Hey Good Looking, What You Got Cooking?

One of my favorite things to do is cook! I really like to try different recipes and fill up mine and other's tummies. On this post I figured I could share some of the recipes I have tried lately.

Thursday night I made a "Ham and Cheese Calzone". I had to try it out on Thursday because I would be making it for my party on Saturday. It was delicious! David went back for seconds and we had enough leftover to eat on Friday for lunch. I will definitely try this again.  You can also change up the ingredients.  I think using ranch chicken and bacon would be really great too.

Ham & Cheese Calzone

2 tbsp (30 mL) mayonnaise   2 tsp (10 mL) Dijon mustard   1 cup (250 mL) fresh broccoli florets (about 2 oz/60 g)   1 8-oz (250-g) slice smoked deli ham (about ½ in./1 cm thick)   1/2 small onion   8 oz (250 g) Swiss cheese, grated, divided   1 tbsp (15 mL) vegetable oil, divided   2 pkg (13.8 oz/283 g) refrigerated pizza crust   1 oz (30 g) Parmesan cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C). Combine mayonnaise and mustard in Classic Batter Bowl; mix well with Small Mix ‘N Scraper®. With Utility Knife, cut broccoli into small florets; dice ham. Using Food Chopper, coarsely chop onion. Grate Swiss cheese with Ultimate Mandoline fitted with grating blade. Combine broccoli, ham, onion and half of the Swiss cheese in batter bowl; mix well. Lightly brush Large Bar Pan with 1 tsp (5 mL) of the oil using Chef's Silicone Basting Brush. Unroll one package of dough onto bottom of bar pan, gently stretching and pressing dough to cover bottom. Sprinkle with remaining Swiss cheese to within 1 in. (2.5 cm) of edges; spoon ham mixture over cheese. Unroll remaining dough directly over filling, matching edges of dough and shaping to fit as dough is unrolled. Trim 1/2 in. (1 cm) off sides of dough with Utility Knife. Press edges to seal with Mini-Tart Shaper. Brush remaining oil over dough. Using Utility Knife, make 12 slits, in three rows of four each, into top crust. Bake 14-16 minutes or until golden brown. Meanwhile, grate Parmesan cheese using Microplane® Adjustable Grater; sprinkle over calzone. Return calzone to oven; bake 2-3 minutes or until cheese is melted and crust is deep golden brown. Slice with Pizza Cutter; serve with Mini-Serving Spatula.

Yield: 8 servings On Friday night we enjoyed a good ole taco soup.  I found this recipe online.  We ate it with fritos, shredded cheese and sour cream. Simple Taco Soup 2 pounds ground beef 1 (1.25 ounce) package taco seasoning mix 1 1/2 cups water 1 (15 ounce) can mild chili beans 1 (15.25 ounce) can whole kernel corn, drained 1 (15 ounce) can pinto beans, rinsed and drained 1 (14.5 ounce) can stewed tomatoes 1 (10 ounce) can diced tomatoes with green chile peppers 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies 1 (1 ounce) package ranch salad dressing mix In a Dutch oven or large kettle, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add taco seasoning and mix well. Stir in remaining ingredients. Simmer, uncovered, for 15 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.  I want to leave you with a dessert recipe I made at my Pampered Chef party on Saturday as well. We made the Cappuccino Mousse Trifle.  I had made it before and both times it was a hit. It really taste like Olive Garden Tiramisu.  Cappuccino Mousse Trifle  Ingredients: 1   (16-oz) thawed frozen prepared pound cake (or 2 frozen prepared pound cakes, 298 g each) 2 1/2   cups (625 mL) cold milk 1/3   cup (75 mL) instant coffee granules 2   pkgs (3.4 oz/102 g each) vanilla instant pudding and pie filling 2   containers (8 ounces each) frozen whipped topping, thawed, divided (6 cups/1.5 L) 1   square (1 oz/30 g) semi-sweet chocolate for baking 1/4   tsp (1 mL) ground cinnamon  Directions: 1. Cut pound cake into 1-in. (2.5 cm) cubes; set aside. Whisk together milk and instant coffee granules; let stand 5 minutes or until dissolved. Set aside 1 cup (250 mL) of the milk mixture. Add pudding mixes to remaining milk mixture; whisk until pudding mixture begins to thicken. Gently fold in half of the whipped topping. 2. To assemble trifle, place half of the cake cubes into bottom of Trifle Bowl, pressing down gently. Pour half of the reserved milk mixture evenly over cake cubes. Top with half of the pudding mixture. Grate one-third of the chocolate over pudding mixture. Repeat layers one time. (Reserve remaining chocolate for garnish.) 3. Reserve 1 cup (250 mL) of the remaining whipped topping for garnish. Spread remaining whipped topping over entire top of trifle, creating a smooth surface. Pipe rosettes around edge of dessert with reserved whipped topping. Grate remaining chocolate in center; sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Yield: 10 servings I hope you enjoy these recipes!  "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31 Yours in Christ, Little Mommy

