Blueberry Muffins

I have to apologize…

I forgot to mention this when I did my birthday post which you can find here.

When I got back from my morning run with the dogs, 

Kyle told me his mom was delivering blueberry muffins to us for breakfast.

Five minutes later I was eating one of these.

I LOVE muffins! 

I don't know what it was…maybe I was refreshed after my run, or I just simply didn't have to worry about feeding everyone breakfast but these muffins were SO good!!!

My kids loved them!

They weren't sweet, full of sugar muffins you buy at the store.

They were just right. 

The blueberries gave them all the sweetness they needed.

So…thank you, Mrs. Susan for introducing us to the most requested "muppins" from the Barfield bunch here on Juice Plant.

Thankfully, they are super easy to make! 

It's blueberry season, so grab you some at the store or pick you some fresh ones and get busy in the kitchen.

These muffins will not disappoint.

Now I took some cheesy photos while I made these.

I served them with bacon and eggs for Kyle on Father's Day.

Well the day before Father's Day…

Here we go!

I got out all my ingredients.

I'm sure you have most of it in your kitchen already.

Self-rising flour, sugar, eggs, vegetable oil, milk, and blueberries…

Mix your dry ingredients (flour and sugar) in one bowl, and your wet ingredients (all the other ingredients minus the blueberries) in another bowl. 

Dump in your blueberries. 

The recipe calls for one cup. 

I think I used around one and half cups.

Gently fold your blueberries into the batter.

Then put the mixture in your greased muffin pans. 

Fill them about two-thirds full of batter.

I was able to make eighteen large muffins, so there are plenty to share.

Unless your brothers show up hungry and eat them all. :)

Bake the muffins at 400 degrees for 15-18 minutes. 

And...

Yum!

Like I said I made these for Father's Day, so I served bacon and scrambled eggs with them.

It was a delicious breakfast!

 I hope you will give them a try.

Below is the recipe…

Enjoy!

y Muffins from Southern Living Cookbook

2 cups of self-rising flour

1/4 cup of sugar

1 cup of milk

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1-1 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries

Blueberry Muffins from Southern Living Cookbook

2 cups of self-rising flour

1/4 cup of sugar

1 cup of milk

1/4 cup of vegetable oil

2 large eggs

1-1 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries

Preheat oven on 400 degrees

Mix dry ingredients together.

Mix wet ingredients together.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

Stir until moistened.

Gently fold in the blueberries.

Add batter to greased muffin pan filling 2/3 full.

Preheat oven on 400 degrees

Mix dry ingredients together.

Mix wet ingredients together.

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients.

Stir until moistened.

Gently fold in the blueberries.

Add batter to greased muffin pan filling 2/3 full.

Bake for 15-18 minutes.

ENJOY!

Summer Lovin' Part 3

I hope you all had a great weekend!

We had so much fun with family and friends. 

Konrad stayed in the pool at least 3 hours each day!

He's a fish!

Here are some more pictures from this summer.

We are soaking up every minute we can doing fun things!

Enjoy!

We sure do miss Avoly, but we are so thankful we go to spend time with her before she left for college!

Fun day at Lanes Packing!

My children are serious about dessert around here.

We don't eat dessert every night, but this summer has been full of fudgesicles.

Kyle and Wesley also introduced Konrad to Oreos and milk!

Don't worry!

We eat our fruits and veggies too!

Our garden has been so nice to us this summer!

This mama is thankful to not have to visit the produce department at the grocery store as often!

Watching these two become best friends this summer has been one of the greatest blessings ever! 

To see more pictures from July 4th just click here!

It's going to be fall before you know it!

Honestly I am already getting excited about fall cooking and decorating.

No, i'm not wishing summer away, but I LOVE fall!

I'll be sharing some of my favorite things from fall 2013 soon! 

I want to leave you with these two verses.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

In him and through faith we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

Ephesians 3:12

Lately I have been approaching God with such boldness and confidence.

I can remember when I was a little timid to ask God for guidance and wisdom. I just knew there were more important things for him to do and take care of other than me.

I no longer think like that, because I understand God's love for me. 

I understand that he cares about every detail of our lives.

He expects us to approach him with freedom and grace.

What do you need to talk to God about today?

He cares about every little thing that is on your mind.

If you are his child then he expects us to be bold and confident in His name.

Let him give you the guidance, wisdom, and peace you need 

as you approach Him on the throne!

Happy Monday!

Happy Fourth of July from the Barfields!

 We hope you all have a safe and fun weekend!

