Weekend Potluck #65

Hi and Welcome to Weekend Potluck! Where friends and foodies, meet & eat ALL weekend long!

Now, let’s take a quick peek back at last week…

The recipe with the most clicks was ~

Million Dollar Casserole by With a Blast

Recipes that caught our attention for Cinco De Mayo ~

Taco Bell’s Crunch Wrap Supreme by Comfy Cuisine

Texas Straw Hats by Simply Savvy Recipes

And, a personal favorite ~

I Love Salted Caramel and I LOOOOVE making things in my Cast iron skillet, how could this not be my favorite pick this week?  Printed and ready to go the next time someone comes over and I get to make dessert! Woo hoo :)
If you haven’t had a chance to browse the Back For Seconds blog, you have been missing out! Go say hi, and tell Stephanie Tonya sent you! 

Salted Caramel Deep Dish Cookie Pie by Salted Caramel Deep Dish Cooie Pie

Your hostesses ~

• The Country Cook~ Brandie
• The Better Baker ~ Marsha
• Sunflower Supper Club ~ Kim & Julie
• 4 Little Fergusons~ Tonya
• Mommy Time Party ~ Tabitha

Remember that when you link up, it shows on all FIVEblogs. Plus…

We TWEET. We PIN. We LIKE.

Linky Guidelines:

If you wish to be a featured recipe or for us to promote your recipe either on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, you MUST follow these instructions.

1. Please link up to your exact post and not the main page to your blog.
2. LINK BACK HERE from your post so that others can find the fun. (Need help linking back? Read this or watch this great instructional video.) You can use the button below or a direct link within your post.

When you are kind enough to follow our guidelines, we work hard to get you as much exposure as possible so that your time here is well invested. We want this to be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone!

Pig Poo

  Despite it’s crazy name, this appetizer is AH-MAZING!  Imagine Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos, taken to a whole new level!

I give you Pig Poo: sweet little peppers, seasoned cream cheese, a LITTLE SMOKIE and a piece of bacon, baked to perfection…….

Thanks to my Momma for bringing over all the ingredients and helping us make this for Snack Supper Sunday night!

{click title to print}

Ingredients

• 12 ounces, weight Mini Bell Peppers {Or Jalapenos}
• 8 ounces, weight Softened Cream Cheese
• ½ teaspoons {up To 1 Tsp} Chili Powder
• 1 teaspoon Cumin
• 1 cup Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese
• 14 ounces, weight Package Little Smokies
• 12 ounces, weight Raw Bacon, Cut Into 3rds
• Toothpicks

Preparation Instructions

Whip together cream cheese, seasonings and cheese. Cut mini peppers in half and clean out seeds, fill with cream cheese, tuck a little smokie on top and a piece of bacon secured with a toothpick.
Place on a broiler pan and cookie sheet and bake at 375* for 30 minutes, or until the bacon is crisp. 

Serve hot. Bet you can’t just eat one!!!

{Not great reheated}

Make Pig Poo for your next party, your guests will thank you! PROMISE…..

~T

Strawberry White Chocolate Lasagna

Layers of strawberries nested between creamy puddings make for a GORGEOUS “Lasagna” type dessert.

This recipe was inspired by one I saw go across facebook, uncredited, called Chocolate Lasagna.  You know how I feel about plain chocolate, so I decided I could do a similar dessert using various puddings and strawberries to do something similar, but with more depth.  I put my creamy, dessert loving knowledge to the test and invented something NEW and delicious!

Woot woot. Go me! ;)

I mentioned this recipe on my 10 on 10 post, and several of you asked if I was going to share it.  It was given 2 thumbs up by everyone that tasted it, so here it is for you to try!

Now, you should know, that I was NOT in 100% agreement that this was a 2 thumbs up dessert, so you will have to give me your review. I felt like the pudding mixtures needed to be thicker and less pudding like.

Anyhow, I have made some changes to my original chicken scratch notes and hope it will remedy this pudding-y problem.  I haven’t made this recipe again, with the changes this time, but my friend, Mary, made it this way and she said it was great!

