Pinterest Inspirations become Reality

Headband Holder made from Oatmeal Canister and Scrap Fabric

I love Pinterest. It is my new favorite way to waste time :). If you have never heard of it,then you must check it out. It is basically a way to organize your favorites in one place. You just search the internet for recipes you want to try, home decor you love, fashion that inspires you, quotes that make your heart smile, crafts you long to make, etc... and you "pin" them on your page. People can follow your boards (categories) and "repin" your "pins". It is fabulous! But, I must warn you, it is very, very addictive. But, on a positive note, I have gotten some amazing ideas for cheap craft and home projects, and I have found some fabulous recipes.

After pinning things for several weeks, I finally got around to actually creating some of the things that I pinned. This week, I have made 2 cake stands, a hairband holder for Bella, a noodle race track for my son, a "God Box", and a beautiful menu/love note board for our kitchen. All of these projects were super cheap to make. The cake stand and noodle race track supplies came from the dollar tree. The frame I used for the menu board was 50% off at Hobby Lobby, and the hairband holder supplies were free since I just repurposed an empty oatmeal canister and used fabric and ribbons that I already had. So fun and So frugal!

The "God Box" is a box with index cards that we are going to keep in our kitchen. When we are worried or fearful, we will write down our fear or worry on an index card and put it in the box-a physical act of surrendering the burden to God. Each week we will take the cards out and pray over them as a family.

I have plans to make large batches of the pumpkin granola and cinnamon honey butter that I pinned to give as gifts this Autumn to friends, teachers, and family. And, I am totally making the pinned "acorn donut holes" and "ghost nutter butter cookies" for my son's preschool class at Halloween.

I hope you enjoy the pictures below and if you want details on how I made them, then send me an email, leave a comment, or visit my pinterest page for the links to the original projects: http://pinterest.com/joyouschris/

I pray your day is full of joy, inspiration, and love as you use the talents and passions God has given you to bless others. I will leave you with one of the quotes that I pinned that truly makes my heart smile

"Pool Noodle" Race Track with Marbles

God Box-Actively Surrendering our Worries to God

Cake Stand made from Glass and Plate from the Dollar Tree

Menu Board/Note Board made from a picture frame and scrapbook paper and using dry erase markers.

Buttermilk Spice Muffins...Mimi's Cafe Muffin Makeover

My hubby loves the jumbo Buttermilk Spice Muffins at Mimi's Cafe. However, we rarely go out to eat, so I decided to search for a similar muffin recipe. I found one on the Family Fun website and made a few small changes to it; resulting in an award-winning muffin according to my hubby and friends. My friend even declared them her most favorite muffin I have ever made, and her children gave them an A+++! I baked these in regular size muffin pans, but you could easily make 6 jumbo size ones or 30 mini ones if you like. The recipe said it makes one dozen regular size, but I was able to get 15 out of the batter. If you don't keep buttermilk on hand, you can make your own by mixing 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice OR 1 Tablespoon of white vinegar per 1 cup of regular milk. Stir and let it sit five minutes until you add it to your recipe.

I encourage you to pretend you are at a restaurant this weekend, possibly even Mimi's Cafe, and get your kids involved in helping you measure the ingredients, stir the batter, and insert the muffin liners. Declare them "chefs for the day" and watch how their faces delight and their hearts soar as you spend quality time with them. My four year old loves helping Mommy bake in the kitchen....especially when there is chocolate chips involved ;-).

Have a Blessed Weekend! You are prayed for and loved dearly by your Heavenly Father!

