Salami & Cheese Pie

Yesterday, I tried a new recipe, one I'd made several changes to...and it was so good and so easy to make.  Here it is.  Enjoy!

Salami & Cheese Pie

Box of 2 Pillsbury Pie Dough Rounds

8 ounces hard salami [ask at Deli to cut on #10, for ez perfect dice]

1/2 small onion, minced

1Tablespoon Dijon Mustard 

4 cups shredded cheese [2c Mozzarella, 1c Cheddar & 1c Monterey Jack]

3 Tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan Cheese

3 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350°.  Cut pie crust to fit and lightly press into a 9x13" pan.  Prick and bake for about 8 minutes, until barely browned.

Cut the sliced salami into ez cubes [you only need to cut one direction].  Mix in a large bowl, the salami, onion, cheeses and eggs.  

Spread 1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard over the entire crust and then pour on the salami mixture, pressing down lightly to firm it.

Bake until golden brown, about 35 to 40 minutes. 

NOTE:  This was REALLY delicious the first day, fresh from the oven.  I didn't care for left-overs re-heated in the microwave.    

I Believe Humor Is Good for Us

Humor can be very useful when:

When you are stressed...

Or you're in the middle of a disagreement...

When your clothes don't fit this week and they did last week...

When after you've lost weight, the Doctors keep telling you, lose more...

When there are too many things going on in your life...

When you reach for the Angus Ground Sirloin you purchased yesterday and it's GREY.

Ok, those are just a few times that something humorous could help.

So...if you're experiencing something that requires a bit of humor, hope this does the trick.

Happy Birthday Stephen!

Time flies by...it really does.  I don't know about "time really flies as you get older", I've not had that feeling.  Most of the time days go by quickly.  My son, Stephen and his wife live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin...and I haven't seen them in quite a few years [?5?]  Haven't been back to Wisconsin and now that I'm on my own, I don't think I want to travel 5 1/2 hours from Michigan to Wisconsin, through Chicago, with 3 dogs.  And I can't/won't board them.

But...today is his Birthday.  I find it hard to believe that I have a son his age...but I do.  He is 47 today!  Happy Birthday son!  I love you and miss you guys.  Maybe you could plan a trip to see me?!  I'd love that.  Have a nice dinner tonight as you celebrate, oops...that's right you said you don't celebrate birthdays, at least not your own.

MOM

Today Marks Two Years

Two Years, yes, it's been two years today, since my husband moved out of our "forever" home.  I remember that day well and all the conversations I had with God - both that day and every day since.  I asked Him to help me forgive, to put me back together again, because, let's face it, I was falling apart.  Apart, not just from my husband leaving me, but health-wise, emotionally, spiritually and every way imaginable.

And I stand here, okay, I'm sitting right now...but I'm here today to tell you that God has Put Me Back Together Again!!  He picked me up and healed me.  The shock of a husband leaving, had me reeling...but it was all the other stuff that got me moving.  There was so much to do around the house, that had suddenly been assigned to me to do.  I was about 100# overweight and not moving much at all.  I wasn't sick sick...but I just didn't feel good...I think from all the stress.  It wears you down.  For those of you who don't know me or haven't read my earlier posts, in January of '15, my husband was diagnosed with cancer and metastases.  By early March, after my assistance and finally a biopsy, he was told by the doctor who performed that biopsy that he didn't have cancer.  I had an inkling the day he had been diagnosed with cancer that he didn't have it.  However, everything we heard from the oncologist made me wonder if I was wrong in what I felt.  I know...I should have only listened to God!!  He gave me that inkling for a reason - and it was to battle the oncologist to have a biopsy done, because she was afraid at how frail my husband was.

Then suddenly, without warning - no talk, no argument - his family showed up and moved him 3 hours away.  Up until a week ago, I hadn't seen him and had only spoken on the phone to him a total of 4 times.  In 2 years!!

The fourth time we spoke, he called me and that was about a month ago.  He suggested we get a dissolution.  [In reality it is an uncontested divorce.]  I was stunned, but he never called it a divorce and when I mentioned that that was what it was, he seemed surprised.  You see, he promised me that he would never leave me...never divorce me...EVER.  That was when he was alot more clear-minded, but somewhere in his brain that word was erased from his memory and he could only call it a dissolution.

