TJ's EASY Fig-gy Spice Cake

I've been trying to come up with creative ways to use up the things I have on hand in the pantry and in my freezer rather than going out and buying new items. I like to buy in bulk when the staples I normally use are on sale, but at times I forget to actually USE those items, forgoing them for something easier and quicker to prepare. It's not always easy for me, but when I do manage to come up with something yummy to make with the things I've stored away, well...I feel sooo accomplished!

When we acquired our home, we inherited the former owners pear and fig trees. Last summer, after sharing some figs with the beautiful birds in our area, I put away a good amount in the freezer. Today I actually put some of them to delicious use by adding them to a boxed spice cake I had on the pantry shelf and some buttermilk I had frozen.

TJ's EASY Fig-gy Spice Cake

You will need:

1 box spice cake mix

1/3 c. butter

1 1/3 c. buttermilk

3 eggs

13 oz. fresh figs, chopped roughly

walnuts (optional)

cinnamon sugar

Preheat oven to the temperature on the cake mix box. Spray a baking pan (I used a bundt pan) with cooking spray and coat the pan with a mixture of cinnamon & sugar (you can buy it premade in the spice aisle of your grocery store but I like to live dangerously and make my own). Put the cake mix into a medium sized mixing bowl and add the next three ingredients. Mix ingredients with a whisk then add your figs (and walnuts if you are adding them). stir them in gently until well combined. Pour all the batter into your baking pan and place in the oven. Check the back of the cake mix box and see how long you should cook your cake for the pan you have chosen. You will know the cake is done when a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean No ooey gooey stuff on it ;)

Let cool in pan for 15 minutes and then invert onto plate or just cut it up in the pan. Enjoy!

The ingredients
I always crack my eggs into a small bowl before adding them to my recipes to be sure no shell has worked it's way in

Mix by hand with a whisk.

Don't even pull out an electric mixer, this is supposed to be easy, remember?

Figs ready for chopping on my sweet piggy chopping board that my mama gave me years ago.

Chopped & ready to go.

I mixed the figs in with the whisk too. One less dish to wash is always a good thing.

Batter poured in the prepared pan, ready to go into the nice warm oven.

YUM

Sunday Mornin'

I'm sitting here in the quiet of the sweetest time of day looking out my upstairs office window, watching a squirrel hunt and gather his delectable breakfast beneath the pines with their gently blowing boughs. I hear the doves call and savor the complete peace and tranquility that envelopes our neighborhood before the families begin to stir and ready themselves for church. Before the children begin to play and call out with pure delight and abandon.

And something about it all takes my thoughts back to our weekend at Mom & Dad's just a few short weeks ago...

Just as we arrived, a soft sprinkling of snow was falling...

We were giddy...(until panic struck when I thought I might have locked the keys in the monster! I didn't...whew!)

Ari & Grandpa...

The place where midnight campfires happen and tales are told...

Wishing well...

A lone bird fly high above the treetops...

The road to Gram's and a favorite walking path...

Father & son time...

One last quick hug before we part ways...

And time for me to get ready for church...I hear hubby stirring. Have a wonderful Sunday y'all!

Lazy Day Lentil Soup

We've been in a deep freeze here in Texas y'all.

So...being that it's chilly enough that I could get away with serving my husband soup (he doesn't like soup when it's not cold outside) and given the fact that, yesterday once again, I found myself with about two hours before dinnertime...and I'm totally unprepared, I begin to think...hmmm...(we're in dangerous waters here) hmmm...

Okay, well that didn't work. So, I figure I'll mosey on into the kitchen & see what I've got to work with. First, into the pantry...lentils!!! I've got lentils! They cook purty quick-as far as legumes go. And Lord KNOWS we've got ham and hambones leftover from the holidays hibernating in the freezer. And my trusty homemade chicken stock sleeping alongside the hambone. And fresh celery. And carrots.

I know! I know!!! (Teacher...teacher! Pick me! Can't you see my hand waving furiously over here?~~~Yes, I know I'm weird~my mind wanders...) Lentil soup!!! I'll make lentil soup!

And so I did.

And dinner was, once again saved by my...ahem...quick thinking.

In case you find yourself in a similar situation, why not try my recipe (and I use that term loosely):

Lazy Day Lentil Soup

2 c lentils

1 c celery

1 c carrots

4 c chicken broth

1/4-1/2 tsp. onion powder

3 garlic cloves

meaty ham bone

salt & pepper to taste

I dumped everything into the pot~frozen or not
Don't forget the hambone!

Place all ingredients into a large stockpot bring to boil then lower heat to a simmer. Cook approx. 1 1/2 hours. Keep an eye on it and when it becomes the consistency you like (I like it less watery but with the lentils still holding their shape). Check the lentils, carrots and celery for doneness just to be sure. Add some crackers, a dense multi grain bread or cornbread and...dig in! You will feel all warm & fuzzy inside!

Here's wishing you warm, fuzzy feelings!

Jesse's Christmas Pillowcase

I just had to share...

I was so proud...

I couldn't keep it to myself...

simple enough I know~but I had never made one before...and without a pattern...

then we had to force it on him...

notice where the pillow is (on the floor)...

I never thought I'd be one of those grand-ma'-ma' 's known for giving the crummy homemade gifts.

Oh well, time marches on...

and the tradition continues.

Bobo's Christmas Present

Bobo, our cat, wanted me to write about his gift from Santa since he loves it soooo much.Shneef shneef...



neeble...

hug...

leek, leek...

keesh, keesh...

neeble, neeble, hug...

prrrrrr.....

keesh, keesh, leek, hug...

zzzzz....

(ain't it just like a man?)

It's the Most Busiest Time of the Year!

I know that title isn't properly written. I heard a tune in my head. What can I say?

But it really is for us, as for many folks, a never ending celebration-fest from Thanksgiving through January 2.

To kick it off...Thanksgiving. Check.

Pre-Christmas fun & festivities. Check.

Christmas day fun & festivities. Check.

A little Girls Galleria Getaway for the fun of it. Check.

Our anniversary. Check.

New years eve (I can't hang at this point anymore...I am hearing lullabyes while safely wrapped in my cocoon-my silky eye mask and ear plugs). Check.

And then to round it out...hubby's birthday. (Why?...Why?...I've had enough already!!!)

But all's well that ends well. We're none the worse for wear (nothing a little "me time" won't cure anyway). Happy 2010!