So, it's been a while I know since I posted anything. Not that there are many of you paying attention to me, but apparently my friend Amanda is...so this post is for you!!! I made some brownies the other day so I'm going to post the recipe for those and the Swedish meat I fixed for fellowship supper the other night.
Mocha Cheesecake Brownies
for the brownies:
1 Box dark chocolate brownie mix
1 bag Semi-Sweet chocolate CHUNKS---not chips---they're too whimpy for these brownies
1 can Evaporated milk
1/4 c oil
3 T instant coffee granules
1T vanilla extract
2 eggs
the cheesecake:
1 package cream cheese
2T flours
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
2T cold coffee
Preheat oven to 350 and grease a 9x13 and set aside. Pour brownie mix into a large mixing bowl, lightly dust chocolate chunks with flour in a seperate bowl and set aside. In another bowl, mix together all the "wet ingrediants". Once all the wet incrediants are combined pour into the brownie mix. Mix on high with your mixer until just incorporated. DO NOT OVER MIX!!! At this point you will fold in the "flour dusted" chocolate chunks.
Using a mixer, combined all the ingrediants for the cheesecake batter until smooth. Take the cheesecake mixture and pour over the brownie
To assemble the brownies, pour half of the brownie batter into your baking dish. Top with half of the cheesecake mixture and then the remaining brownie batter. With the cheesecake batter that is left, pour it slowly over the top of the brownies and swirl the batters together to give it a marbling effect.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean when inserted into the center.
*****My tip with brownies, is this...let them cool before you cut them!!! I am a huge fan of warm brownies, but unless you are serving the whole pan right then, DO NOT CUT THEM!! If you cut brownies before they cool all the seam and moisture will escape, leaving you with a dry crunchy-edge brownie. But if you allow them to cool, they will stay moist and delicious!!*******
Swedish Meatballs
1 package frozen meatballs
1 pint of heavy whipping cream
1 can of beef consumme or double strength beef broth
1 T flour
2 tsp onion powder
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp pepper
In a large skillet, dump out the meatballs and allow them to start browning up. Keep them moving in the pan, this may even take two batches depending on your pan size. At this point add your onion and garlic powder and pepper. After the meatballs have started to brown up a bit, add the can of beef consumme (or broth) and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes.
In a small bowl, mix together about 1/4 cup of heavy cream and the Tablespoon of flour and set aside.
Add your heavy cream to the meatballs and allow to simmer 5 more minutes. After 5 minutes, add your cream and flour mixture to the meatballs. Bring this to a boil to thicken the sauce. Meatballs are ready when sauce has thickened.
I really love these over egg noodles or even rice. This is a supper fast dinner too, done in about 15-20 minutes tops!
Recipes coming soon:
Breakfast Burgers
Potato Chip Baked Beans
Grilled Corn on the Cob
Friday, June 18, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
What's on my mind?? ALOT!!
Whoa! What a time we have had in the Walker home lately!! God is at work friends! The enemy is also at work! My faith hasn't been tested like this in a LONG time! I've been through trials before, but this one is totally different. God is already teaching me so much. I'm so tired of depending on people. I don't care who they are, people FAIL! It's that simple. I'm learning to lean on the Father. No matter what. I cannot stand without him. Here are just a few things that the Holy Spirit has brought to my attention so far...
1. I must be quiet. There is a time to talk and a time to be silent. Now is the time to be silent.
2. I must love. This is in complete contradiction to my nature. For some reason, I want to be mad. I want to hold a grudge and watch as people who wronged me get what's coming to them. But in no way is this of God. I must love those who don't love me and I must pray for those who have hurt me. Ouch! This is not easy, but it brings so much peace.
3. I must not let Satan win. This has alot to do with being quiet. I have a hundred different emotions going on right now, but letting those out would bring no glory to God. In fact, it was do just the opposite. So, I'm not letting Satan win the battle over my emotions.
4. I must pray!! The only way I am able to get through any of this is through prayer and through the prayers of friends and family. Whoever thinks prayer doesn't work it sadly mistaken. I have relied on it like the oxygen I breathe.
5. I must submit to my husband. Through the trials, I have to submit to Jimmy's authority over our family. I get mad and want to start kicking and screaming or pack up and move to another country, but I have to trust that my husband is in tuned with the Spirit and is doing what is best for me and the kids and bringing GLORY to the Father!
Trials stink! Heartache stinks! But how reassuring to know that this is not the "big picture"? There is a light at the end of this tunnel. I may not see it yet, but one day I will. And when that day comes I will get on my face and praise the Lord for being faithful! He is always taking care of us, not because I am worth it or deserve it but because he is good! I can do nothing to deserve his rich blessings, he graciously gives it to us! I cannot take credit for any good thing I have or will have. It's not by my works, it's by his mercy.
