Broccoli & Cheese? Yes Please.

Good Evening Ladies & Gents!  This here is the kick off for my Thanksgiving recipe series - I do hope you enjoy them and dare I say, try them out this upcoming turkey day!  The first star to enter the spotlight is the daring and rather, unusual Broccoli Vee Casserole.  Now - know this, I don't eat broccoli any other day of the year but this recipe makes me want to swim in it - props to my Mom as she is the brilliant mastermind behind hiding good things is bad food (that will make more sense once you see the recipe). Now before you jump all over my velveeta, yes, you use velveeta in this recipe, you have to try it.  It doesn't taste like velveeta when used in this recipe because all you can taste is buttery ritz cracker goodness.  Here we go!


Randall Scale:
Grocery......................$12.00
Skill Rating..................Kindergarten Friendly
Serving Size................10-12 peeps
Prep Time...................30-40 minutes tops


Ingredients:

• 1 large bag frozen broccoli florets 
• 1 medium brick Velveeta Cheese
• 1/2 stick-a-butta
• 1-2 sleeves Ritz Crackers
• 1 casserole dish (somewhere around 12 by 12)

Prepare:

1. Open cheese. Now, again, I know Velveeta is the king of all kings of processed cheese - heck you get it OFF THE SHELF next to the pasta sauce.  If you just can't bear to use dear old V then substitute this with a nice melty cheese like gouda or gruyere.
2. Cube into small 1/2 inch bites - pop a few if you are so inclined.
3. Remove Ritz sleeve numero uno and empty contents into gallon sized ziplock.  Bang bang bang til its nice and crumbly, but not too fine - a good time for the kids to help.
4. Take broccoli out of freezer and pour into greased casserole dish or corning wear.
5. Cover broccoli with cubed cheese like it's your number one job. Mmm mmm good.  
6. Cover cheese with Ritzy ditzy crumbs, if you run out of crumbs enlist the kid's help again and proceed to cover completely.
7. Remove half stick of butter from fridge.  Melt in microwave and pour over crackers - this keeps getting better and better, my mouth is watering!
8. Preheat oven to 350-375 degrees.  Cook for 15-18 minutes.  Watch.  When finished, the crackers should be golden brown and crispy and the cheese yummily melted.  If not put back into oven until crispiness and meltiness is achieved.
9. ENJOY & HAVE SECONDS!

My Latest Shoot - The DiBernardo Family!

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of shooting portraits for the DiBernardo Family!  Their three kids are nothings short of adorable and it was such a gorgeous day outside that it was really more fun than work! I hope you enjoy this little snapshot (forgive the pun) of their photoshoot at Madard Park!

Marvelous & Holy

You see a painting & it's beauty - it doesn't take a brilliant man to know that a painter created it. 
You see the earth and it's intricacies of design, the perfect workings of the human body are evidence enough for the existence of an Intelligent Designer. 
Consider the human eye: it is made up of more than two million working parts - TWO MILLION!  The eye is a ball with a lense on one side that has a light sensitive retina made up of rods and cones inside the other. The lense itself has a sturdy protective covering called the cornea that sits over the iris which designed to protect the eye from excessive light. The eye contains an amazing watery substance that is replaced every four hours, tear glands that continually flush the outside clean, an eyelid that sweeps the secretions over the cornea to keep it moist, and eyelashes to protect the eye from dust. On top of that EXTRAORDINARY muscles are attached to the eyes that instantaneously move the eye and shape the lense at the same time for the function of focus.  Did this amazing piece of complex machinery come together by some mindless process & random series of accidents?  Atheists have to muster up the faith to answer, "yes" to that question. I don't have enough faith to be an atheist. [alwaysbeready.com/Charlie Campell] In speaking about the human eye, Charles Darwin (world renowned proponent of Darwinism, natural selection, & evolution) says, "The eye to this day, gives me a cold shudder. To suppose that the eye [...] could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree."  Even Darwin knew there had to be something, or rather, Someone greater.
It seems so simple to me to KNOW that there is a Creator.  
Another example for you: 
"You could leave the barren side of a mountain exposed to wind, rain, the forces of nature, chance and millions of years of time …and you would never get a Mt. Rushmore, let alone a living, breathing human being. Why? It takes intelligence. You need intelligent intervention. [It took 400 intelligent workers fourteen years (1927-1941) to carve those four faces. And George and Abe just stare at you. They don’t talk. They don’t smile. They don’t do anything. How much more intelligence would it take to create a living breathing human being? Good question.] As Dr. Norman Geisler points out, it would take great intelligence to create a robot that operates like a human, and it would take even greater intelligence to create a real human being. No one alive today would believe that the faces of Mt. Rushmore came about by millions of years of... erosion, wind, rain and undirected random acts. And yet atheists believe that real-life human beings with… 206 bones, 640 muscles and hearts that beat over 100,000 times a day…are the product of a mindless, random series of accidents. This is foolish." (Charlie Campell)
And even greater truth, this one is my favorite, that this Creator - that created the vast mountains & fields & oceans & everything in them - this Creator created ME in His image.  I bear the image of Christ!  Christian, how encouraging to us!  He could have made the beautiful mountains or the deep oceans in His image, but he chose to make US like Him. I simply cannot contain such amazing news.  I am in complete awe of my God's love for me. "Oh love of God how rich and pure, shall forevermore endure.  How measureless and strong, the saints and angels song we sing, HOLY HOLY!"
How can you not believe, I ask you?  Or rather, how can you believe & keep the news to yourself?  We only have one job, and that is to go forth and make disciples of ALL nations!  Whether that be leaving the comfort of our own homes to tell others, telling our neighbors while checking the mailbox, or moving to a third world country, spread the Good News!  Jesus, perfect and without sin, came to this earth and took on the image of man.  Not only that but he came without reputation.  He dwelt among us and yet even those who SAW Him denied Him.  I will not deny my Father, nor keep His reputation quiet.  He is the author of my life, the designer of my physical being, the lover of my soul, and I am made WHOLE because of Jesus' atonement on the cross. He died and rose again so that I can go to heaven - that's good news enough!  I get to go to heaven and be with Him forever!
Challenging myself to "make disciples" today and everyday.
"Oh God be my everything, be my delight. Jesus my glory, my soul satisfied!"


