Am I really turning 30?

I swear, I just turned 21...or was it 25? I can't remember but it sure wasn't 29!!
Am I really turning 30??????

So I looked at the years in the past decade and....yup I am. Next Wed, I will be T-H-I-R-T-Y...

*sigh*


I started to date my main drone bee (Christopher) when I turned 21...that was a fun crazy night! And no I do not do things like that anymore!

And then we got married when I was 22...

had our first baby at 24...

had another one at 26...

had some serious temper tantrums at 27, 28, and 29...

and now I am facing 30!

Maybe thirty means no more temper tantrums???

NAAAAA!
(That was for Melody, Ali, Amy and Lisa)

Well, I will see what happens...

So here is to saying good by to 2009 and hello to a 4th decade!

Cheers!

And Happy New year!

Queen Bee in the Kitchen

What the heck is Fluff?

When I lived in Rhode Island there was such a thing called a "fluffernutter". It is a peanut butter and marshmallow cream sandwich....and it is divine!

I have been in Alabama for 15 years and for the first time yesterday I found it at Winn Dixie.

FLUFF!!!!!!!!

It is the original marshmallow cream! Nothing compares to it! I think the reason for that is b/c I ate them all the time as a kid...and it came out of that nice big 16 oz tub of what looked like a big bowl of white "goo"!!

So I made the recipe on the back of the tub of goo called NEVER FAIL FUDGE....

*sigh*

slobber...drool...., one more piece...yum!!

It is amazing. And if your grocery stores stay open for you this Christmas Eve night, instead of the classic Chocolate Chip cookies that Santa loves to eat...leave him Fluff fudge...it will be such a better treat!!!

recipe below!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

God Bless,

Queen Bee in the Kitchen

Fluff Fudge

5 cups granulated sugar
1 (12 ounce) can evaporated milk
1/4 pound butter or margarine
12 ounces Marshmallow Fluff
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup walnuts
24 ounces chocolate chips

Combine sugar, evaporated milk, butter, marshmallow crème and salt in a 6-quart saucepan. Stir over medium heat. Boil slowly for 5 minutes, stirring constantly, (overcook rather than undercook).

Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract, walnuts and chocolate chips. Pour into a buttered 13 x 9-inch pan or 2 buttered 9-inch square pans.

Makes about 5 pounds.

It really is magical...

So we went to Disney last week. We have planned the "big" vacation all year and let me tell you...

IT WAS SO WORTH IT!!!!

I want to live in the Magical Kingdom Castle...

I want to have a tree house in the Animal Kingdom's Tree of Life...

I want to be a famous 1950's actress in Hollywood studios...

I want to travel the world now because of Epcot!!!

I want to go to Disney again!


there is a lot of "I want" things listed there I know...but it is true! I want, I want, I want!!!!


I want all of you to have a Merry Christmas! Really, I want you too!

My Guy...

Nothing you could say
Can tear me away from my guy
Nothing you could do
'Cause I'm stuck like glue (Honey) to my guy

I'm stickin' to my guy
Like a stamp to a letter
Like the birds of a feather
We stick together
I'm tellin' you from the start
I can't be torn apart from my guy

Nothing you can do
Could make me untrue to my guy
Nothing you could buy
Could make me tell a lie to my guy

I gave my guy my word of honor
To be faithful and I'm gonna
You best be believing
I won't be deceiving my guy

As a matter of opinion I think he's tops
My opinion is he's the cream of the crop
As a matter of taste to be exact
He's my ideal as a matter of fact

No muscle bound man
Could take my hand from my guy
No handsome face
Could ever take the place of my guy
He may not be a movie star
But when it comes to being happy we are
There's not a man today
Who could take me away from my guy

No muscle bound man
Could take my hand from my guy
No handsome face
Could ever take the place of my guy
He may not be a movie star
But when it comes to being happy we are
There's not a man today
Who could take me away from my guy

There's not a man today
Who could take me away from my guy
(Tell me more)
There's not a man today
Who could take me away from my guy

Everything Books

I bought my first "Everything Book" 8 years ago when I was planning my wedding. It was a lifesaver! It helped me think of and remember things that I would not have if I did not have that thing attached wrapped around my wedding finger!!

Well go figure they have a whole series of "Everything Books" for...well... just about everything you need!!

And they have one for KIDS!!!! Its called the "Everything KIDS" series.

For you who follow this blog, you know that we are really into nature stuff. We had a pet Golden Orb weaver (RIP) for about 8 weeks. We also have had mice, other spider spices among some other creepy things that my children like to find and keep.

The one particular book on Nature by the Everything KIDS Series is FANTASTIC!!

From Meteor Watching, to bird watching...to growing a "rain forest", looking at clouds, waves...etc!! There are fun projects to do inside and out side that are fun and interesting for everyone!

This can be a great Christmas gift or a weekly use especially for you Homeschooling moms!