God will be glorified! When everything else around me is filled with uncertainty I believe with all my heart that this is all working together for HIS good.
---side note----
I don't know how I got through life without him. How was I able to stand? Why can't I make everyone see how meaningless life is without Him as the foundation?? I'm so broken for those who don't see God for who He really is. How can you call yourself a Christian and not have passion for the God who created you and chose you? It just blows my mind! How foolish was I to think that life was about me. It's never been about me and it never will be about me. It's about the Father. It's about giving him all the glory he deserves. If you don't find pleasure in praising Him now, how in the world can you even look forward to Heaven?
I also need to pray that I would not be judgemental of the ignorant because for a long time I was one of them. I went to church, gave my tithe and offering, sang the songs, prayed the prayers, voluntered, and made my presence known in the church, but my love and passion for him had not increased. I was just playing church. So many people are doing the same. They are playing the part, but are not letting it change them. Why?? Because they don't want to change. They don't want to be convicted of their sin. They want God to save them from Hell, but they don't want anything else to do with him after that. Selfish! I'm so afraid to think of all the people who will one day be told "Depart from me, oh worker of iniquities. I never knew you!" I must pray that the Holy Spirit will convict those believers and that they will fall madly in love with God. Also, that I will show them the love of Christ.
1. I must be quiet. There is a time to talk and a time to be silent. Now is the time to be silent.
2. I must love. This is in complete contradiction to my nature. For some reason, I want to be mad. I want to hold a grudge and watch as people who wronged me get what's coming to them. But in no way is this of God. I must love those who don't love me and I must pray for those who have hurt me. Ouch! This is not easy, but it brings so much peace.
3. I must not let Satan win. This has alot to do with being quiet. I have a hundred different emotions going on right now, but letting those out would bring no glory to God. In fact, it was do just the opposite. So, I'm not letting Satan win the battle over my emotions.
4. I must pray!! The only way I am able to get through any of this is through prayer and through the prayers of friends and family. Whoever thinks prayer doesn't work it sadly mistaken. I have relied on it like the oxygen I breathe.
5. I must submit to my husband. Through the trials, I have to submit to Jimmy's authority over our family. I get mad and want to start kicking and screaming or pack up and move to another country, but I have to trust that my husband is in tuned with the Spirit and is doing what is best for me and the kids and bringing GLORY to the Father!
Trials stink! Heartache stinks! But how reassuring to know that this is not the "big picture"? There is a light at the end of this tunnel. I may not see it yet, but one day I will. And when that day comes I will get on my face and praise the Lord for being faithful! He is always taking care of us, not because I am worth it or deserve it but because he is good! I can do nothing to deserve his rich blessings, he graciously gives it to us! I cannot take credit for any good thing I have or will have. It's not by my works, it's by his mercy.
God will be glorified! When everything else around me is filled with uncertainty I believe with all my heart that this is all working together for HIS good.
---side note----
I don't know how I got through life without him. How was I able to stand? Why can't I make everyone see how meaningless life is without Him as the foundation?? I'm so broken for those who don't see God for who He really is. How can you call yourself a Christian and not have passion for the God who created you and chose you? It just blows my mind! How foolish was I to think that life was about me. It's never been about me and it never will be about me. It's about the Father. It's about giving him all the glory he deserves. If you don't find pleasure in praising Him now, how in the world can you even look forward to Heaven?
I also need to pray that I would not be judgemental of the ignorant because for a long time I was one of them. I went to church, gave my tithe and offering, sang the songs, prayed the prayers, voluntered, and made my presence known in the church, but my love and passion for him had not increased. I was just playing church. So many people are doing the same. They are playing the part, but are not letting it change them. Why?? Because they don't want to change. They don't want to be convicted of their sin. They want God to save them from Hell, but they don't want anything else to do with him after that. Selfish! I'm so afraid to think of all the people who will one day be told "Depart from me, oh worker of iniquities. I never knew you!" I must pray that the Holy Spirit will convict those believers and that they will fall madly in love with God. Also, that I will show them the love of Christ.
Friday, May 14, 2010
I hate my Thermax!!
I need a new vaccum cleaner!!! I am so tired of lugging around my huge Thermax! With three kids, everything someone ends up on the floor. So, I need a vaccum that is easy to get to and use. Anytime I need to vaccum I have to go through like 10,000 steps before I can even plug my stupid Thermax in! It is RIDICULOUS!!! So, I've decided to save up for a Dyson Ball...maybe by the end of the summer I can chunk my old vaccum and say hello to a new one! Wish me luck!
