Loving the least of these.....

David and I have decided to open our home and foster children that are in the foster care system here in WV. There are over 5k children in the foster care system in WV. That's more than KY and OH combined. That number is staggering, and most of us can't fathom how anyone could harm these kids. Well honestly its not the parents. Why you ask? Well it is, but its the drugs. The drugs have taken over and are the driving force for all bad decisions made by these parents. The drugs have lied to these parents by making them 'feel good' but in reality are tearing their families apart right in front of them all the while they are passed out or looking where to get their next fix. It is so easy to pass judgement on these parents, but we need to remember they are people and are addicts. Are they blameless? NO, absolutely not but these drugs have a hold on these individuals, a strong grasp that will not let go. This is by far the top reason why kids are put into foster care, the others well.. Satan. In the bible Matthew chapter 7 brings this home.

 How did we come to the decision to foster? Honestly God put it on our hearts as a true calling. We had talked about it for awhile. I knew I wanted my own kids first so I could learn how to love like a mom. Then I started seeing it everywhere. I remember seeing a snippet on the news in 2014 about a sibling group in need of a foster/adoptive family and to reach out to Mission WV. They sent me information and told me to contact West Virginia Deptartment of Health and Human Services (DHHR). I did that (2015) and the woman that answered me was very short tempered and I felt put off and sortof tabled the idea of fostering. God however was not about to let us off that easy. Then there was a sign placed at the end of our rd (all of 2016) it said, "Foster families needed, contact (and a number was provided)" I saw it day in and day out and it kept nagging at me. I ignored it. Again, God was not going to let us off. I had a MOPS (Moms of Preschoolers) meeting in November 2016. The original speaker had backed out and they quickly found a replacement and it happened to be Necco. Needless to say I was stunned. God had called me out and I felt like she was speaking directly to me. I came home that evening and told David, found the little movie she shared at the talk that morning 'Removed.' If your interested 'Removed II.' The rest is history!

We just finished our WV PRIDE mandatory classes and have our final walk thru and safety audit of our house on February 8, 2016. All I have to say when its God putting something on your heart you know and it will not go away and will always find you.

 Reminds me of the story of Jonah, and how he ran away and God found him and eventually he did what God asked of him.

 Till next time- Caryn

Homemade Pita Bread!

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup warm water
1 tablespoon yeast
3 -3 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp salr
2 tbsp olive oil

In medium mixing bowl combine yeast and warm water, whisk - let sit for 5 mins till yeast dissolves.

In small mixing bowl combine 1 cup flour and salt.

Add that to the yeast mixture, stir until flour gets worked in.
add flour cup at a time till well mixed, flour needs to remain a little moist.
Turn out onto floured surface and knead until elasticy.
Roll into ball - elongate a little and then divide into 6 pieces.
take each of those 6 pieces and roll into round ball.



Then take one ball at a time and with rolling pin - roll out into a 8 inch diameter

Now put each dough disc on a oiled cookie sheet, brush with olive oil and let rest/rise for 30-40 minutes.

Preheat oven to 425. Cook 9 minutes. (i check at 7 mins.)
Should start to raise, once out of the oven - let cool and then cut in half and use knife to cut open the pocket more.

French Toast Casserole

Makes one 9 x 13 pan

Ingredients

1 stick of melted butter

1 cup of pecans (i crush mine a little)

1 cup of brown sugar

1 large loaf of french bread (1 day old a little stale)

6 large eggs

3 cups of milk

2 tsp of vanilla extract

cinnamon and powdered sugar to sprinkle over top

1.) Mix in the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish the melted butter, pecans, and brown sugar. Spread evenly over bottom.

2.) slice the french bread into 2 inch slices and place over the top of the mixture in your casserole dish. (don't be afraid to squish it in)

3.) In a medium bowl combine eggs, milk and vanilla, till well incorporated. 

4.) pour evenly over the top of the bread. 

5.) Sprinkle with cinnamon. 

6.) cover and let sit in refrigerator over night. 

7.) bake at 350 *F for 45 min. **FLIP the bread pieces over about halfway through baking.** I usually sprinkle again with cinnamon.

