How It All Began

I'm a very family oriented person, and there's nothing more important to me than my family. I'm a scrapbook enthusiast, and I've created many detailed scrapbooks for my children.  I love recording special moments and memories.  Any craft can become quite costly, so I decided I'd give Etsy a try.  My friend, Ruth, and I decided that personalized altered  journals would be a perfect item to encourage others to record their special memories.  We joined journals and scrapbooking to create altered journals.  You will find many types of journals in our shop, Java Girls, for children, brides, moms, wives, etc.  We make each one special and personal. So, behind each journal, guestbook, or sketchbook is an artist with a passion for life, family, and love.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5YKQZMJF_Q

Binky's Fudge

Well, I received my fudge, and it is so delicious.  I'm very happy, Binky, and I'll be back again!  MMMMMMMM!!!!!

Binky's Fudge - Featured Seller

Today I'm going to blog about an Etsy seller I discovered, Binky's Fudge.  I've read her reviews, which are 100% positive, and after seeing numerous Binky's Fudge posts on my Facebook page, I gave into temptation and placed an order for Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge!  I'm anxiously awaiting it's arrival.....guaranteed 2 day delivery!  I'm going to let you all know how it is, and from what I've read from her previous customers, it's going to be heavenly.  Here's what she has to say about herself:


"Hello,my nickname is "Binky"..always has been and always will be! Its a kinda silly name but it was given to me as a baby and it just stuck with me.

I am a happily married mother of 5. I like to consider myself as an "Italian Domestic Goddess"..I love to cook & create beautiful crafty things. I make all of my fudge the old fashioned way...by scratch..no or artificial ingredients are used!

*All of my fudge is made in a Fully Licensed & Inspected Kitchen. "

Have a wonderful day everyone!  Javamamacooker

Stocking Stuffer Giveaway! Mini Note Cards

Mini Note Cards Giveaway!

Here's your opportunity to win our giveaway prize, 
Mini Note Cards by Java Girls.  Simply follow this blog, leave a comment AND become a Facebook

fan of Java Girls.  Winner will be announced on

December 1, 2010.

  

Coffee Chat

There's just something special about sitting down with a dear friend and chatting over a cup of hot coffee.   It's been said that women need to speak 20,000 to 30,000 words a day.  So, this morning I spoke a portion of my 30,000 words chatting with my Etsy partner, Renee, aka, Java Girl! :)  Sharing burdens, laughing, praying and listening, of course.  What a great way to start my day. Thank God for special friends.  Love ya, girlfriend.

Becoming a Grandparent!

I'm filling in for Renee, so I just thought I'd blog about what I'm bursting to tell the world! I'm just weeks away from becoming a grandmother, and I can't wait.  Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. KJV James 1:17  After raising four children, my husband and I realize that this monumental responsibility has only been accomplished by the grace of God. Phew!!  And now, what a joy to be anticipating the birth of our first grandson, Gavin Michael, in December, and another grandchild in January.  I loved being a mother, and I'm told there's nothing like being a grandparent.  In a sense, our parenting task is still not complete, as now we get to "parent" in a "grand" way!  Giving lots of love, hugs, kisses, and prayers, and living a godly life that points our grandchildren to the Lord!  So, fellow grandparents, we're joining the ranks, and God's grace abounds!

Counting Our Blessings

We're all tested from time to time with difficult trials that seem to bury us in a sea of despair.  It is during these times that God has the opportunity to demonstrate His  power, love, provision and sustaining grace.  When tested beyond what we feel we can bear, it is the the act of counting our blessings and focusing on the love of Christ and exercising our faith in Him that will carry us through.  Our pastor delivered a very encouraging message last night at prayer meeting about faith.  We must trust in the person of Christ, the power of Christ, the provision of Christ, the purpose of Christ and the path of Christ. We don't understand all things, but God does.  Look around and see all the blessings he continues to bestow even when the sea billows roll.  Thank you, God, for my family, friends, health, church family, home................the blessings are too numerous to list.  God is good......all the time!

Friends

I'm sorry I have been MIA for the last couple of weeks. It's been a little crazy here and a little busy with JavaGirls, which is a very good thing, and my body is deciding to take a break, even if I don't want to myself. I'm going for some tests and meeting some new doctors, and trusting the Lord in it all. As I sat down tonight to write, I got a IM from a childhood friend. Her dad is in the hospital and is not doing well. Their family is going through a deep valley right now, yet I know they will not walk it alone. They have a faith in Jesus Christ and they have friends. This wondereful man and his wife were my parents best friends. They were the kind of friends that you knew you could count on. They were the kind of friends that could just show up at your door and you were thrilled to see. They were the kind of friends that all you had to do was put on a pot of coffee, and you sat and talked for hours! They were the kind of friends that you had such a good time with that you laughed and smiled all the way home thinking of the things that were said. They were the kind of friends that you missed so much when they were gone, but you were so glad that you had known them. These kind of friends only come along once in a while in life. I think they are special gifts straight from Heaven and God Himself. They teach us so much and nourish our souls. They refresh us everytime we are together. They are special.
So, please pray for "Odie" . That is not his official name, but it's the name that his close friends called him. He was "Mr. Odie" to all us kids, and we love him so.
If you have a friendship like this, call them up, have a cup of coffee, remember good times, enjoy a laugh or two, and count yourself blessed. Time and distance will never matter with these friends.
Until Next Time,
Mamacooker  

We're pleased to announce our giveaway Recipe Journal Winner!

