Cherry Pie Oh My!

I love Aldi! Back before Christmas I found canned, pitted cherries at Aldi much cheaper than you can find them at bigger stores. 

I saw a beautiful heart covered cherry pie on Pinterest and thought I could reproduce. 

The pie recipe can be found in any staple cookbook. Better Homes and Garden's, for example. I used 1 1/3 c sugar, 1/3 c flour, 2 cans drained pitted cherries and 1/4 tsp almond extract. 

I used refrigerated all ready made pie crusts. I didn't know what to do with the edges on the bottom crust and ended up forking the edges.  For the top crust I cut out little hearts and arranged over the top. 

It baked a little longer than necessary, but I think it's still very pretty and it tasted SO good! 

There's still time to make one for your sweetheart this Valentine's Day! 

Smore Friends

I didn't get around to making my Valentines until Valentine's Day. 

 

I had seen the labels on Pinterest and printed off a few sheets. 

Then filled a snack size ziplock bag with 2 Graham crack squares, a miniature chocolate bar and 2 heart shaped marshmallows (picture only shows one, but I put 2 in all the other bags). I found the heart shaped marshmallows at Aldi. 

 

I taped the labels on. 

 

Easy and quick Valentines. 

 

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Ah, Happy Valentine’s Day.  I am excited for you who are excited for this day and am praying for us that aren’t.  I took the day off.  While some of my coworkers marriages, while still in them, have soured and they don’t expect or give gifts for Valentine’s Day, there are still plenty of others who will be decked out in red clothing and receive flowers or stuffed animals and share of their plans to dine out.  I made plans today to go visit friends, shop and walk outdoors, but those plans fell through when my friend became sick.  So, Plan B went into place.  It’s a big project, I think, and I’m hoping it takes up most of my day.  I expect the negative thoughts and self-talk to start, well it technically already has, so I’ve armed myself with some scriptures and I plan to read them every time I start feeling sorry for myself or thinking negatively.  They are;

 

Romans 8:28

And we know that in all good things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

 

Hebrews 11:6

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

 

Proverbs 29:25

The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.

 

Matthew 8:26

And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.

 

Hebrews 4:15

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 

 

Psalm 95:2

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

 

Philippians 4:6

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God.

 

Matthew 7:7-11

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.  Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

 

Matthew 6:25

Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on.  Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?

Do you have any favorite scriptures you turn to when feeling down? 

 

I have a couple more Valentine posts to share and hopefully will be able to share my “big” project soon.  Okay, disclaimer, its not that big.  I’ve just given it a lot of though, like 7 months worth of thought and I’m looking forward to tackling it!  No, it isn’t painting.  

 

Praise God and give thanks if in a relationship and trust on His knowledge of whats best for you if you’re not. 

 

Julie

Soup and Cake, it's what's for dinner!

I had four over for dinner recently. Three were from the church I've been attending and the fourth a friend I've known for sometime. I am a nervous, inexperienced hostess and wanted something easy for dinner.  I went with Six Sister's 7 Can Chicken Tortilla Soup. I've made this before and thought I had already shared it, but I couldn't find the post. The first I made it was when I had a coworker over after work for dinner. I needed something fast as she had a long drive home and wasn't planning on staying late. This was a breeze to throw together and have ready quick. 

I doubleD the recipe for the most recent dinner and was glad I had. I have some left over, but would have run out had I not doubled it. 

In a stock pot combine; 

1 can drained and rinsed black beans

1 can drained and rinsed pinto beans

1 can drained tomatoes

1 can drained corn

1 large can chicken (may sub other cooked chicken)

1 can green enchilada sauce

1 can chicken broth 

Add;

1 pkt taco seasoning

1 tsp each of; cumin, garlic powder and chili seasoning 

1/4 tsp black pepper (I omitted)

I didn't have two cans of green enchilada sauce, so I did one green and one red this time as I doubled the recipe. It was fine.  I thought it too dry and added a third can of chicken broth. 

 

I served it with freshly shredded cheese (not pictured), sour cream, corn tortilla strips and Fritos. 

 

These were the chip bowls afterwards. I think most added the Fritos. Several went back for seconds. I plan on having others from church over to dinner again in the near future and I might just make this again. 

For dessert I made Cherry Chocolate Chip Cake. I had wanted something Valentine-ish. 

No, we didn't eat this much! I sent slices home with everyone. This picture is just to show you the inside. 

 

  

It was good. I worried it might be too chocolatey for me, but actually you don't taste the chocolate as much as you taste the cherries. 

You can get the Cherry Chocolate Chip Cake recipe 

HERE

And the entire soup recipe 

HERE

Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake

I started a weekly small group bible study recently and the first night I attend was a potluck. Not knowing what others were bringing, I decided to bring a dessert. Dessert goes with everything, right? It can also be made in advance and you don't have to worry about keeping it warm. 

I decided to make Strawberry Fudge Poke Cake. I found the recipe online HERE   Her cake set up and sliced beautifully, but mine was a little messy. I contribute that to having left home at 5 and having not been served till probably 6:30. The cool whip and frosting layers had gotten soft. Still everyone enjoyed it and I can home with an empty pan. I'll be keeping it as a recipe to make again. 

 

Finished cake with sweetened condensed milk poured over the top. 

 

Chocolate frosting layer. 

 

Final layer of strawberries and cool whip. I think it would make a great Valentine's Day dessert! 

February Garland

My friend Jenna says this is her favorite garland of those I've made. It is my favorite as well as it didn't take any time to complete and didn't require a glue gun!

Step 1; Cut out hearts. 

 

I used a Martha Stewart template. 

Step 2; Decide on order. 

 

Lyncoln felt the need to assist. 

Step 3; tape and hang. 

Doesn't get much easier than that!