Happy Fourth!

 (Comments turned off for today. Enjoy your day!)

Cooking Thursday

Today's recipe is one I got from my sister.  This is for Stromboli, and I've posted similar recipes with crescent roll dough, but this one is made with frozen pizza dough that you can buy, which changes it a bit.  It's full of gooey cheese, meat and a nice pizza crust on the outside. Plus, you can change it up to fit what your family likes!

Easy Stromboli

1 ball of frozen pizza dough, thawed
3 tablespoons butter melted, divided
1 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, divided
1 1/2 cups mozzarella, shredded
Toppings of your choice - ham, pepperoni, sausage, green pepper...
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons shredded parmesan cheese
Marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Roll out pizza dough into a rectangle about 12" x 14" inches.
In a small bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon melted butter and 1 teaspoon garlic powder. Brush over entire surface of the dough.
Sprinkle 1/2 cup of mozzarella over dough leaving 1 inch border on one long edge and both short edges.  Layer one of the toppings over the cheese, then sprinkle another 1/2 cup of cheese over top. Spread remaining toppings over all and finish with the rest of the cheese.
Beat the egg in a small bowl and brush it on the exposed edges.
Starting on the long edge without the edge wash, roll the stromboli tightly in jelly roll style. Pinch the seam to seal and fold edges under.
Combine remaining 2 tablespoons melted butter with 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder and parmesan cheese. Brush over top of stromboli.
Use serrated knife to make shallow diagonal cuts about 2 inches apart along the top.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until top is golden brown.
Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes, then slice and serve with warmed marinara sauce or ranch for dipping.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Baby Shower Time

Last week was a busy one!  After VBS all week, a few of us had a baby shower for our Pastors wife, Hannah, on Saturday.  It was a lot of fun, and I thought I'd show you a few pictures of how it went.

Here's a few of the decorations:

My daughter Laura is gifted at flower arrangements and did this cute little arrangement in a vintage baby girl planter for Hannah's table.

I found this sign on Etsy. You could personalize it and then print it out yourself.

I found pink gauze runners on Amazon, borrowed these wooden bead strings from Laura and then put little vases with pink roses on the tables.  We had some pink heart balloons scattered around too.  It looked cute and girly!  (This is baby number six and a girl after 5 boys!)

This was a really cute idea for a baby shower.  We bought some newborn diapers and sharpie markers.  The sign says:

Late night diapers must be done,
but here's a way to make it more fun.
A word of encouragement, a giggle or two,
Give the new parents a note just from you.
Pick up the diaper and write on the booty,
Something to take their mind off the doody!

Here's Hannah with her mom and lots of gifts!

This is something I added with my gift.  I saw it on Pinterest and thought it was such a cute idea.
Take a tiny bud vase and type out this message, roll it up and put it in the vase:
"Motherhood is full of sweet, yet simple moments, like your little one finding and picking flowers for you! This tiny vase's purpose is to hold tiny flowers, delivered by tiny hands, picked just for you. Place in on your windowsill and remember just how much you are loved."

Here's one last photo - a shot of the whole group when the shower was done.  It was such a good time!

VBS

This past week we had VBS at our church. I worked there for a few days being the nurse.  They always have a nurse there just in case, but thankfully it usually only requires a hug and a bandaid!

I have to show you how great the decorations were.  We have some talented ladies that worked hard, and a few guys that helped build things. The theme was the Wild West this year.

This is what you see when you enter church.  These were the registration tables and the sign in/out tables.

Decor along the wall.

More wall decor.

Cute horses!

Wanted posters of our Pastor, church secretary and a few others.

Here's a gold mine passage that leads to the classrooms.

The railway to the front of church

There's even a train up front!

Cactus made of paper plates and toothpicks.

Here's Bob and a friend, neglecting security to have a photo op!

Having fun outside

"Lassoing" stuffed animals

And lots of good classes inside!

It was a good week!

Friday Funny

 

Cooking Thursday

Do you like Chinese food?  One of the things I like is Chinese Curry Chicken, but it's not readily available around here.  I found a recipe for it that sounded good, but changed it a little so it would be more like the curry I've gotten in the past.  It was really quite quick and easy to make and was very good!  

Chinese Curry Chicken

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin flat slices
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon corn starch
3 tablespoons canola or olive oil
1 tablespoon curry powder
2 carrots, peeled and cut into thin slivers
1 green pepper, cut into slices
1 small onion, cut into slices
1 teaspoon sesame oil
1 1/2 cups coconut milk (May also use regular white milk)
2 tablespoons corn starch
1/4 cup water
1 teaspoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon salt

Whisk together soy sauce with 1 tablespoon corn starch, then stir chicken into it and set aside.
Heat canola oil in heavy skillet, then stir in 1 tablespoon curry powder for about 5 seconds.  Add chicken with marinade and cook for about 3 minutes. 
Stir in carrots, green pepper and onion.  Cook for 4-5 minutes until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables begin to soften.
Whisk together the water and 2 tablespoons corn starch.
Heat milk in small saucepan until it just comes to a boil.  Use whisk to stir in the corn starch slurry and simmer until it thickens.  Whisk in the 1 teaspoon curry powder and salt.
Stir sauce into chicken and veggie mix.  Serve over rice.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Getting Patriotic!

I thought it was time to get a little patriotic decor up at my house as July 4th is right around the corner!  I love patriotic things and am always happy to put these out.

We always line our front walk with flags before Memorial Day and leave them up till mid July.

This year my friend Shug, from Steps of Faith showed how she popped little flags around her house and I decided to do the same, starting with this planter on the front porch.

This is our dining room wall.  I added a few stars and a little sign that says "land that I love."

And here's a few more flags added to the table.

On this little side table in the living, I have this standing clip board that I clip different things on for different seasons.

This shelf is over the couch.  More flags!

Last but not least - this carving Bob did several years ago.  It's one of my favorites and it sits out all the time, but it gets special notice this time of year. 

Thanks Shug, for the flag idea!

A visit to the Children's Garden

I've shared with you several times about visits we've made to Frederick Meijer Botanical and Sculpture Gardens in Grand Rapids.  It has incredible sculptures and a variety of gardens.  One thing I haven't shared with you is the Children's Garden.
Last week, we took Cassie there.  Such a fun place!

Here she is at the entrance to this section.

It has a cute little door, just for kids!

There were fun things to find as we walked the trails, like this telephone tube.  Cassie talked into it and a little ways away, Bob was talking back to her.

There was a maze to walk through.

There were drums to play.

And more fun statues.

Cute little houses to check out...

elevated walkways...

forts to climb in...

Swinging bridges...

and everywhere there were cement paths, they had animal footprints in them.

But according to Cassie, the very best was this big water feature!

Thankfully, we had a change of clothes along because she was soaked when we got done!

Cassie had a great time, and so did Grandpa and Grandma!

Our last stop of the day was for lunch.  And then we all went home and rested!

Friday Funny