Time Of Prayer

 Dearest Blogging Friends,
At this time I am at my mother's bedside in the hospital.
It has almost been a week.  My whole family is here believing for a miracle.
My mom has been very ill and we are all standing full of faith for her recovery.
~*~
In Christ all the treasures of wisdom

and knowledge are safely kept.

Colossians 2:3

 We are praying specifically that every root of sickness
will be revealed and that the evidence of her healing will come quickly!
~*~
May our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God

and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting
consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts
and establish you in every good word and work.

II Thessalonians 2:16-17

I say this because I know what I am planning for you, says the Lord.

I have good plans for you, not plans hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future.

Jeremiah 29:11
~*~
The future for my mom is in the palm of God's hand.  He loves her an our family
 and only goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives!

We know that all things work together for good to those who
love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28
~*~
This is our testimony!  No matter what it seems to be we know that our God is good
all the time - He is faithful and just - He is a promise maker and a promise keeper!
*******************
I do not know when I will be back to blogging - but I will be visiting all my favorite sites
and leaving comments whenever I get some moments to do so. 
Please keep us in your prayers.

Love,
Concetta

Secret Recipe Club ~ M & M Candy Pudding Cookies

It's time for the great secret recipe reveal!

 

I love participating is this fun blog hop!

Every month you are assigned to feature a recipe from someone else's blog.

It is a great way to meet new friends and explore some magnificent places!

***

Thank you Amanda @ Amanda's Cookin for this fabulous club! 

***

We all keep our secret until the big reveal day - TODAY -

and then we all post our dishes at the same time.

~*~

This month I was assigned to Big Bear's Wife hosted by Angie.

I have been a huge fan of her site and recipes for quite a while

so I was thrilled to choose something from her collection!

Big Bear's Wife is also the leader of our Secret Club Recipe Group.

Her recipes are amazing so it was a difficult task

to choose just one to showcase!

~*~

I made a version of her Pudding Chocolate Chip Cookie.

She makes delicious homemade chocolate chips -

but I added M & M candies to this batch.

You can find her original recipe HERE!

M&M Candy Pudding Cookies

1 c butter, soft

3/4 c brown sugar

1/4 c white sugar

1 pkg. (3-4 oz.) cheesecake instant pudding mix 

2 large eggs

1 t vanilla

2 1/4 c flour

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

2 c M & M candies

Preheat your oven to 350F

Beat together the butter and both sugars until creamy.

Add in eggs, & vanilla extract.

Whisk together all of the dry ingredients:

flour, baking soda, and salt and pudding mix.

Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients

with the mixer running until combined.

Gently stir in M & M candy by hand.

Prepare a metal cookie sheet with cooking oil. 

Drop rounded 1" scoop of dough onto baking sheet.

Bake for 10-12 minutes. 

Allow cookies to rest a few minutes on baking sheet.

Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

  

Blogging Break

Dear Beloved Friends,

I will be taking a 10-day break from my Blog~Of~Life.

Our church anniversary services are fast approaching

 and we are putting aside all media related activities

(TV-movies-internet) as a way of preparing for our

special services and getting closer to the Lord.

I will be sharing many delicious recipes and

wonderful posts upon my return.

I will also be visiting all my favorite blog sites and friends!

May God bless you all richly in every aspect of your lives

and in everything you put your hand to.

Much Love, 

Hawaiian Luau Gourmet Club

Breaking Bread With Friends

Gourmet Club

Hawaiian Luau

~*~

Another month of: feasting.fellowship.fabulous food!

Meet the friends...

Rick & Carol

Eddie & Bonnie

Gordon & Teresa

Fred & Tanya

Chris & Mary Ann

TJ & Concetta

~*~

The Hawaiian Luau was hosted by Rick & Carol

Their home is beautiful and welcoming!  So comfy.

Carol took care with every detail of our Luau.

Our night began by a greeting at the door and a

lei placed around our necks - perfect!

The table took our breath away with the most amazing

centerpieces, a vibrant green net as an overlay (genius!),

scattered seashells, flowers and eye-popping place settings.

The food was sumptuous!

***

~ Menu ~

Hawaiian Style Punch

Go Nuts For Banana Bread

Hawaiian Chicken Salad

Hawaiian Surprise Salad

Roast Pork & Dipping Sauce

Baked Navy Beans

Hawaiian Fruit Dip

Sweet Hawaiian Cream Cake

Hawaiian Style Punch

compliments of: Chris & Mary Ann

***

A delicious blend of Juicy Juice Fruit Punch, Ginger Ale

and Tropical Sherbet then garnished with fresh orange slices.

