One of my friends made this for our Pumpkin Party earlier in the month. It was SO yummy I had to get her recipe. I am hoping to make this today to share with my mom who arrived yesterday to spend Thanksgiving week with us. :^)
Pumpkin Dump Cake
1 can pumpkin (29 oz.)
1 C sugar
1 can evaporated milk (12 oz.)
3 eggs
1 box yellow cake mix
4 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 C melted butter
1 C chopped pecans
Combine pumpkin, sugar, evap. milk, eggs, spices, and salt in mixing bowl. Beat well. Pour into greased and floured 9x13 glass pan. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over mixture. Sprinkle the pecans over the cake mix. Pour melted butter over all. Bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes. Watch closely, burns easily. (Knife inserted in the middle of cake should come out clean when done.)
If you are looking for a new yummy Thanksgiving recipe you might want to give this one a try!
I've tried out several "new to me" recipes this week. Most bombed, but today I tried out one that turned out pretty good. It's called "Bubble Pizza." I am trying to break our habit of commercial pizza every Friday night. However, when Friday rolls around it's all want! So I found this recipe (on the All Recipes.com site) that I thought might satisfy my desire for pizza on Friday. I liked it pretty well. We had 5 people come unexpectedly for lunch, and most had seconds. I guess that's a pretty good sign! I served this with a basic green salad. I haven't posted a recipe lately so I thought I would post this one. Below the recipe you will find what I did differently. Enjoy!
Bubble Pizza
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1/ 4 pound pepperoni sausage
1 (14 oz) can pizza sauce
2 (12 oz) packages refrigerated buttermilk biscuit dough
1/2 onion, sliced and separated into rings
1 (10 ounce) can sliced black olives
1 (4.5 ounce) can sliced mushrooms
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place ground beef in a large, deep skillet. Cook over meium high heat until evenly brown. Stir in pepperoni, and cook until browned. Drain excess fat. Stir in pizza sauce. Remove from heat, and set aside.
2. Cut biscuits into quarters, and place in the bottom of baking dish. Spread meat mixture evenly over the biscuits. Sprinkle top with onion, olives and mushrooms.
3. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 20 - 25 minutes. Sprinkle top with mozzarella and Cheddar cheese. Bake an additional 5 - 10 minutes, until cheese is melted. Let stand 10 minutes before serving.
What I did different:
1. Biscuits- I made these from scratch since we don't have canned or frozen biscuits here.
2. Pizza Sauce- I bought a can of pizza sauce imported from Italy since they don't carry one from the USA anymore. The can is a bit smaller than what was called for so I opened another can and used part of it. I didn't measure, just dumped part of it in. The sauce is very different from what they sell in the states so I added some Italian seasoning for a little extra flavoring.
3. Olives- I used green instead of black.
4. Cheese- I used only Mozzarella.
5. Mushrooms- I did not have any to put on.
6. Extra ingredientes- I added thin green pepper strips with the onion and olives. I also added some cooked bacon leftover from breakfast.
7. Ants- I'm having an ant invasion in my kitchen these days so I'm pretty sure some were included in this recipe! (but not too many, and they are very very small. I don't think anyone noticed!)
When Guy and I got off the plane in Antioch we were met by a man with a checklist who checked our names off the list and who then told us to go find the big man in the bright orange shirt. We looked around and easily found him (the airport is very small). His name was Brian Hogan.
During the week we were in Antioch we were thoroughly entertained by Brian's amazing storytelling abilities. Among the many things he "storied" were adventures he had in Mongolia as a missionary there. We were captivated. He told us that he had written a book about his experiences there and I was even more excited when I found out that his book is now a part of the Sonlight Curriculum which I have been using for many years now!
As soon as we arrived home in Ecuador, we ordered the book on Amazon for the Kindle (absolutely LOVE the Kindle- a must-have gadget for us!). I spent two good afternoons reading this book while waiting for the electricity to come back on (our country is in an energy crisis right now and our electricity is being rationed). It was a great book! As a missionary I could really identify with some of the stuff his family went through, although Ecuador is not the hardship that living in Mongolia is. I kept laughing out loud causing my family to stop what they were doing and ask, "what now? Tell us!" I also had to keep the Kleenex nearby because it will make you weep.
The Hogans' experience there really helped me to see areas of my missionary life that need to change. It's so easy to wrap yourself around things that are familiar and comfortable. With modern technology that abounds one has to make an effort to get out of your comfort zone to be where the people are. I loved this book because I found it to be so very inspiring. God did a great work in Mongolia and we pray He will do likewise here in Ecuador!
We met the most interesting people in Antioch. They came from all over the world, from many walks of life, from a wide range of income and with all kinds of personalities and lifestyles. There were men and women. EVERYONE was treated equally and equally expected to participate in all that was going on. How novel! Seriously, it did NOT matter one whit whether you had a seminary degree or ever even went to Bible School. It only mattered that you were a slave to Christ and His Kingdom.