Congratulations to Two Happy Stampers. We will be creating a custom altered Recipe Journal for http://www.etsy.com/shop/twohappystampers.  If you haven't visited their shop yet, be sure to check out their beautiful handmade cards.

My Journal Made The Front Page of Etsy

Okay, this may not be a huge deal, but it feels like a milestone for Ruth and me.  We just thought it would be fun to share it with our readers.  You can see the treasury in the left sidebar. Building our Java Girls Shop has been quite an adventure with its ups and downs.

We love what we do, and we feel that our product is special.  For example, Ruth's daughter ordered a custom personalized gift for a friend.  When her friend received it she said it made her cry, and "it was the best gift she'd ever received".  Here's a picture of the journal.   Front and back covers are filled with special moments of their friendship.  The flower represents where her friend once lived, the name on the cover is a special nickname that Ruth's daughter gave her.

As we continue our journey of creating special keepsakes, we hope in a small way we're bringing loved ones closer together.  Have a wonderful day followers and friends!  Javamama

Family Traditions

What are your family traditions?
We all have them. Some go deeper than other's. They get changed a little over the years and generations, but we keep them because they make us feel connected. They connect us to good memories, warm feelings and moments in time that you don't want to forget. They also bring to remembrance the love your family shared. We celebrate the good times and the momentous occasions to be remembered and cherished. We store it in the hard drive of our mind to be brought back year after year or even generation to generation. It becomes a trademark of our family. Something our children can count on, and they do! 
Our family is big on traditions. Sometimes to a fault. It's hard for us to accept change, but we have to sometimes. It runs deep for both my husband and me. We both grew up with a lot of traditions passed down. For example, this week is my husband's birthday. Though he likes a variety of cakes and ice cream, I can always count on him asking for yellow cake with chocolate frosting and chocolate chip ice cream. I asked last night, and he came out with the same answer. I don't think it would feel like his birthday without it! In his family of seven children your birthday celebration was special and you picked your favorite meal and your cake and ice cream. Tradition continues on!   
In the picture above you will notice the little boy with the red wagon. That is my brother, cute as can be, and he loved his little red wagon. He and his brother played forever with this wagon, hauling dirt, toys, and their pets all around. My father loved watching them so much that when he had his first grandson, you can guess what he bought for him!  Thus, the tradition of the little Red Wagon began. Each grandson, all four of them, received their red wagon from Pa-paw. My son, his last grandson, received his wagon only 6 month's before daddy passed away. Daddy was battling cancer.  A real bitter-sweet day for us all. We cried, hugged and cherished each moment of that day as daddy pulled him around the yard in his red wagon.

No surprise then, we have carried on this tradition in our family. The theme of the baby shower for our first grandson was "A Red Wagon Welcome" in honor of my daddy.  Jack just turned 3 earlier this year and will really enjoy his wagon this summer with his two baby brothers!  Yep, little did we know we would have three grandsons in a row! Now what? Well, we will have to be creative in the red wagon tradition. Thank the Lord they make all different kinds of wagons now. Grandson number two will be getting a  double seater for him and his baby brother, and then, we will have to get a third one as the baby gets older. These family traditions are still precious even though sometimes a challenge. I could not bear the thought of one grandson not getting his own wagon. So, it may get interesting if my daughter has more boys! We can have our own parade in the neighborhood in the summers to come! I can just imagine the look on my daddy's face if he could see them all now. He would love it.
So, enjoy your traditions. Start them now, if you haven't already. They bring you a lot of joy, a lot of memories, and a lot of security as your children remember the good things in life. God tells us in Philippians 4:8  to think on the things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, and of good report. This brings us a peace in this troubled world as we lean on Him.  
Till next time,
Mamacooker

Featured Seller ~ jYOUlry ~ Where the jewel is YOU!

This is our very first featured seller, jYOUlry.  You can view her shop at www.jyoulry.etsy.com to see her very special keepsake jewelry.  I felt an instant kindred spirit when I set eyes on her pieces of jewelry.  Family is the most special gift we have!  I've asked her to share a bit about herself and her work.  Here it is:

jYOUlry was created by a WAHM. Lisa is the mother of three boys and an interior designer, but when she and her family recently relocated to Panama, she had to close her firm in Florida and become a stay-at-home mom. While her kids keep her life very busy, she was in need of a creative outlet. Lisa was looking for something different, unique, something she could make but also sell. Years ago Lisa had bought a necklace with a photo pendant of her two older boys on it. When she was pregnant with the baby, she called about ordering a new one, but sadly they were no longer making them. It was then that the idea was born, “I’ll make one myself”, Lisa said. So she began her new business venture with the idea to replace the simple necklace she had. Though it didn't take long for the designer in her to shine through, and the custom designed collection of photo jewelry was born! Best of all, Lisa believes in low, affordable prices! “I wanted a product that was an amazing gift and still affordable in this economy.” You will find other comparable products online at double her prices. jYOUlry is a unique gift idea and each sterling silver piece is a keepsake. Your photo is reproduced and permanently sealed onto the charm or pendant of your choice, with a water and scratch resistant resin, giving your gift a beautiful glass-like finish, guaranteed to bring a smile to its recipient; but beware… sometimes you get tears too! Thank you, Lisa.  :)

Altered Composition Recipe Journal Giveaway - Ends April 30th

Enter my 3rd journal giveaway.  This time I'm giving away an altered composition Recipe Journal made by me, aka Java Girl @ http://www.javagirls.etsy.com/. Check out my shop to see a sample similar to what you'll win!!  It's perfect to hand write special family recipes and heartwarming dinnertime stories.  To see just how special it can become, read my blog post about my husband's grandmother's recipe journal. To enter simply follow this blog and comment on this giveaway.  It's that simple.Winner to be announced April 30th. 

