Author: Chocolate Castles

Welcome to Chocolate Castles, a blog about food, family and stories that hopefully will bring a smile to your heart. Thanks for reading chocolate castles and may the recipes and stories help bring your family and friends a little closer around the table! Remember that Princess On The Porch is still available on Amazon! Makes a great gift for anyone who enjoys being in the kitchen and needs a little laughter in their lives.
Daily Thoughts

Full Moon, Phone Calls & Cleaning

Chocolate Castles4 Comments

There was a full moon last night and history was made. All 5 of our kids and one daughter-in-law called. It wasn’t my birthday, and way past Mothers Day and as far as I can remember, only one of those kids have a birthday coming up. The only thing I can figure is that my doctor has called them with a bad report of something being wrong with me. As soon as I got off the phone with adult child #5, I immediately began cleaning out drawers, closets and hurriedly began throwing dirty clothes and towels in the wash….if something was soon going to take me out of this world, I certainly didn’t want ladies coming to bring Randy casseroles, only to find my house with dirty laundry and messy closets.

Even this morning, as I am still pondering what was going on yesterday with all the attention, I find myself going over each conversation, looking for any hint of sadness in their voice…but nothing…if they had received some shocking news about my health, there were certainly hiding it well….a little too well, if you ask me.

Randy and I went for mexican food last night and when we were driving home it  allowed us to watch the most beautiful full moon. The night was crisp with  cool air and just having had great enchiladas and now was comfortably settled in front of our television, it just kept me wondering about the phone calls. I guess you can tell I was having trouble letting this go and wondering what in the heck is happening. Could our kids be really growing up and finding out what it is like to be a parent. Surely not, after all, they are only in their 30’s. I didn’t expect that until they were at least in their 50’s and by then, we would both be on ginko for our memories and wouldn’t have a clue how often they called or didn’t call.

Because Randy knows me quite well, he knows that every time we leave town, I go through the house and get it squeaky clean, just in case someone might come in, should we be in an accident. Maybe he put the kids up to calling to make me wonder, knowing that I would really get on a cleaning streak.  Surely even he wouldn’t do that, would he?

Well, whatever the reason, yesterday was fun. It is so great to talk with each one, no matter how often they call. At our age, it doesn’t take a lot to get us excited. Think about it, if watching Wheel of Fortune gets us in a good mood and our blood pressure up,  think of the excitement when we get to talk to all of our kids in the same day, for no apparent reason. Just listening to their different personalities shine through as they talk about their jobs, their kids or marriages, it never gets old hearing their voices and listening to what is important to them. We love you guys and look forward to the next full moon when, once again, all 5 kids are aligned with the desire to call.

Cakes · Daily Thoughts · Desserts

Lemon Curd Cupcakes

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Yesterday I took these cupcakes to my MOPS moms and they all loved them. (Of course, being moms of preschoolers, they would love whatever that was set in front of them as long as they didn’t have to cook it). Several have emailed me and ask for the recipe and then when I took more of them last night to Bible Study, the ladies absolutely loved them. They are so easy, yet taste and look like you spent all day.

1 Duncan Hines Lemon Cake mix

1 jar of lemon curd (or you can make a package of lemon pudding and pie filling if you can’t find the lemon curd in your grocery) Just make sure that if you make your own lemon curd using the jello, you allow it to thicken and cool completely before using in the cupcake batter.

Frosting*

Mix cake mix according to directions. Using paper liners, place 24 liners in cupcake holders. Place about 1 tables of lemon cake batter in each liner. Place about 1 tablespoon of lemon curd  over batter. Then pour about 2 tables cake mix batter over curd, being sure that curd is completely covered. Bake according to directions on box. Cook cupcakes completely.

Another option is just bake the cupcakes according to directions on box without the filling and when they are cool, insert curd into middle of cupcake with the tip which allows you to  insert it into cupcake.

Frost* with the following:

1 box of powdered sugar

1 stick softened butter

1 teas lemon extract

1/3 cup whipping cream or milk (add this liquid a little at a time, as it might not all be required to get frosting to spreading consistency, may need a little more also)

Daily Thoughts

Oklahoma Summers

Chocolate Castles1 Comment

It is so heartbreaking to watch the video’s of parents and children effected by the tornados this week in Oklahoma. Growing up in Corpus Christi, Texas, each summer we would go visit my aunt and uncle who lived in Ardmore, OK. I have nothing by fond memories of those summers. Because I am an only child, my parents would let me invite a friend to go with us on these 2 week adventures. The hot summer days we would find ourselves driving out to Lake Murray for swimming and picnicking. Lake Murray provided me my first look at lily pads.  My uncle raised bulls and horses and he would set me up on one of the bulls and lead it around the pen. One of my favorite pictures is when I was about 6, Uncle Son put a cigar in my mouth, led me around the pen on the bull  and hollered for my mom to come out. When she did, she fussed at him for the cigar and for letting me ride the bull.