About a week ago, we arranged to get together, he would come up here where I am...and we would talk to an attorney and take care of tying up loose ends and figuring out how to pay the attorney.  He was only in town for 3 hours and we accomplished even more than I had hoped.  We ironed out everything [now it's in the attorney's hands to get approved by the court].  We even were able to get the money together [from pre-arranged funeral arrangements Tom had done 2 years ago]...they gave him a check immediately, no questions asked, when he told them he wanted to cash it in, not transfer it.  On my list of to-do's for that day, I had at least a dozen things to take care of.  I really didn't know if we would even get through half the list.  God was with us.  I know God HATES divorce, but He forgives...and I am so happy that He has.  We really had a pleasant day together [a good memory], he even treated me to Starbucks and put gas in my car, when he filled up his car.  He was clear-minded that day and drove so much better than the last time I was in the car with him here at home.

He will be served divorce papers via the mail.  And in a couple of months we'll be in court...but that should all go well, since it was OUR decisions that make this an uncontested divorce.  Then it will be all over between us.  Hubby said we can still be friends and call once in a while...and I thought that was sweet.

I just know it's time for us to move on.  I haven't felt comfortable in groups at church [with couples and/or singles] and that's about the only place I go right now.  I am OK with this.  It's a whole new chapter in my life.  I never thought 12 years ago that I would be speaking divorce!  NEVER.  But, even going into marriage with that mindset and God and a godly man, [a 3-strand cord], we were unable to keep it together.

Thanks to all of you who have prayed for me, loved me and cared about me the past couple of years.  Keep me on your list and pray for me, as I do for all of you.

Hugs,

I ♥ Shopping - Comforter Sets

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And because I do alot of shopping...on-line, I'm always finding beautiful things to decorate my home.  Like these pretty Comforter Sets.  Check the via Links for informaiton.

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I like every single one of these Comforter Sets - for many, many reasons.  I thought this was going to be easy.  Yeah right.  I have to keep in mind, carpeting, curtains [whether what I have will work, or I need new ones], colors of my walls...and most importantly, how it makes me feel when I see and feel it.

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I know I keep promising more decorating photos of my home, but things have been held up by the new vinyl flooring I had put in in November, that has "mini speed bumps" in it.  It's still in the what happened and how can we fix it so it doesn't happen again the next time we do it stage.  And how soon they'll do it is yet anyone's guess.  Everything hinges on that work being completed successfully and then the painting which will take place next.

BUT...even that may be delayed.  I'm in the midst of something that, at this point, could change what I can or can not do.  Sorry, that's all I'm going to say on that right now.  I don't care to post about it right now...too many "eyes" out there.

Have a great weekend...

Southern Cornbread Salad

Jiffy Corn"y" Cornbread

2 boxes Jiffy corn muffin mix

1 cup sour cream

3 eggs, beaten

1/2 cup melted butter or margarine

1 teaspoon salt.

16 oz. can creamed corn (or if you can find FROZEN creamed corn, it's even better)

1 cup grated sharp Cheddar, optional

1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional

Salad

1 cup frozen Corn, thawed and drained

1 15-ounce cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed

Note: you can use pinto or kidney beans instead of black-eyed peas

1 Vidalia onion, finely chopped

1 green bell pepper, finely chopped

1 red bell pepper, finely chopped

5 Roma Tomatoes, chopped

1# Bacon, fried and crumbled

2 cups grated sharp Cheddar

Choose Either Dressing #1 or Dressing #2

#1 - my Favorite

2 cups Hellmann’s Mayonnaise

1/2 cup Sweet Pickle Juice

#2

1 1oz package ranch dressing mix

1 1/2 cups sour cream

1 1/2 cups Hellmann's Mayonnaise

Instructions

(10-12 servings)

Mix the Salad ingredients together and refrigerate until needed.  Preheat oven to 375°.  Mix all ingredients together and pour into greased 9x13 baking dish. Bake at 375° for 35 minutes or until

lightly brown. Allow Cornbread to cool and then cut into 1" squares.