They can be found on

www.everything.com

Have fun finding EVERYTHING!!!!!



queenbeeinthekitchen@gmail.com

Winner and new recipe

Congrats to Mellisa Fallon Aversa for being the winner of the Harry and David Pears!! Send me an email to queenbeeinthekitchen@gmail.com with your shipping address!

Since pears was the giveaway and my mouth is watering thinking about them, here is a Roasted Pear Crisp recipe that is full of goodness...but Mellisa those Harry and David pears are too good by them selves!!!

Here's to beginning my sweet diet!!!



Roasted Pear Crisp

• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sliced almonds
• 1/4 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 cup melted butter, plus extra for brushing
• 3 Tbsp. raisins
• 4 pears
• honey and yogurt for topping

1. Mix together oats, brown sugar, almonds and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter then raisins.
2. Cut pears in half, leaving skin intact. Scoop out the core with a small spoon.
3. Lay pears, skin side down, in a baking pan. Brush lightly with butter.
4. Heap oat mixture onto pears, pressing to make sure it stays in place.
5. Bake at 350ºF (180ºC) for 20-25 min. until pears are soft and oats are browned.
6. Drizzle warm pears with honey and serve with yogurt or ice cream!

Adapted from Kitchen Simplicity



Blessings!

Queen Bee in the Kitchen
queenbeeinthekitchen@gmail.com

Harry and David Giveaway...

I have been eating leftovers from Thanksgiving since Thursday afternoon.

I NEVER WANT TO EAT....Green bean casserole, Turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing/stuffing, corn, or mac and cheese EVER AGAIN!!!!!

So that being said... I am going on an "everything sweet" diet until Christmas.
I'll keep you updated on how successful I am with it. I think I'll do well!


In honor of starting my "everything sweet" diet, I am giving away a box of...
Harry and David Royal Riviera Pears!


If you haven't had them...you need them! They are DIVINE!!!! I love getting these for Christmas...hint,hint :)


The question to win is:
What is something sweet I can eat on my "everything sweet diet"?


Just leave a comment by 9pm tonight and if you have twitter tweet it! I let my kids pick the random number of who wins so their is no cheating...promise :) Winner will be announced tonight with a yummy pear and honey recipe!

(shipping is to US only...sorry my British Beekeeping friends :()

Blessings!

Queen Bee in the Kitchen

Honey Guacamole

So I am half Mexican...and the other half of me is Portuguese and Italian. My husband is a tall white guy from Georgia. But he loves the fiery spiciness in me...especially when I use it in my cooking! Have I ever mentioned how cute he is??

Anyway, being half Mexican we use Guacamole alot in this house. For meals and just to eat with chips. Here is a fun way to celebrate Mexican food and Local Honey at the same time!



Honey Guacamole

• 2 ripe avocados, peeled, pitted and mashed
• 1 Tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 Tablespoon honey
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, finely chopped
• Sea salt, to taste

Mash avocados. Stir in lemon juice, honey and cilantro. Add sea salt to taste. Serve immediately with multigrain tortilla chips.

Adapted from Mitzi Dulan

What I am thankful for...

I am thankful for...

1. My very cute husband, and the new love we have found in each other

2. My first born...and her mermaid Bon Jovi looking hair (it is starting to grow out now, thank you for the prayers..ha!)

3. My second born, and the fiery passionate personality that she already has and will use for "good" in her life when she chooses (you believers know what I am talking about)

4. My parents...know matter how crazy they are, they would give me their kidney's if I needed one.

5. Did I already say my cute husband???

6. My in laws...especially my mother-in-law...without her on her knees praying for me I don't know where I would be sometimes.

7. Honey Bees... because we wouldn't have some of the things at our table for thanksgiving dinner today without them.

8. My brother coming home safe from Afghanistan and thankful for all the others that are serving out great nation that not able to be with their families today.

9.okay, honey pecan pie...I had to put it here. (recipe is on a previous post this week if you want to try it)

10. My Lord and Savior Jesus...I am standing...willing...and thankful. I praise only you.

Happy Thanksgiving

Queen Bee in the Kitchen

Apple Crandberry Galette

Okay, doesn't this remind you of the pilgrims???

That old fashion... New England...rustic apple dessert. I bet you that something like this was served at some of the first Thanksgivings!

I can just see them picking apples and cranberries, mixing dough, and gathering honey from there hives....oh yes, I am making this one. This takes the place of traditional apple pie for me. Let me know if you take the challenge and do this one from scratch!


