We interrupt this blog...

So, as you have probably read... we are moving.  We are very excited about our new place and all the extra space we will have... we will finally be able to have guests spend the night without pulling out the air mattress.  Anyway, all that to say... my blogging will be somewhat sparse over the next few weeks... but I promise I will be back strong with lots of pictures after the move!

Foodie Friday: Pound Cake

First off, the pictures coming out of Japan today are heartbreaking!  I can't help but think about my television colleagues there, who are working around the clock to bring the images and video to us.  They do this without knowing if their homes and sometimes if their loved ones are alright.  So often the news, specifically television news, gets a bad rap... but days like today are what we are all about.  Praying for their safety as they risk their lives to bring these pictures to those of us on the other side of the world.  Also praying for the people who have lost everything, praying the glory of the Lord will be shown through this devastating time.

-- Now, off my soapbox... not sure why that was on my mind today... but on to a much more light hearted Foodie Friday.--

This week I have made two meals for sweet families in our Sunday School class who recently had babies.  Our class is always growing... I think we have had 3 babies in the last month and a half!  I decided to make a pound cake to take for dessert.  They are easy to make, they are easy to carry, and they are very yummy!  The recipe I am sharing today is a Paula Deen pound cake that does not require too many ingredients.  I actually chose to make it recently because I only had one stick of butter (most require two)...  it only has 6 ingredients... not too many desserts are easier than this.

Paula Deen's Never-Fail Pound Cake

-1/2 Cup Butter (1 Stick)
-3 Cups Sugar
-5 Eggs
-3 Cups Cake Flour (although I used regular flour)
-1 Cup Milk
-2 Teaspoons extract (I used vanilla... but you could use lemon, rum, etc)

Cream the butter and sugar until smooth.

Add in the eggs one at a time, beating in between each egg.

Add the flour and milk alternately... make sure you begin and end with the flour.

Stir in the extract.

Grease a tube pan... I like to use a "Pam for Baking" or "Baker's Joy" type spray.  I have never had a problem with a cake sticking when I use this spray.  Pour the cake batter into the greased pan.

Place the cake into a COLD oven (I told you this recipe was awesome!  You don't even have to preheat!)  Turn the oven to 325 degrees, bake for 1 hour.

Then turn the oven up to 350 degrees and bake for an additional 30 minutes.-- Important Note: Do NOT open the oven when the cake is baking.--

Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes.

I don't have a picture of this pound cake... sorry!  But here are two other pound cakes I love to make... they are linked to my recipe posts.

 

Hope you have a blessed Friday!

We found it!

Hey everyone... just a quick update...  We found a place!!  It is a wonderful two bedroom apartment... with everything we were looking for!  I will be sure to post pics when we move in!  I am so excited!

Now I just have to start packing...

Foodie Friday: Green Bean Bundles

These beans are so yummy!  However, it is probably best to save them for special occasions... they are very decadent... but oh so easy to prepare!  


I made them for Thanksgiving... (I had to work so we just had a little Thanksgiving with the two of us... and we used our China!!)

And also for a special Christmas dinner with friends.  The problem... I forgot to take a before picture... so sorry!


Green Bean Bundles: 
Adapted from Kelly's Recipe
Ingredients:
2-3 Cans Whole Green Beans
1 Package Bacon, cut in half 
1 Stick of Butter
1 Cup Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Garlic Salt


Wrap several beans with one strip of bacon (I usually use about 6-8 beans per bundle).  Make as many bundles as you want... make extra because people will eat them up fast!


Melt the butter and brown sugar (you can use more or less sugar depending on how sweet you like them) in a small saucepan.  Stir in the garlic salt.


Pour the butter sugar mixture over the top of the bundles.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees.  You can place the bundles under the broiler for a few minutes after the 30 minute bake time if you like your bacon crispy... but watch them carefully... they burn pretty easily when under the broiler.

