Amazing Biscuits

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed are those who take refuge in him!"
Psalm 34:8

This is a recipe I make for biscuits that Bean says taste like the ones you get from KFC. COOL! I double this recipe, add extra salt, roll them out thicker and use a wide mouth glass to cut my biscuits. I just like them like that.

For this recipe you will need:

2 cups all purpose flour
1 tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/3 cup shortening
3/4 cup milk (or you can substitute buttermilk if desired)

In a mixing bowl, thoroughly stir together the flour, baking powder and salt. Mix well to evenly distribute the leavening (baking powder) and salt

Cut shortening into flour mixture till mixture resembles course crumbs. Be sure to use solid shortening instead of cooking oil or melted butter. The best utensils to use for cutting in shortening are a pastry blender or a blending fork. Mixing by hand tends to soften the shortening, making a sticky, difficult-to-handle dough.

After cutting in the shortening, the mixture should resemble coarse crumbs. Avoid usinga liquid shortening. This will produce a mealy biscuit rather than the flaky, tender ones which are more desirable.

Gently push the flour-shortening mixture against the edges of the bowl, making a well in the center. Add the milk all at once, pouring it into the well.

Using a fork, stir the mixture quickly. Stir just till the dough follows the fork around the bolw and forms a soft dough. Too much mixing may result in biscuits that are tough and not as light as desired.

Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Knead gently 10-12 strokes. This helps develop the biscuit's structure and evenly distributes the moisture to make the biscuits more flaky. For ease in kneading, curve your fingers over the dough, pull it toward you, then push it down and away from you with the heel of your hand. Give dough a quarter turn, fold toward you, and push it down again.

On the lightly floured surface pat the dough to 1/2 inch thickness (or use a lightly floured rolling pin, if desired). Add a little flour to the surface of the dough if necessary to keep the dough from sticking.

Cut dough with a 2 1/2 inch biscuit cutter. Dip cutter in flour between cuts to prevent sticking. Press the cutter straight down to get straight-sided, evenly shaped biscuits. Be especially careful not to twist the cutter or flatten the cut biscuit edges. If you do not have a biscuit cutter, a glass with the edges dipped in flour works just as good.

Using a metal spatula, carefully transfer the cut biscuits to an ungreased baking sheet. For crusty-sided biscuits, place about 1 inch apart. For soft-sided biscuits, place biscuits close together in an ungreased baking pan. Re-roll scraps of dough and cut into biscuit shapes.

Bake biscuits in 450* oven for 10-12 minutes or until biscuits are golden. They should have doubled in size during baking. Serve immediately. If desired, bake biscuits halfway through the freeze. Bake later at 450* until golden brown.

Do you have a favorite biscuit recipe that you would like to share?

Faulty Assumptions

"The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?"
Obadiah 1:3 KJV

A traveler at an airport went to one of the little shops and bought a small package of cookies to eat while reading a newspaper, waiting for their flight. Gradually, she became aware of a rustling noise. Looking from behind her paper, she was flabbergasted to see a neatly dressed man helping himself to her cookies. Not wanting to make a scene, she leaned over and took a cookie herself.

A minute or two passed, and then she heard more rustling. He was helping himself to another cookie! By this time, they had come to the end of the package. She was angry, but didn't dare allow herself to say anything. Then, as if to add insult to injury, the man broke the remaining cookie in two, pushed half across to her, ate the other half, and left.

Still fuming later when her flight was announced, the woman opened her handbag to get her ticket. To her shock and embarrassment, there was her pack of unopened cookies!

It's so easy to make assumptions about what is happening around us. We expect things to be a certain way based on past experience, what we know, or have been told about a situation. Assumptions are not always wrong, but they are never to be trusted. Too many times they lead to embarrassment and even destruction.

The Bible tells us that assumption is based on human reasoning and the driving force behind it is pride. As the verse above say, it is pride - we think we know everything - which allows us to be deceived.