Monday's "Mama, whatcha cookin?" Grandma's Shortcake!

Yesterday's Memories~Today's Treasures

Along with my mama, God has blessed my life

with many other wonderful women, two of which I will mention today. One is my mother-in-law, whom I admire, love greatly, and proudly call mom. She is the perfect mother-in law and someone I take lessons from for my role as mother in law. I can only hope to be as great to my sons in law as she is to me. She and dad raised 7 remarkable children. My husband is child number 2, and in my opinion, the best! Well, I can't help it, he is! I try to remember to personally thank Mom on Mother's Day for raising such a wonderful man for me. Mom and Dad are special because they have a tremendous ability to love their large family with the most unconditional, and yet equal, love. They have 7 children, 21 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. Their family is a testament to family love and loyalty. Years ago Mom gave me a cookbook that belonged to her mom. I was so honored to receive this. I had known Grandma. She too, was a wonderful lady. I had only been in the family a few years before she passed away, yet I had grown to love her so. This was a treasure to have her favorite recipes. It was a composition book from the early 1900's, filled with recipes,some poetry, and newspaper clippings. You can find her favorites by the pages with the most stains! This book became the inspiration for my composition Recipe Book and Journal which will be in this month's blog give-a-way. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=36292245 A great little book to write your family favorites and family stories involving food, cooking, and such. Someday we can pass these on to our daughters or daughter-in-laws, knowing they will cherish them as their treasures. Here's where you can enter a journal giveaway for an altered composition Recipe Journal. http://javamamacooker.blogspot.com/2010/04/altered-composition-recipe-journal.html

Till next time,
Mamacooker

I'd like to share a favorite from grandma's book that may come in handy with strawberry season just around the corner!

Grandma's Shortcake
1/2 c. sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1 egg
1 c. whole milk
2 c. flour
2 tsp baking powder

Cream sugar, butter and egg until smooth and creamy. Combine flour and baking powder together. Gently add flour mixture alternately with the milk until all is mixed in. Do not over mix.
Drop by spoonfuls of desired size onto ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake at 375 for 12-15 min. or until lightly browned. Cool, slice and fill with fresh berries and whipped cream. Yum yum!

Congratulations to our giveaway winner!

Congratulations to www.trixieFishStabber.etsy.com! She is the winner of our recent journal giveaway contest. Thanks to all who entered. We appreciate all of our followers. Be watching for our next journal giveaway.

Monday, Mama whatcha cookin?

Faith, Family, Friends and Chicken Pot Pie, that's what's cookin today!

I say this because I could not have one of these without the other today. Years ago, I received this recipe from my dear friend who happens to be the other half of Java Girls! It came from a member of her family. It is a very good and simple recipe for chicken pot pie and it always seems to be the perfect comfort food. I make it for my family quite often. I am always rewarded with lots of raves and kudos for a great dinner when I make this. That makes me happy. I also like to make this to take to someone in need, which is what I'm doing today! I will make two, one for my family, and the other one is going to a sweet young "mommy to be" that has been on bed rest most of her pregnancy. What is supposed to be the most joyful time has been the hardest time for this young mother to be. Pregnancy has it's ups and downs anyway, but most of us make it through with some really fun memories of going on with our life during the nine months. Not for this mommy! So, as her friend I have the privilege of helping her.

As I prepare this pot pie, I can think of this new mom and pray, knowing how hard it is to endure discomfort herself for the sake of letting her baby grow. I can encourage her that it will come to an end. Though I do remember thinking myself during my first pregnancy "This baby will never come out!" Mine did, and so will hers. Soon she will be holding her own sweet baby, and all this will be in the past. Also, I can make this dish with extra love and appreciation because it was my friend who shared this family recipe. It has blessed our family and many other's as well. I can increase my own faith and this new mom's in knowing that no matter what goes on in the world today, or what we face, we have faith in God, family, friends and yummy chicken pot pie for dinner!
Till next time,
Mamacooker

A great place to keep your prayer list or just journal about your faith, family and friends is in this beautiful journal we just listed this month in our shop. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=43470670

Chicken Pot Pie

1 recipe of double layer pie crust/or 1 box Pillsbury pie crust.

1 16 oz. pkg. frozen vegetables(peas/carrot or mixed)

1 can Campbell's cream of chicken soup

milk (approx 5 oz)

1 1/2 to 2 cups cooked cubed chicken breast
Pre-heat oven to 375.

Cook vegetables according to package directions, drain and set aside. Place bottom layer of crust in 8-9 inch pie plate. Mix together drained vegetables, cream of chicken soup, using soup can, half can of milk, and cooked/cubed chicken. Pour into crust. Cover with top crust. Using knife, make 4-5 small slits in center of pie crust to allow steam to escape.