USING A GLASS TRIFLE BOWL, ASSEMBLE IN THE Following Layers. DO NOT OVERFILL, LEAVE SPACE TO TOSS THE SALAD

Place half of the cornbread cubes in the bottom of a large glass trifle bowl. Then, top with half of the black-eyed peas, red bell pepper, corn, green bell pepper, onion, tomatoes, dressing, cheddar cheese

and repeat for a second layer. Top with crumbled bacon. Cover, and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Toss just before serving. Yield: 8-10 servings

Suggestion: This recipe would work well layered in 2 12"x9" glass baking dish, for ease of serving at a Pot Luck Dinner.

God Loves Us This Much

1 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 

3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 

4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 

9 He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 

10 Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the LORD makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand. 

11 After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied ; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,and he will divide the spoils with the strong,because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Have a Blessed Day

What A Beautiful Name

Hillsong Worship

You were the Word at the beginning

One With God the Lord Most High

Your hidden glory in creation

Now revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is

What a beautiful Name it is

The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a beautiful Name it is

Nothing compares to this

What a beautiful Name it is

The Name of Jesus

You didn't want heaven without us

So Jesus, You brought heaven down

My sin was great, Your love was greater

What could separate us now

What a wonderful Name it is

What a wonderful Name it is

The Name of Jesus Christ my King

What a wonderful Name it is

Nothing compares to this

What a wonderful Name it is

The Name of Jesus

What a wonderful Name it is

The Name of Jesus

How sweet is your name, Lord, how good You are

Love to sing in the name of the Lord, love to sing for you all?

Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You

You silenced the boast, of sin and grave

The heavens are roaring, the praise of Your glory

For You are raised to life again

You have no rival, You have no equal

Songwriters: Brooke Ligertwood / Ben Fielding

What A Beautiful Name lyrics © Capitol Christian Music Group

Boston Cream Crepe Cake

This is one of my favorite "go too" dessert recipes of all time.  Yes, it can be a bit time consuming making all those crepes, but the trick is to have 2 or even 3 pans going at the same time.

Boston Cream Crepe Cake

 Ingredients (12 Servings)

 Crepes

·         4 large eggs

·         4 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled slightly

·         4 cups milk

·         2 teaspoon vanilla

·         2 tablespoon sugar

·         1 teaspoon salt

·         3 cups all purpose flour

 Pastry Cream

·         3/4 cup granulated sugar

·         1/3 cup flour

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         2 cups milk

·         3 egg yolks, beaten

·         2 tablespoons butter

·         1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

·         1/2 cup whipping cream

 Chocolate Ganache

·         6 oz. milk chocolate, finely chopped

·         3/4 cup cream

 Instructions

+NOTE:  The day before serving the cake, make the crepe batter and the pastry cream.+

Crepe Batter

·         Add ingredients to blender jar in the order listed, cover and blend until smooth. Refrigerate overnight or for 1 hour prior to cooking. (Or if you’d rather, you can strain out any lumps and use immediately.)

·         Heat an 8-inch skillet or crepe pan over medium heat and lightly coat with butter or cooking spray. For each crepe, pour 1/4 cup batter into the center of the skillet and immediately rotate the pan until the batter covers the bottom of the skillet in a thin layer. Cook until light brown and the top begins to dry out, approximately 1 minute. Flip and cook an additional 30 seconds.

·         Repeating with remaining batter. Stack completed crepes on a plate. (If your crepes are sticking together, put wax paper between the crepes.)

Pastry Cream

·         In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, flour and salt. Gradually whisk in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture starts to boil. Cook for 2 minutes until thickened.

·         Remove from stove. Whisk 1/4 cup of the hot mixture into the beaten egg yolks, and immediately add egg yolk mixture to the hot mixture in the saucepan. Cook for 2 more minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add butter and vanilla. Transfer pudding mixture to a medium bowl. Cover with plastic; refrigerate until well chilled, about 1 hour or overnight.

·         When pudding is chilled, whip cream to form soft peaks and gentle fold in to pudding. Keep covered and chilled until ready to use.

Assemble Crepe Cake

·         Place one crepe on a large cake plate. Spread with 1/4 cup pastry cream. Top with another crepe. Continue layering with filling and crepes, using about 24 crepes and ending with a crepe on top. Refrigerate until firm, at least 1 hour.

