Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap Friday

My goodness, it has been awhile since I have participated in a Friday Recipe Swap. :-)
I thought I would do a simple one, so simple there aren't any measurements. :-) I make this quite a bit as a side dish, but to be honest, it is very good on it's own as well. It is CHEAP, and very filling.

I hope you enjoy it, and please hop on over to The Grocery Cart Challenge, and see all of the wonderful recipes being shared there today. Gayle has a great one for Bay Leaf Tea that helps to fight the flu. :-) If you would like to participate, please do, and link your recipe to Gayle, and don't forget to mention the link in your post so others may enjoy all of the wonderful recipes being shared. :-)

Stewed Tomatoes and Spinach

1 large can of stewed tomatoes. ( I like to use the sliced ones)
small onion, chopped
minced garlic (as much as you like)
1 lb of spinach leaves
salt and pepper to taste
dash of nutmeg

Combine tomatoes, onion and garlic in a sauce pan. simmer until hot, and the onions are soft/translucent. Add salt and pepper. Add washed spinach on top of tomatoes, and grate just a bit of nutmeg onto the spinach. Turn off your heat, and place lid on pan to allow spinach to wilt. This will only take a few minutes, and will allow the spinach to keep most of it's color. Give a toss and enjoy. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

For Our Heroes....

There are currently just under 2000 heroes waiting to be adopted. Please, watch the video, then go to www.soldiersangels.com and sign up to adopt a soldier today.



Love,
Wendy Darling

Staycation and Christmas....

Dictionary.com defines "staycation" as: (noun) a stay-at-home vacation

Pretty self explanatory, I think. We have been on a "staycation" this week. I have a feeling that with the current economy MANY people will be taking staycations, if any vacation at all. I have to admit, when our Tennessee vacation turned into a "staycation", I was disappointed. However, I have to say that I did enjoy myself this week. :-)

We originally had several trips planned, within a 2 1/2 hr. driving distance, for this week. However, we ended up only traveling 2 of those days. The first day we actually spent at home, cooking breakfast for the week. We made things ahead of time that could be frozen, such as cinnamon rolls, pancakes wrapped around little smokies, etc. That way we cut down on the cooking this week, and were able to relax more even if we did not get to go anywhere. :-) It worked well, I think.

If you will indulge me, I'll give you a quick run down of our "adventures." :-)

Our first "trip" took us to a little town called Woodville, in southeast Texas. We went to Heritage Village to attend the Harvest Festival. We did actually have a little adventure here involving our low sitting car and a root, but I am going to let Cleggy tell you about that, because he will be much wittier than me. (Hear that, Cleggy? You have to blog about it now.) :-) I have to apologize up front to all of my scrapbooking friends. I am ashamed to say that I did not think to get a picture of Cleggy under the car trying to fix it, and once he reminded me about it we were already on the road and he refused to pull over and recreate the scene for me to redeem myself.

I KNOW!! How selfish could he be, right? ;-)

Anyway, the Harvest Festival was a lot of fun. All of the vendors were in period costume, and we saw them spinning yarn, making baskets, making hand dipped candles, etc. It was a great day.

On Sunday we went grocery shopping. Try to contain your excitement. ;-)

Monday we spent at home and played games. I finally got the rest of the family to play Mexican Train with me. :-) It was a lot of fun, actually.

Tuesday was our second and last "trip away from home." We spent the day in Jefferson, TX. Jefferson is home to several of "the most haunted places in Texas." I am happy to report that we didn't see any ghosts. ;-) Just a lot of old, historical buildings, a music/used bookstore antique stores, museums, etc. We ate lunch at the Hamburger Store. It was really good, and we loved the atmosphere. Everything from the red and white checker pattern on the floor and table cloths to the 50s music that filled the air. OH, and if you ever get a chance to go there, be sure and ask them about the story behind all of the $1 bills that paper the walls. :-)

And order the Chicken Fried Steak sandwich with sweet potato fries; I'm just sayin'. :-)

We also had floats and milk shakes and the "Jefferson General Store". This place was so neat, and really was like taking a step back in time. :-) And, we found THIS:





We didn't buy it mind you, we just saw it and took a pic. ;-)


Wednesday we "straightened" the garage and watched a movie. We also played games, and "Little Mark" and I painted Christmas ornaments.

