WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

 No bake Chocolate Eclair Cake

Ingredients

2 (3.5 oz) package of instant vanilla pudding mix

1 (8 oz) container of whipped topping (COOL WHIP) thawed

3 cups milk

2 sleeves graham cracker squares

1 (16 oz) tub chocolate frosting

Directions

In a medium bowl, mix together the pudding mix, milk and Cool Whip.

In an 9 x 13 baking dish, arrange a single layer of graham cracker squares on the bottom. You may have to break them up a bit to get enough crackers to cover the bottom of your dish.

Spread half of the pudding mixture on top of the crackers.

Layer another layer of graham crackers over the pudding mixture.

Then layer the other half of the pudding mixture on top of crackers.

Top with a final layer of graham crackers.

Put plastic wrap over dish and put in fridge for about 30 min to an hour to allow pudding to set.

When ready, put the tub of chocolate frosting in the microwave for about 15 seconds to soften (remove lid and aluminum foil top before microwaving).

Take out and stir frosting. It should be easily spreadable now.

Remove plastic wrap from dish and evenly spread chocolate frosting all over the top layer of graham crackers.

Place plastic wrap over top of dish and put back in fridge and let it chill overnight.

This dessert gets better over time. The graham crackers need plenty of time to soften up.

When ready, slice and serve!

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 Okay!!! This may be a new favorite for me....YUM!

NEW WALDORF SALAD

Active time 20 Min.

Total Time 45 Min.

Serves 4

Chopped apples and celery with walnuts.  Grapes (roasted in this version).  To lighten things up, fresh greens are tossed in, and a lemon vinaigrette replaces the mayonnaise dressing.

For the roasted grapes:

1 1/2 pounds red seedless grapes

1 tablespoon confectioners’ sugar

1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

For the Dressing:

1 tablespoon minced shallot

1 tablespoon white-wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest, plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon ground cumin

1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper

For the salad:

2 celery stalks, thinly sliced crosswise, plus 1/2 cup leaves

1 head frisee (this is Endive), trimmed

1 Honeycrisp apple, thinly sliced

1/2 cup walnuts, toasted

1. Roast the grapes: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Toss grapes with sugar and oil. Roast on a rimmed baking sheet until just starting to wrinkle and burst, 25 to 30 minutes. Let cool.

2. Meanwhile, make the dressing: Combine shallot, vinegar, lemon zest and juice, and cumin in a bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper.

3. Make the salad: Toss grapes (without pan juices) with sliced celery and leaves, frisee, apple and walnuts. Drizzle salad with dressing, and toss to coat.

A March Bride by Rachel Hauck

Book Description:  Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can't help but wonder if it's a sign that their love is not meant to be. Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She'll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna's heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her. Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own---right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon's Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won't return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

My Thoughts:  I love weddings!  And I've had the opportunity to read three ebooks by Rachel Hauck about weddings.  YAY!

Of course, Rachel Hauck is an excellent romance writer so reading these stories is like eating my favorite chocolate with a white chocolate mocha!

Susanna is my favorite bride of the three books.  Maybe, because she is to marry and live in the Brighton Kingdom.

Susanna is in love with Nate (King Nate, that is!) and planning this royal wedding is a wonderful dream . . . and then! boom!  The Brighton Kingdom insists that she give up her American citizenship to marry the king.  

Oops!  One slight inconvenience, right!?!?  

Um, well, that went over like a lead ballon.  

So, off Susanna  flies back home to good ole Georgia but the handsome King Nate loves his bride-to-be Susanna.  He devises a plan to make sure Susanna returns to him.

This plan was quite ingenious!  Wonder if it could really happen in "real" life?  (This is why fiction books are so much fun!)

A great fun, light read!  Loved it!

Hope Between the Pages (Doors to the Past) By Pepper Basham

 

Book Description:  Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

My Thoughts:  This story intrigued me because I have visited the places that are written in this story.  So I can envision all the the author is writing about.

Pepper Basham is a new author for me. I do enjoy new authors and getting out of my reading comfort zone.

Clara Blackwell has one of the most interesting jobs in my book.  {See what I did there.😆}  I love the way Clara finds some old, forgotten love letters that lead to an inheritance.  An inheritance that is deeply needed by the heirs.

This is a somewhat rags to riches story.  The feel good kind.

But Clara has to step out of her comfort zone to find this Oliver.  Sometimes when one goes on chance adventure to seek truths more than one can ever imagine happens.  In Clara's case this is true.

Finding a person is not easy but, oh, the fun of the adventure and finding new friends in the most unexpected places.

A lovely story!

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

 

 SOOO GOOOD!

Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson

 

Book Description:  When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it's not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause--and finds herself falling for him in the process.

A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around--which to him seems like all too often. He's not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them.

But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow?

My Thoughts:  An eccentric read or a romance?  What about both!

This is a fun, if not, romance at it's best type of read.

A story of tea unlikely people-a confirmed bachelor and a fun-loving, free floating sort of gal.

