{photo credit}

Hi Ladies, I will be taking a “bloggy break” this month.

My, oh my…has my schedule become quite full! I’ve been helping care for my grandma with Alzheimer’s with my 4 year old, baseball season is in full swing with my hubby as the head coach, the kidos have full schedules with school almost ending, and I’m gearing up to serve our 4th annual Ladies Summer Study.

I am very needed right now and feel so blessed about it! With that…I will be back soon to share tons more recipes and stories Until then…keep cooking and serving!

Love to you, Janelle

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Marinated chicken breasts topped with sautéed onions and melted cheese, what’s not to love?  Serve with mashed potatoes, corn and a dinner salad and you have yourself a winner, winner chicken dinner!

*By golly-it’s naturally gluten-free too {make sure to check cheese, seasoned salt and dressing marinade}.

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I’m over at my dear friend Courtney’s blog, Women Living Well, today! We’re whipping up some delicious Gluten-Free Strawberry Shortcake…if you don’t have a gluten allergy, no worries! Use your traditional Bisquick for a delicious semi-homemade dessert sure to please your family and guests. Strawberries are on sale this week! Wohoo!

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Spring is in the air! Ahhhh…..

Spring cleaning can be quite a chore, but doesn’t it feel great after ya do it?

Hand is raised, Ladies!

So, open some windows and whip up Aunt Linda’s {proven} homemade window cleaner. This is an oldie, but goodie that I’ve had in my recipe box for over 10 years. 

Here’s to cleaner windows and cheaper cleaner! 

*Thanks Dee for giving me this recipe on the day of my bridal shower!

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My son’s homework assignment for the weekend was to make a recipe to share with his class…he went through Mom’s old recipes and picked a winner! These Peanut Butter Brownies are delicious, easy, and make plenty for a class full of 3rd graders. 

*For a gluten-free alternative use this GF flour blend! 

Gear up! 

Put all your ingredients in a bowl ….

and away you go! 

The batter will be thick…

Press it into a greased 17×11 pan with your hands. Bake at 350 for 15-18 mins. 

Start whipping up your homemade frosting! 

This is goooooood…..

Lol…just ask the baby of the family  

A little ole fashioned pile up while the goodies are baking..

Let brownies cool, frost, and divide into 48 squares! 

We added a little something extra for fun- what child doesn’t like sprinkles? 

Taste testing before he goes to class in the morning! Great job Buddy! 

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The other day I posted on Facebook about my love for brussel sprouts. When I say love…I mean like the same kind of love I have for chocolate-yeah, I know. To my surprise, I was not alone! So many ladies commented about how-they too-shared this love! Wohoo!!! Here’s my favorite method of preparations…very simple, so delicious. Enjoy.

Cut stems and rinse about 16 brussel sprouts.

Pat dry with paper towels. Drizzle with olive oil and balsamic dressing. Add chopped garlic, sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Place on a foil lined pan in your pre-heated oven {400 degrees}. Roast 15 mins, shake the pan and roast another 15 more mins.

The leaves will have a caramel color like so…the balsamic gives this dish a sweet/nutty flavor. Salt and pepper more if desired. Delicious!

Looking for a gluten-free meal plan? This side would be the perfect accompaniment to a Grilled Pork Tenderloin and Mashed Redskins.

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I’m laughing at myself as I post this amazing recipe right after an hour of “Cross Fit”. Ohhh Ladies, forgive me….your “Comfy” hostess is so contradictory. But, at least I’m burning off the crazy calories pictured above…right? Help me. Someone.

In all seriousness….one square of this caramel is worth about 100 burpees-not kidding.  You all know I’m a softy when it comes to sweet and savory -this salted caramel is no exception!!!! I loooooove this recipe. Oh, is this stuff good.

Place your squares in wrappers {cut parchment paper and tie ends} for gifts, in paper cups for display, or just eat them out of the pan {hand raised, ha!}. Enjoy Ladies! 

Conviction {ekk!}.

In a medium saucepan on medium-high heat melt your butter, sugar, brown sugar, sweetened condensed milk, corn syrup and vanilla.

Stir with a whisk constantly for about 5 mins -it will bubble like so and turn into medium golden color.

Butter an 11×7 {you can also use an 8×8 or 9×9, no biggie}. Pour caramel into pan.

And here comes the savory part.…sprinkle a little coarse sea salt on top {don’t over do it!}. I buy my sea salt at Marcs.

Refrigerate for 1 hour, then slice into squares! This is so good….so so so so so so good.

Enter your email address to download my FREE Thanksgiving e-book, Comfy in the Kitchen on Thanksgiving.

If you haven’t already heard…Karen Ehman from Proverbs 31 Ministries is hostessing a “Thrifty Nifty” week! She invited Five frugal and fun guests….{what an honor} to give ideas on to help you spend less and live more; to fret less and GIVE more! 

Come visit me over there where I’m sharing Ebay’s FREE recipe book “90 meals under $1.25″ featuring Comfy in the Kitchen.

See you there!

Enter your email address to download my FREE Thanksgiving e-book, Comfy in the Kitchen on Thanksgiving.

The maple bacon paired up with cracked black pepper and sea salt makes this sweet and savory dish a winner in my book! A side that looks fancy, but is soooo easy. Enjoy roasted in the oven {as shown} or grilled! 

Trim the bottoms of your asparagus so they are even with one another {about 1-2 inches} and rinse. Bundle 5-6 together, wrap tightly with one piece of uncooked maple bacon -seal with a toothpick.

Line up bundles in a foiled lined 9×13 baking pan {I would steer away from a cookie sheet because the bacon juices will run off}. 

Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper and sea salt. Roast in a 400 oven for 15 mins {turning in between} until browned. If you would prefer, you can grill 5 mins on each side until bacon is cooked and crispy. 

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Last week, I posted the above photo on FaceBook from the book “What Women Fear”, by Angie Smith.  Sitting here on the couch on a Saturday night I thought-I bet a lot of other Ladies have felt this way-I know I sure have. Even amidst the company of other women, we can still feel very alone if we dont’ get hard core about it-I’m talking being real.

“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ”. ~ Galatians 6:2

The truth is every one of us has struggles. It’s promised.

Financial Stress…Health Issues… Marital Problems…Depression…Loneliness…Anger…Grief…Loss…

“I’m sure this will pass and no one will ever need to know that I struggled today.” Pride

“These ladies may loose respect for me if they catch on I don’t have it all together.” Worry

“What if they think less of me?” Fear

“I’m the person people come to, I can’t burden them with my issues.” Nonsense

“What if they talk about me when I’m not around?” What-if thinking

“What if they judge me?” Idolizing

And the list goes on….and there is always a kibosh on our silly worries when the wisdom of God steps in.

Sometimes all we need from one another is to hear these precious words : I’ve been there too. 

Seriously?

Yep.

Ahhhhh……

Everyone of us is a living, breathing, walking…. book. What good is a book if you can’t open it up and read it? What can it teach anyone by just sitting there? The stories, humor, good times and bad times…the meat. That’s what we are missing in one another!!!! I could care less about that shiny cover that we all end up tossing aside anyways.

Ladies, I encourage you to share a page in your book the next time you’re with trusted and like-minded friends. Your testimony will most likely be a huge blessing to someone else in the room wondering if they are all alone in their struggles. Some of the kindest people I’ve ever met are the ones who have been through the hardest of times. 

“Been there”. 

 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

~1 Corinthians 10:13
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Enter your email address to download my FREE Thanksgiving e-book, Comfy in the Kitchen on Thanksgiving.