A place to create

Of all the rooms in our house, my scrap booking room/office is my favorite. I absolutely love to hang out in this special space. Over the past 6 months I've slowly decorated it, purchasing things from Home Goods, Michaels etc...going for the "romantic/vintage" look. My original plan was to paint the room a soft pastel color, but have decided that spending time and money painting a rental house, is not the best use of  our resources. The white walls actually work well in this room with all the black, white and pastel colors. The drafting desk belonged to my Mom. This is where she painted. Now this is where I sit to scrap book, stamp cards and other projects and I even wrapped my Christmas gifts here this year.

I love this wall shelf. I found it at Home Goods. It works well for storing my ink pads, accessory and ribbon jars.

This is Kate's old desk from her teen age room. I plan on changing the hard ware on it, but for now it works well. I sit here to pay bills and work on my lap top. I took inexpensive scrap book page frames from Joanne's and put 12x12 pieces of scrap book paper into them for instant art work. I almost always watch the little t.v. on my desk when I work over at the drafting table. I love to sit and watch back to back movies on Lifetime while I scrapbook on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Another Home Goods treasure, this is actually a "jewelry tree" but I just love it as a decoration in my room.

This wall shelf/shadow box works very well for displaying my vintage rubber stamp collection. Most of these stamps were my Moms.

My punches are hanging on racks that were left behind by the previous tenant. They were hanging in the kitchen with hooks on them. The purpose was to hang your spoons, spatulas etc. I thought they would be perfect for hanging my punches, and they are! The "D" is from the home section of Kohls.

This painting has a story. My Mom wanted to teach me how to paint one time when the kids and I were staying at Mom's and Dad's during Spring Break. I painted about 1/4 of this vintage lady when I announced that I did not like to paint! My Mom was disappointed but did not want the canvas and the work I had started to go to waste. So she finished the painting. This is one of her rare paintings that is not Southwest style. I love this painting and will always treasure it. The vintage candlesticks are a recent purchase from Michael's romantic collection and the topiary of silk flowers are from Home Goods.

I LOVE this vinyl wall hanging of a chandelier. Kevin applied it to the wall for me. It was another recent purchase from Home Goods. I can peel it off when we move.

Here is another view of the room. I often open this window and let the fresh air in. I feel so blessed to have this special space that is all my own. It really inspires me to scrap book and create. Thank you for taking a tour.

Recipe of the Week: Chicken and Dumplings (gluten free)

First of all, let me say I am so thrilled that you are all loving my recipes so much. I've had several e-mails and face book messages telling me how much my recipes are enjoyed. Unfortunately 95% of my blog readers are having trouble leaving a comment here on the blog. In a later post I will give directions once again on how to do this.  Due to the great feedback I've received I've decided to step it up a notch and post a new recipe each week.  This week's recipe is Chicken and Dumplings which is a recipe that I have modified and tweaked from the "Chicken Fricasse" recipe in The Joy of Cooking. This is my absolute favorite thing to make on a Sunday afternoon. It is not a quick fix, so be prepared to be in the kitchen for about an hour and 1/2 from the first chop to putting it on the table. Your family will thank you though for your efforts. This is the #1 requested meal by Kate each time she comes home from school and is probably my favorite meal I make as well (other than pizza) Kev and Kyle enjoy it equally as much.

Here's what you'll need:

*1-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (*= depending on how many you are serving)

3T. butter

*1/2 c-1 c. chopped onions

2 cups HOT water

1 3/4 c. chicken broth

*2-4 medium carrots

*1-2 celery stalks

1/2 t. ground dried thyme

1/2 t. salt

1/2 t. pepper

1/4 cup heavy whipping cream

bisquick/milk (follow the dumpling recipe on side of box) *If you are gluten free buy gluten free bisquick. You'll need about 2 cups of the bisquick and just add 1/4 cup of milk to start and then a little more milk about 2-3 T. at a time until you get a sticky dough.

The first thing I like to do is make the dumpling dough. Follow the recipe on the side of the bisquick box. If you are using gluten free bisquick there is no recipe on the side of the box. Follow my instructions above* I usually double the recipe they provide to yield 8 dumplings. Figure on 2 dumplings per person. I always add a little more milk than the recipe calls for as well. The dough should have a sticky, wet consistancy. Set aside.

