Slow Cooking Thursday!

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

Slow Berry Cobbler

Credit: Paula Deen

* Filling:
* 1 bag each (10 oz): frozen blueberries, strawberries, raspberries - if you have fresh ones, of course - use them!
* 1/2 cup biscuit mix (like Bisquick)
* 1/3 to 2/3 cup sugar - to taste
* Topping:
* 2 1/4 cups Bisquick
* 1/2 cup sugar, divided
* 2 tsp cinnamon
* 1/2 stick butter (4 Tbsp), melted
* 1/2 cup milk

1. Mix berries, baking mix and sugar together and put into slow cooker (I spray it with non-stick spray first).
2. Mix baking mix, half the sugar (1/4 C), butter and milk, drop dollops on top of berries in pot.
3. Mix together cinnamon and remaining (1/4 C) sugar and sprink on top of dough.
4. Cover and cook 3 to 4 hours until puffy, golden brown dough and bubbly fruit.
5. Yummy hot with ice cream!

The Sound of Sleigh Bells Review & Giveaway!

Beth Hertzler works alongside her beloved Aunt Lizzy in their dry goods store, and serving as contact of sorts between Amish craftsmen and Englischers who want to sell the Plain people’s wares. But remorse and loneliness still echo in her heart everyday as she still wears the dark garb, indicating mourning of her fiancé. When she discovers a large, intricately carved scene of Amish children playing in the snow, something deep inside Beth’s soul responds and she wants to help the unknown artist find homes for his work–including Lizzy’s dry goods store. But she doesn’t know if her bishop will approve of the gorgeous carving or deem it idolatry.

Lizzy sees the changes in her niece when Beth shows her the woodworking, and after Lizzy hunts down Jonah, the artist, she is all the more determined that Beth meets this man with the hands that create healing art. But it’s not that simple–will Lizzy’s elaborate plan to reintroduce her niece to love work? Will Jonah be able to offer Beth the sleigh ride she’s always dreamed of and a second chance at real love–or just more heartbreak?

I LOVED this book, I don't think I have enough words to tell you how much, not only because it was so well written and kept me engaged from beginning to end, but because it's Cindy Woodsmall. I mean who doesn't know Cindy Woodsmall?

The whole book is pretty much about forgiveness and letting go of the past. It's something not easy to do, I think we have all had situations where we've found ourselves at an impasse, trying to keep going from some major happening in your life but not exactly knowing how to.

I think for me as well, something else that made it such a good book was the fact that it's about the Amish and you all know what a great love I have for Amish things.

Now the cover can throw you off a bit and have you thinking that it's primarily a Christmas book, but it's not really, it's a great read for any time of the year.

Well written, lovable characters, great life lessons, it's go it all and guess what?

I'm giving away a free copy to a lucky reader.

All you have to do is leave me a comment. I will draw a winner on Saturday.

The giveaway is open to all US residents.

Now if you can't wait and would rather just go ahead and get yourself a copy, you can go here. Don't forget to check out Random House too, they have wonderful books.

This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise!

At this point you probably thinking I'm talking about the body exercise, aerobics or something else....but, I'm actually talking about the Military Exercise kind, the one that wakes you up at 5 am with this loud male OR female voice over the base speakers "EXERCISE, EXERCISE, EXERCISE".

It's annoying to say the least but I always have to laugh too, I mean it's kinda sorta ridiculous LOL

Anyway, there's an exercise going on right now which means 100% ID check, no matter where you go, if you walk into the BX, the shoppette, the commissary, come in the gate or just walk to the loo, you're bound to have someone standing there waiting for your ID.

Oh well, what can we do?

So let me tell you what's been going on here, I know I said I would blog more and them BAM we all got sick and then last week I had Parent/Teacher Conferences and just a lot of things going on.

I'm proud to say that our Jasmine made the Principal's Honor Roll, how awesome is that? WE are so happy and so extremely proud of her, she works very hard and it shows when she brings home those report cards full of nothing but A's.

