• Sat 4 Jul 2009 - Patriotic Fruit Pizza
 Patriotic Fruit Pizza
1 (16 1/2 oz.) pkg. refrigerated sugar cookie dough
1 C of sugar, divided
2 T of cornstarch
1/2 C of orange juice
1/4 C of lemon juice
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
1 T of milk
1 t orange peel, grated
2/3 C of heavy whipping cream
1 apple, peeled and sliced thin
1 1/2 C of fresh strawberries, halved
1 C seedless dark purple grapes, halved
1 banana, sliced thin
1 C of fresh raspberries
1/2 C of fresh blueberries
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the cookie dough and let it stand at room temperature for 10 minutes.
Carefully spread the dough onto an ungreased pizza pan. Bake the dough 15 minutes or until a golden brown. Remove and allow the dough to cool on the pan.
Dump half of the sugar into a small saucepan. Add the cornstarch and toss slightly to combine. Pour the orange and lemon juice into the mixture.
Place the pan over medium heat bringing the mixture to a steady boil.
Continue boiling for 2 minutes stirring constantly then remove the pan from the heat, setting aside to cool. Cube the cream cheese and place in a large mixing bowl. Pour the milk over the cream cheese. Add the orange peel and the remaining sugar. Beat the mixture until blended together well and smooth.
Place the whipping cream into a small mixing bowl. Beat the whipping cream until soft peaks begin to form. Fold the whipping cream into the cream cheese mixture until blended in well. Spread the mixture over the cooled crust. Place the apple slices around the outside edge of the crust.
Next layer the strawberry halves around the crust. Circle the halved grapes on next. Add the bananas to the ring. Place the raspberries onto the crust next. Finish the ring with the blueberries. Spread the reserved glaze evenly over the all the fruit. Place covered in the refrigerator for about 1 hour or until chilled.
Makes 12 servings
Preparation Time: approximately 30 minutes |
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• Sat 4 Jul 2009 - Firecracker Cupcakes
 Firecracker Cupcakes
1 (18 oz. ) box of devils food cake mix
1 1/4 C of sour cream
3 eggs
1/3 C of canola oil
2 T instant coffee crystals
1/2 t ground chipotle chili pepper
1 (11.5 oz.) pkg. semisweet chocolate chunks
2 t flour
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
1/2 C butter, room temperature
1/2 t vanilla
2 1/2 C of powdered sugar
Red and blue food coloring
2 oz. semi sweet chocolate, chopped
1/4 C of whipping cream
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Line 24 muffin cups with paper liners. Dump the devils food cake mix into a large mixing bowl. Add in the sour cream, eggs, and oil. Sprinkle in the coffee crystals and pepper.
With an electric mixer on low speed beat the ingredients for 45 seconds.
Adjust the speed to medium and continue beating 2 minutes making the batter thick.
Place the flour in a small bowl. Add the chocolate chunks and toss to coat.
Fold the chocolate into the cupcake batter. Fill the prepared muffin cups 3/4 full of the batter.
Bake 20 minutes or until the tops bounce back when lightly touched. Cool in the pan for 5 minutes then remove to wire racks to continue cooling.
Place the cream cheese and the butter into a mixing bowl and beat on medium speed for 30 seconds. Add the vanilla and beat until combined.
Slowly beat in the powdered sugar until the mixture reaches a frosting consistency.
Separate the frosting into 3 small bowls and tint one bowl with the red food coloring and 1 bowl with the blue food coloring. Frost the cupcakes dividing between the 3 different colors.
Place the chopped chocolate into a small mixing bowl. Heat the whipping cream in a saucepan over low heat to just boiling. Let the mixture stand for 5 minutes then whisk until smooth.
Place the mixture into a sealable baggie. Snip one corner of the baggie and drizzle the chocolate over the frosted cupcakes.
Makes 24 cupcakes
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• Friday, July 3, 2009 - Friday, July 3rd
Posted By Genevieve
Greetings! We've had a productive day, doing various tasks around the house. My dishwasher was installed today; what a blessing that I certainly don't take for granted after 3 years of washing dishes by hand. I'm very thankful to the LORD and Hubby! 