Pride caused the woman in this story to assume she was right and the gentleman was wrong. Instead of seeing him through God's eyes and praying for wisdom to handle the situation God's way, she ignored the man. In the end, she was completely blind to his kindness toward her.

When you find yourself in a conflict with others, avoid prideful assumptions by walking in God's love. See other people and situations through His eyes. After all, your vision is limited, but He knows exactly what's going on!

Good Morning!

Good morning! I am enjoying a nice hot cup of tea and an Apple Toaster Struedel (I cheated this morning and had the frozen kind) while doing my Bible Study. Care to join me?

In our study, we are reading "Fresh Wind Fresh Fire: What Happens When God's Spirit Invades The Hearts Of His People" by Jim Cymbala, and it is AMAZING! This book is a great testimony as to how God wants us to be; loving, forgiving and merciful, with the people in most need of God.

Within the framework of telling the story of his own ministry, Jim Cymbala illustrates the awesome power that can only be tapped when we communicate with God through prayer. This book will also inspire you with testimonies of what God can do in the lives of everyday people when His people pray!

I am truly looking forward to the follow-up book, "Fresh Faith!"

The Brick

"Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you!"
Matthew 5:42

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street, going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was watching for kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

As his car passed, no children appeared. Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door! He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry driver then jumped out of the car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up against a parked car shouting, 'What was that all about and who are you? Just what the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why did you do it?'

The young boy was apologetic. 'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the brick because no one else would stop...' With tears dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my brother, he said. 'He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. He hurriedly lifted the handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything
was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk toward their home.

It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair the dented side door. He kept the dent there to remind him of this message:

'Don't go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's our choice to listen or not.

Mmm....mmm.........Mousse

I found this recipe for Nutella Mousse the other night while I was looking for something to make for dinner. After dessert, I asked My Skippy Man if he liked it. His response was.........

"DO WE HAVE ANY MORE?"

Now that's what I like to hear! :> )

For this SUPER EASY and addictive recipe, you will need:

16 tablespoons of Cool Whip or whipped topping of your choice
4 tablespoons Nutella
1/4 cup chopped almonds or nut of your choice

Add ingredients together and mix. EAT! lol

WAIT.......I'm sorry, I have a confession to make. I did not follow this recipe exactly. When I made this, I just kept scooping Cool-Whip, Nutella, and nuts into a bowl....it was like my arm had a mind of its own and just kept scooping. LOL!

Okay, I feel better now!

A Field Trip, A Yard Sale, And Other Stuff

WOW, have we been busy! It started last Wednesday when Bean reminded me we were having a yard sale at our house on Friday and Saturday, and that I hadn't started getting things ready yet! EEEEEKKKK! I forgot! lol So, after we got home from praise & worship practice, we jumped right in.

Thursday morning, Kiddo and I and a group of home-schoolers from our church, went on a field trip to a HOMESCHOOL EXTRAVAGANZA at The Frontier Culture Museum. I took so many pictures, I can't possibly post them all, so I will just post a couple.

~These are our kids~

This is Kiddo, running through the sheep field. Why you ask?
I DON'T KNOW!
lol

I decided to make a slide show of our trip, but it won't be finished for another day or two. I will post it as soon as I am finished with it! We all had such a WONDERFUL time and they weather was absolutely GORGEOUS! Thank you, Father, for giving us the perfect day for our trip!

Friday morning, the first day of our yard sale, I woke up in so much pain in my feet and legs that I was hobbling around like a little old lady. When I got dressed Thursday morning, I never gave a thought to the shoes that I was wearing. I wore a pair of old what boat shoes which apparently was the WRONG thing to wear. I had no support and the soles were too thin. Not good when you are doing a LOT of walking! :> ( PRAISE THE LORD, I woke up Saturday morning so much better with hardly any pain in my legs and feet at all.

