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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