Bake at 375 for 30-45 minutes or until crust is golden brown.

Crust Recipe:

2 c. sifted flour

1tsp. salt

2/3 c. Crisco shortening

5-7 Tbsp. cold water

Sift together flour and salt. Cut in shortening with pastry blender. Sprinkle 1 tbsp water over mixture. Toss with fork. Repeat until all water is used. divide dough into two balls and roll out on floured covered surface. Makes two crust, for top and bottom.

A Sweet Love Story

This week marks the anniversary of mama and daddy's

wedding. It will be 62 years ago that they said "I Do"

to each other. They had such a sweet and humble start.

Daddy was living in Arkansas with his sister and her

family at the time. He and a friend began going to a little

country church in town, and that is where they met my mama and her sister. They double dated, went to church together, and eventually both couples married. Mama and Daddy had a simple little wedding. They didn't even get any photos.They were married in the preacher's house. Her dad and my dad's brother-in-law were their witnesses. Her mom and the rest of the family stayed home to prepare a big meal to celebrate. After the meal, they boarded a bus with all their belongings, which were not a lot. A few gifts from family, some seeds to start a garden, a little money from her dad, and a whole lot of love. They moved to Mississippi. That was where my dad was from. It was there they started their life together, a farmer and his bride. They worked hard, very hard. They worked side by side through it all. She was his help meet. Mama helped with the farming in any way she could. In the early years she chopped weeds, picked cotton, planted her own garden, canned, and did anything she could to provide for her family. Daddy worked from sun up till sun down. Making a living for his family while making a life was what he did. In the later years, daddy gained more farm equipment, and I can remember going to the fields to take daddy lunch, which was peas, or beans, in a quart jar and cornbread or biscuits, and a lot of iced tea, and of course, coffee. We would sit under a big shade tree and eat lunch with him while he took a break from plowing, picking or whatever he was doing. Home was a place of comfort and joy for all that came to visit. It was full of fun, laughter, good food, and a place to rest. We loved having relatives come. They were loved in their community as well. They shared whatever they had, be it tomatoes, corn, peas, or whatever. That's what you did back then. You worked hard, you helped your neighbor, and you loved your family. Through the years they gained family, friends, land, a home, and a happy life. They loved God, they loved their neighbors, and God blessed them. Simple and beautiful, just like God intended. So, when life gets you down, remember the simple things in life are the best. Less complicated with room for others and room for more love. It's a sweet way to let your love story grow.

Marriage is so much more than the wedding. It's the commitment to work together. It's commitment to building a life with someone that you choose to love. Through thick and thin, for better for worse, in sickness and in health. No matter how you start, what counts is how you finish. Daddy went home to Heaven almost 20 years ago. Mama has been amazing. She is still going strong, and if it wasn't for the arthritis, she would be running circles around all of us! Daddy would be proud of her. He would say "you're doing real good, Sugar".

Till next time,

Mamacooker

Monday's "Mama Whatcha Cookin?"

Yummy Cookies!


Don't you just want to reach in and take one?
Today, it's my daughter that is making my house smell sooooooo good! She is a third generation "Mama Cooker". The love for cooking comfort food and finding good recipes is going strong in this family. This makes my mama happy to see her granddaughters carry on the love of cooking, nurturing, and homemaking. You see, it's way more than just feeding food to our family and friends. It's showing love, expressing compassion, and just doing something nice for others. I remember mama cooking food for people all the time. Actually she still does! She is 82 and it never surprises me to hear her say she is making a pound cake for somebody. When it comes to mama, she will find a way to get food to someone. She mailed a Frozen Coconut cake (another family favorite) across the country for my daughter's birthday. My daughter had ask her to come visit and make her cake for her birthday that year. Mama couldn't come, so she mailed the cake instead! She brought frozen corn with her( in her luggage) when she came to be with my sister after her first baby was born. She wanted to make our family favorite Fried Corn, and it's best made with garden grown corn! You can't buy it. :) We had an egg farm at the time, and she said she would have brought eggs if she had thought they would make it. She didn't trust the guys throwing the luggage around! (Good thing!) Mama never ceases to amaze us. Maybe it's a "Southern" thing, but I don't think so. I think a lot of people all over this world feel and do the same as we do. Ministering to others in a time of need can be a real gift. We see in the Bible that Jesus saw it was good to feed the crowds that he ministered to and preached to. He fed 5000 with only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish! Maybe that's why our churches are always having food fellowships! It really is a way to minister to someone's inner soul and heart.

So, that is what my daughter is doing today and tomorrow. Her husband's family is moving across town to a new house. She offered to help by making tomorrow's meal for the family and friends that are helping. She is making a big pot of Sausage Potato Soup, Ham and Cheese BBQ Sandwiches, Muffins and her husband's favorite, Outrageous Chocolate Chip Cookies. As she planned her menu and grocery list, she asked my advice about how to make the soup and how much to make. I have to admit my heart was tweaked as I witnessed another generation of ministering through food growing. When she was little she and her sister would use their play kitchen set and play food and make meals and "take them to people". I would smile and be the sick or needy person for them and enjoy seeing them mimic their mommy. Today, I reap a reward of motherhood, seeing it happen for real. She and her older sister both love to minister in this way, and that makes me a happy mama too.

