WEEK SIX: TIS SO SWEET IN THE DARK

It has been quite an eventful week in our household. For starters, we woke up to this one morning:

So, this left us in the dark for our Tis So Sweet meeting Sunday night! Luckily, it doesn't get dark outside until late.

Second, I started a new blog! Need weekly menu ideas? Check it out: MALLORY'S MENU

Honorable mention: I accidentally wore two different shoes to work one day. Seriously. This happened.

Luckily, I have these awesome ladies to keep me straight each week!! We had a great time getting together, sharing what's going on in our lives, and planning for our next and final two ministry projects before we wrap up this semester.

L to R: Belinda, Lauren, Brandi, Laura

Laura was imparting her wisdom on the ladies ;)

L to R: Laura, Belinda, Lauren, Brandi

Such beautiful ladies with huge hearts! Love y'all so much!

I would like to brag a little and say that this week's recipes were REALLY good. With that, here are the recipes of the week!


PECAN PIE MUFFINS
Contributed by: Lauren

1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups chopped pecans
2/3 cup butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten

Preheat oven to 350F. Grease mini or regular muffin cups generously (grease them well or they will stick). In a medium bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour and pecans. In a separate bowl, beat the butter and eggs together. Stir in dry ingredients just until combined. Spoon batter into muffin cups about 2/3 full. Bake for 12-13 minutes for mini muffins or 15-17 minutes for regular size muffins. Run a knife around the edge of each muffin and pop it out.


BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP
Contributed by: Belinda

2 large cans chicken breast, all white meat
1 bottle ranch dressing
2 - 8 oz pkgs cream cheese
1 cup Franks Red Hot sauce
8 oz shredded cheddar cheese
Tortilla chips

Preheat oven to 350F. Soften cream cheese and mix with ranch dressing until smooth. Add hot sauce and mix well. Drain the cans of chicken and break up the meat with a fork. Stir chicken and cheese into dressing mixture. Pour mixture into baking dish and bake uncovered at 350F for 45-60 minutes. Serve with tortilla chips.


HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE FROSTY ICE CREAM
Contributed by: Brandi

1/2 gallon chocolate milk
1 large tub Cool Whip
1 can condensed milk

Mix all ingredients and put in ice cream maker.


BREAKFAST WREATH
Contributed by: Mallory

4 slices bacon
5 large eggs
1 can Pillsbury crescent rolls
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Olive oil and poppy seeds

Cut 4 bacon strips in half length-side to make 8 short half-strips. Cook bacon in skillet so that it's cooked, but not crunchy (approx. 6-8 mins per side). Scramble all of the eggs using the greased skillet. Grease a cooking sheet. On the cooking sheet, roll out individual crescent triangles and make a star-like shape with the large ends of the triangle acting as the centers of the "star" and overlapping one another to form a hole in the center of the wreath (2 on top, 2 on bottom, and 2 on each side). Place the bacon strips on top of each triangle. Spoon the cooked eggs on top of the bacon strips, but not all the way out to the "points" of the "star", but rather, around the base of the "star" or the crescent wreath and top eggs with cheese. Carefully fold the "points" of the "star", with the bacon, over the eggs and cheese, into the center of the ring, and tuck underneath, slightly pinching in order to secure underneath. Brush top with olive oil and sprinkle poppy seeds. Bake at 375F for approx. 17 minutes or until golden brown.


RED LOBSTER CHEDDAR BAY BISCUITS
Contributed by: Laura

1 box Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit mix (see below)

3/4 cup cold water
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1/3 cup butter

Preheat oven to 425F. Stir together water, cheese, and biscuit mix until dough forms (do not overmix). Scoop dough immediately into 8-10 portions (approx. 1/4 cup each) and place 2 inches apart onto greased or lined baking sheet. Bake 14-16 minutes or until golden brown on top. Melt butter in a microwave safe bowl, add garlic herb blend and stir until well blended. Spoon or brush 1 tsp garlic herb butter sauce onto each hot biscuit. Serve immediately.

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Tonight, I leave you with two things:

1. A picture of my sweet Buddy

2. The Word of God

"...and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

Father, I thank you for the promises in your word that you are with us and within us. I pray that you would help us to slow down our pace at times and rest in the peace that you give us. In your name, Amen.

