Holiday Nails

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 26 November, 2013 No comment

Hurry! The holiday season is here. Place your holiday Jamberry orders and Christmas presents before it’s too late!

Go to:

www.delightfullydoable.jamberrynails.net

 

Cranberry Chutney

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 25 November, 2013 No comment

Oh my goodness, if you like cranberries this is an amazing dish. You can use this as a side dish, appetizer, or for the main course. It is amazing!!! Needless to say, I made this with Pork for dinner and AFTER dinner, my husband informs me that he isn’t a big fan of cranberries. Now to my dismay I thought this would convert him to become a cranberry lover. He did admit that it was delicious but he doesn’t prefer cranberries. I was thankful that he ate dinner and didn’t say anything until afterwards, although I was so proud of this meal that my feelings were hurt just a smidgen.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups fresh cranberries
  • ¾ cup water
  • 1 ¾ cups sugar
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp allspice
  • 1 pear, chopped
  • ¾ cup golden raisins
  • ½ cup coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts

Preheat oven to 275 degrees to roast hazelnuts. (see note below for roasting instructions)

Put water and cranberries into a 6-quart saucepan. Turn on medium high.

Combine sugar, cinnamon and allspice.

Add sugar mixture to the cranberries and bring to a boil over medium high heat. Continue to cook on medium for about 10-12 minutes until cranberries pop and mixture thickens up. Stir often.

Add pears, and raisins. Turn heat down to a simmer. Continue to simmer for about 10-12 minutes until pears are softened. Stir frequently.

Take off heat. Add roasted hazelnuts.

Discard the cloves if you can find them.

Serve chutney hot, or let cool and store for later. Refrigerate in tightly sealed jars for up to 3 weeks. I froze mine as my husband isn’t a fan. Thought I would use it for Thanksgiving for others who may appreciate it. Goes great with pork, chicken and beef, and as a spread with a variety of cheeses. I used goat cheese, crackers and this chutney as an appetizer. Yummy!!!

***Note:To roast hazelnuts:
Place the nuts on a rimmed baking sheet in a preheated oven (at 275 degrees) and cook until lightly browned. About 8-10 minutes. If the hazelnuts have skins, you can remove the skins when they are cool enough to handle, lay them on a clean kitchen towel, or between several sheets of paper towels and rub to remove most of the skins (they never completely come off).
This meal is beautiful and looks amazing on the plate. I served this with sautéed Brussels sprouts, apples and cranberries.

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Isn’t it beautiful!?

Mystery Hammer

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 24 November, 2013 No comment

We got my son his first little tool bench as he loves to hit things. We got him a cheap one feom IKEA and it came with a wooden hammer. The problem is since the first day we got this, the hammer has been missing and we still cannot find it.

Its been roughly three months now and again today, I’m stumped, I have no idea where it is.

He is definitely a funny little character always hiding things between the couch and cupboards and typically I’ll find things that night while picking up his toys or at least a couple days later. Here we are, house cleaned, transition it goes toys for big kid toys and still…no hammer.

We shall see if we ever come across it… either that or I’ll find him playing with it one day still unsure as to where it lies. :)

Sister’s Pumpkin Loaf

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 23 November, 2013 No comment

By far the best pumpkin bread EVER. We went to visit my family for a week when my grandma passed away and while we were there my sister had a couple loaves of pumpkin bread. Truth be told, I think Cooper and I ate an entire loaf ourselves in the first day. Little did we know a second loaf was hiding out and the following day I literally had to pull the reigns in otherwise we would have devoured the entire thing. I can’t begin to explain to you the massive party in my mouth with this pumpkin bread. I could go off forever about it, but Cooper and I truly did devour these delicious loaves.

When we got home I set out to make this recipe and it was just as good as I had remembered. You really shouldn’t put this on your “list” to make, you should go ahead and make it right now, you wont regret it. :)

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups sugar
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon each, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice
  • 1/2 teas. baking powder
  • 1/2 teas. baking soda
  • 1/2 teas. salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 can (15 oz.) pumpkin
  • 1 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teas. vanilla

In a bowl, combine the sugar, flour, spices, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  In another bowl, combine the eggs, pumpkin, oil and vanilla; mix well.