Today and Friday will pretty much be the same; run a few errands, watch a movie, play some games, and just relax. I did finish making a Christmas tree I have been working on for our front porch. I made it using a tomato cage, greenery and decorations I got from the $1 store.


No we didn't travel umpteen hundred miles, stay in hotels and spend a lot of money eating out just to come home and "need a vacation from our vacation", but we did get out a little, got a few projects finished and relaxed a lot. With a little planning about the meals, and cooking ahead, we didn't spend all of our time in the kitchen, and we were able to just enjoy each others company. Really, isn't that what family vacations are for?

Love,
Wendy Darling

What to do?

I have been struggling with a decision for a couple of months now, and still have not come up with the proper answer. So, I thought I would post it and see what advice I get back on this.

I have a Bible that is over 20 years old. Actually, it used to be my brother's. I LOVE this Bible. It is a Thomas Nelson/KJV Study Bible. Well, the leather covering has literally crumbled off, and the spine is now separating from the pages. Recovering the Bible is not an option, because: 1. It is too expensive, and 2. One page (JUST ONE PAGE) in Isaiah is torn, so it it missing some of the words.

I have purchased a new Bible, but my problem is, "What do I do with the old one?"

I just cannot bring myself to throw it away. I mean, it's missing a part of a page in Isaiah, so giving it to someone who could/would have it recovered is not an option. I have done some research on this, and quite a few places say you should bury it, but I keep thinking the rest of the Bible is still perfectly usable; even though I have underlined and made notes in it. It seems a sin to bury it, but then I have to wonder if I am worshiping the Bible more than God? I mean it's THE WORD OF GOD... (Yeah, that's deep. I think I'm getting a headache.)

Someone even said to send it to a missionary and let them divide it up by "books" to use in the mission field. How do I find a missionary who would be willing to do that?

So, there it sits on my night stand, unused. Have any of you had this dilemma with old Bibles? What did you do?

Love,
Wendy Darling

Yep, it's me! :-)

I think I just heard a huge "gasp" in the blogosphere... yes, I am writing. :-) I can't believe that it has been so long since I have blogged... where does the time go?

I have started many blog posts, and even have a couple of them saved in notepad, that will probably never see the light of day. There are days when I had really great things I wanted to write about, and didn't have time to blog about it. Then there were days I wanted to be sentimental and inspiring... uh... yeah. Then there were the days I just wanted to vent, and they were mostly about politics. So, I typed them out. I even got up one morning at 3:00 a.m., because I just couldn't sleep, and began typing randomly. It made no sense, but helped me, so I guess it was therapeutic.

Then, I went through a time when I just didn't want to do anything. I stopped reading blogs I faithfully read everyday, and even considered whether or not I wanted to continue this one. I just went through a "funk." My mother swears I have entered menopause (sorry men), and she may be right. I even stopped posting recipes; the one thing I loved doing, and could always count on.

But, I'm feeling better now; I think I am getting my spirit of blogging back, and have even begun reading blogs again. ;-) I've missed them. It's like not talking to a good friend for a long time, and then losing touch.

One blog I read faithfully was My Best Investments, and I read it tonight for the first time in a long time. Leighton is the owner of this great blog, and he had a really good post I wanted to share with you titled, "Dreaming out Loud." I think you will enjoy it as much as I did. Makes a lot of sense.

I guess a readers digest version of "catch up with Wendy" might be in order, so here goes:

1. Homeschool is going great. New schedule this year seems to be working out.
2. Experiencing mood swings, and given to tears when I think of how the nephews are growing, pretty much anything sentimental.
3. 4-H is back in full swing, and I am NOT the manager. :-)
4. I am leading the photography project and it is going well.
5. Entering new season of life and, with God's help, surviving mood swings.
6. Very involved with church ministries and loving it.
7. GOD IS GOOD.
8. Pretty addicted to Facebook
9. Did I mention mood swings?
10. Biggest Loser competition... don't ask... They are doing it again in January
11. Chocolate is great for the mood swings, but NOT helpful in the Biggest Loser competition.