WEEK FIVE: ATTACK OF THE BEAN POT

First of all, let me start off by wishing everyone a safe and happy 4th of July!! I'm so thankful to live in a country where I'm free to live and worship and extra thankful this weekend for those who live and die fighting for our freedoms each day.

Also, there are some congratulations that are in order:

First, we would like to say congrats to Caroline and her family on the birth of her little one. Welcome to the world Brody Ryan!!

Secondly, I would like to officially welcome Julie and her family to our church!! We are so blessed to have your family join us and look forward to serving the Lord alongside you!

Brother Bruce praying over the family as they officially become members of FHBC

We had a great time, as usual, with this awesome group. We are taking a break over the next couple of weeks from "ministry projects", but are super excited about our next two projects, which will be happening July 13th & 20th, so be sure and check back for updates!

Brandi and Julie talking about something serious ;)

Lindsey and Belinda talking about something not-so-serious ;)

Cheese! L to R: Brandi, Laura, Julie

Pretty ladies! L to R: Lindsey and Belinda

If you notice, we have two "bean pots" (the red and brown dishes with the covers on them). Lindsey and Belinda BOTH decided to make chocolate lava cake in their bean pots, which means that they can cook it in the microwave! (Recipe below) That's a first for 'Tis So Sweet...two of the same recipe!!

Digging in!!

I realized after we had eaten and cleaned up that I forgot to get a group shot and at this point, Laura had already left (sorry Laura!!) L to R: Belinda, Julie, Lindsey & Brandi

Now here are the recipes of the week!

THE EVER-SO-POPULAR "BEAN POT" LAVA CAKE

Contributed by: Lindsey & Belinda

1 box Betty Crocker Supermoist Milk Chocolate Cake Mix (or Devil's Food Cake Mix will work too)

3 large eggs

1 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil (or 1 1/3 cup if using Devil's Food Cake Mix)

1 container milk chocolate frosting

Mix all ingredients but frosting together well in a large bowl. Beat at medium speed for approx. 2 minutes. Pour batter into bean pot then spoon icing on top inside bean pot. Put lid on and microwave on high 10-12 minutes. Serve warm with ice cream (optional).

CUCUMBER AND TOMATO SALAD

Contributed by: Brandi

*Approximate measurements to taste

Cucumbers

Tomatoes

Red onion

Italian dressing

Salt and pepper

Chop vegetables and mix together well with dressing, salt and pepper. Chill in refrigerator to let flavors set in. Serve chilled or room temp.

CREAM CHEESE CRESCENTS

Contributed by: Laura

2 cans of Pillbury crescent rolls

2 - 8 oz blocks of cream cheese, softened

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

1/4 cup butter, melted

Cinnamon

Sugar

Preheat oven to 350F. Unroll and spread 1 can of crescent rolls in the bottom of a 9x13 in. baking dish. Combined cream cheese, 1 cup of sugar, and vanilla. Spread over crescent roll layer. Unroll the other can of crescent rolls and layer over the cream cheese layer. Melt the butter and pour over the crescent roll. Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon. Bake 20-30 minutes on 350 until bubbly and slightly brown. 

PEPPER JELLY DIP

Contributed by: Mallory (borrowed from Mindy)

1 jar pepper jelly (I used red)

1 - 8 oz block cream cheese, softened

1 cup extra sharp cheddar cheese

1 egg

Bacon bits

Chips or crackers for serving

Preheat oven to 350F. Mix half jar of pepper jelly with cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and egg. Bake at 350F for 20 minutes (I like to stir it up about halfway through to mix the cheddar cheese in). Let it set for approx. 5 minutes then top with remaining pepper jelly and bacon bits. Serve warm.

DUMP POUND CAKE

Contributed by: Julie

4 cups all purpose flour

3 cups sugar

1 lb butter (room temp)

6 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 325F. Mix all ingredients together and bake in a greased bundt pan on 325 for 90 minutes.

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Tonight, I leave you with two things:

1. The sweetest picture of my niece holding my new nephew. Aren't they just the cutest?

2. The Word of God.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance." James 1:2-3

Thank you Lord for your many blessings, and thank you that in the midst of our trials and temptations, you are there with us through it all. And that from it, comes perseverance, as your Word so graciously promises. We love you and praise you through the storms and in our weakest moments. Thank you for never leaving nor forsaking us. In your name, Amen.

