For the record...

this post was going to have a pretty little picture to tempt you to make this delicious dessert tonight. But somehow, between opening presents and singing happy birthday and blowing out candles, I forgot to take a picture of the Grasshopper Torte. So you'll have to trust me when I say that it has a dark oreo crust with the loveliest shade of light mint green filling. And it's SO tasty!

By the way, the recipe calls for a springform pan...in the past I've always used a deep-dish pie dish with great results (one of which includes too much filling, so that you can make little individual pies using ramekins and have your own taste test!). This time I used the springform, which was great, especially if you're serving a large group and plan to eat it all in one evening. But in my opinion, springforms are messy when things have to go back in the freezer, so I think in the future, I will again use the pie dish when only making this for my immediate family.

Grasshopper Torte

15-18 Oreo cookies, finely chopped/crushed
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 7-oz. jar marshmallow creme
1 Tablespoon milk
3 cups frozen vanilla yogurt, softened
1 8-oz. container Cool Whip
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
8 drops green food coloring

1. Combine cookies and butter in bowl. Press crumb mixture onto bottom of springform pan (or bottom and sides of pie dish). Place in fridge to chill.

2. Combine marshmallow creme and milk; whisk. Whisk in yogurt until well-blended. Fold in whipped topping, extract, and food coloring. Pour over prepared crust. Cover and freeze until firm, 8 hours or overnight.

Garnish with additional chopped cookies.

Serves 12.

Thirty-one

Happy Birthday to my sweet husband! I love getting to celebrate his birthday...figuring out the perfect gift...making a special birthday dessert (Brent's not a big cake fan!)...planning special things to do together and as a family! We have a special dinner at home (with presents) planned for tonight...and then a fun-filled weekend! (We are firm believers in "Birthday Weekends"!)

One of my favorite birthday traditions for Brent is a decorated spiral notebook that is a collection of birthday messages/pictures from the children each year! It is special to see him flip through from Hadleigh's first birthday picture for him to the current year! (And it's a great way to keep them all together...instead of a box filled with cards!)

He works so diligently for our family (and our country) so it is truly a privilege to get to celebrate him! Happy Birthday sweetheart, I love you!

(And tomorrow, I will share the recipe for this year's birthday dessert...so stay tuned! It's yummy!)

Baby Kate

I had a wonderful weekend...I was able to go to Dallas for my dear friend Shawna's baby shower. She and her husband David were "home" from New York, and it is always such a blessing to be with them. Shawna and I can literally talk into the wee hours of the morning...even when we're both pregnant! The shower for Baby Kate was beautiful and yummy (delicious brunch foods and strawberry cupcakes!)...and she was certainly showered with some beautiful things! I think her closet will be stuffed! I just can't wait until she arrives in July...
And the shower was also special because I finally got to meet sweet little Judah, the son of my other dear friend Courtney (aka Dot). She has some adorable pictures of him posted on her blog...silly me, I forgot my camera, so I am depending on Shawna and Dot to email me copies of theirs!
Shawna, Dot, and I were roommates in college...so I treasure every moment that we have together...especially when our other roomies are with us! We missed you Shannon and Steph! It was hard to drive away (as it always is). It is tough to live so far from your best friends...and yet, it always reminds me of how much I cherish their friendships. We are truly blessed!

What are you wearing?

Yesterday I had the privilege on volunteering in Hadleigh's Bible Study Class at BSF (Bible Study Fellowship). I was supposed to work in the 4&5 year old class, but the other volunteer had to cancel and more help was needed in the 2&3 year old class. So I happily got to spend those 2 hours with Hadleigh, observing her with her friends and teachers. I was happy to see that while she thought it was fun to have me there, she would often still go to her teachers and play with them during play time or sit by them while singing. (She did clearly let us know that she wanted to sit by me during the Bible lesson, though!)

The two teachers taught the children their Bible verse to the tune of "The Farmer in the Dell", and I am reminded of how verses set to music makes "hiding God's word in my heart" easy to remember. For I have been singing
"Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 13:14"
out loud and in my head ever since!

And so, I have been thinking about what that means. The whole verse reads "Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature." And then, if you put the verse further in context, you read this:
verses 11-14
"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature."

I have to admit that I pridefully read the beginning of that list of sins, thinking...well, those awful sinful desires don't apply to me. I would never want to gratify those things...but then I get to dissension and jealousy and think...hmmm...I'm guilty there. And if you read verses 8-10, it reminds us of the 10 commandments, and I know that, as a sinner, I am not innocent of those.

So I realize that there are things that I am clothed in that are not Christ...things that others might not see because I am "behaving decently, as in the daytime" but are there, nonetheless. Things like desiring recognition and esteem from others, trying to be the perfect mom/wife/woman without relying on God, desiring material things, complaining, etc. And even if others don't necessarily see all those things that I am clothed in, the brilliance of Christ, the "armor of light" as Paul writes must not shine as brightly if other garments are in the way. And others will miss that Light.

So that's what I've been thinking about today...how I can shed those things that take away from shining for Christ and how I can purposefully clothe myself in the Lord Jesus Christ, for after all, He has clothed me in His righteousness. And so, I encourage you to look and see what it is exactly, that you are wearing.

As we walked to the car after Bible Study, Hadleigh asked me if I would be in her class again next time. And I told her that I would have to go back to Mommy's class next week. She nodded and smiled and said "Go to Mommy's class." But what wisdom I gleaned from listening to what little children were taught. A true blessing to have been in that classroom that day.