If you are serving 3-4 (like my family) you will need to peel and chop 2 carrots, 1 celery stalk and 1/2 of a medium onion which equals about 1/2 cup. Double the vegetables for 6-8 people. I like to cut the vegys into small bite size pieces. Set aside.

Next, wash and  pat dry chicken breasts with paper towel. Cut off any fat. Then cut the chicken breasts in 1/2. I like to do this so I have lots of space in between chicken breasts in my family skillet for dumplings. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Set aside.

Melt butter over medium heat in a big family skillet that has a well fitting lid. Add chicken breasts to the pan and sear on medium heat each side for 4-5 minutes. You want the breasts to be lightly browned only (the meat will still be raw inside.)  *Please note that if you have a larger crowd to feed than I do, there is plenty of room in your family skillet for another pound of chicken breasts. Each pound of chicken is approx. 4 breasts.*  Remove breasts to a plate and set aside.

Add onions to the remaining butter/chicken drippings and cook over low/med heat for 5 minutes. Sprinkle in flour and stir until you have little flour/onion lumps like above.

Remove the floured onions from heat and stir in the hot water and chicken broth. You will have LOTS of lumps at this point. Using a wire whisk break up lumps and whisk rapidly. If you are having trouble getting the lumps out, take a fork and press them out. Keep it up until ALL lumps are gone and you have a milky sauce with onions floating in it like above. Continue whisking over medium heat until the mixture comes to a boil.  Next add carrots, celery, and salt and pepper to taste. (I use approx 1/2 t. each between sprinking it on the chicken and putting it in the sauce) The broth has plenty of sodium in it to begin with. Reduce heat to low and whisk in the whipping cream. The original recipe calls for 1/2 c. of heavy whipping cream. I use 1/4 cup and it is plenty to make the sauce very creamy and rich. Then, add the breasts back into pan. Keep the heat on low, the sauce should be slightly bubbling and simmering.

Next, take a medium scoop and scoop and release each dumpling into the pan. (if you do not have a scoop, just drop by rounded tablespoons) I like to try and place a ball of dough between the pieces of chicken so everything is evenly cooked through. Cook on low heat and let it lightly simmer for 10 minutes. Then cover your pan with the tightly fitting lid and cook an additional 10 minutes. It is imperitive that your heat be on low, maintaining a nice bubbling simmer.

At the end of 10 minutes, remove the lid and you will have the perfect dumplings. Soft, fluffy and delicious! I take the skillet to the table and place it on hot pads and serve right from the pan. *total cooking time for the chicken is 30 minutes. Ten minutes in the pan to brown and another 20 minutes in the sauce. Your chicken will be moist and fork tender...SO GOOD.

A perfect serving size is two chicken breast halves and two dumplings per person. There is plenty of sauce to ladle over the top too. If you double your chicken and vegies you do not need to double the sauce. There is plenty! This is yummy goodness at it's best. You MUST try this ultimate comfort food!!!

enjoy!

Valentine's Day Cards

Here are some cards I made at stamp club last week. I LOVE my new stamp club! Our demonstrator with Stampin Up! is SUPER talented and really challenges us with new and unique designs...like this easel card below.

I love this easel idea! It is great because the person who receives the card can display it and enjoy it! Now..who is going to be the lucky recipiant of this card???? Time will tell!!

Recipe: Meatloaf

Soon after marrying Kevin he told me that his favorite dinner was meatloaf. Since that time I have been searching for the "perfect" meat loaf recipe and until this one...they were always not quite right. This recipe is

so incredible that I had to share it. I found it in a Taste of Home magazine. Kevin has named it "the best meatloaf he has ever had"

INGREDIANTS

2 eggs, slightly beaten

11 oz can V8 juice

1/2 an onion, finely chopped

1 celery rib, finely chopped

1 c. seasoned bread crumbs

(I used plain and it was fine)

1/2 envelope beefy onion soup mix

1/2 t. pepper

2 pounds lean ground beef or turkey (this recipe is best with ground beef)

For Glaze:

3/4 cup ketchup

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup yellow mustard

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, V8 juice, onions, celery, bread crumbs, soup mix and pepper. Crumble the meat over the mixture and mix well. (I use my bare hands to incorporate well)

Pack the meatloaf mixture into a loaf pan that has been sprayed with non stick spray. Turn the loaf pan upside down into a 9 x 13 casserole dish.

