Monkey Bread - in or out of Bed

Before y'all go thinking that Monkey Bread is code for something else, I thought I had better quick share this recipe. There is such a thing as monkey bread and it is our family's favorite - as well as a Thanksgiving morning tradition for at least one other! It is very yummy, and so simple.

Monkey Bread

1 pkg. of canned biscuits (4 cans, any kind)
1 cup of sugar
1 Tbsp. cinnamon
1 stick of butter, melted

Mix sugar and cinnamon in a large bowl or large ziploc baggie. Cut biscuits into quarters, separate pieces and toss in sugar and cinnamon mixture, and then arrange loosely in a bundt pan. After all the biscuits are coated and put in pan, pour remaining sugar mixture over the top, and then cover evenly with melted butter. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Let it cool for about 5 minutes - and use a large spatula to swat your family away while it cools, the turn out onto a plate.

It is the BEST when it is warm! Yum.

I Love Me a Working Man

The hubby got a job today! He starts tomorrow. It isn't the job we were wanting and is a cut in pay - but it is a paycheck for right now! Woo hoo! I celebrated by buying two small Christmas gifts. Today was also his birthday. I made him monkey bread for breakfast, with coffee in bed.
It's been a long day - so I apologize for this incoherent post. I just had to share the good news!

Two Pots of Coffee and Four Boxes of Captain Crunch

My girls wanted to have a small group of their homeschooling friends over for a late night of playing cards, watching movies, etc. the way we used on occasion when we lived here. "Homeschooling" being the operative word which means that the late night part could be flexible. After talking to some of the parents, we determined it would be best if instead of having to be picked up at midnight, that everybody just stay overnight. Being able to stay in this lovely house that belongs to my friends provided this opportunity. The boys slept in the basement and the girls slept upstairs near me - although sleep seems the wrong word - we were talking and playing games until 3 am.
When I got up the next morning, Kameron was the first one awake, and he had made a pot of coffee. (Evidently he drew the short straw and got the floor or the chair to sleep on and didn't sleep all that much!) The weather was nice so we sat on the screened in porch in the back and drank coffee and talked for about an hour and a half before anyone else made an appearance. Kameron is like me, he needs other people and relationships to thrive. I get him.
It is an amazing thing to me to be in the lives of young people that I knew when they were small and see them grow up into these incredible young adults. I grew up moving around so much, and was always in so much chaos that I was in junior high school before I developed any long term relationships - and that was only because I had a friend that held on to me no matter where I moved. That morning, Kameron and I talked about all kinds of things. It wasn't what we talked about that meant so much, but that he is a 15 year old that values a relationship with me - and I with him. Somewhere along the road my lives intertwined with these kids - and they are almost like my own in my heart.
When everybody got up they started in on the four boxes of Captain Crunch cereal that I got for a quick and easy breakfast. Tayva asked if I'd ever move back to West Virginia, and I told her I'd only be back if Travis died. (off the cuff - which by the way was just a joke!) Just for a moment I thought I saw an evil glint flash through several sets of eyes!

Breakfast Casserole

Last night there was a terrible storm that went ripping through our neck of the woods. We woke this morning to find some huge tree limbs in the backyard. As usual, every member of the family slept through it except me. I was up early - so I decided to make the sleepy heads some breakfast. My step-mother has made this recipe before but I never did until today.

Breakfast Casserole

6 slices bread, cubed
1 pound sausage, browned and drained (I added chopped onion)
1 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
8 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
1 tsp salt
pepper to taste

Cube bread and place evenly in greased 9x13 pan or baking dish. Sprinkle evenly with sausage and cheese. Mix eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Pour over ingredients in pan. (May cover and chill overnight - if you do this remove from fridge 15 minutes before baking.) Bake 45 minutes at 325 degrees or until set. Cut in squares to serve.
Serves 8 - 10.

My husband loved this. Good thing - he's having it for dinner, as we are going to play Lazer Tag with the youth group!

Sweet Rude Awakening

My last thought before I drifted off to sleep last night was that I was going to sleep in. After all, it was my birthday, and I am blessed to work at home. Why not? But my conspiring children had a different plan. I think they intend to spoil me all day long. At 6:30 (gulp!) they thrust on the light in my darkened bedroom and entered singing "Happy Birthday" and carrying a plate full of breakfast. (A very LARGE plate of oatmeal, toast and scrambled eggs - enough for all four of us in fact!) I smiled and thanked them. I was still so sleepy, so I asked them to put it on my nightstand. Very quickly I realized that they were going to stand there and watch me sleep until I sat up and ate something! It was so sweet. I never did go back to sleep – but the three of them have taken over my bed and are in there snoozing now. I am so very blessed. How did three such awesome kids ever come from a wreck of a mom like me? God's grace. How beautiful.

Morning Maple Muffin Recipe

These are some of the best muffins I've ever tasted! I got them from fellow blogger JoysintheJourney, and she kindly gave me her permission to share it here! I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!

Morning Maple Muffins
2 cups flour
1/2 c packed brown sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk
1/2 cup butter melted (1/2 stick)
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/4 cup sour cream
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Topping:
3 Tbsp flour
3 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp chopped nuts
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
2 Tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line muffin tin with paper cups. In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, combine the milk, butter, syrup, sour cream, egg and vanilla. Stir well. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients until just mixed. Fill muffins 2/3 full, add topping and bake 16-20 minutes, or until brown. Cool on wire rack for 5-10 minutes before removing them from the pan. Let muffins cool a bit before serving them. Recipe makes 16 muffins.

They are delicious on a cold winter's monring or in the summer with a cup of orange or raspberry tea! I enjoyed them with my friend Tina, on a stressful morning waiting for someone to come and look at my house! They were a sweet treat!