The Parson's Wife

Memories of Indiana...

2009-10-30T10:14:00.003-05:00

Old fashioned Kettle Corn. N'uf Said!

1/4 cup oil

1/4 cup white sugar

3/4 cup popping corn

salt

Heat oil, sugar and popping corn on medium/high heat until all corn is popped. Remove from heat and salt to taste.... perfect fall treat!

CReAm cHeEse bAnaNA BReaD....

2009-10-20T20:44:00.004-05:00

Danielle said that I only post pictures of food... and to prove her wrong I am posting pictures of the kiddos... enjoying the foods! ;)

Cream Cheese-Banana-Nut Bread

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter, softened
1 (8-ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 cups sugar
2 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (1 1/4 pounds unpeeled bananas, about 4 medium)
1 cup chopped pecans, toasted
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preparation:

Beat butter and cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Combine flour and next 3 ingredients; gradually add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Stir in bananas, pecans, and vanilla. Spoon batter into 2 greased and floured 8- x 4-inch loafpans.

Bake at 350° for 1 hour or until a long wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and sides pull away from pan, shielding with aluminum foil last 15 minutes to prevent browning, if necessary. Cool bread in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Remove from pans, and cool 30 minutes on wire racks before slicing.

Trying hard not to turn this into a cooking blog!!! LOL

We also enjoyed:

HOME BAKED CHICKEN POT PIES

Dinner...

2009-10-20T19:42:00.004-05:00

Okay, so I still have camera problems, but I have an iPhone, so I am making do for now with camera phone pictures...

Tonight's Menu:

Cheese Ravioli and Tortellini

Marinara Sauce with Fresh Spinach

Italian Herbed Bread Sticks

Yes the Bread sticks are about 18 inches long! They were a hit! I made an Italian herb bread (dough cycle) machine recipe with Parmesan and Mozzarella cheese, brushed the sticks with olive oil, butter salt and pepper when they came out of the oven.

Bread Machine Applesauce

2009-10-20T10:36:00.004-05:00

We purchased a bag of apples from Sam's Club a few weeks ago, and although they were not "bad" the apple lovers in our family thought the flavor and texture wasn't "spot-on" after they sat... so I had read a while ago that you can use your bread machine to make jellies and sauces... here we go! I used five apples, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup cranberry juice, 1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice and a splash of water... set the machine on quick bread and reset it twice after a 20 minute bake... yummy chunky applesauce with our pork chops for dinner!

Trying to get in a RoUTinE...

2009-10-19T10:18:00.002-05:00

How hard it is to move, get a brand spankin new life, and find routine. I don't know if I ever will again. I am seeking what Our Lord and father has for me as an Army Wife Life, and continue to guide my teens in their learning... back into the kitchen, which is still boxed in the garage... FRG, UMT, PWOC, OaCSA... yup, learning a new language!

Summer Haircuts

2009-07-23T14:38:00.005-05:00

I haven't been able to be around lately, and I sure miss my KITCHEN and my MAN to feed... I did find a WiFi zone and a few minutes to post pics of our haircuts...

Exciting time for my niece...

2009-06-03T08:43:00.003-05:00

Wedding plans, in the deep south of Texas. South Padre Island to be exact. It is fun to be around all the planning and getting pretty for the weekend. My sweet Danielle will play violin on the beach for her, an Irish entrance and traditional march to exit... pre-service music including Bach and Handel... I love the violin!

I am searching a way to place photos on my blogs while I am staying with my sister in Texas, without wifi in the house I am finding it hard to get to a local coffee house to blog.

I am continually thankful for God's graciousness in provisions for my family. At times it is breath taking. HE is awesome.

I'm going to miss your sweet face!

2009-05-25T13:12:00.003-05:00

A drive to the Lake...

2009-05-24T20:06:00.003-05:00

We spent an afternoon on the beach of Lake Superior, because, well, I'm thinking that we will miss the lush drive and the cool wind in Texas. Plus, we wanted to sport our Army tees as a family to support my sweet man! He leaves Thursday... I am sad, yet excited for him. I pray that I can be helpful to my sister and parents as they are gracious to host my family while my soldier is training... thank God for them! Good bye Great Lakes!

A Reason for Thanks!

2009-05-19T07:05:00.003-05:00

Fifty different, personal notes written of Thanksgiving to our churches' great hospitality. Our Farewell luncheon and cookout was well attended (120+), full of tears and validating that God has Called my sweet husband to HIMSELF through service in the US Army...

All sealed and ready to deliver. Farewell, Godspeed!

Classic Flavors

2009-05-16T09:37:00.003-05:00

My sweet daughter has completed her studies and we are having a celebration for graduation and a farewell celebration. We plan on 100 people to attend (and kept the costs at $120 for the get together!) Without skimping, this is our plan

Grilled Gourmet Burgers

Grilled Polish, Smoked and Classic Dogs

Sliced Fresh Watermelon

Baked Brown Sugar Beans

Tortilla Triangles with Black Bean Corn Salsa

Ruffled Potato Chips

Raspberry Lemonade

Classic Flavors of Cup Cakes

French Vanilla with Vanilla Buttercream Icing

Deep Chocolate with Cocoa Buttercream Icing

Three and a half HOURS!

