ooey gooey chocolate

I finally broke down yesterday and made this cake.  I have been craving chocolate and thought this would hit the spot with some Double Chocolate Ice Cream.  I originally found this recipe a few weeks back and kept forgetting to pick up cocoa at the grocery, (it’s called sometimers….. sometimes I remember things and sometimes I don’t).  Anyway, since I had everything I needed I decided to give a whirl.
Brandie@ A Country Cook posted a wonderful tutorial on how to make this cake here. It was/is sinfully delicious.  It was quite easy and something that I will be making again.  This recipe will go in the recipe file, can’t wait to make it for my kids when they come to visit.
Speaking of kids, my hubby gave me a airline ticket to go to Maryland to visit with them for Valentine’s Day.  Trying to make some final decisions on a date.  But I am so eager to go.  I love visiting and spending time with them, but can’t wait to get my hands on my precious grandson.

This picture was made when he was here Christmas.  My daughter and I Skype at least one a week so I  get to watch him grow via the computer.  On Monday while we were visiting he actually rolled over.  I keep reminding myself how much I am missing.  He turned 3 months earlier this month and he is growing like a weed.
Well today is a rainy, gloomy day, but I really need to get myself ready for the day.  I have several errands I need to do.  So wishing you a very blessed day.
 Blessings,
       Cindy

1 John 3:18“Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Should I lie

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and tell ya that I have been on some far away trip and I’m so exhausted by all the excursions that I’ve done, that I can barely think straight. When in reality I have been playing hold up and hostage

in my own home.  Yep, you heard that right.  I have been sitting here at home and not blogging nor really wanting to post.  Ok…that’s not really true, I’ve wanted to post but just haven’t felt that I have had anything worthy or fun to even share.

   

 

 

I think this weather has me in some kind of a funk.   This happens to me alot around this time of the year…All the activities of the holidays are over and this year I had the move on top of everything else, so I am feeling a bit “out of sorts”.  Although I am a wee bit excited about all the progress I have made with getting things in order.  Isn’t that what January is all about?  And that is what I spent most of January doing…..cleaning out computer files, making password list, personal work related files, creating a coupon binder, going back to the menu planner, and also back to cooking and baking more.  :)  Not bad for a January.  Now that February is here, we have gotten my hubby’s work office moved to a new location.  (His lease was up at his other office), and hoping now we can focus on some fun stuff.

This past weekend (Sat) he and I took the day and headed out to a auction up in Pa that had primitives for sale.  Oh my…good thing I am living in a shoe box because there was lots I wanted to bring home

 

.  Afterwards we hit several antique stores in the area, grabbed some dinner, did some grocery shopping and headed home.  I was utterly worn out when we got home. 

Sunday we headed out to church followed by stopping in at the store to grab a few things for lunch.  We came home and made lunch together, Chicken fijitas’ ummmmmm yummy!, even had time for a nap before the Super Bowl.  All in all it was a great weekend…so what have I been up to this week….

 

Trying to decide what to do for my family for Valentines day.   Got any plans?  We don’t usually do alot for each other.  And for my kids, I normally just pick them up some goodies, but this year I am playing around with the thought of “making them some homebaked goodies” . 

 

I will most likely work on them tomorrow as hubby is taking Friday off from work and we may be going out of town for the day and Saturday we are taking my boys to see the Washington Wizards play the San Antonio Spurs in DC. So it should be another busy weekend.

So this hopefully gives you a idea of where I’m at as well as where my head is at these days.  But hoping to be a much better blogging buddy soon. 

Now where is that excursion list….JIC…..

2 Thessalonians 1:3“[Thanksgiving and Prayer] We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” Brought to you by BibleGateway.com. Copyright (C) . All Rights Reserved.

Summertime is here

and with that we tend to spend more time outside so with that  in mind, I thought I would share a little inspiration with you.

What better time to head to your local Diary Queen or other favorite ice cream spot, to have  a nice cold treat on a HOT summer day.

Sometimes my hubby and I like to take a walk in the evenings up to our little ice cream shack that is patronized by all the locals here.  It’s a great way to cool off as well as catch up with some of your neighbors. 

