Nana's Parlor: June 2014

Monday, June 30, 2014

Last Day of June

A view of my one china cabinet.

Hi Everyone,

Today is the last day of June, hard to believe. The sun is shining and it is beautiful outside. Sorry it has been a few days since I last posted. Last week was busy and Jim and I had to go to the funeral home on Friday. My younger sister's mother-in-law passed away. The family is doing ok.

Yesterday was a wonderful day. The evening and the morning church services were wonderful. Jim and I did go out for dinner after the morning service.

This is a short post, but I did want to let you all know where I have been lately. Thanks for stopping by and visiting here in Nana's Parlor. Stop by any time you are always welcome.

Love, hugs, and God bless you,
Janet (Kristy, Abby, Dulcie and Ngan's Nana)

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Warm, Sunny Tuesday

Hi Everyone,

Today it is warm (almost too warm) and sunny here in Vandergrift, PA. Praising and thanking the Lord for air condition.

Last night was the final class for Course 2 of cake decorating. I have posted a picture of my decorated cake on my kitchen blog. I invite you to go over and check out the cake. I also tell you a little about how I made the cake and the decorations.

Next week I plan on trying a different recipe for some cupcakes. When I do I will post the information along with pictures.

Well I am going to run. Thanks so much for stopping by and visiting me here in Nana' Parlor. You are always welcome, stop by any time.

Love, hugs and God bless you,
Janet (Kristy, Abby, Dulcie and Ngan's Nana)

Monday, June 23, 2014

Pineapple Cake

Hi Everyone,

I just finished icing my pineapple cake for tonight's class. We will decorate our cakes in class tonight. I will take a picture and post it either later tonight or tomorrow.

I still have to pack my bag with all the stuff I need for tonight's class. You would be surprised what you need to take to cake decorating class, besides the cake. We have fun though. Everyone is friendly and we laugh and just have a good old time.

Well I know this is a short post, but it is back to work. I still have to finish the laundry. Thanks for stopping by here at Nana's Parlor. You are always welcome. Check out my kitchen blog tomorrow for pictures of my cake.

Love, hugs, and God bless you,
Janet (Kristy, Abby, Dulcie and Ngan's Nana)

Sunday, June 22, 2014

Quick Post

Hi Everyone,

This is a quick post to let you know that I have posted pictures of my cupcakes on my kitchen blog along with how I made the cupcakes. Check it out and try the recipes they are delicious.

Today it is a beautiful sunny day here in Vandergrift, PA. I hope that where ever you are you are having a great and sunny day.

Got to run. Thanks for stopping by here at Nana's Parlor. Stop by any time you are always welcome here in Nana's Parlor.

Love, hugs, and God bless you,
Janet (Kristy, Abby, Dulcie and Ngan's Nana)

Friday, June 20, 2014

Sunny Friday

Hi Everyone,

What a beautiful day it is today here in Vandergrift, PA. I was in the kitchen this morning and part of this afternoon preparing buttercream frostings for my baking day tomorrow. For my recipes check out my kitchen blog. However the decadent peanut butter buttercream is not totally my own.

Tomorrow I will be baking my Reese's Peanut Butter Cup cupcakes and my Hawaiian Delight cupcakes. I will also post those recipes after tomorrow. The buttercream recipes I will post today.

Tonight Jimmy, Brittany and our precious little Dulcie will be over for supper. We are having grilled steaks, Potato Basil Puree and a garden fresh salad. This is the first time for me to make the potato puree. I got the recipe for it from the Barefoot Contessa show with Ina Garten.

Well I am going to post those recipes on my kitchen blog and I invite you to head on over and check them out. Thanks for stopping by and visiting, you are always welcome here in Nana's Parlor. Stop by any time.

Love, hugs, and God bless You,
Janet (Kristy, Abby, Dulcie and Ngan's Nana)

Thursday, June 19, 2014

Rainy Thursday

Hi Everyone,

Yes it is raining out today. Well at least the garden and the flowers are getting a good drink of water. Our red lilies are starting to bloom. They are so beautiful. The irises are done for the year. My pink lilies will be blooming soon, I can't wait they are my favorite.

Today Jackie and her Mom is coming over and we are going to practice making flowers for our final cake decorating class for Course 2. We are having so much fun. I am going to decorate my cake with lilies. I will take photos and post them after Monday.

