Cinnamon Coffee Cake

This is one of my hubby's favorite Coffee Cakes

I got the original recipe from his aunt and then made a few adjustement, but credit goes to Aunt Barb ;)

I hope you enjoy this one as much as we have over the years

 Yellow Cake Mix, Veg Oil, Water, Eggs, Sour Cream

 Cinnamon Grahams, Butter, Brown Sugar, Cinnamon

 Place the Cake Mix, Eggs, Water, Oil, and Sour Cream in bowl

 Mix Well

 Mix Crushed Grahams, Brown Sugar, Melted Butter, and Cinnamon in seperate bowl

 Mix Well

 Place a small layer of graham mixture in bottom of greased 9 x13 pan

 Now half of the batter

 Now half of of the graham mixture

 Other half of batter

 Top with remaining crumbs

 Bake and Sprinkle with Cinnamon Sugar once you take it out of the oven

Enjoy!!

Cinnamon Coffee Cake

I Box Yellow Cake Mix

1 Cup Water

 1/4 Cup Vegetable Oil

3 Eggs

3 TB Sour Cream

Crumb Mixture

1 Box Cinnamon Grahams-crushed

2 tsp cinnamon

3/4 cup Brown Sugar

2 sticks butter-melted

Bake 350 for 45 min - Till cake tester comes out clean

Hope you love it  ~Carla <><

Fruit Prep

So, you want to have a wonderful fresh fruit smoothie, but it is the dead of winter.  What is a girl to do?
A little prep and you can have those wonderful smoothies anytime you want. Spring.Summer.Fall.Winter.
I buy up as much fruit as I can at one time- usually when it's on sale- or at Sam's Club
I clean and prep the fruit and then freeze and bag it until I'm ready to use it.
I do this with banana's, strawberries, blueberries, mango, pineapple, and kiwi.

We were getting low on berries this week.  Perfect chance to show you just how it's done!

Gather your favorite fruits

 Wash well

 Peel fruit and dice

 Place fruit on cooking sheet-perfect for freezing

Ready for the freezer

Remove from freezer once the fruit is just frozen-break loose with a spatula

 Bag and freeze!!

Now, I'm off to make a smoothie!!

Hope you enjoy!

~Carla <><

Spinach Side Salad

This is one of my favorite quick lunch ideas.
I created this salad after having something similar at a family get together.
It's healthy and very tasty.
Hope you enjoy
~Carla <><

Spinach, Mandarin Oranges, Swiss Cheese, Peanuts

Place Spinach on plate 

Then sliced cheese 

Peanuts 

 Oranges



 Top with favorite dressing (Mine-homemade ranch)



Done...Enjoy!

Spinach Side Salad:

Spinach

Peanuts

Swiss Cheese/or favorite cheese

Mandarin Oranges

Favorite Dressing

**You could also made a big batch to serve a family**

Roast Chicken

Simple, Delicious, and Nutritious...

This is my Perfect Roast Chicken.  It comes out every time. You can use the meat from the chicken in so many ways.  This weekend we had White Chili...yummy!  Here are a few ideas:

1) Roast Chicken Dinner
2) Chicken Salad
3) Chicken Pot Pie
4) Chicken and Dumplings
5) Chicken and Noodles
6) Chicken for topping healthy salads
7) Use in soups or stews.
8) Chicken tacos
And the list goes on and on....
Hope you enjoy!

 Whole Chicken, Butter, Garlic, Salt, and Pepper

 Wash chicken and pat dry/ Melt butter/ Peel garlic

 Brush melted butter over chicken

 salt and pepper/place the garlic in the cavity (inside) the chicken

Pour the juices over the chicken a few times during cooking

You can use a baster or a big ladle

Done..now that was easy!

Roast Chicken:

1 whole fryer chicken

1 stick butter- melted

6-8 cloves of garlic-peel removed

sat and pepper

325* for 2 1/2 - 3 hours *until golden brown*



Homemade Salsa

Well....sort of!!

I have a great recipe for canning salsa.  My problem was after all the work of cleaning, blanching, and cutting the tomatoes, and all the other work that goes into making the salsa.  Plus once I had it canned my husband could devour a batch in a few days.  I was on a mission to find a better way.  After looking over about 20 recipes online I developed my own.  So, now you can have fresh homemade salsa year round.  Just be careful...it is addictive!!  I hope you enjoy!!

