Around the Table

Thanksgiving is the time of year, we reflect upon our blessings, as we sit around the table and enjoy a specially prepared meal. We gather with our families and friends to talk, eat, watch football and hunt. During the Thanksgiving day, we give thanks for what we have.

As a family, give thanks for home, health, freedom, job and church.

As a nation, give thanks for freedom, the ones who defend our freedoms, military, first responders, ems, police, fire fighters. These men and women don't spend holidays at home. Some are on foreign soil a half a world away keeping peace we take for granted.

As individuals, we should count our blessings and name them as we are around the table this Thanksgiving. We should give thanks with grateful hearts. There are people who will be hungry, cold, homeless, sick, oppressed on this day and everyday. Remember to give during the holidays but also the other times we don't reflect on thankfulness. Count your blessings.

Sensational Summer Salsa

There's nothing like having fresh vegetables from your garden. So here is a easy salsa recipe to enjoy with your own tomatoes and peppers. 

3-4  medium sized tomatoes (chopped)

1/2  small onion (chopped)

1  small green pepper (chopped)

add jalapeno pepper to taste

2 tsp lime juice

1 tsp sea salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1/2 tsp garlic

1/2 tsp onion powder

6-8 servings

Watch for the Flowers

A child's innocence is one of the sweet treats in this world. My four year old, Jacob, my little boy blue, sees the good in most everything. He wanted to mow the lawn with me today, and he saw purple flowers and had to pick them first. He always brings me flowers, little white blossoms and yellow dandelions from the yard. He enjoys bringing me something and I love his enthusiasm for the simple. We truly can learn from children. There's nothing better than after a hard day hearing mommy I love you.

We all could benefit from hearing these words and saying them more often from the heart to our children, spouse, parents, or a friend. Always give generously, from your heart, and enjoy the simple in this not so simple world.

My Heart Always Goes With You

     This week was a defining moment for our family. My oldest son Fielding, started kindergarten. He was excited, nervous and anxious, and I as his mom, had all those feelings too. The night before school started, he went to bed early and woke up a couple times saying I want my mommy and where's my mommy. He was probably dreaming about school starting. As I comforted him, rubbing his back, knowing I was nervous too.
As parents we want the greatest life for our children. We teach them, raise them the best we know how, and praying that we're doing all the right things.
     As I woke him up for school on Wednesday morning, I knew our lives would be changing. He took his bath and got ready. He looked so grown up with his new clothes and shoes. Fielding's little brother and sister closely watching him.
Backpack on, we headed out the door and took pictures, then we were heading for school. I unbuckled his seat belt and walked him to the door as he clutched my hand, looking brave and now maybe not so big. We took his picture one more time, wished him a great first day and said our love yous as he said come with me. He headed to his classroom.

As we get back in the car, I cry, wondering how 5 years could pass so quickly. I've been blessed to be home with him. Thoughts flood my mind and images of the first time he was placed in my arms, first steps, words, our long days at home, little boy hugs and kisses.
     My sweet boy is now a kindergartner. He is being exposed to so many new activities, children and learning.
Letting go of that little hand was difficult. My heart always goes with you no matter how grown up and big you become.

Dream Big and Achieve

My favorite time to decorate have arrived.  I couldn't wait and already started getting out fall decorations; pumpkins, the fuzzy throw with colorful leaves and candles. Its definitely still warm here in the Ohio Valley and the weather still feels like summer time. The signs of fall are all around.  The yard is turning brown and crunchy.  The corn is also turning brown, the crops are getting ready to be picked and the red apples are ready to eat. 

With my fall decorations, are my children's Halloween books and movies.  We have already started watching the Charlie Brown Halloween movie and reading stories about costumes and trick-or-treating.  Fielding is still scared of hoot owls, although he says he's older and isn't scared anymore, he still hides under the covers.  Jacob, the mischievous younger brother, loves to pretend to be an owl, just to start an argument.

One of the books we have started reading is, Putney A Little Pumpkin with Big Ideas by Winfrey P. Blackburn. The story is about three brothers and a sister growing in the pumpkin patch and dreaming about what they might be carved into for the upcoming holiday.  The older ones are too busy thinking about what they want to be carved into for Halloween, so they ignore Putney. They don't bother to ask or listen to his ideas.  Putney is still nice, kind and never gets upset.  The story holds a great lesson for all of us. Sometimes if we are quiet, show a little kindness, we can achieve exactly what we would like to in life. I will let you read the story. 

Fielding drew a pumpkin patch in his grandpa's garage, with blue chalk and here is the picture for today's blog.  Enjoy your fall! 

Spaghetti Pie

Italian food is always one of everybody's favorite dishes.  This is a great meal alone, or with a fresh salad and garlic bread. 

Spaghetti Pie Recipe

6 ounces spaghetti
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 well beaten eggs
1 cup cottage cheese
1 pound ground beef or pork sausage
1/2 chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1 cup tomatoes, diced
1 6 ounce can tomato paste
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 shredded mozzarella cheese

Cook spaghetti according to package directions, drain.  It should be about 3 cups cooked.  Stir butter into hot spaghetti. Stir in parmesan cheese and eggs. 
Form spaghetti mixture into a "crust" in a buttered 10 inch pie plate.  Spread cottage cheese over bottom of spaghetti.
In skillet cook ground beef or sausage, onion and green pepper until vegetables are tender. Drain off any excess fat.  Stir in undrained tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano and garlic salt, heat through. 
Turn meat mixture into spaghetti crust.  Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.  Sprinkle mozzarella cheese on top.  Bake 5 minutes longer or until the cheese melts. 
Makes 6 servings. 

*This is a great recipe to make during the summer months, when you have fresh tomatoes and peppers available. The longer the sauce simmers the better it will taste. Its also good to mix the sausage and ground beef together.

Blessings, Birthdays & Aunt Jo's Banana Cake

 

Yesterday, on August 20, Steven (my husband) and I celebrated our birthdays together.  He was born in 1979 and on his first birthday, his mom, remembers the announcement of my birth.  He and I were just meant to be together!  How many other couples share the same birthday?  We grew up two miles a part, attended the same bible school as kids, grew up and graduated together, but never dated until after high school days.  We stared dating in April of 2006 and became engaged 4th of July weekend.  When you know something, you just know! He's my best friend, a caring dad and he's dedicated to working hard for his family. He and our kids are my greatest blessings!

I always fix his favorite cake for his birthday. We call it Aunt Jo's Banana Cake because it's Steven's great aunt JoAnne's recipe.  The bananas don't actually go in the cake though, as I thought the first time I made his "favorite" cake.

White Cake Recipe

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/4 cups sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup milk
4 egg whites
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour

Measure shortening into bowl and let stand until soft.  Blend sugar mixing until fluffy.  Sift flour, baking powder and salt.  Add alternately with milk to creamed mixture, stir in vanilla and fold in egg whites beaten stiff but not dry.  Divide mixture evenly in two 8 inch round layer pans. *Grease and flour pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Cool on wire racks.

Icing Recipe
Measure about 2 tablespoons of shortening and pour in some powdered sugar.  Crumble the shortening and powdered sugar together until it resembles crumbs.  Then add milk.  Mix until it becomes the right consistency.  Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla and mix into icing. 

Spread icing onto cake layers. Add thinly sliced bananas.

This white layer cake can be topped with any icing you like. 

Make a wish on your birthday and celebrate all of your blessings!