Mary Ann served our beverage in these adorable floral glasses

with jumbo paper umbrellas!

So refreshing...it was a divine drink to serve at the luau.

Go Nuts For Banana Bread

compliments of: Fred & Tanya

~*~

3 ripe bananas

2 eggs

1 c light brown sugar

3/4 c vegetable oil

1/2 c sour cream

3/4 t ground cinnamon

1 t baking soda

1 t baking powder

1 t vanilla

1/2 t salt

3/4 c chopped walnut pieces

1 3/4 c all purpose flour
***

Preheat oven to 350F, lightly grease 6x9 loaf pan with shortening or butter.

Peel bananas and place in small bowl, mash with fork until no lumps.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, sugar, oil and sour cream whisk smooth.

Add the cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, vanilla, salt, bananas

 and walnuts to the egg mixture and whisk to combine well. 

Add flour and stir pour the batter into the loaf pan and bake about 1hr 10 min.

Cool on wire rack and turn out loaves after 10 minutes.

 

Hawaiian Chicken Salad

compliments of: Gordon & Teresa

~*~

1 8 oz. Cream Cheese, soft

1/3 c Mayo

1/3 c Salad Dressing

1 can (20 oz.) Pineapple Tidbits

(reserve juice)

1-1/2 c Seedless Red Grapes, halved

2 lbs. Chicken Breasts, grilled & cubed

1 c Pecans, chopped

***

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy.

Mix in mayo and salad dressing with 6 T pineapple juice.

Stir in pineapple, grapes and chicken until evenly coated.

Chill and add pecans 1/2 hour before serving.

Serve on bread of choice or crackers.

Hawaiian Surprise Salad

Compliments of: Eddie & Bonnie

~*~

1 can (14 oz.) Crushed Pineapple

3/4 c Sugar

1 C Water

2 sm. pkg. Lemon Jello

1 (8 oz.) Cream Cheese, soft

1 c Celery, finely chopped

1 c Carrots, finely chopped

1 c Pecans, finely chopped

1 (16 oz.) Whipped Topping

***

Place pineapple, sugar and water in a pan and bring to a boil.

Add the lemon jello and stir until dissolved.  Cool.  Beat in cream cheese.

Add the celery, carrots and nuts.  Chill.  Fold in whipped topping.

Pour into a 9x13" pan.  Chill overnight.

Cut into squares and serve on a lettuce leaf.

Our main entree was presented by our hosts: Rick & Carol.

The most succulent pork roast with a heavenly dipping sauce

that we all wanted to drink with a straw and a steamy pot

of saucy baked navy beans.

Pork Roast & Dipping Sauce

~*~

Marinate pork tenderloins in Old Dutch Sweet & Sour Dressing.

Grill until juicy and tender.

Dipping Sauce

***

1 (32 oz.) Ketchup

1 can (2 c) Crushed Pineapple

1 lg. can Frozen Orange Juice

1 c Brown Sugar

1 sm. bottle A1 Sauce

In a large saucepan, bring ketchup, pineapple and OJ to a boil.

Add brown sugar and stir to dissolve.  Simmer 15 minutes.

Remove from head and stir in steak sauce.

Baked Navy Beans

~*~

3 c Navy Beans

9 c  Water

3 t Salt

1/2 c Onion, chopped

1/2 lb. Salt Pork, cubed

1/4 c Molasses

1 c Ketchup

1/4 c Brown Sugar

2 t Dry Mustard

***

Wash and pick over beans.  Place in cooker. Add water, salt, onion & pork. Mix well. Cook on low for 13-15 hours, until beans are tender.

Drain beans and reserve liquid.  Add last ingredients to cooker and stir. 

Return liquid to pot and blend well. Cook on low 3-4 hours.

Hawaiian Fruit Dip

compliments of: TJ & Concetta

~*~

1 c Sour Cream

1 pkg. Vanilla Pudding (instant)

1 lg. can Crushed Pineapples

1 c Coconut

Stir together until well blended.  Chill.

Served with an array of delectable fresh fruit.

Sweet Hawaiian Cream Cake

compliments of: TJ & Concetta

***

recipe to be featured soon!

One of the highlights of the month is getting together

with our beloved friends for Gourmet Club.

Is this hilarious?

Rick & Carol even had a photo opp set up for us!

Sweetest ending to the evening...