So, may I share with you this delicious recipe that we have made in our family for years. It came off the back of a bag of Gold Medal flour. The paper is yellowed and old, but it still makes a yummy cookie to sweeten the heart and soul.

Outrageous Chocolate Chip Cookies

1/2 c granulated sugar
1/3 c packed brown sugar
1/2 c (1 stick) margarine or butter softened
1/2 c peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 egg
1 c Gold Medal Flour :) any kind will do but I must give them credit for such a great recipe.
1/2 c oats
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Pre-heat oven to 350. Beat sugars, margarine or butter, peanut butter, vanilla and egg in medium bowl until creamy and well blended. Mix in flour, oats, baking soda and salt. Blend until all four is stirred in. Add chocolate chips.
Drop by rounded tablespoonfuls or with a scoop about 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 10-12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute before removing from tray.

Tip for good cookies. Don't over bake.
Yields about 2 dozen cookies. Enjoy!

Till next time,
Mamacooker

My Second Journal Giveaway! The Winner - Ms. T. Fishstabber

It's time for my second journal giveaway. This time I thought a bit of humor would be fun! Mom's Busy Taking a Break. We all feel like saying that every so often. To enter, simply COMMENT and FOLLOW. I look forward to hearing from you!

Winner to be announced March 31st.

Take the Time

This is a photo of my mama and me. I am so happy that I still have her, yet I write this blog with a heavy heart.
My dear sister-in-law lost her mother this week to a heartwrenching battle with Alzheimer's. It was so hard for their family to watch their mom slowly fade away, but I know that it must have been even harder to say that final goodbye. I cannot pretend to know what she is going through, but I know in my heart it cannot be easy. A mom is one that meets our every need when we are born, she teaches us, she care for us, and she sacrifices for us. She puts her own needs and wants aside for her child.
No matter how old we get, we are never truly ready to lose our mother. Who will we call when we have those questions only she can answer? We can't share the cute story of what our child or grandchild just said with her. We can't call her for that old favorite recipe. We will always think, she would have loved that. Life will have to go on without her, even though there will always be an empty place in the heart of her child.
So, make a call or visit, and spend some time with your mom today if you still have her. Cherish the moments you have. Listen to her speak, hear the wisdom in her voice, the experience of her life. Hold on to all that you can, while you can.
I'm going to call my mama again tomorrow. Just because she is there.

Till next time,
Mamacooker

Dedicated to Patricia Morrison
A loving wife, mother, grandmother, homemaker and crafter.
She will be greatly missed.

Monday's "Mama, Whatcha cookin?"

Bird Nest Treats

Hello Spring!
The birds are chirping early in the morning now. Spring is right around the corner, and I can't wait! Today's recipe inspiration came from a project that I helped with this afternoon.
Twice a month two other mothers and I teach a ministry class at the christian school that our children attend. The goal of this class is to inspire young upcoming adults to minister to others for no gain to themselves other than the blessing of knowing that they have brightened someone's day. This class is involved in a variety of things such as cleaning, setting up for events at the school, putting on luncheons, making treats or cards for the senior citizens, and also doing nice things for the younger classmates in the elementary. We want these young people to experience the joy and gratification that comes from doing for others, and they do! Seeing people smile and being surprised by something that you have made or done equally blesses both the receiver and the giver. It also bridges the gap between our teenagers and others, instilling a connection with both the elderly and the young. It has been a tremendous joy to work with these kids.

This week our project was just so cute and easy. It caused such spring fever that I just had to share it as Monday's recipe. They were yummy too. Maybe you will be inspired to make these with your children, and make a few extra to minister to someone in your life. Let your children feel the joy as they see the smile on the receipients face, and know that they have been a blessing to someone that day!


Bird Nest Treats

1 cup butterscotch chips, melted
1 can oriental noodles
jelly beans

Melt your butterscotch chips in the microwave or double boiler. Either is fine. If using microwave, be sure to melt at 1 minute intervals to assure the candy does not burn. Add entire can of noodles, stir until evenly coated. Scoop out by the spoonfuls onto wax paper, shaping into a nest shape. Gently press indentation in center to place jelly beans. Let them set until they are hardened and lose the shiny wet look. Store in airtight container or package for giving away!
We put them in cup cake paper cups, then placed them into small plastic bags and tied with a spring colored ribbon. They were all packaged and ready to give out. They were a hit!
(You may substitute any other chips, such as chocolate or peanut butter, and also, there are a variety of egg shaped candies to use this time of year. Enjoy making your own creations!)


We made and gave out 90 of these today. That's a lot of happy smiles!

Monday's Mama What 'Ya Cookin?

My first successful cornbread!

Old photo and a little blurry but,

proof I did it!

