It’s all good

My kiddos are gone this week.  I took them to Oklahoma last weekend to spend some time with Nana & Cowpa.  One evening that I was there, I made dinner for my parents and my Aunt Meme & Uncle Curt and all the kiddos (mine and 2 of Meme’s grandkids).  I made Ham and Cheese Hot Pockets and Snickerdoodle Bars…mmmm!  Anyways, Curt was telling me how quiet it is now that all 4 of their boys are grown and out of the house, and how peaceful it is.  LOL  He said, “I know that people always think – What am I going to do when the kids are gone?! – and I wondered the same thing.  But I’m here to tell you:  It’s nice!!”

Let me preface with this:  I know he loves his boys very much and I know that I love my kiddos very much.  But I’ve gotten a small glimpse of what it will be like in the future, when my babies are out of the house, and I can honestly say that I’m going to be okay with it.  Am I in a hurry for this time to come?  No!!  Am I gonna be sad and cry when it’s their time to leave?  You can plan on it.  I want to thoroughly enjoy each and every step and stage my kids go through.  But what I’m trying to say is this:  On the other side…when they are all moved out…I’m still gonna have Mike.  He’s my best friend and in that regard, I am excited for it to just be me and him again.  The man is awesome and fun and he inspires me.

Which leads me into saying this:  If your husband (or if you’re a man: YOU) haven’t gone to Men’s Encounter, yet.  Please strongly encourage your husband to go.  And if you’re a man and you’re reading this: GO!  I was a bit skeptical about Mike going.  He was a bit skeptical about going.  He’s not super emotional.  He’s been to a lot of conferences.  He’s seen and experienced “mountain top” experiences.  He’s a pastor.  He’s been in a church since birth.  But I’m here to tell you, he encountered God this past weekend.  In a different way.  In a way just meant for men.  He’s still my awesome Mike, and yet changed.  I know this probably sounds like a commercial for the Men’s Encounter that CCC is hosting in September, but I don’t mean it to be.  God is infiltrating Crossroads through this ministry.  I can’t stress it enough.  It’s amazing.  Encourage your husbands to go in September and if you’re a man, please contact one of our ministers about it.  As one of the men said when they got back: “Jesus showed up”.  All 16 men that went were deeply impacted and so have been all the men that have gone before them.

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Corn on the Cob

Do you have corn in your garden this year?  I don’t…remember this?  However, Mike picked some up at Smith’s Market downtown, and we had some for dinner….and boy was it yummy!

Corn on the Cob

• ears of corn, shucked & cleaned
• water
• 2 Tbsp sugar
• butter, to taste
• House Seasoning, to taste

In a large pot,  add  the sugar to water and bring to a boil.  Drop in ears of corn and cook for about 3-5 minutes.  Put butter in a flat baking dish.  Remove corn from water and place on top of butter.  Roll each ear in the butter and then season with House Seasoning.

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Snickerdoodle Bars

I’ll be honest with you…I got this recipe from a blog, actually from my bestie…Kris. She found it on another blog…lol 😀

However, I’m going to post it, too. It’s that awesome. Especially if you love Snickerdoodles, and you don’t want to take the time to roll each cookie dough ball in cinnamon-sugar.

Snickerdoodle Bars
2 1/3 c flour
1 1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 c butter, softened
1 1/4 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon

Glaze:
1 c powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1-2 Tbsp milk

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of 9×13 (for a thicker bar) or 10×15 (for thinner bar). In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and sugar and set aside In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In your mixing bowl, bear butter until creamy. Add sugar and brown sugar. Gradually add eggs and vanilla. Add dry ingredients and Beaton low until well combined. Spoon half of batter onto pan and spread evenly. Sprinkle on cinnamon-sugar mixture. Dollop by teaspoonfuls the rest of the cookie better on top of cinnamon-sugar. Gaps are okay because this makes the marbled look. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

For glaze, combine powdered sugar, vanilla and milk. You need the glaze to be pourable, not too thick. Add milk as needed to get to this consistency. Drizzle over the top of bars.

