A Yummy One: Peanut Butter Cake

Here's a recipe that's worth checking out if you're a peanut butter fan! I got this from a Gooseberry Patch book and modified it very slightly. It's called the Peanut Butter Texas Sheet Cake. Here's the recipe (check your fridge for margarine/butter before starting this - the frosting calls for butter too!)

2 c all-purpose flour

2 c sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

1 c butter (I used margarine)

1 c water

1/4 creamy peanut butter

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 c buttermilk (or make your own - a scant 1/2 c milk with 1 1/2 tsp vinegar, let sit 5 minutes)

Combine flour, sugar, salt and b. soda in a large bowl, set aside. Combine butter, water and peanut butter in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Add to flour mixture and mix well, set aside. Combine eggs, vanilla and buttermilk; add to peanut butter mixture. Spread into a greased 15"x 10" jelly-roll pan. (And sprinkle on a few chocolate chips if your little heart so desires!!!) Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes, until it springs back when gently touched. Spread Peanut Butter Icing over warm cake. Makes 15-20 servings.

Peanut Butter Icing:

1/2 c butter

1/4 c creamy peanut butter

1/3 c plus 1 T milk

16 oz. pkg. powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine butter, peanut butter and milk in a saucepan over medium heat; bring to a boil. Remove from heat, stir in powdered sugar and vanilla to spreading consistency. (I ran out of powdered sugar and simply added more peanut butter to thicken it up - my Mom's idea. It worked!)

This recipe may take a little more work than some, but it definitely worthwhile - it's moist and rich and peanut-buttery. Enjoy!!!

I love this flower! It's late November (almost Thanksgiving!) in Wisconsin, and I only took this picture a few days ago. It's only just starting to wilt a little from the cold, even though we've been getting increasingly wintry weather for a couple weeks now. It comes up every year and always keeps blooming well into the fall. Look at those healthy green leaves!

I think the reason for its longevity is because it is so well sheltered. It's tucked right up against a building and has some other plants around it, so it's protected from the wind. The sun probably warms the bricks behind it.

This reminds me of the way God is a refuge for us. If we try to stand on our own, far from Him, we'll wilt in the cold and wind. But if we draw near to Him and seek refuge in Him, trusting Him to take care of us, we'll be sheltered from whatever life throws at us. We'll not just survive in our Christian walk, but thrive if we learn to take advantage of the unshakeable security that God offers His children!

"Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me, for my soul takes refuge in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge until destruction passes by. I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me. He will send from heaven and save me; He reproaches him who tramples upon me. God will send forth His lovingkindness and His truth." Ps. 57:1-3

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!!

Recent Goings On...

So my sister and I randomly decided to decorate our room for autumn last night. It was fun! We gathered leaves, pine cones and branches on our way back from supper, and then scrounged around in the room for other decorations. Here's what we came up with! :)

A huge improvement over the bare white walls!

The leaves are supposed to be drifting down...

One of my favorite parts is probably the turkey up the corner. My Mom sent him last year. :)

All in all, it was a very pleasant Friday evening! :D