Magazine Review by Terri . . . Sandra lee Semi-Homemade

With summer just around the corner, I was delighted to open my mailbox this week to find my June/July issue of my favorite new magazine . . . Sandra lee Semi-Homemade. This beautiful magazine was full of creative ideas for decorating and organizing your home, delicious, quick and easy recipes, beautiful photos, clever suggestions and helpful tips.

This month’s issue includes unique storage suggestions such as a hospitality basket for summer guests and an “ouch” jar and an “ache” jar created from repurposed kitchen canisters. There are also articles celebrating summer gatherings between friends, ideas for a Fabulous Father’s Day and a Patriotic Picnic that includes recipes for Homemade Marshmallows and Chocolate S’mores cooked in the oven.

I can’t wait to gather my girlfriends for a “crafty” afternoon creating gift bottles of “infused” oils made from the basil growing on my porch and other fresh ingredients found at the Bedford Farmer’s Market. The complete instructions for making “infused” oil – that golden oil that smells and tastes of the freshest herbs, perfect for dipping hot, crusty bread are found in this month’s issue.

You’ll also find directions for turning a brightly colored birdbath into a small herb garden to add a dash of freshness to all our summer meals. I’m already searching for the perfect birdbath to use to create my own herb garden.

If I’ve peeked your interest in my new favorite magazine Sandra lee Semi-Homemade just go to www.semihomemademag.com and check it out.

This and That . . .
I recently discovered a fabulous banana nut bread recipe in an old Southern Living magazine I found in my magazine basket. I have now fixed it twice and it is a huge success with my family. I thought you might like to try it for your family. Enjoy!

Toasted Coconut-Topped Cream Cheese Banana Nut Bread
From: Southern Living Magazine - 2005

¾ cup butter, softened
1 (8oz.) pkg. fat free cream cheese, softened
2 cups Splenda sugar blend
2 large eggs
3 cups flour
½ tsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
3 very ripe mashed bananas
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp. vanilla

Beat butter & cream cheese at medium speed with an electric mixer until creamy. Gradually add sugar, beating until light & fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each egg.

Combine flour, salt, baking powder & baking soda. Add to butter mixture, beating at low speed just until blended. Mash bananas. Stir in bananas, pecans & vanilla. Spoon batter into 2 greased & floured 8 x 4 inch loaf pan.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Then place a piece of aluminum foil on top of bread to prevent browning and return to oven and cook 20 more minutes. Check for doneness with a toothpick.

While bread is cooking the last 20 minutes mix coconut topping as directed.

Topping:

Stir together in a small saucepan:
¼ cup butter
¼ cup Splenda sugar blend
¼ cup packed Splenda brown sugar blend
¼ cup milk

Bring mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in:
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut
1 cup chopped pecans
2 tsp. vanilla extract.

Mix well.

When bread is done remove from oven. Spread toping evenly over each loaf. Place a piece of aluminum foil on lower rack to catch any drippings. Raise upper rack close to elements. Return bread to oven on top rack and broil for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool in pans on wire racks for 20 minutes. Using knife loosen bread from sides of pan. Turn loaf upside down in your hand and gently remove from pans. Cool topping side up on wire rack an additional 30 minutes before slicing. Serve with a glass of cold milk.

Walk with God,

Terri

Life is fragile . . . handle with prayer . . . by Terri

Memories. . . of a huge smile . . . a deep southern accent . . . a charming southern gentleman. That's how I'll remember my sweet cousin Jimmy who was laid to rest yesterday just days before his 50th birthday. Jimmy died early Saturday morning in a freak accident when he fell from the 7th floor walkway at a San Antonio Hotel. He was loved by so many and will be missed by all who knew him. Life is so fragile. Never miss an opportunity to give an extra hug to those you love, for only God knows how long they will be with us.

Walk with God,
Terri

Traditional Scrapbooking to Faithbooking

It’s hard to believe how much scrapbooking has changed since I picked up my first camera in third grade and began recording the days of my life. That same year I created my first scrapbook album on a newsprint album bought at the dime store. I decorated the pages with photos, cartoons from the newspaper and acid-filled stickers. Now over 40 years later I am still an avid photographer/ scrapbooker. Over the years I have taken thousands of photos and created over 100 scrapbook albums for my family and friends. During this same time photo preservation has evolved into a multi-million dollar industry of which Creative Memories is the leader.