Little Nicholas is doing extremely well too, he also brings home straight A's and his First Grade teacher wants to start giving him harder work because she feels he's getting bored with what the rest of the class is doing.

You know it makes me smile and it also makes me glad my children are not like me in that sense. No you can laugh but honestly, I wasn't the straight A kinda student and my parents can vouch for that LOL I passed and never failed but there were hardly ever A's and sometimes hardly B's LOL

I think though that I'm blessed in the way I was raised because as long as we did our best and showed that we were applying ourselves to our school work, my stepmom and dad NEVER forced us to bring home just A's, or threaten or bribe.

I've done the same with our kids and I don't push them to get A's, just be the best they can be and to try their hardest in their school work, thankfully they're both very intelligent.

Oh boy, I sound like a one of those gooey moms LOL

Anyway, we got some Halloween decorating done around here and carved our pumpkins this weekend, I didn't get pictures though, by the time I remembered, I was elbow deep in pumpkin guts, not exactly the best time to grab the camera.

Hubby is working day shift this week which I absolutely love. He's been a great help to me, he takes the kids to work in the mornings and I just pick them up in the afternoon.

It might not sound like much but just the fact that I can take my time in the morning and not feel so rushed even if for just one week, is a blessing.

I wish I could stay and chat more but I need to get dinner started and my last load of laundry put away. A woman's work is never done is it?

Hope you're all having a wonderful Monday!

Happy Homemaker Monday!

<a href="http://familycorner.blogspot.com" title="hhm by jasnicmommy, on Flickr"><img width="150" alt="hhm" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3362/3608789834_4d1bac04e0.jpg" height="150" /></a>

The weather in my neck of the woods:
Nice and cool and I couldn't be happier, we had really hot weather this past weekend so I'm glad we're going back down.


One of my simple pleasures:
Reading


On my bedside table:
Night World by L. J. Smith - The same author of the Vampire Diaries. Love this series, just picked up the 3 books at Walmart yesterday.
Thirst by Tracey Bateman - Another vampire novel that I'm reading for a review on the blog.


On my TV:
Little House on the Prairie Season 7


On the menu for tonight:
Good Ol Shepherds Pie, is there anything more comforting?


On my To Do List:
Mop and sweep
Ironing


New Recipe I tried last week:
Nothing, it was just family favorites


In the craft basket:
Some little puppets for the kids for Christmas, some Wrist Warmers for me and Jasmine.


Looking forward to:
Cooler temperatures....oh and Halloween....and Thanksgiving....and definitely Christmas LOL


Homemaking Tip for this week:
Do a load of laundry everyday, don't leave it all until the weekend or the only thing you'll want to do is run far far away.


Favorite Blog Post of the week (mine or other):
Didn't get any blog reading done last week, it was a busy busy time around here.


Favorite photo from last week:

Love this pic I took in the corn maze

Lesson learned the past few days:
That there's nothing wrong with slowing down and if you don't mop that floor right that second, guess what? It will still be there the next morning (unfortunately hahahahah)
Take your time, pace yourself, the world is not going to end if you decide to sit down for a few minutes with a cup of coffee.


On my Prayer List:
All my friends and family
Troops overseas
Friend of mine going through Breast Cancer


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the LORD's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in him.

Psalm 32:10

Slow Cooking Thursday

Don't forget to add your name to Mr Linky and a link back to your SCT post so others can come by and see your recipe too.

Credit: FamilyFood

Suzie's Sloppy Joes

Ingredients

3 pounds 95% lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/4 cups ketchup
1 cup chopped red bell pepper
1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar
3 tablespoons prepared mustard
3 tablespoons vinegar
2 teaspoons chili powder
Toasted hamburger buns

Directions

1. Cook and stir ground beef, onion and garlic in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until beef is browned and onion is tender. Drain and discard fat.
2. Combine ketchup, bell pepper, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, mustard, vinegar and chili powder in 4 1/2-quart CROCK-POT® slow cooker. Stir in beef mixture. Cover; cook on LOW 6 to 8 hours. To serve, spoon mixture onto hamburger buns.