WEEK FOUR: SWEET TREATS!

We ended our last week's meeting with ministering to the homeless. This week, our outreach focus is on the elders of our church. I mentioned in my last blog about my Paw Paw passing away recently. Later in life (I use that term loosely since I'm only 28...and I specifically mean college and beyond...), I had become very close with my grandparents and learned so much from them when they were alive. I'm continuing to learn from them in their death. As I was digging through boxes of old photos and the like, I came across various emails, letters, and other correspondence where my Grandmother was sharing what God was doing in her life.

Pauline Williford Dodson's Testimony

Anyway...I digress...my point is, we have a lot to learn from the elders in our church, so we should be more aware of the way we interact with them and treat them. Often times they may not physically be able to come to church every Sunday, or get the words out that they want to say. That is all the more reason that WE should be reaching out to THEM, and showing how much we love them!

Our Tis So Sweet group certainly has a heart for this sweet group of men and women. We decided to bake goodies for the Joy Club and deliver them to the Young at Heart Sunday School class. A big thank you to all the ladies who baked these yummy treats!

We had an assortment of: brownies, chocolate chip cookies, white chocolate chip macadamia nut cookies, and of course soft mints to finish it all off!!

We saran-wrapped the brownies and cookies separately, then packed them in individual Ziploc baggies...

Attached these cute little labels...

And packed them up for Sunday morning!

The Young at Heart class loved them! Check out these precious smiling faces :)

And here is the sweet "thank you" note we received:

Well, that sums up our Sunday morning...

Sunday night, we had a small crowd due to some out-of-towners and other conflicts. Nonetheless, we had an AWESOME time kicking back and enjoying some great food and even better company. I can't say enough how much I absolutely love and adore each one of these ladies (and their families) and I feel so blessed to get to hang out with these precious people every week! 

L to R: Lauren, Belinda & Alison. Btw - seriously - no filter...even my camera phone captures their glow ;)

Here are the yummy recipes this week!

BUBBLE PIZZA

Contributed by: Belinda

1 1/2 lb ground beef

1 can (15 oz) pizza sauce

2 tubes (12 oz each) refrigerated buttermilk biscuits

1 1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1 cup (4 oz) shredded cheddar cheese

Additional toppings of choice, optional

Preheat oven to 400F. In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink and drain. Stir in pizza sauce. Cut each biscuit into quarters; place in a greased 9x13 in. baking dish. Top with beef mixture. Bake, uncovered, at 400F for 20 minutes. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake 5-10 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.

**NOTE: You can easily play around with this recipe by making the pizza of your choice. You can choose a different sauce base such as ranch, or different toppings like pepperoni, chicken, veggies...the possibilities are endless!

NO BAKE CHEWY COOKIES AND CREAM BARS

Contributed by: Lauren

1 - 16 oz pkg of Oreos

5 cups large marshmallows

4 tbsp butter

Place Oreos in food processor and pulse until ground. Melt marshmallows and butter in microwave until puffed, approx. 1 1/2 to 2 minutes. Remove and pour in ground Oreos. Stir to combine then transfer to a foil lined 8x8 in. baking pan. Let set up for 10 minutes. Remove bars out of pan with edges of foil and cut into squares.

BBQ PORK SLIDERS (CROCKPOT)

Contributed by: Mallory

1 pkg Hormel onion garlic boneless pork roast (24 oz)

1 - 18 oz bottle Sweet Baby Ray's barbeque sauce

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/2 vidalia onion, quartered

2 tsp onion powder

2 tsp garlic powder

Salt and pepper to taste

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 - 12 pack King's Hawaiian sweet dinner rolls

Pickles, Wickles, or slaw for topping (optional)

In a crockpot, mix together BBQ sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Add onion slices to mixture. Place pork roast in the crockpot and, using a spoon, pour some of the sauce mixture over the roast. Cook on low 8 hours or high 4 hours. Remove roast and pull apart. Add shredded pork to sauce to coat. Bake rolls for approx. 5 minutes according to package in order to crisp them up. Take a bread knife and slice the whole sheet of rolls in half (top and bottom halves for sandwiches). Spoon the sauce mixture on the top and bottom layers. Add the shredded pork and (optional) top with slaw, pickles, or Wickles -- or you could serve these on the side. Spread a couple of spoonfuls of sauce mixture on top layer of rolls desired, then put the top layer back on and cut into individual sandwich servings using bread knife. Serve warm.