{click for easy printable}

Ingredients

• 15 ounces, weight Package Of Oreos
• 6 Tablespoons Butter, Melted
• 1-½ package (12 Ounces Total) Of Cream Cheese, Softened
• 1-½ cup Powdered Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Cold Milk
• 12 ounces, weight Cool Whip, Divided Use
• 1 package {3.9 Oz} Chocolate Mousse Pudding Mix
• 1 package {3.9 Oz} White Chocolate Pudding Mix
• 2 cups Cold Milk, Divided
• 1 pint Fresh Strawberries, Hulled And Sliced
• 2 cups Combo Of White Chocolate And Dark Chocolate Chips {I am going to chop mine up finely next time}

Preparation Instructions

1. Begin by crushing your Oreos, by using a Ziplock and mallet or your food processor. You want them nice and fine. Dump into a large bowl.
2. Melt 6 T butter on the stove and stir into crumbs. Press firmly onto the bottom of a 9×13 Pryex dish. Refrigerate while continuing to prep recipe.
3. Mix cream cheeses until light and fluffy, add in 2 T. milk and 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar. Remove 1/3 of your mixture to a separate bowl, you will use this later.
4. With your remaining cream cheese, stir in 1 1/4 cup of your cool whip. Spread this mixture onto your Oreo crust. Layer half of your sliced strawberries over the top.
5. In a bowl, make your chocolate mousse by whipping with 1 cup of cold milk. Spread this layer onto the Strawberries and smooth to cover to the edges.
6. Sprinkle chocolate mousse layer with 1 cup of chocolate and white chocolate chips.
7. Now mix up your white chocolate pudding, using 1 cup of cold milk. Stir in your reserved cream cheese mixture and spread over chocolate mousse carefully.
8. Layer more strawberries on top of the white chocolate layer.
9. Top with remaining cool whip, the rest of your chocolate and white chocolate chips and one large strawberry on top for pretty!
10. Refrigerate for 4 hours and serve cold.

Delicious and so pretty!

~T

German Bundt Cake

  This one comes from my Momma’s recipe box!  German Bundt Cake PROBABLY could be a dessert, but I’ve never been able to eat it that way, because it was always served at Breakfast at our house. 

  Buttery, cinnamony and oh-so moist! YUM!

German Bundt Cake

{click title for printable}

FOR THE CAKE:

• 1 box Yellow Cake Mix
• 1 box ( 3 Oz) Vanilla Instant Pudding And Pie Filling
• ¾ cups Oil
• ¾ cups Water
• 2 teaspoons Butter Flavoring
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 4 whole Eggs

FOR THE FILLING:

• ½ cups {up To 3/4 Cup} Chopped Nuts
• ¼ cups Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Cinnamon

FOR THE GLAZE:

• 1 cup Powdered Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons Milk
• ½ teaspoons Vanilla
• ½ teaspoons Butter Flavoring

Beat above ingredients until mixed well, adding eggs one at a time.
Grease bundt pan well, and pour in one third the cake batter.
Mix together filling ingredients, and layer filling, cake batter, filling, cake batter.
Bake at 350* for 45 minutes. Cool and invert onto serving platter.
Make glaze and drizzle while cake is still warm.

NOTE: This cake only gets better as it sits!!!! And look at this middle, delicious!!!!!

Enjoy!

~T

I don’t love the use of butter extract in this, but have never been brave enough to make it without. Besides, some things are just better left alone, right!?!?!?! :)

 

Waiting for Paradise

We went to Hospice House for dinner Friday to be together as a family.  Out of respect for Grandpa, I am not going to share images of him, just the family around him, holding his hands and just murmering their love and affirmation of a life well lived.

It’s so hard to see someone you love slowly, painfully die.

Not really here, but not gone to Paradise either.

His head tilts back as he lays in bed, his eyes open and shut, but do not see.  His breathing raspy, gurgling actually.  He doesn’t talk much anymore, except….except on Wednesday, when I lifted the children up, one by one to kiss his forehead and say hi in his ear, his breathing changed, excited breaths followed by an exhaled HIIIIIII.  Oh so faint, so soft we almost missed it.  Again tonight, he said it to us except we were blessed to hear his whispered voice three times Hi, Hi, Hi….

