Baked Donuts

I love a leisurely day of baking! Not baking because we need bread or granola for breakfast, but baking out of sheer pleasure. No rush!

This Saturday, I was craving donuts for breakfast! Well, we had them for lunch, but...who keeps track on lazy, rainy Saturdays anyway? Not me!

ENJOY!


Baked Donuts

recipe from donut baking pan packaging


Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups cake flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 tsp. baking powder {aluminum free}

1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg {fresh ground is BEST!}

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 1/2 Tbsp. butter, melted


Directions:

Preheat oven to 425*.

Mix dry ingredients together.

Add wet ingredients.

Stir until combined.

Grease mini donut pan.

Fill donut cup about half full.

Bake about 4 minutes.

Let cool a bit.

Top with favorite glaze and don't forget the SPRINKLES!

My favorite donut glaze:

1 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
2 Tbsp. milk
1/8 tsp. oil

Mix all together until drizzly. Dip donuts in glaze and sprinkle immediately with sprinkles, or the pretties wont stick...and then, they just wont be as cute.

*To gift...simply put them into a little box, add a tag and don't forget the VALENTINE twine.
*We maade the larger donuts, too, but we all LOVED the little ones BESTEST!

Happy Tuesday!

A Mother's Heart

This morning was wonderful reminder of mommahood.

I was running late, but I got to see our Caleb and Laurissa just a bit after 8.

First of all, that never happens anymore...but as I saw Laurissa walking toward me with her little doggie wrapped in her arms, I had to get out of my car and give kisses and deliver "I love YOU's" first.  It was something my momma and mother.in.love would have done.  They would not have just driven off...
It only took a few minutes, but I think everybody thought I was entirely too bubbly so early in the day....but it was an unexpected treat.

Now, more than ever before, I find myself thanking God for my momma and for my mother.in.love who have instilled in me what it takes to be a momma...

What she thinks.

How she thinks.

How she treats her husband.

How she talks to her husband.

What she says to others about her husband and what she chooses not to say...

How she spends her time.

How she treats all of her children.

How she treats those who have nothing to give in return.

How she takes time to listen...with no attention to the clock,

How she acts when little eyes are not peeking...or when they aren't supposed to be.

How she prays for a close parking spot...small...yet significant in the mind of a child.

Sweet words that nurture.

The importance of cherishing handmade clay bowls, notes and dried flowers.

Love notes tucked bed side.

Names of endearment.

A deep love passed on to her children...demonstrating God's love in a very real way.

As I watch our children grow...I am again reminded that it is the momma's heart that is the child's classroom...and we all know how we loved patient teachers!

It is how you love your child, that they will love...and how they will eventually love others including your grandbabies!

Soooo, I say let those babes of yours eat cookies and milk...tonight...in bed after bedtime stories...because quite honestly there is nothing bettter than little ones in jammies...with a tiny cookie, one for each hand, of course!

AND P.S.  I am tired of the "no sugar" diet.  It aint working!  I still think everything in moderation is BEST...and vacuuming counts as exercise.  My momma says so.  XOXO

That is it.

Happy Friday!

Poppy Seed Breakfast Cake

Do you ever find yourself making more time for your friends than your own family?

What about listening to your friends more than your family or TREATING them better than your family? 

What about getting all.dressed up to go out with ladies?...and having no problem living in your jammie bottoms for dinner {I am guilty!!}

Here is an idea...why don't we think about making time with our family really count?  Anticicipate answers when question are asked.  Allow time to talk if your child needs some guidance in life.

What if we were to take a child aside and ask them how they are doing?  What about making their favorite meal as opposed to slaving away on a meal that is for somebody else?

When was the last time you cancelled on a friend to stay home for the night?

What about primping before our hubby's get home from work?

Of course, we need to teach our children the importance of giving, but they need to have been treated with lots of love so that they in turn will love others well!  They need to see that their daddy is worth primping for.

It is a way of showing gratitude and a simple way of conveying..."we are thankful that you work so hard for us and we are happy you are home from work!"

As tempting as it might be to treat others better, let's demonstrate our love to our family...and in turn it will trickle into our friendships!

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and perfecter of our faith."   Hebrews 12:2 

Poppy Seed Breakfast Cake

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

3 eggs

1 can SOLO poppy seed filling

2 1/4 cups flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/4 cup milk

Directions:

*Beat butter and sugar until nice a fluffy.

*Add eggs one at a time.

*Beat in poppy seed filling.

*Stir flour, baking powder, and salt until mixed.  Add to poppy seed mixture alternately with milk.

*Beat until well blended.

*Spread in to 12-cup Bundt pan...be sure it is greased and floured! 

*Bake at 350* for 50 to 55 minutes.

After cooled completely...drizzle mixture below:

1 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons light cream

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

This may be made up the night before and covered under a glass cloche! 

