Heart-shaped foods to celebrate Valentine's Day all day long

Hey y'all.  Why not put a little effort into making this Valentine's Day special for your family by preparing fun heart-shaped foods all day long?

For breakfast, enjoy heart-shaped pancakes with heart-shaped bacon.  Or how about an egg in a heart-shaped basket (feel free to scramble that egg if your family prefers)?  

 

 

 

 

Or if you're in the mood for a little more sugar to start your day, how about heart-shaped cinnamon rolls (from homemade or cinnamon-rolls-in-a-tube). 

 

 

Whichever you choose, add some heart-shaped strawberry slices to add vitamin C and fiber.

 

For lunch, try these heart-shaped calzone with marinara for dipping (use Pillsbury biscuits or crescent rolls if you don't have time to make a yeast dough), this cute heart-shaped hot dog, heart-shaped hard-boiled eggs, or a heart-shaped sandwich--this one is peanut butter and jelly with sprinkles. 

 

 



On the side, try melon heart kabobs, an apple with heart cut-out, and some heart-shaped veggies.

 

 

 

Are we having fun yet?

For supper make this darling heart-shaped pizza with heart-shaped pepperoni or whip up some heart-shaped ravioli. 

On the side, serve heart-shaped roasted or steamed veggies or a tossed salad with heart-shaped croutons and veggies or a warm spinach salad with heart-shaped strawberries.
 









 

 

To end the day, treat your family to one of these these delicious treats:

Heart-shaped ice cream sandwiches
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Windowpane heart cookies
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Chocolate-Hazelnut-Raspberry Tart
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What will you choose, my friends?  I don't know--I might just have to make heart-shaped foods for a week!

Friendship Bread Variations

While we were visiting Chip in December, she served my kids some Friendship Bread.  And of course, that made them want more.  That stuff is like crack.  Only yummier.

So I made myself some starter (contrary to popular belief, one does not need to be Amish to make Friendship Bread starter) with the intention of feeding it, growing it, then using it all on Day 10 (if you don't know what Day 10 means, click here for a basic explanation of what goes on in the Friendship Bread process) instead of passing some on to friends.

And now, I need to ask you a question.  It's a serious question that requires a serious, well thought-out response.

Since I didn't get it from a friend, and I'm not planning on passing it on to friends, can I really call it Friendship Bread?  Maybe I should just call it Shirley instead.  But if the title of this blog post was "Shirley Variations," I'm thinking I might get the wrong type of visitors...

Anyway...

Friendship Bread.  It is so good.  But don't you ever get tired of the same old recipe time after time?  I do, so I decided this time I was going to do something different.  You probably already know that you can substitute any flavor of pudding in for the vanilla (again, if you don't know what I'm talking about, here's the basic bread recipe, except I use 2 cups of starter), so that's what I did.

I made chocolate chocolate chip

by adding chocolate pudding, along with about 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips.  I also omitted the cinnamon.  So delicious.

I made lemon poppy seed

by omitting the cinnamon, and substituting lemon pudding, adding 2 T poppy seeds (I would add 3 T next time).  Only I didn't realize that I was out of poppy seeds, so I added chia seed instead.  Yes, lemon-chia tastes just like lemon-poppy, but you get all those great chia benefits.  Everyone loved it.

I also made one loaf of traditional Friendship Bread, using the original recipe.

Nothing to call home about, really.  It's just regular Friendship Bread with a few substitutions.  However, my friends, I was AMAZED at all of the other variations I found.

I used my last cup of starter to make Cinnamon rolls from this recipe.  I also found recipes for things like pizza dough, dinner rolls, whole wheat bread, pie crust, peach cobbler, brownies, pancakes, and waffles.

There are over 200 different Friendship Bread variations in The Friendship Bread Kitchen's recipe box, including gluten free, vegan, paleo, and sugar-free options.  Amish Bread Friendship has another 100+.  And that's not all.  Do an internet search for "Friendship Bread Variations," you'll see.

I probably won't ever get around to trying them all, but I intend to make as many as I can.  Starting with Chocolate Turtle Friendship Bread.  Or maybe Cranberry Walnut Flax Friendship Bread Muffins.  Or...

I think I'm gonna have to pull 'em out of a hat!

