6 sesame seed hamburger buns, split

Brown ground beef with onion and peppers in large nonstick skillet over medium heat 8 to 10 minutes, breaking beef up into 3/4 inch crumbles; drain.

Stir in hoisin sauce, oyster sauce, soy sauce and honey; bring to boil.  Reduce heat; simmer 5 minutes, stirring often.

Place 1/2 cup beef mixture on bottom half of each bun; close sandwiches.

Makes 6 servings.
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Really Good Tilapia

So.....do you remember my daughters friend that made us crepes recently?  Well, it turns out he can cook tilapia, too!  He shared the recipe with me and I stole the pictures :).  He named the recipe and it sounded good to me!

I look forward to trying out this new, healthy dish, don't you?  Thanks, Caleb!

Caleb's directions:

With the tilapia....get a glass platter and line it with foil.  Get as many tilapia as you're cooking.

Put as many as can fill the bottom.

Pour lemon depending on how you like it (I usually drench it. I love the lemon.)

Then use a citrus powder and a Montreal Steak Grinder (Made by McCormick) onto it and that adds the ultimate taste mix.

Layer it as many as you want.  We do 5  - 3 on bottom 2 on top, repeating all ingredients.

(You want a lot of lemon if you're doing a lot of them.  It'll flavor it a lot.)

Put zucchini all around the fish and put Mrs. Dash on them around them and a small bit on the top of the tilapia.

Put some tomato or something into it... you'll get alot of the veggie flavor into them so if you like squash put it in there. 

Cook at 360 degrees for 20-ish minutes and it'll be epic!

You can also eat the veggies the veggies are really tasty too.

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"You Say It, You Pay It" Jar

Last week a friend had a great idea for reminding one of her children to not say some of her favorite overused words.  Because the mom grew tired of hearing those favorite phrases, she intervened with this wonderful solution!

Having a consequence for using those words made the child think more about the words that came out of her mouth.  Twenty-five cents per use raked in a few dollars soon, but I'm thinking it didn't take long for the young girl to stop those favorite phrases!

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Jacob's Invoice

Saturday afternoon my daughter and I were out of town shopping.  After a while, one of my boys called - Jacob, the 14 year old.  It seems he needs some money....he's saving for something big.  He asked if he could clean the refrigerator for $50.00.  I told him that was too steep, but that he could clean the inside fridge and the garage fridge and we agreed on $35.00.  He said he would clean until I got home on other things, too, if that was okay.  I assured him he wouldn't be able to clean that long because we wouldn't be home until late, but I agreed to pay him for his "above and beyond" services.

Typically we don't pay our children for routine household chores.  We just believe that comes with being part of a family - and being part of a busy family - that we all work together to make everything better.  But this was different because it was cleaning/organizing/straightening...so I agreed with the pay being negotiable.

When my daughter and I got home late Saturday night, this note was taped on the outside of the garage door, so that I would be sure to see it!  $73.00 was my invoice bill!!!!  WOW!  "He must have cleaned up really good," I thought!  Well, he worked hard and I could tell he had.  Not sure it was worth $73.00, but my husband is softer on things like that that I would be alone, so this time I agreed to the payment.  I should have taken off for spelling errors!! :)  I did tell Jacob that next time I would be really strict about the "cleaning" part.  He needs some instructions on that part!

Anyway, it sure was fun seeing this note waiting for me - knowing he had worked so hard to save for something.  I can tell he's grown up because at about 12-13, he wouldn't have cared to try to do that at all.  I see a business man in the future, I think!  It will be fun to show him this note when he's got children of his own!

Have a great week!

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Nature Craft in a Jar

Our county fair is going on this week.  Since I'm the 4-H leader for our small town, I try to help the members with crafts that they can enter in the fair.  I told you about the unsuccessful I Spy Ornaments....if you remember.