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At the store this morning, I found a black & white houndstooth fabric to make a skirt for $1.50/yd. It's a washable/dryable polyester, 60" wide. Now I'm looking for a pattern for a simple A-line skirt. I also bought some blue and white gingham to make some new kitchen curtains, also for $1.50/yd.
Wal-mart has started marking down their flowers, and I got a pack of six begonias for .50! They are a bright fuschia pink, and will add a nice touch of color in my third raised bed garden along with the marigolds I planted last week.
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DD#2 made oatmeal raisin cookies tonight, while I made iced tea in my West Bend Iced Tea machine. I've also browned ground beef for a big crock pot full of chili we'll make tomorrow. It's been cool enough that chili sounds good again! We like chili on baked potatoes or cooked pasta, and sometimes we add some taco seasoning and use any leftovers in taco salad.
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Have a fun and safe 4th of July! My family is planning on grilling hot dogs, and watching the fireworks in the nearby town. I am thankful to the LORD for the freedoms He has granted to America, our great country!
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Blessings from my home to yours!
~Jennie |
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• Friday, July 3, 2009 - A Prayer for Fourth of July
In case I don't get a chance to log on any more today or tomorrow I want to share this prayer that I picked up at the Religious Education Congress this past March. It was given out by Our Sunday Visitor. And I think it is appropriate as we celebrate the Fourth of July.
A Prayer For Our Nation
Gracious and loving God, we come to you in humble prayer for the United States of America.
Bless our President. Give him wisdom and strength to serve the American people and lead our country in ways that are pleasing to you.
Bless our Congress. Instill in them knowledge and understanding to enact laws that protect the sanctity of life -- from the unborn to the elderly; and promote the good of all people.
Bless the people of the United States. Make us aware of our responsibility as citizens to uphold the principles of life, liberty, justice, and equality.
Send your Holy Spirit upon our beloved country. Make us people of faith in time of uncertainty. Make us people of hope in times of trouble. Make us people of compassion with those who are less fortunate. Make us people of peace in our homes, our communities, our country, and our world.
We ask this through Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Savior.
Amen.
God bless, and Happy Forth of July to Everyone
Sandra |
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• Friday, July 3, 2009 - Summer Vacation is on.
Posted By Schatzi
Well, our summer is underway and I'm already tired. It might just be the heat. Today it's 33 degrees Celsius. Thankful the pool is warm as I've been swimming a bit. I'm not complaining that's for sure because we get enough rain and cold in the winter so this is awesome weather we are having right now.
My favourite fruit is in season right now and we are enjoying an abundance of "raspberries". Yum. I have made raspberry cheesecake...raspberry viniagrette...raspberries and cream...just plain raspberries...raspberry shortcake...you get the picture. Plus, I put 40 pounds in the freezer to make raspberry jelly later. I am not doing much this summer...I am still working on this "tennis elbow" thing and so any amount of work causes pain...and trying to use my left hand for everything is also difficult....so I am taking it easy this summer and just sitting around doing only what absolutely needs doing...and with five kids still home, that's busy enough.
We took the kids to the ocean and for ice-cream...and now Anika says she has touched her feet in the North Atlantic Ocan and now the Pacific Ocean..it was exciting, not to mention we all had our favourite ice-cream...mine is "tiger"...delicious! The tide was out so we were able to walk quite a ways out.
Dh and I also made our first "beer can chicken"...or others call it, "beer up the butt" chicken. It turned out amazing. Next time though we will leave in on the barbeque 1/2 hour longer..but the flavour was unbelievable. I went on the internet to look up recipes and there were hundreds of them, so dh and I just came up with our own rub and everyone loved it.
The boys got the go-kart out from the garage and pumped up the tires washed it and even got it started on their own. Last year they couldn't really touch the peddles very easily but this year well.....my boys are growing up too quickly for "this mama"....but it was fun watching them tearing around the grapes and through the long grass. They had a blast....so did dad!!!!
