Mingle Monday :: Other Such Happenings Edition

Can y'all believe we've been having Mingle Monday for 15 weeks now? Are you still loving it as much as I am? 

One of my favorite things about Mingle Monday is featuring other people I believe you all will enjoy, if you aren't already loving them. Some are new discoveries for me and some, like this week's, have been favorites since before I ever began blogging myself. I love to share from the different topics I enjoy reading and writing.

Marsha of Other Such Happenings truly blesses me every time I visit her blog. Her words shoot straight to a parents heart and often fill you with laughter, sometimes with tears, but always with love.




 

Now it's time to Mingle!

If it's your first time joining in on Mingle Monday, relax Mingle Monday is pretty simple and straight forward. No special blog posts to write, you aren't required to use the button, just add your blog, twitter, facebook, or other social media and visit a few of the others linked up when you can.

Quiet Mornings and Banana Bread Muffins

There just aren't very many days when I have quiet mornings. I'm sure most of you can relate to that statement, especially if your children are still living at home.

For the longest time, I have craved quiet mornings where I could spend time getting things accomplished, checking things off of my never-ending to do lists.

I've made a few attempts. Getting up earlier than everyone else in my house only to have the floor in the kitchen creak as I passed through to my office, waking my son immediately.

One morning in particular, I crept out of bed two hours earlier than the normal time for me. Everyone else sleeping peacefully. I soundlessly stirred my cream in my coffee and avoided the noisy floorboard in the kitchen, I knew this would be my morning. It would be my golden hour. All mine.

And then I heard quiet footsteps behind me. Rubbing his sleepy eyes, Little Buddy asked, "Mama, are you alright?"

With a kiss on top of his head, I pulled out the banana bread muffins I'd made the night before and whispered, "I'm perfect now."





We sat quietly enjoying our muffins and watching the sun paint it's warm light over the farm. Few words were spoken as we watched the turkeys begin their trot up the runway and birds getting their early morning drink and meal from our bird feeders and baths.

God was providing our entertainment this morning. The kind that no television show can ever truly capture.

My to do list continues to grow longer and my mornings are usually busy and rushed, but now my perspective of a perfect quiet morning for me has shifted from plowing through those to do lists to sitting quietly with my son and enjoying God's wonder over delicious Banana Bread Muffins.

Banana Bread Muffins
Preheat oven to 350 degrees | Makes 12 Muffins

I fell in love with Christy of Southern Plate's Banana Bread this past year. While we were on an RV trip, I decided to make a loaf one morning only to discover I'd left my loaf pan at home. I found my muffin tin and decided it would work in a pinch. Oddly enough, my family loved it even more than making the bread into loaves. I've not made it in a loaf pan since.

Ingredients

3 bananas
2 cups sugar
1 stick butter
2 cups self-rising flour
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla


Step by Step

1. Mix bananas and sugar with electric mixer until well-blended. Add butter and mix until creamy. Add flour, eggs, milk, and vanilla and mix until smooth.

2. Utilize cupcake papers, baking spray or butter and flour your muffin tin to prevent muffins from sticking. Fill each tin 1/2 to 3/4 full.

3. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately 30 minutes.

Serve plain or top with a quick glaze.


Glaze

1 cup confectioner's sugar
2-3 tablespoons orange juice

Stir sugar and orange juice together and while muffins are still fresh and hot, pour the glaze over the top of the muffins.


What makes your perfect morning?

Birthdays and the Best Coconut Cake

Birthdays are a big deal in my house. They always have been. From the time I was a little girl, I started planning my birthday before Christmas (my birthday is in January).

Now, I've somewhat transferred that to planning my son's birthday and my husband, bless his heart, falls somewhere in there, too.

And this year, I wasn't big on planning for my husband's day. I'm not sure why I wasn't. I just didn't do much at all. As a matter of fact, you could say I didn't do enough at all.

And you'd be right.

You could even say I was a pitiful wife for not doing more for him.

And you'd be right again.

So I decided to pull out all the stops and surprise him with a gorgeous birthday cake. He has three favorite cakes --- strawberry, caramel, and coconut.

I decided on coconut for this year. It just sounded like a good surprise cake.

Here's how I made it.


Butter Cake Recipe
Makes 3 - 9" layers | Preheat oven to 350 degrees | Grease & Flour Cake Pans

Ingredients

2 sticks butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
3 cups flour, self-rising
1 cup buttermilk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla


Step by Step

1. Whip butter until it reaches a light and fluffy stage. Add sugar and beat approximately eight minutes. Add eggs one at a time, beating until well-blended after each.

2. Add flour and milk alternately, starting and ending with the flour. Add vanilla and beat on high until well-mixed. Divide evenly among pans.

3. Bake approximately 30 minutes, remove and allow to cool completely.


Coconut Frosting

Ingredients

2 sticks butter, softened
8 cups powdered sugar
1 cup milk
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1 tbs coconut extract or coconut rum
14 ounce bag coconut flake, unsweetened

Step by Step

1. Whip butter until it reaches light and fluffy stage. Slowly add sugar, beating well after each addition. When all sugar has been incorporated, the butter and sugar will look like crumbles. With mixer set on low speed, add in milk. Then, beat on high speed for few minutes.

2. Add vanilla and coconut flavorings and beat on high speed until the frosting reaches a spreading consistency. If it is too dry, add milk a few drops at a time. If it is too wet, add powdered sugar a few sprinkles at a time until it reaches the correct consistency.

3. Frost cake and then sprinkle with coconut flake.


Now I have to tell you the best part.

