While in Corpus for a few days last week, we indulged in our favorite TexMex restaurant 3 out of 4 days. In the last morning before heading out, we decided to stop one more time at Kikos for breakfast. The Owner Grace Barrera (actually their son Marcus bought it from them but you still see Grace and Kiko there going in and out of the kitchen. When Grace walked by she remembered me as our boys hung out together many years ago. As we began to visit she ask if I minded if she sat down and had breakfast with us! What a delightful breakfast as we talked about our kids and of course Mexican food! I ask her about the mushrooms they serve with chile con queso and she told me the story! They got the recipe from a restaurant in San Antonio and knew that they had to start serving them at Kikos. I was so pleasantly surprised when Grace told me how they make them! Well, I just made them and ate 8 of them. They are so delicious and so easy. The batter stays on them and are crunchy and just wish I had some of her queso to dip them in! But for tonight. They were scarfed down all by themselves with sea salt sprinkled over them. You will be amazing at the ease and flavor!

1 package of white button mushrooms, wiped clean and dry

1 package of Any brand of white gravy mix. (I prefer Pioneer peppered gravy but only had this one tonight)

Oil for deep frying

Salt, Pepper and Garlic powder to taste

1/4 cup self rising flour

Mix the white gravy mix with about 3/4 cup water (her recipe called for beer but didn’t have any)

Mix in the self rising flour and spices! Whisk until smooth. Dip mushrooms in batter and drop in the hot oil. Fry until both sides are golden brown. Drain on paper towel.

Isn’t it amazing how our thoughts and motives change as the years go by? When Randy and I married almost 27 years ago, we committed our home (so many years, so many homes, 12 to be exact) to the Lord for Him to use! At the time I felt that for it to be used, meant having church events or ladies events, lunches, dinners and allowing church leaders to use our home for any event they needed. And the memories we have from thinking back over the years bring such joy to our hearts praying that the Lord was glorified and honored each time. As time goes on (sounds like a soap opera title) we have noticed that the way the Lord uses our home looks a little different now! We don’t have the large houses that we once did. I don’t have the energy to cook for 30 people or make 100 casseroles to sell at Mistletoe Market! But the Lord doesnt need square footage, or the stamina of a 45 year old! He just needs a heart that wants to serve. We still committed our 1700 sq foot home when we moved in two years ago and have been so blessed to have get togethers, with old and new friends! Bible studies, Ladies Teas and of course family dinners! But last evening we did something that got us out of our comfort zone. We carved a pumpkin with a precious little girl that needed some smiles! As in Life, some plans just do not turn out as expected. For this sweet young lady we have grown to love, she was expecting someone she cares deeply for, to come carve her pumpkin with her! But when that didn’t happen, my sweet husband told them to grab the pumpkin and come on over! As i watched randys hand hold the knife (even with Parkinson’s he did a great job) and try to cut on the lines Sloane had drawn, it made me realize that God was using, once again our home for something that may seem small, but to this young girl, it was certainly an important night to her. Her laughter and smiles were such a blessing to us. We pray that it honored the Lord. All this to say, never cheat yourself out of a blessing by sharing your home with others! It might not be a dinner or party for 30 but the joy that you give from opening up your home even for 1 or 2 is priceless! And may God continue to use our home for His glory!

If you have ever watched an episode of Duck Dynasty, you have probably heard Willy (holding his jar of iced tea) repeat one of his favorite lines “happy happy happy”.

A month or so ago, Randy and I was listening to a service from our church and in so doing, found out that a certain man from our church was a Duck Dynasty fan. When the program was over, Randy said “we should look and see if we could order him a Willy mug and give it to him since he likes them so much”. So that’s exactly what we did. As soon as it arrived, I packed it in a sack and carried it to church with a note telling him how much we had enjoyed hearing him speak. Three or four weeks passed and each Sunday I took it with us knowing that sooner or later we would see him! But God…..one Wednesday while meeting a dear friend of mine for lunch I walked into the restaurant to wait for her and walking in the door right behind me was the man and his sweet wife! I introduced myself and told him I had something in the car for him. (Yes I had been leaving it in the car so I would remember to take it with us on Sundays until we were able to give it to him! He probably thought “on my goodness a crazy lady is stalking us!”I had never met he or his wife and here I am telling him I have a present in the car for him. So I went and got it and handed it to him. Then I went about ordering my cholesterol loaded pizza and went to visit with my friend. That was a couple of weeks ago. Today as Randy and I entered the sanctuary, there standing by a lady (who she and I always talk baking ) was our new Willy tea jar friend. I introduced him to Randy! What is amazing is this ! He stood there and told us that the day I ran into him at lunch had been a really hard day and the gift of that glass just made his day. He couldn’t believe that someone had gone out of their way to do that and he was so grateful for the act of kindness. As we walked away to go sit down, it just made me realize that God knows our days and our hearts and when we need some encouragement! That gift wasn’t needed the 2-3 weeks I carried it to church. It was needed that certain Wednesday at lunch when God put us at the same place at the same time! Only God could orchestrate the timing and the meeting. That I had left it in the car all that time is unusual for me to do. But it blessed our hearts that something so small could have such a sweet impact and gave him encouragement in a week that had been tough. Never dismiss those little “ thoughts” that come to us to do something for someone. We never know what it may mean to them. And the blessing we get from being used….nothing quite like it! To God be the glory

Two days ago our grandson Sevy texted me a recipe he had found for sugar cookies. It was suppose to be a link to a copycat recipe for Crumble Cookies sugar cookie. I have no idea what Crumble Cookies taste like as I have never had one but these cookies are SO good. Very soft and with the almond flavor, they are such a great cookie. The first batch was so good, gave them away so have already made a second batch. Video of making them is in YouTube Sassy Southern!

Cookie

Stir 3 cups flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder and 1/2 teas salt together, set aside. *if using salted butter omit salt

Beat 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter (at room temperature) 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Add 2 room temperature large eggs, 1 teas vanilla, 1 1/2 teas almond extract and beat well. Add flour mixture. Mix until well combined.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Using 1/4 cup (I used an ice cream scoop which holds 1/2 cup so filled it 1/2 full) of batter. Roll into a ball and place on parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Flatten with bottom of glass and place in oven. Bake for about 9-10 min. (Depends on your oven). I baked mine 9 min. Cool and frost.

Frosting:

3 cups powdered sugar

1 stick unsalted room temperature butter

1 1/2 teas almond extraction

Milk or Half & Half to get to spreading consistency

Color with gel coloring of your choice

Beat all ingredients until well blended and no lumps remain.