Mandarin Orange Cake w/ Pineapple Frosting

This is one of our all time favorite springtime/summer desserts.  This cake is so light and fluffy!  I guarantee that your family will LOVE it!

CAKE:
1 Yellow Cake Mix
1 (11oz) can Mandarin Oranges, undrained
4 eggs
1/2 c. oil

- Preheat oven to 325 degrees
- Combine cake mix, undrained oranges, eggs, and oil in a large mixing bowl; beat at medium speed for 3 minutes.
- Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 9 in. cake pans.
- Bake 20-25 minutes
- Cool cake completely before frosting

PINEAPPLE FROSTING
1 (12 oz) Cool Whip
1 (20 oz) can crushed pineapple, drained
1 (3 oz) pkg. Instant Vanilla Pudding mix

- Mix Cool Whip and drained pineapple together
- Add dry pudding mix and let stand for 5 minutes in the refrigerator.
- Frost cake and store in the refrigerator.

ENJOY and HAPPY SPRING!  :)

Dancing With The Angels

Layla Grace Marsh

11/26/2007 - 3/9/2010

Now Dancing With The Angels

Memories surround me

But sadness has found me

I'd do anything for more time
Never before has someone meant more
And I can't get you out of my mind
There is so much that I don't understand

You had love for your family

Love for ALL people

Love for the Father, and Son
Your heart will be heard
In your unspoken words
Through generations to come
There is so much that I don't understand
But I know..........

You're dancing with the angels
Walking in new life
You're dancing with the angels
Heaven fills your eyes
Now that you're dancing with the angels

We're only here for such a short time
So I'm gonna stand up
Shout out and sing hallelujah
And one day we'll see you again

Perfect Zesty Chicken Tortilla Bake

Perfect Zesty Chicken Tortilla Bake

1/2 cup MIRACLE WHIP Dressing
1/2 cup flour
 3 cups milk
1 pkg. (8 oz.) KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese, divided
1-1/2 lb. boneless skinless chicken breasts, cooked, cut into bite-size pieces
1/2 cup TACO BELL® HOME ORIGINALS® Thick 'N Chunky Salsa
1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley 16 flour tortillas (6 inch)

-HEAT oven to 375°F.


-MIX dressing and flour in medium saucepan with whisk until well blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to boil on medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir until thickened. Add 1 cup cheese; cook until melted, stirring constantly. Reserve 1 cup sauce.

-STIR chicken, salsa and parsley into remaining sauce; spoon 1/3 cup down center of each tortilla. Roll up. Place 8 roll-ups, seam-sides down, in each of 2 (13x9-inch) baking dishes sprayed with cooking spray; top with reserved sauce and remaining cheese.

-BAKE 25 min. or until heated through.

So Much To Be Thankful For.....And Prayer For Another!

As I begin to write this post, I must tell you that I have tears streaming down my face.  Tears of thankfulness and tears of sorrow.  Funny how your prospective on life can change on a dime. 

Some of you know that I have a twitter account.  Twitter really is useless, but from time to time I actually learn stuff.  Recently, I began following Ryan Seacrest.  Mostly to keep up with behind the scenes of American Idol.  Little did I know that one of the things that he tweets about is a little girl that is in the fight of her life.  Yesterday I was curious as to who this little girl is, so I checked out her website.  A website that changed my perspective as a mother.

The tears of thankfulness that I shed are because I have two very beautiful and very healthy children.  Sometimes in the thick of total choas, I forget how lucky I am.  Yesterday I was reminded not to take all those moments, both the good and the chaotic, for granted.  Last night as I lay in bed I thanked the Lord for all of those moments and for giving me two wonderful children. 

You must be asking, "What was on that website", "Who is this little girl that Ryan Seacrest is tweeting about"?  Her name is Layla.  She is a sweet little two year old girl that within a few days will succumb to cancer.  She is absolutely a beautiful little girl.  In fact, I think what drew me to her was just how much she looks like my little Jackson.  Those great big blue eyes!!!!

