Easter Sunday 2013

Happy Easter!!

 This day, especially this Easter day, is filled with HOPE!!  How can you celebrate Easter without being hopeful??? Hope of new life....victory over death which is leads to eternal life in heaven!!  When I walked into the early morning service at RCC today, the sun was shining brightly through the window which showcases a large wooden cross.  I was flooded with HOPE!  I felt so very happy that Jeffrey was in Heaven on this glorious day celebrating with the King of Kings and all His Saints!! No more pain, suffering or tears!!   If that doesn't make you hopeful nothing will!! I almost felt like Jeff was speaking me to....which I haven't felt since he died in August.  I was filled with warm, happy thoughts which have stayed with me this day.  

Thank you Lord for your Son, Jesus Christ, and his sacrifice on that wooden cross.  We celebrate the Resurrection today and the triumph of life over death. Thank you for your promise of eternal life to all who believe!!  The battle has been fought and won!!  You are the victor. Those who love you are on the winning side!!  May we show your love to the world so that all will see you as who you are...The Son of God!!   And all the saints said....AMEN!!!!

It has been such a great day.  My 85 year old parents are here from WV.  They stay at the lake mostly but come to Tulsa on the weekends.  They were here today and we enjoyed church and a quiet brunch.  Last night we had dinner with our "German" travel group from 2010 at our favorite German restaurant.  It was so much fun to relive our trip.  It was the last international trip I had with Jeffrey which makes it all the more special to me.  On that trip we took my parents back to the place where my Dad had been stationed in Germany in 1951 during the Korean War as a border patrol between Germany and Czech.  A Very special trip indeed!!  Everyone came back to my house for dessert. It was a BIG hit!! I made my Grandmother's Coconut Cake with my own spin.  Here's how I did it:

Grandmother Burford's Coconut Cake

1 White Cake Mix-  Make the cake according to the directions on the box.  Use two 9 inch square or round pans.  I always use square pans because that's what Grandma did.
 Here is the best part---
Coconut Cake Frosting 
3 Tbsp flour
1 cup milk
1 cup room temperature butter
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp vanilla

Place flour and milk in saucepan on medium heat.  Wisk continually until the mixture thickens.  Set aside to cool completely

In large bowl of mixer beat 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter, 1 cup white sugar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla.  Add the cooled flour/milk paste.  Beat for 5-10 minutes. 

 The icing will get light and fluffy like whipped cream.

 Here is my twist.  I decided to make Lemon Curd for the filling between the layers and add fresh raspberries.  You can use Lemon Curd that is purchased from the store too.  I will post the recipe for the Lemon Curd this week I promise.

 Sam's had the most beautiful Organic Raspberries I just had to think of a way to use them!!







 

 Before working on the layers.  I place parchment paper pieces under the cake so that after I finished I would easily remove the paper and the cake plate would be clean.
Spread the lemon curd on the bottom layer to your desired thickness.
 

  

Place the raspberries on top of the lemon curd, standing up, so you can stack the layers.

 Place the second layer on top of the first.  Be sure the cake is level at this point.   
 Spread icing over the cake.  I always put the icing on top of the cake and pull it down over the sides.

 I used Baker's Coconut (The whole large bag...I like coconut)
Pour it on the cake and pat it into the icing on the top and sides.

 

 Pull the sheets away when you are finished

 Isn't this a pretty Easter Cake?  This cake must be kept in the refrigerator.  I like it best cold but I love frozen cookies tooo!!!
You can let it get to room temp before serving if you like also.

 It tasted as good as it looks.  The tartness of the lemon curd, freshness of the raspberries and heavenlyness of the icing stuffed with moist coconut was outta this world!!

Wont' you join me?  This piece is for you my friend!!  Come sit a spell and enjoy it with me.

 I couldn't end this post without showing you my favorite "Easter bunny".
She is with her Daddy who was on call today but got to spend the morning with her.
Looks like she approves of the gifts from the Easter Bunny.

 Sweet mama Jenny and Miss Ella.....Could that bow be any bigger??  

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama 

Food for Friday - Week 13

Food for Friday - Week 13

Today's feature is a new recipe I tried for the first time last week and then turned around and made it again this week for a friend who's brother-in-law lost his fight with cancer and moved to the heavenly realms on Saturday.   He had had a bone marrow transplant at Baylor at the same time Jeff was fighting so hard with his  first BMT, so it brought back a lot of memories for me.  It is those waves of grief that knock you down when you least expect it.  Anna Voss in her book, 10,000 Gifts puts it best:

When you love with all your heart,
You grieve with all you are!!

  
Thank you Lord for Love.....especially on this Good Friday...The love you showed for us through your son Jesus.  I thank you for the love that I had on this earth with my Jeffrey.  May our heart be filled with YOUR love.   May we show love in ALL we do to EVERYONE we meet!!   AMEN

Slow Cooker Flank Steak

Ingredients:

1.5 pounds of Flank Steak
5 TBSP olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
1.25 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt 
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup water
2 TBSP white wine vinegar ( I used Champagne vinegar)   
8 ounces button mushrooms

Directions:

Remove silver skin and excess fat from the meat.
Season with salt and pepper.