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Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

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Spoon into two greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 65-75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 15 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

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Frosted Cinnamon Rolls

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 21 November, 2013 No comment

I have never made cinnamon rolls before now because I truly have never liked them. My mom always made them when we were kids and I only ate hers but never wanted to bake them myself as the time consumption wasn’t worth it to me. Something about her ooey gooey rolls made them desirable. Most cinnamon rolls I’ve had are dry not worth the calorie intake but my moms were different. There was a gooeyness that would ooze out whenever you would take a bite. The perfect amount of cinnamon, sugar and butter would fill my mouth with pure joy. The glaze atop the bun would make complete this masterpiece.

I remember hovering over the countertop when I was little when she would make them. I would lick up the gooey goodness that would ooze out as she cut the long loaf and placed them into the pan. For some reason I have wanted to become that little girl again and sit at the counter while my mom made her delicious cinnamon rolls and relive those precious moments.

Since I couldn’t relive those moments I decided to make my first set of cinnamon rolls and they turned out fabulously. I just wish my mom lived closer so I could take her one to eat with her coffee.

Dough:

  • 2 cup whole milk
  • ½ cup vegetable oil
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
  • 4 ½ cup flour
  • ½ tsp baking powder
  • ½ tsp baking soda
  • ½ tbsp salt

Filling:

  • 1 ½ cup melted butter, plus more as needed
  • ¼ cup ground cinnamon for sprinkling
  • 1 ½ cup sugar, plus more as needed

Frosting:

  • 4oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions:

Mix milk, vegetable oil, and ½ cup of sugar in a pan. Scald the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point.) Remove from heat and let it cool 45 minutes.

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When the mixture is lukewarm but NOT hot, add yeast and stir. Let this sit for a minute and then add 4 cups of flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour. I keep it on the stovetop with a tea towel atop and let it rest in the same saucepan.

Next, add remaining ½ cup flour, the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Stir mixture together. From here, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it—overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to rise out of the pan, just punch it down. Or, of course, you can just go ahead and make the rolls.

Sprinkle surface generously with flour and roll the dough into a thin rectangular shape. Brush melted butter on top, then sprinkle sugar over the butter, and finish with cinnamon.

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Starting with the wide end, roll the dough tightly towards you in a neat line. Spread 1 tbsp of melted butter in 9×13 baking dish. With a sharp knife, begin cutting the dough into 1 inch slices, and laying them in the pans. Let rest for 20-30 minutes covered with tea towel. Bake at 375 degrees for 13-17 minutes, or until golden.

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Meanwhile, prepare the frosting. I prefer frosting to a glaze. I think the frosting makes the cinnamon roll complete. Beat cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla together until there are no chunks. Spread atop cinnamon rolls AFTER they have cooled to prevent melted frosting.

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White Chocolate Pecan Pumpkin Muffins

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 20 November, 2013 No comment

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When you have such a long name for the item you are baking, it says it all, the name being so long is a catalyst for the delicious ingredients that rest in the muffin.  To me this is the perfect holiday food. Deee-licious! I keep them coming this time of year as it’s a great excuse to keep baking all the foods you want but can’t justify during the middle of summer. I believe this is why the holiday weight starts gravitating towards our hips and buttocks; lots of comfort food. :)

I actually started the morning off baking these muffins as our house was a bit chilly with the evening frost. The heat was already turned up and if I had a say, I would leave the heat at 78 for complete comfort but would create the perfect sauna for my husband. So, we steer clear of that and I resorted to baking to help add the extra heat that I absolutely love; a blazing oven.

Ingredients:

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp. ground nutmeg
  • 1 tbsp. allspice
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 1 tsp. baking soda
  • 4 large eggs
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 2 cups pumpkin puree
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  • ¼ cups vegetable oil
  • 2 cups white chocolate chips
  • 1 cup chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 350˚ F.

Line muffin tins with liners.  In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, salt and baking soda, stir to combine.