Apple Crandberry Galette

Ingredients:
For the pastry:
1¾ cups all-purpose flour
6 tbsp. white cornmeal (I used yellow)
2 tsp. sugar
¾ tsp. salt
12 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into chunks
6 tbsp. sour cream
½ cup ice water

For the filling:
4 lb. Granny Smith apples (about 8 large)
½ cup sugar
½ cup water
3 tbsp. honey
3 tbsp. lemon juice
½ tsp. ground cinnamon
1½ cups fresh cranberries
2 tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into thin slices
Sugar, for dusting (optional)

Directions: To make the pastry, combine the flour, cornmeal, sugar and salt in a bowl. Scatter the chunks of butter over the top and cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the butter pieces are the size of small peas. (This can be done by hand, in a stand mixer, or in a food processor.) In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and ice water. Drizzle the mixture over the dough and mix just until the dough is smooth and clings together in a cohesive mass. Pat the dough into a ball, wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, make the fruit filling. Peel, core and slice the apples. In a large pan over medium heat combine the sugar, water, honey, lemon juice and cinnamon. Heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Stir in the apple slices and simmer until opaque, 5-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the apple slices to a bowl and let cool slightly. Add the cranberries to the juices and simmer until they start to pop, about 2 minutes. Transfer the cranberries to the bowl with the apples. Increase the heat to medium-hight, boil the juices until reduced slightly and spoon over the fruit. Position two racks in the middle of the oven and preheat to 400° F. Divide the ball of chilled pastry dough in half. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out each half into a round about 12 inches in diameter. Transfer each round to separate baking sheets. Divide the fruit filling between the pastry rounds in even layers, leaving a 1½-inch border clear. Fold the border over the fruit, pleating the edges to form a broad rim. Lay thin slices of butter over the exposed fruit. Bake, rotating the pans 180 degrees and from top to bottom halfway through, until the pastry is golden brown and the apples are tender, about 35-40 minutes. Transfer the pans to wire cooling racks and let the galettes cool completely on the pans. Store at room temperature until ready to serve. Sprinkle with sugar just before serving, if desired.

Adapted from Williams Sonoma

Honey Pecan Pie

I can't help it. If it is front of me, I will take a bite...slice...half...okay maybe eat the whole thing.

Honey Pecan Pie!!!!

Is that bad??

I have a lot of things in the works for "Queen Bee in the Kitchen" coming soon to your computer.

Stay in touch with my blog, or if you are on twitter, follow me :)

You'll be happy you did...promise.


I'll be posting recipes with honey this week to make your holiday meal sweeter!



Happy Thanksgiving and love,

Queen Bee in the Kitchen

Honey Pecan Pie

Ingredients

• 4 eggs
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 unbaked pastry shell (9 inches)
• TOPPING:
• 3 tablespoons butter
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons honey
• 1-1/2 cups pecan halves

Directions

• In a large bowl, combine the eggs, pecans, corn syrup, sugars, butter, vanilla and salt. Pour into pastry shell. Bake at 350° for 30 minutes.
• In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in brown sugar and honey until combined. Stir in pecan halves until coated. Spoon over pie.
• Bake 15-20 minutes longer or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack. Refrigerate leftovers.

Vanilla Extract

I know this isn't a recipe for something with Honey...

But...

I use Vanilla Extract so much that my friend Diane, who has a wheat business shared her recipe with me to make my own! It is WONDERFUL and if you can find some really cool vintage bottles you can give them away as Christmas gifts! :)

Here is what you do...

1.75 Liters of Vodka (any Brand, I used the cheapest I could find)

20 Vanilla beans ( I bought them on Ebay fresh and sealed for about $10)

put all the vanilla beans into the vodka bottle ( you have to pour out some of the vodka...or drink it :)

Put cap back on let it sit for 30 days, shaking it once in a while then when ready, strain vodka in a big bowl taking out vanilla beans.

slice vanilla beans open and scrap all seeds out and put back into vodka extract and stir in bowl.

Either funnel back into vodka bottle or pour into individual bottles!!!

WHALLA!!! Your own Vanilla Extract!!

To everything there is a season...

I went to take the trash out this morning and noticed "our Charlotte" was not gracefully hanging in the center of her web. This has become a normal site for us for the past two months. I noticed yesterday something wasn't right with her. She was kind of "coiled" up. Her legs are usually spread wide and she looked enormous!

But today was a different day....

I looked on the ground around her web and there she was.

Barely alive.

My heart hurt.

This pretty, creepy, thing had kind of become an attraction for our family, friends, and those of you who check in on my blog. My girls and I are so sad. We had a little goodbye for her and put her on a leaf under my tea rose bushes that are about to bloom again. This is what came to mind...

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

My five year old asked me if she was going to the "Spider God". (I love my girl!) "No, I said." Perfect chance to tell her how OUR great God made that great big spider for us to look at and enjoy for the past few months. But, how we are only here for a precious time and then we go back to Jesus...where we will live forever and there will be no more death. She liked that. She asked if we would see "our Charlotte" in heaven. "Yes" I replied. The way I figure it is, even if that may or may not be true...I have a feeling when we get to heaven and are standing with our savior, we may not remember the "death of our Charlotte", but I am certain will remember the promises of our Great God, and rejoice in the eternal life with Him.

A Wednesday afternoon...

I have been very productive today...

I have been trying to get my house together for the past few days. Its not working but I am still pretending that I am doing a good job. The dang "stealing sock fairy" continues to run my laundry room so I am just going to let my kids wear two different socks everyday. At least they will have them on right?? :)

Squash is really in right now so I found a recipe for a soup (we are really into warm soup right now...b/c I am so enjoying the southern fall weather of Oct/Nov) So here is a recipe for some Butternut Squash soup. I am suggesting that you use an early local honey in this one. I am thinking a darker honey might be a little strong ...but I could be wrong. Did I just say I could be wrong???? NAAAAAA!