My husband told me this was his all time favorite cake. It surpassed my Grandmother's Strawberry Cake, my Mother's Red Velvet, and even his Mother's Caramel {which is to die for}.

I'm hoping he didn't notice all of the other stuff I didn't do for his birthday.

And... I sure hope he remembers mine!

Mingle Monday :: Labor Day and Birthday Celebrations

I'm excited about this week's Mingle Monday! Well, I love it every week, but this week it falls on such a special day.

Monday is not only Labor Day, but it is also my sweet husband's birthday! We're spending the day with my husband's family and enjoying the last bit of summertime on the lake.

Little Buddy will most likely spend most of the time jumping off the dock. While I nervously watch with one eye closed or peeking through my fingers.

I'm still trying to decide what kind of cake to make. Most likely my Grandmother Verdie's Strawberry Cake or the Coconut Cake we all loved so much. Either way, it will be good!





But for now, it's time to Mingle! 
 

If it's your first time joining in on Mingle Monday, relax Mingle Monday is pretty simple and straight forward. No special blog posts to write, you aren't required to use the button, just add your blog, twitter, facebook, or other social media and visit a few of the others linked up when you can.



Happy Labor Day! I hope you have a safe and fun one!

Friends in Need

I've been thinking a lot this past week about how quickly things change in your life. One day you believe your life will always be the same, that tomorrow will be a definite, and then in a blink of an eye, it's not.





And those thoughts brought floods of memories of my Grandmother and her generation. I remember staying with her in the summer and having to be really quiet starting at about 8 o'clock in the morning until the funeral hour was over on the radio. As soon as it was over, her phone line was busy as she called friends and neighbors to organize a meal plan.

I never really understood why they had to call one another, you see, they were connected and knew of any sickness within the area. They would have taken flowers from their cutting gardens and vegetables from their vegetable gardens for some time already.

But occasionally, there was the one situation where even my Grandmother would have been caught off guard.

As I thought of my Grandmother, I remembered her baking cakes, pies or fixing a pot of soup when a neighbor had a "rough spot" of the kind a little girl just might not have understood at the time.

And I especially remember the night our neighbor's house caught on fire and quickly spread to their barn. The men rushed to help put the blaze out while the women gathered blankets and jackets and brought the wife and children to our house for the night. It was what neighbor did and I sure hope that kindness to others hasn't died with my Grandmother's generation. I'll admit though, I am not as quick to help as she was. I wish I weren't.

Which brings me to Erika, her family's house burned to ashes this past week. Her post of the event had me weeping for her loss and praising God for her blessings. She's fortunate for all of her family to be alive. The situation could have been so much worse. And thankfully, her friends have rallied around her with immediate help. They've established a site and allowing us to help as well. Even though we are many miles apart.

If we were closer, I'd certainly want to do more physically for her family. But for now, this is the best way I can help her.

Will you keep Erika's family in your prayers?

My Kitchen Drawer

My kitchen drawers can get away from me quickly if I'm not careful. Utensils and whatnot turned topsy turvy and not as well organized as I'd like.

Full of gadgets I just knew I had to have and would use regularly, and now, they sit somewhere mixed in with all the other gadgetry I've felt the same about.



I have a "go to" kitchen drawer that I definitely use more than others. It holds my ramekins filled with different types of salt, fine and course {Because different dishes definitely require different types!}, measuring spoons and cups, and such.

If you have the space, I highly recommend a drawer or space next to your cooktop equipped with the items you use the most. It definitely works for me and I love it!

Do your kitchen drawers get in a tangle, too? How do you organize them?

Labor Day Party Ideas

I love holidays. Especially those where my husband is off work, we take the day off from school, and we are able to kick back, relax and enjoy time together. Our days are rushed throughout the week and weekends have even become hectic. So, luxurious holiday weekends are a definite treat.

Labor Day is an all time favorite of mine. It's close to my husband's birthday, my Mother's birthday, our anniversary, and I know that cooler weather is just a few weeks away.

 And I do love cooler weather!

I compiled a list of favorite recipes from my friends kitchens and my own to share with you all. If you are like me and still refining your menu for the big weekend, this list will most definitely come in handy.

Photo courtesy of Amy, She Wears Many Hats

Amy's Blackeye Pea Salad/ Dip is the perfect labor-less quick-fix to get your weekend started just right.  Tasty, simple, and definitely a dish your guests will gather around and enjoy.

Photo credit: Other Such Happenings

Marsha's BBQ Babyback Ribs are a definite hit and the perfect star of the show for Labor Day. Tender, juicy and gone in no time flat.


You may want to include another option for your main course if you have picky little eaters. If so, these Cheddar Bacon Wrapped Hamburgers from Dine and Dish are a perfect choice. 


Liz's Deli Style Pasta Salad pairs well with Marsha's ribs and is great for warmer weather.  Honestly, I love pasta salad even more the next day. If there is any left over for the next day, that is.


A medley of grilled summer vegetables of summer squash, zucchini, and eggplant and a plate of sliced tomatoes rounds out the main course.

 

It just wouldn't be a get together if we didn't have sweet tea to drink. I'm not sure we'd know what to do.  And I know everyone will love Cheryl's Strawberry Lemonade, too.

To finish up the meal, a simple Peach Tart with vanilla ice cream will definitely hit the spot and leave a lasting reminder of summer's goodness. Light and crispy and full of flavor.


And for the kiddos who aren't interested in peach tarts, I know their eyes will glaze over when they see Wendy's Ice Cream Pop-Tart Treats. Well, mine sure did when I first saw them.


And now for the essential part to guarantee the success of any gathering - You feeling relaxed and enjoying the festivities - no matter what you serve!


What's your plan for the holiday?