Please pray for Layla!  Pray that the Lord will comfort her in her last hours of life.  Pray for peace for her family, especially her mother.  My heart goes out to her the most.  I can't imagine having to watch the life of my sweet child slip away.  Go to their website  laylagrace.org  Be thankful and greatful for what we have :)

Until next time..........

*The above pictures is of Layla and her father taken just a few days ago.

Follow me on Twitter: @JanaSpringer
Follow Layla on Twitter: @laylagrace

I Love You BERRY Much!!!!

I had one request from my husband and my daughter this Valentine's Day......CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES!!!!!  I must admit, I was so happy to oblige :)  Here is my recipe for these decadent little critters.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES

1 quart strawberries - washed and dried throughly

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

2/3 cup vanilla chocolate chips

2 tbsp. Crisco shortening, divided

wax paper

1 ziploc bag

-Wash and dry your strawberries throughly. 

-In a microwave safe bowl, melt 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 tbsp. of shortening in the microwave (I melt mine in 1 minute incraments).

-Dip 2/3 of each strawberry in the chocolate and place on waxed paper

-Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until chocolate has set.

-In a seperate microwave safe bowl, melt 2/3 cups vanilla chocolate chips and 1 tbsp. shortening in the microwave.  Melt in 30 second incraments, white chocolate is more temperamental than regular chocolate.

- Pour chocolate mixture into the ziploc bag and snip a small hole in the corner of the bag.

-Squeeze chocolate on the strawberries in squiggly lines.

-Place back in refrigerator for another 30 minutes to allow chocolate to set.

After strawberries and chocolate have set, place them in a dry container with an air tight lid and place back in refrigerator.  ENJOY!!!!

I hope that each and every one of you had a magical Valentine's Day :)

Until next time...............

Where Have I Been?

I know it's been a very long time since my last post and I apologize for that.  Just to let you know.....It hasn't been on purpose.  My family has really had a very long and bumpy last few weeks. 

It all started with little Jackson about 3 weeks ago.  He started coughing one day and we all thought that he was being silly trying to get attention.  He sometimes will hear others cough and will cough himself thinking that he's funny.  We all laughed along until the next day when his silly little cough was followed with a fever.  We limped along for a few days and eventually he broke the fever and began acting more like himself again. 

Morgan all of a sudden began coughing and complaining that she too wasn't feeling well.  This was on a Sunday.  She went to school on Monday and Tuesday, not feeling great but good enough to go to class.  By Tuesday evening she begain running a temp. of 104.5.  Holy Mercury Batman!!!!  This kid just never gets sick.  The cough got worse and she missed 3 days of school.  Took her to the doctor on Thursday and found out that she had viral pneumonia!!!!  I was stunned!  Her fever finally broke and she began feeling better that weekend and was back at school on Monday.  As fast as she got sick, she got better just as quickly.  Amazing how kids can bounce back from a major illness.

Now we are going into week 3!  Saturday afternoon, I notice a funny feeling in my chest but I just ignore it.  Sunday, I wake up not feeling great but have way too much to do to let it get to me.  By Sunday evening, I was running a fever.  Only a slight one, but a fever non the less.  Monday morning, I wake up and feel like I'd been hit by a 747 still in flight!!!!  The cough was getting worse and the body aches were unbearable.  I began running a high fever of 103.5.  Tuesday morning I decided I had better get to a doctor because I didn't want to end up with pneumonia like Morgan.  Too late! A chest x-ray confirms that I too have fallen victim to viral pneumonia.  I ran a fever of 101-103 for 5 days straight.  But I'm here today to say that I survived and am on the mend!!!!!

With all of that said, I've missed y'all!!!  Before everyone began getting so sick, I had been trying out some new recipes that I can't wait to share with y'all.  I promise that I will be posting those here soon.  I have a return doctors appt. and few things that I have to tend too since I was in bed for a week.  As soon as I get things back in order and on track, I'll be back! 