Monday, May 3, 2010
Adoption
Recently, Nolan had his first birthday, so I've started weaning him. I have really enjoyed nursing him and am really sad to see this special time come to an end. For those of you who have nursed, you know emotional this is. Especially when this could be the last child I nurse.
I'm sure those of you who know me are thinking "What? I thought she wanted like 4 or 5 kids!" And you would be correct. I do want more children, but feel the Lord is leading us to adoption sometime in the future. I have always wanted to adopt but lately have really felt this calling on my life. What better way to model the adoption of believers into the family of God than to adopt a child or two into our family. I have always felt like my purpose in life was to be a mother and my greatest goal is to teach my children the truths of the gospel. I long for them to fall madly in love with their Creator and see Him as beautiful and that as they grow, their lives would GLORIFY Him!!
I feel a strong sense to reach out and be a mother to the motherless and to show them the love and mercy that God has shown to me. Christ did not adopt us based on our worth or anything we had done. We were not pleasant to look at, but were sinners and rebels. But in his mercy he called us unto himself and that his grace would be praised. In will not adopt a child for myself but for God's glory. I want to glorify the grace of God - to train our precious children to make much of God.
I am looking forward to seeing what the Walker's look like in 5 years!! This could be very interesting:)
I'm sure those of you who know me are thinking "What? I thought she wanted like 4 or 5 kids!" And you would be correct. I do want more children, but feel the Lord is leading us to adoption sometime in the future. I have always wanted to adopt but lately have really felt this calling on my life. What better way to model the adoption of believers into the family of God than to adopt a child or two into our family. I have always felt like my purpose in life was to be a mother and my greatest goal is to teach my children the truths of the gospel. I long for them to fall madly in love with their Creator and see Him as beautiful and that as they grow, their lives would GLORIFY Him!!
I feel a strong sense to reach out and be a mother to the motherless and to show them the love and mercy that God has shown to me. Christ did not adopt us based on our worth or anything we had done. We were not pleasant to look at, but were sinners and rebels. But in his mercy he called us unto himself and that his grace would be praised. In will not adopt a child for myself but for God's glory. I want to glorify the grace of God - to train our precious children to make much of God.
I am looking forward to seeing what the Walker's look like in 5 years!! This could be very interesting:)
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
A Time of Prayer
I have really been convicted lately of our church's children's ministry. Don't get me wrong, I attend a great church (FBC - Magnolia) with an aray of ministry opportunities. I just feel like there has got to be a change. We need workers, teachers, people who truly care about the spirituality of our children! I really feel like it's time for a change. I am really praying that God will reveal his will to me and that he would show me what I can do to make a change and encourage others to join in my efforts to grow our precious children in the knowlegde and truth of Scripture and to fall madly in love with the One who created them!
As a mother to 3 wonderful kids, I have really been convicted of the way we have watered down and "dumbed" down the Gospel because we think our children are too young and "simple" to understand it. I think it has alot to do with the secular humanistic philosphies we, believers, have aloud to encrouch on every aspect of our lives. We think we are doing a good thing by teaching songs like "Jesus Loves Me" and "This Little Light of Mine", but I have come to realize we are really cheating them out of a passionate relationship with the Creator.
I realize I may be somewhat crazy, but I find it of dire importance that my children fall in love with God early and grow in that love. So what if they know all the stories of the Bible? That in itself is not what will get them to Heaven. Somewhere through the years, we have decided that Hell is too harsh a subject, sin is to complicated to explain, and our total depravity makes us look too needy. We have given our children way to much freedom in their thinking, like this life is solely theirs to live. What have we done?
Why are we, as parents, holding back on our children? Are we doing it on purpose? No. I really think it's because we, ourselves, don't know what we believe. So, we aren't going to push anything on our kids that we don't know how to answer. How arrogant and prideful can we be? It's time we put away the flesh and walk in truth. This world is only getting worse. It's hates God and everything He stands for. I want my children to walk in the POWER of the CROSS! It is my job to train them and pray that God, in his sovereign glory, will call them to Himself.
I recently found a Reformed Baptist Children's Catechism that Jimmy and I will be starting soon with the kids. If your interested go to "The Reformed Reader: committed to historic Baptist beliefs". http://www.reformedreader.org/. They have several catechisms to choose from. I chose the "A Catechism for Babes, or Little Ones" and "A Catechism for Boys and Girls". I'm really excited about starting Judd and Adley on the journey to spiritual growth. God is good and my children need to know it! Completely!
So, I'm entering a time of prayer. I want God to prepare my heart and to help me teach my children solid biblical truthes and theology. This will be their very foundation, it must be a firm one to stand on!
