Home Cooking and Common Sense

I always thought it was 'cheating' to buy store bought foods to take to family gatherings.  Being from the South, the Land of Home Cookin, I felt it was necessary to knock myself out cooking all week before Christmas or Thanksgiving.  The house had to be clean. The decorations had to be done a certain way.  blah blah  Now the reality is shortcuts are necessary.  Shopping trips are shortened and I dont have the patience for crowds.  MS and Fibromyalgia can take the fun out of a lot of events if you or others expect too much.  Thanks to Pinterest, I have discovered the 'poke cakes'.  Today I am making Coconut Cakes.  They will be divided into 2 disposable cake pans with lids and.....put into the freezer!  Freezing ahead of time is something I never did because fresh is always better but this recipe is great for freezing.  I did a test run.  It was as good as fresh baked when taken from the freezer a month later. 

Coconut Poke Cake

Mix your favorite yellow cake mix , I like Ginger Evans brand, following directions on the box. If the mix only calls for 2 eggs add an extra one.  Pour into 2, 8" disposable cake pans.  Bake as directed.
Remove from oven when done and immediately poke it full of holes. I used the handle of a large spoon.

Mix one regular size box of instant vanilla pudding according to the directions. Add 1/2 teaspoon of coconut flavoring.  I used Watkins brand.  Only mix the pudding until it is slightly thickening.  Pour immediately into the 2 cakes. Tap the bottom of the pans lightly so the pudding will sink into the holes.

Sprinkle with sweetened flake coconut.  Spread whipped topping over the top and finish with lots more coconut.  About 1  1/2 cups for the 2 cakes.

Add the plastic tops and dont forget to label. Pop in the freezer. Thaw a day ahead in the fridge.  2, 8" cakes will travel better than one large cake in these aluminum pans.  Use your imagination for other flavors.  My family has been impressed with these cakes and so easy to make.

Christmas Flowers

Some pink camellias to decorate my mantel.

Create and Survive

I just realized my title has been used by a lot of people. Survival of the Craftiest.  Maybe I should change it to Longest Survivor ?  Anyway, crafting is a great way to take your mind off chronic illnesses, to make gifts for others and for some people (not me) a great way to make some extra money.  You cant do anything ????  If you are sitting around anyway you may as well explore some instruction videos and see what looks interesting.  If you keep a journal, make a little drawing on each entry.  Who knows ?  You may have some hidden talent and it only takes some dollar store purchases to get started.  Colored pencils, pens, a notebook and you have begun.  Dont forget to buy a pencil sharpener.  Create!

Girls Poodle Purse

https://www.etsy.com/listing/115353591/pink-poodle-zebra-purse

ReNew and ReUse It

 Add a touch of nature to an old wreath.  I painted some fresh magnolia leaves with a pearlized white paint.  After twisting some wire around leaves I wired them to an old wreath I had purchased from a thrift store.

 Painted bundles of twigs with a stip of muslin tied around them was added last.  I just used what I had on hand.  You can spray paint the leaves and use a glue gun to stick them onto the wreath.  Mine had a metal base so I had to use the wire wrap method.  This will look great of the outside of this door !