As I leave this post today I have to give a shout out to the New Orleans Saints!!!!  May they win BIG TIME over the Indianapolis Colts this evening in the Super Bowl!!!   GEAUX WHO DAT NATION!!!

Until next time.........

Fast & Easy!!!!

I just tried this recipe today and I have to tell ya.....my family LOVED IT!  The good thing for me was that it was super easy to whip up and a penny saving recipe to boot.  You'll have to try it.  I promise your family is gonna love it.  Those of you that have larger families may want to double the recipe :)  Enjoy!

CHEDDAR MACARONI BEEF CASSEROLE

1 pkg. (71/4 oz) Kraft Macaroni & Cheese Dinner - cooked according to pkg directions but omit the butter
1 lb. lean ground beef
1 can (14 1/2 oz) Italian-style stewed tomatoes, undrained
1/2 tsp. dried oregano leaves
1/2 cup sharp shredded cheddar cheese

*Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Prepare the macaroni & cheese dinner as directed on the pacage, omitting the butter.  Meanwhile, brown meat in a large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat; drain.  Add tomatoes and oregano; mix well.  Bring to a boil.

*Add meat mixture to macaroni & cheese; spoon into a 9-inch square baking dish.  Sprinkle with cheddar cheese.

*Bake 10 minutes or until cheese has melted and casserole is heated through.

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

Chicken Broccoli Casserole

2 cups cooked brown rice

3 cups cooked chopped broccoli

1 cup sour cream

1/2 cup mayonnaise (Do Not Use Miracle Whip)

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1  10 oz. can Cream of Chicken soup

10 oz. sharp cheddar cheese, grated

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. pepper

4 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray.

Spread the rice in an even layer in the baking dish.  Make a second layer with the broccoli.

In a large bowl, mix the sour cream, mayonnaise, lemon juice, soup, half of the grated cheese, and the salt, pepper, and chicken.  Pour the mixture over the broccoli and top with the remaining grated cheese.  Bake for 40 minutes.

Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

The Lovely Bones

Hello everyone!  I know it's been a while since my last post and I apologize for that.  Life has been busy, busy, busy with the holidays and the getting back to normal afterward. 

We had a wonderful holiday season.  We made our usual trip home to Georgia for Christmas.  As always, we had a great time.  I was so nice to be at home with all of my family but most of all, it was nice to walk around without a bulky parka on!!!!  We had temps from the mid 60's to the low 50's.  It was great.  I did't wear a coat the whole time I was home.  But of course, that came to a screeching hault as soon as we came back to the frozen tundra also known as Illinois. 

Well, I have to tell you about an amazing book that I literally just finished.  I'd heard that this book was really good and that a movie was being made based on it.  The name of the book is The Lovely Bones.  If you haven't read it.......run out and grab yourself a copy.  It was really good.  The movie comes out tomorrow, so I'm gonna try to see it this weekend.  For those of you who haven't heard about the book or the movie....here is a synopis.

When a book has attracted as much attention as The Lovely Bones, there's a lot of pressure for it to live up to the hype. Fortunately, Alice Sebold's gripping tale of a young girl's death is equal to the task.

The book's narrator is 14-year-old murder victim Susie Salmon. Raped and killed by her neighbor, Susie ascends to heaven, where she observes how her death has affected those around her.

Her father, who suspects the killer's identity, goes crazy with grief over the loss of his first-born, and his inability to do anything about it.

Her mother, who never wanted children, withdraws from her family and into an affair.

Susie's sister, Lindsey, fears the kids at school will forever define her by Susie's death, and their little brother, Buckley, struggles to understand the meaning of death.

The book is strongest in its first half, when it is part mystery and part ghost story. Susie's dad knows that their strange neighbor Mr. Harvey killed Susie, but has no proof. His obsession causes his wife to drift away, but draws him closer to his surviving daughter, who becomes similarly preoccupied. Meanwhile, Susie lives in her version of heaven, with cool swingsets and a duplex that she shares with another little girl, named Holly.