That about sums it up. ;-) Hopefully, I have not lost the 3 or 4 people who actually read my blog, and I hope you will come back. I have every intention of writing again soon. :-) Maybe next time we can share some spiced tea and cookies together.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Please, watch and pass it on. Contact your Senators!!

I don't care what political party you claim to be, this is NOT a Republican issue, Democrat issue, etc. It is an AMERICAN issue. If you are a parent, or even just KNOW a parent, this affects you. Call your Senators, and urge them to co-sponsor this amendment.

It was a lazy week...

"Little Mark" was at church camp this week. :-) He really enjoyed himself, and came up with a couple of new CDs. It seems a young lady named Yancy was the singer for the week, and "Little Mark" likes her VERY much. ;-)

His birthday was on Thursday. I still can't believe he is 13. The Children's Director arranged to have a cake brought to camp for him, and they had a "surprise" party for him. ;-) That was so sweet. We didn't know they were going to do that.

"Little Mark" also showed his bravery by going down the Zip Line. I believe it is 4 stories high, and most of the people in our household are afraid of heights, including "Little Mark." But, he did it. ;-) We're very proud of him.

While he was away I got a few things done around the house, but mostly I stayed on facebook, and caught up on the TV show "Harper's Island." Now, I'm hooked!! ;-) I did do my weigh-in yesterday, and I have lost another 2 lbs. That's 11 in all.

It's going slowly, but it is indeed going. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Great day/ iPod cake...

We had a really great day today. We had the "family" party for "Little Mark's" 13th birthday today. He got the Wii he has been wanting, and we have all had a ball playing on it. ;-) I think bowling, tennis, and golf are my favorite. :-)

I made him another iPod cake, but I think this one came out so much better than the last one. "Little Mark" requested a blue one this time, so we made it blue. ;-) Hope everyone had a great weekend.


Love,
Wendy Darling

Weigh-In #3 and Friday Recipe Swap

Well, this has been a busy week. :-) I am baking the nephew's birthday cake for tomorrow. I am going to make a few changes from the one I did last week. We'll see what happens. :-)

Tomorrow is the family party, and the day he gets all of his presents from us. :-)

"Little Mark" leaves for camp on Monday morning, so I have spent all week making sure he has everything he needs, and getting it together. I will spend Sunday afternoon helping him pack, and writing his name on EVERYTHING. :-) I plan to include a few "we love you" and "have a great day" notes hidden among his clothing. He has requested that I pack each days outfits as a set, so he can just "grab and dress". I am going to mark the set he wears on Thursday, so I can hide a birthday card in there, as well as $5. That way he gets a little surprise on his actual birthday. :-)

I know, it's corny; but I'm corny like that. ;-)

OK, the weigh-in for today is: I lost 3 lbs. this week. :-) It's moving slow, but at least it is moving in the right direction. :-)

Now for the recipe. :-) Remember, you can find more recipes by going to Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe. Gayle is so great about hosting this each week. If you want to participate, just post a recipe and link it to "Mr. Linky." :-)

Sassy Southwest Egg Rolls (From the Hungry Girl Cook Book)

3 Original (not large) Low Carb/High Fiber Tortillos (she recommends La Tortilla Factory)
1 oz of cooked, skinless, lean chicken breast; shredded (I used 98% Fat Free canned chicken)
3/4 C frozen, chopped spinach; thawed and thoroughly drained.
2 T canned black beans
2 T canned sweet corn, drained
1 oz fat free jalepeno jack cheese, shredded (I used the sandwich slices)
1 T diced red chili pepper

For sauce
2 T fat free sour cream
1 T mashed avocado
1 T diced tomato
1/2 t dry ranch dressing mix/dip mix
black pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.In a small bowl combine chicken, spinach, beans, corn, cheese and chili pepper. Microwave for 30 seconds.

Warm tortillas for 15 seconds. Place 1/3 of mixture in center of tortilla. Fold sides in and roll from bottom to top.

Spray pan with non-stick cooking spray, and place wraps seam side down on pan.

Bake 12 minutes flipping half-way through the cooking process. Egg rolls will be crispy when done.

In a small bowl combine all ingredients for the sauce. Let egg rolls cool a few minutes and enjoy with the sauce. :-)

This makes 2 servings. Each serving is 181 calories, and 4.5 g of fat. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

VBS, weigh-in, and cakes...