One Hot Hawaiian Husband!

Well...he is not really Hawaiian, but the first day we ever met he was

wearing black shorts with the words "Mele Kalikimaka " all over them.

It means "Merry Christmas" in Hawaiian.  That counts.

I will be linking to my favorite parties after I return

from my 10-day blogging break.

Fresh Strawberry Bread

I love strawberries...but my son truly is the lover of these berries!

It is difficult to even make strawberry recipes because he plows through them so fast!!

I decided I would made a sweet strawberry bread for my son to enjoy.

In my recipe collection I already have a  lovely and quick one for Strawberry Bread

from Southern Plate, but I wanted to try something new.

I found the most delectable and sweet bread over at The Reluctant Entertainer.

This blog is packed full of all kinds of scrumptious recipes to try!

I made 6 adorable mini-loaves.

Fresh Strawberry Bread

~*~

3 c flour

1 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon

1 t salt

2 c sugar

4 eggs, beaten

1/2 c oil

1 t vanilla

2-1/2 c strawberries, sliced

sugar-in-the-raw

***

Prepare loaf pans with cooking spray.  Preheat oven to 350F.

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl after sifting.

Mix together eggs, oil and vanilla and add to dry item.

Combine well and stir in strawberries.

Place batter in pans.  Sprinkle on raw sugar.

Bake for 35 minutes.  Cool on wire racks.

Enjoy a slice of heaven! 

I am linking to the following parties:

SUNDAY Savory Sundays Sweet Indulgences 

MONDAY Jam Hands Lark's Country Heart

 My Meatless Mondays Joy The Baker Stone Gable

TUESDAY Sweetology Tuesday Time Out My Sassy Chef

Hearth & SoulNaptime Creations Tuesday Talent Show

WEDNESDAY Cast Party Let's Do Brunch

THURSDAY Faith, Grace & Crafts Full Plate Thursday 

FRIDAY Gallery Of Favorites The Charm Of Home Friday Potluck

Party Mindie Style Mangoes & Chutney Bake With Bizzy

SATURDAY Ladybird Lane-Weekend Showoff Strut Your Stuff

Macaroni & Cheese Cupcakes

One of my most favorite foods in the whole world is really delicious

homemade macaroni & cheese...I love it!

I jumped at the chance to be part of the very first

Crazy Cooking Challenge

hosted by the wonderful Tina @ Mom's Crazy Cooking.

The challenge was to find the ultimate macaroni & cheese recipe on another person's blog.  I hopped on over to the incredible

 Framed Cooks and decided to feature these adorable 

mac & cheese cupcakes!

There are so many fabulous recipes on Framed Cooks!

Check out this great site - you will be glad you did!

I adapted the original recipe found HERE with a few delectable additions.

Buttery homemade bread crumbs to embellish some of these little cakes

 and other yummy twists for my family to enjoy.

...rich ooey-gooey creamy cheesy goodness!

Macaroni & Cheese Cupcakes

~*~

1lb. Elbow Macaroni

2 C Sharp Cheddar Cheese, shredded

2 C White Sharp Cheddar, shredded

2 T Butter, melted

1/2 c Whole Milk

1/2 c Heavy Cream

2 Eggs, beaten

1/2 t Dry Mustard

Salt & Pepper

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Drain.

Put back in pot and stir in melted butter until coated.

Immediately stir in 1-1/2 c of each cheese until melted.

Mix together milk, eggs, cream, mustard and salt & pepper.

Pour mixture over macaroni and mix well.

Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners.

Ladle macaroni into each cup - be generous!

Sprinkle on remaining shredded cheeses.

Top with breadcrumbs and bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

~*~

Homemade Buttery Breadcrumbs

~*~

4 - 5 Slices Bread, made into crumbs

(whatever you have on hand for bread slices

and I use my food processor to crumble the bread)

1/4 c Fresh Parsley, chopped

1/4 C Parmesan Cheese, grated

2-3 T Melted Butter

Mix all together in a bowl until incorporated.

***

If you have any remaining macaroni & cheese, simply

put the extra in a little casserole dish and bake away!

Please cast your vote for your

favorite macaroni & cheese recipe below!

I am linking to the following parties:

My Meatless Mondays  Stone Gable Hearth & Soul Let's Do Brunch  Faith, Grace & Crafts  Gallery Of Favorites The Charm Of Home Party Mindie Style Mangoes & Chutney

 Bake With Bizzy La Bella Vita Strut Your Stuff