Lorraine D. Hebler

Change of Plans

By Lorraine

We had planned to make the 6-hour drive north to visit our daughter in New York but instead will be cleaning out the gutters and storing away outdoor furniture this weekend in anticipation of hurricane Sandy should she decide to smack into New Jersey.
~*~
Sharing a collection of recent Photos
with no purpose ~ just because I like them
each with autumns warm glow
 basket of pears
 coffee containers
 where we have dinner most evenings
little green apples
 sunrise last week
 kitchen table
 orange moth
 sniffing the wind
 snorting
and though my schnauzer sometimes looks like a mean bad-boy, he seldom does anything to qualify for…
one of my favorite blogs…
about dogs doing, well, shameful things.
I just shake my head and smile at some of the trouble they cause and how we just keep on loving them anyway.

White and Light

By Lorraine

I love them both in our home.
Many times I thought of adding shelves to the kitchen windows.
So, part of our anniversary day together was spent picking up supplies for this project.
Yup, that’s what you do when married 37 years ~ enjoy being together even in the mundane things. 
My goal was to update and add interest to the window, include some privacy, still enjoy the backyard view and spend as little as possible.
Initially I wanted glass shelves but we decided to make them of wood. We couldn’t find white brackets that we wanted so I painted the ones we liked the style of.  Standard molding framed the outside of the windows. Then it was on to spackle the nail holes, sand, prime and paint.
 John added a thin piece of wood to the shelf edges for more detail.
 No curtain was Jared’s preference, and I liked the look too.
I went ahead and made cafe curtains and hung them with those cute little ring clips from a thin rod.  However, I didn’t like gap between the shelf edge and the top of the curtains.
So, I simply slid the rod through a single pocket I made. 
The seasonal views are always lovely through these windows
springtime flowers
summer green
autumn colors
winter snow
wild life ~ birds rabbits squirrels chipmunks (and even a blue heron)

linking to Show & Tell Friday and Seasonal Sunday’s, Blissful Whites Wednesday, Look What I Made, Transformation Thursday, Thursday Favorite Things

Powder Room

By Lorraine

This is the color of our dining room and it is my favorite in the whole house. I remember having many paint chips taped to the wall for days viewing them in the various light throughout the day.  I settled on Aqua Frost (from Valspar) and have not grown tired of it since 2007. I had some leftover paint and used it in the powder room. I needed an additional quart and just squeaked it using every drop in the can.

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Sweet Potato Pineapple Cake

By Lorraine

Here is a unique cake…
Have you ever spent way too long searching for a recipe.  Cookbooks spread all over and lots of tabs opened on the computer?  I did that this week searching for a cake recipe using sweet potatoes. I noted many including one that added banana but finally settled on this one with pineapple. 

I served it at our Bible study where it was enjoyed.  Someone even asked for the recipe.

The cake was moist as I expected, the flavor was pleasant and the cream cheese frosting great but still not exactly what I was looking for. I’m going to try a Bundt cake next.
Sweet Potato Pineapple Cake
 Taste of Home 2012

PRINT RECIPE

12 Servings Prep: 15 min. Bake: 20 min. + cooling

Ingredients
1 package (18-1/4 ounces) yellow cake mix
1 can (15 ounces) sweet potatoes, drained and mashed
1 cup water
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 eggs
1 can (8 ounces) unsweetened crushed pineapple, well drained
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

FROSTING:
2 packages (8 ounces each) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
7-1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar

Directions
In a large bowl, combine the first 10 ingredients. Beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium for 2 minutes.

Divide the batter among three greased and floured 9-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.

For frosting, in a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until smooth. Spread between layers and over top and sides of cake. Store in the refrigerator. Yield: 12 servings.

RECIPE NOTES

  • I substituted 1 cup fresh, baked sweet potatoes and mashed for the canned sweet potatoes.
  • I used vegetable oil for the canola oil
  • I halved the frosting recipe and used only half of that for frosting the cake. (so I used 1/4 of the frosting recipe) I did not frost the sides and thought the cake was sufficiently sweet with the amount of frosting used.
  • I decorated the top with pecan halves.
linking to Foodie Friday

Cranberry Fruit Conserve

By Lorraine

I tried another cranberry sauce recipe, this time one from Ina Garten.
A great accompaniment for poultry, pork or ham. 
I am already looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner!
Cranberry Fruit Conserve 
Copyright 2002, Barefoot Contessa Parties!
Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 20 minutes  Yield: 4 cups 

1 (12-ounce) bag of fresh cranberries, cleaned
1 3/4 cups sugar
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and chopped
1 orange, zest grated and juiced
1 lemon, zest grated and juiced
3/4 cup raisins
3/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Cook the cranberries, sugar, and 1 cup of water in a saucepan over low heat for about 5 minutes, or until the skins pop open. Add the apple, zests, and juices and cook for 15 more minutes. Remove from the heat and add the raisins and nuts. Let cool, and serve chilled.