Happy Friendship Bread (or Shirley) making!

{Dutch Style} Pigs in a Blanket

When I say, "pig in a blanket," what do you think of?

Is it something like this?



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Ha ha, it's a pig in a blanket :)

Or maybe something like this?


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Yeah, me too.  Some sort of cured sausage link or hot dog encased in a blanket of biscuit or crescent roll dough.  This is a real pig in a blanket.  And judging from a quick image search, most of the world agrees with me.  My favorite brother in law agrees with me, too.  Just one more reason why I love him :)

My husband is of Dutch ancestry, and he insists that those things up there are something else.   I don't know what he would call those--maybe something creative yet descriptive like hot dogs in crescent roll dough.  But whatever, he would say those are definitely not pigs in a blanket.

Here's what real (according to Dutch descended Americans) Pigs in a Blanket look like:

Real (according to Dutch descended Americans) Pigs in a Blanket are a mixture of ground beef and pork sausage shaped into logs and covered in flaky pastry.  They taste a lot better than hot dogs in crescent roll dough, and they're actually really easy to make--not quite as easy as wrapping a hot dog in crescent roll dough, but easy enough.  These also freeze well, so feel free to make a large batch, bake some now, and freeze some for future meals.

Hubby's Grandma R taught me how to make these when she came out for MC's baptism years ago.  She passed away a couple of years later, but I can still see her at our kitchen table, up to her elbows in flour, rolling out the dough, and passing on her knowledge of the past.  She was a no nonsense woman, and got right down to business (in other words, she started without me).  Guess I'll get down to business, too :)

Here's Grandma R's recipe.

{Dutch Style} Pigs in a Blanket

Filling

3 lb pork sausage
2 lb ground beef

Mix together and form into logs.  I used a 1/2 c. measure and got about 20 pigs.  Grandma R's were smaller--she got 44.

Crust

4 c. flour
6 t. baking powder
2 t. salt
1 c. vegetable shortening (I'm sure lard would work)
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 c. milk

• Stir together flour, baking powder and salt.  Cut in shortening until crumbly.  Add eggs and milk and stir to form a sticky dough.
• Roll out dough in a strip, about 1/8" thick, the same width as your pigs.  Use a lot of flour to keep the dough from sticking.  And I mean a lot.  My eyes were so wide as I watched Grandma flinging more and more flour onto that table.  I could not believe the amount of flour she used, until a couple of years later when I made these by myself and discovered it was necessary.  Do not be afraid.

• Place one pig at the edge of the dough and roll until covered. 

• Cut the dough, brush off excess flour, place blanket-ified pig on a baking sheet and repeat with remaining crust and pigs.

To eat now: bake in preheated 350 degree oven until done (165 on a meat thermometer), about half an hour.

To freeze for later: place pigs in single layer on large baking sheet and flash freeze until firm, about an hour.  Place pigs in an air tight storage container (freezer storage bag, Styrofoam tray covered with plastic wrap and foil, etc) and freeze until ready to use. 

To serve: thaw and bake according to instructions OR bake from frozen, adding 15-30 minutes extra to baking time (rely on meat thermometer to tell you when they're done).


I don't make these very often, because they're terribly unhealthy* (better for you than hot dogs in crescent rolls, though), but when I do, I love to meditate on the wonderful woman who loved and nurtured her family, including my mother in law and husband, through the years.  Making and eating these is like getting a hug from Grandma.  I hope she approves.

*I make these as written because they remind me of Hubby's grandma, and as I said, we don't have them very often, but if you want to make them a bit healthier, use turkey sausage in place of pork and use extra lean beef.  Substitute whole wheat flour and palm shortening in the crust.  Use egg substitute and skim milk.

Knowing God by Name

In the Bible names have significance.  Names have meaning--they are meant to highlight attributes or characteristics of those who hold them.

Jacob, which means he who supplants or schemer, was renamed Israel, which means he has been saved by God.  Abram's name, exalted father, was changed to Abraham, father of many.  Saul, prayed for, became Paul, humble.  Jesus referred to Simon, he has heard, as Peter, rock.

Within this framework, is it any surprise that throughout scripture God reveals His complex character by identifying Himself by different names, each one exposing different aspects of who He his and what He does for us?