In a standing mixer combine the eggs, sugar, pumpkin-puree and oil.  Mix on medium-low speed until blended.
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With the mixer on low slowly add dry ingredients, mixing just until incorporated

Add white chocolate chips and pecans and give it a good stir.

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White Chocolate Cranberry Cookie Bars

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 19 November, 2013 No comment

Yesterday I went on a baking spree and made White Chocolate Chip Pecan Pumpkin muffins, Cranberry Cookie’s, Artisan bread and homemade spaghetti. My girlfriend came over for dinner with her son while our husbands went out and watched the Blazers game. I’ve been in a huge holiday cooking mode and have wanted to use the fresh cranberries I got last week.

Both of our sons are on a food strike and we both felt confident that they would eat spaghetti because what kid doesn’t like pasta? Ours! Okay it’s not that they don’t like it, but Coopers deal is anything and everything the last two months. He will not eat unless it’s scrambled eggs or desserts. It’s not suiting my fancy whatsoever so I’ve had to set limits that if he doesn’t eat in his highchair, he is choosing to go to bed hungry. This hasn’t really worked as he is getting most his nutrients from milk right now. I’ve had to come to the realization that I am providing him with a well-balanced diet so I can’t worry about him getting “enough” to eat. He will eat and drink when he is ready. This is a hard one for me, I feel responsible as I am the mother.

All that to say, last night my agreement with Cooper still remained: “if you don’t eat dinner, you go to bed hungry!” Sadly to say this lasted for only an hour. I was sitting on the floor eating my dessert and while I walked away for some water real fast, he stumbled upon the dessert plate. Clearly my strategy to hide it behind his giant ball where we were sitting on the floor wasn’t a good enough hiding spot. Or shall I say it wasn’t hidden at all and was placed directly in his sight. There was no stopping him at that point, he absolutely loved the sugary dessert but why wouldn’t he? Maybe the small amount of vitamin C from the cranberries will help provide some nutrients. :) It was very tasty and I let him partake in this dessert as it allowed me to get “seconds” now that I was sharing. Sweet baby.

Cranberry Cookie

  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 Tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
  • 1/4 tsp baking soda
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries (if you use frozen, don’t thaw)
  • 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350ºF and spray a 9×13-inch pan with nonstick spray.

In a large bowl, cream together canola oil, butter and sugar. Add eggs and vanilla and beat well.

Add the flours and baking soda and stir just until the batter comes together.

Spread 2/3 of the batter in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with berries, then drop the remaining dough in spoonful’s over the fruit – it will spread as it bakes, and you don’t need to cover it all.

Bake for 30 minutes, until lightly golden.
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This recipe was super easy and a quick last minute dessert. I enjoyed this recipe so much that I decided I would add this to the list of Thanksgiving desserts.

Back to the Future

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 18 November, 2013 No comment

My husband and I have Comcast with OnDemand and watch the “free movies” all the time. Last night we started watching Back to the Future as we both loved that movie but probably haven’t seen it in ten years or so. We went to bed around 7:30 as our house is full of “sickies” or shall I say a really bad cold and complete exhaustion and enjoyed our ‘flick.’

We watched the first one and were so excited about it we decided we were going to make a marathon out of it. So tonight we decided to turn on the second movie. The second one goes to the future of 2015, but was made in 1985. Their futuristic assumptions of 2015 was quite a bit off. I was really excited to know that the predictions of our electronics was very farfetched. For some reason this got me so excited that they over predicted the future 30 years later, although we have advanced significantly, it was comforting to know we aren’t that advanced.

Some of the many ideas for 2015 included: TV’s and robots to provide customer service which eliminated jobs for all mankind. Food and drinks at a restaurant being teleported in from who knows where, rather than being prepared in the kitchen. “Big buck hunter” for all of you who enjoy this game as much as me, was frowned upon by the kids in the movie because you had to use your hands to play the game. (Apparently their games were much more technologically advanced) Cars would turn invisible and fly through the sky and a “hover board” which was a flying skateboard was the new mode of transportation. Although I think we are on the path for some of these things, we don’t have robots taking over our careers yet. And….I must say, a hover board would be pretty cool.