Chocolate Ganache

·         Place half of the chocolate in a small mixing bowl. Heat heavy cream on medium high heat until it comes to a boil. Remove from heat and immediately pour cream over chocolate and stir until chocolate is completely melted. Add remain chocolate and stir until chocolate is completely melted. Cool until ganache is thickened but still thin enough to drip down the sides of the cake.

·         Spoon chocolate ganache on top of the cake, spreading to edges and letting the ganache drip down the sides. Refrigerate until ganache is set, about 20 minutes.

Today I Will See My Husband

For the first time since April 3, 2015.

He's rented a car and should be leaving about the time I post this.  It's dark outside and quite foggy and he said it's foggy down there too.  He also hasn't driven the highways from there to here in a couple of years and there have been LOTS of changes.  I pray he has a safe trip.  We have planned to be at the Secretary of State office so he can sign over the house and car to me only.  He doesn't want anyone but me to have it if something happens to him.  Even after being gone this long, he still thinks about me and cares for me.

When we're done at the Secretary of State, we will be making a few other stops and possibly have lunch somewhere...we'll see.

He wants to cash in his cremation arrangements at the mortuary.  He feels he doesn't want to transfer it...and he decided he wanted to use the money to make a payment to our attorney...for our divorce.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers, please.

Remembering Benny...

Today, Benny would have been EIGHT years old.  Due to a sudden neurological attack, he passed away at only 4 1/2 yrs of age.  This is a post I shared a couple of years ago.

After making a trip back to the Breeder in Indiana where we'd gotten Jasper, our Maltese, just 3 weeks earlier {at only 9 months of age}...we welcomed this beautiful, loving and funny furry kid, who we named Benny {who was formerly named Squirt} into our hearts and lives.  That was June 6, 2009.  Benny was born on March 20, 2009.   I don't think I'd ever seen a Havanese before I saw Benny, and he was so cute.  He was only 12 weeks old and he weighed only 5# and could run UNDER Jasper!  That was a sight!!  You see, Maltese are small dogs and Jasper was 7# at 9 months of age.  He was calm and submissive and didn't skip a beat when it came to running up and down our porch steps.

He paid lots of attention to me when I got Bell's Palsy and would lay with me and lick my face where he KNEW it hurt me.  Then he would lay his warm body against that spot until my face was so warm and actually feeling better.

 

The painting of him {above} was done from one of the last couple of photos I took of him.  He was laying in his crate on his very favorite blanket after I'd brought him back home from the Vet on a Saturday morning.  He woke up that day not being able to step on his front right paw.  They gave me pain meds for him and scheduled tests for the follwoing Monday.

He never made it to those tests on Monday.

Shortly after I took the photos, he began a steady downhill turn in his condition and later that afternoon, he began having an awful time with coordination, not being able to stand and twisting his head way off to the side.  Since our Vet's office was closed and I was growing more concerned about him by the minute, I called the Emergency Vet Hospital.  They suggested that we could bring him in and the Vet would possibly change the medication.  I put his blanket on my lap and held him and did Reiki on him and used my Essential Oils on him...and he fell asleep.  A few hours later, when he went outside with the other 2 Pups, he couldn't do anything but barely stand in one spot...and then tip over.  That was it!

I called the Emergency Hospital and took him in.  After an exam, he appeared to get much worse, and developed seizures.  They did blood work and a few other things, and then the Vet said we could take him to a neurologist, which would probably cost upwards of $4,000 with no real chance of improvement or we could take him home and watch him.  Then I asked her if she thought Benny would die from this, because I was the feeling he wouldn't.  Tears welled up in her eyes and she said as much as she hated to even think that about our 4 1/2 year old sweetheart, she believed he probably wouldn't make it through the night.

I couldn't, in good conscience, allow him to go through what he'd gone through the entire afternoon and evening...and get WORSE...and die alone.  So, after spending some quiet time with him and the other 2 pups and dad...I decided the best thing we could do for him was allow him to die with us all right there with him.  Belive me, that was the hardest decision I have ever had to make, but I knew it was the right one.

Benny passed away with us right there with him...on his favorite blanket.  It took Jasper & Rosie about 15 minutes of sniffing him and laying by him and they were wanting to leave.  We got them down off the table where Benny was and they went to sleep on the floor...while I sat with Benny.  Shortly after, we left.

That was December 7, 2013.