It's not love at first sight but there's something about George Emerson, aka Mr. Emerson that stirs Willow West's heart.  And it's not a heart throbbing, won't quit beating sort of interest.  Willow thinks that Mr. Emerson needs to loosen up, enjoy life.

On the other hand, George Emerson thinks his life is just fine and he thinks that Willow is a bit of an irritation at times, even though, he likes to be around her.  But why does he ned to expand his horizons and make new friends?  His life is pretty good the way it is.

This is a fun, light hearted read and is written in a voice that only Melody Carlson can write in.

I truly enjoyed this book.

• Publisher: Revell
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800735277
• ISBN-13: 978-0800735272

Mistaken Mountain Abduction by Shannon Redmon

 

 My Thoughts:  Oh, my!  This is such an exciting and nail biting story.  I love a good mystery/suspense read and this one has it all.  From the abduction to the romance to the heart racing finale.

If you enjoy a good heart racing story grab yours here https://bit.ly/MistakenMountainAbduction.  You'll thank me later.

Enjoy this on your spring break or summer beach read.

NEVER FALL AGAIN (Gossamer Falls) by Lynn Blackburn

 Book Description:  Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven's guests, Landry is finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction.

Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family's business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can't bear to lose like that again.
Before construction on the house can begin, Landry's pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger--but because of whom? But, after losing one relationship, he is hesitant to try again.

My Thoughts:  It's been awhile since I've read a story by Lynn Blackburn. 

I love suspense and thought this would be a great read.

I enjoyed reading about North Carolina. However, the story is a lot about relationships with some of the suspense.

Honestly, I'm not into reading so much about relationships as the actual mystery/suspense of the storyline.

While the story was not quite my cup of tea I did think that Lynn Blackburn did a great job of building the characters and their stories.

Landry Hutton is a pretty brave lady with a sweet daughter.  Callum "Cal" Shaw is a great character too.

If you like suspense with a lot of relationships and finding out what is going to happen with the characters, you'll love this story!

*This book was provided for review by Revell.  All views are my own and I was not obligated to review this book*

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

                                         Slap your tongue happy!

Know Your Bible Journal for Women

  

Book Description:  You want the most from your time alone with scripture. . .

this Know Your Bible Journal for Women provides both simple guidance and ample space for you to jot down your reflections.

My Thoughts:  This is a beautiful a beautiful Bible journal.  There are six pages per book of the Bible.  First, there is a Ten words or less page.  With a sentence starter for the journalists to write about that book.THe second page is Details, Please.  A short paragraph is given to help the writer think about this book of the Bible.  The third page is Author and Date.  Again, a starter with verses is given to help the journalists.  Then the next page is a Quotable page.  Four mail quotes from that particular book are given then the journalists can write about her favorite passage.  The next page is titled Unique and Unusual.  This is a page to write about what unusual or unique things popped out to the journalists.  The last page is So What?  So what really popped out to you in this book of the Bible?

This soft cover Bible journal is a great asset to any journalists who wants to study the Bible.

The Hawaiian Quilt by Wanda E. Brunstetter & Jean Brunstetter

  

My Thoughts: I love books authored by Wanda Brunstetter! And now her daughter-in-law, Jean, co-authors this wonderful novel, the Hawaiian Quilt.

This is not your "regular" Amish story.  In this lovely story about four Amish friends  who take a cruise to the Hawaiian Islands.  

The cruise is nice but the beds not.so.much to the four friends disappointment.  Love the real descriptions of the ship and the "funny.to.me" reason Mandy and her three friends decide to take a cruise because their Amish parents wouldn't approve of flying in an airplane.  

When Mandy and her friends decide to split up in to two groups of two to see more Hawaii and then share their experiences later at supper, Mandy loses her phone and this incident causes she and Ellen to miss the ship.

I love the Hawaiian Christian couple, Luana and Mikaio,  who take them in at the bed and breakfast and whose Hawaiian quilts fascinate Mandy.  

This is not your "regular" Amish read!  It's about stepping out of your comfort zone and embracing life and God's people.

Loved, loved this fantabulous read!  

         

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Run Press 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1634092244
• ISBN-13: 978-1634092241

WPW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

Convergence by Ginny Yttrup

 

Book Description:  Psychology professor Dr. Denilyn Rossi contends that the past is either a shadow that haunts us or a force that propels us. The choice is ours, she tells her students. What she doesn’t tell them is that her own past is a shadow she can’t seem to shake. Fear has immobilized her and is taking a costly toll.

Adelia Sanchez, however, has embraced Dr. Rossi’s teaching. She is ready to confront fear and render it powerless—using the trauma of her past to propel her to entrap the man who stalked and brutally attacked her.

As Denilyn’s past and Adelia’s present converge at the Kaweah River, a dangerous man bent on destruction threatens them both. Will he uncover the secret Deni and Adelia have fought so hard to protect?

My Thoughts:  I was SO excited to see that another book was written by Ginny Yttrup.

I love her stories!  

And this story did not disappoint.

There are two women with pasts that include alot of fear.  Two women trying to get over their past.  And both women have a secret.