Psalm 127:3
"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."

~~~~~~~

Buttermilk Spice Muffins

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter (1stick), softened
3 large eggs
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup + 1 Tablespoon Buttermilk (well-shaken)
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Topping:
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 12 cup muffin tin with cupcake liners or grease with cooking spray. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat until well mixed.

In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. Add half of the dry ingredients to the butter mixture then mix in the buttermilk. Add the remaining flour mixture, beating just until combined. The batter may be lumpy.

Prepare the sugary nut topping. In a small food processor or blender pulse the topping ingredients until the nuts are finely ground and the ingredients well-mixed. If you prefer large nut pieces, then just mix your ingredients in a bowl - this is how I do it. I think the muffin has a more bakery-style look when you leave the nuts in larger pieces.

Spoon batter into prepared muffin tins, filling each 3/4 way full. Sprinkle the top with a large tablespoon of the sugary nut topping. Bake for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the muffin comes out clean. Be careful not to over-bake or the muffins will be too dry. Cool in the muffin tin for five minutes and then move to a cooling rack. Enjoy warm with a cup of coffee or hot tea :-).

Upside Down Caramel Apple Coffee Cake & My Cutie Pie

Sorry for the big break in blogging but I have been a bit busy enjoying our precious baby girl, Bella Joy, who was born in early July. She is a true delight and has already brought us so much joy! We are rejoicing in God's beautiful blessing!

I have finally returned to baking, and today I made this delish and super easy coffee cake from the new Gooseberry Patch cookbook, Quick & Easy Autumn. As previously mentioned in older posts, I love Gooseberry cookbooks. If you are looking for a quick and yummy breakfast treat that gives you a glimpse of Autumn, then this recipe is for you. I am so ready for Fall....cooler temps, yummy pumpkin and apple treats, and the beautiful colors of Autumn. Here in TX, the temperatures have been 106 and higher so Fall can't get here soon enough! Enjoy the recipe and remember that you are dearly loved and prayed for!

Psalm 86:15
"But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness."


Upside Down Caramel Apple Coffee Cake
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups apples, peeled, cored, chopped, and divided
12.4 oz tube refrigerated cinnamon rolls, separated
1/2 cup pecan pieces
2 Tablespoons butter, melted
1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
2 Tablespoons corn syrup

Directions:
Spread one cup of apples in a 9" glass pie plate sprayed with non-stick vegetable spray. Cut cinnamon rolls into quarters, setting aside icing from tube. Place rolls in a large bowl; add remaining apples and pecans. In a small bowl, combine remaining ingredients; mix well and pour over rolls. Toss gently to combine. Spoon mixture over apples in pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes, until rolls are deep golden. Cool for 5 minutes; invert onto a serving platter. Remove lid from icing and microwave for 10 to 15 seconds. Drizzle icing over warm coffee cake. Makes 8 servings.

Paula Deen's Blackberry Pie

Happy Fourth of July! We truly have so much to be thankful for in America, andth thing I am most thankful for is the freedom I have to worship and serve our Awesome God. Christ came to set us free...what an AMAZING Blessing!
"So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law." Galatians 5:1

One of my favorite Cooking Magazines is the Food Network Magazine. It truly has great, easy to make recipes and the pictures it includes are amazing. This weekend, for July 4th, I made Paula Deen's Lattice-Top Blackberry Pie which was included in the most-recent issue of the magazine. However, instead of making a lattice on the top crust, I cut out a heart from the middle of the top crust. Blackberries are in season now, and you can find yummy fresh berries for great prices at your local grocery store or your farmers market. Enjoy this pie hot out of the oven with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It is the perfect Summer Treat :)!

You are Prayed for and Dearly Loved my friends!

Paula Deen's Lattice-Top Blackberry Pie

Ingredients:

6 cups (1 3/4 pounds) fresh blackberries

1 cup sugar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

2 disks refrigerated pie dough

(one 14 ounce package-Pillsbury brand)

(or you can use your own homemade pie dough)

1 large egg

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees witha baking sheet on the middle rack. In a large bowl, toss the blackberries, sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Let stand, mixing and coarsely mashing occasionally for about 20 minutes.

