Hurricane Sandy

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As I am writing this I am currently watching and hearing about the devastation that Hurricane Sandy is currently bringing to many people on the East Coast.  Such disasters make people start to think about what is really important in life. Thanks to the women of the Girl Talk blog, I discovered a very insightful quote from Dr. Albert Mohler that I would like to share.  He states,

“Perhaps we should pray as Jesus taught us, praying that the Father’s will would be done, that all persons would be spared harm, and that Christians would respond in the aftermath of disaster with a clear Christian witness of care, assistance, and witness. We should pray that any ‘natural’ disaster would be an opportunity for Christian witness to the supernatural Gospel, and for Christian reflection on the beauty of the Savior.”

I could not have said it any better.  That is my prayer for today and this week as millions of people try to recover from this tragedy. I hope you will make it your prayer as well and get involved where you can to offer assistance to those who are suffering from this.

 

Fall Favorites Day 28 – Pumpkin Bread with Salted Caramel Drizzled Pumpkin Buttercream

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Hi friends. I apologize for not keeping my 31 days commitment thus far. As you can see it has been a few days since my last post to this one, but I am thankful for grace! :) Below is a fall favorite recipe from my friend Sarah. This looks so yummy and I can’t wait to try it. :)

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Ingredients

  • FOR THE BREAD:
  • 1 cup All-purpose Flour
  • ¾ cups White Whole Wheat Flour
  • 1-½ teaspoon Cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoons Nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoons Allspice
  • ⅛ teaspoons Ground Cloves
  • ½ teaspoons Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 2  Eggs
  • ¾ cups Brown Sugar
  • ¼ cups Granulated Sugar Substitute
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • ½ cups Low Fat Plain Yogurt
  • 2 Tablespoons Canola Oil
  • 1-¼ cup Pumpkin Puree
  • FOR THE FROSTING:
  • ¼ cups Butter, Softened
  • 2 Tablespoons Pumpkin Puree
  • ½ teaspoons Cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 1-½ cup Confectioners Sugar (sifted)
  • 2 teaspoons Non-fat Milk
  • FOR THE CARAMEL DRIZZLE:
  • 3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
  • 1 Tablespoon Water
  • 1 Tablespoon Butter
  • ¼ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

1. Preheat oven 325 F. Grease and flour a 9×5 loaf pan.

2. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together flours, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, salt, baking soda and baking powder until well-combined. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, using an electric or stand mixer, beat eggs until creamy. Beat in brown sugar and sugar substitute on medium speed for one minute. Add in vanilla, yogurt and oil. Beat until well-combined. Add flour mixture and pumpkin into the creamed mixture, a little bit of each at a time and beat until just combined. Make sure that you scrape down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

4. Spread batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove bread from the oven. Allow bread to cool in pan for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan to cool completely on a wire rack.

5. While bread is cooling, begin preparing the frosting. Cream together butter and pumpkin puree in a large bowl. Add in cinnamon and vanilla and beat until creamy. Slowly add confectioner’s sugar and milk. Beat until well-combined and creamy. Spread frosting over the top of the cooled bread.

6. For the drizzle: In a small saucepan, stir together brown sugar and water. Heat over medium-high heat until sugar is dissolved. Continue heating until caramel turns dark brown and starts to boil, making sure to stir constantly to avoid burning. Add butter and salt. Stir to combine and remove from heat. Continue stirring for another 1-2 minutes to cool the caramel somewhat before drizzling over the top of the frosting.

7. Slice bread and serve! Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Recipe From : http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breads/pumpkin-bread-with-salted-caramel-drizzled-pumpkin-buttercream/ 

 
 
 

Fall Favorites Day 17 – Pumpkin Cake Recipe

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Earlier this week, my mom made a Pumpkin Cake and was delicious! It is the best cake I have had in a long time so I thought I would share it. If you try it let me know what you think. Also, if you have a favorite fall recipe send it to me here and I might post it on the blog next week. :)

Ingredients:

2 cups white sugar

1 1/4 cups vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups canned pumpkin

4 eggs

2 cups all-purpose flour

3 teaspoons baking powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1 cup chopped walnuts (Optional)

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 12×18 inch pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Set aside.

In a large bowl combine sugar and oil. Blend in vanilla and pumpkin, then beat in eggs one at a time. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in nuts. Spread batter into prepared 12×18 inch pan.

Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool.

For icing the recipe recommended a cream cheese icing but we just used a confectioners sugar glaze

Recipe From: All Recipes

Fall Favorites Day 16 – Christmas in October

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I love Christmas music and beginning in October new Christmas music starts releasing. Today, Francesca Battistelli released her first Christmas album and it is AMAZING! Even though it is not time to play Christmas music yet, I have downloaded it and already started listening. So good! Be sure to add this to your must have Christmas albums of the year. Download it here.

Fall Favorites Day 15 – Apple Cider

There is nothing better than a warm mug of apple cider on a fall day! Below is an easy way to make cider. Hope you enjoy!

Ingredients:

6 cups apple cider

1/4 cup real maple syrup

2 cinnamon sticks

6 whole cloves

6 whole allspice berries

1 orange peel, cut into strips

1 lemon peel cut into strips

Directions:

  1. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
  2. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
  3. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
  4. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/hot-apple-cider/

Sunday Social Week 19

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What is your favorite childhood book?

The Amelia Bedelia books by Peggy Parish! :)

What is your favorite book lately?

“Coming Home” by Karen Kingsbury

What is the book you wish you could live in?

That is a tough one. That would either be “The Redemption Series” by Karen Kingsbury or “The Christy Miller and Katie Weldon series” by Robin Jones Gunn.

If you could be any character from a book who would it be and why?

Katie Weldon from the Katie Weldon Series by Robin Jones Gunn

What is your favorite book turned movie?

“The Help” by Kathryn Stockett

What is your favorite magazine?

I am a subscriber to People Magazine. Love it! :)

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