That pretty much sums up my last week. :-)

We did VBS all last week, so we never made it to the gym. I knew this would have an adverse affect on my weigh-in, and although it was a set back, it was not devastating. On Friday I weighed-in and I had gained 1 lb.

Yeah, I was upset too.

HOWEVER, I went ahead and weighed this morning and saw I have lost 2 lbs. over the weekend, so I am not feeling bad anymore. ;-) Hopefully, the "official" weigh-in this Friday will show even more loss. ;-)

VBS was great. This is the first year I have done "Missions", and our project is putting together "Lifeboxes" for soldiers. The kids really came through with the donations, and it was all great. The lessons were great, and I think I would really like to do it again next year.

Moving on.... let me give a positive testament to "Coppertone Spray". We took "Little Mark" and a friend to a local amusement park on Saturday. I sprayed everyone down with the Coppertone before we went in. The guys even did their faces and the backs of their necks. I did my arms, but didn't do my face because of my makeup, and forgot the back of my neck/top of my back. NO ONE got burned except for me...... and guess where? Yep, a little on the face, and the back of my neck/back. Moral of the story: Coppertone works if you use it. :-)

The reason we took the boys to the amusement park was for "Little Mark's" birthday. It really isn't for a couple of more weeks, but this was his "party" with the friends. He opted for something more exciting and just take one friend. It was fun. :-) Well, except for the whole "sunburn" thing. :-) I made his cake again this year. This is a picture of it. :-)



I plan to do another one this coming weekend for the family party. He will be at church camp on his actual birthday, so we are having the parties a little early. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Friday weigh-in.

Down 7 lbs. Not a bad start. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap...

Tonight we had "Pizza Pockets" from the Hungry Girl Cook Book. (She called them something else, but I don't have the book in front of me, and I am too tired to go get it. So, we are just going to name it 'The Pocket.') :-)

They were wonderful. The were filling, they tasted great and they were MUCH cheaper than the real thing, or ordering calzones from a pizza place. I'm posting the recipe here. Please, go to Gayle's for more great recipes. :-)

"The Pocket"

1 large low-carb tortilla
1 triangle of Laughing Cow, Low-Fat Swiss Cheese
1/4 C tomato sauce with Italian Seasonings
3 T FF Mozzarella cheese, shredded
2 T onions, diced
2 T bell peppers, diced
Mushrooms, sliced
about 4 or 5 slices of Turkey pepperoni (the original recipe did not call for this, but we used it and it is tasty!)

Microwave your tortilla for about 10 seconds. Spread the Swiss cheese down the center, and spread your sauce on top. Top with other toppings and cheese. Fold like a burrito,and place on pan with folded side down. Bake for 10 minutes in a 350 degree oven. Enjoy! :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

So far, so good. ;-)

So far things are going well with our diet. We have been using recipes from The Hungry Girl. We checked out the following two cookbooks from the library:


And...


I have to say the first couple of days were very difficult, but the food had nothing to do with it. Let's just say that when your body (digestive tract) is not "normal" due to a horrible diet, and you suddenly change to a high fiber diet, but you are also dehydrated, because you do not drink enough water; this causes a severe stomach ache.

The stomach ache/problem is still here, but not as bad. I am trying to rectify the problem, and it is getting better. Just takes time. :-)

We have changed the time we go to gym, so we can be more consistent. This morning we were in the pool at 6:30 am. :-) I think this will work better for us. :-)

"Little Mark" has really liked the recipes we have used so far, and is even looking through the books to pick out others to try. Let me share one of the recipes we tried this week.

Kickin' Chicken Pot Pie

8 oz of boneless, skinless chicken (baked or boiled.) I used 98% fat free, canned white meat chicken.
98% fat free Cream of Celery Soup
3 C of frozen mixed vegetables
Reduced Fat Crescent Rolls

Combine chicken, soup and veggies in a 9 inch round dish. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Stir. Remove 3 crescent rolls from the package. Form into a small dough ball and roll into a thin circle. Lay on top of mixture and replace in oven for 15-20 minutes, until top is golden brown. Serves 4. Enjoy! :-)

It was quick, inexpensive, and tasted wonderful. We served it with a spinach salad. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

I'm a Loser...