Cornbread is one of my favorites! So, today I am going to share with you a recipe for Mexican cornbread that mama has made for years. She didn't make this up, but she knew a good recipe when she saw it! This one was a hit. Her plain cornbread was to die for as well! I will have to share that one later. She makes cornbread the best way I know, in a cast iron skillet! Skillet cornbread will have a crispy outer crust and be very tasty. If you don't have one, it's worth it's weight in gold! They are also good for your health, by adding traces of iron into your diet. They even come pre-seasoned now which is a huge advantage. If you have one that is not seasoned, be patient. It will take a few times of use to get it there. Make sure to put plenty of vegetable oil (Safflower or corn is great) in the skillet the first time, put it in the oven on 350 degrees and let it heat for about 15 minutes. Take it out and drain most of the oil out, (you can reuse this oil) leaving a thin covering. Sprinkle lightly with a little dry cornmeal, then add your cornbread batter. This should help the bread not to stick, however, some new skillets take a few times of using to become seasoned. You will always add the oil, heat and dry cornmeal every time, yet using less oil than the first time. The idea is to build up a smooth coating on the inside of the skillet. One more bit of advice on your skillet is to never wash with soap. Remember they are like little boys. They love the water, but hate the soap! This will ensure proper seasoning and your food never tasting soapy!

This recipe became such a favorite to have with beans, chili, a mexican dish, or really just anything. You can adjust the "heat" by how much cayenne pepper you add. You can even add none, if you want no "heat". We like it both ways! I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

Mexican Cornbread

1 c. cornmeal

2 tbsp. flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
Cayenne pepper to taste
1 can cream style corn
1 c. milk
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Pre-heat oven to 350. Put skillet with oil in now, and it will be ready when your batter is mixed.

Mix together above ingredients in order as listed. Pour batter into heated, oiled, and dry cornmeal sprinkled skillet. Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 min. Run a knife around the edge of pan to loosen, and CAREFULLY invert onto a plate. The skillet is VERY HOT and will burn your skin if touched. Do not touch any part of the hot skillet. Hopefully, you will have a beautiful, round, crusty, and yummy cornbread for your dinner! If it sticks, don't be discouraged. It will still taste the same. Just keep making it and someday it will come our perfectly and you will cheer! I remember the first time mine did. I called my mama just to tell her! Enjoy, and let me know how you did!

You can make this in a regular pan or dish. I never have myself, but I'm guessing about a 9x9 size. My friend bought a skillet after trying it this way. She said it just wasn't the same.

Till next time,

mamacooker

Calling all Coffee Friends!

Wow! There are a lot of coffee friends out there! It is so nice to meet you! As I looked at the blog today and saw how many of you share that same love for that warm cup of jo that my friend and I share, it made me smile!

I think I inherited my love for coffee from my daddy. Mama liked coffee too, but daddy loved his coffee. He would drink it all day long, all year long. Even in the summer, he would say it help to cool him down to have a cup of coffee! I wasn't sure I understood that back then. I remember we had a funny coffee cup that said "Coffee Hound", and it was a huge cup. Also, he had a literal half cup. It looked like a cup cut in half vertically with a flat back. He would tease people by having mama serve it in that one if they only wanted a "half a cup". Coffee brought people together to talk in my house. Life stopped for just a little while to sip a cup of coffee, take a break and chat for awhile.

For me, I have taken coffee drinking to a new level! I can be found with multiple cups at once, as you can see from the photo. I get in such a tizzy that I forget that I already have one poured, and I will pour another! On this particular day, we were at a nail salon with the girls in the bridal party for my second daughter's wedding. We were there to have a relaxing morning getting our mani and pedi's done before the wedding rehearsal that night. We had spent the whole day before decorating, confirming plans, having family and guests arrive, and going in a million different directions, so when I got in the chair. it was all I could do to sit still, never mind relax. The lady doing the pedicure kept slapping my legs saying relax, relax! Well, with all the stress and all the caffeine that was running through me, relaxing was the last thing about to happen! I was going ninety miles a hour and afraid to stop. The wedding was not over yet!!!!! If I stopped it wouldn't happen, or so I thought!

I look back and laugh at this photo. The second cup was not mine this time. It actually belonged to the mother of the groom. Yet, it summed up the day(maybe I should say year) in a nutshell. Within the next 10 months of this photo, my friend and business partner in JavaGirls had all four of her children get married! I was not sure if that was good or bad. She survived, so I guess it was good! Also, I became nana to my second grandson and also learned grandson number three was on the way! Also, during this year I fell down a flight of stairs, suffering multiple soft tissue damage, which put me off my feet for four months and in PT all summer! My friend and I gained a lot of wisdom along with the gray hairs that year! We saw our children's lives, as well as our own, change that year. We cried, we laughed, we prayed, we trusted God, and we lived to tell about it! Funniest of all, we can tell you how long it takes to get to the next coffee shop from anywhere in town! Needless to say, we kept Starbucks and D&D in business that year! My sister kept us supplied with Starbuck's gift cards since she couldn't be there to help. Is that a sweet sister or what? God bless her! Those coffee stops made PT runs and wedding runs go a little smoother. Actually, a lot smoother.

Can we live without our coffee? Yeah, sometimes we can. It keeps us going some days, and it "cools us off" on others. Just like daddy said! Sitting down to pause for a minute with a warm cup is calming and yes, relaxing! I've learned to take the time to see what God has done, and what He will continue to do. For this is when "Java Girls" was born. I learned that if I stopped, the world could and would keep on going. So, remember to stop, enjoy your coffee, your family and your friends! It will all still be there when you get up. Sometimes with a new adventure!

Till Next Time,

"Java"mamacooker

The Truth About Being Mom...

...It's not all fun and games to the mom!