Oh.my!  The twists and turns in this suspenseful read had me at chapter three.  It took two chapters for me to get into the story and "see" what was going on.  But I know how Mrs. Yttrup writes so I was willing to wade into the story.

Once the reader gets into the story there is no going back.  Kind of like the two women in the story...once they were in ..... in for a penny, in for a pound.

The reader is taken on a trip of sorts.  It's a thrill of suspense and a pondering of mystery.  

Loved, loved this read so much so that I read it all cover to cover in one afternoon.

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Run Press 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1683227883

Wanda E. Brunstetter's Amish Friends Baking Cookbook

 

Book Description:  Fresh-baked buns or cookies waiting for a child's after-school snack is a delight many of us remember from our own mothers and grandmothers kitchens. You can now share the joy of baking for and with your own family through dozens of recipes provided by Amish bakers. Ideas for breads, rolls, cakes, cookies, and more will keep you busy taste testing and sharing all the goodies. Also included are step-by-step instructions, baking tips, and anecdotes from Amish bakers. Encased in a lay-flat binding and presented in full color, home bakers of all ages will be delighted to add this cookbook to their collections.

This is a must-have cookbook for anyone with a soft spot for baked goods, from New York Times bestselling author of Amish fiction, Wanda E. Brunstetter.

My Thoughts:  I admit that I love getting a new cookbook especially one of Wanda E. Brustetters' cookbooks.  

This cookbook has some great, unknown recipes or also called recipes I've not heard of.  

There are easy and delicious recipes or there are intricate and delicious recipes.  So many great new ideas.

I am especially interested in the bread recipes right now.  After all that has transpired in our world the past two years I've decided to learn to make an easy but good bread.  I found two recipes in this book that I'm going to try.   Pumpkin bread and Unleavened bread.  There's also a recipe for Friendship Bread but that's like taking on a new family member so maybe at another time for me.

This is a fantabulous cookbook so be sure to get a copy while they're flying off the shelves.

I did make the recipe below, Cherry Melt-Away Bars, the other day and they are DELICIOUS!

So I'm sharing the recipe with you:

*This book was provided for review by Barbour Publishing*

 

Letters of Wisdom: Friendship Letters #3 By: Wanda E. Brunstetter

 Book Description:  Irma Miller thought having a family of her own would bring her joy and a sense of accomplishment, but she struggles with memories of the abuse she suffered as a child at the hand of her stepfather. When she becomes physically and emotionally abusive to her own children, she reaches out to her friend Doretta for prayer and wisdom. But Irma may find herself at an even darker emotional place before she will admit she needs professional help to heal the past traumas. Will Doretta's letters of wisdom help Irma and her family, or will too much be broken to ever be repaired?

My Thoughts:  This is book 3 in the Friendship Letters.  Each book is a standalone and all about letters. Not text but actually paper mailed in envelopes and written by pen.

I enjoy Wanda E. Brunstetter's books.  Not only are they easy to read but the story line captures the readers attention and keeps the reader in tune with the characters.  

To be honest this is one of the saddest reads of Mrs. Brunstetter's stories.  Irma Miller has a horrible childhood.  Abuse from a stepfather, someone who should be your provider and protector, has taken a toll on Irma.

Irma doesn't want to be the way her stepfather was but she doesn't know how to not be abusive emotionally and physically to her own children.  She decides to write her friend, Doretta, for help.  Bless Doretta's heart.  She keeps it honest.  She is a blessing.

I loved the way Mrs. Brunstetter brings out the love and compassion but, yet, she also writes of the way we all must overcome our sinful nature with God's help.  We cannot change without Him.

This is a sometimes sad story and a story of letting God help us overcome.

*This book was provided for review by Barbour*

What I Promise You {Echoes of the Past} by Liz Tolsma

 Book Description:  Hannah Elfenbein, a young, pregnant Jewish woman, is arrested in 1942 and sent to the Camp de Rivesaltes transit camp in Southwest France. Drawn to helping other young women escape, she seeks refuge for herself and others at a maternity hospital. But nothing is simple in occupied France, and she finds herself doing the unimaginable to save one precious life.

Eighty years later, Caitlyn Laurant takes a break from training to be a missionary nurse in Spain to visit nearby France, hoping to find her grandfather’s birthplace. But what she uncovers are secrets long buried by WWII atrocities.

My Thoughts:  I love to read about WWII.  The title of this book caught my eye and I knew I wanted to read it.  The title implies that there is much to life in this read. And I was correct.  It is a story of lessons and love. Of sacrifice and giving.  Of growing and loving beyond measure.

As the story begins it focuses on Hannah Elfenbien.  She is such a courageous and brave young woman.  She is also pregnant.  Pregnant during the worst of times. The way Hannah helps other pregnant captives and makes a way for them is simply genius.  But war is war and the situations they must go through are heartrending.

Hannah's courageous decision will make you cry. And, yet, make you smile.

Then in the present day, Caitlyn Lauren comes along looking for pieces from her past and stumbles upon the story of Hannah. 

This is a fantastic story!  I loved it and if you love WWII stories you'll want to read this one.  

*This book was provided for review by Barbour*