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I leave you tonight with two things:

1. A picture of my Buddy

2. The Word of God

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

Heavenly Father, you knew me and my inner most being even before I was created. You gave me eternal life, power, love, and a sound mind when I asked you into my heart and you so graciously saved me from my sin. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In times of weakness and stress, help me to remember that your spirit lives inside me and through your power, I can overcome fear, worry, and anxiety. In your name, Amen.

WEEK THREE: HOMELESS OUTREACH

Week three already?!? I guess the saying is true...time flies when you're having fun! I feel so blessed to be a part of this group of ladies. They are so awesome and we have such a good time each week sharing our stories, thoughts, laughs, and delicious recipes!

So of course we started out with Brandi cracking us up with her stories  ;)

Then we dug in and sampled all of the delicious recipes of the week (which I will get to shortly...I promise!)

After we all ate (and may or may not have gone back for seconds...ahem...guilty!), and had nice time discussing what all was going on in our lives, prayer requests, etc. as we usually do, we created an assembly line for our homeless ministry project this week. We were so excited to get this project going!

L to R: Julie, Lauren, Lindsey, Brandi, Laura, Cynthia, and Alison

As you may remember from last week's post, these awesome ladies gathered up gallon ziploc bags, bottled water, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and food items (specifically, potted meat, vienna sausages, peanut butter crackers, and Slim Jim's). The church had run out of gospel tracts, so instead, we decided to create our own note to include in each packet. 

You may not be able to read the text in the picture, so here it is (bear with me...it's a little wordy...but we had a lot of good info to share!)

Hello friend!

I may not know your situation, but I do know that I love you and I want to help you. Each item in this bag was prayed over, but most importantly, I prayed for you as the recipient of this bag. I prayed for your heart that you may receive and accept what I’m about to tell you. Heaven and hell are real. God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit are real. I know this because I have accepted this and the Holy Spirit lives inside me. I talk with God and He speaks to my heart. The events outlined in the Bible are historically accurate and the details of Jesus Christ’s life on Earth was predicted thousands of years before it happened. God sent His only son, Jesus, down to Earth to take on the form of man. Jesus freely stepped off the throne of Heaven to do this for His father and for you and me because He loves us that much. Jesus performed many miracles and was 100% sinless, although He encountered the same temptations that you and I struggle with every day. Yet, some people did not agree with what He was doing and they punished Him, undeservedly, by beating, mocking, torturing, and finally crucifying Him to death. This was a death that He willingly endured for you and for me. You see, friend, God is so perfect, and so Holy, that He cannot be in the presence of sin. Our sins have been atoned for by the blood of Jesus. The Bible says that God so loved the world, that He gave His only son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but will have everlasting life! And Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” The Bible also says that by grace, we are saved through faith. This is a gift from God, not by works, so that no one can boast. I have accepted this gift from God, the gift of salvation, and now I would like to share that with you. My sins have been washed clean – past, present, and future – and when I die one day, I know that my eternity will be spent in Heaven with my Savior, Jesus. I hope to see you there, too, friend. Here is how you can receive this gift – just simply talk to God and say: “God, I know I am a sinner. I am sorry for my sins and the life I have lived, and I ask for your forgiveness. I believe in Jesus and what He did on the cross for me, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. Lord, save me. Thank you for your unlimited grace. Thank you for dying for me and giving me eternal life. Amen.”

Your friend at Flint Hill Baptist Church in Bessemer

Before we started packing, we each took a minute to pray over each specific item that we were packing, and started our assembly line!

And after assembling 24 packets, this was the result!

We then prayed over the assembled products, asking God to prepare the hearts of those who would be receiving them. We prayed for the Lord to guide our steps and put us in the path of those who need to hear His word and be ministered to this week. This project was so much fun and I hope that it will be effective. We plan to do another homeless outreach ministry in the weeks to come, so stay tuned!