Butternut Squash Soup with Honey

• 2 Tablespoons butter
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 carrots, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 potato, peeled and diced
• 1 butternut squash, peeled, seeded and diced
• 3 cans (14.5 oz. each) chicken broth
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
• Salt and pepper, to taste

In large pot, melt butter over medium heat. Stir in onions and garlic. Cook and stir until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. Stir in carrots, celery, potatoes, squash, chicken broth, honey and thyme. Bring mixture to boil; reduce heat and simmer 30 to 45 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Transfer mixture to blender or food processor; process until smooth. Return pureed soup to pot.
Season to taste with salt and pepper. Heat until hot and serve.

These are the days...

Trick or Treat...

We had so much fun last night...my little Mayberry of a town celebrates trick or treating during the week if Halloween falls on a weekend night. The reason for this is football season. Nothing can get in the way of attending a Friday night high school game or College game day on Saturday!

First Sophia wanted to be "tigress" from Kung Fu Panda....but by trick or treat time she was a Jaguar. (I don't know where the heck a jaguar came from, but she looked really cool)

Then Stella was set on being a snake....but I couldn't find a snake costume. ANYWHERE! So she settled for a dragon...that kid is hysterical. You know when there is going to be "that one" in your family that is just a natural at being funny...That is Stella. I live to see what she is going to do or say next.

I love seeing my kids excited about something! Christmas Morning, Easter Morning, Fireworks on the 4th and HALLOWEEN!...these are the days.

Thank you Lord, for another day with my family.

Do you like Almonds....

I watched "The Last Beekeeper" on Planet Earth this morning while my kids were still asleep. I have been walking around with such a heavy heart all day. Does anyone really see what is happening....

This annual bee migration isn't just a curiosity; it's the glue that holds much of modern agriculture together. Without the bees' pollination services, California's almond trees — the state's top export crop — would produce 40 pounds of almonds per acre; with the bees, they can generate 2,400 pounds. Honeybees provide the same service for more than 100 other crops, from lettuce to cranberries to oranges to canola, up and down the West Coast.

This was just a paragraph of the thousands that are being written about the honeybee and the Colony Collapse Disorder. Our Life as we know it would drastically change for the worse. Bees pollinate so much of what we eat in this country and around the world.

In the next few weeks...I will be gathering up information and hopefully have a new website up for my life with bees and what we can all do to partipate in helping this creature that has brought so much fun and joy in my life.

and remember...

“The bee is more honored than other animals, not because she labors, but because she labors for others” Saint John Chrysostom

Got em'

The thing that is really disturbing about this picture is that my 3 and 5 year old girly girls were so excited to see that "our Charlotte" got some breakfast this morning.

MMMM....Grasshopper!

We were getting a little concerned that we were going to have to throw her a couple of moths here soon. We hadn't seen anything in her monstrous web lately. She has been hanging out side our house for close to 7 weeks now. She moves around a little. First it was in front of our bay window, then the side of the house, now she is near our bedroom window....yes, it kinda worries me that she may somehow sneak in and this Golden Orb Weaver will crawl up my leg at night!!!!! I think she is pretty outside but the truth is, if she enters inside my house....well, you know what will happen to her!

Sugar cookies

they actually remind me more of Christmas...you know with the color sprinkles on top...but today I made some! I found them on another blog:

http://bakingblonde.wordpress.com/2009/01/25/honey-sugar-cookies/


Put something Octoberish on them instead of Christmasee...are those even words??? Anyway...enjoy!

Honey Sugar Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup sugar (for rolling)

Preheat oven to 300. Line baking sheets with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl combine flour, soda, and salt.
Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the honey and cream well.
Slowly add the flour mixture and mix until just encorporated. Finish by hand if needed. Do not over mix the dough.

Chill dough for 10 minutes.

Drop dough by rounded spoonfulls into bowl of sugar and roll to coat. Place on prepared baking sheet and bake for 15-18 minutes until edged are golden and set.
Allow to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transfering to rack to cool completely.

*I chilled the dough a bit before baking so the cookies did not spread too much. If you chill too long though the honey will harden and make the dough hard to scoop out.

meeting generations

Please don't pay any attention to the "ghetto blinds" in the background....thank you.
They are like that thanks to our VERY VISCOUS Dogs the chihuahua and the dachshund!

Now, To the point of this blog...

My grandpa (Na nu) came down last week, to meet my nephew for the first time. He is the first boy to be born with the Venafro name since 1982! Everyone has girls in the family and this was such a treat for him (and us). My brother is in Afghanistan, so he wasn't able to be here when my Grandfather's eyes lit up when he saw Michael jr. and said "I never thought I'd see the day!" So I wanted to capture something for my brother and my grandfather and my dad. My Grandpa was able to sit down with ALL his great grandchildren and then take us out for Chinese food after!! It was truly a wonderful moment that I will treasure always.



