Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Wordless Wednesday-Big Climber


Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Making Tuesday Tasty-Pumpkin Mousse

I love pumpkin in pretty much any dessert!  This one goes nicely because it's soft and light.  A nice treat during the holidays.  It has lots of great adaptations and reviews as well!  Enjoy.


Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
24 marshmallows
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/3 cup confectioners' sugar
1 cup heavy cream

Preparation

Melt the butter in a large skillet. Stir in the marshmallows, milk, and pumpkin. Stir frequently until melted and smooth. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla and pumpkin pie spice. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Combine 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar and 1 cup heavy cream in a large bowl. Use an electric mixer to beat until stiff peaks form. Fold whipped cream into cooled pumpkin mixture. Pour mousse into ramekins or chocolate shells. Cover and refrigerate until firm, about 2 hours.

*recipe courtesy of Allrecipes.com*

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Thanksgiving 2012

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving.  My prayer is that we spend time together more, cherish the small things, focus on the blessings, and be thankful all year instead of just one day.

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

Wordless Wednesday-First Thanksgiving


Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Making Tuesday Tasty-Whipped Sweet Potatoes

It's Thanksgiving week! I know there are sooo many recipes out there available to you.  I know that they are even broken down to what part of the country you're in, and even in what state you're in.(Can you say, oyster stuffing?)  I am doing a very simple and tasty dinner this year.  Not a ton of sides mucking it up.  Last week I posted a turkey that very closely resembles the way I prepare mine.

Here is a take on the classic sweet potato side dish. Enjoy! And...Happy Thanksgiving.

You can roast the potatoes and bananas ahead of time, then put it all together just before serving. Then heat it up in the oven.

Ingredients

5 medium sweet potatoes, scrubbed
4 bananas, unpeeled
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/4 cup honey
Kosher salt
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup dark brown sugar
1 1/2 cups pecans, chopped

Directions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Prick the sweet potatoes all over with a fork, put them in a roasting pan and roast for 30 minutes. Toss the bananas into the pan and continue roasting for 10 to 15 minutes, until both the bananas and potatoes are very soft. Remove the pan from the oven but don't turn the oven off. When the potatoes are cool enough to handle, scoop out the flesh into a large mixing bowl. Peel the bananas and add them to the bowl along with 1 stick of the butter, and the honey. Season with salt and beat vigorously with a wooden spoon until everything's well combined and the mixture is fluffy. Spoon into an oven-proof serving bowl and smooth the top. In a separate mixing bowl, use your fingers to rub together the remaining stick of butter, the brown sugar, flour, and pecans until the mixture is the consistency of coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the crumb mixture over the sweet potatoes and return to the oven. Cook for about 20 minutes, until the crumbs are golden. Serve hot.

*recipe courtesy of foodnetwork.com*

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Book Review-Hello, We're The Fuzzwippers by Marilyn Halas

Fuzzwippers?  What is that, you ask?  A Fuzzwipper is a little furry creature that shares a special bond with children.  They would be likened to a soft comfort toy, or a fuzzy blanket that a child would lean on when they need a little extra comfort.

Such is the story of Hello, We're The Fuzzwippers and their follow-up book Fuzzwippers-Find Good Listeners, by Marilyn Halas.  These books were created to reach the social and emotional needs of young children.  The concept is simple, these furry, colorful little creatures are there for children to befriend.  They are there as a way to ease a child into a situation or change.

Hello, We're The Fuzzwippers introduces these creatures and to advise the reader that they are "loved no matter what" and that they have someone in their corner.  It expresses an individual language that their child can understand.  They are quiet and can be taken wherever the child goes.  They are cute and furry, and perfect for a child's imagination.

Fuzzwippers-Find Good Listeners focuses more on the the social interaction a child has with the Fuzzwipper.  It shows the way a child can understand the special language of the Fuzzwippers, called Imaginarius.  It explains that a child can talk about anything with the Fuzzwipper once they know the language and can communicate well with their own Fuzzwipper.

What I thought

-Illustrations are fun and childlike, some were a bit pixilated.(possibly just how printed)
-Fuzzwipper concept is cute, much like an imaginary friend or a special soft toy for a child.
-Writing style didn't flow that well, and was possibly a little more mature than a book intended for a small child.


It will be interesting to see how these stories develop over time.  Check them out at 4sunflowersmedia.com.


Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Wordless Wednesday-Sedona Skyline


Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Making Tuesday Tasty-Herb-Roasted Turkey

It's almost Thanksgiving!! Yay!  I absolutely love Thanksgiving and it is my favorite holiday. I've been hosting it for my family the last few years because I love it so much. I generally try to go simple and delicious with my bird and usually do a version of this recipe every time.  I generally will also rub olive oil on the skin of the bird for a nice golden, crisp skin.  Enjoy!

Ingredients

1 12-14-pound turkey, giblets and neck removed, at room temperature for 1 hour
3 tablespoons kosher salt
1 1/2 tablespoons freshly ground black pepper
6 tablespoons (3/4 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
1 tablespoon minced fresh sage leaves
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves
1 medium onion, quartered
1 orange, quartered
1 lemon, quartered

Preparation

Preheat oven to 450°F. Set a rack inside a large roasting pan. Pat turkey dry with paper towels. Rub bird inside and out with salt and pepper. Place turkey on the rack in the pan. Using a fork, mix butter, lemon zest, rosemary, sage, and thyme in a small bowl. Rub herb butter over top of turkey and inside cavity. Place onion, orange, and lemon inside turkey cavity. Tuck tips of wings under bird (this prevents them from burning during the long roasting time). Pour 4 cups water into pan. Roast turkey, uncovered, for 30 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 325°F. Baste turkey with pan juices; add more water if needed to maintain at least 1/4" liquid in the bottom of roasting pan. Continue roasting turkey, basting every 30 minutes and tenting with foil if skin is turning too dark, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into thickest part of the thigh without touching bone registers 165°F (juices should run clear when thermometer is removed), about 2 3/4 hours total. Transfer turkey to a platter. Tent with foil and let rest for 1 hour before carving.

*recipe courtesy of epicurious.com*

Monday, November 12, 2012

Devotion Time

My daughter and I picked up a Veggie Tales devotional at Goodwill awhile back.  It was in amazing shape, I'm not even sure if it was used.  We have been poring over it at least once a week after doing homework.  The story of Moses has been the focal point, telling of his rescue from danger as an infant, and on into adulthood.  We have gotten to the part of the ten commandments, and I picked up The Prince Of Egypt DVD at the library, for her to watch again.  I have really enjoyed spending that one on one time with her.  Listening to her questions and filling in the gaps that the devotional hasn't covered.  I have also enjoyed reading from the KJV bible in Exodus.  She is getting to the age now where I can read some to her and, explain what is happening.

Sometimes it can be difficult to watch how quickly my little ones are growing.  I am thoroughly enjoying the perks of having a daughter that is growing and learning, and really soaking up as much knowledge as I can give.

I'm truly thankful for my family, they are bright light in an often dark world.

Veteran's Day 2012

To all of the men and women who have served our blessed country, and to all of the spouses and families that have sacrificed too...THANK YOU!