About 5 years ago, Randy and I drove the 2 hours, north of Dallas to Ardmore. I just wanted to see a few of the places I had grown up with. After we found the “huge” house that we use to frequent, I saw it in a whole new light. No longer was it “huge”, but a little cracker box house. The memories of my cousin and I sitting out in the yard at night under the “enormous” cypress tree, (which I now realize wasn’t enormous) trying to catch lightning bugs and the little corner store where we walked to buy ice cream and candy which was still so vivid in my memory, was right there in front of me. They looked so different, yet the memories were the same, maybe even now a little more sweet.

The swimming pool where we used to swim, right down the block from their house, was still there, but it was now different. No longer were there signs that said, “white water fountain” or “white bathrooms” but just signs that read, “fountain” or “restrooms”.

The fishery that my other uncle owned, seemed to be so far out in the country when we use to go visit, but now, it was only minutes outside of town. Had the town grown out that far, or had my perspective changed? Probably a little of both.

There were days spent there that were just miserably hot and with their house not having air conditioning, we would sleep on the screened in porch. Aunt Glady, as I called her, (yes the same Aunt Glady that chased me around Neimans, if you read that blog entry, if not, you need to go back and read it) would allow me to concoct any combination of food and flavors and then she would taste it and tell me that that was the best tasting drink EVER! I seriously don’t know how she kept from throwing up with some of the combinations that I made.

As I have many wonderful memories of my summers in Oklahoma, I am sure that this summer will be forever etched in the minds of the great people of Oklahoma. But their memories will be different. In spite of the tragedy and loss, God is faithful and ever present in our lives, no matter the circumstances. My prayer for them is that they will sense His presence and that they will once again find the Hope and Peace that comes from trusting Him.

Daily Thoughts

Post Mothers Day Blues

Chocolate Castles2 Comments

The cards are all lined up on the mantel, the flowers still adorn the table and the “all about me” day is behind for yet another year. This weekend was almost as good as my birthday or Christmas except that I didn’t have to cook or wrap presents…it was all about me. Now, I know that by my age, it shouldn’t always be about me, but it was just so much fun to have Randy declare that the whole weekend could be “junk food” weekend, just for me. We began Saturday morning at the Donut Man shop, where we loaded up on fresh strawberry donuts and proceeded to Steinmart where I found a couple of clothing items I just couldn’t live without. Then we headed to Costco where we sampled our way through the store, ending up sharing a hotdog and coke. We were so tired from all the carbs that we went home and took a nap and was so excited to see a couple of packages on the doorstep. This is just a great weekend. After we slept long enough to be hungry again, he asked where I would want to go eat and I quickly said, Sahara’s…my fav place for lebanese food. Going to bed totally stuffed, we woke up and went to church, then I had my choice of where to go for lunch. We ended up going to have mexican food as I will be in Phoenix the rest of the week where I will be lucky to have frozen pizza or boxed macaroni and cheese. Eric, my son-in-law, tells me that he doesn’t feel sorry for me having to eat what he gets every day, he just always tells me, “welcome to my world.”

The afternoon brought laughter and joy as we FaceTimed with our kids in Orlando, texted back and forth with kids that told me, I called you yesterday so do I have to call you today? Are they not just the most precious children…we are so proud.

That night, the sadness of “my day” almost being over, Randy told me that to end the celebration, I could have my choice, one more time this weekend of how I wanted to end the day. If you have ever had Houston’s Key Lime Pie, you will know why I choose that as my last Mothers Day present. That pie is just the most delicious pie in the world. So we went and got two pieces, brought them back home, turned on the television and ate while we watched the season finale  (recorded from Fri night) of Red Widow. If you were like us and thrived on watching Jack every week on 24, you would love this show. We both had to swallow a bottle of tums before we could lie down to sleep. But it was so worth the heartburn.

