Going beyond

Being a Christian is helping out your friends and family and sometimes people you do not even know. WHY because GOD knows and that is ALL that matters.
This family is trying to raise the funds to adopt to precious little girls from China. Please click on their link and read how amazing this story is!

Great Dinner Ideas Tonight

It has been most beautiful here in England and since you DO NOT get to say that very often I really take advantage.
I wanted to Share tonight's Menu and recipes with you all, maybe a little inspiration this day to help you with your menu planning for dinner.

Hamburger Stroganoff:

Spinach Salad with warm bacon dressing:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/spinach-salad-with-warm-bacon-dressing-recipe/index.html

Strawberry Lemonade:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/rachael-ray/strawberry-lemonade-recipe/index.html

As Easter approaches

As Easter approaches and now that I am home schooling both my boys, I have found a hearts desire to really bring to life the "season" we are in. I do not think you EVER get to old to hear the story nor should it EVER loose its meaning in your life.

I came across this blog and her recipe and I really want to do this with my boys and thought how easy it could be to do in a Sunday School room and bake and bring back into the room.

http://www.shecooks.org/2011/03/resurrection-rolls/

Tres Leche Cake with fresh strawberries

My oh my When my good friend Renee Taylor has us over and served this cake I thought I has died and gone to heaven. **Sidebar, i have to say Renee is one of the best cooks I have met in a long time...we DROOL like hungry dogs over eachs others food posts!****
Ok back to the cake, so Renee has a simple solution she uses a boxed yellow cake mix
which when you are in a hurry works great for me. On doing some research I found The Pioneer Lady has a Tres Leches Cake recipe, and as you all know I am NOT a baker nor do I pretend to be...so either way is fine for me.
Renee Taylors Tres Leche Cake:
1 Box of yellow cake mix prepared and baked to instruction
let stand and cool. Then take a fork or cake tester and carefully poke holes in your cake all over.
WHY...because the best part is coming: take 1 can of evaporated milk, 1 can of sweetned condensed milk and 1 pint of heavy cream and mix together then POUR all over making sure to get in all cracks, creaves and edges :)
let sit over night and then "frost" with whip cream and top with strawberries.

The Pioneer Ladies Tres Leches Cake recipe is right here:

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2009/09/tres-leches-cake/

Either way enjoy and ummmmm dont be on a diet the day you make this :)

So here are some HOW TO's

When I began this project Blog...I did not want it to just be about cooking. I have other interests like simple decorating, organizing and fun projects for kiddos...

I saw this picture on another blog and L O V E D it!
I have a friend who sells Uppercase Living and that is where I am getting my letter from. http://debbi.uppercaseliving.net/

Then I am going to use simple twine and some cute door knobs.
This is the picture for my inspiration I will post my finished results as soon as my letters come in.

Guest Blog~From my dear friend Michelle

Hi...my name is Michelle and I am a friend of Sarah's. She's asked me to share my homemade granola recipe with you and I am happy to do it!! You won't believe how easy it is. My family loves granola...but my budget does not. So I rarely ever buy it...much to family's disappointment. Over time, however, I'd read on other people's blogs that they were making their own homemade granola...and I was surprised that it sounded quite easy! So...I decided to give it a try. I searched online recipes...I looked in cookbooks...and then I sort of combined several different recipes and came up with one that we really like. (After a flop or two...that were still actually good and edible...just not "the one".) It's a hit every time...and does not last long at all. (I have doubled the recipe...and it still doesn't last even a week!) My family (which includes two teenage boys, hence the reason it doesn't last long.) likes to eat it with milk like a bowl of cereal while I prefer it sprinkled on blueberry yogurt. Mmm...I might have to make some myself today! Keep in mind that the recipe I came up with can be used as a guideline. You can add whatever nuts you like, don't care for almonds? Add walnuts or sunflower seeds instead. Not a fan of dried cranberries? Add raisins or dried currants...maybe some dried apricots. You can add more honey and omit the brown sugar, you can add less oil and add a splash of apple juice. The possibilities really are endless...you can create a custom recipe specifically for your family's tastes and health needs!


Homemade Granola
• 4 cups rolled oats
• 1/2 cup chopped almonds
• 1/4 cup shredded sweet coconut
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup flax and/or wheat germ (optional)
• 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 T. honey
• 1 T. cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup dried cranberries

Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut, flax and brown sugar.
In a separate bowl, combine maple syrup, oil, honey, cinnamon and salt. Combine both mixtures and pour onto 2 sheet pans. Cook for 1 hour and 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes to achieve an even color.
Remove from oven and transfer into a large bowl. Add cranberries and mix until evenly distributed.
Once it's completely cool, store in an airtight container.

Pistachio Salad with Cool Whip

In our home this is better called CANDY SALAD.
Such a yummy treat and SO needed on St. Pattys Day!!!

Ingredients:

1 pint Cool Whip

1 can crushed pineapple (16 0z)

2 Cups mini marshmallows

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1 small package pistachio pudding (use it dry)


Add the pudding to Cool Whip then add other ingredients.