Strawberry Cheesecake Pie Deliciousness

Our friends Paul and Melissa had us over (all of us: SO nice!) for dinner a couple of weeks ago.  We had a fantastic time getting to know them and their adorables.  We had an even more fantastic time eating the dessert that Melissa made.  It was so ridiculously good.  I asked her for the recipe pretty soon after, and she was nice enough to indulge me.  I made it that week - and again the following week.  I probably shouldn't make it this week.  You should make it, though -

you will not be disappointed.

At.  All.

Melissa's Strawberry Cheesecake Pie

Graham Cracker Pie Crust:
1 1/2 cups (or 1 package) finely ground graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup white sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted
 Melissa likes to leave the graham crackers a little chunky instead of grinding it into a powder.
Mix ingredients together and press into a pie plate.
Press just so it's formed in the pie plate.  If you press too much, it gets too hard and chewy.
Bake for 7-10 minutes at 350.
Let cool before spooning in cheesecake filling.

Cheesecake Filling:
1 block cream cheese
1 container cool whip
1/2 cup sugar
 
Strawberry Glaze:
1/2 cup mashed/pureed strawberries
1/2 cup sugar
1.5T cornstarch
3/8 cup water
sliced strawberries (for topping)
In a saucepan, combine sugar and cornstarch.
Stir in water and mashed berries.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Stir in food coloring if desired (I haven't either time).
Cook and stir 3 minutes more.
Cool in fridge.

Amazingness Combined:
 Spoon the cheesecake filling into the cooled pie crust.
Slice a bunch of strawberries and mix with the cooled glaze.
Top your pie with the glazed strawberries.
Enjoy the deliciousness you just created.
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Get Outta Here with All That Awesomeness

December 2012

What a fantastic way to start out our year:

January 19

Today my Radiologist/Oncologist called to let us know the results of my MRI on the Jan 14th 2013.  I have no new growth, and from what they could see only scar tissue is left - which is expected with how many 'shots' I got during my Sept 7th 2012 Gamma Knife surgery.  He will not need to see me for another 6 months.  I was declared cancer clear from the neck down on Sept 4th, 2012.  Now, I am cancer clear from the neck up - just in time to return to Honduras in a couple weeks.

GOD IS FAITHFUL...stage FOUR (aggressive breast cancer that metastases to an infested liver and later got secondary brain tumors).......to now........stage FREE...:D  Thank you for praying with Peter, Marissa, and me - through this part of our journey of growth.  What a blessing to be under the care and love of a Merciful Heavenly Father...Love you LORD...and thanks to so many family, friends, and caregiving staff that helped us get through this stage in our life....Investing in one another reaps sweet blessings in both the good and hard times. 

January 27

 I pray women going through cancer discover beauty through their journey.  I did and have - and I could not have done so without God, faithful prayer warriors from my family and friends, and sweet caregivers (....I used western medicine and a ton of lifestyle changes in diet, scheduling, time of stillness, sleep and laughter.).  We are each fearfully and wonderfully made and worth loving and fighting for - for there's a ton of beauty in who you are created to be.

 Many of you have been amazing about praying for my cousin, Maileen, and her journey with cancer.  I'll love you forever for that.  In just a few days - Peter, Maileen, and Marissa will be heading home to Honduras.  Would you pray for a smooth transition back for their family?  Much love from the bottom of our family's heart.  We are so thankful!

A Picky Girl's Favorite

Our oldest doesn't tend to eat a huge variety of food, but she certainly loves this meal - which isn't your typical tacos, spaghetti, or pizza kind of dinner.  My friend Amanda first introduced me to this recipe years ago.  She literally came over to our house one afternoon with all the ingredients, and I watched her cook - and then we ate.  It was lovely.

Chicken Lettuce Wraps
3 tablespoons vegetable oil

4 chicken breasts, cut into thin, 2-inch-long strips
2 tablespoons grill seasoning, recommended brand Montreal Seasoning by McCormick
1 green pepper, cut into thin, 2-inch-long strips
1 onion, chopped
3 large cloves garlic, chopped (adjust to your taste)
3/4 cup hoisin sauce
1/4 cup chicken stock
1 head iceberg lettuce

  

 Heat a large nonstick skillet over high heat with the vegetable oil.

Season the chicken with the grill seasoning.

Add the chicken pieces to your pan and stir while it cooks through.
Add the bell pepper, onion, garlic and continue to cook until the veggies are tender.

While that's cooking, combine the hoisin sauce and the chicken stock in a small bowl.
Add the liquid to your skillet and stir to fully coat the chicken and veggies.
Combine and transfer to a serving bowl (or you can leave it in the pan like we do).

To assemble the wraps, peel a leaf off of your lettuce and place a spoonful (or two or three) of the deliciousness in the center.
Wrap the leaf around the mixture and enjoy!