Today we actually have 3 types of albums to choose from. The first, and still my favorite is the Traditional Scrapbooking album using photos, memorabilia, stickers & lots of journaling from the heart. The second type consists of a PicFolio album into which you just slide your photos and journaling boxes for a quick & easy way to display your most recent photos. The last style, and quickly growing to be the most popular for Creative Memories customers is the Digital album. With Creative Memories Storybook Creator Plus Software, you don’t need much more than your photos, a computer and your favorite chair to create the perfect photo book. These books make great gifts for any event including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day or Graduation.

But the latest trend in scrapbooking called Faithbooking is what has me the most excited. Faithbooks can be created using the Traditional, PicFolio or the Digital album. Faithbooking is a way for Christians to record their beliefs. Through the use of favorite Bible passages, journaling, & photos you can create a serene layout that can help you in your daily meditation. It has been said, “that the true tests of faith come not when life is easy but when challenges abound.” Use your Faithbook to reflect on the struggles you and your family encounter and how your belief in God gives you peace during these troubled times. What a great gift to pass down to future generations!

Walk with God!
Terri

Crop 'Til You Drop by Terri

My Easter Crop starts in just 30 minutes and I can’t wait! I am really looking forward to 7 un-interrupted hours of scrapbooking! I’m still debating which scrapbooking project to work on, but I think it will be Aunt Juanita’s heritage album. I have so many projects in progress – sometimes it’s a little overwhelming!

The best thing about my crops is the time spent catching up on the lives of my customers who have become dear friends over the last 8 years. Besides working on our albums & visiting our time will be spent sharing ideas, learning the newest scrapbooking techniques, eating yummy treats and watching great movies. Most of us find that the only time we have dedicated exclusively to scrapbooking is crop time. We will be working in Terri’s Scrappin’ Spot (named by Lori), otherwise known as our formal living room/dining room.

Jerry & I created Terri’s Scrappin’ Spot two years ago when I was told by the Legacy church staff that my ladies could no longer crop at the building. The Legacy Elders had decided that only activities directly connected to a specific ministry could be held on a regular basis in the building. Strangely enough several members & non-members still have regularly scheduled events at the building. I know of two other Creative Memories Consultants that currently hold their meetings at the building. It saddens me to know that the “rules” only apply to some people.

To create Terri’s Scrappin’ Spot we removed all the traditional furniture from the room. Next we bought 6 drafting centers complete with drafting tables, comfy chairs & project lights and placed them around the room. Then we brought in Dad’s old Light Table, and a couple cabinets to hold my stock and our supplies. Last of all we mounted a TV on the wall and brought in a DVD player and VCR. Then we were all set to open our home to my customers.

The second best thing about my monthly crop is being able to cook yummy treats for my “ladies”. This month I am baking a delicious semi-homemade Coffee Cake. It’s hard to believe such a simple recipe could turn out so delicious. For lunch I am serving my version of Taco Salad. It is a favorite of my family, friends & customers! Last of all, for dessert I made Chocolate Éclairs. Besides tasting great this light dessert is “legal” only 3 pts on Weight Watchers. I thought I’d include the coffee cake recipe for you to bake for your family. It is perfect for a special Sunday morning treat. Just toss all the ingredients in a Bundt pan right before going to bed. Cover with a damp towel and head to bed. In the morning just stick it in the oven and you’ll have a gooey treat that tastes like you’ve been slaving over it for hours! Enjoy!

Christmas Day Coffee Cake

Ingredients:

16 to 18 unbaked frozen dinner rolls

1 (3-ounce) package regular butterscotch pudding mix, not instant

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup pecans, chopped

1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, melted

Directions:

The night before place frozen rolls in well greased Bundt pan. Sprinkle dry pudding mix over rolls. Sprinkle brown sugar over pudding mix. Sprinkle chopped pecans over brown sugar. Pour melted butter over all. To prevent the dough from forming a hard crust while its rising overnight, cover with a damp towel or tightly wrap with plastic wrap. Let rise overnight at room temperature, about 8 to 10 hours. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake in oven for 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes. Turn pan over onto a serving platter to remove. Serve by pulling apart chunks with forks.

