Do You Know What Day It Is?

A snow day!!!

This is my third day of a snow day and I have one tomorrow.  Means I work from home.  It's soo nice being able to work from home.  I wish I would have brought my calendar home and some other things that I could have worked on.

I'm so Thankful for this time.  This has been such a blessing.  

The down side of everything is, I have gained 10 lbs.  All I've been doing is eating.  I shouldn't of went to the store.  A week before my Arizona trip, sucks to be me.  It's all good.  

I went outside to check out the view from the snow storm.  Roughly 12-13 inches of snow.  Silly me I did not park on the street.  I was banking on having a snow day for the rest of the week but I got a little scared because the news said and looked like they were getting cleared pretty quickly.

I don't just have time or in the position to call in with my new job and all.  Even if school is cancelled, I have a meeting on Friday and I will probably have to be there.  The job still goes on even if school is cancelled.

I got up this morning around 10:30a and started the fun task of getting me to the street.  This was after an hour of shoveling.  So note to self next time, make sure you check the rock salt.  It was completely hard and I had to beat it again the house.  I was tired but I felt like I was making progress even though it didn't look like it.

This is my 'tude face!!! Yes, shoveling snow is a good stress reliever.  I realized that I need some more peppy songs on my Ipod.  I had it on shuffle but it kept playing the sappy love songs that made me think of him and I wanted to cry but I just took it out on the snow.  Even though I had my headphones on, I did a lot of thinking.

I came back out around 2p and I sure didn't want to.  I wanted a nap but all I was thinking was I might have to go in so I have to get my car out.  Also, this 10 lbs that I gained.  I needed to burn calories.  And low and behold, 2hrs later. I made it to the top.  I pretty much did it all by myself.

Now, I will admit, I was thinking while shoveling, Where is Boaz?! Yes, it would be nice for him to do this but I was thinking this would have been a good activity for us to do together.  I would help him as I know the struggle and then I would make us some hot chocolate and take care of him.

My neighbor Shannon came out and helped me do the top portion and crack ice.  I tried getting up the hill but was not getting any traction.  So we broke a lot of the ice and "I started at the bottom and now I'm here".  One of my neighbors, we called him Nice Mike came and helped shovel the top part too and a spot on the road.  

Shoveling snow is a good neighbor bonding time.

Yesterday during the snow, guess what I made? 

Snow Ice Cream

4 cups of Fresh Snow (not the yellow stuff)

1 cup of Milk (I used chocolate milk)

1/4 cup of Sugar

1 tsp of Vanilla

Stir and tada!!  I did put in the freezer to harden up just a little.  But not bad at all.

I wished my Bestie was here so we could have done it together.  I think he would have liked it.  It would have been a good memory getter too.  Oh well.

I wish he was here so we could cuddle.  Even though he won't cuddle with me but I still just hope.

I am now medicated and under blankets.  Excited about being home again tomorrow.

Re-Kindle Love

For my crockpot.  Or should I say crockpotssss!



I have even a smaller one not pictured, it's at work.  Made chocolate fondue in it for the kids at work!

I've always enjoyed my crockpot but finding recipes or should I say realistic simple recipes have been a challenge.  Well, within the last month, there have been some great websites surfacing on the internet via facebook and blogs. 
On top of this wonder, I've been exposed to crockpot liners savers, smile.  I bought my first box last weekend.  I will say, only 4 bags come in a box, REALLY!  You can't put a number on love, so let's put a little bit more bags in that box please Reynolds, (click on link for a $1 off coupon) please and thank you!

So I used my first crockpot liner Monday for a new recipe called Crockpot Brown Sugar Chicken aka Candy Chicken.  Stephanie @ A year of slow cooking has some really great recipes.  I think I found her site way of fb.

Candy Chicken

Ingredients


Look at me being all domestic, had my laptop ready with the recipe pulled up!