Happy Fourth of July!

Truly everyone wants to be free.

For believers the blood of Jesus has set us free!

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. 

Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

John 8:36

Where the Spirit of the Lord is…there is freedom!

Choose to be free today!

These two things are being accomplished in my kitchen today!

Brownie & Fruit Kebabs

You can find the recipe here. 

Ice Cream Sandwich Cake

You can find tho recipe here. 

Choose Freedom!

Happy Fourth!

Love, the Barfields

Sharing Some Recipes

Happy Monday, Everyone! 

It's been a while since I shared some recipes,

 so I thought today would be the perfect day to do just that. 

Let's jump right to it. 

This first recipe was a hit at our house. I was a little worried Kyle wouldn't like this one, but he did. It's super easy and yummy.

Creamy Chicken Broccoli Pie Pockets

You can find the recipe here. 

Now the recipe calls for cooked and shredded chicken. Remember all you have to do is throw some boneless chicken in the crockpot with some salt, pepper, and chicken stock before you leave for work and….it's done when you get home. (cook on low) These pie pockets are delicious. You could really add more veggies too if you wanted! 

We love to eat Mexican food. The days of eating at the Mexican restaurant once a week are over for us, so I am constantly looking for new Mexican recipes. This one is REALLY delicious! It leaves a lot of room for you to add your own little touches too. 

Stuffed Peppers

You can find the recipe here. 

I served these with some spanish rice and a guacamole salad. 

I hope you enjoy these as much as we did. 

And last but not least is a new favorite dessert around here. 

I have made these at least five times in the past month. Now we have not eaten all five pans, but we would have if we needed to. You have to try these. 

Snickerdoodle Blondies

You can find the recipe here. 

Make sure to serve them warm. 

Some Vanilla or Butter Pecan ice cream go quite well with them too!!!

I hope you will try these recipes. They are super easy and delicious! 

Hope you all have a great week! 

Happy Monday!

Breakfast Ideas

Breakfast-it's the most important meal of the day!

While most mornings Kyle and I eat granola bars, Konrad eats yogurt and fruit, and Mary Wesley eats her baby food, there are some mornings that I have time to cook a nice warm breakfast. I wish I had all these healthy breakfast ideas, but I don't. They are hearty, fattening recipes that my family loves. A lot of times when we are on family vacations I will volunteer to wake up and cook breakfast. It's so easy, and i'm up with my kiddos anyways so...why not? During hunting season this past year, I was cooking breakfast a lot. The guys would expect a nice meal when they got through shooting ducks, deer, etc. They chose my cooking over NuWay....sometimes! NuWay is a tradition around here. By the time the kids and I are waking up, Kyle is coming in the door with breakfast he has picked us up from NuWay. 

Anyways, so today I am going to share just some QUICK, EASY breakfast meals you can cook on those special mornings or on those nights when you are craving a breakfast meal. 

The first recipe is a no-brainer. You've all eaten it before.

-The beloved Breakfast Casserole-

Sausage Crescent Breakfast Casserole

1 can of Crescent rolls

1 lb of pork sausage

6 eggs

1/2 cup milk

good pinch of Salt and Pepper

1 1/2 cups of cheddar cheese, shredded

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Brown your sausage in a pan. 

Whisk your eggs, salt and pepper, and milk together in a bowl. 

Lay the Crescent rolls in the bottom of your sprayed (I use PAM) 13X9 dish. Pour the sausage on top of the crescent rolls. Next, pour your egg mixture over the sausage. Sprinkle your cheese on top. 

At this point you can cover and refrigerate till you are ready to cook. 

Then just put it in the oven for 25-30 minutes uncovered. 

Simple and Delicious! 

I normally serve this with my Cream Cheese Grits!

Cream Cheese Grits

These grits are a hit! They are so rich and creamy! 

Cream Cheese Grits

4 cups of milk

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/4 teaspoon of black pepper

1 teaspoon of hot sauce (optional)

I cup of quick cook grits

2 tablespoons of butter

1/4 cup of cream cheese

1 cup of cheddar cheese, shredded

Bring milk, salt, pepper, and hot sauce to a slight boil. When milk is bubbly, reduce heat and whisk in the grits. Continue to whisk till they are thick (about 5 minutes). Next add cream cheese, cheddar cheese, and butter. Stir till melted. Taste and add any necessary seasonings!

You'll never make regular grits again!

Rich and Easy! Enjoy!!!

