Temporary Home

Why doesn't blogger have an undo button? I mean seriously. I just typed a lot of this post and then it was highlighted, I kept typing before I could slow these fingers down and lost it. Boo. Okay...anyway.....

I listen to very little secular music these days. My music of choice most days is Contemporary Christian, ya know like: David Crowder Band, PCD, Todd Agnew, Third Day, Sidewalk Prophets, 33 Miles, Hillsong United, Leeland, Jeremy Camp and on and on... quite an eclectic group, eh? But we have followed Carrie Underwood from her AI days. We just love her and her heart. She is real. I like that.

Well, she has a new song out called "Temporary Home", and I woke up singing it in my heart. Do ya know what I mean? Not just singing it with my mouth, but deep inside.

You see the last couple of days have been hard knee days. hard. I won't even try to make it cute, because.it.isn't. I told my husband in tears yesterday that I almost called him and asked him to come home just because I wanted him here. It just hurts. I am tired. (and whining apparently =)

You see the goal has been to get my quad to fire so I don't have to go to Mayo for another procedure. Well, it may finally be waking up. I thought when it did finally wake up that it would be like muscle pain. Ummm no. It is NOT muscle pain. It is much different than that, and well, it hurts. I guess new pain is always hard huh? You aren't used to it. I've gotten used, somewhat to the other pain, but this I am not used to, so it seems to be bothering more right now. Bummer. I told my husband last night that I was hopeful that it wouldn't just continue to hurt everyday like it has since surgery over a year ago now. I am still hopeful that I will at least get an hour here or there without pain like I did a few weeks ago just after starting this program. Yes I am very hopeful. Really hopeful that the pain will calm all together, and have some pain free days, but whatever the case is, it's okay. God has a plan and I'm on board. I CANNOT IMAGINE GOING THROUGH THIS WITHOUT HIM!!!

But this morning as I woke with this song singing in my heart I felt God just reassuring me that it isn't forever child. I'm just passing through. This is my TEMPORARY home NOT my permanent one. Can I get an AMEN?!?!!

Philippians 3:20-21 (New International Version)

^"20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body."

Hebrews 11:13 (New International Version)

^"13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth."

John 17:15-17 (New International Version)

^"15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. ¹⁶They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. ¹⁷Sanctify^a]">[a] them by the truth; your word is truth."

I/we may be in this world, but I/we am not of this world. And even though I/we may experience pain while I'm/we're, here it is not to be compared with the Glory I/we will experience in heaven. So I/we press on to the mark of the high calling in Christ. Oh yes I/we press right on. Me and this ole knee of mine.

So please, sit back and enjoy some Carrie on your snowy, cold, perhaps icy, or sunny and beautiful (either way beautiful) Friday and have a Blessed weekend!!!

Balance?

Recently I downloaded Francis Chan's latest book, "Forgotten God" on I-tunes. It was some of the best money I have spent on I-tunes to date. In fact, I loved it so much I went out and bought the book. It is that good!!

It is about the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives as Christians. It is absolutely life changing!!!


There is part of a paragraph that I'd like to share with you. It is from the introduction and on page 20. Yep page 20. I know, right at the beginning of the book. These next few sentences started a conversation in my heart that is still ongoing today.

"Some of you would like it if I said we were going to find a healthy balance between unhealthy extremes. That's not what we're going to do. When we are referring to God, balance is a huge mistake. God is not just one thing we add to the mix called life. He wants an invitation from us to permeate everything and every part of us. In the same way, seeking a "healthy balance" of the Holy Spirit assumes that there are some who have too much Holy Spirit and others who have too little. I have yet to meet anyone with too much Holy Spirit." Francis Chan from "Forgotten God"

I have always thought that life would go better if I made sure to have a balance. Ya know, God, family, friends, activities, get it all in balance. Those first three sentences above has totally ROCKED my world!!! I do not need to balance God out in my life, He is to be my life!!

What if God was the norm? Instead of trying to fit Him around everything we do, He was in the center and everything else fit around Him. So that is what I have started doing in my life and I have found that everything else fits, well not everything, because quite honestly there are just some things that don't fit and some things I have had to say no to. But I have found the strength to do just that, because God is first. He is directing me like never before in my life. It is such a beautiful thing!!

1 Corinthians 2:4-5 (New International Version)

^"4My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, ⁵so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."