~Carla <><

Mexican Stewed Tomatoes, Salt, Garlic, Green Chilies, Fresh Cilantro, Lime, Red Onion

 Put all ingredients into a food processor or blender

Lots of Cilantro!

Pulse until desired consistency-I like it chopped fine :)

Enjoy!!

Homemade Salsa:

2 (14.5 ounce) cans Mexican Stewed Tomatoes

1/2 large red onion

2 cloves garlic -pressed or chopped

1 lime juiced

1 tsp salt

1 7oz can green chilies

2 big handfuls of fresh cilantro

(you could add chopped jalapeno-for heat)

Refridgerate overnight- or at least 2 hours ;)

Makes 6 cups

I'm Feasting in Fellowship over at:

http://comfynkitchen.blogspot.com/search/label/Fellowship%20Fridays

Jadon Lavik - Come Thou Fount

Contentment

I hope this will encourage someone today!

It was a little over eight years ago that my then fiance' took me for a drive one Sunday afternoon. We drove past a house out in the middle of the county and he said "I love that house, have always loved that house" I turned to him and asked "where in the world are we". Being from a small town just like the one I moved to, I knew all about rural areas. However, I had 24 years to know my way around. This area was new to me and a bit overwhelming.

About two weeks later John, overjoyed, called to tell me the house was for rent and we were going to make it our home as husband and wife. After going through the house I learned it was a small two bedroom house with a very small EVERYTHING...from the kitchen to the bathroom. I embraced the journey and two years later we bought that rental house while awaiting the arrival of our firstborn.

Eight years, two babies, and lots of stuff later we are still in that home, yes, now it is my home. We knew at the time we could afford something bigger. We were thinking bigger than that time in our lives. We wanted a family, John and I wanted me to stay home and train our children. We had to look forward and be selfless not selfish. We made and still make sacrifices for this lifestyle.

I must admit that there are days this little house drives me nuts. I love to bake and cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner everyday. Not always an easy task in a small kitchen. I look at other people's big beautiful homes or beautiful kitchen's and start to feel sorry for myself. Then my God lovingly reminds me He will supply all my needs. The key is needs..NOT WANTS. I want a bigger house. I don't need a bigger house. I don't think that having a big home, or nice things is wrong we just always need to watch our motivations. I know of a mother in Darfur who would give her right arm for my lifestyle.

We continue to save and look forward to the day when we will add onto our home. It will be a blessing to have family get-togethers, host holidays, and just have more than one bathroom. :) However, until then I will trust that the Lord is in control and He knows what is best for me as I try with all my life to live for Him. What is holding you back from doing what God requires..don't be amazed at what God says. Obey His word and trust that He will NEVER let you down.

~Carla <><

Visit : http://www.raisinghomemakers.com/ for Homemaking Link-Up!

Pumpkin Bread

We are getting ready for some snow in our neck of the woods.

That is a good thing in our house..because my hubby LOVES to ski.

I LOVE to bake so it all works very well together :) Goodies for the slopes

 One of my favorite things to bake in the winter is Pumpkin Bread.

Oh, a slice with butter and a cup of coffee...Does it get much better.  Hope you enjoy!!

Yummy~

Pumpkin, Flour, Sugar, Salt, Baking Soda, Oil, Eggs, Cinnamon, Pumpkin Pie Spice, Water

Sift the dry ingredients together: Flour/Sugar/Salt/Soda/Spices

 Mix the Pumpkin/Eggs/Oil

Mix Well

Gradually add the dry ingredients and alternate with water

Until Smooth

Pour into two greased loaf pans

Bake 350 for 60 min

Pumpkin Bread:

2 cups canned pumpkin (I used a 15oz can)

2/3 cup water

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp Baking Soda

1 tsp Cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice

( or 1 tsp nutmeg/1 tsp clove)

4 eggs

1 cup cooking oil

3 cups sugar

1 tsp sea salt



FYI- That is a Bosch Compact Mixer my parents got me for Christmas- I LOVE IT!!

Hope you will try this yummy pumpkin bread

In His Love~ Carla <><