At least, I hope to be.

I am sorry I have been M.I.A. for awhile. Things have been busy here. Our school will be wrapping up in a few weeks. My target date is July 15th. This allows "Little Mark" time for camp, Boys with Courage, and both of us time for VBS. ;-) I love the flexibility of homeschooling. ;-)

I did something on Wednesday I didn't think I would ever do. I became a "Loser." I hope to be anyway. For those of you who remember I was dieting, and losing weight, awhile back. I actually lost 45 lbs. in about 6 months.

Well, it has taken me 1 1/2 years to gain back that 45 lbs. No more, but exactly the same 45 lbs. (for me that is a miracle. I usually gain back the lost weight and more.)

How did I come to this decision, you ask? I was TRICKED, tricked I tell you!!

OK, maybe not "tricked", but it was definitely not my initial idea. :-) Here is how it happened: A couple of weeks ago "Little Mark" and I were doing Health, and he was learning how to figure up the daily calorie intake, and how many of the calories should be fat, etc; he mentioned how he really needed/wanted to eat healthier and get back on his diet. We discussed it for awhile and then he made the comment, "I wish they would have Biggest Loser for kids, I would join that."

The very next day we attended the closing day of "Walk Across Texas." Our 4-H club won first place in the state. :-) Then, the Extension Agent said, "Beginning June 1st we will have a 'Biggest Loser Contest' for the entire county."

You should have seen the look on "Little Mark's" face. ;-) He said, "Can we do it?"

Did you catch that "we" part? Yeah, me too. So, I said, "Let me look into it."

I checked into it and you have to be 18 to participate. He was disappointed. HOWEVER, the Extension Agent likes "Little Mark" and said "if you do it then we can weigh him 'unofficially', and he can still participate. He won't have to pay the $20 entrance fee, and he can't win any money, but he can participate unofficially."

Did I mention there was a monetary prize? Yes, the top 3 losers split the money. :-)

SO, I paid my $20 and did my weigh-in. I am right back where I started 2 years ago. So, I am considering this a "clean slate." I really had a hard time weighing in front of someone else, but I "sucked it up" and did it. "Little Mark" weighed in, and was promised that after the final weigh-in, in September, if he ties, or beats, any of the top three slots we will buy him a really nice prize, or give him cash. We'll see which.

SO, "Little Mark" and I are aiming to be "Losers."

Weigh-in days are on Friday. Since we did our initial weigh-in on Wednesday, we went ahead and weighed on Friday. As of that time I have lost 2 lbs, and "Little Mark" has lost 1 lb.

It's a start. :-)

"Little Mark" and I sat down and discussed how we wanted to approach this new endeavor. We have decided NOT to do the Fat Smash Diet again. Instead, we have decided to be realistic, and just admit "We like to eat!" We want real food, and to not be denied.

So, game plan is the following: We have cut our portions. We eat on small, salad plates, and keep it at one serving. We have increased our water intake, and cut out sodas. No eating after 8:00 pm. We also checked out the "Hungry Girl" cookbooks, and we are choosing recipes and making a menu. I believe "Hungry Girl" may become my new best friend. :-) Have you seen her recipes? They sound YUMMY. ;-)

The rest of the family has said they will also be participating "unofficially", so it will help. "Little Mark" and I have agreed to be each others "accountability" partners, and he is TOUGH. I have decided to post my results here each Friday, as I did before. That really helped. I will also post or link to any recipes we use that we really like, just in case you might like to try it. :-)

We are still going to the gym, which I think is one reason I haven't gained back more than the initial 45 lbs. We enjoy that. :-) So, between our game plan and exercise, I think we will be okay.

Please, pray for us. :-) We're going to need it. ;-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Take a listen! ;-)

Hi, everyone :-) I know it's been awhile since I posted. Sorry about that. I DO have a blog post in the works. Hopefully, it will be ready tomorrow. (I did something on Wednesday you aren't going to believe.) ;-)

I would like for you to take a look at my sidebar. See that big ol' tape player? This is my friend, Eric Dodge, singing a song he wrote called "Last Real Cowboy." Please, listen to the song. Each time you listen to it, it gives him a "vote", and he could win a much deserved recording contract.

