Granola, Peanut Butter, and Apple Sandwiches

If you used gluten free granola then Celiac and gluten free peeps could eat these
too! :)    I'm trying this!



Let me know if you do too!

P.S. I've had these several times--they are delicious!

Cheesy-Stuffed Garlic Butter Crescents

I can't eat these because of my Celiac's  (no gluten allowed!) but my family

will love them! Trying soon!

 

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Cheesy-Stuffed Garlic Butter Crescents

yield: 8 CRESCENTS

 

prep time: 10 MINUTES

 

cook time: 12 MINUTES

 

total time: 22 MINUTES

INGREDIENTS:

1 tube crescent rolls
4 string cheeses, cut in half
2 tablespoons salted butter
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 small clove garlic, minced

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or silicone baking 

mat and set aside.

In a small bowl, melt butter together with Italian seasoning and garlic.

Pop open crescent rolls and separate into triangles. Brush the tops with some garlic butter.

 Place half a string cheese at the wide end and roll up. Brush the tops with more garlic butter 

and bake 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Serve warm.

Blackberry Cheesecake Squares

Is it just me or do these sound amazing!?

Blackberry Cheesecake Squares

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Ingredients
Crust:
Cooking spray, for spraying foil
One 11-ounce box vanilla wafers
1/2 cup pecans
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted
Filling:
Three 8-ounce packages cream cheese
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
4 eggs
1/2 cup sour cream
Topping:
4 cups blackberries
1 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

For the crust: Line a 9-by-13-inch rectangular baking pan with foil and
 spray with cooking spray.

Place the vanilla wafers and pecans into the bowl of a food processor and pulse
 until the mixture becomes crumbs. Add the melted butter and pulse again until 
combined. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and press the crumbs into the
 bottom of the pan. (If they come up the sides, that's okay!)

For the filling: Beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together in a medium bowl
 with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the eggs one at a time, beating after each 
addition. Add the sour cream and mix again.

Pour the filling into the crust, smooth the top and bake for 50 minutes. Turn off the
 oven, open the oven door and allow the pan to sit in the open oven for 15 minutes. 
Remove and set aside to cool.

For the topping: Add the blackberries, sugar and 1/4 cup water to a saucepan or
 skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat and cook until the juices thicken
slightly, 4 to 5 minutes.

In a small bowl, make a slurry by stirring together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons
 water until smooth. Add the slurry to the berries, return to the boil and cook for another
 1 to 2 minutes. Turn off the heat and cool the mixture.

Pour the blackberries over the cheesecake and place the pan into the fridge to cool
 and set for at least 2 hours (several hours is better).

When ready to serve, remove the cheesecake from the pan by lifting the edges
 of the foil. Slice into 15 pieces with a long serrated knife.

Recipe by Ree Drummond

Saying Goodbye...For Now

I am heartbroken today as my good

friend Marci has gone home to be with the Lord.

But, I am happy for her as I know that she

is now without cancer, without pain, and without sadness.

Marci had a wonderful testimony, and was a

great inspiration to me in my life.

We shared so much, and she was such a big part of my life...

that I can't imagine my life without her.

She loved her family

She was an excellent friend to so many

all over the country

She was a mentor to my son and to

other young people

She had a great wit and sense of humor!

And her trademarks: Blue Gingham and Sunflowers

will always, always remind me of her!

I look forward to seeing her again....

Until then, goodbye my sweet friend.

It is Well with My Soul

Over the last years I have faced some hardships, and I am sure most people have...
This hymn and it's story is one that often comes to mind during difficult times, and I thought
I would post it today.

It is Well with My Soul, the Song and the Story

Horatio Spafford (1828-1888) was a wealthy Chicago lawyer with a thriving legal practice, a beautiful home, a wife, four daughters and a son. He was also a devout Christian and faithful student of the Scriptures. His circle of friends included Dwight L. Moody, Ira Sankey and various other well-known Christians of the day.

At the very height of his financial and professional success, Horatio and his wife Anna suffered the tragic loss of their young son. Shortly thereafter on October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire destroyed almost every real estate investment that Spafford had.

In 1873, Spafford scheduled a boat trip to Europe in order to give his wife and daughters a much needed vacation and time to recover from the tragedy. He also went to join Moody and Sankey on an evangelistic campaign in England. Spafford sent his wife and daughters ahead of him while he remained in Chicago to take care of some unexpected last minute business. Several days later he received notice that his family's ship had encountered a collision. All four of his daughters drowned; only his wife had survived.

With a heavy heart, Spafford boarded a boat that would take him to his grieving Anna in England. It was on this trip that he penned those now famous words, When sorrow like sea billows roll; it is well, it is well with my soul.. 

Philip Bliss (1838-1876), composer of many songs including Hold the Fort, Let the Lower Lights be Burning, and Jesus Loves Even Me, was so impressed with Spafford's life and the words of his hymn that he composed a beautiful piece of music to accompany the lyrics. The song was published by Bliss and Sankey, in 1876.

For more than a century, the tragic story of one man has given hope to countless thousands who have lifted their voices to sing, It Is Well With My Soul. 

Here are the words:
It Is Well With My Soul


When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Refrain:
It is well (it is well),
with my soul (with my soul),
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

Refrain

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to His cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

Refrain

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
If Jordan above me shall roll,
No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

Refrain

And Lord haste the day, when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul.

Refrain

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7) 

So excited!

Look what I won from Woman's Day magazine!

I entered their giveaway, and won this Le Creuset

platter!

Love it!

Well, this Sunday is Easter already!

My husband and I prefer Resurrection Sunday :)

Just thought I'd share a few of our decorations with you...

We went to the Dollar Tree and found these cute glitter eggs.

Bri and I put ribbons on them and hung them from

our white valance in the living room.

These decorations below have been

around since my kids were "littles".

They loved to decorate this little tree :)

I got the cross below at the Dollar Tree a

couple of years ago, it's one of my favorites.

My son Brad put this together several

years ago, and it hangs in a special place in the

living room.

I found the egg holders and eggs below at the Cracker Barrel.

I found the little Happy Easter sign at Home Goods this year.

These are "oldies" too :)

I hope you have a blessed Resurrection Day, remembering

that He is Risen!

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Matt. 28:6

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Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Romans 8:34