acceptance · aging · Women's roles

Embracing the Season

fall scene.jpg

I took a trip recently and saw some beautiful foliage in the trees.  The picture above was part of my drive and I have to say, it made me smile at the onset of fall!  How beautiful it is!

Change of seasons from summer to fall is all about acceptance. After all, there’s nothing we can do to stop its approach.  So, rather than screaming, pouting or even moving south, we decide to decorate the porch, build a fire, sigh at the beauty of the colors, and just enjoy it.  It’s all about embracing the season.

Continue reading “Embracing the Season”

breakfast · Make-Ahead

Breakfast At Its Best

Bakedoatmeal1

A good breakfast just starts the day out right, but for me it’s so hard to find a good time in the morning to stop the routine and go fix something delicious!  So whenever I can find a recipe that can be made ahead of time, and ready in 30 minutes, I’m all over that!

Bakedoatmeal1 (1)

I’ve made a couple of Baked Oatmeal recipes and they’ve been good, but Southern Living published a new one in their recent magazine that caught my attention and I knew I had to try it.  I’m so glad I did!  This was declared by my husband to be the BEST Baked Oatmeal he’s had!!! I agree!  The apple and cranberry addition are so delicious.  There’s just the right amount of sweetness.  It’s hearty and filling plus, it’s ready to put in the oven when you get up in the morning.  It only takes 30 minutes to bake, so I can pop it into the oven and finish getting ready while it’s baking!

Here’s the recipe:

Baked Oatmeal with Apples, Cranberries and Pecans

Ingredients

  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/4 cups whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar, divided
  • 8 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
  • 2 cups small cubed, peeled apple (about 1 large apple)
  • 3 1/2 cups uncooked old-fashioned regular rolled oats, divided
  • 1 cup coarsely chopped pecans, divided
  • 1 cup dried cranberries, divided

How to Make It

Step 1

Lightly coat an 8-inch square (2-quart) baking dish with cooking spray. Whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, apple pie spice, salt, 1/2 cup of the brown sugar, and 5 tablespoons of the melted butter in a large bowl. Add apple cubes, 3 cups of the oats, 1/2 cup of the pecans, and 1/2 cup of the cranberries; stir to combine. Pour mixture into prepared baking dish; cover with plastic wrap.

Step 2

Stir together remaining 1/4 cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons melted butter, 1/2 cup oats, and 1/2 cup pecans in a medium bowl. Cover with plastic wrap. Place covered baking dish and covered bowl in refrigerator; chill 8 hours or overnight.
Step 3
Preheat oven to 350°F. While oven preheats, remove baking dish and bowl from refrigerator; remove plastic wrap. Stir apple-oat mixture in baking dish to redistribute wet ingredients. Sprinkle top evenly with oat-pecan topping mixture.
Step 4
Bake in preheated oven until mixture is set in the middle and topping is golden brown, about 35 minutes. Remove from oven, and sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup dried cranberries. Cool 10 minutes. Serve warm.

 

Bakedoatmeal1 (2)

If you’re like me and need a little less fussy breakfast you’ll love this simple answer to your morning meal!

Refresh breakfast by making it ahead!

denise a

 

Dates · Refreshment in marriage

S’More Group Date Night Idea

The perfect S’more Date night weather is finally upon us!  My husband and I invited couples from church to come over for a date night that we called, “Amore’ S’mores.”  The temperatures were perfect, the skies were clear, and the fire felt really good when the sun went down!  Let me share with you the events of our fun group date night!

Continue reading “S’More Group Date Night Idea”