And by the way...Sophia wears that cat outfit everywhere....target, the bank, chick-fil-a, to bed...

I used to stereotype mom's before I had children. I would see thier kids at the store and they would be dressed up like batman or Elmo in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon....and I would say to myself "crazy people let their little crazy kids wear whatever they want don't they!"

And now...I have a tiger living in my house (that is what she says she is when she wears that thing)

HA! Don't ever think that you will not let your kids do things...our God has such a sense of humor... and sometimes I now dress up like snow white when I go to Kroger just to see 2 little girls smile and sing "Hi Ho Hi Ho...it's over to Kroger we go!" It works...seriously...people think you are nuts...but your kids act better for you at the grocery store if you act nuts.


So, have a nutty day.

mmmm....Brownies!

Congrats to Leslie who was comment #5 !!

She has won the Queen Bee in the Kitchen 9x13 pan!

Leslie is an awesome watercolor painter, and she lives in the Auburn area.

Sophia was asked to pick a number 1-6 and I am assuming she picked 5 because that is how old she is!

Thanks everyone for leaving some great recipes! I had a lot of emails after giving this pan away, asking if I had a brownie recipe using honey and I do! I am posting it on the bottom. Check back on my blog next week for another giveaway and a post of some pictures of me working my bees for the last time this fall. I hope they are doing okay! This weather is crazy and it is going to be in the 30's tonight! I'll let you know how it goes!

Make sure to tell your loved ones about the giveaways on my blog so they can have a chance to win and have fun ideas cooking with honey :)

And I can't believe it...but I killed my first spider today...It was a black widow. And she was a big girl! She was hanging on my back door...it was a gushy squish. yuck.

Anyway...

Blessings... and stay warm and order a pan from the cake pan lady and make these brownies!



Honey Brownies

1/3 cup butter

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup honey

2 tsp. vanilla

2 eggs

1/2 cup flour

1/3 cup cocoa

1/2 tsp. salt

1 cup chopped nuts (optional) I also like to add a 1/2 cup peanut butter morsels in there to cut the sweetness :)

Cream together butter and sugar. Blend in Honey and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, combine flour, Cocoa and salt. Gradually stir dry mixture into creamed mixture. Add nuts, if desired. Pour into greased 8x8" (or 9x13 if you like them thinner) pan. Bake at 350 deg. for 25-30 minutes or until brownies begin to pull away from sides of pan. Cool. Frost with chocolate frosting.

CAKE PAN GIVEAWAY...

So, as all of you know I really like The Pioneer Woman. Well, okay I am obsessed with her! So, I went to her website earlier this week (www.thepioneerwoman.com) and she had this really fun pan that that someone sent her on her Home and Garden section. It was a pan from the "CAKE PAN LADY". So, I went to her website www.thecakepanlady.com then called her. Her name is Mary and she is as nice as can be. I told her how smart she was for sending the Pioneer Woman one of her pans for marketing her product and she told me that she didn't! She told me that a client of hers, sent the pan to the Pioneer woman as a gift, and Mary had no idea that her pans were going to be such a huge hit! She told me the day Pioneer Woman put her pans up as a gift idea that she had so many emails that she thought she had a Computer Virus!

So here's the deal, Mary, my new cake pan lady friend, GAVE ME A PAN TO GIVEAWAY!!! I just got it in the mail! I told her about my life with the Bees, and how I am trying to inform and encourage people to cook with local honey, and she wanted me to be able to give one of her pans away on my blog!! And, she is soooooo sweet that she sent me one just for me :) It has my name on it! She is awesome! The Pan has A picture of a Bee and it says "QUEEN BEE IN THE KITCHEN" on it! It is a lid and a bottom (9x13)

(FYI...I AM NOT A GOOD PICTURE TAKER!! SORRY!! THE PAN IS SOOO CUTE AND I DID IT NO JUSTICE WITH MY BAD TECHNIQUE OF TRYING TO CAPTURE IT!)

I am so excited about this giveaway! And Please please please, go to her website and leave her a fun message!

so the question is:

"If you win this pan, what is the first thing you will cook in it?"

Will it be chicken Casserole...brownies.....maybe a cake?? Let me know and if Honey is an ingredient in it...be sure to post your recipe!

Have fun with this one!
AND THANK YOU CAKE PAN LADY!!!

Getting Ready for Halloween...

I love it.

Halloween is probably my favorite time of year and favorite holiday. We put up all of our inside decorations this week (if it will stop raining, I will put the out door ones out). I love it at night when the orange, purple and green lights are glowing in the living room, and our "ghost train" is lit and the ceramic faces of the little creatures are smiling at us!

I am not a gore Halloween girl. I guess having small children and the fact that I am over the "scary" stuff in life has a influence on me not to have dead guys with blood and guts spilling out of him hanging from my front door anymore.