Slowly lift off the loaf pan and you will have a perfectly shaped meatloaf. I like doing it this way so any fat drippings will drip out into the pan instead of baking into the loaf pan and making for a greasy meatloaf.

Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Meanwhile, combine the glaze ingrediants. When the 45 minutes is up, take the meatloaf out of the oven and spread the glaze over the entire loaf. Return the glazed loaf back to the oven and cook an additional 15 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 160 degrees.

When meatloaf is done, I lift the entire loaf out of the pan which will have fat drippings in it and put it onto a serving platter. Then I slice it. Serve with your favorite side dishes. We like ours with Italian green beans with bacon & onions (stay tuned for this recipe in a later post) and home made mac and cheese or mashed potatoes. This is comfort food at its best folks. Enjoy!

Favorite Moments from 2009

Here are some of my favorite moments from 2009.

Revelation Song

As the New Year begins, I can't help but reflect on this past year and all the amazing things God has done in my life. I can honestly say that I grew closer in my walk with the Lord than ever before in 2009. He taught me so much this year about waiting, trusting and listening. When 2009 began Kevin was in his 4th month of unemployment after losing his job in October 2008. Additionally we realized that we had to short sale our home on Smokemont Ct., losing our substantial down payment not to mention 4 years of housepayments.  There were no job prospects in sight, yet he relentlessly sent out over 300 resumes nation wide all the while telling me each day that "God will provide" He never lost faith, even when I did. Not a patient person by nature, God taught me more than ever in this past year that His timing is perfect. Each and every month of Kevin's unemployment God provided for us. Finally, in July God provided Kevin with the most ideal of jobs in the most beautiful of locations in the state we longed to live in. The longer I live in our new city I realize God's plan in all of the loss that we incurred in Vegas. We could not live in a more beautiful city and I thank the Lord each day for our new life here. We have found a wonderful church and are making many new and wonderful friends. God showed us over and over again that He is trustworthy and His promises are real. Prayer changes things friends. God tells us in His word that He hears our prayers.

This past year I embraced worship like never before. I love to be in church, in my car or at home singing to the Lord. Our new church has the most amazing worship team (band that leads the singing at church) Our lead singer, Ashley has the most amazing angelic voice. The other members of the worship team are equally as talented on their respective instruments, as are the back up singers. Each week I can hardly wait to get to church and worship!! One song above all others really spoke to my heart this year and it is called "The Revelation Song". I heard it for the first time only a month ago when Ashley sang it so sweetly at our Women's Christmas desert and boutique. The song was so beautiful and so true that I literally broke in to tears singing it. I then went home and began researching the song on line. I found that it was written by Jennie Lee Riddle, but has been made widely popular by Kari Jobe who is the worship leader of  Gateway Church in Texas. She put out her second C.D. in February and it sold so many copies that she was recently named the best selling Christian artist of 2009. The music you are listening to IS the Revalation Song off of Kari Jobe's new C.D. I can say without any doubt or uncertainty that her new C.D. is absolutely amazing. I love each and every song. I've also gone on to watch her video diary blog and watch many of her live worship performances on U Tube. She is an amazing young woman of God and I simply love her music and the way she loves and worships God. The words of this song are so powerful and true.

Worthy is the Lamb who was slain..holy, holy is He.

Sing a new song, to Him who sits on, Heaven's mercy seat.

Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come.

With all creation I sing praise to the King of Kings.

You are my everything and I will adore You.

Clothed in rainbows of living color, flashes of lightening, rolls of thunder.

Blessing and honor, strength and glory and power be to You, the only wise King.

Filled with wonder, awestruck wonder, at the mention of Your name. Jesus Your name

is power, breath and living water...such a marvelous mystery.

What I've realized and learned in 2009 is that God will always give you the strength and grace to WAIT on Him.  He is faithful.

"Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and the Lord will strengthen your heart" -Psalm 27:14.

With all I have learned and experienced in the past several years I look so forward to 2010, knowing that whatever may come...God will see me through to victory!