Don't you just love the Word of God. Paul is talking here and he is saying that the message that he preached was not with wise or persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power.... If there is one thing that I have learned during this current season in my life, it is that wise and persuasive words don't get you anywhere without the Spirit guiding them. It is God who makes the difference not me and my words. I have had to learn that. the.hard.way.

The balanced woman at this point would put the book down and opt for something a little more, well, balanced in it's approach. But not this woman. God has lead me to it in this season in my life for a purpose and a reason. It didn't come to me by way of recommendation. Nobody bought it for me as a gift. God brought me to it. Amazing!!! And just what I needed at just the right time.

There is so much more I could (and probably will =) say about this book, but for now let me leave you with this:

"The flip side of fearing that God won't show up is fearing that He will. What if God does show up but then asks you to go somewhere or do something that's uncomfortable? For many people, fearing that God will ask them to go in a difficult, undesirable direction outweighs the fear that God will ignore them." Francis Chan, "Forgotten God" page 51

Living out of balance for God can be frightening. If I put Him first and truly strive to do His will, what will He ask of me? And can I do it? I am finding that He will give me the strength. Even the strength for the impossible. I am finding that out; right now today. Strength to do the possible and impossible all come from God. He is in all and is all!!!

So consider being bold today for God. Step out from behind the podium of balancing everything perfectly in your life, and embrace the life that God created you for. You were created to bring Him glory. So step out and bring Him glory child!!!!!

Love you so ~~ have a Super Blessed day,

In the Simplest of Things ...

Sometimes it is the little things isn't it? It's the little things that make the most impact some days. The smile of a child or the touch of your husband. Life has been so hectic and crazy around here lately that it has certainly been the simple moments that have made a HUGE impact in my life.

I shared with you last week that I'm currently reading the Bible in 90 days. While it is challenging, it has been so surprising to me how the Word in context of itself really has hit me. I have read much of the Word and have my favorite verses and passages, but in taking the Word as a whole, it has put a new and beautiful context to those passages I love so much.

Today I'm starting I Chronicles, and the first eight chapters of I Chronicles is all genealogy, starting with Adam and Eve. At first I was, of course, having trouble pronouncing the names and I was tired so I was finding it a difficult passage to get through. But then I decided to pray and just ask God to help me and to show me Him in those pages. Oh and is He ever!!!

The genealogies are there for a reason. They are not just thrown in there to take up space or extra chapters, no God has specific people in the Bible listed for a reason. As I was reading through the names of the ones I've been reading about since December 28, 2009, I was remembering things about some of them I just wouldn't have known had I just been reading a bunch of names out of context to their reality. They were real people, who lived a real reality and whose name is written in the Word of God. Amazing!!! There for a reason, those names, those people mean something. They are representative of God's plan, His redemptive plan for man kind. Truly AMAZING!!!!! Our God Reigns!!!!!

So they got me to thinking, my name is not written in the Bible, Dawn daughter of Bill and Chris, wife of Dick, mother of Dak, grandmother to Sir Cuteness, no, but it is written down somewhere, in the Lamb's Book of Life. How about you? Have you ever thought about that? Your name is important to God. He knew you before the foundation of the world, and He loves you!!! You. Wherever you are today, enjoying a great season in your life or enduring a difficult one, GOD LOVES YOU!!!!!

Embrace that love today and know that your story is being written. You have one you know. God is amazing and has given a plan to each of us, a plan that will carry out His plan if we will obey, that will write our story, which is part of the story. That is truly a spectacular thing!!!

So know that you are dearly loved child. God sees you. He knows you. You are important to Him. He is wrapping His big, loving arms around you right now. Breathe into Him. Feel His presence in your life. And if that is not your realty, please contact me. I would love to help you into the Family of God. It is the most amazing family ever!!!!! God loves you!!!!!

Love you sweet ones ~~ have a Blessed day,

What's better than a new high chair?

WELL THE BOX OF COURSE!!!

Hope you all have a Blessed and restful weekend,

& Sir Cuteness

When Insignificant is Significant

Do you ever feel insignificant? Like teeny-tiny, blip on the planet, in the ginormous galaxy, in the incomprehensible universe kind of insignificant? Yeah like that.

I do. Sometimes I do. Sometimes my heart cries out to God because of my weakness. Because of my itty-bittyness and because of His Great Bigness!!! Sometimes I feel like I don't even know at all why He would chose to see me, little lone use me. And yet....