In Knowing God by Name: A Girlfriends in God Faith Adventure, authors Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, and Mary Southerland explore 40 of God's names.

 

The book is divided into 8 weeks of daily readings.  On days 1 through 5 of each week, a new name is introduced and unfolded through scripture, inspiring stories, Biblical truths, and prayer, to demonstrate an aspect of God's character affirmed by that name.  Day 6 is a time for reflection and going deeper into the Word, with questions and space for journaling.  There is no day 7, so I've been dividing the day 6 reflections over two days.

 

I love this book.  I am learning so much every day about who God is and what it means to be in relationship with Him.  God is so good, so very, very good in His love, in His provision for us.  Through this book, my spirit has been moved to learn more and grow closer to God. 

 

This study is perfect for personal use, which is how I'm using it, or for use with a prayer partner or a small group.  The day 6 reflections are an excellent starting place for small group study and discussion.  Buy it.  You will not be disappointed.

 

Every day brings a new favorite passage, but just to give you a taste, here are a couple of excerpts.

 

Mary Southerland on El Kannah, the jealous God, used in Exodus 34:14:

...jealousy compels God to pursue each one of us relentlessly, no matter how we try to evade Him with our indifferent attitude or our propensity for sin. ...  

Don't doubt for a minute that God is jealous for you... He is standing right beside you, wrapping His arms of love around your wounded heart. Listen closely as he declares that you are His child. You belong to Him and He is not going anywhere! He is El Kannah, forever with you and pursuing you with all His love-filled heart.

 

Sharon Jaynes on El Shaddai, the All Sufficient One, used in Genesis 17:1-2:

The Hebrew root word shad [meaning breast] may seem an odd choice for referring to God. But if you have ever held a hungry, crying, restless, or anxious babe in your arms and then witnessed the calm that sweeps over him when placed to his mother's breast, you understand. The crying ceases, the restlessness calms, the hunger is satisfied, and anxiousness melts away. And to that child, the mother from whom life-giving, soul-satisfying nourishment flows seems all powerful. What a beautiful image of our God who satisfies our every need, calms our every fear, and soothes our every longing.
 

 

I received this book for free from Waterbrook/Multnomah for the purposes of this review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Did you like this review?  Please take a moment to rank it below.  As a thank you, you will be entered into a drawing to win a copy of the book.

13 {Friend-ly} Valentines

I am so annoyed by Valentine's Day.  {It's in 4 weeks, doncha know?}  Well, not by Valentine's Day itself, but by the way schools celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm all for increasing love in the world, but I'm tired of seeing grade school kids handing out things that say, "be mine" or "you rock my world" or "blowing you a kiss" or "you make my heart flutter", or "you make my heart bounce" or glow, or pop, or sing or even just "be my Valentine."  Really?  Do you really want your 2nd grader asking every. single. boyandgirl in her class to be her Valentine?

Ugh.  I know no one really reads those things--they just rip off the candy and maybe the card makes it to the trash, but still.  Think about the message you want to send.  Just in case someone is reading.

And don't even get me started on the candy.  The CANDY!  When did this day become all about the candy?

But you don't want to hear about that--you came for the homemade valentines, right?  The ones that talk about friendship instead of love.  The ones that don't necessarily involve candy (although there were a few I just couldn't resist).  So...without further ado, 13 {Friend-ly} Homemade Valentines (just click on {source} under the pictures to find the directions):



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Megan at Coffee Cups and Crayons shows how to make this cute car-painted card.  You (or your child) could also write, "I'll never tire of your friendship."

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And along the same lines, Mique at 30 Handmade Days offers up this free printable--for those who prefer valentines without the mess.




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This cutie frog comes from Kelly at Little Wonders' Days.  It's not a printable but she does tell you where to get this adorable frog clipart



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This is a Pinterest find--not sure who gets to original credit, but isn't this owl cute?  You could also write "Owl always be your friend." 




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 I love this celestial Valentine card from Jessica at Zakka Life.  Feel free to change "Valentine" to "friend."  And add a comma.  Or leave it off entirely.





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Pencils are the star in this free printable from Pauline at Club Chica Circle.





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Gettin' By shows how to recycle crayons to craft these colorful Valentines.




