Fall Is Here!

My most favorite time of year is here! I absolutely love the crispness in the air, the leaves changing and falling from the trees, and of course FOOTBALL! I also love that fall also brings comfort foods. I made one of my favorite fall desserts last night.....Warm Southern Apple Crisp. Needless-to-say, the family was most grateful.

If you get a chance in the next few days, make a fall favorite dessert for your family. They'll love you for it!

Here is my Apple Crisp recipe. It's tried and true.....guaranteed to bring a smile to your face :)


SOUTHERN APPLE CRISP

Ingredients:

3 pounds tart apples
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup rolled oats
4 tablespoons cold butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preparation:

Peel, core and chop the apples; toss in a bowl with lemon juice. In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg; add to the apples and toss to combine.

In another bowl combine flour, sugar and oats. Cut butter into 8 small pieces, and cut butter into flour with a pastry blender or two forks until mixture is crumbly. Stir in the chopped nuts.

Butter a 9-inch square baking dish. Spread apple mixture in bottom of baking dish then sprinkle with flour mixture. Bake at 375° for 30 to 45 minutes, or until apples are tender and topping is lightly browned.

Serve warm or at room temperature, with vanilla ice cream or a little heavy cream, if desired.


Enjoy!


Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

A New Family Favorite

I just had to share this recipe with y'all.  Now, I have two very picky eaters in my house, so trying to please everyone is almost impossible when it comes to supper time.  However, I came across this recipe and decided that I'd try it.  It sounded really good and looked amazing in the picture that I saw.  I was AMAZED when everyone at the table that night said that they loved it :)  I shared this recipe with my sister, who also has some picky eaters as well, and her family couldn't get enough of it. 

I hope your family will enjoy this as much as mine does.  For those of you who have large families to feed, not only is this an inexpensive meal to make, it makes alot of it! 


ONE-POT SALSA BEEF SKILLET

1 lb. lean ground beef
2 cups water
1 cup Taco Bell Home Orignials Think N' Chunky Salsa
1 pkg. (14 oz.) Kraft Deluxe Macaroni & Cheese Dinner
2 cups frozen corn
1/2 cup Mexican Style Shredded Cheese
2-3 green onions, chopped

~Brown meat in a large skillet; drain.  Return to skillet.

~Add water, salsa and macaroni: stir.  Bring to a boil: cover.  Siimmer on low heat  10 minutes or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally.  Stir in corn and Cheese sauce; cook 2 minutes or until heated through.

~Top with shredded cheese and onions.

Enjoy!

"You Can't Beat the Real Thing"

I'm from the great state of Georgia, and when asked where this recipe originated from, I have to say that I'm not sure where it originated. I just know that it was always a “staple” dessert when I was growing up. It’s probable that I enjoyed it at church potluck suppers; my grandmother’s house; and at University of Georgia football tailgate parties (along with fried chicken, boiled peanuts, country ham biscuits and pimento cheese sandwiches!)”

When asked what makes this recipe southern, I have to respond with.....1. Coca-Cola (which was “born” in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886)..... 2. Pecans (Georgia is the largest producer of pecans in the United States)..... and 3. Buttermilk!

This cake is a delight to make and eat!  This recipe has great flavor and texture, it is straight-forward, and the story that accompanies it (The Coca~Cola Story can be read by going to.....www.thecoca-colacompany.com) is by far the best that there is.  Coca-cola cakes are a southern institution, and this is one of the best I’ve ever had. 

Enjoy :)


COCA~COLA CAKE

CAKE:
2 cups plain flour (unsifted)
2 cups sugar
2 sticks butter
3 tablespoons cocoa
1 cup Coca-Cola
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 whole eggs beaten
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups mini marshmallows

ICING:
1 stick butter
3 tablespoons cocoa
6 tablespoons Coca-Cola
1 box confectioners powdered sugar
1 cup chopped pecans
t tsp. vanilla

CAKE:
Combine sugar and flour in mixing bowl. Heat butter, coca-cola and cocoa to boiling and pour over flour and sugar mixture, mixing thoroughly. Add buttermilk, eggs, soda, vanilla and marshmallows. Mix well. This will be a thin batter with marshmallows floating on top. Bake in greased and floured 9×13 pan at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes. Ice while hot.

ICING:
Combine butter, Coca-Cola and heat to boiling. Pour over sugar. After beating, stir in chopped pecans and vanilla. Spread over hot cake.

~Best when served warm with a large scoop of Vanilla Bean ice cream!  :)

Back To School!!!

Yes my friends, today is the day that I act like a giddy school girl and dance around to the tune of "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year"!!!  It's BACK TO SCHOOL DAY!!!!  

Yes, I'm excited to have some of my day back, but at the same time, I will admit that it is bittersweet.  My oldest baby is starting the 7th Grade.  She's growing up way too fast for me.  When I woke up this morning, my mind rushed back to the day that my husband and I dropped her off for her first day of preschool.  It seems like a lifetime ago and yet, it feels like if was yesterday. 

I'm gonna miss having her around to help me with things around the house and having her watch her little brother when I have a quick errand to run.  I'm also gonna miss laughing with her about something funny that we see on TV.  Not to mention my little shopping buddy!!!!

Well, Miss Morgan, you are growing up!  I just want you to know that I love you very much and I am very proud of the sweet young lady that you are growing up to be :)  But always know that even though you're growing up, it's ok to still be Mommy and Daddy's little girl! 

Now, go get em' girl!  You're gonna have a great 7th Grade year :)

Happy Trails!

In my never ending quest to find healthy snacks for my family to snack on, I came across this recipe.  It has been a HUGE hit!  We just can't seem to keep our hands out of the container that I've put it in.  I have to be honest, I wasn't sure how my family would like it........I mean, it has nuts, oats and fruit in it!!!!  You know, all the things that they are always trying to not eat.  Some how when you mix it all together and add some butter and honey, it makes all the difference!  Who knew?  :)

Almond, Toasted Oat And Cherry Trail Mix

1 cup uncooked old fashioned oats
2/3 cup dried cherries, chopped
1 cup dried pineapple, chopped
1/4 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 small boxes yogurt covered raisins
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon stick light butter, or similar product, melted
1/4 cup honey


Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a sided sheet pan with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, stir together rolled oats, cherries, pineapple, almonds, walnuts and salt. Drizzle with butter and honey and toss thoroughly.

Spread mixture evenly on sheet pan. Bake, stirring occasionally to ensure even browning, about 20 to 25 minutes; let cool.
Add yogurt covered raisins after mixture has completely cooled. 

Place mixture in an air-tight container.


Enjoy!

I'm BACK!!!!!!

Wow!  I didn't realize until the other day just how long it has been since I last posted.  I mean really Jana!  It's been since Easter.  C'mon girl!  You're better than that!

Seriously, I've been busy.  Since school got out for the summer, I've been hitting it hard.  This summer has been wonderful.  Lot's have happened and I have alot to share with ya.  I'm gonna take it one subject at a time and try to post pictures to help tell my about my summer adventures.

I also have lots of new recipes to share with ya as well.  Yes, we've been eatin' good in the Springer house :)  

So, hang in there with me!!!  I promise not to leave ya hangin any longer!  I'm BACK people......I'M BACK!!!

 Until my next post............

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.