• 12 boneless, skinless chicken thighs or 6 boneless skinless breast halves (I used 1 boneless chicken breast and 4 boneless chicken breast halves)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon-lime soda
• 2/3 cup vinegar (I used white wine vinegar)
• 3 cloves smashed and chopped garlic (I used 3T minced garlic, that what I had on hand)
• 2T soy sauce
• 1 tsp ground black pepper

Directions
Use a 4 quart crockpot for this recipe.  (I don't know what size mine is but it worked great-see my baby)

Happily lay your chicken in your crockpot.  Cover with the brown sugar, pepper, chopped garlic and soy sauce.  Add the vinegar and soda.

Cover and Cook on low for 6-9 hours or high 4-5hrs.  Now, let that babe rock your world! 

Serve over a bowl of white rice with a ladle full of the broth.

What I came home from work too, yummy!

The finished product!

My thoughts
I made for my neighbor too and she loved it.  She said it tasted like chinese food.  Which it did.  It tasted like sweet and sour chicken.  The next time I would probably add less vinegar and brown sugar.  I would probably add some vegetables in the mix.  It would be good with fried rice.  I need to find a simple recipe for that.

Overall, I would make it again.

Resurrection Biscuits

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Two weeks ago a friend told me about Resurrection biscuits and although she knows that I wasn't able to talk about Jesus with the kids I work with, she thought it would be a good activity.  So I went on a man hunt to find a good recipe and story that goes with the biscuits.  I could credit all the sites I looked at but it would be forever, so I will just say that I am NOT the creator of the biscuits but the site I liked that I thought had the best tomb picture was Everything in Moderation blog. 

I really wanted to make the biscuits but didn't have anyone to make them for and after long though and seeking guidance from God.  I have a lesson plan for the biscuits that I can use with the kids I work with that I'll explain while I'll share my experience in making the biscuits in ( ).

My friend who suggested the recipe always makes the Resurrection biscuits for the workers in our church bookstore (we both serve in there).  She suggested that I make them this year for the workers and I was really excited.

Resurrection Biscuits

Ingredients:
1 Can of Grand biscuits
1/2 Cup of Melted butter (I used Spray butter)
Cinnamon/Sugar mix (you can buy it already mixed) or per your preference
1 Pkg of Large (fresh) marshmallows per biscuit

Each child will get a biscuit and flatten it out approx. 5 inches across.  The biscuit will represent the tomb that Jesus was placed in. (Tomb represents us, our body)

Then spread butter on your biscuit.  I used spray butter and 5-10 squirts work. (Talk about negativity and how people can be real slick at saying negative things to us).



Now sprinkle your cinnamon/sugar mix, I would say 1 tablespoon.  This represents the spices used to bury Jesus. (Continue talking about the negative things people do to us and how it hurts us and people can see it but we continue to hang out with negative people).

Then each child receives one large marshmallow (make sure it's fresh or they will be eating Jesus' linen left in the tomb, as my friend found out).  The marshmallow represents Jesus.  It's white because it represents purity and His sinless life. (The marshmallow represents the positive things people say to us and we think of ourselves).

Place the marshmallow in the center of the biscuit, then fold the sides around it forming a 'tomb'. Help younger kids as needed.  Pinch the sides of their tombs closed and then place them crease side down on a baking sheet so they will not open while cooking. (Talk about how we continue to hang around negative people and take their attitude because they are cool and we long to be cool so we embrace their attributes).

Put more butter, cinnamon and sugar on the outside. We talk about the sweet taste of the spices and how Jesus gave us the sweetest gift we will ever receive. (Talk about how the importance of the people we hang out with and associate with.  They will soon rub off on us and it will be visible to others.  "Birds of a feather flock together").

 

   

At this point you can go ahead and bake the biscuits. They need to bake following the directions on the biscuit package. Then they need a little cooling time because the marshmallow will be very hot.

     

When the children bite into their buns they will be surprised to find the center empty. The marshmallow has melted. As each child discovers the empty tomb, we repeat : He is not here for He is risen. (Talk about how when we are around negative people and not positive influences, it can leave us feeling empty.  We need more positive influences than negative to move forward in life).