First of all, I only do this because my mama does not have a computer and can't see this photo. She would kill me! That's what she wanted to do to the teenager that took this picture and thought it was sooooo funny. Now, "mama's rear in the air" will be forever in the family photo album and now all over the world thanks to me and the www ! At least I have a reason for spreading it. There is a lesson to be learned from it.

When we bring those little darlings into this world, we just love them and enjoy all the warm and fuzzy feeling we have. We don't know all that is yet to come. It's a good thing. God allows us to be naive and blind to the future for a good reason. There are some things in life that we are better off not knowing until they hit. Being surprised can cause two reactions, one, we over-react and say and do things we shouldn't, or two, we are just stunned or don't even know it happened and are speechless. The later reaction gives us a chance to think about it and may be our saving grace. It's best this way because we can then have the right reaction after we think it through. God's timing can tame our reaction! Now, my mama would have never posed for that photo. She would have probably taken that camera and thrown it away. She was a true lady! At that time ladies didn't laugh at things like that. But, (no pun intended!), after the fact, when the film was developed weeks later, what could she do. Everyone else was having a good ole laugh at mama's expense, and after she got over wanting to strangle the kid that did it, she let it go and now we all have a good laugh over it, including her.

Life can hit moms with surprises sometimes. Some funny like this photo, some not so funny. It's not always a light hearted thing. Mom can often be the "butt" of the jokes, she can be mis-understood, un-appreciated, taken for granted, and sometimes it's not funny, it's very hurtful. This is especially true as your children get older. You know, during that time when they are so much smarter than you? When we give it time, we can have the right reaction. We take it in, see that it wasn't meant to hurt us and then react correctly. Our kids often don't think with adult minds. In fact, the Bible talks about it in I Corinthians 13:11, it says "When when I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child:". Wisdom comes from God and with age, and we are all still growing older and wiser everyday. Even our children.

So moms, when you're caught with your rear in the air and it's not funny, just take a minute to see what develops. It may not be as bad as you think. It may just mean that they saw things differently than you did. A little patience can go a long way in dealing with your family!

Still Cookin,

Mamacooker

P.S. I was just reminded that the other victim in this photo was my moms dear sister-in-law. She had to be dear to be out in that hot garden helping to pick peas, or butter beans. She was and still is one of the best! Sorry Aunt _ _ _ _! I just had to do it!

Journal Give-away!

Congratulations to Aestraea for being the winner of our journal giveaway. We will be having another giveaway in the near future, so be watching for it!
Of course, our first giveaway prize just had to be a coffee themed journal! (Please note - the Starbucks card is only an embellishment.) I, Javamamacooker, aka Renee, have my altered journals for sale in my etsy shop, javagirls.etsy.com. My business partner, Ruth, and I create custom and personalized altered keepsake journals.
Thanks for all those who decide to follow. I hope you'll enjoy my blog. Click here to visit our shop.

Inspirations for Moms

This is mama with her first baby. See the love in her. She was in her glory. I was reminded of this photo after I found such a nice blog today. It's called Nursery Love. You can find it at http://www.nurseryloveblog.blogspot.com/ From one mom to another this hit me right in the heart. This woman has a passion for her family, one of the greatest earthly gifts from God only second to our salvation. Strong families are a gift to this world. The next generation is in our hands, so it's up to us to give them what they need, to be the best they can be. I am reaping the blessings of my labor now. I'm still a mom to two children at home, two married daughters one of which has made me a NANA to three adorable grandsons! Double the fun and blessings of having your children! And no, I don't wish that I had them first! I wouldn't have been the same person I am now anyway. It is great being a mom, just even better being a nana! Like a double dip of ice cream is always better than a single! More sweetness, more love, more hugs and kisses! Someone once said to my daughter, my what a big task you have been entrusted with raising sons. Three men, for the next generation. That is a huge responsibility and challenge. Leaders, providers, father's of the next generation. I have faith in God and in them that they will do their job well. They have the Lord, they have each other, and they have God's Word. By the way, children do come with an instruction book. I look forward to the years ahead, watching them grow into little men. I feel the same for little girls. I'm am so blessed watching my daughter be a mom. What a reward. Also, my mama, ma-maw to my children and now grandchildren is reaping her blessings when talking to her great grandson almost every week. Jack loves to talk to "the ma-maw" and tell her what he has been up to. You see, she lives over 1200 miles away from Jack and he's only seen her once, but he adores her. His mom is doing something right!

So, I'm excited to meet more moms doing wonderful things and loving their children and husbands. I love this little give-a-way on Nursery Love's site and hope I win because I want that little crayon roll up from http://www.babysewpretty.etsy.com/ for my oldest grandson Jackson. He will love using it with the new write and sketch journal that we make for our etsy shop at http://www.javagirls.etsy.com/ . Also, for you ladies that just love your husbands you may want to check out our journals themed "Letter's for My Husband". We are currently out because of the Valentines Day rush, but we will be posting another one very soon!
Until next time,
Mamacooker

Teaching Thankfulness

I have a lot to be thankful for. I had a mom and dad that loved me. They loved life and they loved God. This picture shows that at an early age they were teaching their baby girl to pray and be thankful for what God had provided. As you see on the table it was a humble meal. Peas from the garden, and it looks like mackeral cakes and biscuits. I remember having those later in life. They were so good. Mama could make anything taste good. It didn't matter what we had, her love went into it. She was thankful for what she could put on that table. Daddy was also a thankful man. He knew what He had was from God and hard work. When we sat at the table our heads were bowed as we thanked God for His provisions.