Be sure to send some home with your children.   Eating cake for breakfast never gets old!  Especially if it is momma's cake!!!  Enjoy

 

 

Shared with:  stonegable

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Mexican Stacki Upi Bowls

It is never too soon to start thinking about spring and summer picnics. Honestly, we picnic all year long...because we take food everywhere. Not only is it fun to package up, but it is a much healthier and economical alternative to fast food.

Picnics are also dinners to go when you are taking people meals. Did you know that? I am just kidding...but since I LOVE picnics...I like to think of it that way. Doesn't that sound like a fun thing to get to do???


I need to learn to be more focused when writing...but there is so much to cram into this little post while my hubby makes a trip to Goodwill {dropping things off...not picking anything up!}

Back to Mexican Stacki Upi Bowls: They are great to pack up and go, and amazingly SIMPLE to prep ahead of time or for a casual evening of entertaining. You can easily assign friends to bring a topping. You can provide the rice and warm beans...and if you have a rice cooker...you will have NO excuse not to have a party at your house. Start makin' your guest list now.

We grew up on Javanese Stacki Upis {frequently requested}...but this is the Mexican version:

Steamed Jasmine rice...white or brown

Yumm sauce {from YUMM Cafe} I am working on figuring this sauce out. This is optional...we just started using the sauce.

Warmed black beans

Grilled Chicken breast or rotisserie chicken from Costco {also optional} or leftover Crockpot Steak Fajitas...THIS IS MY FAVORITE WAY TO SERVE THESE STEAK FAJITAS...it still keeps the meal nice and simple as it is all tossed into the crockpot.  The last few times I have made this, I had the meat and seasonings and sauces frozen in one bag and the veggies pre-sliced and frozen in another baggie.  PERFECTLY PERFECT for a quick dinner with guests.  Just an idea for little YOU!




Sliced olives

Cilantro

Shredded Tillamook Cheese

Avocado

Sour cream and Salsa

jalapeno rounds...yummy!


That is it!

For a Picnic:

Just layer ingredients into to-go containers...send extra salsa in portion cups.

For children: Layer rice, olives, cheese and chicken

***I have also sent all the toppings in individual chinese to-go boxes {Cash and Carry} and boxed up the rice in a large BIO BOX {Cash and Carry} Whatever floats your boat or what will work best for whom you will be taking a picnic to. :}

PLEASE don't forget the lemonade! REALLY, you neeeed this.

Sugar cookie sandwiches with lemon buttercream frosting for the filling

Don't forget to include fun napkins {inexpensive at IKEA} and plastic ware so there is no clean up or dishes to return.






For at home: Simply set out a large bowl of rice and all of the individual toppings on a kitchen island or dining room table and serve it buffet style.


Shared with my friend Yvonne at Stone Gable

"How To" Make a Wainscot Chalkboard

Assuming all chores are done, groceries are put away, babies are napping, and you have nothing to do, here is a FUN FRIDAY project!

Visiting the thrift store is one field trip and adventure I will always look forward to.  It used to be a "hush- hush" kind of a store to frequent, but now it is totally acceptable.  In fact, with some friends, a gift from the thrift store is just as wonderful as a fancy schmancy gift from Nordstrom or from Anthropologie!!!

After making our first wainscot chalkboard {my super talented father-in-law made the cuts and glued the border!} with leftover wainscoting, I decided that since we still had a couple of sheets out in the corner of our garage it may be time for my hubby and I to make another chalkboard for our happy little guest room!

I bought an old picture from the thrift store on sale for $2.99 or $3.99.  Can't remember exactly...anyhoo, it was heavy and made of solid wood, and I really liked the frame on it, so into the cart it went.  It was less than what I would have paid at any local craft store even if I had used my coupon!

 1.  Remove the print and the glass...very carefully!

2.  Sand and paint the frame in whatever color you want.  I chose white because it goes with everything and it looks crisp and clean!  Also, because it was going to be hanging on a green wall.  :}

3.  Measure the wainscot up against the frame if you can't find one of your three measuring tapes!  Be sure to connect your wainscot together for accurate sizing purposes.  This can make the difference in a snug  or sloppy fit.

4.  Cut the wainscot and fit it into the frame. 

5.  Once you are sure that it fits "snug as a bug", remove it from the frame and lightly paint one coat of chalkboard paint on it.  MAKE sure that the paint is well blended.  I shake it and let it sit upside down for awhile.  This stuff is super duper thick.  This will allow for a beautiful chalkboard that is easy to write on!  Let it dry and lightly finish it with one more coat of paint.

TAA DAH!  Easy Peasy.

Another reason I LOVE using the wainscot is that it provides lines to help

 with keeping a straight line.  :}

Happy Friday!

The Happy Little Guest Room

Ahhh, an evening walk with my friend, Leslie...dinner made by my hubby and a nice hot bath  was the perfect ending to a Monday!

I haven't posted any pictures of our home in quite some time, so tonight is the night!

It had been decided years ago that once the children moved out, one of their rooms would become my craft room/office.  I had picked out a new paint color, the ceiling was going to be painted white and I even had the floor plan sketched out with a large work station on the opposite side of the BIG desk figured in.