Halloween, is about me walking around with my kids for an hour and a half (not long enough for you...you try walking around with my youngest more than twenty minutes and you will think I am MOTHER OF THE YEAR for going this long!!) collecting candy, then back to the house to hand candy out to the other goblins that come a knockin', then putting a Halloween special on, Making**honey hot chocolate with marshmallows**, and let me kids pour their bags on the ground and see what they got! (this is more for me so I can see what I am going to steal when they go to bed)

I am always sad when I turn off the Halloween lights on Halloween night. Its kinda the same when I put the lights on the Christmas Tree for one last time.... I know you know what I mean about the Christmas tree. :)

Well here's to counting down the days of Halloween...and Honey Hot Chocolate!




HONEY HOT CHOCOLATE

1/2 cup of honey
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup water
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups of hot low fat milk
Method

In small saucepan, combine honey, cocoa powder, and water; mix well. Cook over low heat 5 minutes or until mixture is slightly thickened. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Set aside until ready to serve. To serve, stir chocolate mixture into hot milk.

Irene

So one of my closest friends found out that she has breast cancer. What is it about hearing that word that makes us women feel like curling up under a blanket forever, or makes our heart sink into our stomach and FEAR enters every inch of our body. Well my friend Irene is different. She is another home school mom of 3 beautiful girls under the age of 6. She and her husband, Tim, live in the coolest "shabby chic" cottage at lake Harding in Alabama. She changes paint colors in her house like I change diets, and everything that decorates her house is homemade or a hand-me-down. She makes everyone laugh. When she found out she had breast cancer, we were all devastated. But she wasn't. Here is a little clip of her email she sent out...

"It is cancer...Our emotions are all over the place and we shoveled down our Cracker Barrel because we both kept crying off and on and the tables beside us were trying hard not to stare. Then we both got tickled and I was afraid I'd spew sweet tea out my nose so we bolted. I am so thankful Tim and I have a quiet house to come home to and can get some rest and he can fish. ;-)

"I told Tim that if I'm bald by Christmas I'd definitely send out an e-Christmas-card with a family picture that says "and to think, I used to be self-conscious about the size of my nose"....heehee!!! He didn't think it was nearly as funny as I did and when I saw the stress, concern and pain on his face, I realized that the hardest part of all of this is knowing something going on with me is deeply hurting and affecting my family. I covet your prayers."

See, it is GRACE...

T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.

I never really listen to that song because whenever it comes on I just start to cry. ( I know you know what I am talking about.) And "GRACE MY FEARS RELIEVED." Well there it is. We live under Him, grace, love, peace...and the list goes on and on.



Irene is living on Psalm 34 right now and here is a clip....

I will extol the LORD at all times;
his praise will always be on my lips.

² My soul will boast in the LORD;
let the afflicted hear and rejoice.

³ Glorify the LORD with me;
let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame.

⁶ This poor man called, and the LORD heard him;
he saved him out of all his troubles.

⁷ The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him,
and he delivers them.

I am praising the LORD with her. HE IS SO GOOD.

I'll keep you posted on her progress...

A Crowd Pleaser...

I grew up with my friend, Chandree's mom (Kelly) making these wings. I can't in words describe how good and addicting they are. These wings have every satisfying taste in them! And it uses Honey and you know how I am about sharing recipes that use Honey in them! Kelly passed away in 2003 and I know that she would have loved to know that her famous wings were a hit with others! I hope you get a chance to make them and enjoy something that brings back fond memories of when I grew up in RI , watching New England Patriots football at Chandree's house!

Kelly's So-Ho Wings:

1 bag of frozen plain wings

Wing Sauce :
150z of soy sauce
15 oz of local honey (dark or light can be used for this)
2 tbsp of minced garlic
1/3 cup of ketchup
salt and pepper to taste

(in separate bowl mix all ingredients together and set aside while wings are cooking)

cook wings as directed on bag in the oven in a 9x13 pan
when approx 10 min before being done, take out of oven and put in wing mixture
place back in over for approx 10-15 min until done and juice looks like it has cooked into the wings good:)

Serve with or without dressing and a good Sunday afternoon NFL game!

***************************

You can still submit your favorite Honey recipe in the comment section below and win the Queenies Cookies giveaway!

www.queeniescookies.com

One good thing about rain...

My sister in law Tyler gutted her yard this past spring and when she did she found three rose bushes that we overgrown and weren't hardly blooming anything b/c they were covered by other shrubs and trees. She was just going to throw them away knowing that she didn't have the time to move and replant them and take care of them. This is due to the fact that my brother is in Afghanistan, she had just had a baby and not to mention the Two year old Typhoon, Isabella, (my niece) running around keeping her busy!

So, I took them with me to my house....trimmed them down and .....

they died.

I was so upset and mad at myself because I did everything I could...i watered them, gave them that stuff that you need to give them to make them grow, talked to them like I do to the spiders that live in and outside my house...and they still died. So I finally I just came to terms with it and let it go...then....it rained...and it rained and it rained (if you live in the southeast you know what I am talking about. These past few weeks it has just been raining!) And you'll never believe it...they came back to life! And they are the prettiest tea roses you have ever seen. And they are blooming in the FALL!