It was fun to watch and definitely captured my thoughts of our societal advancement and although 30 years is far off, the predictions were even farther off in light of the movie. Now I know it is a movie, but the fact that we are only two years away from that 1985 assumption for 2015, it was very enjoyable to watch and see where we have come and where we are headed.

For all of you who enjoy the original “Back To The Future”, you should have a marathon as we did and be excited that the 30 year prediction will probably take place when our kids are our age rather than today. :)

***Note: I looked up what the year 2030 will look like and sometimes things are better left unknown…

This car is pretty close to the cars in Back To The Future

“…but I see a world with less forests, less wildlife, more roads, and more buildings in the next 20 years. I see busier streets and fewer 90-year-olds in our homes by the year 2030. The Arctic and Atlantic poles will probably have fewer Eskimos and polar bears to shelter. Streets will have fewer children and hopscotch, hide-and-seek, and dodge ball will be games of the past. Families of seven to ten, will probably be a normal thing by then. Kids won’t probably know what a dolphin, tiger, or what a whale shark will look like. The rich will be richer and the poor, poorer. There will be a lot of people who will hit the gym. There will be more people who won’t hit the gym. Will robots be part of the household? Maybe. Will war end? Hopefully.” –Click-here for more.

We have the power to teach our kids what they should know, and not let these things be lost. It’s up to us. Fascinating that these people make a living on predicting the future….

Never Once

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 17 November, 2013 No comment

Never Once

This song was so emotional for me as in the loneliest moments of my life I feel utterly and completely alone. I don’t know how to begin to express the battle I am in, it’s physically, emotionally and mentally draining. “I am not alone!” I murmur to myself. I haven’t fully grasped that!

I remember when I was in 8th grade we went to Gettysburg and saw the battlefield. I have placed myself there many times the last two weeks; seeing the grave sites, the history that remained while looking upon a real battlefield. The eerie feeling of seeing history unfold before my eyes. Why does life literally place us in our own battlefield? Nothing is more scary than being on the front lines. Scared to take the steps unsure which step will lead you to victory or a hidden grenade, I long to seek the Commander in Chief for the direction of victory as he holds more knowledge on the field than I of course have. We are his officers and our job is to follow his instruction.

The fog settles in, so does a deep fear of what lies ahead. Trusting the voice of the commander while unable to see him. The fog grows thicker, faith must sink deeper. There is no turning back, the battle has begun and there is only two options: fight it out, or lay down and die.

If you trust your commander you will trust he will lead you to victory. In the midst of the battle you have no option but to trust. If you refuse to do so, you are fighting a losing battle, holding back the other officers around you while you question the truth; the enemy is encroaching and time is running out.

I feel this is the battle I am in right now; directly on the front lines, wrestling with the enemy, fighting for my life. Arrows being thrown, persecuting me for my faith, falling down while horses trample over my body, scrambling to my feet I gasp for breath. Attempting to stand and catch my balance but yet another arrow darts my way, I throw myself to the ground in avoidance. Why can’t I just gather the scene and press pause on the horses racing past me, arrows flying, and the enemy trying to take my life. I’m learning in the midst of the battle there is no time for pause, the enemy is out to win and conquer and take our victory. We fight until the fight is won or we surrender in shame. I will not give up, I will trust my commander through the thick and thin no matter if I can see him. I have to trust he is out there directing the way.

Maybe the fog isn’t so bad after all, maybe it keeps my focus on the next step rather than the multitudes ready to attack. I come across a large rock now and again allowing for brief moments of relief but not for long, simply enough to keep my strength running. I get back up and attack the arrows that fly my way, prepared with my helmet of truth and waistband of salvation. “My feet will carry me home, home to victory” I say aloud. The battle will be conquered but it was never stated how long it would last. I stand in confidence, not cowering down to the enemy giving him authority to take my life. I will fight this battle no matter the cost.

My commander is Christ and he is leading me to victory. Most the times it’s through very thick fog, forcing me to stand tall as I take each individual step knowing I have to trust the steps I am about to take. He will guide me and I will listen. If I don’t, the fog will disorient me and I will wind up dead directly in the middle of the battlefield.