And yet, He more than sees me. He knows me. Me. The teeny-tiny blip on this big ole planet, in the ginormous galaxy, in the incomprehensibly huge universe, yep me He knows. It is truly AMAZING!!! He has been showing me so much of His Greatness lately. He has been teaching me more than I could ever explain on this teeny-tiny blog. But trust me on this ~~ He is the I AM!!! Huge and Glorious, Personal and Intimate. I knew this about God, but now I know it. Ya know?!!

Just before the New Year I read on another blog about reading the Bible in 90 days. I didn't even know that you could do that!! Yes I am a goober!!! And yes, Philippians 4:13 totally applies: "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." I remember reading about this on a blog and going to bed that night and asking my husband, "Honey did you know that you can read the Bible in 90 days?" Husband: "Yeah, I knew that." So why didn't anyone tell me? Well, silly because it just wasn't time yet.

I went to bed that night knowing that this was what I was suppose to do, and not as a New Year's Resolution. Nope that's to much pressure for this teeny-tiny blip, so I didn't put that kind of pressure on myself I just started. So on December 28th I started on this journey, and it is truly one of the most beautiful things I've ever committed to.

I am learning so much, and out of very familiar stories I am seeing things in a new light. Things are jumping off of the page and right into my heart. It is a beautiful thing. Beautiful.

So even though today I have felt very insignificant, God has shown me significance in the simple, in the quiet, in the peace, in the broken. He is truly AMAZING!!!

Father,
Thank You for being God of all!!! You are the most precious thing to me, and I love You Father, and I serve You with my whole life!! Thank You for giving me desires that I didn't even know that I could desire. You are my All-in-All and I love You ~~ In Jesus Name, Amen

Blessings and Love,

Only 5? Tag You're It!!

My dear blog friend RJ (Rebecca Jo) tagged me.
RJ is one of my best blog friends. She is so kind and sweet and man can she knit.
The girl has skills!!!

So she tagged me in a Top Five of 2009.
But how in the world do you pick just 5?
But I went through my pics and did pick 5, so here we go...

#1 ~~ Sir Cuteness turned 1!!!
What a fun little guy this is. He is the cutest sweetest little g-babe you can imagine.
He is so happy and fun and he loves ~~ LOVES BIG!!
He gives hugs and kisses and now fist bumps, it is the cutest thing!!!
We love him so!!

#2 ~~ Dak started his Junior year of High School!!!
Yikes!!
How did this happen?!!?!
I mean seriously he was just a babe yesterday (or so it feels to me =)
I love him so!!!

#3 ~~ My dear mama turned 70!!!
It was such a fun day!!

#4 ~~ Road Tripping to Mayo ~~
Well this year we made 2 trips to Mayo.
One in March for a follow-up on the PFA Knee Surgery from the previous November,
and then in December, just before CHRISTmas we made another trip.
It was eventful, both in the weather department and what we found out.
I have been in an intensive PT home program since we got back, and I'm doing REALLY good!!!
God is so amazing!!! AMAZING!! This knee may never be what it once was, But God (don't you love that?!!) but God never changes ~~ Praise Him!!!!!

#5 ~~ Dak got his first job ~~ and hence his first official paycheck.
How cute is this picture?~~ He is such a sweetie!!

So there are 5 of my moments of 2009. There were many more I could have added, but since 5 was the limit there you are =0)

So let's see ~~ who to tag?
1. Kat at Heart2Heart
2. Heather at Life at Sonic Speed
3. Betsy

These are just 3 of my favorite blogs. Go check them out and tell them I said hi!!
And if you want to play along please do and let me know ~~ I'll come visit =D

Have a Super day in the LORD,

Homecoming 2010

Back in December when Dak found out that he had been voted Junior Class Attendant for Homecoming, he was less than excited.

He was happy that his classmates nominated him, but let's face it, he is a boy and to boys it means wearing a tie. Blech... =)

But as the time drew closer the more excited he became, so by the time Friday evening rolled around he was happy about it and then when he saw Cheyenne he was just elated.

She looked so pretty, and was just so happy they were nominated.

So here we go with pics of Dak and Cheyenne overload... =)

Here is the balloon arch.....

Here are the cuties....Cheyenne and Dak!!!
This pic is so cute....Dak saw me in the stands taking pics and he reached over to Cheyenne and pointed me out, so they both looked up and cheesed it for the camera, then I gave them a thumbs up and Dak gave me one back, yep right in the middle of the Homecoming Ceremony.
It rocked!!!!! Totally!!!!!