We spent a good deal of time listening to the most amazing stories of "God things." One man there was Indian (from India). He grew up in a very wealthy, conservative Muslim family. In fact, he was a Muslim missionary out to convert people to Islam! He had answers for all the arguments that Christians would bring up. In spite of his wealth and zeal he was not happy and had no peace, resulting in several suicide attempts. He told us that the one thing Muslims seek is inner peace. While living in London he came across a young woman from Kentucky who was there for a few weeks with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). She was handing out tracts and talking to people on the streets of London outside a coffeeshop. He stopped to talk to her, to expose the fallacies of Christianity, and ended up accepting Christ as his Savior (that's making a long, very interesting story, short). Within a few hours he was out in the streets witnessing to and healing people. His life since then has been a series of miracles, a testament to how God can thoroughly and completely change a person. He works now with bringing the good news of Christ to Muslims in areas closed off to Americans.
He shared story after story of Muslims coming to Christ often at a risk to their own lives. I was surprised, but should not have been. One of the Enemy's favorite tactics is to convince us that he is too strong to be beaten. And that is what I discovered I believed about Muslims. I believed that they were so strong in their convictions that they were not open to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Only Christ can fill the void in us. And that is as true for Muslims as it is for anyone else. Talking with this man opened my eyes to the need Muslims have for Christ. I don't think I ever really saw them with that need. Guess I was too blinded by the flag in which I had wrapped myself.
I asked him about the young woman from Kentucky who had been so instrumental in his life. He doesn't remember her name and has never seen her since. I doubt if she will ever know what resulted in her obedience to follow God's leadership to London all those years ago. Makes you wonder.....
•
Nov. 16, 2009
-
First Thanksgiving Dinner Celebration!
Posted By
jaminacema
Our First Thanksgiving Dinner was Friday and it was AWESOME! We had 40 kids from 18 families attend for a total of 60 people in attendance. (Just a few more than the 53 Pilgrims at the first Thanksgiving!)
Here is the day in pictures...
Here I am with my 2 youngest. (Oh, come on you knew you would see me dressed like a Pilgrim at some point! LOL My costume was just a black shirt and skirt I had in my closet. Then I wore one of the hats I had made and added a collar and apron made from white felt. Super simple!)
Here are some of the Indians and Pilgrims arrving.
My handsome Indian teenager! His shirt is a white t-shirt we tea stained and then fringed the edges with scissors. It was super easy! (I boiled about a gallon of water and then seeped 7 tea bags until it was pretty dark. Then I removed the tea bags and soaked the shirt for about 30 minutes. Then I put the t-shirt through the spin cycle of the washer and ran it through the dryer. Once it was dry we fringed the edges with scissors. You could add beads too.)
After everyone arrived and got their hats on I spent a few minutes talking to the kids about the first Thanksgiving. Here are some of the kids listening to me talk. I asked them lots of questions too so they all got to tell what they know about the first thanksgiving.
Here is my daughter reciting a poem she memorized as the blessing for the food.
The First Thanksgiving
When the Pilgrims
first gathered together to share
with their Indian friends
in the mild autumn air,
they lifted the voices
in jubilant praise
for the bread on the table,
the berries and maize,
for field and for forest,
for turkey and deer,
for the bountiful crops
they were blessed with that year.
They were thankful for these
as they feasted away,
and as they were thankful
we're thankful today.
Author Unknown
She did an AWESOME job. I was so proud of her!
The FOOD! We had turkey, fish, deer stew, fruit, nuts, cheese, corn chowder, potatoes, cranberry salad, apple sauce, and a lot more! Yummy!!!!
Pilgrims and Indians eating together.
Lots of yummy food!
We also played games. Here are a few of the pilgrim girls heading out to play games.
And my WILD Indian boy!
3 Legged Races!
Corn Toss
The Turkey Shoot!
There was also a corn hunt (Similar to a egg hunt except dry corn was thrown in the grass and everyone hunted for it.) and pumpkin races where the kids pushed a pumpkin with a stick, The games were great!
And lastly we made our craft (Which the kids LOVED and I didn't get any pictures of.) and then played Thanksgiving Jingo!
It was an awesome day. I can't wait to do it again next year!
Happy Homeschooling,
Jamin
Click HERE to read my post on planning out this party. :^)
In a former life that I now dimly remember, I occasionally got free music as a sales associate for The Ark Bookstore in Denver. Normally, the samples were of new, relatively unknown groups that their label was trying to push. There was the rare exception, however, and those were moments that made the low wages and long hours almost worth it. Chief among those moments was when our Sparrow representative stopped by with a pre-release copy of Steve Taylor's 1993 album, Squint. It was the last—so far—studio album that Taylor would release, capping a decade-long career in the Christian music industry. Most folks don't know who Steve Taylor is. However, most Christians have likely heard the Newsboys' song, Shine, which Steve produced and wrote the lyrics to. In fact, Steve's partnership with the Newsboys is what most credit them for their success.