{Instant tears}

 “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

—2 Corinthians 4:16–18

A brave Papa fighting cancer, an oh so special Great Grandpa in Hospice, an adopted, and well loved “Gramma” Esther in another state, also in hospice waiting for Jesus to take her home, dying of the same cancer our Papa is fighting so hard against….so many loved ones on their way to Jesus.  And it’s my job to comfort my little ones, and answer their questions with accuracy and honesty.  In simple, but real terms to bring comfort in the truth of death.

But isn’t it funny, how sometimes THEY bring comfort to us, with their innocent understanding of life, death and a new life in Heaven.

  Avery is so excited for Grandpa to have new “bendy legs”. His old childhood injury, a smashed ankle turned rod in the leg, has given him a lifetime of pain.  She knew new legs would be a special part of his Heavenly body.  Paxton was most excited that he’d “Wun wiff Jesus!” {run with Jesus} The older two, quietly taking it all in, their thoughts kept quiet as they prepare to say good-bye to a Grandpa who was a big part of their lives and weekly routine.

   But we know, good bye is never really good bye, not when you have the hope of Jesus.  Good-bye is really just “So long for now”…..

And so we wait, life feeling like its holding it’s breath, anticipating yet dreading the day we get “the call” that he has gone.  Until then, we ask Jesus to ease his pain and take him home soon.

Because this Earth is NOT our home.

  *I wrote this post not knowing that the day I wrote it,  Friday, April 26th at 10:45pm, my sweet Grandpa would get to see his Jesus in Glory.  My mom and my Grandma each held a hand as he went.

  So long for now, Grandpa.

So long for now…….

No more sorrow, no more pain.

I sure do love you. 

~T

  I also want to add, that this morning {Saturday} soon after 7, our beloved Gramma Esther went to see Jesus too.  She had been talking of a “reunion” she was planning all week!  Praise God her time of suffering is over, and she is in Paradise with my Grandpa and many others who have gone before them. What a REUNION!

Weekend Potluck #64

Hi and welcome to Weekend Potluck! Where friends and foodies meet & eat ALLLL weekend long!

Now, let’s take a quick peek back at last week…

The recipe with the most clicks was ~

Cracker Barrel French Toast by Everyday Mom’s Meals

Recipes that caught our attention ~

Bacon Double Cheeseburger Pockets by Ginger Bakes

Cherry Blueberry Pie by Noshing with the Nolands

And, a personal favorite ~

Hello, PF Changs Lettuce Wraps!  I mean why ELSE would you go to PF Changs!?!?!?!?!?!

PF Changs Lettuce Wraps by FunnyLoveBlog

Your hostesses ~

• Sunflower Supper Club ~ Kim & Julie
• 4 Little Fergusons~ Tonya
• The Country Cook~ Brandie
• Mommy Time Party ~ Tabitha
• The Better Baker ~ Marsha

Remember that when you link up, it shows on all FIVEblogs. Plus…

We TWEET. We PIN. We LIKE.

Linky Guidelines:

If you wish to be a featured recipe or for us to promote your recipe either on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest, you MUST follow these instructions.

1. Please link up to your exact post and not the main page to your blog.
2. LINK BACK HERE from your post so that others can find the fun. (Need help linking back? Read this or watch this great instructional video.) You can use the button below or a direct link within your post.

When you are kind enough to follow our guidelines, we work hard to get you as much exposure as possible so that your time here is well invested. We want this to be a fun and rewarding experience for everyone!

Pictures Tell the Greatest Stories…

Once upon a time, there was a mischievous boy named Paxton.

  He was such a good, pleasant little boy, but he just seemed to get himself into messy predicaments.

A LOT.  