As a mother to 3 wonderful kids, I have really been convicted of the way we have watered down and "dumbed" down the Gospel because we think our children are too young and "simple" to understand it. I think it has alot to do with the secular humanistic philosphies we, believers, have aloud to encrouch on every aspect of our lives. We think we are doing a good thing by teaching songs like "Jesus Loves Me" and "This Little Light of Mine", but I have come to realize we are really cheating them out of a passionate relationship with the Creator.
I realize I may be somewhat crazy, but I find it of dire importance that my children fall in love with God early and grow in that love. So what if they know all the stories of the Bible? That in itself is not what will get them to Heaven. Somewhere through the years, we have decided that Hell is too harsh a subject, sin is to complicated to explain, and our total depravity makes us look too needy. We have given our children way to much freedom in their thinking, like this life is solely theirs to live. What have we done?
Why are we, as parents, holding back on our children? Are we doing it on purpose? No. I really think it's because we, ourselves, don't know what we believe. So, we aren't going to push anything on our kids that we don't know how to answer. How arrogant and prideful can we be? It's time we put away the flesh and walk in truth. This world is only getting worse. It's hates God and everything He stands for. I want my children to walk in the POWER of the CROSS! It is my job to train them and pray that God, in his sovereign glory, will call them to Himself.
I recently found a Reformed Baptist Children's Catechism that Jimmy and I will be starting soon with the kids. If your interested go to "The Reformed Reader: committed to historic Baptist beliefs". http://www.reformedreader.org/. They have several catechisms to choose from. I chose the "A Catechism for Babes, or Little Ones" and "A Catechism for Boys and Girls". I'm really excited about starting Judd and Adley on the journey to spiritual growth. God is good and my children need to know it! Completely!
So, I'm entering a time of prayer. I want God to prepare my heart and to help me teach my children solid biblical truthes and theology. This will be their very foundation, it must be a firm one to stand on!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Welcome to My Crazy Life...
Holy Cow! It's been crazy around the Walker home over the last couple weeks! With a broken arm, spring break, resetting the broken arm, sick kids, easter parties, and all the daily tasks I have, it's possible I could lose my mind! I feel so scatter-brained! I remember NOTHING and am loosing everything! Today was the kids' Easter party, I had to go to Wal-Mart and buy Adley a basket because she doesn't have one. What kind of mother am I that my child doesn't have an Easter basket?? After dropping off the basket, I then realized I forgot to buy plastic eggs for egg hunt. Now I look like the mom who doesn't read the notes sent home.
Ok...as I was typing all that, I was interrupted by a phone call reminding me, yet again, of something I was suppose to be doing and COMPLETELY forgot!
I know some may think that this is just part of being the mother to three small children and having a lot going on, but I am pretty sure it is more than that. I have never felt so out of control in all my life. I have no time to do anything. We got back from Colorado on Friday night and I have yet to go to Wal-Mart to restock the fridge and the pantry. My poor kids feel like they are being punished cause I have no snacks to give them in the afternoons. This would be a really good time in life to develope OCD tendencies. Maybe then I could get structured enough to get things together.
What to do? What to do? It's not like it's going to get any better! Things are not slowing down any time soon. If anything, it's just going to get busier. Judd starts T-ball soon, Nolan has a first birthday that needs to be planned, Adley has outgrown her baby bed and needs a new "big girl" bed, but at the same time, Nolan needs somewhere to sleep, the kids need new spring clothes, I need new spring clothes! I'm feeling an anxiety attack coming on!
It's in these moments I need to run to feet of my Savior and cling to him with all that I have or else I will surely drowned in overwhelmingness that is my life! If you can relate, let me get an AMEN.
Ok...as I was typing all that, I was interrupted by a phone call reminding me, yet again, of something I was suppose to be doing and COMPLETELY forgot!
I know some may think that this is just part of being the mother to three small children and having a lot going on, but I am pretty sure it is more than that. I have never felt so out of control in all my life. I have no time to do anything. We got back from Colorado on Friday night and I have yet to go to Wal-Mart to restock the fridge and the pantry. My poor kids feel like they are being punished cause I have no snacks to give them in the afternoons. This would be a really good time in life to develope OCD tendencies. Maybe then I could get structured enough to get things together.
What to do? What to do? It's not like it's going to get any better! Things are not slowing down any time soon. If anything, it's just going to get busier. Judd starts T-ball soon, Nolan has a first birthday that needs to be planned, Adley has outgrown her baby bed and needs a new "big girl" bed, but at the same time, Nolan needs somewhere to sleep, the kids need new spring clothes, I need new spring clothes! I'm feeling an anxiety attack coming on!
It's in these moments I need to run to feet of my Savior and cling to him with all that I have or else I will surely drowned in overwhelmingness that is my life! If you can relate, let me get an AMEN.
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