Here they are walking in...
The girl you see in the front here in the zebra print dress is our neighbor...what a cutie!!!

Here they are walking in...

They were so sweet together.
I was so happy for the both of them.
They couldn't win, because they are not Seniors,
but they totally represented their class well!!!

So now this mama needs to get on that Junior Class Scrapbook. We have some GREAT memories so far, and Prom is yet to come. Dak's on the committee and they are planning some extremely fun and creative things.

Have a Beautiful day,

This and That and This and a little more of That...

This week has been one that has been sad and sent me to prayer. The devastation in Haiti has been on my heart and mind and I've been wondering what we can do. Husband and I are prayerfully seeking God for what He wants us to do. I hope you will do that to.

_______________________________

Tonight is Homecoming for our school and Dak was selected as the Junior Class Attendant. He is now happy about it, but it has taken since he found out (before CHRISTmas break) until now. Boys. Girls are pumped and automatically thinking about what they'll wear and their hair, etc. Boys? Not so much. But he is now excited about it, only today in an assembly, the girl attendants are putting make up on the boy attendants and they have to do these silly games in front of the whole school =) hahahahha but thankfully Dak is a ham and crowds don't really bother him. He eats it up!!!

So tonight this mama is going to Homecoming to watch her baby walk in as an attendant. It is so exciting!!!!! I love him so!!!!! How in the world do they grow up so fast? I miss the days of him crawling up in my lap and loving on me. Of course, now that has been replaced with his big ole arms around me and enveloping me in the kitchen just because. Yep I like that too. A.lot.

Have a Blessed and lovely weekend,

The Great Mail Escapade of Winter 2010 =)

So yesterday I had a dentist appointment. And I am finding that there are apparently many changes that come along with a joint replacement, many things you have to remember. I remembered one of those when I was just minutes from my dentist. Premed antibiotics. You see, every time I have a procedure done, teeth cleaning etc., I have to premed with Clindimyacin, and yesterday, well I forgot. The dentist's receptionist must have forgot to premed with her happy pill, because she was not happy with my mistake. So because I live about 30 minutes from my dentist and the fact that you have to premed an hour before your appointment, well left me rescheduling. And then when I couldn't come in today at 2:00, well let's just say left the receptionist just plain huffy. I felt bad, but what's a girl to do? So I rescheduled and went about my grocery shopping day. (Hoping that receptionist found her happy pill and took it before the afternoon crowd came in =)

Another change that takes place with joint replacement is that you just don't quite have the stamina you once did for all day going to many different grocery stores kind of shopping anymore. You poop out. Which I did, just about the time to head to Wal-Mart. Yep I headed home.

Well it only took me like all afternoon to get the groceries put away and lunch in my belly and exercises done, and now it was time to check the mail. So me being the very savvy mail checker that I am, decided I'd just go out in my hard bottom slippers, but slippers non-the-less and not my boots. Now let me just say that it is sunny here and well above freezing so there is some major melting going on. So I thought no problem, little trip to the mail box is in fact, in order.

So I stepped down off the step and onto the side walk and then it happened. I slipped. Oh for the love of Frosty, don't fall, don't fall!!! I didn't. But that might have been a little easier on said foreign replaced joint. They apparently don't like slippage. Bummer.

I am alright though. Just have another in a long line of funny stories to tell Sir Cuteness when he's older, about PaPa and Gmaw's joint replacement escapades. (How old did that last statement make me sound? Don't answer that!! =0) And now a very sore foreign to my body, replaced knee-cap. Oh well, thems the breaks huh? (or not the breaks thankfully) =-)

So today there will be NO such escapades. If this G-maw goes out it will be with the proper attire and head thinking about the ice that is being left by the snow before I step into the great unknown and over to the mailbox.

Thanks for stopping by and have a Beautiful snow melty kind of day ;o)

Through the desert...

So I've been reading in the Old Testament and this morning I read a devotional that was really interesting.

We know that it took the Israelites 40 years to go from Egypt to Canaan. In actuality a trip that should have taken 11 days. But something that this writer brought out was so interesting and sad to me. Of the original 1.5 MILLION Israelites that made the pilgrimage from Egypt to the Promised Land, two actual saw the Promised Land. Two. Joshua and Caleb.