Listen Here To Learn More

Back Porch Refresh

For the most part of our time here at the Oleander house, our back porch has been less than desirable.  With our herb garden growing larger and larger each day the sun rises, we decided to move it closer to the kitchen (instead of having it out front) so that we could have the visual reminder of using it!  I also have been slowly cleaning and reorganizing the garage so a few pieces have been dumped and a few repurposed.  This baker's rack is my grandma's and I can't seem to part with it so I put in on the porch to serve as a new home for my herbs (and a few other collections)!  I like that my plants have a sunny new spot, although the end of their lives is much more imminent now..... hopefully I will get a dining set out there soon so we can enjoy the crisp fall evenings that we have been so blessed with!

Vintage Storybook Painting Series

As I make a mad dash to the end of the week, I have had very few hours at my actual paying job.  I am a little bummed about this while I watch Pete running around like a chicken with his head cut off, and me not working at all, however, he assures me that it's okay.  He's too good to be true - really.  

Anyways, with my time pretty freed up (aside from applying for other jobs, cooking, cleaning, laundry, church, etc...) I have been trying to scramble as many items as I can for my upcoming show!  For those of you who have yet to hear, and I'd be shocked if you hadn't - I am in another art show this Friday!  To find out more info just click here!  Also, the reason for this post, almost forgot, is to show you my newest painting series.  I have always loved vintage children's picture books and have taken a liking to them even more so in my recent travels through cyber space.  Here are a few my newest paintings.  I think they would be absolutely adorable in a nursery, playroom, or even a "grown-up room" - why not add a little whimsy to your life?  Without further ado I bring to you.....

The Meek Mr. Fox

The Lonesome Song Bird

And All The Family Gathered 'Round

(Comments & Critics Welcome)

Chicken In A Blanket

Now now now - before you go accusing me of publishing repeats (cheesy chicken pockets) just read a little further - har dee har har.  These little babies are VERY different from my cheesy chicken pockets.  Cheesy chicken pockets involve chicken cutlets, mozzarella cheese, and tenting with toothpicks.  Whereas chicken in a blanket is much more kid friendly as far as preparations go and includes a different kind of cheese - cream!  Here it is so hold on to your hats!! (randall original recipe)

RANDALL SCALE
Grocery........................$10-20 depending on chicken prices
Skill Rating..................easy, a kid could do it if mama turns on the oven
Serving Size................family of 4-6
Prep Time....................about an hour from start to finish

INGREDIENTS

• 8 oz. cream cheese 
• (do not get low fat or your dinner will taste like low fat = ish)
• "The only time to eat diet food is while you're waiting for the steak to cook." -Julia Child
• 2 T milk (doesn't matter what kind, just to make it a little creamier)
• 3 cans of Pillsbury butter flake crescent rolls
• 4 pre-cooked chicken breasts shredded (skinless & boneless preferred)
• be sure not to overcook them, you can even under cook them a little as they are going to continue cooking in the oven. 
• cook them in an olive oil coated non-stick pan on high heat to get a little bit of a skin on each side, turn down heat to medium-low and cover - this will ensure tender breasts that are easy to shred and not arduous to handle.
• S & P to taste

DIRECTIONS

1. Mix cream cheese, milk and shredded chicken until well combined.
2. S & P to taste.
3. Pop open crescent roll cans and form dough into shape pictured below.
4. Grease baking sheet.
5. Preheat oven between 350 & 375.
6. Spoon heaps (like lime sized, bigger than a golf ball) onto middle seam and form blanket by pairings corners a & b together and pinching shut.  Then take corners c & d and wrap, smoosh, pinch til all the guts are closed in and nothing can escape.  Be sure to completely seal your blankets!
7. Place on baking sheet 3-4 inches apart, they will get to the size of a baseball so be sure to leave adequate space.  Bake for 12 minutes.  Remove from oven, top each with a dollop of butter, put back in oven for additional 5 minutes or until blankets have reached an all over goldenly delicious hue.  
8. Pair with rice pilaf, salad, or nothing at all, this piece can stand alone.
9. Enjoy!

painthesky creates!

Here's a few of my newest additions!  If you are interested in any of these pieces please come out to CANVAS 6 that is taking place in just a few short days! (11-5 from 8p-1a)  I will be selling these and many more little treasures.  Also, for those of you who cannot make it out to the show or live, perhaps, kind of far - like another state - please let me know if you see an item you would like to purchase.  Otherwise, whatever doesn't sell will be put up on my etsy shop for anyone else to buy.  Thanks for your support and enjoy your harvest weekend!

Old & New Marie Antoinette  

Bows 'n Ice Cream Feathers

Golden-Rose O'clock

Applecore? Acorn

Key To Turquoise

Leafing Love

Junk Food Junkie

Rosie Republique Francaise 1608

Dearest Rustic Chic

Green & White Twirly Swirls

Fetching Tulle Tool

Hand-Sown Mint Green & Gold