In its second half, the book becomes pure ghost story - a less moralizing version of Our Town, as Susie watches her loved ones grow older and observes the turns their lives take. Though still absorbing, this section doesn't measure up to the creepy, unsettling beauty of the first half, with Susie replaying her own murder in her mind, trying to puzzle out why it happened.

Without sounding cold, it seems that the dead's interest in the living would wane after a time. After all, Susie would have all of heaven at her disposal -- how concerned could she really be about her sister's graduation from college and engagement? Still, there's poignancy in Susie's reluctance to let her family go, which Sebold's delicately beautiful writing makes the most of. This is her first published novel. Her only other published book is the memoir Lucky, about her own rape as a college student.

That book received relatively little fanfare, but Bones is a breakout success, topping bestseller lists and garnering glowing reviews. It's not just hype. Sebold and her lovely, disturbing book are the real deal.

Ok, well, that in a nutshell is what I've been up too.  Mostly just trying to catch up from over the holidays.  I've got some new yummy recipes that I'll be posting soon, so y'all stay tuned!!!  I promise not to disappoint :)

Until next time..........

A NEW YEAR PRAYER

A New Year Prayer

Father,

God of our yesterdays, our today, and our tomorrows.
We praise You for Your unequaled greatness!
Thank You for the year behind us and for the year ahead.
Help us in Your new year, Father, to fret less and laugh more.
To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them.
To teach others to love by loving them.
Knowing, when Love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us.
So that Love could be with us, and we could know You.
That we could share Love with others.
Help us, Father, to hear Your love song in every sunrise,
in the chriping of sparrows in our backyards,
in the stories of our old folks, and the fantasies of our children.
Help us to stop and listen to Your love songs,
so that we may know You better and better.
We rejoice in the world You loved into being.
Thank You for another new year and for new chances every day.
We pray for peace, for light, and for hope, that we might spread them to others.
Forgive us for falling short this past year.
We leave the irreparable past in your hands, and step out into the unknown new year knowing You will go with us.
We accept Your gift of a new year and we rejoice in what's ahead, depending on You to help us do exactly what You want..
I say it again, we rejoice!
In Jesus name,
Amen.

Baking

Christmas and baking go hand in hand. It seems like they've been together since the beginning! For hundreds of years, breads and cakes, cookies and pies have graced dining room tables whenever Jesus' birth is celebrated.

Long ago, Christmas Eve was a day of fasting. As a way of preparing themselves for Christmas, people didn't eat anything the entire day, so they were extremely hungry when they woke up on Christmas Day. For breakfast, porridge-a hot, thick, bland cereal-was served.

As time went on, creative wives and mothers began adding dried fruits, spices and honey to the porridge to make it a special Christmas morning treat. With all these extras, the mixture was thick and stiff, so the cooks wrapped it in a cloth and dunked it in a big pot of boiling water.

Voila! Christmas pudding!

Sometime during the sixteenth century, wheat flour replace the porridge. Eggs were added to hold the ingredients together, and the resulting treat became known as boiled plum cake. The English used the word plum to mean any dried fruit, so what we actually have here is the advent of fruitcake. (And I have a feeling there may be a few of the original fruitcakes still kicking around in the back of someones pantry.)

When the terms "bread" and "cake" became interchangeable, they called it fruit bread. At one point, ginger was added in remembrance of the gifts of the Magi. (Does this make fruitcake and gingerbread cousins?)

The word Bethlehem, which is the birthplace of Jesus, literally means "house of bread". In that humble town in Judea, a baby boy was born who would come to be known as the Bread of Life (see John 6:51). He nourishes us with hope and healing, with forgiveness and love. When you're in the home of a family who loves Jesus, you can almost smell it in the air - just as you can smell bread baking in the oven!