(Pics aren’t the best, but I’m at my mom’s and didn’t bring my good camera. These were taken with my iPhone.)

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Clark Nachos

Growing up, there were many a Sunday evening that we had these for supper.  Super basic, super easy, and super yummy.  You could always add other toppings, but my kids like the basics.  I personally like mine with Pepper Jack cheese, but colby or cheddar are just as good 😀

Clark Nachos

• tortilla chips
• grated cheese (cheddar, colby, monterey jack, pepper jack, or a combination of any of these)

Preheat oven to broil.  Line a 10×15 cookie sheet with foil.  Spread out tortilla chips over entire pan.  Generously sprinkle cheese on top of chips.  Pop pan into oven for just a couple minutes or until cheese starts to melt.  Serve with salsa.

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Daddy and His Girl

Well, yesterday was Father’s Day and today is Reagan’s birthday.  It just makes sense that they go together…because she really is her daddy’s sweet girl.  She’s spending the day (actually this whole week and possibly next week with her Nana in Oklahoma).  I just tried calling her a few minutes ago to visit, but she was just too busy swimming and wanted to know if she could call me back later.  Yep.  That’s my girl.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 7 years since she came into this world.  The whole week before her arrival, Mike and I had been at church camp in Arkansas City.  I was all over that campus.  All. over. it.  Right in the middle of week though, I had terrible braxton-hicks contractions and I just thought for sure she was coming that night.  However, they finally subsided and we came home that Friday, worn out.  I was glad I had a whole week until her due date though, because there was a lot I wanted to get done.  However, true to her fashion…my water broke the next morning and she made her appearance that Saturday afternoon.  Has it really been seven years…because I’m thinking it seems a whole lot more like just 2 years instead of seven.  But that can’t be because my “baby” – Clark –  is 4 now.

Well, I’ll be posting more pictures of her birthday party on another day…seeing as how she’s not even here to celebrate…lol  Once she gets back, we’ll be having a party with some of her friends.

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Fruit Cobbler

Several weeks ago, I came across a cobbler recipe by Ree Drummond, and this week I got a bag full of fresh picked cherries straight from my friend’s yard (thanks, Cindy!!).  So I went back to that cobbler recipe and here’s my version. 😀

Fruit Cobbler

• 2 c sugar
• 2 c flour
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 c milk
• 1 c melted butter
• 4 c washed & patted dry fresh fruit (I used cherries, blackberries, and peaches)
• 1/4 c sugar
• 1 Tbsp sugar (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter or spray with cooking spray a 9×13 pan.  Combine sugar, flour, baking powder, and salt in your mixing bowl.  Add milk and blend well.  Pour in melted butter and stir to combine well.  Pour batter into pan.  Sprinkle fruit over top of batter.  Top fruit with 1/4 c sugar.  Bake for 1 hour or until golden brown.  Optional:  Top with another tablespoon of sugar 10 minutes before baking is complete.

This fruit is beautiful!!

Batter before adding fruit.

Cobbler before going into oven.

Done!!

Hello!!  Look at that fruit!!

I can’t even begin to tell you how good this is.  I had to send the rest of the pan up to the church just so I wouldn’t keep eating it!!

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Cheap Oreo Imitations

If you haven’t caught on to my theme this week, then let me spell it out:  Easy.  My Uncle Curt started calling me the Queen of Chill when I was in college because I wore my house slippers around…a lot.  😀 And after I started having babies, he saw how laid back I was with them.  For the most part, I’m a go with the flow kinda girl.  I don’t like a lot of fuss.  I like to be comfortable.  I like life to be as stress free as possible.  I don’t handle stress well.  My body doesn’t handle stress well.  And as I’ve gotten older, my mental state doesn’t handle stress well.  So whatever can make my life easier (and less stressful)…I’m all for it.  So I’m sharing with you some of my super easy recipes this week.  I’ve debated about even posting some of these because they are so simple.  However, simple is good.  And I’ve decided that they are still worth sharing.