I know it's not the best representation but not to bad for my first time


You can read, Luke 23:26-24:12 before, after, or during the process to relate the significant event.

The workers in the bookstore at church thought they were great.  Someone even asked for the recipe and loved the story!  This really made me happy.

Easy Cheesy Chicken Bake

I like to cook, bake and MOSTLY eat!  I follow alot of blogs and most of them are food related or have great recipes.  When I read the recipes and look at the pictures, I do one of the Homer Simpson drools (don't know why I reference his drool so much).  There are some women out there that can cook their booties off.  They are not professional but they have a love for cooking or baking and you can tell. 

My mom loves to bake and does it VERY well.  She really should start a business but I think it would take the passion out of it.  She made wedding & baby shower cakes, cookies out of this world, cupcake cakes, pies, bread/muffins (the pumpkin ones are my favorite), and the list can go on.  She has done all these for other people.  People call her and put in orders.  Oh, forgot to mention it has ALL been FREE.  She loves doing it.

When you find your passion for things, nothing can stop you as you excel.  That's a whole sermon on it's own.  My mom is coming to visit in 4 days and I can't wait to have her help me bake and cook some of the items I've seen on these different blogs but for now...

My cooking endeavors are not even close to those that I have read.  First of all my baking dish consist of tin foil pans.  I know it's bad but I either burn up stuff so good that cleaning it is not worth the hassel or I just don't want to do dishes.  I know, I know, that's pitiful but it's the truth.  I do have a casserole dish that I've bought not too long ago but I'm just a fan of tin foil pans and tubberware.  I'm just a simple girl that doesn't ask for much.

So I'm going to take my simple girl approach because you got to start somewhere and do my recipe thang (yep, thang)!  I go to a monthly woman's bible study and we can sign up to bring food.  I would sign up occassionally to bring food but lately have been signing up every month.  My thought was, I like to cook but don't really have anyone to cook for so why not the ladies in the bible study.  Then the leaders would pray over the food and those who brought food.  They would pray that those who brought food that their food will be plenty at home, not spoil and be blessed.  Well my food in the refridgerator would keep longer and longer.  It was so amazing how food that should have been spoiled or moldy would be fine to eat.  I once had fresh strawberries last for a months in the refridgerator and still be in great shape.  I wouldn't do anything but take them from the bag to the fridge.  This would happen to alot of my food. 

My little secret that I just recently shared, I sign up for food now because it keeps me consistant in showing up.  There is so many times that I would to stay at home and veg out but I know that I signed up for something and they are counting on me.  It's also a blessing to the other women as there are many who can't contribute or secretly can't cook or just don't want too.  Well I want to and thanks for being my guinea pigs or test pilots for better words.

Last sunday I made Easy Cheesy Chicken Bake straight from the back of the stove top box.

Easy Cheesy Chicken Bake

Prep: 10 mins   Bake: 30 mins

Ingredients:

1 pkg (6 oz) stove top stuffing mix for chicken

1 1/2 lb. boneless skinless checken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 bag (14 oz) frozen broccoli florets, thawed, drained

1 can (10 3/4 oz) condensed cream of chicken soup

1/2 cup milk

1 1/2 cups kraft shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400 F.  Prepare stuffing mix as directed on package; set aside.

Mix chicken and broccoli in 13 x 9 inch baking dish.  I pre-cooked my chicken first and bought steamed broccoli and cooked that as well.

Stir in soup, milk and cheese.  Top with the prepared stuffing.  Bake 30 min. or until heated through.

The Finished Product

The picture does not give this bake any justice.  I was so nervous the whole time because after 30-45 mins, the chicken bake was still runny.  This picture was taken right after it got out of the oven but when I made it to bible study, the casserole looked good and tasted really good.  I even got compliments.  I was so excited and it made my night.  Thank you Lord for making it come out great.

Okay, so this is my first recipe, I know it's nothing fancy but the simple way to go.  If I can do it or make it, ANYONE can.