I find myself calling out to Christ “How much longer? I trust you! Please hear my cries! End this battle. I want to gain victory and move ahead. Please Lord, let it be today!” I find myself pleading with the Lord, wrestling my own battle of trust, “Is He leading me to victory? Is there an end in sight?”

I find myself realizing that is the essence of trust. Faith in the unseen. If we saw what was to lie ahead we would sit cowardly in the corner preventing the battle to even begin;fearful for our lives. Will the arrows pierce me? Will I be trampled by the enemy? We would plead with the commander begging “please, please let me sit on the sidelines for this one battle.” Yet it wouldn’t be this one battle, it would be every battle we were to fight; fearful for our lives, we would rather quit than even try. We would change our steps in a heartbeat to avoid learning and conquering the battle that has great purpose for our lives. We would hide on the sidelines and our history would remain stagnant with no purpose. It would simply be wasted.

Never Once

Do Not Fear, My Little Flock

Posted by Delightfully Doable on 16 November, 2013 No comment

When a sheep is lost from it’s flock, you can imagine the loneliness, fear and wandering that this poor little sheep experiences. Hundreds of sheep gather in a herd, many new babies born on a daily basis. Is this one sheep important to find, hunt down and bring back to the flock?

Wandering in the wilderness all on your own, brings much more awareness to your predators than being in a flock of a few hundred. Wandering into the nearest coyote den, fox hole or lions cave could easily lose the life of this little sheep.

You may be asking why this one sheep would be so crucial to the Shepard. I have been learning in my bible study the last couple weeks that Christ cares about the lost so much so, that finding the one who is lost, is more critical than the hundreds who are saved. Luke 12:32 Jesus calls us his little flock, this is a term of endearment showing his deep love for us and encouraging us not to worry about the little things; what we will eat or wear. Matthew 18:14 states “The Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.” Even though that one little sheep may be insignificant to the Shepard, it is quite the opposite for Christ. The parable in Luke is explaining the significance of saving the souls around us that haven’t known Christ. If you were the only one on this earth, Christ would still have died on the cross for you and you along. That’s how important that “one” lost soul is. It brings a greater picture to me that Christ seeks and saves the lost, literally seeking us from the blindness we experience on a daily basis. The enemy “has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” 2 Cor 4:3-4.

“Just as a strong wind will blow through an open window and stir things up in a house, the Holy Spirit will blow new life into your church (or your life) if you give Him access.” -Anonymous

Where are our priorities? Are we rushing through the days trying to quickly accomplish the tasks set before us? Whose standard of “tasks” are you seeking to endure, who are you measuring your worth towards; society, Hollywood, friends or family, or Christ? Our perspectives get tainted very quickly and before you realize it, the important things are justified in our minds to not be as critical as we had known previously. Pay attention, be alert, our life is fleeting and we have one shot to not waste our life.

I can tend to waste my life in worry. I realize the power of our minds and the ability they have to consume us and control us so powerfully. This is a very scary thing, yet so refreshing knowing you have the capability to stop your fear in it’s tracks. I believe this is a learned trade as I have struggled with fear my entire life. I don’t think it will ever fully dissipate but can be tremendously reduced over time. I worry so much so that the anxiety starts welling up inside me, this is a huge alarm going off “beep, beep, beep” you need to take your mind captive otherwise you will end up in a ball on the floor paralyzed by fear. This is my routine when I start to recognize the fear I have. I have come to realize, and am not fully there, but fear of something we can control, needs to be roped in, fear of something we cannot control needs to be left in the hands of Christ as we seek wisdom to know the difference between the two.

I have not mastered my fear, but it is such a great reminder that my worries, fears and anxiety are just as important to Christ as the joy and refuge in my life. He came to seek his “little flock;” this is every single one of us. We have to be willing to accept it.

Moment of Truth: What is God calling you to do today? Is there someone you feel you should share the Truth with? Is your own heartstrings be tugged on, are your eyes blinded? Take the steps to seek the truth in your life and realize you can’t gain a day, hour or minute back that passes, but you can change the next minute, hour and days that are to come.