The others died in the desert, just as God had told them they would. Because of their grumbling and complaining they did not get to see the Promised Land that God had prepared for them. How sad. I mean how profoundly sad.

As I've been reading through their journeys, it is very evident that their hearts were far from God for the most part. There were some who desired the ways of God; Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb and the most of the priest, but the people did not desire the things of God nor did they pursue them, and yet they wanted the blessings of God.

So let's put a microscope into our lives and see if we see any resemblance. Ouch huh? Yep this is making me want to do a whole lot less grumbling and a whole lot more praising my Jesus!!! I hope it does you too.

Have a Super Blessed day,

This is why I don't run fevers...

The snow can sure be pretty. This picture is of course not right out side my window, but it's to dark out to take a pic right now out my back door, so found this one. So pretty...


And it can also be treacherous. Dak worked last night and by the time he got off the weather was terrible. He almost got hit on the way home and it really shook him up. So by the time he got home I was very ummmm, shall we say stressed!!! And he was REALLY stressed, but he made it home. I was so happy to hear the garage door going up!!

So I went to bed not to long after he got home, and I wasn't feeling very good, but I just chalked it up to the stress making my stomach upset. Not the case!!

I woke up about 11:00 pm or so, shaking and chilling and very sick feeling. I was running a fever. I NEVER run a fever. I felt soooo bad. Couldn't sleep, tossed and turned, yuck.

When I woke up this morning still feeling VERY puny, but better. Really don't have much of a fever this morning thankfully. It was weird. It hit so quickly. Well hubby said there are lots of things going around at work, so I probably just got a bug.

So today I'm kicking back and staying in!! It is crazy cold and blowing snow here. So I'm in for the day.

Hope you have a Blessed and No Fever kind of day =)

The Dream Giver

"The Dream Giver" by Bruce Wilkinson is my favorite book apart from the Bible. The first half of this book is a parable:

"Bestselling author Bruce Wilkinson shows how to identify and overcome the obstacles that keep millions from living the life they were created for. He begins with a compelling modern-day parable about Ordinary, who dares to leave the Land of Familiar to pursue his Big Dream. With the help of the Dream Giver, Ordinary begins the hardest and most rewarding journey of his life. Wilkinson gives readers practical, biblical keys to fulfilling their own dream, revealing that there’s no limit to what God can accomplish when we choose to pursue the dreams He gives us for His honor."

And that my friends is 2010 for me. God has placed a big dream in me, in fact it is the gift and call He placed on my life so long ago, and I am finally pursing it, as I pursue Him this year. To be honest, it scares me so, but it is time, past time, so I follow Him, with a willing heart.

Part of this has to do with blogging. I have, for a long time, been blogging to be blogging, but that is just not the reason for me to be blogging. Do you get me? From now on, I will be blogging with intent. Meaning, I probably will not post as often, but when I do it will be from the heart and not just to hear myself talk, ya know?

Currently I am spending sweet time following the "Big Dream" God has placed within my heart. Will I be sharing about that here? I have no idea. For now I won't. In the future, well only Father God knows the future.

There is something that I am currently working on that I can share about and that is the new health and wellness blog. That is an outlet I will be blogging more frequently on, because this is something that I know God placed on my heart to do. So please check out Faith-Filled Fitness.

Thank you all for all the love you always show me and for always being so supportive.

I love you so,

Candian Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms . . .

Oh my stars!!!! We do love us some stuffed mushrooms. This is the BEST stuffed mushroom recipe I've ever made ~~ YUMMY!!!!!!! I must give a shout out to my cousin Heather who gave me this recipe and then I altered it slightly to suite our tastes.


Canadian Bacon Stuffed Mushrooms (YUMMYNESS stuffed in a fungi :0)
30-35 lg fresh mushrooms
1/4 lb Canadian bacon diced
1/4 cup diced red onion
1tsp minced garlic
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
2 Tbs vegetable oil
1/2 cup crumbled goat or feta cheese
1/2 cup shredded Italian blend cheese (or cheddar is fine too)

-Remove stems from mushrooms and finely chop; set caps aside. In a large skillet, sauté the mushroom stems, bacon, onion, garlic, salt and pepper in oil until vegetables are crisp-tender.
-Remove from the heat. Stir in cheeses. Fill each mushroom cap with about 1 Tbs of filling.
-Place on foil-lined baking sheets. Bake at 400 for 16-20 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.