Well I know this is short, but I am going to run for now. Thanks for stopping by and visiting. You are always welcome here at Nana's Parlor. Stop by any time.

Love, hugs, and God bless You,
Janet (Kristy, Abby, Dulcie and Ngan's Nana)

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

It Has Been A While

Hi Everyone,

Yes it has been a while since I have post. I have been really busy. Last week Jim and I went on vacation and all of May and now June I have been taking cake decorating class with Wilton at the Michael's at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall. I will also be taking classes in July and probably August. I have been having a great time. This Sunday at church my son and his wife are hosting a bake sale fundraiser for a missionary couple from our church. They have asked me to bake cupcakes so I will be able to apply some of what I have learned. Sometime next week I will post pictures and recipes on my kitchen blog. I will let everyone know.

Another one of my adventures that I am involved in is the knitting ministry at church. Well it is more than knitting, it involves other sewing skills. We mainly make baby blankets for new babies that are born in our church, we make hats, scarves and gloves for those kids who ride our buses to church and we make lap blankets for those in the nursing homes. Our big project we are working on now is making blankets for the missionaries who will be attending our missions conference in October. Each of us in the group is making a blanket for a different missionary. I will be making one for one of our missionaries to Japan. As a group we are making a wall hanging for the guest speaker, Dr. Sisks and his wife. I will take pictures when every thing is done and post them here, probably some time in September or October.

So as you can see I have been busy, but I am loving it. Well I am going to close for now. Thanks for stopping by and visiting. You are always welcome here in Nana's Parlor. Stop by anytime.

Love, hugs, and God bless You,
Janet (Kristy, Abby, Dulcie and Ngan's Nana)

Pat Catan Shopping Haul

Strawberry Cake with Strawberry Glaze

1 box of Jiffy Yellow Cake mix
1/2 cup of Strawberry Jam
1/4 cup of Strawberry Jam
1/4 cup of Strawberry Jam
3/4 stick of butter

Mix cake mix according to package directions. Put 1/2 cup of Strawberry Jam in blender and blend till smooth. Mix in to cake batter. Pour into 9x9 greased and floured cake pan. Put 1/4 cup of Strawberry Jam in blender and blend till smooth and drizzle over cake batter. Bake at 350 degrees. While the cake is baking chop butter into blender, add 1/4 cup of Strawberry Jam and blend till smooth. Put aside. Keep at room temperature.

When cake is baked, cool slightly drizzle the butter and jam mixture over cake and let cool. Cut and serve with coffee, tea, or milk. Yummy!

Chocolate Mayo Cake

2 1/4 c. of all-purpose flour

1 2/3 c. sugar

1 1/4 c. milk

3 1/2 t. of baking powder

1 t. of salt

1 t. vanilla or almond extract

1 c. mayo

Mix altogether. Pour into a greased and floured cake pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hr. and 10 minutes or till a knife inserted comes out clean. Cool and frost. (Mayo takes the place of shortening or butter and eggs.)

Buttercream Chocolate Frosting

3 c. of powder sugar

1/2 c. of butter softened

2 t. vanilla

3 ounces of cocoa

3-4 T. milk

Beat together all ingredients until smoot. Frost cooled cake, cut and serve.

ENJOY!!!

Chocolate Mint Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe is so easy and quick to make and taste delicious.

1 Pre-made Pie crust from Phillsbury
butter (enough for other ingredients to stick)
1/4 - 1/2 cupbrown sugar
1 - 2 Tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 - 3/4 cup chopped chocolate mint chips

Unroll the pie crust and roll to make it a little thinner. Spread with butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Top with chopped chocolate mint chips. Roll and place on a greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees till light golden brown. Cool, cut and serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Serve with coffee, tea or milk. Delicious!!!

Chicken Au Graten Potato Casserole

This is a quick and easy casserole.

1 box of Betty Crocker au Graten Potatoes. Prepare as directed on package.
1 - 2 cups of small cubed, cooked chicken
1/2 - 1 cup of small cubed mild cheddar cheese.

After you prepare the potatoes according to the package, add the chicken and mix. Top with the cubed cheese and cover. Bake covered in a 425 degree oven. 5 minutes before done take cover off to brown the top.

Serve with a salad or other vegetable. Yummy! Great way to use leftover chicken or turkey.

Other meats that can be substituted: cubed ham, canned tuna or salmon, cooked ground meat. If you have a few leftover hamburgers, cube them and added to the casserole. Be creative!

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