Like Butterfinger? Like Twinkies? You'll Love This!!

Butterfinger and Twinkies have long been favorites of mine.  I absolutely LOVE them.  Even though I am keenly aware too much sweets are definitely not good for either your health or your figure ( as if I even had a figure any more) I simply can't resist a good old crunchy Butterfinger or a gooey Twinkie once in a while.  Pair the two along with chocolate and whipped topping and you have a dessert that is guaranteed to melt in your mouth and tickle your innards!!
This yummy recipe will have little kids and big kids alike coming back for more!

Butterfinger Twinkle

1 small pkg. chocolate instant pudding mix
1 15 oz. pkg. Twinkies
6 Butterfinger bars, finely chopped
1 8 oz. Cool Whip

Prepare pudding mix. Set aside and tear each Twinkie into 3 or 4 pieces.  Place pieces in 13 x 9 inch pan. Spread pudding over Twinkie pieces and top with half of chopped Butterfingers.  Cover with whipped topping and sprinkle remaining chopped Butterfingers over top.  Chill 3 or 4 hours before serving. Makes about 16 servings.
As it chills, sit back, relax and be sweet!!

Put Me Back! Put Me Back!

How could I forget to post this picture of Morgan taken immediately after she was born?!  Just look at that baby ... she was all nice and warm and protected in her little cocoon and now, here she is out in the cold and blaring lights!! She is sure telling the world how she feels about it right now!!!  She was probably thinking, "Put me back!  Put me back!!"  It wasn't long though till she was snuggled up close to Brittany, her mommy, and was she ever happy then.  Her little mouth that had been screaming bloody murder a few minutes before began to look a little like a soft pink rosebud and she curled right up and went back to sleep, hoping they would just leave her alone for a while.  It takes a girl a little while to get over such a traumatic experience and she was surely going to try to sleep and forget about it!!!!

Be sweet all!

Just One Happy, Silly Old Lady

I am posting this little picture and prayer as it is funny and I don't ever want for a minute for my readers to be saddened by something I have written.  I know the previous post is indeed sad, but I would ask you to be happy for me and for my family.  We have known our share of sadness but we have also known more than our share of joy.  We have been so blessed and are ever so grateful for all the lovely years spent with our loved ones who have gone on before us.  They have added a measure of happiness to our lives we would never have had otherwise.
Life is short and I don't always make the most of it, but I laugh more than I cry at the antics of my son and grandson who are the most precious of angels now and I am sure they must be the funniest of all, playing pranks as they once did with us.
Be happy for me that I was lucky enough to have them to love for as long as I did, for I am keenly aware that there are others who are not so lucky.
I look at my 5 great grand children today and wonder what in the world I have ever done to deserve such happiness!!!! I have been SO blessed.  I am SO very thankful that I was raised and taught by the most loving, wonderful parents anyone could imagine!  I am SO very thankful that I have had 6 of the most beautiful and best children in all of the world!  I am SO thankful for my precious grand children and my sweet little great grand children!
As I have said, life is short and life is what we make it to be ... now I just want the weeds out of my veggies planted in the flower beds, my prayer above to be answered and I will be about the happiest, silliest old lady on the face of this earth!!
Remember to always be sweet and whatever you do, be nice!!!

Our Own Sweet Angel

This is our Logan, who we always call "Logie".  My daughter, Debye, is his mom and Brittany is his sweet sister.  God needed our boy in Heaven, so called him to come home just 3 short years ago.  How we miss him and love him, but how grateful we are to have had such a gift as he was for the 18 years God let him stay with us on this earth.  I know he surely is the delight of all the angels and they must smile continually for he is one of them now.  He was an angel on earth and now is an angel in Heaven.  We feel his presence in every moment of our lives, in every breath we take, he is there.  We love you forever, Logie and someday, when God sees fit, we will join you, once again to hold you close, listen to that laugh that is not quite like any other.