2. Fit one round of dough into a 9 inch deep dish pie plate. Trim the edges, leaving a 1/2 inch overhang. Refrigerate while you continue. Cut the remaining piece of dough into approximately eleven 1 1/4 inch wide strips. (Or, if you chose to use the entire piece of dough like I did for my pie, cut a shape with a cookie cutter out of the middle of your pie dough disk).

3. Spoon the blackberry mixture into the pie shell. Dot the top with the butter. Arrange the dough strips in a lattice pattern on top of the filling and trim the strips close to the edge of the pan; roll up and crimp the edge. (Or if you are using the method I chose, lay your disk of pie dough on top of the pie, crimping the edges and cutting off any excess). Lightly beat the egg with 1 tablespoon water and brush on the top and edge of the pie.

4. Place the pie on the hot baking sheet in the oven and bake until the filling is bubbling, about 45-60 minutes. If the crust browns too quickly, cover it with foil and continue baking. Let the pie cool before serving. Enjoy!

White Chocolate Blackberry Streusel Bars

Where we live in South Texas, produce is very cheap, especially during the summer months. I recently got blackberries for 88 cents a package and decided to try this recipe I found from the Tasty Kitchen Blog (their recipe called for making strawberry streusel bars). I altered it a little to accomodate the blackberries, and the end result was fabulous! This is a great recipe to use for a picnic, bbq, or summer party as it utilizes fresh fruit, and once it is sliced into bars it is easy to transport. You could use any variety of berry and jam that you like. I am sure blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries would taste wonderful as well.

Have a Blessed and Beautiful Father's Day Weekend! You are prayed for daily and dearly loved by your Heavenly Father.

"Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever." Psalm 23:6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

White Chocolate Blackberry Streusel Bars
Ingredients:
2 cups Old Fashioned Oats
1-½ cup All-purpose Flour
¾ cups White Sugar
¾ cups Light Brown Sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
½ teaspoons Baking Soda
½ teaspoons Salt
1 cup Cold Butter, Cut Into Small Pieces (2 sticks)
8 ounces, Blackberry Jam (1 cup)
1 teaspoon Lemon Zest
2 cups Blackberries, Flattened and Smashed with a Fork
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the oats, flour, both sugars, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
2. Add the chopped up cold butter and work it into the dry ingredients with your fingers, a fork, or a pastry blender until the mixture looks like small crumbles. Reserve 1 1/2 cups of this mixture.
3. Dump the remaining crumb mixture into an ungreased 9x13 inch pan and press it into an even and thick crust.
4. Bake in 350 degree oven for 12-14 minutes or until it is firm to touch. Do not brown.
5. Remove pan from oven. Warm the blackberry jam in the microwave for 30 seconds and then stir in the lemon zest. Drizzle the warm jam over the warm crust and spread with a spatula. Spread the smooshed blackberries over the crust. Sprinkle on the reserved cup and a half of crumb mixture.
6. Return pan to 350 degree F oven and bake for another 20-25 minutes or until the crumbs on top are lightly browned. Then remove it from the oven and let the pan cool for 1 hour.
7. Melt the white chocolate in microwave at 20 second intervals until fully melted, making sure to use a microwaveable safe dish. Drizzle melted white chocolate c over the streusel top. Cut into bars. ENJOY!

Makes 15-18 bars (dependent upon the size of the bars you slice)

Monkey Muffins-A Yummy Breakfast Treat for Kids of All Ages

I absolutely love Taste Of Home Magazine. It has some of the best, easiest, and healthiest recipes in it. I subscribe to their weekly emails as well, and this week they sent out a printable Taste of Home Kids Coloring Cookbook that you can download. Since my four year old loves helping me bake and cook, I was super excited to receive this and immediately printed it out. Yesterday, we made the Monkey Muffins, and they were a HUGE hit. Seriously, these will likely become a staple in our house. I love that the recipe calls for healthy ingredients like bananas and peanut butter in a yummy treat that kids will love. My son has eaten several already (for breakfast and for snack). So, if you happen to have some overripe bananas, bake up a batch of these this weekend and let your kiddos join in the fun. If you would like to download the Kids Coloring Cookbook, just go here: http://www.tasteofhome.com/Kids-Coloring-Cookbook?pmcode=ILFKA07T&_mid=2044764&_rid=2044764.854200.38599
We can't wait to try the rest of the recipes. We plan to make the Pretzel Sparklers and Fourth of July Pizza very soon.