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Leanne at This Magical Journey crafted up this fun Valentine using a parachute guy.




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I love the glow stick light sabers on these Star Wars inspired Valentines!  Free printable from Lisa at the Purple Patch.




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Y'all know I have a soft spot in my heart for mustaches.  That's why I had to include this free printable from Jenny of Plum Adorable, even though it involves candy.  She suggested, if you really want to get fancy, you can cut out the mustache and attach it to the sucker stick to make a fun mustache prop.




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How cute is this super sucker printable from Jessica at Zakka Life?



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Danyelle of Dandee Designs offers up this free printable.  Thread a friendship bracelet, or even a rainbow loom creation, through.


And finally, my Valentine greeting to you, my friends (from Real Simple):


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You are, you know.  Amazing.  Thanks for reading.
Happy Friend-ly Valentining!

Cream of _________ Soup Substitute

I have a few favorite recipes that call for cream of something soup.  I was making one of my favorites the other day when I discovered we were short one can of condensed cream of mushroom soup.  Whoopsies.  (AKD's fault)  I mentioned a recipe for homemade cream of anything soup in this post, so I knew it was possible, but I remember thinking that that recipe was too complicated (it's not, really), so I looked for something a little simpler.

I found one here, and it worked beautifully in my recipe.  Each batch can be substituted for one can of condensed soup and does not contain modified food starch, potassium chloride, soy protein concentrate, yeast extract, dicalcium phosphate, maltodextrin, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, disodium phosphate, or corn syrup solids, all things I found on the label of my can of cream of mushroom soup.

You know how the infamous "they" used to say you shouldn't eat anything you can't pronounce?  Well, thanks to my organic chemistry classes, I can pronounce all of those things, but I still don't think I want to eat them.

Here's the recipe, with a few tweaks.  It really is easy and simple.  Not quite as easy as opening up a can and dumping it in, but pretty close.

Condensed Cream of Anything Soup

(substitute for one can)

1/2-1 c. of your main ingredient (mushroom, chicken, celery, asparagus, potato)
1 T butter
3 T flour
1/2 c. broth (use beef, chicken, or vegetable, depending on your preference and what your main ingredient is.  Home made is best--use low sodium if possible)
1/2 c. milk (I used skim--worked just fine)
1/8 t. garlic powder
1/8 t. onion powder

1. Sauté your main ingredient until soft, then set aside.  Note: I don't know that I would sauté potatoes--maybe just cube and boil or microwave.
2. Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat.  Whisk in flour until smooth, about 2 minutes.
3. Remove from heat; whisk in milk and broth, a little at a time, until smooth.  Stir in main ingredient.
4. Return to heat.  Cook and stir until mixture thickens.
5. Stir in garlic powder, onion powder and salt and pepper to taste.

On my nightstand

I have lots of great blog post ideas for you, my friends, really I do, but I'm having a hard time finding the motivation to actually sit down and blog about them.  Maybe these next couple of evenings I'll be able to pound some out.  In the meantime, just to let you know I haven't forgotten about you, I thought I'd tell you what I'm reading in January.  Affiliate links are provided for your convenience...just in case you want to read these, too.

 

On my nightstand, from the top:

Made to Crave Devotional

by Lysa TerKeurst

I read Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire with God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst this summer and it changed my life.  The author's premise is that we humans were made by God with an empty place that we seek to fill.  God intended for us to fill ourselves with Him, but we choose all sorts of other things to try to fill that God-created void within us--things like money, possessions, our children, our career, the internet, drugs, alcohol, pornography, gambling, food.  Those things work--they fill us up...for a little while...and then we need filling again.  The only thing that will every truly satisfy is God.  The devotional contains all of the great information from the book in perfectly sized daily snippets.  Love it.

Knowing God by Name: a Girlfriends in God Faith Adventure

by Sharon Jaynes, Gwen Smith, & Mary Southerland

I got this one for free from Waterbrook Multnomah, so you'll be seeing a complete review of it soon (if I can ever get motivated to write it), but I'll just say this: I love this book.  In His word, God is called by many names, and each name reveals an aspect of God's multifaceted character.  This study explores 40 of those names, leading the reader to a deeper understanding of who God is and what He does on our behalf.