Things I need today

1. a pedicure...really need one badly.
2. a haircut...I won't tell you when my last one was!
3. an idea for dinner tonight.
4. two children (and not just one) to fall asleep while napping...so far, not so good :)

And I'm sure you don't need a great cake recipe today, but I will give you one anyway! I am not always a huge fan of carrot cakes, but this one is the best I've ever had. My very first friend after moving to Goldsboro after our honeymoon, Catherine, gave this to me! (I love how I have recipes from people who live literally all over the world! You have to love that about the Air Force!) I wish that the first time I made this cake, I knew about the pre-packaged grated carrots...because that would sure save time! (But of course...if you're a purist...pull out that grater!)

Anyway, this recipe comes from her mother-in-law...and it is fabulous! I hope you enjoy it!

Sydney's Carrot Cake

3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 1/2 cup oil

1. Mix the above ingredients together and add:

2 cups flour
1/3 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon

2. Add and mix well:

1 small can crushed pineapple (1 cup of it not drained)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup flaked coconut
3 teaspoons vanilla
2 cups grated carrots

3. Cook at 350 degrees for 1 hour (sheet cake). If making 3 layers, cook for 35 minutes instead. Cool completely and ice with cream cheese frosting, recipe follows.

Cream Cheese Frosting

Mix:
8 ounces cream cheese
1 stick butter, softenend
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 box powdered sugar

Almost Grilling Season

That's what I feel like doing...having Brent pull out the grill (or barbeque, as I'm learning some call it) and invite friends over for a nice evening of yummy summer food.
That's how I feel today...it is currently 71 degrees after a very cold week (did I mention we had snow flurries the day before Easter???) And in case you have noticed, many of my Wednesday recipes that I share with you are influenced by the weather outside.
So today, I share a great appetizer that my friend Jayme Ray (are you reading Jayme?) shared with me several years ago. I always get rave reviews from guests when I make it...I hope you enjoy it too. It's a nice change from the standard chip dips!

Hot Corn Dip

1 15-oz. can white corn, drained
1 15-oz. can yellow corn, drained
1 10-oz. can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers, drained (I use RoTel)
1 8-oz. package cream cheese, diced and softened
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
chopped fresh cilantro, to taste
tortilla chips

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a medium baking dish, mix corn, tomatoes, cheese, chili and garlic powders, and cilantro.
3. Bake in oven for 30 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

Serve hot with tortilla chips.

Time with her

Katy came to visit for Easter weekend...my time with her is always refreshing...and always seems to pass too quickly. (And I find that we never get to take a picture together...for sure next time Katy!) Hadleigh adores her Aunt Katy...wants to be everywhere she is and if she can't be with her, she wants to know what Aunt Katy is doing.

We had some wonderful hours of just talking and sharing...during naptime and late into the night (well, as late as I could stay up!) It is truly a joy to be able to call my "baby" sister a dear friend. I love that she shares her heart with me...that she is transparent and genuine...that she is thoughtful in what she says...that she loves others so much. I love how much fun she is...that we enjoy so many of the same things...that she loves to help me in the kitchen (she made us an AMAZING dinner Saturday night...delicious!)...that she absolutely adores her niece and nephew...that she seeks to follow Christ with all her heart. She truly has the heart of a servant, and I treasure that about her!

I am thankful that we are blessed to have lived so close to one another these past few years. She is a true blessing to me!

Can't wait to see you again soon Katy!

Hungry???

I am...and I wish we were having this for dinner...but I'll put it on my list for the weekend!

Sorry I've let you guys down on my weekly recipes, but this one is sure to please! Do you have any requests for types of recipes you'd like me to share??? Let me know!

This recipe comes from Southern Living (last summer, I think) and is perfect for a church potluck, lunch, or a light dinner. Plus, it's really pretty, layered in a glass dish (I use this lidded trifle dish--pictured below--from Southern Living at Home and I love it! ) Please note that 1)this recipe needs a minimum of 2 hours to chill and 2) the picture below does NOT feature the recipe I'm sharing, just my pretty dish that I like to use :)

Layered Antipasto Salad

3 cups uncooked penne pasta

2.5 cups broccoli florets

1 Tbsp. chopped fresh parsley

2 cups chopped tomato

1/2 pound deli roast beef slices, cut into strips

1/2 small red onion, sliced

1 cup Caesar dressing

6 provolone cheese slices, cut into strips

1. Cook pasta according to package directions, adding broccoli during the last 2 minutes of cooking time; drain. Rinse and cool. Toss with parsley.

2. Place half of pasta mixture in a 4-quart glass bowl; top with half each of tomatoes, beef, and onions. Repeat layers once. Pour dressing evenly over salad. Cover and chill at least 2 hours or overnight. Top with cheese before serving.

Hope you enjoy!

Conversation with a Princess

The other morning, I walked past Hadleigh who was lying in our bed. Our conversation follows.

H: "Kiss, Mommy." (eyes closed)

M: "You want me to give you a kiss?"

(Hadleigh nods.)

(I kiss her on the cheek.)

H: "I wake up." (jumps out of bed and follows me to the living room.)

H: "I Beauty." [pronounced booty]

M: "You're beauty???"

H: (nodding) "I Seeping Beauty. Kiss. I wake up."

This was so out of the blue...she watched Sleeping Beauty maybe 2 times over Christmas at Mimi and Grampa's house. But a conversation I will treasure!