I Cried Many Tears: Blueberry Buckle

Is there any variety in blueberry buckle? I mean really, isn't there only one way to make blueberry buckle?

It's pretty easy to throw together, bake, and you have instant coffee cake.

Blueberry Buckle is one of my favorite coffee cakes. So, when I went in search of a recipe for it, I made my choice by choosing the best looking picture.

Do you ever do that?

Search for a recipe and use the one with the best looking picture?

I am definitely guilty of that.

How many of you Blogspot Bloggers looked exactly like this child Thursday and Friday?

I know I did. I was making that exact same face when I found out Blogger was down and being repaired by maintenance.

I know my neighbors heard me crying.....

I found this recipe (best looking picture) at G-ma's Bakery. I followed the recipe exactly because there really wasn't anything I could change. If I would have made changes and start adding ingredients or taking ingredients away, it just wouldn't be blueberry buckle anymore.

So, I left it alone.

But I can suggest one change: Instead of using a 9x13 cake pan, I would use the next size down. It was really hard to get this thick batter spread in a 9x13.

This recipe is linked to:

Blueberry Buckle

Cake:

2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoons salt
¾ cup sugar
¼ cup shortening
1 egg
½ cup milk
3 cups blueberries

Topping:

½ cup sugar
½ cup flour
½ teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup butter, softened

Preheat oven to 375. Grease a 13-by-9 baking dish.

Combine all topping ingredients in a small bowl, pressing with fork or pastry blender to combine.

In a medium bowl, mix together flour, baking powder and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream sugar and shortening with electric mixer—the result will be a bit clumpy. Add egg, mix to combine. Alternately mix in flour mixture and milk in batches, beginning and ending with flour, scraping down side of bowl occasionally, and mixing until smooth. With a spoon, gently fold in blueberries. The batter will be very dense, so go easy on the berries! Spread into greased dish. Crumble topping over surface of cake and bake 45-50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Once cool, cut into squares and serve!

"For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."

Psalm 30:5

What does anger solve? Nothing. It only makes us miserable. Anger only lasts a short while anyway; kind of like a shot given by a doctor, the discomfort only lasts for a short while, but the good effects go on for a long time. If we could just avoid the short spouts of anger, everything would be wonderful.

Blogger was down for 48 hours. Is that something to get all upset about? NO!!

Me Doing A Book Review? Heaven Is For Real

Heaven Is For Real, written by Todd Burpo

Today is Sunday, and I usually don't post on Sunday, but this is the perfect day to distribute such a spiritual feeling, awe, encouragement, and happiness.

How many of you have read this book?

I am terrible at doing book reviews, and this reminds me of the essay (2500 words) I had to write on a book that I didn't understand. That was one tough assignment!

But this book, I totally understand.

In a book review, I am suppose to convince the reader to read the book. Instead of trying to convince you to read it, I am going to tell you how it left me feeling.

This story coming from a 4 year old boy is truly amazing. Colton goes into such detail describing his visit in Heaven. There is no way a 4 year old could make up so much detail. And he described family members that he has never met in his life-time. He even confronted his mother about a miscarriage that was never discussed in the home. He said he met his unborn sister and described the way she looked (that's when I cried).

This book left me with a feeling of ease, hope, and fulfillment. It is nice to know that our family is watching over us, calling us, and they are waiting for us. This book surely gives the reader something to look forward to.

I now have a different out-look on funerals. Death should be a celebration, knowing that the ill are cured, the injured fixed, and they will live happily forever waiting for their family. "No one is old in Heaven" (according to Colton).

If you're not a reader, please make this the one book that you pick up and read in your life-time. You will not be disappointed.

If I would have had time to sit and read, this book would have been finished in one day. I even carried it with me to appointments and such.

Heaven Is For Real will definitely be passed onto my daughter.

"In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like the clothing You will change them and they will be discarded. But You remain the same, and Your years will never end. The children of Your servants will live in Your presence; their descendants will be established before You."

Psalm 102: 25-28

Because of our troubles, we sometimes feel rejected and pushed aside. Problems and heartaches can sometimes overwhelm us and cause us to feel that God has rejected us. But God our Creator is eternally with us and will keep all His promises, even though we may feel alone. The world will crumble, but God will remain. Hebrews 1:10-12 quotes that Jesus Christ, God's Son, was also present and active during the creation of the world. Do not dwell on your troubles and worries, we will see God and His Son after our garment wears out. We will be eternally happy.

Finally: Santa Fe Chicken

Well, it's about time.....

Philadelphia cooking creme has only been on supermarket shelves for what, 6 months?

I am just now getting around to trying it.

Yes, I am running a little behind....and I probably missed out on the great "new product" coupons.

I had some left-over grilled (George Forman) chicken, and I thought, now is my chance to try this cooking creme.

I slice my chicken breast into slices.

Mixed the cooking creme with medium salsa and black bean and corn salsa.

Then I served it over whole wheat pasta.

I also served this dish with corn and wedged tomatoes.

The outcome: Fantastic!

I will definitely make this again.

Santa Fe Chicken

1 container Philadelphia cooking creme (Santa Fe Blend)

1/2 c. Chi-Chi's medium salsa

1/2 c. Chi-Chi's black bean and corn salsa

2 chicken breast halves, grilled and sliced

Mix the cooking creme and salsas together. Place sliced chicken in a skillet, pour the salsa mixture over the chicken and simmer until the chicken is heated through (I simmered mine for about 25 minutes).

Serve over whole wheat cooked pasta.

"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody."

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

You can't be effective in sharing your faith with others if they don't respect you. Whatever you do, do it faithfully and be a positive force in society. So, even though I am a little behind with my "new product" experiments, I am faithfully bringing you the creation that has come from my lacking. And I was not dependent on the "new product" coupons. God has blessed me with patience and independence.