Sooooo, these really do taste a lot like an Oreo…but a little crispier….and I dig the cream cheese filling 😀  And for what it’s worth, you can use any type of graham crackers and your own favorite flavor of frosting.  I remember my Granny making these for me with leftover homemade buttercream frosting…and she’d color it pink, just for me.  And when I have leftover buttercream frosting, I promptly make these babies for my kiddos.

Graham Cracker Cookies

• 1 box of chocolate graham crackers
• 1 container of cream cheese frosting

Break graham crackers along perforated lines.  Spread on desired amount of frosting on one cracker and top with another cracker.  Yummo!!

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Fruit Salad…Yummy Yummy

Fruit Salad is really one of the easiest things to throw together for dessert.  And the possibilities are endless!!  Take advantage of the fresh fruit that is in season as well as the canned varieties.

Fruit Salad

• 1 can of no-sugar added fruit cocktail
• 1 can diced or sliced peaches, light syrup
• 4 apples, chopped
• 2 pkg blackberries
• 2 large handfuls of grapes
• any other fruit you like (bananas, blueberries, strawberries, kiwi, etc)  (if I had all of these fruits, I would have added them!)

Dump the fruit cocktail and peaches, juice and all in a large bowl.  The juice helps the other fruit to not brown.  Wash and chop the rest of your fruit (what needs to be chopped, at least).  Stir and serve.  For a little extra special treat…dollop a bit of whipped cream on top!

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Easy Chimichangas

Do you still have some Crossroads Burritos lurking in your freezer?  Or maybe you’re just looking for a fresh idea on an familiar recipe….  Give these a try!

Easy Chimichangas

• CCC Burritos or other store bought burritos or homemade burritos
• oil for frying
• favorite toppings (lettuce, shredded cheese, salsa, fresh cilantro, etc.)

Pour oil into frying pan or cast iron skillet until about 1 inch deep.  Heat to medium-high.  Microwave burritos until no longer frozen, but not necessarily all the way hot.  Fry each burrito for about 1 minute on each side or until golden brown.  Remove from hot oil and let drain on paper towels.  Serve with favorite toppings.

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Shara’s Salsa

Okay, friends…it’s been awhile since I’ve posted any recipes.  And as I promised earlier this week, I’ve finally been home long enough to not only cook/bake, but to also take pictures and write about them 😀  Not only have I been home for a few days now, but I’ll be home for several days.  As it turns out…we think Cade has the chicken pox.  However, it’s the strangest chicken pox I’ve ever seen.  Monday was one heck of day with me finding out that I have Morton’s Neuroma in my foot due to limping from the sprained toe.  Can we say insult to injury?!  I have a date with the podiatrist in July to get a cortisone shot…no good.  And then I had our family doctor give Cade a once over because of a rash he had developed.  He was perplexed and sent us to a dermatologist.  The dermatologist was 90% sure it was chicken pox, but, like me, thought it was very strange version of it.  Because of being perplexed, he not only did a culture, but also a biopsy – which ended with Cade getting a shot and stitches.  It was all very stressful.  And now we have to wait until, at the very soonest, Thursday, to hear the results of what he has but they are treating him as if it is chicken pox.  Which means we are quarantined for 7-10 days.  And in the meantime….he’s rash is getting worse. And it’s all over his body.  All. over. his. body.   Thankfully, he’s not sick in any other way and it’s only minimally itchy.  I’ll spare you any pictures or details or descriptions.

Let’s move on to some happier thoughts.  Like something cold and fresh and tangy and just the right amount of heat.  Add some tortilla chips or a taco or a fajita, and you’re in summer heaven.

Shara’s Salsa

• 2 15oz cans tomatoes (or 1 can & 2 large fresh tomatoes)
• 1/8-1/4 of a red onion
• 2 tsp garlic powder
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp sugar
• 1 tsp lime juice
• 2 dashes tobasco sauce or crushed red pepper flakes or jalapenos (something to add heat),  to your liking
• 1 large handful of fresh cilantro

Blend all in blender or food processor.  Serve with tortilla chips.

And for something different, I added some corn to a small batch of the salsa.  I had some left over cooked corn on the cob, so I cut it off the cob and threw some in.  Oh boy, was this delish!!!!!

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