We will most likely be postponing the September Meeting a couple weeks. With school starting for most people after Labor Day, hopefully it will make scheduling easier for ladies to attend.
The topic for this month's meeting will be Family. We will be focusing on what God wants for a family and how to build a loving, close-knit family.
There is still a need for a Fun Feature topic. If you have any ideas, please contact Janelle Lott.
Check back later for more details on September's meeting.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Pot Roast (Cola-style)
Pot Roast has to be one of my all-time favorite comfort foods. It all began when I was a child. Some wonderful ladies at our church used to make pot roast for church activities and wedding receptions. I've since gotten the recipe but just don't have the touch to make it taste the same.
Recently, I came across this recipe on my favorite recipe source! The secret ingredient -- cola! Since I'm unlearned, I'm guessing it's the carbonation that makes the meat so tender. Hands down. I will NEVER make another type of roast again! I will however try to make it with Diet Coke next time since that's what we have on hand. Bought a Coke at a vending machine last time. This is a great meal to throw in a crock pot. Just follow the directions for the size roast you have and your choice of a low or high setting.
Cola Pot Roast II
4 pounds beef sirloin roast
3 carrots, chopped
3 stalks celery, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 (.75 ounce) packet dry brown gravy mix
2 tablespoons water
1 (1 ounce) package dry onion soup mix
1 (10.75 ounce) can condensed cream of mushroom soup
10 fluid ounces cola-flavored carbonated beverage
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place meat in a roasting pan. Sprinkle carrots, celery and minced garlic around roast.
3. In a small bowl, combine the brown gravy mix and water, mixing into a smooth paste. Add onion soup mix, cream of mushroom soup and cola-flavored carbonated beverage. Pour over the roast.
4. Cover pan, and cook 1 hour in the preheated oven.
5. Reduce oven temperature to 225 degrees F (110 degrees C), and continue cooking 2 hours. Remove from oven, and turn roast over so that the top is now covered with the gravy. Cover pan, and return to oven for a minimum of 2 hours.
6. Remove from oven, and let meat rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Ho-Ho Cake
Don't have time for much chit-chat, so I'll get right to the point. This recipe is good! It's been requested that I share this recipe, so I will happily do that. ENJOY!
Oh, and PS. This isn't healthy, just yummy!! =D
Ho-Ho Cake
1 box Devil's Food cake mix
1 sm box instant pudding
4 eggs
1 1/4 c water
1/2 c oil
Baked in greased and floured 10x15-inch pan at 350 degress for 30 minutes.
(I used chocolate pudding since I had it on hand. If you'd like a little less chocolatey flavor, use vanilla pudding.)
Cream Filling
1/2 c Crisco
1/2 c butter
1/2 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
Mix well then add 3 c powdered sugar. Beat 10 minutes. Spread icing on cake. Refrigerate 1 - 2 hours.
Frosting
1/2 c cocoa
1/2 c butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 c powdered sugar
Notes: I have seen this recipe with two 9-inch round cakes with the Cream Filling layed on thick in the middle. Eh. That would lose the Ho-Ho-ness of the cake. LOVE the sheet cake idea way better. Secondly, I've heard you can also soften a can of chocolate frosting in the microwave instead of the Frosting recipe listed above. I messed up my first frosting (forgot to melt the butter), so I can't really say it is fool-proof.
Oh, and PS. This isn't healthy, just yummy!! =D
Ho-Ho Cake
1 box Devil's Food cake mix
1 sm box instant pudding
4 eggs
1 1/4 c water
1/2 c oil
Baked in greased and floured 10x15-inch pan at 350 degress for 30 minutes.
(I used chocolate pudding since I had it on hand. If you'd like a little less chocolatey flavor, use vanilla pudding.)
Cream Filling
1/2 c Crisco
1/2 c butter
1/2 c milk
1 tsp vanilla
Mix well then add 3 c powdered sugar. Beat 10 minutes. Spread icing on cake. Refrigerate 1 - 2 hours.
Frosting
1/2 c cocoa
1/2 c butter, melted
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 c powdered sugar
Notes: I have seen this recipe with two 9-inch round cakes with the Cream Filling layed on thick in the middle. Eh. That would lose the Ho-Ho-ness of the cake. LOVE the sheet cake idea way better. Secondly, I've heard you can also soften a can of chocolate frosting in the microwave instead of the Frosting recipe listed above. I messed up my first frosting (forgot to melt the butter), so I can't really say it is fool-proof.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Setting Time Aside
Life. Is. Busy. It just is. I'm beginning to think there is no way around that either. However, I do believe that we have time for what is important to us.