They are what I call "Shelby's Blush and Bashful" roses.

I love these pretty girls!

And I just wanted to share a pretty picture with you :)

REMEMBER:
You still have time to submit your "Honey Recipe" to me and have a chance to win the:

"Queenies Cookies"

You can post it below!

Saving Fievel Mousekewitz

I was out taking some pictures of some of the pretty spiders (Orb Weavers) that have delightfully made themselves at home around our house! I love seeing them...it means fall is here. As I was out side taking a picture of the Golden Orb (the big black and yellow with the zig zag in the middle of its web) I saw a furry thing in my little tree/bush in the front of my window. It was a field mouse. I looked carefully and realized it was very still but breathing and awkwardly positioned. Hmmmmm...there was a reason that this little furry friend was up on this bush.

Tigger... I knew it.

My cat, Tigger, was purring around my legs with his tail wagging. He is our hunter. He loves to bring us presents and leave them at our front door. They range from birds to lizards. we have been really lucky when he decides to bring moles to us. That is such a fun treat. I looked carefully at Mr. Mousekewitz and couldn't help but sing...

"And there are no CATS in America and the streets are full of cheese!!"
(I love that movie.)

Anyway, so Sophia and I grabbed a mason jar and so gently put it up to him and with out thinking twice he jumped right in. I think he figured this was his only chance to get away from the lion that was prowling around him waiting for him to come down. So we walked down the street and let him out in the woods. I swear he said in the Russian Mousekewitz language "Thank you for saving my life."... I said "your welcome" in my Alabama -George language and then Sophia and I proudly walked back to the house.

I like saving nature....but the fact that I threw that moth in the spider web still kinda haunts me. (If you haven't read about that it is in an earlier post)

Okay...since October is here...remember to find a local beekeeper and see if they have some late honey available. I am finding out that not too many beekeepers in our neck of the woods have a lot to spare but grab some if you can. The darker the richer. The best tasting oatmeal raisin cookies are made with darker honey (in my opinion) and here is a recipe for some.

Oh! AND....leave in the comment section if you have a favorite recipe using honey. Tell us how to make it, where you got it and why you like it. Tell your friends because...

I will make all of them in the next 2 weeks and the one that is my favorite I will send you something sweet...

www.queeniescookies.com

2 count of your choice

My mouth is watering thinking about their flavor:

"Queen for the Day"
lemon Cookie, loaded with Raspberries, White Chocolate chips and Macadamia nuts!
SOOOOOO GOOOOOD!

They are FANTASTIC and they are a local business and I love supporting my local peeps!

But here is my all time favorite cookie and a recipe for them:

Chewy Honey Oatmeal Raisin Cookies


Ingredients

* 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
* 1/2 cup granulated sugar
* 1/2 cup honey
* 1 large egg
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1-1/2 cups quick cooking rolled oats
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 cup raisins, chocolate or butterscotch chips

Directions

In medium bowl, beat butter with sugar until thoroughly blended. Blend in honey. Blend in egg and vanilla, mixing until smooth. In separate bowl, mix together oats, flour, salt, cinnamon and baking soda; blend into honey mixture. Blend in raisins or chips. Drop dough by rounded Tablespoonfuls onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350°F for 12 to 14 minutes until cookies are golden brown. Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool 2 to 3 minutes before removing from baking sheet. Cool completely then store in an airtight container.

Tips
High altitude adjustment: Increase oats to 2 cups and decrease whole wheat flour to 3/4 cup.

"Take a deep breath, Angela....SHE CUT HER HAIR!!"

When I was a little girl, I used to complain about my mom brushing my hair to the point that she decided to cut my hair off. In my pictures from about age 4 through 7 I have VERY short boyish looking hair!!! I still get mad at my mom when we look through photos on holidays and say " why did you do that to me!" But I guess the "rats nest" in my hair everyday just got overwhelming for her so she decided to chop it!

Sophia' hair is gorgeous! She didn't have any until she was about 2 1/2 years old and since then I have let it grow out. Her hair has been down to the end of her back now for about 1 year. I have been SO Proud of the hair that I describe as the "mermaid hair". I love brushing it, seeing the wind blow in it, braiding it, and she does too. But something happened that I wasn't prepared for....

SHE CHOPPED IT! (and she kinda looks like Bon Jovi did in 1989)

My very close friend, Jamie the "Prayer Warrior", watched my girls for me yesterday afternoon and Sophia and her precious daughter Sara Joy played "Beauty Shop". So you know the story from there....."Angela, take a deep breath" she said over the phone. "Sophia and Sara Joy cut thier hair!" I didn't realize how angry, sad and scared those words would have ever made me. I have become so protective and almost Vain over Sophia's hair. I have always wanted the little girl with the long beautiful hair b/c I didn't have that! Well it became an "Idol" in my life and hadn't even realized it.