No Cape Required: A Devotional: 52 Ways To Unleash Your Inner Hero

by Kristen Parrish

"In these pages, Kirsten Parrish looks at the qualities of fifty-two heroes and then shows how you can acquire every one.  No gamma rays or radioactive spider bites are needed." (from the back cover.  To read my review, click here)


Yes, I have 3 devotional books on my nightstand, and I am reading all three.  I read Knowing God by Name in the  morning Monday through Friday, No Cape Required in the morning on Saturday and Sunday, and Made to Crave every evening.  In this way, I'm bookending (ha! an unintended pun!) my day in contemplation of God's word.

Unveiled: Tamar 

by Francine Rivers

This novella is a fictional account of the life of Tamar, the first of the 5 women specifically mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus.  My mom's group is reading all 5 novellas this semester.  If you want to read all five (they are incredibly quick reads), check out A Lineage of Grace, which includes the stories of Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary.  What I love about these books is how the author brings the characters to life.  Tamar probably has about 10 verses written about her in the Bible, if that.  Did you know she was even there?  This story provides context and meaning to a story to which you might not have given a lot of thought.

One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are 

by Ann Voskamp

I've been hearing about this one all over the place, so I figured it's about time I read it.  From the book jacket: "A beautifully practical guide to living a life of joy, One Thousand Gifts invites you to wake up to God's everyday blessings.  As Voskamp discovered, in giving thanks for the life she already had, she found the life she'd always wanted."

Insurgent

by Veronica Roth

I requested this one from the library, along with the rest of the series, because two of the books were on my library's "most requested" list.  Unfortunately, this is the second book in the series, and I'd like to read them in order, so this one will most likely go back unread, until the first book in the series becomes available.  AKD has read the series and recommends it highly.

Mockingjay

by Suzanne Collins

This is the third book in the Hunger Games Trilogy, which I am reading for the 2nd time in preparation for seeing Catching Fire, which is now out in theaters (or maybe it's gone and making its way to the cheap theater by now).  I found the series to be compelling--I could not put the first two novels down.  It was with appalled fascination that I read about this dystopic future, knowing all too well that evil creeps into a society in seemingly innocuous ways, until what was once unthinkable becomes commonplace and accepted.

Miss Brenda and the Loveladies

by Brenda Spahn and Irene Zutell

 I didn't think I would like this book, but I was pleasantly surprised to find I could not put this book down.  It tells the story of how Brenda Spahn, a successful entrepreneur and businesswoman, founded one of the most successful transition programs in the nation for women being released from prison.  This book is funny, personal, inspiring, and heart-warming.


And there you have it.  What are you reading?

How to: Make a Plush Toy from your child's drawing

For a unique and treasured keepsake, try making a plush toy or pillow from your child's drawing.  This technique would work well for just about any creature, including monsters :)  I think vehicles and buildings would work well, too.  Just remember--it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be made with love.

Last summer, Bubby spotted some adorable plush fish in a gift shop and immediately wanted to buy one.  I told him maybe we could make one, and when we returned home, I did a little bit of looking online for a pattern, but Bubby seemed to lose interest, especially after I made his platypus.

But over Christmas break we were in another gift shop.  Bubby saw some stuffed fish, and took up the cry for a fishie to call his own.  I really thought he wanted to just buy one, so I told him I'd put it on his list.  But no...he wanted me to make one.

I asked him to describe how he wanted his fish to look, thinking I would try to find a pattern that fit as many of his criteria as possible, and when he started telling me about the details, I realized I should just have him draw it.  This way, it would be exactly what he wanted.

Here's what he came up with.

Step 1: Make the main shape. 
You can cut apart your child's drawing, and use it as a pattern.  If you want to save the drawing, make a photocopy of it first.

The body is irregularly shaped.  Kind of an oval, but with a bump near the back on the top, and the bottom comes to a point in back.  I just cut out the body that he drew and used it as my pattern piece, cutting two body pieces from green fleece.

Step 2: Add the details before stitching the main shape together. 
This includes eyes, nose, mouth, paws... Don't be afraid to include some whimsical details as well.  This is a child's drawing, not a real-life representation.

I added a fleece mouth, eyes, and gills to the body pieces before stitching them together.