Today, as I crawled out of bed, knowing that the scales would certainly not be my friend today, I didn’t even glance at them, instead I walked over to Randy and told him that I was a little down because “my day” wouldn’t come again for another year. He looked at me and just shook his head.

Because we didn’t have enough tummy room or time to get in all the junk food places that I wanted to go over the weekend, he pulled out the Baskin Robbins coupon, buy one sundae/get one free and told me that tonight, if I would promise to not pout Tues morning, he would take me tonight to get my “last MD present”…a hot fudge sundae….and you ask yourself, does pouting really work? Either it does, or it his secret celebration that I am leaving home for a week…I wonder….

Starches · Vegetables

Pecan-Parsley Rice

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If I think about what I would love to have on Mothers Day, Rice is right up there along with ham, fried chicken or roast, of which this recipe would compliment.

The recipes I have posted this week were recipes that I thought would be great to have this Sunday when we celebrate memories and Mom’s.

Hoping each of you a most blessed and wonderful Mothers Day……

1 tables butter

1/4 cup minced onion

2 (6 oz) packages long grain and wild rice blend*seasoning packets discarded or save for another time.

4 cups chicken broth

1/2 cup water

3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted

1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley

1/2 teas salt

1/2 teas black pepper

1/2 teas lemon zest

2 tables fresh lemon juice

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and add onion, cooking until onion is transparent and soft.

Add rice, stirring constantly for about 1 min. Stir in broth and 1/2 cup water.  Bring to a boil; cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 25 min or until liquid is absorbed and rice is tender.

Remove from heat and add pecans and next 5 ingredients, fluffing with fork.

*Using Uncle Ben’s Long Grain and Wild Rice Blend if possible

Daily Thoughts

Mothers Day Memories

Chocolate Castles3 Comments

Mothers Day almost conjures up more emotions regarding family than Christmas or Thanksgiving. When I received a phone call this morning from one of our children wondering if we were going to be home in the morning for a delivery, my ears and my heart perked up. Remembering through the years of some of the Mothers days are bringing back some sweet, some funny and some not so sweet or funny memories.

When Jason was about 6, he and his older cousin walked to a store about a block from our house. They had taken their money to go find the perfect gift for their moms. Upon opening the present on Sunday, my eyes fell on one of the gaudiest and largest necklaces that I had ever seen, yet, being the “great mom” I was, I oohed and ahh’d over it like it was a strand of pearls. Wore it to church and tried to wear it when I went places that I figured I would hopefully not run into anyone I knew. The cousin’s mom had a different reaction. She told her son that it was just the most awful thing she had seen and made him take it back to the store. That broke my heart for my nephew. Then there were the years that Jodi, in her sweet little gesture, would hunt around the house for something and put it in a box and give to me. It was those times that the acting of being surprised and pleased would have qualified me for an academy award. Jamin seemed to not be into presents and felt that if he went through Mothers Day without me having to spank or yell at him, that was his gift to me. Truly it was.

As the years have gone by, there have been times when Mothers day was just perfect. Most of the kids would be with us, (some living out of town) and we would sit outside watching grandkids play and receiving cards that sounded like they were written by Martha Stewart herself. You knew that the kids were just there for the free meal they didn’t have to cook and they were getting free babysitting. Kids are smart. They know that if they come over to eat, Nana and Pops would insist that the precious little ones remain behind for awhile. So before the last of the dessert is off the plate, they are out the door and now I was left to clean up the dishes, entertain grandkids and try to figure out what to do with all the leftovers. I would spend the rest of the day thinking to myself, “wow, am I a great Mom or what?”

A few years ago, when I was really missing our kids not all living in the same town, there was a knock at the front door on Friday before Mothers Day, Jamin and Tina had bought me a beautiful bracelet and was having it delivered. One of Jamin’s friends’ mom had died and I guesst that made him think about that time in the future of loss of someone dear to him. Because of him experiencing his friends sorrow, he wrote a sweet card to tell me his feelings along with a beautiful bracelet that I cherish to this day.

Isn’t it interesting that when we are young, the thought of just receiving a photo as a gift didn’t mean that much, but as the years go by, that has become one of my most treasured gifts from family. Pictures are the belongings that we never mind dusting. I remember the first year that I received cards from Christi and Cameron. That meant the world to me, as I had just married their dad and to think that they were sending me such a sweet thoughts made me so thankful of the blessing that they had become to me in such a short time.