And now I present...the recipes of the week!

GARLIC PARMESAN CHEESE DIP

Contributed by: Brandi

1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp garlic powder

Pita chips or Triscuits for serving

Mix cream cheese, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder thoroughly until well combined. Serve immediately or let chill for a few hours to let flavors set in. Serve with your favorite crackers.

APPLE CRUNCH

Contributed by: Lauren

1.5 - 2 sticks butter

Small can crushed pineapple (optional)

2 cans apple pie filling

1 box yellow cake mix

Chopped pecans for topping

Preheat oven to 350F. Rub bottom and sides of 9x13 in. casserole dish with butter. Spread small can of crushed pineapple in bottom of dish (optional). Spread 2 cans apple pie filling on top of pineapple. Sprinkle 1 box yellow cake mix on top of apple filling. Melt 1.5 to 2 sticks butter and pour melted butter over top of cake mix. Bake at 350F for 30 minutes, then top with chopped pecans and bake 30 more minutes, or until golden brown. NOTE: Great with blueberries as well.

MAPLE SAUSAGE PANCAKE MUFFINS

Contributed by: Lindsey

2 cups pancake mix

1 lb. Jimmy Dean maple flavored sausage

1/2 cup maple syrup

Preheat oven to 350F. Brown and drain sausage. Grease a muffin pan and mix batter, sausage, and syrup together. Pour into muffin tins and bake at 350F for approx. 12-18 minutes. NOTE: You can refrigerate or freeze for a quick "pop in the microwave" breakfast on the go!

SYMPHONY BROWNIES

Contributed by: Mallory

1 box Duncan Hines milk chocolate brownies

3 eggs

1/4 cup water

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 large Hershey's Symphony bars

Preheat oven to 350F for metal pan or 325F for dark or non-stick pan. Make brownie batter mix according to directions on the box (using the "cake like brownie" instructions). Grease a 9x13" dish and pour 1/2 batter into dish. Spread with a spoon to cover the entire bottom of the pan. Layer the two Symphony bars across the batter. Pour remaining batter over the bars and spread with a spoon. Bake according to package directions. Let cool completely and enjoy!

CHILI CHEESE DIP

Contributed by: Alison

1 - 8 oz pkg cream cheese, softened

15 oz can Hormel chili

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Fritos scoops for serving

Evenly spread the softened cream cheese into the bottom of an ungreased glass pie dish pan or other round baking dish. Spread chili over the cream cheese. Top with shredded cheddar cheese. Microwave for 4 minutes. Check to see if the cheese is melted and microwave another 1-2 minutes until the cheese is completely melted. Serve warm with Fritos.

COWBOY CRACK (a.k.a. HOT CORN DIP)

Contributed by: Cynthia

2 - 8 oz pkgs cream cheese, softened

1 can Rotel

1 can shoe peg corn

1 can Mexicorn or southwest corn

Fritos scoops

Drain Rotel and corn. Mix well with cream cheese. Microwave in 1 minute intervals until blended. Serve warm with Fritos.

SAUSAGE BALLS

Contributed by: Laura

3 1/2 cups Bisquick

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

1 lb. sausage

Preheat oven to 375F. Mix all ingredients together well and form into balls. Place sausage balls onto greased baking sheet and bake at 375F for approx. 20 minutes or until crispy on both sides.

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Tonight, I leave you with two things:

1. A picture of my adorable grandparents when they were young lovebirds. My precious Paw Paw passed away this past weekend. I miss him dearly, but I'm thankful that I have assured comfort that I will see him (and my sweet Grandmother) again one day.

2. The Word of God.

"...Many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body." Philippians 3:18-21

Lord, I thank you for the hearts of these ladies who have blessed me beyond measure with their kind words and actions. I pray that you will continue to guide us in our ministry efforts and prepare the hearts of those who will receive our assembled packets over the next weeks. I also thank you for the Christ-like example set by my grandparents in the life that they lived here on this earth. Thank you for the sacrifice made by your Son. It is because of this amazing sacrifice that I can say 'Where, O death, is your sting?' Thanks be to you, God, for you have given us the VICTORY over death through your son Jesus Christ! In your name, Amen.