As for the yard sale, I keep saying I'll never do it again, but that never really works. However, this time, I am keeping my word. We had a good time, got rid of a lot of stuff, whether by being sold or given away, we made $36.00, and NOTHING was brought back into my house. WOO HOO! After that, I had some things to attend to out of town that took up much of what was left of our Saturday evening.

Then on Sunday, we had church in the morning, a play and dessert theater that afternoon, choir practice for the Christmas program after the theater, and then another out of town errand. By that evening, I was BEAT! I think I was in bed by 9:00! lol Yesterday was filled with getting caught up on household chores and unfinished schoolwork from Thursday and Friday.

So what have you been up to lately?

Lord I Pray

"If My people, who are called by My name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14

Lord God, you, who makes all things possible, hear our cry. It may not be all of our nation, Lord, calling out to you in prayer to change our ways, but father it is "many" of us. Lord, there are so many of us who love you, who are doing your will and want to make a better America.........grant us, oh Lord, victory on this day.

We pray for those who do not yet know you, Father. We humbly pray that "YOU" will be made first and foremost important in our great Nation once again and that the words "ONE NATION.....UNDER GOD" will once again mean something!

Father God, you know what is ahead for this country. We ask you to make all of us here and in America be obedient to Your will, Your ways, and Your moral values so that we may see this economy turn around, jobs be created and protected, and that we are safe from terrorism and attacks of any kind.

We praise YOU Father, Jesus Christ, King of Kings, LORD of lords, Prince of Peace, and we give YOU all honor and glory. And we ask this in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ.......... Amen!

Commitment

Many women have issues with commitment. Their fear of failure causes them to drift in and out of relationships, jobs, and obligations without ever really settling anywhere. Committing your life first to God, will help you commit later to others.

Give Him your love, your life, your heart, and ask Him to help you walk out your commitment one day at a time. Everything else will follow!

Thankful Thursday

As most of you know, I am a lover of music and sometimes the words to a song can express far better than I, what I want or need to say.

"THANK YOU" by The Katinas is a beautiful song, thanking our Precious Heavenly Father for the things that He has done for us.

Please take a moment not only to listen to the wonderful words and beautiful music of this song, but the actual video itself.

Your heart will be touched............I know mine was!

THANK YOU, JESUS

Headin' Out

Today we are heading out for a field trip with some amazing homeschool families from our church. If you'd like to see where we're going, please click HERE!

See ya soon!

Things I Love About My Husband

There are so many things I love about my husband I could type all day, so here are just a few things:

1) He loves the Lord.

2) He loves his family.

3) He has a WONDERFUL sense of humor ---->

4) He works so hard so that I can be a stay-at-homeschool-mom!

5) He has put up with being married to me with all my quirks and my wEiRd sense of humor for almost 24 years.

6) He eats whatever I cook......even if it stinks. Now that's true ♥!

7) He is a GREAT husband and father!

8) He loves to take walks with me.

9) He is handsome and looks great in his carpenter pants.

10) He gives EXCELLENT back massages.

I ♥ YOU, MY SKIPPY MAN!

YUMMY Pumpkin Muffins

UPDATE: I just made the batter for these muffins and WOW........it really is DELICIOUS BATTER! :> )

They are in the oven now............can you smell the aroma? HEAVENLY!

Thank you, Renee!

* * * * * * *

I found this recipe for pumpkin muffins over at Renee's and I CAN'T WAIT to try it!

DELICIOUS BATTER

3 1/3 c. flour
2 tsp. baking soda
3 c. sugar
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground ginger

Mix dry ingredients and add:

1 c. oil
4 eggs
2/3 c. water
2 c. pumpkin

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.
Prepare muffin tins by greasing with vegetable oil or butter and sprinkling lightly with flour. Shake out excess.

Fill muffin tins three-quarters full and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

CREAMY ORANGE ICING

2 tbsp. orange juice
1/4 c. granulated sugar
2 1/3 c. sifted confectioners sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. shortening
1 tbsp. grated orange rind

Mix confectioners sugar and egg thoroughly. Bring orange juice and granulated sugar to boil; boil 1 minute. Add to sugar and egg mixture; blend well. Add shortening and orange rind. Beat until creamy.