Lately, I've been studying child rearing resources (which I hope to do a post on soon). And all that has got me thinking. In order to be a good parent, I first have to start with a good relationship with my Heavenly Father AND have a solid relationship with my husband. Seems like in recent months, I've been flailing around like a fish out of water when it comes to handling motherhood. I've got my priorities all out of whack!
I'd like take a minute to focus on the husband/wife relationship . . . We need to purposefully set aside some time with our spouse. Whether it's a few minutes each evening to share a bowl of ice cream together after the kids go to bed or getting away for a date night every once in a while if you are so blessed to have the opportunity. Make the time -- pick one night a week to start if that's all the time you can take. It won't happen on it's own. You have to do it deliberately. Sometimes it may not be something you can plan ahead for. You may need to be spontaneous!
I'm only just learning how important this is. And it's not always easy to get time alone. For example the other night, I had just driven back from Indiana (the state, not county). The kids were going to VBS that evening, and it occurred to me that my hubby and I might have a little "free" time just the two of us. So I took a few extra minutes while readying the kids for VBS to set a nice table outside (in case he got home before I return from dropping off the kids). No sooner had I gotten the table set, it started to sprinkle outside. I just prayed our dinner wouldn't be rained out and headed over to church with the kids. It seemed to rain harder the further from home I got. I kept praying it would stop at least by the time I was back home. I wasn't going to let it ruffle my feathers (which is difficult for me -- I'm a planner)! I wasn't very far down the road and got a text from my hubby saying he was going to be 45 minutes later than he had originally thought. My first thought was, "Our time together is dwindling away!" But again, I calmed myself down and wouldn't let it bother me.
In the end, it all worked out -- Praise the Lord! I had put a Post-It note on the front door directing him to the back deck which he commented on and seemed to like. The rain was just a quick sprinkle passing through. It actually started sprinkling again just as we needed to head back inside to retrieve the kids.
It was nice to connect a little in the middle of a busy week. It was so nice to calmly eat dinner and not have to listen to the chaos that is sometimes present when children are around or cut food for three other people before sitting down to eat my cold dinner -- you know how that is, I'm sure. I'm so glad the Lord brought the idea to mind and that He allowed it to come together. Times like this make me feel better, and make me feel like I can face another day with my kids (which sometimes can become discouraging).
All that to say, daily work on your relationship with the Lord. Think of little things that will be a boost to your marriage relationship. But remember, you'll have to purpose in your heart and mind to set aside the time.
Lately, I've been studying child rearing resources (which I hope to do a post on soon). And all that has got me thinking. In order to be a good parent, I first have to start with a good relationship with my Heavenly Father AND have a solid relationship with my husband. Seems like in recent months, I've been flailing around like a fish out of water when it comes to handling motherhood. I've got my priorities all out of whack!
I'd like take a minute to focus on the husband/wife relationship . . . We need to purposefully set aside some time with our spouse. Whether it's a few minutes each evening to share a bowl of ice cream together after the kids go to bed or getting away for a date night every once in a while if you are so blessed to have the opportunity. Make the time -- pick one night a week to start if that's all the time you can take. It won't happen on it's own. You have to do it deliberately. Sometimes it may not be something you can plan ahead for. You may need to be spontaneous!
I'm only just learning how important this is. And it's not always easy to get time alone. For example the other night, I had just driven back from Indiana (the state, not county). The kids were going to VBS that evening, and it occurred to me that my hubby and I might have a little "free" time just the two of us. So I took a few extra minutes while readying the kids for VBS to set a nice table outside (in case he got home before I return from dropping off the kids). No sooner had I gotten the table set, it started to sprinkle outside. I just prayed our dinner wouldn't be rained out and headed over to church with the kids. It seemed to rain harder the further from home I got. I kept praying it would stop at least by the time I was back home. I wasn't going to let it ruffle my feathers (which is difficult for me -- I'm a planner)! I wasn't very far down the road and got a text from my hubby saying he was going to be 45 minutes later than he had originally thought. My first thought was, "Our time together is dwindling away!" But again, I calmed myself down and wouldn't let it bother me.
In the end, it all worked out -- Praise the Lord! I had put a Post-It note on the front door directing him to the back deck which he commented on and seemed to like. The rain was just a quick sprinkle passing through. It actually started sprinkling again just as we needed to head back inside to retrieve the kids.
It was nice to connect a little in the middle of a busy week. It was so nice to calmly eat dinner and not have to listen to the chaos that is sometimes present when children are around or cut food for three other people before sitting down to eat my cold dinner -- you know how that is, I'm sure. I'm so glad the Lord brought the idea to mind and that He allowed it to come together. Times like this make me feel better, and make me feel like I can face another day with my kids (which sometimes can become discouraging).
All that to say, daily work on your relationship with the Lord. Think of little things that will be a boost to your marriage relationship. But remember, you'll have to purpose in your heart and mind to set aside the time.
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