Missy Tippens First!! I'm celebrating a new release! I hope you'll check it out! Click here.
We had dinner with friends last night. I've shared one or two of Beth's recipes with y'all before. I think I've gotten a recipe from her every time we've eaten at their house! And boy, oh boy, do I have a good one for you today! First, she had set such a nice table. Candles! Cloth napkins! (Yes, we use paper napkins around here.)
Then a beautiful fruit salad to start. Blackberries, grapes mandarin/clementines, and walnuts.
A wonderful veggie pasta dish that had the perfect level of spiciness.
And...drum roll...FUDGE PIE! Oh my goodness, this was sooo rich and good!!
Fudge Pie from the kitchen of Richard Brown (given to me by Beth Shugart) 1 stick margarine 3 Tbs cocoa 1 square semi-sweet chocolate 1 cup sugar 1/4 cup flour 2 eggs 2tsp vanilla Melt together first 3 ingredients. Beat next ingredients with the chocolate mixture. Bake in greased pan at 325 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Enjoy! Missy www.missytippens.com
Eleven years ago a wonderful young NYS Trooper from our parish church was killed by a felon who he stopped for a routine traffic stop. Andrew "A.J." Sperr lost his life that day, taken by a conscience-less person who had just robbed a local bank. They had a getaway car parked on a lonely country road that A.J. patrolled daily... When he pulled them over in a broken down pick-up truck on their way to change cars, he had no idea they'd just robbed a bank of less than $2000.00. In the ensuing shoot-out, A.J. was left to die behind his vehicle, on the side of the road. ARTICLE ABOUT A.J.'s 10th ANNIVERSARY HERE I have no words to describe A.J.'s funeral. I wasn't there. There was no room in our large church that holds over 1200 people.... there was no room in the overflow locations in the parish hall or school.... there was no room in the parking lots. On the roads. On the rooftops, filled with fellow officers... An outpouring of love and grief for this youngest son in a family of eleven children... an outpouring of love for the men and women who don a vest and go to work to keep the normal folks safe. The desolate spot where A.J. was killed is no longer desolate. As shown in this article, the spot has been turned into a glorious park. A.J. Sperr Memorial Park.
It's beautiful.
It's inviting. It's clean and nice and open to the public to stop as you're cruising down I-86 (old Rt. 17 through the Southern Tier, the "Southern Tier Expressway" near where I've set dozens of books) and a sign invites you to stop at it along the highway....
I stopped there last year. Just to see. To pray. To think. I had written the Grace Haven series of books for Love Inspired and used the first names of officers killed in the line of duty for all the male characters... a small tribute to the people who risk so much for me. For mine. For all of us. The day I stopped on my way home from NYC there was a wedding going on in one part of the park. Kids were playing on the playground.
A photographer was shooting pics of groomsmen, bridesmaids, guests... Life shimmered where death had prevailed. It was beautiful. I cried. I didn't know A.J. personally. I didn't have to. I knew some of his family, their friends, their in-laws... I knew the pain that reverberated through our church and our community. And I saw those shots of men and women in blue, standing on rooftops, praying.
Building the playground....
The outpouring of love from the towns and businesses along I-86 was amazing... and still is there, evident in the beautiful park memorializing the courage of a young man, just doing his job. So yesterday, after hearing about another young officer gunned down in Colorado Springs (the third Colorado officer killed in the last five weeks) grandson Logan and I baked cookies and brownies. We took them to the Sheriff's substation to Take a Cop a Cookie.... Officers. Sheriffs. Deputies. Troopers... Anyone who stands for law and order and justice in a free land should be respected. The few bad apples do not define the strength of a good police force... And they get sorted out and tossed aside. It should never be open season on cops, and those of us who respect police, who believe in the order of law, need to let our voices be heard, loud and clear.
Cub Scout Logan Blodgett armed with "Thank You" cookies!
And it never hurts to take a cop a cookie!
Multi-published inspirational author Ruthy Logan Herne has worked with multiple officers and deputies over the years... and now has several young deputies in her extended family and friends... and she wants every one of them to come home at night to their wives... kids.... moms.... girlfriends.... dads.... She writes from her farm in Western New York and it's no mistake that she uses lawmen in a whole lot of books... because they make great heroes. Friend Ruthy on Facebook, follow her on Twitter or stop by her website ruthloganherne.com... She loves to chat with people!
It's the dead of winter here, and I've been craving something green and healthy.
But when we went to the green market last weekend, there was not much to be had. Compare these images with the thriving market of last summer.
The hardy farmers get credit for coming each week. So far the only day they closed was when the wind chills were well below zero and ice and snow were in the forecast.
You might notice the wool market. I'll bet that's popular in the winter.
I'd read somewhere recently that kale was helpful in boosting your immune system. Given that I work in a school, a strong immune system is a particularly good thing.
So I had this idea.