So as you're baking pumpkin pie, star-shaped cookies, or banana bread this season - Whatever wonderful smell is coming out of the oven - let it remind you of the Bread of Life who gave "Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for the sweet-smelling aroma" (Ephesians 5:2, NKJV).

~Here is one of the Springer's most loved Christmas treats that we enjoy every year. Happy Baking

MAGIC COOKIE BARS

1/2 cup butter

1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1 (14 ounce) can Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk (NOT evaporated milk)

1 (12 ounce) package milk chocolate chips

1 1/3 cups flaked coconut

1 cup chopped pecans

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees (325 for glass dish). In a 13x9 inch baking pan, melt butter in oven. Sprinkle crumbs over butter, pour condensed milk evenly over crumbs. Layer with remaining ingredients; press down firmly.

2. Bake 30 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool. Cut into bars. Store loosely covered.

ENJOY!

Why Jesus is Better Than Santa Claus!

Santa lives at the North Pole...
JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh...
JESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year...
JESUS is an ever present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies...
JESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited...
JESUS stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa...
JESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap...
JESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, what's your name?"...
JESUS knew our name before we were born. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too. He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly...
JESUS has a heart full of love

All Santa can offer is HO HO HO...
JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"...
JESUS says "Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toys...
JESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but...
JESUS gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree...
JESUS became our gift and died on a tree...the cross.

We need to put Christ back in CHRISTmas, Jesus is still the reason for the season.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Cold Winter Nights and Let-It-Snow Cocoa!!!

Well, I hate to admit it.......but the Weatherman (AKA my husband) says that we are about to be hit with the white stuff!!!!  Now, being from the south, I'm NOT a big fan of it at all.  In fact, I like to say that I'm allergic to snow.  I like how pretty it is before all the kids walk through it and all the cars make it that ugly shade of grey on the side of the road.  ICK!  Plus, being from the south.......I don't like to drive in it at all.  There is a running joke in Georgia that goes a little like this..........At the first sight of a single snow flake, all the grocery stores in the state will run out of milk, bread and toilet paper!  And they aren't kidding :)  Everything shuts down and no one will leave their houses until the white stuff is gone.

With all of that said, it's gonna get really cold.  There is nothing better on a cold winter's night than a nice warm mug of cocoa.  I made our first batch last night.  I don't want to toot my own horn (toot toot!!) but I think that I have the world's best recipe for hot chocolate.  Guaranteed to make your family think that you hung the moon!

I've had a request that I post my recipe online.  Now, I have to say this about my recipe, you can make regular chocolate hot chocolate or vanilla hot chocolate.  I personally like it either way.  Ryan on the other hand says that the regular chocolate hot chocolate rocks.  :)  He's not biased or anything!  So, here ya go.  Here is my recipe for "Let-It-Snow Cocoa".

Let-It-Snow Cocoa

2 c. whipping cream
6 c. milk
1 tsp.  vanilla extract
12-oz. pkg. white chocolate chips or milk chocolate chips (Very important to use Milk Chocolate not Semi-Sweet)

Combine all ingredients in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours. Stir well to blend before serving. Makes 10 servings.

The Wonder Of Christmas!

This is the wonder of Christmas: that God chose to send our deliverer to earth in the form of a baby. The offspring who would crush the serpent's head, so long ago promised to Eve, is promised again in Isaiah as He who would be the light of the world, but He is given to us as a child! Against all the forces of evil arrayed against Him the Christ arrives among us as a newborn baby, and yet He is a King. He would grow and live His life as we do, with the same cares and concerns but overcoming all trials and defeating all attempts by the prince of darkness to pervert Him, to become our perfect sacrifice and ultimately our King in glory, so that you and I, as we celebrate our own Christmas, may look forward to the promised inheritance that awaits us in glory...all because of the birth of a Child.

~The picture above is of my little Jackson!  He was in awe of our Christmas tree :)  He is 17 months old.

The Legend of The Christmas Tree!