Steve's music has had a huge impact on my life. Songs like Hero, Meltdown, On The Fritz and so many others fed my spirit when I faced religious hypocrisy and pretentious spirituality at a young age where I needed truth and solidarity. Truth confronts, but it also comforts. One of the best examples is in the song, "Curses," where the chorus (echoing Psalm 37:25) repeats,
Never have I seen the righteous forsaken
Never abandoned in the floodlands
Never have I seen their children out begging
Never have I seen them slip through your hands
This simple refrain would echo in my mind every time I faced worries about making mortgage or buying groceries. It remains a reminder that not only is God faithful, but that I am not the first of his children to encounter financial difficulty.
There is something else about the chorus. In this modern,"lower-middle class" lifestyle, I tend to forget the meaning of floodlands. Today, modern civilization has flood control. Rivers that used to rage and ravage towns and cities are now harnessed and regulated by dams and reservoirs. The floodlands were areas that were normally dry but prone to extensive inundation. As a result, no one who could afford to build would build in such an area. They tended to be vast areas with thick undergrowth crisscrossed by a myriad of foot trails. The only inhabitants were the poorest of the poor, vagrants living a nomadic lifestyle and eating hand-to-mouth. If a river were to flood, they would be among the first victims, sometimes the only victims. Being abandoned in the floodlands would never be by choice. It would be the last stop before dying.
God is always mindful of our situation. He never lets us slip through His hands. We make mistakes, but He never does. Also, notice what it doesn't say. It doesn't say that we would never see the floodlands, or walk through them. He may have us pass through the floodlands for any number of reasons, not the least of which would be to reach out to those are also in desperate need. Yet here is the one thing that brings me such comfort: we will never be abandoned! We have a God who carries us through the fiercest storms and the highest waves. Most importantly, when it's all over, we get to go home with Him. That's worth any trek we might face here on earth.
Just in case one thinks I'm blowing smoke, I'll offer a subjective proof, one of many small miracles God has done for me and my family. Two weeks ago, my mind turned to Christmas. It dawned on me that we might not make mortgage, let alone have the ability to purchase gifts this year for my children. Rather than fret, I told God about it and asked Him to please provide Christmas gifts for my kids. Later that week, I got a call from our church saying that a family wanted to bless a family in need with Christmas presents and asked if I would be interested. "Are you kidding? I was just praying about that this week!" I told them. Needless to say, everyone was blessed at how God worked the whole thing. He usually isn't so blatant and obvious. God uses subtle and practical ways for us most of the time. But once in awhile he offers us unmistakable signs that He's there. With God, we are never abandoned.
•
Nov. 9, 2009
-
Apollo Eight Astronauts Read From Genesis 1968
Posted By
jaminacema
The other night my daughter came to me with her Awana book and said "It says in here that in the 60's the Astronauts read from the book of Genesis on Christmas Eve from the Moon. Is that true or something Awana just made up?" I happened to be sitting at the computer so I played this for her...
I am assuming I don't remember this from the original airing since I was only 3 in 1968! But I do remember hearing it before. It is quite touching to listen to and somewhat sad to think about how much our world has changed in the last 40 years. I can't imagine something like this happening today and obviously neither could my daughter since she thought they had made it up for Awana.
I am praying for a revival for America! How awesome it would be to NOT be surprised to hear prayer in this country! How wonderful it would be for my children and grandchildren to live in an America that honored the one true God! Please join me in praying for our country.
Salvador Dali Melting
clocks are not
a problem in your reality. You are an unschooler. You will tolerate a textbook, but only as a last resort. Mud is your
friend. You
prefer hands-on everything. If your school had an anthem, it would be Dont Worry, Be Happy. Visit my blog:
http://www.GuiltFreeHomeschooling.blogspot.com Take this quiz!
His shirt is a white t-shirt we tea stained and then fringed the edges with scissors. It was super easy! (I boiled about a gallon of water and then seeped 7 tea bags until it was pretty dark. Then I removed the tea bags and soaked the shirt for about 30 minutes. Then I put the t-shirt through the spin cycle of the washer and ran it through the dryer. Once it was dry we fringed the edges with scissors. You could add beads too.)
I asked them lots of questions too so they all got to tell what they know about the first thanksgiving.
We had turkey, fish, deer stew, fruit, nuts, cheese, corn chowder, potatoes, cranberry salad, apple sauce, and a lot more! Yummy!!!!
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