 

There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart.  ~Celia Thaxter

Now would be a great time to dust off that picnic basket and load it down with all kinds of goodies.  Maybe grab some books or a fishing pole.  Head off to the nearest lake, or meadow and just relish in the day.

You can’t have a picnic without food, so I have shared a few treats with you below.

"If a June night could talk,
it would probably boast it invented romance."
-  Bern Williams

Summer just wouldn’t be Summer without the “House Wine of the South”.  Ice Tea.  It’s always a favorite drink of mine, not only in the summer.  It is something I drink year round, but will tell you that it taste best on a HOT summer day when it is chilled with loads of ice and some lemon. 

Wine of the South-Sweet Iced Tea

Ingredients
3 Family size tea bags
2 Cups of cold water
1 Cup of sugar

Directions

I recommend Luzianne Tea Bags if available, if not Liptons is another great choice.

Place the two cups water in a pot and add the tea bags. Bring to a boil, do not continue boiling. Remove from heat and let steep. Pour warm tea into empty pitcher. Add the sugar and stir until the sugar is dissolved. Fill remaining pitcher with cold water.

In summer, the song sings itself.  ~William Carlos Williams

And what about some fresh strawberry pie.  Yummy!

Ingredients

• 2 (8 inch) pie shells, baked
• 2 1/2 quarts fresh strawberries
• 1 cup white sugar
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 cup boiling water
• 1 (3 ounce) package strawberry flavored gelatin

Directions

1. In a saucepan, mix together the sugar and corn starch; make sure to blend corn starch in completely. Add boiling water, and cook over medium heat until mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Add gelatin mix, and stir until smooth. Let mixture cool to room temperature.
2. Place strawberries in baked pie shells; position berries with points facing up. Pour cooled gel mixture over strawberries.
3. Refrigerate until set. Serve with whipped cream, if desired.

Summer has set in with its usual severity.  ~Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Or some good ole Strawberry Shortcake!  Delicious!!!!

Biscuits
3 1/2 cups (14 7/8 ounces) King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup dried buttermilk powder*
3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup (1 stick, 4 ounces) butter or margarine, or1/2 cup shortening
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 large egg
1 cup (8 ounces) milk*
Shortcake
2 quarts hulled strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1 cup (8 ounces, 1/2 pint ) whipping cream

*Or substitute 1 cup buttermilk for the buttermilk powder and milk.

The Biscuits: Preheat the oven to 425°F.
Whisk together the dry ingredients, and cut in the cold butter, margarine or shortening. Whisk the vanilla and egg with the milk, then add all at once to the dry ingredients and stir until the liquid is absorbed. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead 4 or 5 times, just until it holds together. Pat the dough out until it's about 1/2 to 3/4 inches thick, and cut it into circles (using a sharp cutter for the highest rising biscuits). Place the biscuits onto an ungreased baking sheet, brush the tops with milk or egg white for a shiny surface, sprinkle with sugar if desired, and bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the tops are golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool for 15 minutes before serving. Yield: 9 biscuits.
To Assemble Shortcake: Mash 2 cups of the strawberries. Slice the remaining strawberries, and mix all of the berries with the sugar and lemon juice. Let rest 1 hour. Whip the cream until soft peaks form. Just before serving, split open the biscuits, spoon half the berries and whipped cream on the bottom half, top with remaining biscuit halves, and spoon on remaining berries and cream.

Summer time an' the livin' is easy, Fish are jumpin' an' the cotton is high. Oh, yo' daddy's rich, and yo' ma' is good-lookin', So hush, little baby, don' yo' cry.
Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward

I hope you have a blessed day and weekend.  Get out and enjoy our beautiful summer weather.

How to decorate Sugar Cookies

"I sure do like those Christmas cookies, Sugar!
I sure do like those Christmas cookies, Babe!
The ones that look like Santa Claus,
Christmas trees, bells, and stars;
I sure do like those Christmas cookies, Babe."

 

 Christmas Hugs,
Cindy