As the story goes, a professor named Martin Luther was walking alone through a forest one December night in the early 1500's. As he made his way home, the stars seemed to twinkle with an unusual brightness against the velvety blackness of the clear night sky. In fact, when he passed under the rustling branches of the evergreens, it seemed to him that miniature stars were dancing in the trees all around him.

It wasn't the sudden gust of cold wind that took the professor's breath away; it was the unexpected wave of worship that caused him to shiver. Luther was overwhelmed by the awesome beauty of God's creation.

The legend goes on to tell how Luther chopped down a small fir tree and set it up in his family's living area. He desperately wanted to somehow capture that moment in the starlit forest. Yet as he attempted to describe the beauty he had seen, words completely failed him.

Suddenly Luther had an idea. He went through his house and gathered up all the burning candles. One by one, he carefully placed them on the branches of the tree, and the little fir in the middle of the Luther home began to dance with twinkling lights. This wise papa's plan had worked! The Luther children's eyes were suddenly opened to the meaning of Psalm 19:1: " The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship."



My Very Own Christmas Tree:

Purchase a small Christmas tree and place it in your child's room. Together string a strand of Christmas lights around the tree. This will not only be her/his special tree but it will also act as a night-light during the holiday season. Morgan has her own Christmas tree. :)

Shiny Tinsel.....AKA.....Your Stainless Steel Sink!

Okie dokie my fellow bloggers!  I'm going to now tell you one of my BIGGEST pet peeves in life......Water Spots on my stainless steel sink.  They drive me crazy!!!!!!  My second pet peeve is a dull yucky looking sink.  Lets face it, those of us that have stainless steel sinks fight both problems on a daily basis.  I struggled for years trying to figure out just how to get my sink looking nice and keeping it that way.  Well, I've found the solution and now I'm gonna pass it along to you.

First, I've got to say this......I drive my husband nuts with my obsessive battle with the inevitable water spotted sink.  When I'm done using the sink, I must admit that I take a clean kitchen towel and dry my sink out.  I know, I know.....it's a sink!  Like I told ya, the spots drive me crazy.  I need help!!!  LOL

Ok, so this is how to get your sink looking it's shiny best and how to keep it that way.

First, you must fill the sink up to the rim with very hot water.  I've even boiled water and added it to the already hot water in the sink.  Just for good measure ;)

Next you will need to add 1 cup of bleach to the water.  Be very careful!  You don't want to get the bleach on your clothes.  I don't think that I could help you with that little mishap :(   Let the bleach water sit in your sink for 1 hour.  After 1 hour, drain the water and rinse out your sink well with running water.

Next you'll want to use a little cleanser.  I use baking soda, but you can use Comet, Ajax or Soft Scrub.  Whatever you have on hand.  Don't forget to clean off your faucet as well!

The last step is to spray a little glass cleaner on your sink.  Wipe it out!  Your sink should shine like silver tinsel :)

Now, I maintain my shine at least twice a week.  After doing the dishes I will scrub the sink out with a little regular dish soap and rinse it well.  Then I will sprinkle about 1/2 a tbsp. of baking soda in the sink and scrub.  Rinse well and dry the sink out with a clean, dry kitchen towel.  Your sink will SHINE SHINE SHINE!!!!! 

I hope that is helpful all of you out there that obsess over your kitchen sinks as much as I do :)

Happy Scrubbing!

P.S.  See, I told ya that bought some of that good smelling Williams Sonoma cleaning products!!!  You can see them in the picture above.  My most favorite product so far is the countertop spray.  I LOVE IT!!!!  Smells sooooooooo good!  You gotta get ya some :)

And The Stockings Were Hung.....

"The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,  In hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there"

There was a kindly nobleman whose wife had died of an illness leaving the nobleman and his three daughters in despair. After losing all his money in useless and bad inventions the family had to move into a peasant's cottage, where the daughters did their own cooking, sewing and cleaning.

When it came time for the daughters to marry, the father became even more depressed as his daughters could not marry without dowries, money and property given to the new husband's family.

