Gooseberry's Patch's 101 Easy EVERYDAY Recipes & A Giveaway!!

I recently got my reviewer's copy of the soon-to-be released (June 1st) Gooseberry Patch cookbook 101 Easy Everyday Recipes -- this is another in the 101 Photo Series Cookbooks. I have fallen in love with these photo series books. I didn't think I would because I just adore the combbound, illustrated books we've come to know and have collected for years from Gooseberry Patch. Other titles in this series include 101 Homestyle Favorites, 101 Slow-Cooker Recipes, 101 Easy Entertaining Recipes, 101 Cupcake, Cookie & Brownie Recipes, 101 Autumn Recipes and 101 Christmas Recipes. This latest one is a gem! We all need help from time to time getting a meal on the table on weeknights -- this book is chocked full of solutions to the daily dilemma -- WHAT'S FOR DINNER?!!



I have made 3 different recipes from this book and will be sharing them all with you this week. The first one up is from the chapter, No-Fuss Desserts. I took these to a Memorial Day get together and brought home an empty plate....and I wrote the recipe out for 3 different people. This is so simple and yet so very, very yummy! I will be making this recipe again!!



Quick & Easy Nutty Cheese Bars

18-1/2 oz pkg golden butter cake mix
1-1/2 c chopped pecans or walnuts, divided
3/4 c butter, melted
2 8-oz pkgs. Cream cheese, softened
1 c brown sugar, packed

On a bowl, combine dry cake mix, 3/4 cup pecans and melted butter; stir until well blended. Press mixture into the bottom of a greased 13”x9” baking pan. Combine cream cheese and brown sugar in a separate bowl. Stir until well mixed. Spread evenly over crust. Sprinkle with remaining pecans. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, until edges are golden and cheese topping is set. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Cut into bars. Refrigerate leftovers. Makes 2 dozen.

Now for the important stuff -- you can enter in to win a FREE copy of this book before it is released (June 1st release) AND 2 hand-embroidered Faithfulness Farm Dish Towels. For 3 chances to win -- 1. Leave A Comment on this post. 2. Follow Faithfulness Farm (or tell me you already do). 3. Friend Faithfulness Farm on Facebook. And watch for posts this week which will include bonus entry information. The winner will be announced on Monday June 6th.

From The Hymnal ~ He Leadeth Me and A Faithfulness Farm Update

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I want to extend a BIG Thank-you for all the lovely comments, emails and most especially prayers. God is so gracious! Things are better and I had a HUGE wake-up call. My son was involved in a pretty devastating car accident -- and God was good enough to allow him to walk away with only minor injuries. That puts things into perspective. I am reminding myself often that without a TEST, there is no testimony. Life is still a trial some days, but thru it all, He Leadeth Me!!



He Leadeth Me

He leadeth me: O blessed thought!
O words with heavenly comfort fraught!
Whate'er I do, where'er I be,
still 'tis God's hand that leadeth me.

Refrain:
He leadeth me, he leadeth me,
by his own hand he leadeth me;
his faithful follower I would be,
for by his hand he leadeth me.

Sometimes mid scenes of deepest gloom,
sometimes where Eden's bowers bloom,
by waters still, o'er troubled sea,
still 'tis his hand that leadeth me.
(Refrain)

Lord, I would place my hand in thine,
nor ever murmur nor repine;
content, whatever lot I see,
since 'tis my God that leadeth me.
(Refrain)

And when my task on earth is done,
when by thy grace the victory's won,
e'en death's cold wave I will not flee,
since God through Jordan leadeth me.
(Refrain)

Remember to go to the bottom of the page and turn off the blog music -- listen and be blessed!

Gooseberry Patch's Quick & Easy Autumn Review & A WINNER!!

Do you all remember me? I used to blog regularly -- seems like that was a LONG time ago!! The good news is Tax Season is now OVER!! I was off yesterday and spent the day putting my house back together and getting ready for some very special company coming to visit this weekend -- lots of great food on the menu and recipes are coming!



Thank you for everyone who left such nice comments on the review posts and for entering in for the giveaway. I wish I had a book for everyone. You can purchase this book from Gooseberry Patch. It is everything wonderful that I've come to expect from Gooseberry Patch and I am sure you'd not be disappointed. Since I could only have 1 winner, I had my daughter help me again with all the entries -- and the WINNER IS OhPioneer1806 -- very exciting since I know this is my old friend Nancy who is a FABULOUS cook!! Congratulations and keep an eye out -- there will be more review and more giveaways to come!