  Case in point, yesterday at Hobby Lobby.  If you follow us on Facebook, you already read about this.  Here was my status update:

Oh my goodness, whose naughty child is throwing ribbon spools and watching them roll at Hobby Lobby while mommy’s back is turned?
Oh wait. Mine.
{SIGH}

Yup, that would be my Paxton.  He told me as he cleaned them up that they were “Truck Tires”.  I made him apologize to the clerk and got out of there asap.  My other kids NEVER did this kind of thing, I don’t even know where to hide when he does this stuff.  Someone on Facebook suggested I hollar, “Where are your parents?”  Haha, I liked that one! :)

 

   So on the particularly lovely day that this next story takes place, Paxton and his family were spending some time together walking around the Fairgrounds.

  They had a lovely time, but before he knew it, it was time to head home!  

   While Mommy was helping Avery with a mini crisis in the car for TWO STINKIN’ SECONDS, Paxton found an opportunity to meander over to a giant mud puddle. 

It was a lovely puddle.  And it seemed to be calling his name…..

Hey Paxton….

Paxton!

PAXTON! COME HERE!

“Are you calling meeeee, Giant Mud Puddle?”

I mean, WHAT is a boy to do?

Oh wait, that’s right….

WALK RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF IT WHILE DADDY AND UNCLE DAN WATCH.

 You all, I am all about Puddle Parties, but not in nice clothes away from home! :)

Pictures tell the greatest stories, don’t they?

~T

Not Your Ordinary T-Shirt Scarves

I LOVE making things and being crafty!  I don’t always have a lot of extra time to do it, or honestly, most times, I’d rather stick my nose in a book.

  However, when I came across a bag of GORGEOUS material I had purchased last May for t-shirt scarves {I was planning on making a bunch over the summer, yeah right!} I knew the time had come to put it to good use.

T-Shirt Scarf Time!

  There are a couple ways to do this, most people use old t-shirts that are lying around. That is great!  {Unless you are like me, and have a lack of t-shirts in your closet due to your extreme Girliness….just sayin!}

  I tried Goodwill but their shirts were $2 a piece and had very little usable material below the graphics.  I did find some non-graphic Tie-dyed shirts from there one time, that I loved.  I made them into Infinity Scarves found here. So, it can be done!!!!!

However, I decided to purchase that stretchy t-shirt material at the Fabric Store instead.  It came at a pretty penny, anywhere from $6.99-12.99 a yard, and the flowers and poufs anywhere from $3-9, but I wanted to give it a go.  If I ever do this again and sell some, I am afraid I am going to have to get my costs down.

  So when you buy a yard of fabric instead of using t-shirts, it requires extra steps:

  1) You can sew the yard of fabric in a tube shape with your machine.

Or

2) Simply knot it after you cut it to create the circle necessary for loops. 

 

I learned to sew on my Mom’s Mean Machine JUST for this purpose, and it’s a real time saver.  All those knots took hours!!!!!!

Another time saver is using a roller vs. scissors.

  I used to hand cut each strip with my scissors, but now, sweet Dale cuts the fabric folded over itself, on a big cutting board with a roller.  I love sitting out in the living room with him in the evenings while he cuts and I create.  :)

  There is a tutorial on how to make the actual scarf part here at My Blessed Life.  I don’t have the know how to record and upload a video for you all, so just watch hers. She did a great job!

Don’t forget to hide the knots or sewed parts with another strip of cloth wrapped around and knotted underneath where it won’t show on the neck:

Here are some of my finished scarves:

  Happy Creating!
~T

A note from Tonya: Thank you to those who have asked if they could buy some scarves! I am SO SO honored! :)  However, I am selling them at a Craft Fair next weekend and need to keep a nice stock pile until then. That being said, if you see one you love love love, leave me a comment or email me a description of your favorite. {daleandtonya@msn.com}  I will tell you if I have more materials for that scarf, or if I plan to make that one again for your future order. Thanks!

More T-shirt scarf posts here:

http://4littlefergusons.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/t-shirt-scarves/

http://4littlefergusons.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/t-shirt-scarves-the-perfect-gift/

 

Potato Pancakes with Sour Cream & Chive Horseradish Sauce

Are you sick of the same potato sides? Mashed and baked. MEEEEEE TOOOOO!