One night after the daughters had washed out their clothing they hung their stockings over the fireplace to dry. That night Saint Nicholas, knowing the despair of the father, stopped by the nobleman's house. Looking in the window Saint Nicholas saw that the family had gone to bed. He also noticed the daughters stockings. Inspiration struck Saint Nicholas and he took three small bags of gold from his pouch and threw them one by one down the chimney and they landed in the stockings.

The next morning when the daughters awoke they found their stockings contained enough gold for them to get married. The nobleman was able to see his three daughters marry and he lived a long and happy life.

Children all over the world continue the tradition of hanging Christmas stockings.

 In some countries children have similar customs, in France the children place their shoes by the fireplace, a tradition dating back to when children wore wooden peasant shoes.

In Holland the children fill their shoes with hay and a carrot for the horse of Sintirklass. In Hungary children shine their shoes before putting them near the door or a window sill.

Italian children leave their shoes out the night before Epiphany, January 5, for La Befana the good witch. And in Puerto Rico children put greens and flowers in small boxes and place them under their beds for the camels of the Three Kings.

New Holiday Favorite!!!

Over the Thanksgiving holiday I did some shopping!  SURPRISE....I know :)  While in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, I got to visit the Williams Sonoma store.  This is one of my favorite stores to shop for all things kitchen.  While browsing around I came across these cleaning products.  Oh My Goodness!!!!  They smell soooooo good :)  And the good thing about them is that they are made with all natural products.  I actually bought the Winter Forest set whice includes Hand Soap, Hand Lotion, Dish Soap and a Countertop Spray.  Every thing smells like a Christmas Tree.  I actually love to fill the sink with water and the dish soap just so the my kitchen will smell like a big ol' wonderful fresh cut Christmas tree!

They also sell a set that smells like Peppermint (loved it too....almost bought both!) and another set smells like Chestnuts.  You'll have to check out their website  http://www.williams-sonoma.com/ 

I hope that ya'll had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  We had a wonderful time visiting with family and friends that we haven't seen in a very long time.  It was good to get back to Oklahoma......but my allergies were saying ,"Girl, you better get home quick before we kick your butt"!  I forgot how much "junk" is in the air in Oklahoma :(

Well, I'm working on getting the house in order for Christmas.  As soon as the tree is up and all the decorations are in place, I'll take pictures!

Laundry Detergent -#2

Hello!  I hope that this blog finds everyone happy and well on this Thursday afternoon.  It has been really cold and wet here for the past few days.  I'm so ready for some sunshine :) 

Well, I've had several people email me about the kind of container that I use for my laundry detergent.  I figured I would take a picture of it since it's hard sometimes to describe what it looks like.  I bought this glass container at one of the superstores here near my home.  I really liked the idea of a glass container so that I could see when I was getting low and needed a refill. 

I keep my container on top of my washer and I have it sitting on a pretty little doily.  It makes me feel Martha Stewart-esque! LOL  I'm so far from being anything like her.......which sometimes is a "Good Thing"!  I'm so on a roll today :)  Ha Ha!

I've also recieved a few emails asking me if I've ever had bad smells from front loader washer.  I guess I'm a lucky one because I haven't.  However, I'm religiously making sure that my machine is clean because I've heard that front loaders can create smells.  So, I'm going to share with you my little secret to keeping the "Bad" smells away.  I'm sure that those of you who have top loaders can follow this as well.

 On the 1st of every month, I clean my machine using the "Tub Clean" cycle.  I add bleach to the fill line on the bleach resevoir.   Then on the 15th of every month I do the same thing except this time I use distilled white vinegar.  I use vinegar as my fabric softener also, so I know that as I'm washing/rinsing my clothes, my machines is staying clean.  Now, for those of you with top loading machines, you can do the same thing except you don't have the "Tub Clean" cycle.  So you will want to add 1 cup of bleach or Vinegar (depending if it's the 1st or 15th) to a regular wash cycle using the hotest water that you can.  This should keep your machines nice a clean as well.