It's so easy today to get caught up in the frenzy of life. Running here and there, grabbing snacks or fast food on the run. Do we really take the time to be thankful? Even if we utter our "thank-you Lord for this food" are we really thankful in the same sort of way as back then? I know I'm not. It's a shame that we take so much for granted. As I lugg the groceries from the car to my house I am reminded that I didn't have to pick the beans, shuck the corn, milk the cow, and most of all I did not have to kill the chicken that I was feeding my family that night! I could not do that! I don't know how those women did it? That right there is something to be thankful for.

I bring in my fully cooked rotisserie chicken, put my spring mix salad in a bowl and zap a veggie in the microwave and serve my rice from the rice cooker and WA LA, I'm done. Okay so we have it easier now days. I know we do and we have challenges they didn't have. So what can we do? Embrace the moment we live in, look around at all we have to be thankful for. The grocery stores, the schools, the gas stations, the jobs we have, our faith in God. This is what our existence is about.

I guess what I'm getting at is appreciation for what we have, the time we live, and what the God of creation does for us everyday. I hope to convey this thankfulness on to my children and grandchildren. I want to be like my mama and daddy, thankful for the "peas, the canned mackeral and biscuits", and enjoy showing my children how to pray, and truely love life.

Thanks mama and daddy. You taught us well.

Mamacooker

Family...Where did we come from? Who do we look like? Where did we get our talents?

Family.....Where did we come from? This became a very curious subject as I worked on our family heritage album. We all knew where our grandparents and parents were from, but that was only one piece of the puzzle. Going through these old photos and finding out their story made them real. These were my people, my family, yet I never knew them. I had never even met them except for my grandma who is the baby in this photo.

As we looked at these photos we could see that family features had been passed down. The eyes, the ears, the hairlines, they were all familiar. One of them had the beautiful red hair that showed up in our family. We could see our relatives in these people, but please tell me who started the crooked toes, and genetic tendancy to gain weight! That was not fair!

What we could not see were the talents or weaknesses each possessed. We wondered, were who were the carpenters in this family? The God given talent of skilled carpentry runs through this family of ours. Good work ethics? We have that. Our men and women are not afraid of hard work. Who were the muscians? Piano players, guitar players, singers. Worriers, who gave us that blessing? We have a lot of "worry warts" as my mama called them in both sides of our family. Strong women run deep in this family also. Women who have looked adversity in the face and kept going. That little baby in the above photo grew up to be the mother of 14 children, 6 of whom she buried at birth or shortly after. A set of quadruplets among them. Imagine that heartbreak. She was strong when she needed to be, soft spoken in her talk, and always faithful. She and my grandfather worked hard and had strong character. They raised 2 sons and 6 daughters that were also strong and that have brought 5 more generations into this world. One of their great-great granddaughters has just faced heartache and trauma in the life of her child, yet she has risen above her circumstances, and put her faith in God, and He is seeing her through her darkest moments of her young life. Amazing!

I cannot imagine who will be here 5 generations from now. I do know that the life we lead and the legacy we leave will have an affect on them. I hope they can look back at our photos and prayer journals and see the faith in God that we had, and that they can see we didn't quit when life got hard. I feel like we have been through so little compared to my grandparents, but I know that it's just as important for us to keep on going forward just the same. To be strong, follow God, do our best in this life to be the example for those that follow.

I HAVE ARRIVED! Or, at least I know where I'm going now.

Yes, that's me. At the kitchen table by the coffee cup! I may think I have arrived, yet I have not gone very far. You will still most likely find me at the kitchen table with a coffee cup, or at my scrapbook table with a coffee cup, or at the computer, you guessed it, with a coffee cup .

A couple of years ago I was in the process of making a Heritage Scrapbook for my family, and when creating the page for each of the four children as adults, I hit a road block. One brother was retired from the military. My other brother owned his own construction company. My sister ran her own piano studio with 60 students, and I, the baby of the family, had no real career. I didn't know what to put on my page. What was I? As I contemplated what to put on my page, I began to realize that I had fulfilled my childhood dream. I had been married 25 years, and I had four children. I worked at my children's school and at our church. I had survived one daughter's wedding and had one grandchild. Through it all, I had learned to do so much, and I had skills I never thought I would have. I was very happy and fulfilled. I didn't need to have a title. It was a good thing to have a career, but not a bad thing to not have one. I remembered what my mama had told me long ago. She said when I was a little girl I always said ,"I want to be a mamacooker when I grow up". Mamacooker? In my child's mind I must have been really impressed with my mama. She was a good one! She loved her family, took care of us, and loved every minute of her time spent with us, and she loved to cook. One word, mamacooker, summed it up for me I guess!


I now know that I am a "mamacooker". I love being a mom and count it a privilege, and yes, I love to cook too. God has blessed me, and I know my job is very important. It is what God wanted me to do. It's a high, humbling and scary calling to be the influence and caregiver of the next generation. I have been entrusted with three girls and one boy, and now three grandson's. I just hope that I do as well as my mama did.

Mamacooker
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