Memorial Thursday: Paying Respect

Some travelling Thursdays aren’t of me going far away or doing expensive things, mainly because I don’t have the funds or much time for the great big world around me. But thankfully I can still do the little trips. The local things. The community things.
Something I did tonight.

I visited the American Legion Post #71 for their first Field of Heroes opening ceremony. This honor ceremony celebrated POW, MIA, KIA, & Veterans. There was an Army Colorguard to present the flags & God Almighty had a strong wind whipping the 125+ flags in a fervor.
To participate, you donated $20 for an American flag to be flown this weekend in honor of a current, past, or personal hero. Name, branch, etc. I dedicated it to my cousin Row who served Air Force until recent retirement. At the end of Tuesday you are able to pick up the flag & take home to fly.

Here’s a few shots:

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How will you honor & celebrate this Memorial Day weekend?

Stealing recipes; it’s what I do!

I’ve never thought you had to have all your own homemade recipes to be creative or classy. Sometimes in life someone does something so well you can’t help but copy cat! I found said item on smitten kitchen’s blog. I had a friend celebrate their 25th last week & I was itching to create. So I begged them (truly) to let me make a dessert item for them. I lucked out & was given two classic ingredients: chocolate & peanut butter!
So I went to my trusty search engine & got to searching. Lo & behold too many delicacies popped up on my screen. A little drool may have dropped. But near the top two blogs stood out: one had gathered her favorite chocolate & peanut butter desserts (many came a close second) & another had a photo of this gorgeous layer cake playing peekaboo.

Obviously, the cake won out.
I erred twice of importance.
1. When freezing said cake layers, do not stack even with wax paper & zippy bags. No matter what.
2. Do not lose track of sifted powdered sugar in the peanut butter cream cheese frosting, it looks tacky (legitimately).
Oh maybe one more almost error, stir the ganache constantly. It was a close save. Truly.

But hey, people devoured this cake like it was the air they breathed. That is a happy baker.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Ganache Celebration Cake

Jeremiah, in a land without God

The Book of Jeremiah is written about captivity in Babylon, & how false prophets were attacking the people with the wrong type of hope, false insecure hope. Jeremiah tells the people God’s true purpose here:

Jeremiah 29:11-13 NIV84

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

When you seek after God he will distinguish the true hope from the lies Satan names as his hopes, because God only seeks to bless you in eternity more.

Great Outdoors: Parking It in The Grass

In most places Spring is still sprung. Sadly in Texas we’ve already crossed into dangerous territory called summer. So here in the South West (because Texans don’t call themselves Southerners) we folks are migrating either indoors for expensively cool activities, towards large bodies of water,  or towards hours of the day most call dawn & dusk.

So here’s a question for y’all who have 4 seasons each year:
What is your favorite activity/game you play in the grass during warmer months?

Potato Soup Ala Mother’s Day

This wasn’t the funnest Mother’s Day, not with every family member sickened with upper respiratories. But as the good & healthy child I set forth to make something they could eat. I thought of warm potato soup & searched the interwebs for just the right one; bacon, cheese, creamy goodness as required. I stumbled upon (pun!) Chunky Cheesy Potato Soup on Food network. I had to edit, but here’s the dish:

1/2 lb Bacon (no precooked junk)
1/2 large white onion diced
4 potatoes unblemished, chopped
1/2 head garlic diced
1 Qt heavy cream
2 c grated cheddar (I like sharp)
1 Tsp flour
2 green onions chopped
Salt & pepper

Cook bacon in a large pot or Dutch oven until crispy, do not drain drippings, but remove bacon to cool; crumble pieces.

I semi peeled my potatoes; I like a little skin for flavor. I also soaked them in 1 clove garlic diced & water while the bacon cooked.

Drain potatoes, add potatoes,onions, & garlic to drippings. Cook on med-hi for about 15 minutes, until onion is transparent, stir consistently.

Add cream, salt pepper to taste.

Dredge (add flour to cheese & toss for good coating) cheese.

Add slowly to the pot, stirring to melt. Add a few green onions.

Add bacon,stir and simmer until thoroughly heated. Serve with a garnish of green onions.

Mother’s Day Cheer

Happy Mother’s Day Y’all
If you can’t be with her may your day be only fond memories.

How to Keep Your Mother Happy (& Avoid Debt) This Mother’s Day

How all Mothers feel when they have ‘alone time’

I post that in jest… but actually, in all seriousness…

I’m not sure how many times my mother has uttered this statement… but it’s been said at least once. She didn’t bite Barbie heads, but I think she used the lock on the door to keep herself in not to keep us out.

So if your Mom is anything like my mom, the thing she treasures most is her sanity. I’ve got a few things that could reboot her sanity (and keep you from taking out a second loan).

How to Keep Mom Happy (AND YOU DEBT FREE):

Techie Gifts:

• Buy a webcam and set up video chatting, that way your mom can avoid the embarrassment of video recording herself trying to call you
• Digitize all her photos that way she can order reprints of your first bath for your boyfriend’s viewing when he comes over for Memorial Day festivities.
•  If she’s a recipe hound help her set up all her recipes on her phone or computer through some creative apps and websites to make it easier on her for those last minute items.

