Signs of Spring

Good Timber

by Douglas Malloch

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease:
The stronger wind, the stronger trees;
The further sky, the greater length;
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

 

 

 

     You can tell when the school year is winding down when Junior Prom comes and goes and Grandma is invited to go to her grandson's kindergarten program.  Both were amazing events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing, jump roping, hula hoops, ribbon dancing, a parachute and the chicken dance.  It doesn't get better than that!

 

 

 

     This is such a yummy dessert.  This is what I made for the kids to eat after Junior Prom.  Pretty decadent!  Thanks Tammy for the recipe!

Chocolate Trifle

1 package chocolate cake mix                              1 large container frozen

2 small packages instant chocolate pudding mix                    whipped topping

4 cups milk                                                                  1 large 1 lb. symphony bar,

                                                                                                 crushed

            In a 9x13 pan, bake cake according to package directions.  Cool and cut into 1 inch cubes.

Make pudding according to directions on packages mixing with the milk.  In a large glass bowl place half of the cake cubes in bottom of bowl.  Spread half of the pudding over the cake.  Spread half of the whipped topping over the pudding.  Repeat the layers.  Sprinkle crushed candy bar on the top as a garnish.  Refrigerate until serving.  Makes 12 servings.

 

This recipe was adapted from one in the Savoring the Seasons Cookbook from Our Best Bites.  It is a perfect choice for a grandkid slumber party at Grandma's house.

 

Chunky Monkey Pancakes

1 ½ cups flour                                                1 T. canola oil

3 T. sugar                                                        1 tsp. vanilla

2 tsp. baking powder                                    2 ripe bananas

1 ½ tsp. baking soda                                     6 T. mini chocolate chips

1 ½ cups buttermilk                                                    tossed with 2 tsp. flour

1 egg

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl and whisk together.  Mix buttermilk, egg, oil and vanilla in a separate bowl and whisk well.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and mix just until moistened and combined.  Mash bananas on a plate with a fork.  Fold bananas into batter.  Add chocolate chips that have been tossed with flour and stir.

Heat a nonstick griddle to medium heat.  Coat griddle with a little cooking spray.  Pour on ¼ cup pancake batter for each medium-sized pancake.  Wait until bubbles form and edges are done and then flip.  Serve warm with Maple Peanut Butter Syrup.

Maple Peanut Butter Syrup

Heat ¼ cup peanut butter for 30 seconds in microwave.  Add ½ cup maple syrup and gently whisk to combine.  Heat in microwave for another 30 seconds and whisk again.

 

     I read another great murder mystery this month.  It also has a little bit of a romance interest in it to spice things up a smidge. 

 

 

I finally did finish my little robin quilt. I chose to do a little hand quilting on it. The pattern is called Summer's Song designed by Cheryl Haynes from Prairie Grove Peddler.

Spring's Promise

"Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time."  ~Martin Luther

 

 

 

This is yet another quilt that I've made to help use up scraps from my sewing room.  I keep thinking I should be making a good size dent but I wonder.  Maybe the fabric multiplies during the night as we sleep.  This pattern is from Fig Tree and is called Painted Lady.  I think it is the epitome of Springtime.

 

 

 

 

 

     I read this book about a week ago.  It has a beautiful message and helped bring me closer to my savior.  It is geared toward people of all faiths and quotes many scriptures from the New Testament.  Connie has thrown in some experiences from her own life and family that have helped her grow.

 

              Here are a couple of Easter recipes that your family might enjoy like mine does.

 

 

 

Sausage Strata

8 pieces day old bread, cubed                                    2 cups grated cheese

1 lb. country sausage                                                  12 eggs

1 cup spinach, roughly chopped                                 2 ½ cups milk

½ tsp. garlic powder                                                   2 tsp. dry mustard

½ tsp. onion powder                                                   ½ tsp. salt

2 green onions, diced                                                 ¼ tsp. pepper

Spray a 9x13” baking dish with cooking spray.  Put bread crumbs in bottom of dish.  Brown sausage in medium frying pan.  Add spinach, garlic powder and onion powder.  Saute’ until spinach is wilted.  Sprinkle green onions on top of bread crumbs.  Spread sausage mixture on top of that. Sprinkle grated cheese on top of sausage mixture.   Mix eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt and pepper in mixing bowl.  Beat eggs until well beaten.  Bake for 60-70 minutes in a 350 degree oven until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.  Note: other vegetables may be used such as mushrooms, zucchini, onions, etc.

 

Mandarin Orange Cake

 

1 pkg. lemon cake mix                       

3 eggs

½ cup oil

2- 11 oz. can mandarin orange segments

1 8 oz. container frozen whipped topping, thawed

1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple with juice

1 3.5 oz. pkg. instant vanilla pudding mix

 

            Preheat oven to 350°.  Grease and flour a 9x13 inch pan.  In a large bowl, combine cake mix, eggs, oil, and juice from mandarin oranges.  Beat until smooth.  Add mandarin oranges and mix.  Bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.  Allow to cool.  To make the topping:  In a large bowl, mix together pineapple with juice and dry pudding until blended.  Let sit for 10 minutes.  Fold in whipped topping.  Spread on cake and refrigerate covered until ready to serve.

 

 

Girl's Weekend!

