7 Favorite Foods that somebody else has made

I have been away from the Blog for a few months now but I am changing my blog background and typing on my computer. In a effort to come up with something different I started thinking about food. So rather than listing my favorite foods I started thinking about favorite foods or recipes that friends and family have made. So here goes

"7 Favorite foods by some of my favorite people!"

1. My Mom and Dad's Biscuits and Gravy. Every time we go home you can bet on them cooking up some biscuits and gravy with sausage. Homemade biscuits from scratch, none of those frozen things or mixes that you add water or the kind that come in a can. The kind where you make the dough, roll it out on the counter and press out circles with a biscuit cutter (I hear mom and dad have even found a way to make REALLY BIG biscuits for my nephew's! They are big boys and need a big biscuit I tell you!)

2. Mamaw's Coconut Cream Pie. Jonathan's Mamaw Hughes could make a lot of delicious foods and LOVED to cook for everyone. She would always have enough Blue Bell Ice Cream for all the family to have morning, noon and night (and she would offer it to my small children at all of those times of day- ha ha). But her pies..................... mmmmm mmm mmmm, just ask my father in law. I am pretty sure he felt the same way.

3. Jonathan Stewart's Sweet Potato Gratin. Ok, really I guess it is Bobby Flay's recipe but husband is the one who makes it! For all of you (I think I have 8 followers now) turning up your nose to sweet potatoes hold on!! First you slice them really thin (with a thing that WILL cut your fingers off!) then you layer them with a sauce of chipotle chile puree and heavy cream. I promise you it is THE BEST!!!!!

4. Tammy Link's (My favorite sister) Sugar Cookies. Ok, she actually doesn't make these but she buys them for me (and her daughter Megan) every time we go to Roswell NM. These cookies are big, soft, always cute with pretty frosting on top and they taste soooooo good! My sister is a fabulous cook so I feel really feel bad to not pick something that SHE cooks -like her pies, brisket, green salads, or potato salad (she always makes me a little batch without raw onions before she 'ruins' the rest). She is the BEST!

5. Sally's Chocolate Cookies (my sweet mother-in-law). She uses that recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag BUT she adds extra flour (my sister in law and I usually can not find that magic amount that makes Sally's cookies so fluffy (not flat) and so good!

6. Loree's Tacos (my sister-in-law). I can't even tell you for sure what makes her Taco's better than any others I have EVER had but this is a true statement. "They are the best Taco's I have ever had!" You would just have to taste them to believe me, there is no person or restaurant that makes them like hers.

7. Kevin Robert's Mac and Cheese. It is rub it on your face good and I love it when he brings it to my house as a side dish or to church potlucks! Way to go K-Rob!

I hope you all are having a great summer (I cannot believe how fast it is going by).

Love to you all!

Cindy

7 of my favorite movies

It may be hard to actually list just 7 favorite movies but I will keep it at 7 (I can always do the list again if I want-I can make up my own rules since it is my blog) ha ha

1. Overboard with Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. I have seen this movie so many times (you can find it on the TV regularly) and I will stop and watch it almost every time.

2. Mary Poppins: My email and the name of the purse business I used to own is named from this movie (What's all This) I love it when the Chimney Sweeps all come from the roof into the house through the fireplace and the dad is yelling What's all this, what's all this.

3. Knight's Tale: One of Heath Ledger's movies. The movie starts out playing "We will rock you" by Queen and has a bunch of great music. I would be embarrassed to know how many times we have watched this movie.

4. Elf: What a funny movie. It is just silly!

5. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: I loved this movie when I was a kid and now the girls and I love to watch it together. Dick Van Dyke is in this as well as 'Mary Poppins' It is so cool when Truly Scrumptious and Cractacus Potts (yes that is the names of the lead characters) act like they are wind up dolls. And all the music is awesome.

6. The Proposal and every other movie that Sandra Bullock has ever been in

7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas: (the cartoon version) Well................ Cindy Lou Who is just adorable and she has a great name!

Well, hope you are all enjoying summer, I know I am glad it has finally arrived.

Loves!

Cindy

7 Favorite things about the birthday girl. Amber Michelle

I can't believe my baby girl turned 13 this week. I am the mother of two beautiful teenage girls now. Holy Cow where does the time go? So while it hasn't been a full week since my last 7 list I feel like I have to do a shout out for Amber on her birthday.

1. Amber always thinks about others and loves to celebrate events to honor a person. When it is one of our birthdays, mothers day, fathers day........... anything. She is usually the first to want to plan a special breakfast, homemade cards, or making cookies for the neighbors. She has taught our family to think more this way.

2. Amber loves kids and they love her. They may be just a few years younger than her or just little tiny people. She has been invited to birthday parties or asked to 'come over to play' with some of these younger than her. Last summer we would go to the pool and she would make friends with small children and have a blast playing with them. She is gonna be a great babysitter someday and a great mommy!