Easy Cream Cheese Danish

My sister just text me asking for the recipe for "Easy Cream Cheese Danish" that I posted on my homeschool blog a while back. It took some looking but I finally found it!

Here you go, Noon....this is for YOU!

For this recipe, you will need:

2- 10oz. Cans Pillsbury Refrigerated Crescent Rolls
2- 8oz. Packages Cream Cheese, room temperature
3/4 c. Granulated Sugar
1 Egg
1 Tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

Directions:

1. Lightly grease a 9 x 13 glass casserole dish
2. Unroll one can of crescent dough, place across bottom of dish, pinch seams closed

3. Beat cream cheese, granulated sugar, egg, lemon juice, and vanilla extract together until smooth
4. Pour mixture over dough in casserole dish and spread with a rubber scraper
5. Unroll second can of crescent dough, place over cream cheese mixture, pinch seams closed
6. Bake 350* for 20-30 minutes until lightly browned
7. Remove from oven and dust with powdered sugar
8. Let sit at least 30 minutes before cutting
9. Can be served warm, room temperature, or chilled

Note: this would also be delicious topped with strawberries, blueberries, almonds, walnuts, warmed marmalade or fruit preserves, lemon zest, chocolate shavings, or a drizzle of powdered sugar icing....the possibilities are ENDLESS!

A Prayer For My Children

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate."
Psalm 127:3-5

A Prayer For My Children
By Mary Ann Rudy

May God bless these precious children of mine
May their bright, beautiful lights be permitted to shine
May they be kind and compassionate each and every day
May their joy be abundant, and may pain stay away

May they know much of love, and be a stranger to fear
May their blessings be many, and may God hold them dear
May their lives be long, and their worries be few
And May God bless their chosen paths in all that they do

What's On The Menu

Dinner's in the crockpot...........










and bread's in the basket.

ROFLOL!

Cats........you gotta love 'em!

REJOICE!

"May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;
may they be happy and joyful!"
Psalm 68:3

Happiness is elusive in this life. Because it's an emotion-like sadness and anger-it comes and goes with the circumstances that we are going through. Joy, however, is different. It's the permanent condition of the heart that is right with God. It isn't based on circumstances, but rather the known outcome-spending eternity with God.

Forget about the pursuit of happiness and embrace joy. It will not fail you even in your darkest days and most trying hours.

REJOICE!

Peanut Butter Munchies

If you like peanut butter and chocolate, especially TOGETHER, you'll LOVE these cookies! I made these this morning and they were a big hit!

For this recipe, you will need:

For the cookie dough:

• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Peanut Butter Filling:

• 3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter

For flattening:

• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degree F. In a medium mixing bowl stir together flour, cocoa powder, and baking soda; set aside.

2. In a large mixing bowl beat together butter, the 1/2 cup granulated sugar, brown sugar, and the 1/4 cup peanut butter with an electric mixer until combined. Add egg, milk, and vanilla; beat well. Beat in as much of the dry ingredients as you can with mixer. Stir in remaining dry ingredients by hand with a wooden spoon. Form chocolate dough into 32 balls about 1-1/4 inches in diameter. Set aside.

3. For peanut butter filling, in a medium mixing bowl combine powdered sugar and the remaining 1/2 cup peanut butter until smooth. Shape mixture into 32 (3/4-inch) balls.

4. On a work surface, slightly flatten a chocolate dough ball and top with a peanut butter ball. Shape the chocolate dough over the peanut butter filling, completely covering the filling. Roll dough into a ball. Repeat with the remaining chocolate dough and peanut butter filling balls.

5. Place balls 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Lightly flatten with the bottom of a glass dipped in the 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.

6. Bake cookies in preheated oven for 8 minutes or until they're just set and surface is slightly cracked. Let cookies stand for 1 minute. Transfer cookies to wire racks; cool. Makes 32 cookies.

