Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Easter Highlights

Hello! I hope you had a blessed Easter.  My kids were in the play at church for the sunrise service so our day began early.  They did a great job!  I'm so proud of them.  We decided to go out for dinner this year. I've been under the weather for about the last two weeks and my hubby just didn't want me to have to work so hard.  Usually, I insist but I decided that he was right.  He said he'd be happier going out so I wouldn't have any stress.  Isn't he the best :) 




hunting for eggs



We had to hunt inside this year due to the heavy rain. :(


a new webkinz named Jelly Bean for my DD



my son really likes Nerf right now




There are some things I can't resist, one dying Easter eggs,  #2 making an Easter dessert.  Here's a link to what we made.  I love the little tags.  File these away for next year, they were super easy!





I didn't have any of those chow mein noodles.  I decided use the cocoa pebbles, it's what I had on hand. LOL! It turned out fine.

Okay, one last thing I have been blogging for 2 years now.  I started on April 23, 2009.  It's been wonderful.  I've enjoyed all your comments and getting to know people through their blogs.  Soon I will be doing a give away to celebrate...so stay tuned.  Also, I've been pondering a name change that reflects my blog better.  So put on your thinking caps I will be asking for input from you.  Don't worry I plan on staying with the same content no major changes...more decorating, homekeeping and baking.  I will give you plenty of time to change over to my new address ahead of time.

Springtime Blessings to you,
Carey

Friday, April 22, 2011

Easter's on it's Way!

This time of year is the most important for people who are Christians.  It's the time of year we reflect on Christ's sacrifice for all of us.  It's about renewal, rebirth and the promise of a new life.


"This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person.  The old life is gone;  a new life has begun." ~2 Cor. 5:17

Just like the new tulips emerging from the earth we can become new again.  I think this is the most amazing part of God's love for us. 



Eggs, tradionally served during the season of Lent symbolizes the new life.   Look around your yard and in your trees.  Do you see new life everywhere?  This is his promise to us that we will have new life.


My little apple trees have new buds and blossoms on them.  I am reminded of the promise of scrumptious apples that I will harves someday.  Just like during Easter we are reminded that someday we will be with Jesus.  He has been preparing a place for us.

"Do not let you hearts be troubled.  Trust in God;  trust also in me.  In my Father's house there are many rooms;  if it were not so, I would not have told you.  I am going to prepare a place for you."  ~ John 14:1

I hope you have a blessed Easter with your family!

Carey

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Blueberry Turnovers

Here's a little treat that I made for my kids for breakfast the other day.  I used the never fail pie crust recipe that Alice gave me.  This one is very similiar to her recipe. I had already made up a batch, so I just took it out of the freezer.  I also used frozen blueberries, but you could use fresh.  I prefer the fresh ones but sometimes they can be expensive. 

Blueberry Marscapone Turnovers


Recipe adapted from *Giada's Blueberry Marscapone Turnovers

1/2 -3/4 cup of blueberries
1/2 lemon juiced and zested
1/2 tsp. cornstarch
2 Tbsp. sugar or enough to cover berries
1/2 cup marcapone cheese (look in dairy section or near deli)
1 pie crust or store bought (I like Pillsbury)
1 egg slightly beaten

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. I mixed the first 4 ingredients first. Then I let these sit on the counter for a few minutes.  After a few minutes I added the cheese and folded it in carefully.

After I mixed up my ingredients I rolled out my crust to 4-5 good size circles.  Carefully spoon about 1 tbsp of your fruit mixture inside, use egg wash to seal edges and fold over and crimp edges if desired.  Continue until you have used all the dough, I got about 9 small turnovers.  Her recipe says it makes 12 but I didn't want to make them any thinner.  Brush with a little bit more egg wash and sprinkle with sugar, cut a few slits in the top.  Bake for about 15-20 min. until golden brown.  Let them cool slightly before serving. The filling will be oozing out a little bit.

*Hints:  In the original recipe she fried them in the deep fryer.  So as long as you made sure you had your deep fryer set at the right temp, her directions tell you to fry them for about 3 1/2 min.  I prefered not to fry these since I didn't want to get out the fryer that early. I used a small pyrex bowl (little condiment size) to make my circles.  My biscuit cutter was a little to small.  It also helps if you flatten the circles slightly when you fill them.  My first batch were pretty while my second batch was a little less uniform.  They were still yummy though.

Enjoy!
Carey

Monday, April 18, 2011

Mudroom Progress and Play Highlights

Hello blogging friends!  It's been a crazy week.  I've been under the weather for the last week.  I have literally laid on my couch all weekend.  Part of me feels a little guilty, the other not so much!

So here's what we been doing in the mudroom, you might remember from an earlier post that our laundry/mudroom didn't function well together.  So a few weeks ago my hubby finished the laundry room.  This left a large hole in my mudroom, two of them to be exact.  Next, we want to create some built in shelves/cubbies for our coats etc.  I've been looking at several blogs and this website for inspiration.  He is full of good ideas.  In the meantime, we still have another whole month or so of school left so it has to function.  I found 4 hooks at Meijer on sale for about $2 each and I spray painted them black.  Then I plan on sewing up a little skirt to cover up my sink a little more.  I saw some crates stacked up and thought I would use mine for the kids to put back packs and shoes in.   I tried to make it look cute with the new soap from Bath and Body Works and ball jar with flowers. Whola!!







Someday it will hopefully look a little more like these built-ins. 


photo from Sawdust City LLC


My daughter had her play also on Friday night.  It was The Emperor's New Clothes and she was the Blacksmith. She has been working on it for months.  She did it a fabulous job.  The cast did too.  It was funny!  I'm so proud of her.


I have some exciting news to share with you soon.  I'll be back with more details.  I'm getting close to my Blog Anniversary too!

Blessings,
Carey

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Auction Day

Hello blogging friends! Don't you just love an auction?  I do except in the cold rain.  I love the possibility of what you might find or come home with. Plus, usually they sell home baked goodies, and if you're lucky pie!

We did manage to snag a few finds, but didn't hold out for the furniture.   I managed to win the bid on these milk bottles.  My hubby managed to win the bid on the chamber pots, which he later was stunned when he actually found out what they were for. LOL!  One will be our new bathroom trashcan.  We needed a replacement for our old one.  I think this fits the bill.




I just loved the way the old handles on these look.  The smaller one has a handle on the back.  What are you up to this weekend?

Blessings,
Carey

Sunday, April 3, 2011

My Favorite Pie Posts

How is everyone on this Beautiful Sunday?  I'm so glad, for this is the day that the Lord hath made.  Let us rejoice and be glad in it.  I have been thinking of a new post all week.  I wanted to post a recipe.  Instead I will share some old ones for I don't have any new pictures to share with you.  Some of you new readers may have not seen these older posts.

My favorite pie posts

General Pie Making Tips, Pie Making with Alice


I miss Alice so much, I cherish our time together now.







Blueberry Pie



Strawberry Rhubarb Mini Pies

It's rhubard season too, I'm getting ready to make some of these real soon.



Mama's Fresh Raspberry Pie


I hope you enjoyed my old posts.  Martha's new Pie book has come out and I hope to pick it up soon.

Happy Pie Making!
Carey