Help one another, is part of the religion of sisterhood. ~Louisa May Alcott

In the cookies of life, sisters are the chocolate chips.  ~Author Unknown


     I had a fun weekend shared with my sister, my daughter and my niece.  We traveled over 4 hours to Moab, Utah to visit Arches National Park.  We had such a great time together and loved seeing the beautiful creations of nature.  Of course my first stop was the quilt shop there in Moab--called It's Sew Moab.

 



The Gossips

 

Balancing Rock

Delicate Arch

Petroglyphs

Sand Dune Arch

Broken Arch

North and South Windows

Turret Arch

Skyline Arch

 

                                                                  Skyline Arch from opposite side


Here are some more comfort food  recipes that are so easy to make.

Cowboy Special

(Or Cheesy Beef and Mac)

1 lb. lean ground beef                                     1 Tbsp. Italian seasoning

1 medium onion, diced                                   ½ tsp. seasoning salt

2 cloves garlic, minced                                   pepper to taste

2 cups beef broth                                            1 ½ cups macaroni

1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce                             1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1 (15 oz.) can crushed tomatoes

Brown ground beef, onion and garlic in large pot until onions are soft.  Add beef broth, tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes and seasonings.  Bring to a boil and add macaroni.  Reduce heat and pot a lid on the pot.  Simmer for about 15 minutes or until pasta is done.  Stir every few minutes to prevent mixture from sticking to the pan.  Turn heat off and sprinkle cheese on top.  Serve hot.  Serves 5-6.
 

 

Applesauce Bars

¼ cup butter, softened                                    1 cup flour

½ cup brown sugar                                          1 tsp. baking soda

1egg                                                               ½ tsp. salt

1 cup applesauce                                            1 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

 

½ cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix together butter, brown sugar and egg in medium bowl until smooth.  Stir in the applesauce.  Combine the flour, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice; stir into the applesauce mixture until well-blended.  Spread mixture into a greased 9x13 “ baking pan.  Bake for 25 minutes or until edges are lightly browned.  Cool in pan on a wire rack.  Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut into squares.  Makes 20.

 

 

I love this book.  It reminds me so much of my childhood.  I had four sisters and one brother.  Many of the characters in this book resemble my sisters at some point or another.

Life...A Stitch at a Time

 "Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern ... It will come out a rose by and by. Life is like that ...one stitch at a time, taken patiently."~ Oliver Wendell Holms

 

 

 

I was hoping to have this quilt long finished by now then I realized that I need to be happy in the process and not wish for everything to be done but enjoy the journey of life (and quilting) as it happens.  I have enjoyed working on this happy robin quilt.  It's a pattern by Prairie Grove Peddler.  I don't always hand quilt a quilt but I decided to give it a go on this one since it's a bit smaller.

 

 

     Life is green.  It is a living, growing thing.  If we are not happy today, tomorrow will be a new day and it can be happy. 

How can one get mad at this cute thing for picking one of Grandma's daffodils.

 

 

 

My daughter wanted to have a green party with a few friends for St. Patrick's Day.  We found a pair of cute green socks for each girl and they had so much fun playing Just Dance in their green socks on the xbox. Then they ate a lot of green food, along with potato soup and they made their own panini sandwiches.  The girls enjoyed a refreshing green lime smoothie. Last of all they had a treasure hunt through the house and the yard where they found a green treasure that was hidden by leprechauns just for them.  I think they had a good time!

 

 

 

 

 

Ham and Potato Soup

           5 cups peeled and diced potatoes                        dash of cayenne pepper

           1 cup diced celery                                                   1 ½ cups cubed cooked ham

           1 cup diced onions                                                  6 Tbsp. butter

          4 cups chicken broth                                               6 Tbsp. flour

          ½ tsp. garlic powder                                               3 cups milk

          ¼ tsp. white pepper                                           chives, dry or diced fresh                   

          ½ tsp. salt                                                                              

     Combine potatoes, celery and onions and chicken broth in a large pot.  Bring to a boil and cover and simmer on low until potatoes are tender, about 10-15 minutes. Add seasonings. Meanwhile, in a separate sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat.  Whisk in flour and cook stirring constantly, until thick, about 1 minute.  Slowly stir in milk and continue to whisk until mixture thickens.  Add flour mixture to soup.  Add ham and stir until warmed through.  Garnish with chives.

 

 

 

Lime Sherbet Slush

                        2 cups lime sherbet                            ½ cup limeade concentrate

                        12 ice cubes                                        2 cups chilled Sprite or 7-Up

 

 

 

     Combine all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth.  Pour into glasses and serve immediately.  Makes about 4 servings.

     Here's another recipe appropriate for March that I'm just throwing in for the fun of it.  I was surprised at how good this was.  But then again everyone loves bacon!

Fried Cabbage

6 strips bacon                                                 ¼ cup chicken broth

½ head cabbage, shredded                             1 tsp. vinegar

½ medium onion                                             ½ tsp. salt

                                                                                    ¼ tsp. pepper

Fry bacon in a large skillet.  Remove bacon from pan and allow to drain on a paper towel.  Add cabbage and onion to skillet and cook until cabbage begins to wilt.  Add chicken broth, vinegar, salt and pepper.  Cover and simmer for about 10 minutes.  Add crumbled bacon and stir.  Serve hot.

 

 

 

 

     Another thing I wasn't able to finish this week was the book I am reading.  Unraveled, by Julie Daines is a fairy tale about a crippled girl who has a chance to walk and live her life with the help of a pair of enchanted shoes.  I am enjoying the book and hope to finish it soon.