I had a bag of Glory kale which I boiled briefly - just enough to take off the raw edge and make it more chewable. The kale is also hardy enough to stand up to the rest of the ingredients -
A glorious beet
A pumello that I'd been waiting to eat
and some lentils for protein. And Voila! A beautiful winter salad.
What do you eat when you're craving something healthy and fresh when there's not much fresh available?
Guess who paid Grammy and Big Daddy a surprise visit this weekend?
Yes, the delightful Miss T came to wish Big Daddy a happy birthday.
And watch the BIG GAME.
Yay!
Grammy served up her famous meatballs (recipe here).
Along with Big Daddy's all-time favorite, grape salsa (recipe here).
And then to finish things off on just the right note, lemon bars (recipe here).
Some of the commercials had Miss T trying to smile.
While others put her to sleep.
But, oh, the fun we had.
So what did you do this weekend? Did you watch the BIG GAME? It was a pretty good match, even if I had no interest in who won.
And then there were the commercials. Have you seen any of them? I got a kick out of the Jack in the Box/Martha Stewart one and couple of others. Which one(s) did you like best?
Mindy Obenhaus lives on a ranch in Texas with her husband, the youngest of her five children and two dogs. She's passionate about touching readers with Biblical truths in an entertaining, and sometimes adventurous, manner. When she’s not writing, she enjoys cooking and spending time with her grandchildren. Learn more at www.MindyObenhaus.com
On Thursday, Ruthy gave us a look at her favorite February things. In case you missed it, go here to read her post.
I loved Ruthy's post so much, that I thought we'd take a look at the Black Hills in February. After all, we need to celebrate this often maligned month, don't we?
So here's my list of what to enjoy about February:
1) The weather. I know some of you might be tired of snowy, blowy weather, but in February, we've barely begun our stormy weather as we head toward the equinox.
Our February days can look like this one day:
But then the sun comes out, and a couple days later we're enjoying this:
Did you know that Spearfish, South Dakota (just a bit north of us) holds the record for the fastest temperature change? On January 22, 1943, the temperatures swung from -4° to 45° in two minutes. Two minutes! But it wasn't done... it dropped back to -4° just two hours later. Blame it on (or give the credit to) warm Chinook winds that blow through our area. You can read about this phenomenon here: the Weather Channel
So we don't have time to get tired of snow...when the sun comes out, it either melts or evaporates.
2) The Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo.
We didn't spend much time at the show this year (hubby's work schedule was crazy), but we were there during the saddle horse auction. As we went by the arena, the auctioneer said, "Who will give me $3250 for this horse?" I was ready to...but cooler heads prevailed and we went home without the horse.
Which is just as well. Our neighborhood doesn't allow horses...
But we got to walk around and see the sights, including Young Living's team of matched Percherons. Wow, talk about beautiful horses! I found this video on YouTube with six horses. Just imagine all eight horses that we saw hitched up!
But the best thing about the stock show? The cowboys. Definitely the cowboys.
3) An Anniversary. A year ago, we were getting ready for a wedding...which means that this year we get to celebrate Katie and Jacob's 1st anniversary!
A perfect way to celebrate Valentine's Day, don't you think?
4) Chocolate. This is one time when I agree with Ruthy! You can never have too much chocolate!
And if you don't really want the sugar or those extra carbs, then this muffin is for you: Muffin in a Mug. But if you want fudge instead of a muffin, Mindy has you covered: Fudge on a Diet?
And if you just want chocolate without all that fuss, just dig into a bag of Ghiradelli Chocolate chips...
5) It's almost book release time! Watch for this book to hit the shelves in March!
This story...I have to admit it...this is the story I had to write. It took a little time to figure out how to fit my grandfather's story into a book, but when Judith needed a hero, Guy stepped into spot.
Here's a little bit about this book:
Love in Plain Sight
As nanny for her nephew, Judith Lapp’s finally part of a vibrant, joyful Amish community instead of living on the outskirts looking in. But teaching her neighbors’ Englischer farmworker to read Pennsylvania Dutch wasn’t part of her plan. And the more time she spends with Guy Hoover, the more he sparks longings for a home and family of Judith’s own.
Guy figured he would never be truly accepted by his Amish employers’ community—even though the Mast family treats him like a son. But Judith’s steadfast caring shows him that true belonging could be within his reach…if he and Judith can reconcile their very different hopes—and hearts. Next week we'll talk a bit about my grandfather's story and how it fits into this book. So here's something to talk about...how do you feel about February? Are you one of those who gets to February and can't wait until spring? Or are you like me - savoring these last few weeks of cozy winter evenings before the warm weather comes again?
Jan here, and with time pressing all of us, I thought this post rerun would be appropriate! Besides, with Valentines Day just around the corner, you need this dessert idea! Enjoy a look back to two years ago...
A Quick Cheesecake Dessert: Cheesecake Cupcakes
Time is a premium commodity here in the Midwest.
