Fall Comforts

Delicious autumn!  My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.  ~George Eliot

Pumpkin Pie Mocha

1 1/2 tsp unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tbsp sugar
1/4 – 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice *or make your own with following recipe and store seperately.
mixed the unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, ground cinnamon, ground ginger,
ground cloves and ground nutmeg and put them in a sealed container.
Take 1 1/2 tsp. of this mixture and add it directly to the coffee grounds and brew the pot.

* Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 cup ground cinnamon
2 tbsp ground ginger
2 tsp ground cloves
2 tsp ground nutmeg

Mix together and store in air tight container.

Pumpkin Pie Fudge
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup mashed pumpkin (canned)
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
1 (12 ounce) package vanilla flavored baking chips
2 cups miniature marshmallows
1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional)
1 1/4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Using butter or margarine, lightly grease the sides and bottom of a medium saucepan.

Place the sugar, evaporated milk, pumpkin, butter, salt, and pumpkin pie spice in the saucepan. Stirring constantly over medium heat, bring the mixture to a boil and boil for 12 minutes.

Remove from the heat and stir in the baking chips and marshmallows until melted.

Stir in the nuts and vanilla extract.

Pour into an 8-inch square pan that has been lined with foil and greased.

Chill mixture until set.

Cut into small squares to serve. Cover and store in refrigerator.

Yield: approximately 4-5 dozen pieces

This recipe is from a lovely lady whom is refered to as "Mama" by all who know and love her! You can find many dectable recipes of hers at http://www.mamas-southern-cooking.com/ or join her on Facebook . Thank you Mama for the yummy recipe!!

Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cake 

For the crust:

1 (18.5 ounce)box of yellow cake mix
1 eggs
1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter, melted

For the Filling:

1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 TB pumpkin pie spice
1 pound box of confectioners sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) of butter, melted
1 can (15-ounces) pumpkin pie filling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Spray a 13x9x2-inch glass baking dish with Non-Stick cooking spray.

In a large mixing bowl, mix together the cake mix, the egg, and the melted butter. Pat the dough down into the bottom of the glass baking dish. Set aside.
In the same bowl, mix together softened cream cheese and pumpkin until smooth. Add the eggs, pumpkin pie spice and vanilla.
Mix in the confectioners sugar. Beat well and then slowly add the butter until all ingredients are well mixed. Pour onto crust and bake for 40 to 50 minutes

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For Those Who Still Want Blood...

^{We should not have spent this day with revenge and hate on our hearts for the tragic act that was done to so many innocents 10 yrs ago. The only harm hate and revenge will have is harm against your own self!}

^{It broke my heart yesterday when I heard what I thought to be a peaceful kind man speak words of wishful destruction to the worst degree against all (women and children alike) who were even possibly from the same countries of those who attacked our land last 9/11. What saddened me most was I knew he was by far not the only American who still 10 yrs later, thinks this way... I am not surprised by the fact that there is still much hurt 10 yrs later but that many still feel that blood shed is the only answer!}

^{Peter 3:9}

⁹ Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰ For,

   “Whoever would love life
   and see good days
must keep their tongue from evil
   and their lips from deceitful speech.
¹¹ They must turn from evil and do good;
   they must seek peace and pursue it.
¹² For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
   and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”^[a]

 ¹³ Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? ¹⁴ But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. “Do not fear their threats^[b]; do not be frightened.”^{[c] 15} But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, ¹⁶ keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ¹⁷ For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit.

1 Peter 4

New International Version (NIV)

1 Peter 4

Living for God

 ¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. ² As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God.
 ¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. ¹³ But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. ¹⁴ If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. ¹⁵ If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. ¹⁶ However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. ¹⁷ For it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸ And,    “If it is hard for the righteous to be saved,
   what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?”^[a]
 19 So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.




It is the way of our Lord to turn the other cheek......and NOT an eye for an eye!

In HIS Name Alone!

Dee

For you T ! :-) Spinach Wontons

This is a family favorite, I will never grow tired of these!! My husband actually taught me how to make them and if you knew him your jaw would drop! lol 

But seriously these are quick and easy and SOOOO sooo tasty!

Spinach Wontons

Ingredients:
10 oz frozen chopped spinach thawed and drained
approx 2-4 oz cream cheese ( enough to make the spinach slightly creamy but not get lost)
1 pkg wonton skins round or square
togarashi pepper mix (can substitute cyenne pepper and black pepper mix)
soy sauce
water in small cup to seal wontons
oil for frying

Dipping sauce:
soy sauce
Mirin or brown sugar
togarashi (red pepper seasoning: can use  a mixture of black pepper and cayenne)
sprinkle of sesame seeds

Instructions:
In a microwave safe dish, mix together spinach and enough cream cheese to make it slightly creamy. Season with Togarashi or a sprinking of cayenne and black pepper mix, and a small splash of soy sauce. Heat in microwave until slightly warm. Add more cream cheese until you get the ratio you prefer.
Spoon a teaspoon size dollop of mixture unto the center of the wonton and seal edges by wetting the border of skins with water slightly to seal mixture in.

In a saute pan heat approx 1/2 inch of oil over medium heat. Fry wontons until lightly golden. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle lightly with salt.

In a small dish mix together dipping sauce ingredients to amount desired. Microwave a few seconds until slightly warm. Serve and enjoy!!

Enjoy!

Dee

Porcupines~

I recently received this parable in an email from a friend of mine. I think that this lesson is especially important in todays society where many individuals would rather run from their problems (divorce rates sky rocketing : many feel if they make it to 3 years then they should be writing books on successful marriage!) than to compromise and talk it out and actually DEAL with their problems!
I can only pray that people begin to realize once again that marriage is meant to be a sacred union and not a chance "brag" on how many Ex husbands or wives you have.  Reason number 867,452 why I am nervous for my daughters and bringing them up in this day and age.....Ok enough rant :-)

Porcupines~

It was the coldest winter ever. Many animals died because of the cold. The porcupines, realizing the situation, decided to group together to keep warm. This way they covered and protected themselves.. . but the quills of each one wounded their closest companions. After awhile, they decided to distance themselves one from the other and they began to die, alone and frozen. So they had to make a choice: either accept the quills of their companions or disappear from the Earth.
Wisely, they decided to go back to being together.. They learned to live with the little wounds caused by the close relationship with their companions in order to receive the warmth that came from the others.
This way they were able to survive.
Moral of the story: The best relationship is not the one that brings together
perfect people, but when each individual learns to live with the imperfections of others and can admire the other person's good qualities.
The real moral of the story -- LEARN TO LIVE WITH THE QUILLS IN YOUR LIFE.

"One thing that I have learned in life is that through trial and adversity your faith will increase.
It will grow tremendously, and you will be ever thankful for the hard times that God has taken you through.
You will look back and say, “Thank you, Father. You are so good to me.”

Have a Blessed Weekend!

Dee