Real quick, before we get on to the chocolatey-caramel deliciousness, I just wanted to say a humble thank you for yesterday.
I guess I figured it would be the fellow bloggers that would connect and respond to my ‘Bloggers Are People Too’ post with a “yes” and an “amen” and a comment about it. Oh, there were definitely some amens from fellow bloggers, they totally got where I was coming from, they have been on the receiving end of nasty, too.
I think what surprised me, was all the comments from people who don’t blog. You all didn’t let that stop you from coming alongside me with words of affirmation and encouragement, and that meant the world to me! You took the time to show me compassion, even if you hadn’t walked my path. Simply amazing. I am blessed to have you in my life!
Truthfully, what I wanted to do yesterday was stamp my foot and shout to those mean forums,
“STOP looking for my husband on dating sites, STOP saying Jesus can’t heal a broken marriage this fast, stop calling me mean names, stop hate reading my blog, STOP accusing me of hurting my kids and especially of not giving the best care I could to my father in law. STOP COMING HERE TO THROW STONES…..”
You don’t know how many times I checked that site the first day I found it. They were sending all kinds of people my way, so I followed the link back to them. I was actually in schok, unable to look away, even through little gasps of horror, and tear filled eyes. After that first day, I walked away. I won’t go back. I don’t want to know what they will say next. I know who I serve, I know who I answer to, and I know one day, everyone will face their Creator and give an account of their lives, their actions and their words.
You don’t know how many times my fingers twitched and hovered over the keyboard with rebuttals and arrows to fling back. But I didn’t. I didn’t have to, because you all pointed me to Jesus. You reminded me why the attacks come. My battle is not with flesh and blood, my battle is not with forums and snarky websites. My battle is with satan, the prince of darkness.
Duh. How could’ve I missed that part? Thanks for pointing me to the bigger picture yesterday. I needed it.
The cool part about this, is that hundreds of people are coming from those sites, daily, to see what all the fuss is about. I can only hope they find Jesus while they are here, that they find themselves captivated and unable to look away, because our Savior is irresistible.
Hey, crazier things have happened! 😉 That’s enough serious talk for today, let’s move on to dessert.
This one comes from my Momma’s recipe box, and it always takes me back to my childhood. We lived in the coolest little bitty town. The kind where you rode your bike alone everywhere, and played outside until dark, and your mom didn’t worry a bit.
This simple recipe starts with a cake mix, and was the “Go To” recipe for Desserts at our house…when she let us have dessert, which wasn’t often. She was a worse Sugar Nazi then I am! Haha.
I remember sneaking into our kitchen, and carefully opening the non-creaking cupboard door, where she had the Little Debbie’s stashed. I would wait until she laid down for a little snooze on the couch, in the living room, so that I could be sure my “Operation Little Debbie” would be successful this time.
Wouldn’t you know, the MILLISECOND that package crinkled she’d say, “HEY!” or “What do you think you are doing?” from the couch, and scare the living tar out of me. Rats, so close!
She did let me and my little brother peel the wrappers from the caramels used in this recipe. And sometimes, she even let us eat the extras! Maybe THAT is where my obsession with caramel started?! Hmmm.
Caramel Brownies
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Description
These simple, but delicious, cake mix Brownies come from my Momma’s recipe box.
Ingredients
- 1 box (15.25 Ounce Box) Chocolate Cake Mix
- ½ cups Melted Butter
- 5 ounces Evaporated Milk, Divided Use
- 37 Brach’s Caramel Squares
- 1 cup Chocolate Chips
Preparation
Combine DRY cake mix with 1/2 cup melted butter and 1/2 cup evaporated milk. Mixture will be thick.
Press a little over half into a sprayed 9×13 glass pan.
Bake at 350 degrees for 6-8 minutes.
Unwrap 37 caramel squares, and combine them with 1/3 cup evaporated milk in a small saucepan. Heat over low heat and stir to melt and combine.
Sprinkle one cup of chocolate chips over par-baked brownies, then pour caramel over top.
Drop remaining batter in tablespoons over the surface.
Return to oven for 15 more minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.
Cut while warm, but not piping hot, for best results.
Dig in!
~T
4 little Fergusons 