Today, because we are such a far distance from our children/grandchildren, we would love to have the gift of being able to have them all in one place. One of our favorite memories came a couple of years ago when we were all in Dallas because of a funeral. All the kids were present. The church was about an hour away from Dallas so we were in a couple of cars, following each other. Since we arrived a little early to our destination, we decided to stop for a coke before proceeding to the church. One of our children, (I won’t mention his name, but he is only related to us by marriage, and oh yes, by love) gave his order to the “box” at the drive through window in a voice that had a rather strange accent. Let’s just say that he would have qualified for being on Duck Dynesty. We all got so tickled that we were doubled over. We swore that we wouldn’t tell anyone that we had laughed like that, after all, we were headed to a funeral. But it is times like that that seem to linger in our minds of the sweetness, the friendship and love that builds among your adult children. Those are the memories that outshine any gift. Yes, sometimes I admit I do have visions of what I would consider the perfect meal, if it were just being cooked for me, or thoughts of gifts I would receive that show me how much my children “love me”, but…the memories of being with them top all those expectations. Well, guess I should wait until after tomorrow to see what is being delivered before I really decide on that last  statement….hum….memories; or a giant box of chocolates or cupcakes or fruit, or a trip, oh my, maybe it is a trip, or……

Uncategorized

Jalapeño Corn Casserole

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Delicious and from a lady in Huntsville, Texas comes this great recipe for corn. Include it in your Mothers Day buffet. There won’t be any left.

4 (15.25 oz) cans whole kernel corn, drained

1/2 cup butter

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened

1 cup canned evaporated milk

4 tables flour

4 jalapeños, seeded and chopped (now, if you are so inclined and do not like jalapeños, use a small can of chopped green chiles.  Still “kicks” it up a notch.

Preheat oven to 400

Place corn evenly in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish, which you have spayed with Pam.

In small saucepan, combine butter and cream cheese, stirring until butter and CC is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in milk and flour and continue coming until mixture is smooth and creamy, about 5 minutes.

Stir in jalapeños or green chiles. Pour butter mixture over corn; mix well. Bake for 30 minutes or until bubbly and edges begin to brown lightly. 

Uncategorized

Strawberry Pretzel Salad

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Celebrity Resturant in Dallas drew in hundreds of ladies each day with this salad, which was served alongside chicken salad sandwiches.  With Mothers Day in 4 days, what better way to celebrate Mom, ( oh my, that’s me, I think I will make me a strawberry pretzel salad) with a delicious salad that is good enough to have for dessert. 

2 cups thin pretzel sticks, coarsely crushed

3/4 cup butter, melted

3/4 plus 2 tables sugar, divided

1 (8 0z) package cream cheese, softened

1 (8 oz) tub of Cool Whip, thawed

2 1/2 cups cold water, divided

1 (6 oz) package strawberry jello (not sugar free)

2 cups frozen sliced strawberries, thawed and drained well

Preheat oven to 350.

Spread pretzels evenly in the bottom of a 9×13″ baking dish. In a small bowl, combine butter and 2 tables sugar and pour evenly over pretzels; bake for 10 minutes.

Remove from oven and allow pretzels to cool to room temp.

In a medium bowl, beat cream cheese, whipped topping and remaining 3/4 cup sugar at medium speed with mixer until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over pretzels.

In a medium saucepan, bring 2 cups cold water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add strawberry gelatin, stirring until completely dissolved. Remove from heat; add remaining 1/2 cup cold water and sliced strawberries. Let cool. Pour over cream cheese mixture. Chill overnight, covered. Cut into squares to serve and garnish with whipping cream and fresh strawberries. 

Cakes · Desserts · Fruit

Fruit Cocktail Cake (aka Fruit of the Month Club)

Chocolate Castles2 Comments

I have finally figured out how to get my hubby to eat fruit. All it takes is a stick of butter, 2 cups sugar, pecans and whipping cream. He has never really liked fruit except cherry pie or homemade peach ice cream, but I hid fruit in this cake and he is just healthy as a horse after eating all the fruit that is hidden in it. After he had eaten a piece of cherry pie Randy  use to proudly sit back in his chair, leaning away from the table and announce that he had just had his fruit for the month.