8.) Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with warm syrup! 

9.) ENJOY!

***How to toast walnuts (or any nut)

1.) Preheat oven to 350
2.) Put the amount of desired nuts on cookie sheet
3.) put them in the oven on the middle rack
4.) WATCH CLOSELY - should take about 5-7 mins. DO NOT LET THEM BURN.
5.) they will be slightly browned.
6.) take out and let cool.

ONE BOWL Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies

yields about 2 dozen cookies

Ingredients:

1 stick of unsalted, softened butter
2 tbsp + 2 tsp of shortening
1/2 cup of packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of white granulated sugar
1 large egg
1  1/4 tsp of vanilla
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1  2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 cup (or more) of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts ( i used toasted walnuts)


1.) In a bowl i use the hand mixer, blend the shortening and butter together till well incorporated.
2.) next add the brown sugar and white sugar, blend that till smooth.
3.) add the egg, and vanilla blend till incorporated
4.) Sprinkle the baking soda, and salt, again mix until incorporated.
5.) Slowly add the flour, a little at a time.
6.) with a wooden spoon fold in the chocolate chips, and nuts.
7) Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet for 8-10 minutes at 375* For until golden brown.
8.) Let cool slightly and enjoy!

Homemade Cheese Sauce (for Mac and Cheese)

Ingredients

2 tbsp salted butter

1 tbsp flour

1 cup milk

2 handful (or more) of shredded cheese (till desired amount of cheesiness) (any cheese you want)

Directions

• In a medium sauce pan, medium heat melt butter (not to boiling or sizzling) just melted.
• then add 1 tbsp of flour whisk continuous till well incorporated. do not let burn
• once hot and mixed thoroughly add milk. Continue to whisk until a low boil. and becomes a little thicker
• once it has thickened add cheese at least a couple handfuls but make as cheesy as you want.
• keep whisking till all is incorporated.
• turn off heat. If you want it thinner you could add more milk or to thicken - more cheese or put over heat to make hot again and then pour over pasta etc.
• Salt and pepper to desired taste

**do not let sit through entire process while on the heat. KEEP WHISKING.

Cheese sauce

Broccoli Mac and Cheese

Spiced Apple Cake

AMAZINGNESS!

4 peeled, cored and diced Granny Smith apples
1/2 cup of light brown Sugar
1/2 white sugar
2 tsp of white granulated sugar
1 egg (beaten)
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts***
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/4 cup of shortening (or healthy version - Unsweetened applesauce)

Dry ingredients
1 cup of all purpose white flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp of baking soda
1/4 tsp of salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp Apple Pie Spice

1.) Preheat oven to 350 and grease and flour an 8x8 inch pan. (glass or metal)
2.)  Take peeled, cored, and diced apples and put in a microwave safe bowl and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Poke several holes with a knife for vents.
3.) Microwave apples for 5 minutes on high
4.) Meanwhile combine dry ingredients in a medium sized bowl.
5.) In a large bowl, cream the shortening (or unsweetened applesauce), brown sugar and beaten egg.
6.) Take the cooked apples out of the microwave, throw away the plastic wrap.
7.) Pour the apples into a medium sauce pan and cook on stove on medium/high till all the water has evaporated. (about 5-7 mins). Take off heat. Let apples cool about 2-3 mins.
8.) To the 'creamed' mixture (from step 4) add apples, chopped toasted nuts, vanilla, and sift in the dry ingredients. Mix with a wooden spoon until just combined. **do not over mix or you will create too much gluten and cake will be tough**
9.) Spoon batter evenly into 8x8 pan. Sprinkle 2 tsp of granulated white sugar evenly over the top,
10.) Bake in 350 oven for 35-40 minutes - or until toothpick comes out clean.
May be served hot or cold. With or without whipped cream.

***How to toast walnuts (or any nut)
1.) Preheat oven to 350
2.) Put the amount of desired nuts on cookie sheet
3.) put them in the oven on the middle rack
4.) WATCH CLOSELY - should take about 5-7 mins. DO NOT LET THEM BURN.
5.) they will be slightly browned.
6.) take out and let cool.