Sunday Ramble…..what we did this week

Made a French onion soup casserole in the cast iron skillet.  Amazing!

Played around with camera trying to capture pictures of steam. Yeah, I’m easily entertained.

Watched an amazing You Can Overcome TV show on Wednesday night.

Made cinnamon rolls with an orange sugar glaze because we had no powdered sugar.  I prefer a traditional icing but we made do.

Enjoyed a most beautiful Saturday afternoon on the deck.  Isn’t God’s spring decorating amazing? Look at how blue that sky is! And those beautiful blossoms! Happy sigh….I love to be outside and just be amazed by our creator.
I read God’s word. Worked in my Exodus Out of Egypt workbook.  Made a meal plan and grocery list for the week.  Shopped the pantry first as we are trying to cut way back on spending these days.
Planning on starting a price book to help in this endeavor.

While sitting on deck, noticed how much weeding and yard work needs to be done.

So I went inside and made SCD Pumpkin Spice Donuts with Cinnamon Butter Glaze that Hannah could eat.  They turned out really well. 

How was your week? 

If I knew you were coming I’d have baked a cake.

So you didn’t show up, but I baked a cake anyway.  Sunday just seemed like a good day to bake a cake. I didn’t have to leave the house all day, which was a good thing because this cake took me the better part of the day to make. It’s not that the cake is complicated, it’s just me.

For starters, I only have one of this particular size cake pan. But I love the size.  One cake mix or one cake recipe will make three of this size.  So take 25 minutes of baking time times three plus 10 minutes of cooling in the pan times three.

Then I needed to make a double batch of frosting.  Whew! That’s a lot of powdered sugar, butter, and shortening.  And without a stand mixer, that’s a lot of beating with the handmixer to get a fluffy frosting.

Oh yes, and then I decided I should make a simple syrup and then use a fork to poke holes in each layer in order to absorb the syrup better. Not too much syrup, just enough to keep it moist.

And theeeeen….I had to watch a YouTube video on how to make frosting roses.  But of course it took lots of time trying to find the right video.

And of course there’s all of the cleanup involved afterwards. Don’t you just love the baggie turned pastry bag drying rack? A sweet friend made it for me for Christmas.

And finally…….

And I may or may not have put an extra thick layer of frosting on this cake.

Yum!

I had fun being creative in the kitchen.  I was going for a shabby chic/vintage look.  I also love the the look of a cake on a cake stand.  There’s something so homey and domestic about it.

I bet you wish you would have come by. Well, maybe next time. Don’t worry, we were blessed to get to share it with friends. We didn’t consume the whole thing ourselves. Although I may have been seen eating some for breakfast. What?

This was a simple, homemade yellow cake with buttercream frosting.

Do you have a favorite cake? Please share.

Sunday ramble…..what we did this week.

Took kids the kids to get their driver’s permits.  Yikes!

Tore up the ugly, dirty carpet in foyer in preparation for selling our home soon.

Watched spring burst forth.

Created a Honey Ricotta Fig scone recipe. Yum!

Tried a new method for hard cooked eggs. Hmm….

Made a”Shabby Chic/Vintage” looking cake. 

And a deep dish, stuffed crust, ham and pineapple, skillet pizza.  I found the recipe at A Beautiful Mess.

And with the help of my brother, scheduled flight to New York for my oldest daughter and I. She will be attending a summer intensive at American Ballet Theater. Exciting!

Next week, Lord willing……
Meetings for work.
Try making molasses scones.
Pay bills.
Make ham and scalloped potatoes.
Share a few recipes and other things here.
Shop for palm branches for Palm Sunday and Passover weekend.

What did you get to do this past week? What do you hope to do this coming week?

I hope you have a blessed week!