GBP Quick & Easy Autumn Review 6 of 6

Day 6 ~ Slow Cookers

My slow cooker is way under used in my kitchen -- I really have to be better at using it -- it is a great time saver and just because winter is over doesn't mean it shouldn't be used -- especially on nights with lots of activities or we're all going in different directions. This recipe for Saucy BBQ Pork Tenderloin is perfect for those kinds of days. We all loved this recipe -- except I did have a wee problem. My problem was the cut of meat that the recipe called for -- pork tenderloin. This is a wonderful cut of meat but is spendy and in my opinion, better suited for more quick cook applications. Skip the tenderloin and use pork loin -- it is just as lean and wonderful and will cost you much less.


Saucy BBQ Pork Tenderloin

2 to 3 lb pork tenderloin, trimmed
Salt and pepper to taste
3 c water
18-oz bottle barbeque sauce, divided
Optional: 12-oz pkg Kaiser Rolls, Split

Place pork in a slow cooker; season with salt and pepper. Pour water over pork. Cover and cook on high setting for about 5 hours. Pour off half of remaining liquid in slow cooker; add ¾ of barbeque sauce. Cover and cook for one additional hour, or until pork is very tender and falls apart. Serve on Kaiser rolls, if desired, accompanied by remaining barbeque sauce. Serves 4 to 6.

Leave a comment on this post as well as all my review posts to be entered into the giveaway to win this great cookbook before it is released to the public. That is a total of chances to enter -- the winner to be announce Friday April 15th.

GBP Quick & Easy Autumn Review 5 of 6

Day 5 ~ Desserts

Everyone's favorite chapter -- there were so many wonderful recipes to choose from -- many pumpkin desserts that I'll be trying but the recipe we ended up making was submitted by Melisa Daniel from Alma, MI for Scotcharoo Bars. We needed a quick and easy (great theme for a cookbook) treat for my daughter to take to a teen movie night. She was the chef and with just a tiny bit of coaching from me, she was quite proud of how they turned out -- her friends ooohed and aaahed over them too -- maybe she'll become more interested in cooking!



Scotcharoo Bars

1 c sugar
1 c light corn syrup
1 c creamy peanut butter
6 c crispy rice cereal
1 c semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 c butterscotch chips

Combine sugar and corn syrup in a large heavy saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often, until mixture bubbles. Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter and mix well. Add cereal; stir until well coated. Press mixture into a buttered 12x8 baking pan; set aside. Place chocolate chips and butterscotch chips in a medium saucepan. Cook over low heat until melted; stir until well blended and smooth. Spread chocolate chip mixture over cereal mixture. Cool; cut into squares. Makes 2 dozen bars.

Leave a comment to enter in for your very own copy of Gooseberry Patch's Quick & Easy Autumn before you can even buy it AND a Faithfulness Farm Apron -- be sure to visit each of the 6 review posts for 6 chances to win! Drawing Friday April 15th.

GBP Quick & Easy Autumn Review 4 of 6

Day 4 ~ Mains

It was difficult picking from all the wonderful recipes for mains in this book BUT I knew I wanted to use my Grandma's cast iron skillet and include the recipe in my Cast Iron Cooking segment -- Skillet Chicken & Mushrooms submitted by Tina Wright of Atlanta, GA fit that bill perfectly. This recipe was perfect to make for a quick and easy weeknight supper -- I have to admit to a modification in the original recipe -- instead of using Tarragon, I used Thyme. I just don't usually care for the flavor of Tarragon. This was very yummy and I will be making it again!


Skillet Chicken & Mushrooms

1-1/2lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper to taste
3 T. butter, divided
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 lbs sliced mushrooms
½ c Madeira wine or chicken broth
1 T. Worcestershire sauce
1 T. fresh tarragon, chopped

Sprinkle chicken generously with salt and pepper. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Cook chicken until golden on both sides, about 8 minutes. Transfer chicken to a plate. Melt remaining butter in skillet over medium heat. Add onion; sauté just until softened, about 3 minutes. Add mushrooms; sauté until juices are released, about 5 minutes. Stir in wine or broth and Worcestershire sauce. Return chicken and any juices from the plate to the pan. Spoon mushroom mixture over chicken. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and cook until chicken juices run clear, about 20 minutes. Stir in tarragon and additional salt and pepper, as desired. Serves 4.

Follow and enter in for a chance at a copy of Gooseberry Patch's soon-to-be released book Quick & Easy Autumn and a Faithfulness Farm Apron by leaving a comment on this post -- there will be a total of 6 chances to win -- one each day this week. Leave a comment on each review post to enter. The winner will be announced on April 15!