Picking up a old Paula Deen Magazine yesterday, I came across this recipe which I haven’t seen since the 70’s. I use to make it because it was easy and a way to get the kids to eat a little fruit. It really is a great cake and topped with ice cream even makes it better. Of course, what doesn’t taste better with ice cream or whipping cream? I could probably eat liver if it had enough whipping cream on it. But on to the recipe:

Makes 12-15 Servings

1 1/4 cups sugar

1/2 cup veggie oil

2 large eggs

2 cups flour

2 teas baking soda

1/2 teas salt

1 (15.25 oz) can fruit cocktail, undrained

1/2 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Coconut Frosting (recipe follows)

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly spray a 13×9 in baking dish. In a large bowl, beat sugar, oil and eggs at medium speed with mixer until fluffy.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually add to sugar mixture, beating well. Batter will be thick. Stir in fruit cocktail and pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle evenly with coconut and bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until middle checks out done. Pour the coconut frosting over cake while cake is hot. Cool completely. Cut into squares to serve.

Frosting:

3/4 cup sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter

1/2 cup whipping cream or evaporated milk (not condensed)

1/2 cup sweetened coconut

1 teas vanilla

2/3 cup chopped pecans

In medium saucepan, combine sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil and boil for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in vanilla, coconut and nuts. Spread over cake evenly. Cool cake to serve. securedownload-4

Daily Thoughts

Mother May I?

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Remember playing this as a child? As a game, the rules were that we had to ask permission before we did what the leader wanted us to do.

Now, as a mom, when we hear those sweet little words, “Mother may I”, our hearts grow so tender as we stare down at the precious child that is so thoughtful that he/she is actually asking permission before they write on the walls or stuff a unwanted toy down the toilet. I remember my sons running in one day and asking, “mother, may we play in the water” assuming that they meant outside. I went on about my business of laundry and cooking and in a minute i heard Jamin tell Jason, “oh no, let’s get out of here”. I went to where the patter of little feet were running and looked down the hallway to see water filling up the floor as water was running out of the bathroom and down the hall. The sweet little 3 and 5 year olds had stuffed towels in the sink so water would stay in the sink for them to float their little plastic boats. But becoming bored, they ran off to play with something else, forgetting that the water was still running in the sink.

Then one day after I had come home from the hospital after having a miscarriage, I was still having to be in bed for a couple of days when my cousin, from Florida, called to cheer me up. Had not talked to Marion in quite a while so when the boys came in to ask me, “mother, may we play outside on the driveway and porch” I, being the wonderful, loving mother that I was, said, “of course sweeties, just don’t go out into the street and stay on the driveway and porch.” “of course, mother dear”. Well, I went back to telling Marion all about the hospital stay and how all the emotions that we were dealing with of losing the baby. After hanging up the phone, I decided to go see what the little darlings were doing on the porch as they had been outside for quite awhile. They met me right inside the front door yelling, “mom, come and see the footprints we made”! Well, how cute is this going to be, using their little imaginations to make footprints. Oh these boys just make me so proud. When I opened the front door, (and you can imagine what I looked like, having been in bed for a couple of days, after being in the hospital) I immediately saw several neighbors standing outside looking, laughing and pointing and a couple even had cameras and were snapping pictures. All down the front porch, down the sidewalk and down the drive way were the contents of a huge box of Kotex that they had peeled off the strip of adhesive and pressed them to the concrete making “footprints” all down the driveway and down the sidewalk. In those days the hospital would send you home with boxes of 48 count Kotex after babies or miscarriages. These precious little angels had got both boxes and used the entire contents to mark a path, “in case they got lost and needed to find their way home.” That was their story and they were sticking to it. After this, I would be taking them way to far for them to ever find their way home, no matter how many footprints they had left.

These days, when the grandchildren ask “grandma, may I…..?” I shut them off in mid sentence and tell them to just turn on the television or play video games. I would rather deal with the guilt of them being on the computer for hours than with me cleaning up their little innocent messes.  Age and experience has taught me that when they are sweet enough to ask permission for something, it is usually going to be something that will make me have to clean up something. Guess that is why God gave them such adorable little faces, we just cannot possibly stay mad at them when we glance down at those innocent eyes, no matter the mess we have to clean.

Remember when Mother’s day arrives this Sunday and the bedroom door opens with little Oliver or Penelope standing there with a tray of breakfast that they are bringing you, there is a huge mess waiting for you in the kitchen. But….you will be able to rest when they are in college in a few years. it is then that you will forget all about the messes and the arguments; it is then that you love seeing them walk through the door, holding a huge bag of dirty clothes and say, “mother may I… get you to wash these?” The circle of life, laundry and love…it makes a mom so happy to be a mom.