Stillmeadow Calendar, February

Stillmeadow Calendar, pg 61

    “We can learn much from the wisdom of childhood. My friend Lois called out the back door the other day to see what her grandson was doing.  He was sitting quietly in the shade with his Teddy bear and the Siamese cat, Mrs. Murphy.  When Lois asked what he was doing, he said, “I’m loving, Grandma.  Jus’ loving.”  Grownups, alas, often do not take any time out for “jus’ loving.”  Life is so busy, harried, confusing. But we ought not to go through life like express trains.”
                      Stillmeadow Calendar, Gladys Tabor,  pg. 56

Coconut Custard Pie

Came across this old recipe the other day when I was looking through my recipe box for something for dinner.

Remember the “Impossible Pie” recipes?  This quick and easy (two of my favorite adjectives) recipe takes just minutes to whiz up in the blender. 

Don’t forget to sprinkle a little nutmeg (or a lot if you’re like me) on top before you pop it in the oven. 

Who doesn’t like a lovely, warm, custardy pie on a cold winter day?

This pie actually forms it’s own crust while baking. Then you have the yummy custard layer. On the top layer, is the golden, toasty coconut.

If memory serves me correctly–and it usually doesn’t–there was also a pumpkin pie recipe similar to this one. There are savory pies too. A taco pie comes to mind.

Do you have any “Impossible Pie” recipes to share?

Purim, Pointe Shoes, Donuts, and Dear Friends

We started our day with an amazing worship service about Purim.  Life lessons from the book of Esther.

Afterwards, we had lunch with family and then off to Nashville for my daughters pointe shoe fitting.  Make sure they fit right, otherwise, you will be out  some serious cash. Did you know they only last for about one month of classes? Yikes!

It’s complicated.

After Molly had purchased her pointe shoes, we wandered around The Mall at Green Hills for a bit while we waited for some special-order donuts to be prepared.

This mall is beautiful, if a mall can be considered beautiful. Everything is white and bright. It seemed open and airy. However, given our income level, this mall is just for browsing.

Even Charming Charlie’s seemed more upscale than the one we visited in another town. 

Poked our heads in at Fuzziwig’s. Saw some old school candy. Did we really used to chew on wax lips?   Disgusting! 

Finally, we are on our way to Fox’s Donut Den.  Home of the Chocolate Butterfly.

We were actually getting these as a thank you for some dear, sweet friends who came to our rescue the other night when the key refused to turn in the ignition of my van, leaving me stranded in an empty parking lot, while my daughter was waiting for me to pick her up from ballet early because she was getting sick with strep throat. Not only did they get us home, but they also loaned us a car until mine could be fixed.

I know all of that deserves more than donuts, but they wouldn’t even let me put gas in the car I borrowed. In fact, they felt badly that the tank wasn’t full when they loaned it to me. What? ! They  are true servants of God and examples of laying down your life to serve others. We have learned that here.

I did buy two Chocolate Butterflies to share with my husband and kiddos. These things are HUGE!  We were blessed to be able to get these fresh and warm at 3:00 in the afternoon. Highly recommend.

It was fun to deliver these goodies to our friends. They have been such a blessing to our family.  Praising God for friends such as these and for the message we heard this morning at church.

Have a lovely weekend!

Love & Hearts xoxo

We love because he first loved us.
                                   –1 John 4:19

I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me. 
                                    –Proverbs 8:17

Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
                                   –1 John 4:11

Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
                                   1 John 3:18

Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me.
                                   –John 14:21

So cold and frosty this morning.  Took several photos of God’s beautiful, frosty creation, including the mailbox that appeared to be covered in white stubble-like hairs. 

I did a little heart bombing.  The hearts remind us of God’s love and the love we should have for others.

Tiny jelly-filled donuts for breakfast.

A sweet picture Molly made and framed for us. 

I was able to get caught up at work today. All praise to God!  

And lastly, we were the happy recipients of the leftovers from my daughters bake sale at her ballet studio. Cupcakes and rice crispy treats!?  Yes, please!

Look at how much God loves and cares for us!  This is where we learned how to fall in love with God and how to have a relationship with him.

We are truly blessed!
Xoxo

Count your blessings! How have you been blessed today?