In skillet set to medium-high heat, heat oil to almost smoking.
Make sure the pan and oil are mice and hot.  Brown both sides of the meat.  I cut mine in half and browned each piece separately.
Place the meat in the slow cooker at this point.

 
 Slice the onion and place in the pan that you browned the meat in for 3-4  minutes until the onions are soft.  Add more oil if needed.

 Gather your spices for the marinade.  Mix together and pour over the onions in the pan.  Add water and bring to a boil.

At this point quarter you mushrooms and add to the skillet.

 Pour mixture over the flank steak in the crock pot.  Cover the pot.  DO NOT remove the lid on the slow cooker for the next 4 hours.  Trust me on this one!!  Don't peek!  It needs the moisture especially with a tough cut of protein like flank steak.
Cook for 4 hours, on high setting and it will come out perfect.
The meat is so tender you can cut it with a fork.  Leftovers are great for sandwiches the next day!!

Slow Cooker Flank Steak

Ingredients:

1.5 pounds of Flank Steak
5 TBSP olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
1.25 tsp chili powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt 
1/4 tsp pepper
1/3 cup water
2 TBSP white wine vinegar ( I used Champagne vinegar)   
8 ounces button mushrooms

Directions:

Remove silver skin and excess fat from the meat.
Season with salt and pepper.

In skillet set to medium-high heat, heat oil to almost smoking.
Make sure the pan and oil are mice and hot.  Brown both sides of the meat.  I cut mine in half and browned each piece separately.
Place the meat in the slow cooker at this point.

  Slice the onion and place in the pan that you browned the meat in for 3-4  minutes until the onions are soft.  Add more oil if needed

 Gather your spices for the marinade.  Mix together and pour over the onions in the pan.  Add water and bring to a boil.

At this point quarter you mushrooms and add to the skillet.

 Pour mixture over the flank steak in the crock pot.  Cover the pot.  DO NOT remove the lid on the slow cooker for the next 4 hours.  Trust me on this one!!  Don't peek!  It needs the moisture especially with a tough cut of protein like flank steak.
Cook for 4 hours, on high setting and it will come out perfect.
The meat is so tender you can cut it with a fork.  Leftovers are great for sandwiches the next day!!

 

Bon Appetite! 

Try the steak...you will LOVE it!!  Let me know what you think!  I am making plans to meet with the artist who is helping me with my first cookbook.  Hope to spend time with her in April.  She is extremely talented and I am honored to be working with her. My plan is to have the book ready by October before I leave for Paris.  Hopefully I will be on schedule so I can share it with you for the holidays!!

 As Always.... 

Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama

 

Stitch Me Up

Stitch Me Up Embroidery Blog

Day 5 

This is my first Bog Hop and I am so excited to have all of you 

view my projects.  I am sending my thanks to 

 Madame Samm  for hosting this hop and to Jane at

Jane's Fabric and Quilts  for being our cheerleader.

Thanks to our sponsor Colonial Needle.

I also want to send special thank yous to our pattern designers

Debbie,  Cyndi, and Madame Samm.

Now for my show and tell:

My first two projects are from

Cyndi

  at Bee Tree Designs

 This pillow is covered in a red and white check.  The Embroidery is on a removable cover that can be changed seasonally or to suit your decorating taste or mood. I used buttons in the center of the flower to make it "pop".

 These flowers made me think of spring....even though is it still pretty cold here in the Midwest for March.  I wanted to use all the colors of thread in the bag so I did each flower in a different color then found a beautiful print in my stash that coordinated with the colors.  I made this apron for a dear friend who volunteers her time to serve dinners at her church for families who have lost loved ones.  Won't this be cheerful on her?  Next week is her birthday....sssshhhhh, don't tell her!!!

Madame Samm designed the embroidery on my next two projects. 

 This woman just screamed 1950's to me.  I have a set of tea towels my mother made when my Dad was in the service in Germany in 1951.  I embroidered this towel for her birthday in two weeks.  It is her era!!  I used small buttons on the apron edge to embellish and give it a 3-d effect.  Love that these designs were so "birthday" friendly for me to prepare for this hop.

 WEE TOTS

 I Love this "Wee Tot" girl.  She is the centerpiece for my next baby girl quilt.  I had hoped to finish this but got sidetracked on another project.  I will sandwich and quilt it when I need a gift for another sweet baby girl.  

So now that I have shown you my "stuff" hop on over to these blogs and see how they are showing off all these fabulous embroidery designs!!  

TUESDAY MARCH 26th

Isabel @That Other Blog

Jeanette @That Other Blog

Just Let Me Quilt

MacDonald’s Patch 

Pots Pans Pins and Prayers

GrandMama's Stories

Stitch, Stitch, Stitch

Needled d

Tomorrow's Treasures Today 

Lemur on a Stick

 Life In Every Breath

Zellerwear 

 Bumbleberry Stitches

threads on my socks

Hanging On By A Thread

Fresh Cut Quilts

Thanks for stopping by today!  I hope you come back often now that we are friends!

 Still dreaming..............


Happy Trails,

Mtn Mama