This guy is truly amazing. :-) If you like it, please "grab it" and post it on your blog, facebook account, myspace page; anywhere you can. The more people who listen the better it will be for Eric.

Just a little back story on the song; Eric wrote this song right after his Grandfather died. He got up in the middle of the night, wrote it down and put it in a drawer for 2 years. Then, he had a friend help him "clean it up", he recorded and .... boom... here it is. The song is wonderful, and I truly believe you will be hearing it on mainstream radio very soon. He is already seeing success on Sirius Radio, and independent stations. :-) Give him a listen. Oh, and it is a country song, not rock. ;-)

Thank you. ;-)
Love,
Wendy Darling

Easy Caramel Pie

I will be leaving town on Thursday. We are going to the Creation Museum in Glen Rose, and then to the Homeschool Book Fair in Arlington on Friday. So, I will miss the Grocery Cart Challenge. I wanted to go ahead and post one now. :-) I am very excited about the book fair, because we will get to meet John Erikson, author of the "Hank the Cowdog" series. :-)

This recipe is super easy, and very good. It was given to me by a lady I used to work with at the school cafeteria. You want to be sure to have good ventilation in your kitchen, because of all of the steam. :-)

INGREDIENTS

1 graham cracker pie crust
2 cans of condensed milk
Cool Whip

Place the two cans of milk in the a large pot; the kind you make large quantities of soup in, and fill it with water. You want to let the cans boil for 3 hours. (check the water level, and make sure the tops of the cans are always well covered with water) After 3 hours pour off the water and let the cans completely cool. Preferably overnight, but at least for several hours. (If you try to open them too soon they will explode, so make sure they are cool.)

After removing the lid you will have two cans of very sweet caramel. Spread both cans of caramel into the pie crust, and then refrigerate until you are ready to eat. Before eating, spread the top with Cool Whip.

This is a VERY sweet, easy dessert. :-) For more wonderful recipes, be sure to visit Gayle at Grocery Cart Challenge on Friday. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

Helping the Homeless

Hi, Everyone :-) It's been a few days, but I wanted to expand on what our Singles Dept. is doing to help the homeless in our area.

It was really an idea one of the ladies in class came up with when she was approached by a man coming out of a store in our town. Our town isn't really that big, just over 13,000 people. She said the man approached her, and was very nice. He asked if she had a couple of dollars she could give him for something to eat.

She only had $5 in cash on her, but gave it to him. She apologized that it couldn't be more. He thanked her and said, "I will be able to eat twice off of this. I go to Jack-in-the-Box and get a kids meal. I can do that today and tomorrow and be able to eat twice.

She stood and talked with the man for quite awhile. She asked his name, and if he had shelter. He told her that he had only been homeless a couple of months. He had worked construction for many years, and had been with the same company for 17 years, but was laid off. Once savings ran out he and his wife split up, and now he is homeless. Just one of those things that could happen to anyone.
He was very humble, and this really opened my friend's eyes.

In our town we do have a ministry that gives away clothes to anyone who comes in and asks. They take the old ones, and give a new set to those in need. There is also a shower on the premises where someone can take a shower. My friend asked if the gentleman knew of this service, and he did not. He was grateful for the information.

My friend then asked something I would not have thought to. She asked the man, if she were to encounter him, again, what could she have in her car that would be helpful to him. His answer? Socks and water. This truly humbled my friend, and she couldn't believe that something we take for granted, like socks, would be the one thing a homeless man would ask for.

So, she came to us with the following idea. We put together gallon size Ziploc bags. In each bag is 1 pair of new socks, a bottle of water, a can of beanie/weenies, a McDonald's gift card, a plastic fork, a toothbrush, toothpaste, handy wipes, and deodorant. Each bag costs about $4 to put together.

Also included is information about resources in the area. The address of the local clothing ministry mentioned earlier, with a contact number/name and a map to the location. All information regarding our local food pantry, and a schedule of the days and times they serve meals. Unfortunately, the nearest shelter is 25 miles away, but the contact information for that is there too, as well as a map to get there. Also, they have a van that will come pick someone up from our area if they call.