I'm telling you... these are a crowd pleaser, and everyone always thinks they take a long time to make... enjoy!

Looking...

So I realized today that I haven't blogged this week... I had such a great start... and now you probably think I just fell off the blogging wagon.  That is not the case at all, the simple fact is that we have not really done anything blog worthy.

The last several days we have spent lots of time looking for a place to live in a month.  Our lease at our current apartment ends at the end of the month so we are looking... somewhat quickly... for a new place to live.  We would love to be able to rent a small home where we have privacy and a little extra space for guests.  However, we are realistic in our expectations and we know that we may not be done with apartment living just yet.  It is so overwhelming... and frustrating!!

We are trying to balance distance to the church, distance to my work, price, and condition... not to mention safety... so many things!!  We are excited about this next step in our lives together.  Please pray for us as we are in the middle of this tedious process... we want to chose the location that is the best fit for us!

Hopefully we will do something fun this weekend that I can talk about... until then we will be out

Foodie Friday: Chicken and Wild Rice

After an extended hiatus, Foodie Friday is back!!!  I have been working on some new recipes... so hopefully I will always have something to post!

I actually made this today for Patrick.  I made it all then he just had to bake it when he got home.  Patrick really likes this dish... I think it is one of his favorites.

Chicken and Wild Rice Bake

-Adapted from About.com

-3 cups cooked wild rice

-3 cups chopped cooked chicken

-16oz pkg frozen French cut green beans

-17oz jar Alfredo sauce

-1/2 cup bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix rice, chicken, green beans (thawed), and Alfredo sauce in a large bowl.  Plane in a 12x8 casserole dish.  Sprinkle with bread-crumbs.

Cook 45-50 minutes until casserole is bubbly.

You can also freeze this dish if you want to make it ahead of time for an good make ahead meal.

Freezer Directions:

Undercook rice by 10 minutes.  Do not thaw green beans.

Mix all ingredients and place in baking dish.  Wrap well and attach a small bag of bread crumbs.

Freeze for up to 3 months.

When you are ready to cook it: thaw overnight in the refrigerator.  Uncover, sprinkle with bread-crumbs, bake at 350 degrees for 50-65 minutes until bubbly.

Bless Others

We were taught from a young age that we should use the blessings God gave us to bless others.  So, each week when I am looking at my coupons and sales I keep a special eye out for items that I can buy and give to a local food pantry.  These may be items I have extra coupons for, or items that we don't like or won't use in our house (macaroni and cheese, boxed potatoes, etc.)

This week's sale at Publix is the perfect time to help stock the food pantry with good quality canned goods... for a very good price!!  Here is what I got today to donate to the Lawrenceville Co-op... a ministry that is special to our family.  All the coupons are found in the store, so it is super simple for anyone to do!!

10 Cans Green Giant Veggies: Normally $1.29 each; On sale B1G1 free, had $1/4 coupon - Total $5.45 for all 10 cans

6 Cans Hunts Tomato Sauce: Normally $.59 each; On sale $2/6 - Total $2

4 Cans Progresso Beans (2 Black Beans, 2 Cannellini Beans): Normally $.99 (Black Beans) $1.29 (Canellini Beans); On sale $2/3, had a $1/4 coupon - Total $1.67 for all 4 cans

1 Baguette: Normally $1.79; On sale for $1.49, had a $1.50/1 Publix Bakery Bread when you buy 6 cans of tomato sauce - Total FREE (a bonus for you!)

**All of these items qualified for the $5/20 coupon in the Viva Italia sale this week.  So, I got an extra $5 off the total price.**

So the Grand Total for the 20 items I will donate to the food pantry...

$4.12 (for $21 worth of food)

That is about $.21 per can!!!

I am so excited about these good buys!!  I would encourage everyone to try it this week... Like I said all the coupons are already in the store... they can be found on a tear pad on the Viva Italia display at the front.  Let me know if you try it... I would love to hear what you get!