Then I added the colorful flannel dots.  I cut them, using jar lids for a pattern, and Bubby placed them where he wanted them on the body pieces.  I used a slightly contrasting thread to attach them, using a fun swirl on the larger dots.

 

Next up were the tail and fins.  Bubby's paper wasn't big enough to draw the fins, so I traced the outline of the top, bottom, and rear of the body on a separate piece of paper, with enough room for Bubby to add the fins and tail.

I made the fins and tail using Bubby's drawings as my patterns, and using this method to add seam allowance.  After I turned the fins and tail right side out, I topstitched some fin lines on them.

3. Stitch the plushie together, turn, and stuff.

  

 

Let me know if you try it!  I would love to see your creations :)

No Cape Required by Kristen Parrish: A Review

Recently I've been reading No Cape Required: A Devotional: 52 Ways to Unleash Your Inner Hero by Kristen Parrish, which was provided to me by BookSneeze for this review.  In this book, the author takes a look at 52 heroes from popular culture, like Katniss Everdeen from the Hunger Games, Marlin, from Finding Nemo, and Indiana Jones from The Raiders of the Lost Ark, describes an heroic quality that character displays, and shows how the reader can acquire each of these qualities.  Each devotion is just 3-4 pages, and includes a brief description of the hero and their story, a parallel or example of that heroic quality from the Bible, a prayer, and action steps one can take to cultivate that particular heroic quality in their own life.

 

One story that really resonated with me was the story of Alfred Pennyworth, Loyal Manservant to Batman.  Ms. Parrish writes:

While Batman is out mixing it up with dastardly enemies, he knows with utter certainty that back at Wayne Manor resides someone who's taking care of everything else, someone he can trust to keep all his secrets, who cares about him as much as any father, and who--through his quiet service--makes it possible for Batman to do what he does. 

Resourceful and unflappable, Alfred may not be the one having the exciting adventures, but he is a vital part of Wayne's life, with skills as varied as maintaining the batmobile, building the batcomputer, and keeping the Caped Crusader's costume in pristine condition. 

Sounds familiar :)

 

I like this book.  The devotions are nice and short, each taking about 5 minutes to read.  I've enjoyed the devos about heroes that I know a little better than the ones I don't know, but the author does a great job explaining each hero's story, so I can appreciate even the ones I've never heard of.  The format is such that you could read one each week, and spend the rest of the week working on the action steps, completing the volume in one year.  Or it would be just as easy to read one each day, finishing the book in about 8 weeks. 

 

This would also be a great resource for parents or youth ministry leaders who wish to encourage certain attributes in their charges.  The table of contents lists the character and his or her heroic attribute, so it's easy to pick an applicable hero's story to share with your child.

 

Thank you to BookSneeze for providing me with a free copy of No Cape Required, for the purposes of my review.  All opinions are my own.

 

 

 

 

(long overdue) How to Make a Tiger Cake

Bubby requested a tiger cake for his 6th birthday.  And I made one for him.  And now it's...oh, 2 months later, so I thought enough time has passed that I can show it to you :)

I think he liked it.

The basic shape was accomplished by combining a 9" round cake with 2 cupcakes for the ears (just use a regular cake mix or your favorite recipe--make one 9" cake and 12 cupcakes.  Put the extra cupcakes in the freezer for the next time you want to make cake pops).

I cut the rounded tops off of the cupcakes and added them to the tiger's face to form the cheeks.  Next, I frosted the whole ferocious beast with orange tinted frosting.  My friends, if you are going to be decorating things with frosting with any regularity, invest in some gel food colors.  The colors are much more vivid... And no, I did not use them for this cake, because I don't have any. *Sigh*

 

I used Oreo halves for the ears (you don't need to know how many tries it took to get them split perfectly like that... or what I did with the "failures"), Swiss cake rolls + a green M&M for the eyes, another Oreo for the nose, and pretzels for the whiskers.  The tongue is an airheads candy--hold it in your hand for a few minutes to soften it enough to mold.  The mouth is string licorice--mine is cherry flavored (made by Wilton).  The stripes are chocolate jimmies.  Or sprinkles.  Or whatever you wanna call 'em.

 

Happy Tiger Cake-ing!