Once Laurissa moved out...it became the storage room a.k.a "the wedding room"...but after the wedding, all of the crafts, papers, paper cutters, punches, desk and everything else was moved into the room.

It was not all it was cracked up to be.

Yes there was room.  Yes, it was nice to have a craft space with projects being left out...and being able to just close the door...but it was lonely in there for me.  It just did not feel right.  I was used to kissing my girlie goodnight, and checking in on her in the middle of the night, or crawling into bed with her and snuggling her when she was sick.  There were nights when her best friends would all be in there like little sardines.  Happy sardines.  Girls who had stayed up entirely too late and who could not be moved before noon the next day.
And there were always the mornings where we would find that Caleb had taken his sleeping bag in because he wanted to make sure his sissy was "safe"!!!

It was not meant to be an office.

Needless to say, my very sweet,sweet hubby moved everything back out of the room and it is now our HAPPY little guest room.  {I KNOW I have used little and happy entirely too much!}

The desk is back out in the family room...along with the mess of unfinished projects, but it has been so nice having a bed back in Laurissa's old room...and there are days that I will go lay down on the bed and daydream of all the fun memories that room will hold in the future.  I think it will be a fun room for grandbabies to take itty bitty "cat naps" in or a nice big bed to plop down on along with piles of books, blankies, stuffed animals and a tray of warm toast and ice cold milk!  And I will have stories to tell them about when there mommy was their age and all the special memories we had in the very.same.room.

I love this print.  It was my birthday gift from my BFF on the day David proposed to Laurissa .
It was a day filled with JOY, indeed!

These were signs that marked the lawn between the wedding ceremony and the reception.
They were too special to toss!

My hubby picked this out for Laurissa several years ago.  He installed a dimmer on it as she is not a fan of bright lights!
It comes in handy for the little nieces who need a  bit of light to go to sleep with...and I can check on them without waking them up!  Shoulda had this about 20 years ago!

I'm wondering why Miss Lauriss did not take her loud alarm clock???

Here it is...all ready for our next overnight guest, an afternoon of daydreaming,  giggly little nieces
or our girlie who still LOVES coming home as she waits for her hubby to come
HOME from being deployed.

...and what would a room be without ONE.BIG.UNFINISHED.PROJECT?
I can't wait to show it to you once it is complete!!


Happy Monday!

Scott's Firehouse Swiss Ham Sliders

Okay ladies...here is a fast little ditty for a brunch! It is my hubby's go-to when they are short on time and need something FAST. So if it works for a hectic fire station, it will fit the bill for a home full of hungry children, guests or a leisurely last minute breakfast picnic!

We love having company over after church on Sundays...but it has to be a crockpot lunch, make your own sandwich kind-of-a lunch or something that can be made up all the night before.  Because quite honestly, Sunday mornings are no easier for two adults getting ready for church than it was with little children or teenagers.  What is it with Sunday mornings?  I am trying to think of a Sunday when we were on time for church with everyone having had showers, breakfast, the dog not being left outside, and the flat iron un-plugged.  Nope.  Can't remember one.single.Sunday!

Anyhoo, we enjoyed these with our company today after morning church along with almond poppyseed breakfast cake, fresh fruit, and homemade granola.  Simple, as it was all made up ahead of time...oh...I forgot about the scrambled eggs.  {Please never ask me to make eggs.  I still can not make scrambled eggs if my life depended on it!} I wonder if anyone has ever been asked to bring scrambled eggs to a brunch.  HMMMM?

Scott’s Firehouse Swiss  Ham Sliders



Ingredients:

Mayonnaise

Dijon mustard

12 slices of Black Forest ham or garlic turkey

12 slices of Swiss cheese

24 pack of Sliders Mini Buns {available at Franz Bakery outlet, Cash and Carry, and Beaverton Bakery}



Sauce: {Melt together}

½ cup melted butter with 1 small clove of pressed garlic

2 Tbsp. Dijon mustard

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp. poppy seeds

Directions:

*Open buns. Spread mayo on one half and mustard on the other half.



*Place a 1/2 piece of ham on one half and ½ slice of cheese on the other half.



*Place top of bun on bottom half and place in baking pan {9x13}

*After sauce has been mixed together, using a pastry brush {SILICONE IS MY FAVORITE!}…brush tops of sliders with yummy sauce!




*Cover with tin foil and bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and sliders are golden brown.

*SIMPLY...PRESENTATION: Serve each slider in a cupcake liner or homemade slider pouch using the cupcake liner folded in a half-moon for your template!

SERVE AND ENJOY!

NOTE: To those of you who will not touch pork with a 10 foot pole: Slice avocado and thin slices of tomato or red onion slices with cheese and avocado. You get the idea!

Another note: If you want to give the kiddies something fun to do...have them take a round cookie cutter and make cheese rounds and ham rounds to fit the sandwiches perfectly!!



Do you have a favorite no-fail brunch recipe?



Shared with:  Stone Gable