The South Dakota Badlands in the winter. I love living here :)
Between deadlines and a son moving, last week was crazy. Throw in the AFC Divisional Championship, and I needed a quick dessert to share here and with our friends at our church's evening service Sunday night.
Deadlines? Two books are in process right now. One due out from Love Inspired Historical in September, and then another from Revell coming in March 2016.
Son moving? Our youngest started an eight month internship on the other side of the state today. He drove from the Black Hills to Brookings on Wednesday, and the another son and I made the trip (and back) with a van full of his stuff on Friday. On Thursday we had a blizzard. It wasn't too bad on the west side of the state, but the east side was like something out of a Laura Ingalls Wilder book. And like Pa Ingalls, we traveled between storms.
And the AFC Championship? Broncos against the Colts. We'll know the outcome of the game by the time you read this!
So where do you go to find a quick recipe? I asked my daughter if she had any ideas, and she pointed me to Pinterest.
And this was NOT a Pinterest fail!!!
Beautiful and delicious!
Cheesecake Cupcakes There really isn't a recipe for this.
You need no-bake cheesecake mix, and either chocolate sandwich cookies or peanut butter cups. I used both since I made a double batch.
Line muffin tins with paper liners. Place a cookie or a peanut butter cup in the bottom of each one, reserving a few cookies or one peanut butter cup for the topping.
Mix the no-bake cheesecake according to the package directions. Don't make the graham cracker crust, though. Save that for later.
Spoon some of the cheesecake batter into each muffin cup.
Now, for the cookie cheesecakes, take those reserved cookies and crush them. Sprinkle the crushed cookies on top of the cupcakes.
For the peanut butter cup ones, Sprinkle some of the graham cracker crust crumbs on top. Then take the reserved peanut butter cup, mince into small pieces, and sprinkle it on top of the graham cracker crumbs.
Put them in the refrigerator to cool. Or if you live in the north, use your extra winter cooler (aka, your garage). Wait a few hours before serving. One batch makes 14-16 cupcakes.
These quick cupcakes were perfect for a busy weekend. Delicious, impressive looking and fun.
Did I mention delicious?
Is your life as busy as mine is right now? Tell us about it!
Lots of folks see this "short month" as being the longest month of the year. Winter wears on like a well-worn wool blanket... the wind is cold and sharp... and the snow has a bite. And the air hurts your face!!!! So what's there to love about February? I made a list! :) Because I'm over the flu and feeling FRISKY!!!! So here is a list of reasons to celebrate FEBRUARY!!!! 1. Chocolate (Valentine's Day.... duh!) 2. "Swept Away" releases and you get to have so much fun in Martha's Vineyard with Priscilla, Gail, Joan, Trudy and handsome Coast Guard Captain Gerald O'Bannon!!!! SWEET!!!! Yes, you can get Swept Away RIGHT HERE AT GUIDEPOSTS!!!
3. There are only FIVE weeks until Daily Savings Time. FIVE. Not six. Not anymore. Because we're down to five!!!
4. Seed catalogs... THIS IS THE BEST TIME OF YEAR FOR SEED CATALOGS!!!!! 5. Chocolate. This cannot be mentioned too much or too often.
6. "Her Secret Daughter" on shelves nationwide, an absolutely beautiful story of sacrificial love that goes good... in all the wrong ways..... A hard-to-resist Ruthy book and the last book in the Grace Haven series.... And you can get it right HERE ON AMAZON, TOO!!!
7. The sun is beginning to "feel" warmer when it's out. Now, this seems subjective, but when you live in the north, subtleties matter! So that higher arc begins to make a difference by Valentines Day. And here is a word to the wise... that higher arc stirs water... so even water with thick ice can become dangerous because the stronger heat of the sun makes water move... and ice shift. So even thick ice can shift, gap and become dangerous, not because of the temperature.... but because of the power of the sun. 8. Valentine's Day... do you celebrate it? What do you do? I always make delicious things here but we don't go out (I waitressed too many years to think it's smart to go out on Valentine's Day.... so busy and so crazy and the cooks are rushed!) But a wonderful dinner.... and dessert... I'm happy!
HUMMINGBIRD CAKE!!!!
So what do you have to look forward to this February? I'm not talking taxes because I won't do them until late March, early April. No sense hurrying forward to pay, right? And I think I need to have fun with a hummingbird cake recipe and try it out here... Maybe next week, before the big Valentine's Day of celebration is upon us!
Multi-published, award-winning inspirational author Ruthy Logan Herne loves God, her family, her country, chocolate, coffee, dogs and mini-donkeys.... she lives on a farm in the snowy, forested plains of Western NY and she loves hiding away in her winter den, penning great stories, when no one's looking! Follow her on Twitter.... friend her on facebook... or just stop by and have coffee with her and the gals of the cafe here... right here! They've got the welcome mat ready!