We are reading Daniel Boone right now...and because the weather was so great today we took our blankets and I read to the kids under the big tree in the back yard...I sat in our wonderful Muskoka chair and the kids laid on the blankets...it was fun. I finally got a sore throat from reading so we all laid on the blankets while the kids talked about all kinds of things...we all told story after story until I got a whopper of a headache...so Anika decided to massage my head so I wouldn't go inside...she loves listening to my stories...she even braided my hair. It was a fun afternoon. Of course every once in a while the wind would blow a certain way and it was "chicken poo smell" everywhere....then thankfully the wind would shift and it was beautiful trees and grass smell. Oh the joys of living in the country. God is so good!
Our cherry tree is producing lots of fruit this year...but unfortunately the birds are getting more than we are. Any ideas how to keep the crows away?
Well, that about sums up our past week....looking forward to the weekend.
Happy "4th of July to all my US blogging friends
and
Happy Birthday to my sister!
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• 2009-Jul-3 - Cute Children and pets pictures
My Mom sends me some cute e-mails. I love these one and had to share with you all.
Who is walking who?
 I look like you or is it you look like me?
Ah, can I keep him? (the dog is asking):
Um mom, why am I wearing clothes and his is not??
 Look Mom at what I learned :
 Just one little bite that's all:
 Are you sure they taste like chicken??
 Are you sure they are in here???
 That's all for now, Blessings,Mj
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• Friday, July 3, 2009 - If You Need Anything
Posted By kjs
| If you are in the need of some make up or jewelry go to youravon.com/dschulz that's my mom's Avon website. I'm not trying to be some business freak but I'm trying to help my mom sell Avon. So if you need anything go to the website I gave you hope you look at it. |
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• Friday, July 3, 2009 - My blessed day
Blessings!
Today is quite the warm one...in fact it's downright hot! First time it's been above 65* since last summer:P Today is 91* with a nice cool breeze from the river. We have been canning up the last of the cherries and decided to take a break and take a dip:) Mmmmm, that water is nice and wonderfully cooling:)
Now, I sit on the front porch in the shade enjoying the breeze that blows across it while sipping some iced suntea. The two dogs are lazing at my feet, tongues hanging out, quietly panting while their eyes slowly drift closed. The cat lays across the railing, her tail flicking now and then to ward off a fly, occasionally lifting one eye open to see what the sound is the in bush off the edge of the porch.
The girls are laying on the grass in front of the porch, each reading a little something and sharing ideas on things to sell at fair this year. They are making their lists, planning and going over supplies. Occassionally swatting at this or that in between giggles:)
Husband had to run a banking errand so he left us in the Ragtop Mustang, top down, sunglasses on and a big smile on his face as he dons his hat and drives away.
The freshly canned cherries, the sound of the lids pinging now and then, drift through the open window by my chair here on the porch. A feeling of contentment and joy wash over me as I feel the hand of our Heavenly Father resting upon my shoulder. Such a blessed feeling:) Thank you Lord for all that You provide. For the family You gave me to share my life with. For the friends You gave me to know I am not alone in my thoughts and lifestyle. For Your Son who did not come to judge us but to save us. Thank You!
God be with thee, everyone!
Sister Lori |
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• Friday, July 3, 2009 - My Best Friend
Posted By kjs
My best friend know as lollypop on homestead she lives right behind me and I live behind her. Right now she is in Washington visiting family, she will be back either at the end of july or middle of august. Now that I told you about her do you have any close friends? Well bye tell your friends |
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• Friday, July 3, 2009 - Country Girl
Posted By kjs
Howdy y'all I am a country girl I live in a town of 1,000 people I have chickens in my back yard. I am 40 miles from the closest city which has 20,000 people.(Trust me there are cities with more)Where do you live? Are you a country lover or is city life your thing. Well now that you know my style(country lover) I hope you keep reading. |
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