Reese's Peanut Butter Twins

Homemade Peanut Butter Cups

2 cups milk chocolate chips
2 tablespoons shortening
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter
1 cup confectioners' sugar
2/3 cup graham cracker crumbs
30 mini (1 3/4 by 1 1/4 inch) paper cups

In 1-quart saucepan combine chocolate chips and shortening. Cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, until melted and smooth (3 to 5 minutes).
Loosen top paper cup from stack, but leave in stack for greater stability while being coated. With small paint brush, coat inside top cup evenly with about 1 teaspoon melted chocolate to about 1/8-inch thickness, bringing coating almost to top of cup but not over edge. Repeat until 30 cups are coated; refrigerate cups.
In 2-quart saucepan combine butter or margarine and peanut butter. Cook over medium heat, stirring ocassionally, until melted (4 to 6 minutes). Stir in confectioners' sugar and graham cracker crumbs. Press about 1/2 tablespoon filling into each chocolate cup.
Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon melted chocolate on top of filling; spread to cover. Freeze until firm (about 2 hours) carefully peel off paper cups. Store refrigerated.

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Every little boy and girl I know loves Reese's Peanut Butter Cups.  In face, every big girl and boy I know does as well.  It is a favorite of almost everyone.  There is something about the taste of peanut butter and chocolate that is unmatched.  Thes are not difficult at all to make and will be well worth the effort to watch small faces light up and little hands reaching for this delicious homemade treat.  These are great for gift giving a homemade treat in a pretty container tied with ribbon, holding a tag with the recipe and instructions.  I hope you enjoy this just half as much as I do and remember, whatever you do, always be sweet!!!

Nino Envuelto (Bundled Up Baby)

This is a Mexican recipe that could easily be called a Mexican jelly roll.  It is fun to make and a bit different from the norm.  I love the name, which means Bundled Up Baby. I have quite a lot of Mexican and Tex Mex recipes and this is definitely one of my favorites to fill that craving for "something a bit sweet".  This little dessert is the perfect ending after a meal of a hot and spicy main dish.
I do hope you will give it a try and let me know how it turns out.  You may also use any flavor of jam that you like instead of the peach,  Happy cooking and enjoy!!!

Nino Envuelto

1/2 cup butter, melted and cooled

5 eggs, divided

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup flour

peach jam

confectioner's sugar

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat egg yolks and whites separately, until whites are stiff.
Combine and, still beating, slowly add sugar, flour and butter.  Place wax paper on baking sheet and butter the paper.  Spread dough 1/2 inch thick over the paper and bake from 50 minutes to 1 hour.

When done, remove from the oven and roll up quickly, paper and all.  Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.

Unwrap, carefully loosening paper, but leaving it under cake.  Spread cake with jam.  Re-roll, discarding the wax paper. 

Roll entire cake in confectioner's sugar.  Cut off each end for a neat appearance.  Slice 1 inch thick to serve.

I just know this will be a big hit and I can hardly wait for you to try this little jewel!!!!

Be sweet!!!

Heart Gifts

It's not the things that can be bought that are life's richest treasure, it's just the little "heart gifts" that money cannot measure...

A cheerful smile, a friendly word, a sympathetic nod

Are priceless little treasures from the storehouse of our God...

They are the things that can't be bought with silver or with gold, for thoughtfulness and kindness and love are never sold...

They are priceless things in life for which no one can pay, and the giver finds rich recompense in giving them away.



                                                                           Helen Steiner Rice


I love the poems written by Helen Steiner Rice.  They all hold such insight and wisdom, yet are very earthy.  I hope you enjoy this little one as much as I do.

Update:  My vegetables are looking a little forlorn.  I had so hoped they would take off and grow big and heavy with squash and tomatoes, etc.  It looks now as if that will definitely not be the case.  A storm with some hail knocked my tiny squash off the plants and made the other plants look pretty pitiful!  I am not ready to give up just yet though.  I think if I apply Miracle Grow and baby them, they just might make it.  I do have a small green tomato and a few peppers, so maybe they will all suddenly have a burst of growth and overnight become the healthy plants I had dreamed of!!!
So much for that ... be sweet everyone!