Walk with God,
Terri

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies by Terri

This photo is of some of my Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies

that we served in the "Sweet Buffet" at Lori & Jon's wedding.

When I was in High School my mom began working as a bookkeeper for Kimball Oil Company in Ft Worth. While mom was working there she and her fellow co-workers would occasionally exchange recipes. My Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookie started as one of these recipes. Mom worked with a young woman who grew up in a "Carny" - one of those carnivals that traveled from shopping center to shopping center across the country. Patti shared the "carny" version of Chocolate Chip Cookies. Over the last 35 years I have altered the recipe so much that I'm not sure Patti would even recognize it if she saw it. Jerry claims I just like to make each recipe my own, changing ingredients to accommodate our family's likes and dislikes. Mom says that no one makes chocolate chip cookies as good as mine. I just like to say that it’s all in the recipe. One that has been perfected over time. I really think the final change I made was the best. I switched one bag of regular Toll House Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips for a bag of Tollhouse Mini Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips. Now you get chocolate chips in every bite. Yum-o!

I love watching the reaction people have when they try this cookie for the first time! I'll never forget the first time Jerry's brother Dale tried one. He slipped the first cookie from the container hoping no one was watching, bit into it, and then grabbed a handful. Almost as if he couldn't believe they were so delicious! His reaction is a common one. The cookie has just the perfect blend of gooey chocolate chips & nuts.

I thought you might like to try making this treat for your family. But first I must warn you - once they've tried it - you'll be making it often.

Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies
From the kitchen of: Terri Fonville

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups softened butter
1 1/3 cups Crisco
2 cups light brown sugar
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs (Fresh eggs work best!)
4 teaspoons vanilla
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons baking soda
6 cups flour
1 - 12 oz pkg. Toll House Mini-morsels semi sweet chocolate chips
1 - 6 oz. pkg. Toll House Semi sweet chocolate chips
1 - 6 oz. pkg. Toll House Premier white morsels
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions:
Mix shortening, butter, sugars, eggs and vanilla. Add flour, soda and salt. Stir well. Gently fold in chips and nuts.

Place dough in the refrigerator and chill thoroughly approximately 2 hours before baking. (I try to make dough a day ahead to allow it to chill thoroughly.) Drop by ice cream scoop onto ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart.

Bake at 375 degrees for 8-10 minutes (depending on your oven).
Note: I place mixing bowl back into refrigerator to keep extra dough chilled while waiting for cookies in the oven to bake. I always double this recipe – these cookies disappear so quickly!

Walk with God!

Terri

Awesome God! by Terri

Have I mentioned lately what an Awesome God we have?

It is so easy to be overwhelmed by the the little trials

That satan throws into our path

To distract us from our daily walk with God.

My knees grow sore from time spent in prayer.

Then when I am ready to give up -

The unexpected happens.

It's almost as if God is saying H - E - L - L - O !

Did you forget something?

I am always here for you!

That's when I am reminded

What an Awesome God we have!

It reminds me of my favorite verse: Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you" declairs the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

Walk with God!

Terri

GOTCHA! by Terri

On August 17th, 2006 Jerry turned 50. In the spring of that year the kids & I began plotting the Ultimate Surprise Birthday Bash for him. It all started when we were looking through Lori & Jon's wedding photos. We came across a photo that we have nicknamed "the missing man formation." At each family gathering Jerry & his siblings always take a "sibling" photo in age order. In the missing man formation a space is left for the missing sibling. Seeing that photo made me realize that the Ultimate Surprise Birthday Bash would not be complete unless all of Jerry's siblings were present. Jerry was the third of six children and they had not been all together in 13 years! With this is mind the kids and I began plotting our big surprise. As soon as I mentioned our plans to Jerry's youngest brother Earl and his wife Karen they volunteered their home as setting for the day. I sent out a save the date letter to each of his siblings asking them to come to Texas at the end of August to help Jerry celebrate his big 5-0 at a Texas Style Bar-B-Q Picnic. One by one I began hearing from each family until all had agreed to come.