3. She loves to make peanut butter cookies!

4. She has a passion to teach others about the Bible.

5. She is a great student, she gets Math. (I do not get math so I can really appreciate this talent)

I have had many teachers brag on her as a student and as a friend to others at school.

6. She loves family. Loves her sister, loves her cousins, grandparents, dog, I think she even loves her parents!

7. Amber is such a kind, thoughtful and considerate soul. I have watched her write letters to sick children, give or raise money for a good cause, make cookies for her friends, neighbors, church and school classes, make pictures, cards and paper animals for tons of people. Be a peace maker, and be patient when it wasn't easy.

Here is a quote that was read about Amber just a few weeks ago during an award ceremony at Craig Middle School. She was one of several students honored for the month. She makes us proud to be her parents!

"Amber Stewart has that enduring quality of sincere charm and, like a magnet, friends are drawn to her. She's an excellent student, perfectly mannered and always dependable. Amber's sweet smile is contagious! She fits the definition of a Craig outstanding Student to a 'T'"

P.S. To all you parents out there............... yeah she forgets to make her bed, pick up her clothes and doesn't always get along with her sister. But that is not included in THIS list. hee hee.

Happy Birthday Amber. I love you!

Not my favorite things!!!

I decided to do something different this week; instead of doing 7 favorite things I am going to do 7 things that are NOT my Favorites.

1) Confrontation. I hate to be confronted and I hate to confront someone, I hate confrontation. It gives me a stomach ache. Lets just be happy and all get along please!

2) Having stitches pulled out. Ugh it makes to shiver just thinking about it. I haven't even had to have stitches very often. It doesn't bother me as much to get stitches (which is a little weird since that part involves a pointy needle going through my skin). But that tugging feeling- the skin being stuck to the thread...................aaarrrrgggggghhhhh

3) Many of you know by now that I love the summer and being warm. The down side of summer is air conditioning. Now I am all for air conditioning unless it makes me cold. Why in the world do we need winter coats in the summer at church, the grocery store, the mall, the movie theater, etc. etc. etc. Why can't all these places just find a comfortable temperature, save some money, save the planet.

4) Termites. I didn't know this would be one of my 'not favorite things' until a few weeks ago. I got to experience a termite 'swarm' in my very own house. Many, many, many little flying buggy things came out of the door facing of the bathroom. I don't want to talk about this anymore, I feel itchy. (you do not have to be afraid of coming to our house-they have been dealt with)

5) When husband tells me "you are snoring". How can we not be sure it wasn't that he woke himself with his own snoring? I know my allergies have been bad and my nose has been stuffy but surely I do not snore, I don't!

6) When momma's have to bury their children. I have walked this journey with a couple of my friends and it breaks my heart. No matter if their child was small or a grown adult, I wish this pain did not exist.

7) When Children have to bury their Momma's. It just seems like kids need their moms to help them grow up.

7 favorite Momma Moments:

Well since it is Mother's Day weekend I felt like sharing some fond memories of being Ashlyn and Amber's Mom. It is truly an honor to love and help raise my 2 girls!

1) When both of my girls were babies I would hold one of their tiny hands to my lips and kiss it while they were nursing. Eventually they would put their hand to my lips on their own. I will never forget those sweet quiet moments together.

2)I am always amazed when I watch my girls strap on their ballet shoes, get on stage and dance in front of a big crowd of people, what beautiful graceful young ladies they are becoming!

3)It is always fun times when Ashlyn, Amber and I load up in the VW bug and laugh and sing together. Just a few of our favorites are: Def Leppard, Taylor Swift, Raskal Flats, Jonas Brothers, Sugarland, Bon Jovi, Shana Twain.......................

4) Each night before the girls go to sleep we take time to pray together, even the dog likes to get in the middle of this. We trade turns each night, right now the order is tallest to shortest. (that must mean I AM still taller than Ashlyn!!)

5) I have fond memories of the times I have walked arm in arm or hand in hand with one or both of the girls. Some of my favorite places have been walking along the river outside of Oxford, through the cemetery in France and hiking in Italy. Thank you ACU for the opportunity to go to Europe through the Study Abroad Program.

6) One of my favorite Mother's Day Mornings was the year that Jonathan and girls brought me breakfast in bed. It was complete with Pancakes and coffee, cards, flowers and my gift: an unwrapped frying pan with the paper tag still around it. They all seemed so unusually proud of themselves for this gift, while I was thinking "wow............ a pan!" They had hidden an iPod under the paper tag. I finally figured out why they were so proud!!

7) '2 Girls'

I have just loved having 2 girls, from the adorable little girl cloths, to sharing shoes and coats, pigtails, giggles and tears. Painting each others nails and all 3 of us in my bathroom fixing everyones hair. I have honestly adored every stage with Ashlyn and Amber as they are growing up to be beautiful young ladies. I thank God daily for our precious family.

I am so Blessed to be their momma!

Happy Mother's Day

Cindy

PS I have put some pictures below, be sure to check them out!

My Two favorite girls

Pictures of our family