2009-05-15T07:20:00.005-05:00

Remember the "bad-mommy" moment, where I cut my dear, sweet 17 year old's hair, and it did NOT look like the picture?! Well, she used her own money and made me sit with her for

three-and-a-half-hours

of hair color! Goodness gracious! She is now smiling, and having "more fun"...because she is a blonde with a great cut!

I have a great family!

2009-05-11T09:06:00.003-05:00

When speaking "love languages" I am not usually the "gift-getting" language, but WOW! I am loving my mother's day gifts!

Daily Life

2009-05-06T08:23:00.004-05:00

We do not have a routine life.

I am happy we home school so that our family time is flexible.

My sweet man hands me a glass of iced water.

We take a trip to Duluth to visit an emergency hospitalisation of a parishioner, in a cloudy, rainy road... the road seemed to be tunnel-like with a light at the end. We received a call at 7-ish and got home at 1am... just me and my husband. I was blessed with the time with him, and am always in awe at how God uses him to share HIS grace and care for our congregations. Praying for them day.

Moving Sale

2009-05-05T08:51:00.003-05:00

Is it better to call it:

Yard Sale?

Moving Sale?

Garage Sale?

Estate Sale?

Hmmm, I am thinking this weekend is going to be messy. I don't know why I think this is going to be helpful, I just want to get rid of items no longer in use.

Friday and Saturday 9-11 am at the parsonage.

Bring your friends!

I made my sweet daughter sad...

2009-05-01T08:09:00.002-05:00

Okay, it is clear, she is beautiful...

She wanted a haircut....

and to save money...

so mommy cut her hair...

instead of the salon...

and it is not at all like the picture she showed me...

I love you Danielle, and your hair!

A Story Beginning

2009-04-26T13:35:00.005-05:00

God works in crazy, fun and exciting ways, check it out

here!

We Begin a New Story:

Beautiful Snow

2009-04-22T06:45:00.004-05:00

Tomato Soup and Toasted Cheese Sammies for Lunch... School is Closed... Feels like November!

Noodles and Company

2009-04-17T10:20:00.002-05:00

Okay, so we traveled to Milwaukee, Wisconsin yesterday... my husband is a pastor and a parishoner was going into surgery... I know a 6 hour drive, but It is so worth it though. If you see how these visits make a difference in peoples life. I am thankful that my husband is willing to take the time to share God's Comfort and Forgiveness... no matter what.

Anyway

We ate at Noodles and Company. I LOVE this place. I have only eaten there maybe four times (we live in a remote community)... so when we travel out of town it is a true blessing to have dinner out. Today I am going to "mock-up" a noodle recipe! I will post pics later! Whole Wheat Pasta, fresh Romas, garlic, balsamic, onion.... yummm-o!

Tenebrae

2009-04-10T21:11:00.007-05:00

I am torn each year before attending service. Thinking I MUST be mournful, that my FEELINGS must be pulled to sadness. BUT, I live under Grace. Constantly. So each Maundy Thursday and Good Friday I wrestle with the "am I sad enough" feeling. Then I go to the Tenebrae service.

And I get it.

I understand.

It is so not about what I am feeling. It is how Lent, Holy Week and Easter of our church season "keeps it real" for me.

I am thankful.

Really.

FULL of thanksgiving to Christ in a solemn, reverent way.

Our Hymns this afternoon were awesome.

Full of sound doctrine. Full of Truth. Full of Christ Crucified.

FULL

Please, if you have not attended a traditional Tenebrae Service, the readings as the altar is stripped of our earthly worship tools...make room in your heart to attend next year. You will be FILLED!

Thanks Jane!

2009-04-07T08:53:00.003-05:00

Conservative Spring by theparsonswife featuring American Eagle Outfitters tank tops

IndianaJane posted about this cool site... she must really be in a shopping mood lately! Thanks for a new addiction... no really, I have all the time and funds to play THIS game... teeheehee!

I want a mall!

Mommy moments...

2009-04-05T18:15:00.005-05:00

This Year's Cookie!

2009-04-02T13:03:00.002-05:00

Rolled Fondant Sugar Cookies... REViISiTed

2009-04-01T14:30:00.004-05:00

Table Favor Cookies for the Confirmation Students this week.

All it takes is a few ingredients...

Cheap ingredients!

To create rolled fondant!

This seems to be my "springtime" tradition... making these cookies, if you recall here...

Again, take my advice, and don't try to save time by buying the Wilton Brand in the store... you will NOT ever eat fondant again if you try pre-made!

Youth Group Project

2009-03-28T09:14:00.007-05:00

Our Youth Group is having a cookie decorating event to donate to a fundraiser in April. How fun this is going to be! Drop in & Decorate is a group of gals who want to support community one cookie at a time! They have given us permission to be a part by decorating our cookies and donating them for a fundraiser... I am already planning another event to donate cookies to help with maybe the pregnancy center, or the nursing home, or gosh... there are so many people who could benefit from this fun activity! How fun!