NOTE: When you clean mushrooms DON'T wash them they'll become slimy (YUCK :-) Just take a damp paper towel and wipe them off to get any dirt of residue off that might be hangin' out on the fungi . . . and by all means ENJOY!!! THESE ARE DELISH!!!!!!!

Homemade Granola ~~ Get-Out-of-Town Good!!

I am a granola bar junkie, but the commercial kind are not so great for us, so what's a girl to do? Yep make your own. I have actually made several different kinds and I'm always in the market for a new one to try, but this one is one of my fav's ~~ so give it a try. Go on don't be scared :0)

It's YUMMMY!!!



2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
½ cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup sliced almonds
½ cup oat bran or wheat germ
½ cup honey or agave nectar
¼ cup packed dark brown sugar
1-ounce unsalted butter, plus extra for pan
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
6 1/2 ounces chopped dried fruit, any combination of apricots, cherries or blueberries

Butter a 9 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and oat bran onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved. Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degrees F. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine.

Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week.

These are so yummmmy!! My hubby loves to take these in his lunch. So go on give them a try!!

Dak's Favorite Fresh Cranberry Orange Cookies

Dak's Favorite Fresh Cranberry Orange Cookies

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 c. unsalted butter, softened
1/4 c. brown sugar, packed
1 c. granulated sugar
1 egg yolk
1 tsp grated orange zest
juice of 1/2 orange
1 tsp vanilla
1 c. chopped fresh cranberries

Directions:

-Preheat oven to 375 degrees and line two baking sheets with parchment.
-In medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, salt, and whisk; set aside.
-In bowl of stand mixer, combine butter and sugars and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes.
-Add yolk and beat until fully incorporated.
-Add zest and vanilla and beat until fully incorporated.
-Turn mixer to low speed and beat until just incorporated.
-Remove bowl from mixer, stir in cranberries, and place 1 Tbsp rounds of dough onto cookie sheets.
-Place cookies in the oven and bake, switching baking sheet positions half way through baking time, for 12-14 minutes (they should not brown)
-Remove from oven and let cool on pans completely, about 10-15 minutes.

Then enjoy with a glass of milk ~~ or in my case Almond Milk.
And in this house if you want any more than the initial one or two you must take them out and hide them, because when Dak finds them its all over ~~ no more cookies for you =)
Because after all, they are his fav's!!!

Hubb's Favorite Applesauce Brownies!!!

Go ahead and try these babies. These are my hubs fav!!!!!

He actually brought this recipe home from work. I know. There is a lady that is a tremendous cook and made this and my hubs just couldn't get enough. So he asked for the recipe and she obliged. Thanks Jean!!!

Applesauce Brownies

1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
2 Tb cocoa
2 cup flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, unbeaten
2 cups applesauce
1/2 cup nuts (optional, but really are nuts ever optional? not in our house ~~ but they may be totally optional in y'all's and that's cool =)

Combine all ingredients and beat one minute. Pour into a greased 9"x13" pan.

Topping: (Here's the good part =)

1/2 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans)
1 cup chocolate chips (I usually use organic dark chocolate but any will do. Come on it's chocolate =)
2 Tb sugar
1/4 cup (or so) of applesauce (enough to blend in the sugar)

Sprinkle over the batter. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes.

Pour a glass of (soy)milk and grab a fork and the pan (jk-ing ~~ get a plate or your family will look at ya funny =) and enjoy!!!

Try this bit of yumminess tonight!!!

Happy cooking,

Chip & Salsa Soup ~~ Yep it's a fav!!!

Oh how we love this soup!!! What makes it so yummmy you might ask? Well it's the accoutrements people ~~ oh yes yummmy accoutrement's!!

Chip and Salsa Soup

3 1/2 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup onion chopped
1 tablespoon diced green chilies -- canned
2 - 15 ounces canned beans -- black or pinto, (or a combo) drained & rinsed
1 1/2 cups salsa
1 can corn kernels
Tortilla chips
Mexican-blend Cheese


Sautee onions in a little vegetable oil (about 2 tsp) until soft, about 5 minutes. Then add the broth, beans, salsa, corn, and chilies in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes to blend flavors. Crunch a few chips into each of 4 bowls. Ladle the soup over them and top with cheese. Serve with more chips as dippers ~~ YUM!!



This is a delicious soup. We actually enjoy this soup year round, but it is especially delicious on a crisp fall Saturday afternoon curled up on the couch watching football!! Be still my soup lovin' heart :0) Enjoy!!