Another breakfast casserole I like to make comes from one of my best friends, Molly Farmer. I can't remember if she made this for me or just told me about it, but it is super easy and delicious. My mom likes to call it "Lake Martin Casserole" because it was such a hit and easy to whip up before a long day on the lake.

Sausage Crescent and Cream Cheese Casserole
1 can of Crescent rolls
1 lb of sausage
1 block of cream cheese (softened)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Spray an 8X8 pan with PAM. (You can easily put this in a 13X9 pan...just double all the ingredients.) Place half of the crescent dough on the bottom of the pan.

Brown your sausage in a pan.

When the sausage is cooked place the block of cream cheese in the pan. Stir until cream cheese it's melted.

 Place mixture on the top of crescent rolls.

Layer the last of the crescent dough on top.

 Place in the oven for 15 minutes.

QUICK.EASY. DELICIOUS.
Thanks for sharing, Molly!
I hope you all enjoy this.

Other ideas I have for breakfast are popping a batch of Pillsbury cinnamon rolls in the oven. Serve with some cooked bacon and scrambled eggs! How easy is that?
I have recently found these Pillsbury Blueberry Biscuits at the grocery store. Let me tell you what I do. I pop these in the oven. Then I put cream cheese icing on top of them! Oh my goodness...They are  AMAZING! Serve them with some bacon and cream cheese grits!
QUICK.EASY. DELICIOUS.

Let me know if you try any of these breakfast idea. I can promise you they are all delicious. We love breakfast food around our house. Maybe you could surprise your family with a nice Valentine's day breakfast! :)
Next week I will be presenting a two-three post series on packing tips for your little one while you go out of town. Let's admit it...some of you mama's need to pack a little bag and get out of the house for a night or two!
Hope you all have a great weekend!

Coca-Cola Classic

Coke and Meat

Well, the title sounds appealing..right! Who wouldn't want coke and meat? Lately I have been in search of different ways to cook meat. I'll be honest. Cooking fresh vegetables and casseroles and baking cakes and cookies bring me so much pleasure. However, I find no pleasure in handling and cooking meat. It's just my least favorite part of cooking. I've never been a real meat fan anyways. So, to make cooking meat more enjoyable I have become BEST friends with my crockpot. I have been through three crockpots in my life. I love to use them. Investing in one with high quality would probably be smart for me. (I'll add it to my wish list I have going when my children are married and own their own! HA!) 

I just love using my crockpot...

especially for cooking meat. 

Hanging out with our youth one Sunday, I overheard (imagine that...I overhear a lot when i'm around those sweet things!) one of our youth talking about how their mom had a Boston butt and coke in the crockpot at home. At first I was like...What in the world? Who thinks to put coke in a crockpot? Well, my curiosity got me, and the next week I had a Boston butt and coke in my crockpot...and my life hasn't been the same since. It sounds strange, but the more I talk about it...the more people are telling me what other meats you can put with coke in the crockpot.

Ham and Coke

Boston Butt and Coke

Whole Chicken and Coke

Pork Tenderloin and Coke

The possibilities are endless! 

Last week I decided to cook a pork tenderloin in the crockpot. I added a chopped onion and coke. It was really good. You can't really taste the coke, but it makes the meat so tender. It also make a good gravy. I cooked mine on low for eight hours. I think six hours would have been plenty, but I let it go eight. I served steamed broccoli with parmesan cheese and company rice with it. 

I will list the recipe for each item below! 

Pork Tenderloin

1 onion

1 can of coke

1 pork tenderloin

Salt and pepper your meat. Add onion and coke. Cook on low for 8 hours in crockpot. 

Company Rice

4 tablespoons of butter (I only used 2!)

1 can of beef consume

1 can of french onion soup

1 cup of uncooked rice

Preheat oven on 375 degrees. Place the butter in a 13X9 baking dish and let it melt in the oven while your oven is heating. When the butter is melted put the remaining ingredients in the baking dish. Stir them together. Cover the dish with tin foil. Bake on 375 degrees for 30-35 minutes. 

Steamed Broccoli with Parmesan Cheese

fresh broccoli

parmesan cheese (shredded is best)

Steam your broccoli on the stove. Drain the water. Sprinkle with garlic salt, a little bit of olive oil, and parmesan cheese. 

I hope you will venture out and try one of these meats with coke! It will change the way you think about coke and cooking meat! 

I hope you all have a great week! Remember to check back Wednesday to see what we have been up to the last seven days! We've had some LONG nights lately! This mama is in need of sleep! 

I'll leave you with this verse to think on today...

Romans 8: 28-31

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son that height be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

HE is FOR us!!