Life Begins at Conception

"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that fully well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be" (Psalm 139:13-16).


Ill never forget the first time we saw the image our our tiny fetus on the ultrasound. Our hearts were filled with joy and our eyes were filled with tears.  It was only 8 weeks but at that point we new something special was happening in my body.  


God has and never will make a mistake. So why do we think it is our "choice" to end the life? To me there is never reason to ever end a pregnancy.  That is why when it was time to have the test that lets you know if the baby will have any birth defects, we were not interested.  We knew we loved our tiny fetus no matter if he/she had anything wrong with them.  


I love children.  I am so blessed that I was able to bring my daughter into this world. Motherhood is a blessing. "Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him" (Psalm 127:3).


So where did this controversial topic come from? On the news yesterday I saw where Virginia is trying to pass a law that before a woman/girl could have an abortion they must first have an ultrasound. I prayed this morning that this law would pass.  If only women could have a chance to see the life growing inside them, their minds could be changed.  I know this wont change everyone's mind. But even if it just saved one life. 
Another reason this is on my mind is because my sister-in-law is 4 weeks pregnant.  Her and my brother-in-law are so excited.  But even at 4 weeks she was able to see her little poppy seed on the monitor. Even now it is a life growing inside of her. 


A few months ago I had the chance to go to the Abundant Life Pregnancy Banquet in Morrilton.  There was testimonies of women who had used the center. It was amazing to hear their stories and be apart of that mission. There are many women who have regretted having an abortion but I can promise you that you wont find someone who has ever regretted not having an abortion.  


A quote from Dr Seuss in Horton Hears a Who: “A person's a person, no matter how small.”


Here is one of David's favorite quotes from Ronald Reagan: "I’ve noticed that everybody that is for abortion has already been born"




As I look down at my precious daughter grinning and laughing, I couldn't imagine anyone not wanting one. But I understand everyone is not made to be a mother.  This topic could go on and on and on.  I could post more scriptures, other options, people who could have been aborted and so on.  But I just wanted to make a post on this since its on my mind. 


Pray for our country! 


Yours in Christ, 
Little Mommy

First Blog: About me

Yayyy I am finally making my self sit down to make a blog! The objective of my blog is to share with friends and family some of my experiences, thoughts, views and overall my daily life.  I am looking forward to sharing advice, crafts, recipes, learned lessons and etc.  I will most likely post lots of things about my husband, daughter and cat. 

My husband: there is no doubt in my mind that David was the one God sent for me to spend my life with. We have been through so much together already in the past 7 years and I am looking forward to a lifetime of adventures, mountains, and valleys with him. I do want to give him the praise he deserves.  David allows/wants me to be a stay-at-home mom (SAHM).  The time I have with my daughter is priceless to us.  I will go into more details on being a SAHM in later blog. 

Harper Anne: also known as Bitty, Baby Lubbers, Milky Girl and so on.  We have lots of nicknames for her. The 3 most special days in a persons life are when they accept Jesus into their hearts, when they get married and when their children are born.  Harper was born on December 15th, 2011 and my heart has and never will be the same. I thought I loved her when I was pregnant but when I held her for the first time it was the most amazing feeling, undescribable really.  She is 9 1/2 weeks old and I love waking up to her smiling face every morning.  All day long I sing God's praises for sending me such a sweet angel. Thank you God, all glory to you.

Marlie: We got Marlie when we got back from our honeymoon. She lived in our hotel in Springdale with us for 3 months. She kept me company when David was at work.  Marlie weighs around 15 lbs (shes a hefty girl). She brings us many smiles. 

Well this is my first blog and I am so excited to keep posting updates on our life!

Here is a little video for fun:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZa7hU6tP_s

Yours in Christ,
Little Mommy