This project was a success!  I found the flyer/directions at Hobby Lobby after going up and down the aisles searching for the perfect craft.....for 30 members - boys and girls.  This was perfect!

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NOTE: *This is NOT a good picture of the craft, but this is the kind of picture you get when you forget to take the picture yourself and you ask your husband and son to stop by the fairground to snap a picture! 

(ha ha!!) Notice that the KERR part is in the front.  I doubt he noticed!

So, here's what you will need:

1 quart sized Mason jar, wide mouthed opening is best

Ring and lid for jar

Burlap square for top

Dried moss/grass

Small rocks

Twigs

Small silk flower stems

One silk bug (bee, butterfly, ladybug, etc.)

Open jar and place moss/grass in the bottom of the jar.  Add some rocks and twigs.  Keep one long twig out and twist on bug.  Let it "fly" away from the twig or be crawling up the twig.  Add silk flower stems and any other twigs/stems you desire.  Be careful not to cover bug.  Place lid on jar, topped by burlap square, then finish craft by tightening the ring.  Some of our burlap squares were thicker so the 4-H members had to take the lid part off. I told them that was best, anyway...that was their bug could breathe :).

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From 3 Cherry Cokes Down to 1.....

If you've been visiting this blog for long, you know that it was written by "3 Cherry Cokes", which consisted of myself, my mom, and my sister. It was our goal to provide good recipes from our kitchen to yours - and we did just that for several years.

Things have changed in the past year. My sister went back to teaching school and has enough "thinking" to do, without having to write a blog post every week. My mom recently moved and had gotten to the point it was more stressful for her to try to come up with something than it was to just quit. So basically, for the past several months, it's just been me. And to be quite honest, I'm all reciped out! (No it isn't a word. I made it up! I can do that since it's my blog (ha ha!).

So here's what I'm going to do. I'll share recipes still.....when I'm able to, but I'll also share some crafts and decorating ideas like I've done in the past.....but I'll be adding just posts about the home or family. I write a devotional blog (Shine Like Stars - www.weewaughs.blogspot.com) so it won't be that, but just things that hopefully give you a cheerful or inspiring thought as you go throughout your day. I'll post at least three times a week, for the most part.

I welcome your comments and suggestions. I appreciate your following of our blog whether by subscription via email, blog feed, Facebook, or others that I have no clue about. If you decide to unsubscribe I won't be offended....so don't worry about that.

Thanks for your support during the past 3-plus years! I look forward to sharing with you!

Lori

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POP in to BIBLE CLASS!

Posted by Lori:

After a break from teaching Bible class and just helping my husband with a combined class, I will begin teaching 4 and 5 year olds on Wednesday nights until January.  I'm excited about teaching the little ones again, but for me, the excitement also carries over into decorating the classroom.

When I walked into the room I'll be in, it had the left-over paper on the walls.  I didn't have a decorating theme in mind, but the walls were bright and striped and seemed to just shout at me, "CARNIVAL"!  

I already had two buckets of carnival-themed decorations, so didn't have to buy many things to make this theme work.  The hard plastic balloons came from Hobby Lobby several years ago.  I've used them for many events and I knew the children would really like them.

The tent and blow-up clowns came from Oriental Trading a few years ago when I decorated for Teacher Appreciation Week.  The tent worked great to cover the filing cabinet.

The paper train was left from VBS and I added a few Bible charts - books of the Bible and the parts of the Bible.  I'll be adding creation pictures and other pictures as we begin with Genesis.

I found a cute popcorn game at Mardel.  Not sure how I will use it, but probably to answer questions about the lesson and use the small buckets for points.  I know the kids will enjoy throwing the popcorn in the little buckets!

Doesn't it look fun??!

The door will say, "POP in to Bible Class!"  It will say that by Wednesday night.  I should have had it there for Sunday...oops!!  I'm pretty sure the kids will enjoy popping in to the bright, fun-looking classroom.  Hopefully they'll be just as eager to learn about God's Word!

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