I've also had a few people asking me if I know how to get dishwasher sparkle.  As a matter of fact, I do!  :)

Once a week I add 1/4 cup of baking soda to the bottom of my dishwasher (I usually do this on Monday) and run a regular cycle without dishes.  Once a month (usually around the 1st) I will add 1 cup of distilled white vinegar to the bottom of the dishwasher and run a regular cycle without dishes.  This will keep the inside of your machine super clean and the drains odor free.

Ok, I had better get!  I've got to go start supper for my "Starving" family.  Y'all have a wonderful evening.

Happy Cleaning Y'all!

Recipes, Recipes, Recipes!!!!!

Hello my blogging friends!  Ok, I know that y'all are just dying to know who won the UGA/Auburn game.....(LOL)....UGA did!!!  Woot Woot!  How Bout Them DAWGS!!   Oh, it felt good to get that out of my system.  Now on to other more important things...RECIPES!!!

I promised y'all that I would post a few of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes that are staples on our table every year.  Well, here ya go!  I hope that y'all will enjoy them as much as we have over the years :)

CREAMY POTATO CASSEROLE

2 cups heavy cream
1/2 tsp. dried thyme, crumbled
1 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
2 lbs. new potatoes, sliced thin
1 cup shredded swiss cheese

~ Preheat ove to 450 degrees. In a heavy, medium saucepan, combine heavy cream, thyme, salt, pepper and garlic over medium heat. Bring to a boil; add the potatoes
~ Reduce heat and simmer over medium-low heat for 8 minutes. Remove from the heat.
~ Spoon potatoes into a shallow ovenproof baking dish; pour the hot cream on top. Spread with a spoon so potatoes are flat and covered with cream mixture. Sprinkle evenly with cheese.
~ Bake potatoes until top is browned and potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. If top starts to brown too much, cover loosely with foil and continue baking.


GREEN BEAN BUNDLES

2 16oz. cans whole green beans
Bacon ( 1/2 slice per bundle)
1/4 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
Garlic powder - sprinkle
Salt
Pepper

~ Make bundles of green beans using 10-12 beans to a bundle. Wrap with bacon, seam side down, in baking dish.
~ Melt butter, brown sugar, garlic powder, salt and pepper together. Pour glaze over bundles.
~ Bake at 375 degrees covered for 15 min. Uncover and bake another 15 minutes so the bacon can brown.


BROCCOLI & RICE CASSEROLE

1 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup chpped celery
3 tbsp. butter
2 pkgs. chopped broccoli
1 can cream/chicken soup
3 cups. cooked rice
large cheez whiz
1 sm. Pet milk

~ Saute onions and celery in butter until carmelized.
~ Add rest of ingredients and place in casserole dish.
~ Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.


Baked Garlic Cheese Grits

6 cups chicken broth
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
2 cups regular grits
16 ounces Cheddar, cubed
1/2 cup milk
4 large eggs, beaten
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter

~Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 4-quart casserole dish.
~Bring the broth, salt, pepper, and garlic powder to a boil in a 2-quart saucepan. Stir in the grits and whisk until completely combined. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the grits are thick, about 8 to 10 minutes. ~Add the cubed Cheddar and milk and stir. Gradually stir in the eggs and butter, stirring until all are combined.
~ Pour the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle with the white Cheddar and bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until set.


Apple Butter Pumpkin Pie

1 cup apple butter
1 cup fresh or canned pumpkin
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/8 teaspoon ground ginger
3 eggs, slightly beaten
3/4 cup evaporated milk
1 unbaked 9-inch pie shell

Sweetened whipped cream, for garnish

~Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
~Combine apple butter, pumpkin, sugar, salt and spices in a bowl. Stir in eggs. Gradually add milk and mix well.
~Pour into pie shell.
~Bake for about 40 minutes or until set.


May your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal this year!  I'm thankful for all of my blogging friends new and old!

Until next time.........