Each week we take up a donation for the bags. Even if it is just $1 it helps. We now carry these bags in our cars, and the next time we are approached by someone in need, we can do more for them than just hand them a couple of dollars. We can pray for them, and give them the tools for them to get a new start. After all, in today's economy and hard times, this gentleman could have represented anyone of us.

I thank God everyday for His blessings, and I pray for all of those who have fallen on hard times. Perhaps you may be able to begin carrying a bag in your car to help someone in need. It isn't much, but to them it is everything.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Catch Up and Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap

It has been a couple of weeks since I have blogged, sorry. Every day I sit at the computer with an idea in mind, and then it never gets written and posted. I must do better about that. ;-)

I guess I'll just give you a run down of what has been happening lately and then get to the recipe. (For those of you who have come from Gayle's Recipe Swap, "Welcome" and "Thank you for your patience." ;-)

1. "Little Mark" got braces about a month ago. I was going to post several things about this, but never made it. The poor guy lived on Jell-O and Ensure for the first 3 days. His Orthodontist is a former Pro Baseball player, and he has a "3 strikes and your out" rule. If you break your brackets because you are eating things you are not supposed to be eating, or you are not cleaning properly you will get a strike. After 3 strikes you have proven to him that you are not serious about taking care of your teeth and he will pull the braces off. The kids even have to sign a contract. Harsh? I don't think so. I like the idea of making the kids responsible for taking care of their braces, and they know ahead of time what the consequences will be. So far "Little Mark" is doing great. ;-)

2. "Little Mark" won 2nd place in the 4-H District Fashion show. He was the only 4-Her from our county to participate. He missed a perfect score by 3 points. :-) He was so happy, and we are very proud. ;-)

3. Just one more "meeting" for 4-H and I am done. ;-) We are taking the kids on a field trip, and then I turn in my Manager's book. I'm looking forward to it.

4. Our Singles Dept. has begun a ministry to help the Homeless. This is too involved to get into here, so I will post about it another time. Please, remind me to do so. ;-)

There is more, but I think those who have waited for the recipe have been patient enough, so let's move on. :-)

Last week I was in a small library in a surrounding area. I found this book there, and just fell in love with it.
I LOVE vintage magazines. I think the ads, recipes, etc. from magazines from the 20's -50s are amazing. This book is actually comprised of articles submitted to the "Good Old Days" magazine, and this particular one is all about favorite recipes from the past. Each one has a story by the submitter about why they love it, or their special childhood memory concerning that particular recipe.

I have truly enjoyed reading it, and have found MANY wonderful recipes I intend to try. Here is one of the first ones I plan on trying. I do encourage you to check your local public library for the book. If they don't have it, try Inter Library Loan or, if nothing else go to Amazon.com :-) You won't be sorry.

Original Girl Scout Cookies
This 1930s recipe was used for cookies sold in the Newton and Lexington area of Massachusetts.

1 C Butter
1 C Sugar
2 C Flour
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs, beaten well
2 Tbl. milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Cream butter an sugar together. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder. Add to creamed mixture along with the eggs, milk and vanilla. Mix well. Chill for about an hour.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Drop spoonfuls of dough onto ungreased baking sheet; flatten with bottom of drinking glass dipped in sugar. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

You just knew I had to start with a dessert recipe. :-) LOL.... Being a former Girl Scout I figured I had to start with this one. :-) For more GREAT recipes be sure to check out the Grocery Cart Challenge Recipe Swap, and feel free to participate. We can all use more great recipes. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling

I must think BEFORE I speak...

"Little Mark" just yelled from the school room... "Guess what my next assignment is about; WWI. I don't want to do it."

My response: "It is important to learn about it, so we don't repeat it."

After a moment it hit me; wasn't it repeated with WWII?!

This will be filed as stupid response #3, 482.

Love,
Wendy Darling

Fantastic Movie!!!





Little Mark and I saw this movie today at a nearby theater. It was really great, and I highly recommend it to everyone. The cast/creators are very talented. :-) For more info, go here: http://widowsmightthemovie.com/ OH, and the creators of the movie were there and we got to talk to them. They were VERY nice, and a delight to talk to. :-)

Love,
Wendy Darling