This recipe is adapted from Rachael Ray's Chicken Lettuce Wraps because

-I'm not a huge fan of water chestnuts.

-I use whatever kind of peppers we have on hand.  Last night we had green.

-who knows what drama would unfold if we had bean sprouts on the table.

-I sometimes have sesame seeds on hand, and when I do - do I want or have time to toast them?  Usually not.

Easy, delicious, and all our girls (and our boy) enjoy it - I should probably make it more often!

Let's Take Pictures All Day Long

If you're my friend on Facebook or follow me on Twitter, you probably think all I did today was take pictures of our two youngest daughters.  You may or may not be correct.  It's been an emotional time for me with our cousin (more like our brother) getting married to his beautiful bride, lots of quality time with family from all over the continent, and the anticipation of (and preparation for) Jesus's birthday next week.  With this year coming to an end in a few, short weeks - I'm starting to get all sentimental (once again) about our girls. Time just won't slow down for me - no matter how adamantly I insist that she does.

Those of you who have met Isabella know that she has quite the demeanor.

I like to say that she has a sparkling personality.

One might also call her loud, exuberant, and sassy.

Isabella spent nearly an hour cooking and doing a fashion show for me while I attempted to catch up on e-mails, etc. and fold our never-ending loads of laundry.  Since I had my phone (Happy Birthday to me from The Husband) by my side, I freely took a bazillion pictures:

Her little sister immediately followed suit.  Evangeline turned two last month, and it's not making me excited - at all.  She has now discovered the words mine and no and uses them freely much to my dismay.  I'm always amazed when our girls learn to talk and start to communicate - not so much when they do so in defiance or disobedience.  

Here's a fun little tidbit for you to look back on Miss Evangeline:

We made an impromptu visit to Lolo and Lola's house tonight while your daddy took Espy and Gianna to a youth event.  You decided it was a good idea to snatch a chip out of your sister's bowl.  When I told you to give it back, you thought you should smack that bowl and every chip out of it.  You were reprimanded and had to sit in my lap until you apologized to Isabella.  Your Lola tried to rescue you, but you wouldn't have it.  At the same time, you struggled between apologizing to your sister and standing your ground with the bowl-smacking.  Eventually (after many tears and "No, Mommy!"s) you said, "Sorry, Bella," and she forgave you in her sassy way.  Don't you worry, I corrected her  phrasing and tone - and everyone was happy at the end of the 12-minute ordeal.

To my 2 and 4 year olds, you may slow down with the growing up thing any time you'd like.

I Corinthians 13 - a Christmas Version

Photo by: D Sharon Pruitt

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls - but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime - but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity - but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir's cantata - but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.  Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.  Love is kind, though harried and tired.  Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.  Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.  Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.  Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust - but giving the gift of love will endure.

(source unknown)

The Original

Thankful (30)

Photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt

Thankful to the one who gives me all that I love the most.

Thankful for the unconditional gift of His love -

continually praying that I don't misrepresent it to others.

Thankful to the one who loves me in spite of me - always.

Forever thankful for my God.

Thankful (29)

It seems like we waited forever for this child when in reality she came three days before she was due.  Espy, Gianna, and Isabella each spoiled us by arriving around two weeks early.

  

I've told her story before, but that's ok:

Evangeline made her own way right from the start.  I was nauseous for several weeks - nothing like I had experienced before.  I was sure Evangeline was going to be a little boy when the whole family (minus Isabella) went to her 20 week ultrasound.  Instead, we found out we were going to have a sweet baby girl.  We also thought that Evangeline would arrive about two weeks early, just like her sisters.  We were wrong!  Evangeline's due date was December 2nd.  We went to the hospital November 26th and got sent home because I was only dilated 3cm and wasn't in active labor.

Boo.

Early monday morning, November 29th - I started having STRONG contractions around 4:15am.

I was in the front room, and PaPa could hear me crying from the bedroom
where he and NeNe were sleeping.

  They were definitely stronger than any of the contractions I had when I went into active labor with our first three daughters.  They got stronger and came closer together more quickly than with Espy, Gianna, and Isabella.  Bill and I both showered, got our things together, and headed to the hospital around 6:30am.  I was 5cm in triage, and they transferred us to a room.  At that point, things continued to progress quickly.  I was ready to push around 11:30am.  My water broke, and they called the doctor.  One strong contraction and one strong push later, Evangeline was here at 12:04pm.  This pregnancy was by far the most difficult for me physically, emotionally, and mentally - but when it came to labor and delivery, it was the quickest and easiest of all four (with my trusty, ever-present epidural!). Bill and I were so thankful for such an awesome delivery.  All the waiting and false labor was worth it once we saw Evangeline!

In Greek, Evangeline means, "like an angel."  McRae is a name that Bill discovered and liked.  Bill and I knew it was the one when we found out it means "son of grace" from the Scottish name MacRae.

 

 

Extremely thankful for our Evangeline McRae.