"You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of ANYTHING in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." Ex 20:3-4

This hit me very hard. After my prayer warrior friend asked me where my heart was in this circumstance, I was reminded that I was the one who needed to learn something from this..."Why did I react out of anger when I heard she cut her hair". Truth is, I had let Sophia's hair become and idol (as weird as that sounds) and a deep heart issue was brought to surface...Rethink all the things in life that may have become in front of your LOVING GOD! My foundation once again was rocked and shifted and my frames are joyfully being rebuilt!

Thank you, sweet Jesus.

"You're just a bee charmer, Idgie Threadgoode. That's what you are, a bee charmer. "

Fried Green Tomatoes is one of my top ten movies ever! Remember when she went into that bee hive in the tree and got that honey!!!! I have always wondered if people really did that! And I am proud to say I finally did yesterday!

This is another beekeeper friend, Michael. He is raising his bees in the most organic fashion! He doesn't wear any protection wear! I thought he was crazy at first, and then he convinced me that his bees didn't sting him and they wouldn't sting me either. I didn't believe him at first but then realized I have always wanted to try not to wear protective gear to see if was easier working bees that way. So....I did! No one stung me! How neat it was to just be able to see the bees with my eyes with no veil over them, touch the frames with no gloves on, and have bees flying around me with no fear of getting stung. His bees are alot more calm then mine are. My girls are not as tolerant ...they take after their keeper I guess :)

So................ TOWANDA!!!!!!! ......... I am a bee charmer!!!!

And so isn't Joyce Bearden for winning the Bee Charming note cards!!!!

Thanks for all that are so encouraging about my blog! I love sharing some of my life with you all :) And I love hearing the comments about yours! Check in soon for another giveaway!

Here is a Idgie Threadgoode-ness Honey Recipe:

Apple Honey Crisp

2 lbs. apples, quartered and sliced (1-1/2 quarts) 1/2 cup plus 1/4 cup honey, (separated) 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg 1 cup flour 1/4 cup butter, softened Warm Nutmeg Cream, (recipe follows) or ice cream

Directions

Toss apples with 1/2 cup honey, cinnamon and nutmeg in bowl. Turn into 2-quart baking dish. For topping, beat flour with butter and 1/4 cup honey until crumbly; sprinkle over apples. Bake at 350°F for 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender and topping is golden. Serve with Warm Nutmeg Cream or ice cream.

Time, Talents and Treasures... Oh, and a givaway

I sometimes do not know where the time goes. I remember meeting my husband 11 years ago at a restaurant in Auburn AL. I was 18 he was 23, and he was a very cute and very obnoxious waiter! Actually, he wasn't even my waiter, but he kept coming to my table asking " Can I get you anything? Do you want some dessert? I can get you some chocolate cake." I didn't get the chocolate cake, but that waiter did "stick" in my mind for a while and it wasn't until 3 years later that we would we go on our first date! He was so nervous he couldn't eat his meal :) I can't believe that date was 9 years ago this December. I also can't believe that we have been married 7 years and have 2 kids. Where does the time go....

I also have been homeschooling my 2 girls I had with that waiter. It is going well, except the swine flu, stomach viruses, and strep throat have interrupted my already nervous teaching skills! But all is well. Homeschooling my children has actually done something for me that I didn't expect. I am seeing my children's love languages and talents. Sophia my tenderhearted, sweet, sensitive daughter....the one who made me love as a mother for the first time, is a "words of Affirmation" and an "Affection" lover! If she reads something right...make sure you praise her with words of encouragement and give her a huge hug!!!!! She lives for "Great Job", "Super", and "you are wonderful". Now, Stella....complete opposite!! I am learning she is a "Act of Service" and "Gifts" girl. If you buy her a "Barbie Nutcracker Dance" DVD and then make her a tea party and dress up with her (in a horrible mock ballerina outfit that you put together out of an old maternity bathing suit!!) She knows she is loved! Its truly amazing how 2 creatures made by the same people can be so different in how they are going to be in relationships with the people in the world! But then again they have 2 parents that God put together who have totally different ways of expressing their love and how they need love expressed.


We have different gifts, according to the grace given" Romans 12:6


This waiter and these 2 kids are my treasures. I honestly can't remember what life was like without my family with me. Its weird b/c I can't really remember just being with Christopher alone, then I can't remember what is was really like just having one child either! We are such a unit now...and life is so sweet with them. I praise my God everyday for giving these treasures to me!

So that makes me want to give gifts and treasures to you!

Question of the day...

What is your Love Language?

I will be giving away these PRECIOUS note cards handmade by my very sweet friend Wendy! (set of 5)

Wendy makes these note cards!! If you love them and have to have them her email is

wendy@ishoy.com

she makes all kinds of custom note cards....just a note...I know it looks like it is black and yellow but the note card is actually yellow and purple colors :) I could not get the photo to come out right! Anyone take good pictures??

I'll announce the winner on Saturday!

Oh, and I am checking on my Queen today so I will have an update on her, too :)