What’s Been Happening

By Lorraine

 Our baby celebrated her 21st birthday with a little help from some of her nieces and nephews.
Flowers from my garden decorated a yellow cake with her favorite Fluffy Chocolate Frosting

Raider creatively arranged the pillow for his snooze on the sofa.
In the spring we contacted our township about a tree at the curb that was in decline.  They arrived today to remove it.
 The township planted trees in our neighborhood many years ago and sadly some of them are now in need of removal.
 I saw what is probably one of the last hummers of the season at the feeder.
And something that makes me very happy…
I got my new-to-me car in the garage!
The past few weeks I have been working diligently downsizing and disposing of things we don’t need.
I have gone through every closet, nook and cranny.
It feels much better already and reminds me of a song from a while back that I loved by Sara Groves and Joel Hanson called Traveling Light.
Well I was doubling over the load on my shoulders
Was a weight I carried with me everyday
Crossing miles of frustrations and rivers a raging
Picking up stones I found along the way
I staggered and I stumbled down
Pathways of trouble
I was hauling those souvenirs of misery
And with each step taken my back was breaking
‘Til I found the One who took it all from me

Down by the riverside
(Down by the riverside)
I laid my burdens down,
Now I’m traveling light
My spirit lifted high
(I found my freedom now)
I found my freedom now
And I’m traveling light

Through the darkest alleys and loneliest valleys
I was dragging those heavy chains of doubt and fear
Then with the one word spoken the locks were broken
Now He’s leading me to places
Where there are no tears

Down by the riverside
(Down by the riverside)
I laid my burdens down,
Now I’m traveling light
My spirit lifted high
(I found my freedom now)
I found my freedom now
And I’m traveling light

Down by the riverside
I laid my burdens down,
Now I’m traveling light
My spirit lifted high
I found my freedom now
And I’m traveling light

Down by the riverside
(Down by the riverside)
I laid my burdens down,
Now I’m traveling light
My spirit lifted high
(I found my freedom now)
I found my freedom now
And I’m traveling light

Dead Sea Scrolls at The Franklin Institute

By Lorraine

 
We recently spent the day at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. We picked a beautiful Monday just after the kids went back to school to avoid crowds. The main attraction was The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition created by the Israel Antiquities Authority from the collection of the Israel National Treasures. Photos of the scrolls were prohibited and the above section was shown on a large screen.Continue Reading

Braided Chicken Almondine

By Lorraine

This post is for our daughter, Jill.
A recipe she grew up with and now often makes when having friends over because it is tasty, easy and pretty to serve. It is her go-to recipe (when she can find it)
Now she won’t have to pay her dad a dollar for calling (again) for the recipe.
🙂
That is what he charges for repeatedly reading a recipe.
Come to think of it, he has never seen one penny of this tab.
Braided Chicken Almandine
(the spelling on the original  Pillsbury recipe)

PRINT RECIPE
INGREDIENTS
Heat oven to 350
Filling:
1 1/2 cups chopped, cooked chicken
3/4 cup shredded cheddar
1/2 cup sour cream
1/3 cup chopped, slivered almonds
1Tbl Dijon mustard
1/4 tsp pepper
1 clove garlic, minced
1 can refrigerated crescent rolls
1 egg, beaten (if multiple recipes are made, 1 egg is still enough)
2 Tbl slivered almonds
(Because we like peas, I toss some in as well.  About 1/2 cup)

DIRECTIONS
In large bowl, combine filling ingredients. Separate dough into 2 long rectangles. Place on ungreased cookie sheet with long sides overlapping 1/2”. Firmly press perforations and edges to seal. Press to form 14×9 rectangle. Spoon chicken mixture in 3” strip lengthwise down center of dough. Cut 1” strips of dough from chicken to edge. Fold strips of dough at an angle alternating sides. Brush with egg, sprinkle with almonds.

Bake at 350 for 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown
8 servings

 

Real Knowledge for Back to School and a Cute Rolo Candy Pencil Craft

By Lorraine

Make Rolo candy pencil treats for  back to school or teacher gifts. An easy and fun craft project for kids of all ages using Rolo candy and Hershey Kisses.As our grandchildren begin a new school year, my prayer above all others is that they all learn more of the Lord and grow closer to him. Proverbs Chapter 2 and verses 1-11 tells of the blessing and benefits of wisdom and knowledge. Sending them back to school with prayers and cute, Rolo candy pencil for a sweet treat as they begin a new year.
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