Outdoorsy Gifts:

• Plan a Picnic in the backyard, give Dad the grill and spread a blanket. Offer up a word of Thanks and a wand of bubbles for Mommy & Me time.
• For a little more adventurous time, grab an inner tube, grab your Mom (Sunblock too), pack an ice chest, and head to the River and share favorite moments you’ve had with her.
• Plant a tree or bush and have a small plaque done up in love for her.

Introverted Gifts:

• Make little gift goody bags to celebrate her the whole week, an item (such a rubber ducky with a poem about how she’s the one for you), a note & simple I love You.
• Spend the day reading around the bookstore (like Barnes & Noble) picking favorite books, pictures, and gaggle at image books.
• Make a homemade rice bag heating pad. Buy a little lavender, get a nice, NON USED tube sock, fill with uncooked rice/lavender, tie in a knot, and let mom enjoy a soothing back heater whenever you next stress her.

Extroverted Gifts:

• Go Karaoke, and give a Tribute to Your Momma with some funky Motown Classics, or ham it up with some Dion or Houston.
• Plan a big tea party for multiple moms and collaborate with her best friends so that you and their kids can toast Moms everywhere.
• Arrange for dance lessons, and if they run a little high for your budget, rent a video from the library. Then once skilled, take her out for a spin.

Young Kid Gifts:

• Coloring page coupons for free hugs, no tear room clean ups, booger free dinners, or dress up nights.
• Make a crown and scepter, and pronounce her Queen for a Day, and all commandments were to be said in Queen Mommy Says…
• Have the adult cut out a door hanger, or buy a foam one at Hobby Lobby/Michael’s and have decorate so Mom can claim silent time.

This is how your Mom could be during ‘alone time’

Just remember, tell her you love her and that you appreciate all she does, ALL YEAR ROUND.

Minted Cookies

While this recipe won’t help you mint your own coins, it will help you make delicious minty easy cookies. These Andes mint cookies have long been on my to do list, but due to the seasonal shortage of regular size Andes mints, placed on the back burner. But no more!

With a nice gesture from an Olive Garden waitress, & cookie request from a missionary in need (more on them at a later date) I got the chance I was looking for.
So many of the recipes were mixed in Andes bits, not thumbprint style, & many were complicated more than I felt they needed to be. I ended up doing a Google picture search hoping I’d see the cookie for me. At last, I found a pretty cookie with a small ingredient list! Below is the recipe, with an important ingredient change.

Andes Minted Thumbprints

1 box devil’s food cake mix
1 egg
½ c oil
1 TBSP water (as needed)
12-15 Andes mints (or ¾ c Andes bits)

1. Preheat oven to 350°. Unwrap & cut mints in half. **Keep handling of mints to a minimum as they’re prone to melting before necessary.
2. Mix cake mix, egg, & oil in a bowl. Here is where my problem with the original recipe started. They only used ⅓ c oil which left the mix very dry & crumbly, to the point you couldn’t roll dough together. I had to add oil & eventually a little water so the dough was thoroughly moistened & clumpy. If dough is still a little dry, add water. Dough should lightly clump & hold shape when pressed together.
3. On parchment lined cookie sheet, place 1 TBSP dough 1″ apart. A measuring spoon helps keep dough form. A flattened bottomed cookie is a good thing. Fill sheet. Applying light pressure, use your thumb to make an indentation on the top of each cookie.
4. Bake for 8 minutes, a maximum of 9. Do not over cook. Set your kitchen timer.
5. Finish scooping dough on second cookie sheet & indent cookies.
6. While still warm & on cookie sheet, place half an Andes on top of each indentation. If the indent isn’t deep enough, use the back of a spoon to press a slightly deeper hole. Let Andes melt. Test for swirling consistency, then swirl mint with handle of spoon.

7. After swirling cool cookies on cooling rack for up to 2 hours. Store in an air tight container. If needing hardened Andes quicker, refrigerate for a few minutes until firm but not moist (watch condensation).

To live is to die for Christ

2 Timothy 2:11-13 NIV84

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,

we will also live with him;

if we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

he will also disown us;

if we are faithless,

he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.

Ne Oblivirscaris Y’all!

Ne Oblivirscaris Y’all

Guess what’s going on this weekend? The picture might tell you, just maybe…

If you couldn’t tell from the photograph, something country, something scottish, and something HOT will be happening this weekend. Something called the Texas Scottish Festival. This festive bunch will be strutting their stuff real soon here in Arlington, Texas.

There ain’t no fruit of the looms here, just good old sweaty men in breezy wear hoisting squishy bags of air and tubes. May 4, 5, & 6 at the Maverick Stadium, Arlington, Texas.

There is BEYOND too many things to list going on this weekend, but you know, you can come and find out for yourselves!

I’ll be there Sunday, and if you happen to see me trying to catch the eye of a man in a similar outfit… don’t try to stop me.

 

 

**Oh and side note, Ne Obliviscaris is the Campbell Clan Motto of Forget Not