Warmmmmmmm Winter Wishes!!!!!!!

Warm winter wishes is what the little sign outside my front door reads. The past few days, I have spent either out shoveling snow, or inside sleeping, reading, cooking or baking. In other words, enjoying my weekend off! Spending time playing with Cady and keeping warm inside were great options when the snow is falling down around. Amazing how quietly, yet how quickly it can accumulate!

A New Addition to Blessed Beyond Measure!!!!

I'm excited to add pictures to my post today. I have been searching all over to find the connection for my Fujifilm camera....I know the box I need, I just don't know where to find it! My guess is that it's still in one of the totes I need to go through in one of the bedrooms. Instead I found an even smaller digital camera that I forgot I had. After playing around with it, I think I have figured out how to use it! I still need to find the other camera, but for now, this is working awesome. Thanks for the blessing, Lord!

For those who don't know, I moved into my own place the beginning of October after having stayed with my parents for 13 months upon moving back to Pennsylvania. Prior to that, I lived in Gainesville, GA for 10 years. Due to circumstances, I prayerfully decided to move "back home" and my folks were gracious enough to allow me to stay with them.

The opportunity to move into my own place again was a blessing and I'm happy to be here, with Cady, making a  home out of this little three bedroom trailer. One bedroom is my master bedroom/office. A second is my spare bedroom/craft/sewing room. The third? Well, it's supposed to be my pantry/storage room. Currently, though, it's 75% storage and 20% pantry, with the other 5% being bare space. Once spring (or warmer weather, whichever comes first!) comes, I will resume going through the totes and transferring to the storage sheds outside. (I'm blessed to have two sheds, both with shelves to store the totes and locks!)

My car in my little neighborhood!

Just a little bit of snow, as you can tell! Just a little! This was taken this morning, so the snow on the car is from yesterday morning until this morning. Obviously, I did do a little shoveling yesterday, but then called it quits once I was done. And blessing beyond measure, the sun is out today and there are blue skies out there! Weather forcast is calling for at least 6 more inches between now and Wednesday morning. I've got my shovels (yes, I own two!) ready - one on the porch and one in the car, so I think I may be ready to do some more shoveling!

Except for the cold and the drippy nose that I get from being out in the frigid air, I don't mind working in my yard. I even enjoy mowing grass in warmer weather! It often gives me time to think and pray and reflect. And, from time to time, the Lord actually has something to say to me, if I'm willing to listen!

I recall one time mowing grass when the Lord distinctly spoke to my heart and told me that He had given me a voice and He wanted to speak through me. Talk about humbling! I remember asking Him what that was supposed to look like. I now know that it looks like any number of things, from encouraging notes, emails, words for others, to things like posting notes on Facebook and even this blog. What matters most to Him is that I keep in relationship with Him, listening for His Voice, and when He tells me to say something, to open up and speak it forth!

This isn't just my call, though...it's for each one of His children!

Heavenly Banana Bread!

Keeping the Kitchen Warm

I had some leftover bananas the past few days that just kept crying out to me....."Use me, Use me!" Now, normally, I end up throwing those very brown, very spotted bananas in the garbage. Why, you might wonder when I could freeze them and use them to bake banana wonders later on. Well, one thing I learned from doing that in Georgia was that all I end up with is a collection of brown frozen bananas. And I do mean a collection. So, I know, rather than let them go to waste, it would be better if I used them rather than waste money I spent on them.

Dilemna that comes with a move is you wonder where things are. Now I am totally aware of where my cookbooks are but the usual banana bread recipe....well, that was going to mean a search. I opted, instead, to seek out a new recipe. When I read the recipe, I was kind of wondering how it would taste when it was done, but I'm happy to report, it turned out delish! And yes, I even adapted it because I didn't have two of the ingredients in the house. The pic above is the end result! Tasty! And....an added benefit? My kitchen and living room got warmed up as well!

The following recipe is for Miss Doris, who is my cousin Sam's mama-in-law. She and her family are great folks with wonderful hospitality....and they can cook! I've been to their home and have benefited from both!

The recipe itself comes from JoAnna Lund's The Healthy Exhanges Diabetic Desserts Cookbook.

Heavenly Banana Bread

Makes 1 loaf, serves 8

1/2 c plain fat-free yougurt

1/3 c Kraft fat-free mayonnaise

1 egg, beaten, or equivalent in egg substitute

2/3 c (2 medium) mashed ripe bananas

1 1/2 c all purpose flour

1 (4 serving) pkg Jello sugar-free instant banana cream pudding mix

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/4 c chopped pecans

2 Tbsp mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9-by-5 inch loaf pan with butter-flavored cooking spray. In a large bowl, combine yogurt, mayonnaise, egg, and mashed bananas. Add flour, dry pudding mix, baking soda, and baking powder. Mix just to combine. Fold in pecans and chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Place loaf pan on a wire rack and cool in pan for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and continue cooling on wire rack. Cut into 8 servings.

My adaptations:

I used Miracle Whip in place of the fat-free mayo (it's what I had on hand!) and instead of banana cream pudding, I used sugar free French vanilla. I made two loaves with my leftover bananas and have put one in the freezer (yes, you can freeze it!) to enjoy later on. I have to admit....I wasn't real sure about it when it was calling for both yogurt and mayonaise, but it turned out very well. Nice and moist and the nuts and chips give it a little surprise that cheers the winter blues away!

May you keep warm today, both inside and outside your home and may your heart be blessed beyond measure by the Father's love and care for you!

Warmly,

Sue