Note: The original recipe calls for making mini muffins, but I used regular sized muffin pans which yielded 24 muffins instead of the 72 mini muffins.

Happy Father's Day to all of the Amazing Dads out there! I am so blessed to have an Awesome Dad who loves me unconditionally and sacrifice so much for me. I also am blessed to be married to an Amazing Father to our children. My husband has a deep and evident love for our son and soon-to-arrive daughter. I thank God for these blessings!

Have a Beautiful Weekend. You are prayed for and loved immensely by your Heavenly Father.

“Sing to God, sing in praise of his name, extol him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before him—his name is the LORD. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.”

Psalm 68:4-5 NIV

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Monkey Muffins

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup plus 1 tablespoon sugar, divided

2 eggs (or 1/2 cup egg beaters)

1 cup mashed overripe banana (about 2-3 bananas)

2/3 cup peanut butter

1 tablespoon skim milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup minature semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:

In a large bowl, cream butter and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the mashed
bananas, peanut butter, milk and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda
and salt; add to creamed mixture just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips.
Fill greased or paper-lined miniature muffin cups three-fourths full.
Sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake at 350° for 14-16 minutes or until a
toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes
before removing from pans to wire racks. Makes 72 mini muffins or 24 regular-sized muffins.

Dancing the sacred dance of joy and grief simultaneously...and yet "NEVER ONCE" have we been left alone!

"But if the grieving begins to linger too long, it can be good to circle around to the gifts again; to whisper thanks, to receive the blessing, and to turn ourselves outward. Grief closes us in. Gifts spin us around to thankful, and thankful opens us wide for the giving." (Emily from chattingatthesky.com)

As Bella Joy's Pregnancy draws to a close, I am finding myself often overcome with so many conflicting emotions-sheer joy and hope and bliss at meeting my baby girl, holding her close, and whispering my love to her while at the same time I ache with an unexplainable sorrow and yearning for our Savannah Grace who is dancing with Jesus now. I find myself dancing as well...the dance of joy and grief in these final days of pregnancy. On the days when my heart is overwhelmed, I am choosing to whisper my gratitude and receive God's blessing-our Bella JOY, trusting Him to hold Savannah Grace close to His heart. One thing I have learned since Savannah's death, is that God has NEVER left us and NEVER stopped loving us...He has remained in control; He has NEVER left His throne-He has remained FAITHFUL. I love Matt Redman's new song, "Never Once"...especially the line, "Every step, we are breathing in your grace." We never walk alone! What a promise to cling to in days of grief, and in days of joy!

Please pray for us in these final weeks that our hearts would be comforted with the HOPE and PROMISE that we will see our first daughter, Savannah Grace, very soon-we have the promise of Heaven and the Promise of Christ's return. Pray that we can focus on the BEAUTY that our God has brought out of the ashes and the JOY that is coming in the Morning for our family. Bella Joy is truly a miracle (http://butterflykissesntastydishes.blogspot.com/2011/01/god-said-yes-even-when-i-didnt-have.html) and we are praising God for His AMAZING LOVE and the ways in which He is healing our hearts.

You can listen to the "yet-to-be-released" Never Once song on Matt Redman's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Matt-Redman/44470964227?v=app_178091127385&sk=app_178091127385


Never Once by Matt Redman

Verse 1

Standing on this mountaintop

Looking just how far we've come

Knowing that for every step

You were with us



Verse 2

Kneeling on this battle ground

Seeing just how much You've done

Knowing every victory

Is Your power in us



Pre-Chorus

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Yes, our hearts can say



Chorus 1

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful



Repeat Verse 2

Repeat Pre-Chorus



Chorus 2

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful



Bridge

Scars and struggles on the way

But with joy our hearts can say

Never once did we ever walk alone

Carried by Your constant grace

Held within Your perfect peace

Never once, no, we never walk alone



Ending Chorus

Never once did we ever walk alone

Never once did You leave us on our own

You are faithful, God, You are faithful



Every step we are breathing in Your grace

Evermore we'll be breathing out Your praise

You are faithful, God, You are faithful

You are faithful, God, You are faithful