  So when Dale offered to smoke a whole chicken, I went on a hunt for a unique potato side dish, and this is what I found, by Anne Coleman. 

I have adapted her recipe below:

{click title for easy printable}

FOR THE POTATO PANCAKES:

• 2 whole Large Baking Potatoes
• 1 cup Onion, White Or Red Is Fine, Finely Chopped
• 2 Tablespoons Lemon Juice
• 2 cloves Garlic, Pressed
• 2 teaspoons Salt
• 1 whole Egg, Slightly Beaten
• 1 teaspoon Fresh Ground Pepper
• ½ teaspoon Nutmeg
• 2 Tablespoons Flour
• 5 Tablespoons Grated Parmesan Cheese
• Additional Salt

FOR THE DIPPING SAUCE:

• 1 cup Sour Cream
• 1 Tablespoon Freeze Dried Chives
• ¼ teaspoon Prepared Horseradish

Preparation Instructions

Wash and Scrub potatoes, do not peel. Shred and toss with onion, lemon juice, garlic and 2 tsp. salt. Let stand several minutes, then drain off any excess liquid that forms.
In a small, separate bowl, whisk together egg, pepper, flour, nutmeg and Parmesan cheese.
Heat a large frying pan over medium heat and add enough oil to cover the bottom. Once oil is shimmering, shape a non-packed 1/4 cup potato mixture into patties, patting it flat for best results, and add into pan.
Cook for 4-5 minutes PER SIDE, until golden brown. Watch your heat, you don’t want the edges to get burned before the middle is done. Drain on a paper towel lined cookie sheet. Sprinkle each potato pancake with additional salt, I like coarse kosher, then keep warm until serving time.
Mix 1 cup sour cream and 1 T. chives with 1/4 or more teaspoons of prepared horseradish. Serve as dipping sauce for potato pancakes.

Bon Appetite’!

~T

 

A Hospice House Piano Party

  Destiny had her first Piano Recital this weekend, called a “Piano Party”!  Her Great Grandpa Beckler, whom she is very close to, just got moved to the Hospice House.  Naturally, if he couldn’t come to her Piano Party, she was going to need to move the Piano Party to HIM.

  Hospice House was amazing and so supportive of the idea!  It was such a special day, one none of us will soon forget.

Time to start the show!

Destiny did GREAT and if she was nervous at all, she hid it well!  She stood to introduce each song by name before playing it…..

  After, she was rewarded with a Certificate from Aunt Kasey, aka The World’s Greatest Piano teacher, for completing her first set of piano books.  She was so excited! :)

As a bonus, Destiny and I got to play our two duets together.  Chopsticks and Heart & Soul, she can do bottom or top hand, and we have had so much fun playing these together.

 Not to be left out, Avery wanted to play a song that Destiny has been teaching her from the front of the book.  Such sweet sisters!

We spent the rest of the morning together right into lunch time, hanging out and playing cards.  Lunch out then home for naps. 

We had so much fun and I am so thankful we have family near by!

I loved watching these tender moments between my Grandparents…..

  Paxton was VERY tearful this time about “Gweat Gwampa sick. He die.”
{Great Grandpa is sick, he is going to die soon….}

  I was blown away by the the level of understanding. He knew something wasn’t right with his beloved “Gwampa” who now stays in bed. 

  We explained that Grandpa was sick, and that he would go see Jesus soon. 

“Jesus? In Heaben?” 

Yes, and Grandpa is going to have a NEW body and be healthy, so he can run around with Jesus. 

“I go to Heaven and run with Jesus too?” 

Not yet buddy!  You stay here with Mommy, then someday we will all go see Jesus and Grandpa in Heaven.

  Later he runs up to me and says, “Gwampa run in Heaben with Jesus wike dis….” and he took off running in a big circle around the room with a big smile on his face.

  You are exactly right buddy!  You are exactly right…..

What a glorious day that will be! 

No more sorrow, no more pain….

  We sure love you, Grandpa!

~T