As we got closer to August we realized that Jerry was starting to get suspicious! So Dave decided that the only way to throw him off was to plan a second smaller party closer to his birthday at Mom & Dad's home. It too would be a surprise. We would invite friends and family that were not invited to the family Bar-B-Q. I e-mailed his siblings and asked them to call Jerry on the evening of August 14th with their regrets for missing his birthday party. This party was a huge success and totally fooled Jerry! He didn't have a clue that a second party was in the works. Several of his siblings called on the 14th with their regrets for missing this special birthday party. It was so hard to keep a straight face while I listened to their calls.

As the last week before the party arrived, I began buying the food & decorations for the big day and hiding them at Earl & Karen's house. Several family members generously helped me cook the food we would need for the day. On Friday after cooking all day, Kathy & I made a quick last minute trip to Costcos for all the stuff that couldn't be bought til the last minute and delivered those items and the food to Karen's. Burning a "stinky" candle helped hide the yummy smells of all the food I had cooked.

The biggest concern I now had was how to get Jerry to Karen & Earl's in the middle of the day on a Saturday. Earl came up with the solution. On Friday night Earl called & asked Jerry to come over on Saturday to help with a project for Karen. He needed to drill a hole in Karen's marble desk to hide the computer chords. He suggested that I come along and we'd eat lunch & then swim afterwards.

We arrived at the party right on time. Jerry immediately walked over to the desk to get started on their drilling project. One family at a time came strolling out of their hiding spot in Karen & Earl's bedroom saying "I hear you need some help drilling a hole." They came out in order of distance from Colleyville. Those living closest came out first. Only when Aleta & Larry who live in New Mexico came out of the bedroom did Jerry finally realise that something was up! The expression on his face was priceless when Dale & Carolyn who live in Florida came walking out of the bedroom. That's when I said "GOTCHA". It made all the plotting and hard work worth while. We had pulled off the Ultimate Surprise Birthday Bash!

Walk with God!

Terri

Family Traditions . . . by Terri

Over 20 years ago I taught at Young Children's World, a mother's day out program in our community. One Christmas a fellow teacher gave each of her coworkers a tiny box of the most delicious candy I have ever eaten. She called it "Butterthumbs." It was a homemade version of Butterfingers. She generously shared her recipe with me. Since that Christmas it has become a family tradition of ours to make "Butterthumbs". Some years our Christmas season is too busy to make this special treat, but whenever possible we make it.

"Butterthumbs" has very few ingredients. However, it is rather complicated and you must have at least 2 people to make it. Always in the past Jerry & I have made this candy together without any help. That changed in December 2004. Our daughter Lori was getting married on December 31st and she had decided in honor of her new last name - Sweet, she would have a Sweets Buffet at their wedding reception.

So, on the Saturday before the wedding Jerry & I passed that tradition on to our children. Just as we were getting started Dave's best friend Caleb arrived and couldn't resist pitching in to help. For the first time ever Jerry & I had help making this special treat!

I thought you might like to try making our favorite family candy . . .

Butterthumbs
In Heavy Saucepan Combine:

2 cups sugar
2/3 cup Light Karo Syrup
1cup water

Mix above ingredients together and boil to 300 degrees ”Hard Crack”. 

Remove quickly from heat.

Butter iron skillet completely.

While Karo mixture is heating:  Place 2 cups of “smooth” Peter Pan peanut butter in the center of a well buttered extra large iron skillet.

When candy reaches Hard Crack pour it out onto peanut butter. Stir with wooden spoon quickly and thoroughly before it cools down.

Dump peanut butter mixture out onto aluminum foil and pat into a ½” to ¼” thick form (be sure to butter your hands to keep them from burning).

Using very sharp cooking scissors, cut into ¾” strips then cut strips into 1” pieces. After pieces have cooled, set out on wax paper. (This step works best if done by 4 or 5 people since the mixture hardens before one person can get the whole mixture cut. In the past we have tried cutting with knives - but you just can't work fast enough using knives).

Chocolate Mixture:
Melt 4 or 5 pkgs. High Quality Almond Bark in double boiler. Dip candy using candy dippers into chocolate mixture, allow excess to drip off, place on wax paper and let chocolate harden. Best if left undisturbed for 24 hours. Store in cool but not cold airtight containers.

Candy dips best if placed in layers in air tight container and allowed to rest overnight before dipping. Use wax paper to separate the layers.

Walk with God!
Terri