To Store: Place in layers separated by waxed paper in an airtight container; cover. Store at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 3 months.

ENJOY!

Jokes You CAN Tell In Church

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?" The mother replied, "Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life." The child thought about this for a moment then said, "So why is the groom wearing black?"

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

A little girl, dressed in her Sunday best, was running as fast as she could, trying not to be late for Bible class. As she ran she prayed, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late! Dear Lord, please don't let me be late!" While she was running and praying, she tripped on a curb and fell, getting her clothes dirty and tearing her dress. She got up, brushed herself off, and started running again! As she ran she once again began to pray, "Dear Lord, please don't let me be late...But please don't shove me either!"

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

Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50." The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on piece of paper, he calls it a song, and they give him $100." The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!"

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

An elderly woman died last month. Having never married, she requested no male pallbearers. In her handwritten instructions for her memorial service, she wrote, "They wouldn't take me out while I was alive, I don't want them to take me out when I'm dead."

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

A police recruit was asked during the exam, "What would you do if you had to arrest your own mother?" He answered, "Call for backup.."

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

A Sunday School teacher asked her class why Joseph and Mary took Jesus with them to Jerusalem . A small child replied, "They couldn't get a baby-sitter."

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

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "Honor thy father and thy mother," she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?"
Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

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

At Sunday School they were teaching how God created everything, including human beings. Little Johnny seemed especially intent when they told him how Eve was created out of one of Adam's ribs. Later in the week his mother noticed him lying down as though he were ill, and she said, "Johnny, what is the matter?" Little Johnny responded, "I have pain in my side. I think I'm going to have a wife."

LOL!

What To Do

I have been thinking very seriously lately as to what I should do with my blogs.







I am trying to decide whether to leave them as three separate blogs or to combine them all together. I really love to blog, however, they do take up a lot of time to keep them all going.

What do you think? I could really use your thoughts on this one. What would you like to see happen?

Thank you for your suggestions!

What's On The Menu

Tonight's dinner on the farm:

Spaghetti w/meat-a-balls (lol)
Homemade bread

Dessert:

Peanut Butter & Fluff cookies

(This menu is subject to change at any given moment!)

Tonight's dinner has been prepared by the loving hands of our daughter, Bean! :> )

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

Fall has arrived and with it, the pumpkin season. Oh, how I wish I could say along with cooler temps as well but it has been in the high 80's here the past few days. What's up with that? LOL

Around this time of year, there are always pumpkins being carved, and with carved pumpkins come pumpkin seeds, and LOTS of them! After you're done scooping out the insides and making those pumpkin pies, pumpkin butter, pumpkin crunch, or whatever yummy things you will be making, why not make some toasted pumpkin seeds? They are easy and delicious. Well, if you're my daughter they are. Personally, I am NOT a fan! lol

To make toasted pumpkin seeds you will need:

* A pumpkin or two (up to you how many)
* Olive oil or cooking spray if you are watching your diet
* Salt

Cut open the pumpkin and use a strong metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Separate the seeds from the stringy core. Rinse the seeds.

Spread the seeds out over the roasting pan, all in one layer. Spray with cooking spray or drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle with desired amount of salt, which will vary depending on your taste preference.

Bake at 400°F for approximately 20- 25 minutes (mixing them up half way through) until browned to your liking. Remove from the oven and let the pan cool on a rack. Eat or store in an airtight container.

ENJOY!

What's On The Menu

Tonight's dinner on the farm:

Chicken apple sausage

Macaroni & cheese

Sweet corn

Dessert:

Peanut Butter Munchies

(This menu is subject to change at any given moment.....
and it has!)

5 Spices That Can Help You Lose Weight

This is an interesting article from Healthy Living that lists five ingredients that not only add flavor to your favorite dishes, but can help in your battle against the bulge.

To find out more about what cinnamon, cayenne, black pepper, mustard seed, and ginger can do for you, please click HERE!