Cream cheese stuffed strawberries! After feast 4th of July Dessert.

 Cream Cheese Stuffed Strawberries:

 Perfect dessert after a July 4th feast  

Start with clean washed strawberries. Slice strawberry in star shape not going all the way to the bottom like an X. 

For the filling mix heavy cream and sugar with beaters until stiff and forms peaks. Add cream cheese (I used one cup, may need more depending on how many you're making) and add one tsp of vanilla. Fold together. 

Use a pastry bag to fill the strawberries, like you would frosting. Add blueberries or other fruit you like and Enjoy! Super good and you don't feel so bad eating them. 

Happy fourth of July! I hope you enjoy spending time with the people you love and eating good food. 

Happy 4th of July!! #happy4thofjuly

Happy Independence Day America! 

What do you love most about our great country? 

I love that we are one nation under God. With liberty, and justice for all! 

Thank you to all the men and women that have sacrificed and given their lives to make this country great. 

Thank you to the families that support them! 

May God continue to bless this nation with mercy and grace. 

Happy fourth of July America! Be proud you live in the best country on Earth. :)

#happy4thofjuly

#independenceday

#proudamerican

#godblessamerica

Fourth of July Recipes to try

 

Fourth of July Recipes

"Old Grandma Recipes"

Today's old family recipe is my grandma Marion's Strawberry Pie. It's been passed down from generation to generation. Now, it's not like you can't find this recipe everywhere nowadays but it's still a good one. Perfect for celebrating this 4th with your friends and family and kids love it! 

Strawberry Pie

Ingredients

1 Package of strawberries or 6 cups

1 Cup Sugar

1 Cup Water

Pinch of Salt

4 Tbsp cornstarch

1 Tbsp lemon juice

Step one

Buy or make a pie crust from scratch

Game plan: The dough can be made and baked up to 1 day ahead.
For quicker prep, you can make the dough in a food processor. Add all of the dry ingredients and pulse to combine. Add the butter and pulse until it’s in pea-size pieces. Drizzle in 3 tablespoons of ice water and pulse again. Add more ice water if the dough seems too dry, shape it into a disk, wrap it up, and refrigerate.

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon fine salt
• 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
• 8 tablespoons cold unsalted butter (1 stick), cut into small pieces
• 4 to 5 tablespoons ice water

 Combine the flour, salt, and sugar in a large bowl and stir briefly until the mixture is aerated. Using a pastry blender or your fingers, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it’s in pea-size pieces that are slightly yellow in color, about 4 to 5 minutes.

1. Drizzle in 4 tablespoons of the ice water and mix just until the dough comes together. (Add the last tablespoon of ice water if necessary, but don’t overwork the dough or it’ll become tough.)
2. Shape the dough into a flat disk, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, then use it in the pie or tart recipe of your choice.
3. Bake Pie Crust in the oven. Preheated to 450 for 10-15 mins or until lightly brown. 

Filling

1. Wash and slice strawberries and place in pie crust after it has baked and cooled. 
2. Combine sugar, water, cornstarch and lemon juice in a pot and bring to a boil. Stir consistently
3. Once the mix has cooled a little, pour over strawberries in baked pie crust. 
4. Place in the ice box to chill, after chilled remove and add whip cream to the top.

**Extra ideas**
you can add blueberries to the top and make it more colorful or make a flag or a fun happy face for fourth of July celebrating. 

Need a fun drink to go with that? I found a crazy one! 

This recipe is either real old or real gross because I can't find it anywhere.  Grapes are good, though, so I'm going to give it a shot! 

Grape Juice Polly

Ingredients

1/2 Cup Instant Tapioca

1 1/4 Cup Hot Water

2/3 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Grape Juice

1/2 Cup Whip Cream

1. Combine tapioca, hot water, and sugar in pot and cook on medium until the mixer is clear. 
2. Once mixer is clear, add grape juice
3. Let stand until cold and fold in 1/2 cup whipped cream or more.

Serve over ice or chilled. You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream in the glass and pour Grape Juice Polly over. Yum!! 

Shop at Pearls Before Swine and save money. Christmas isright around the corner!

Shop at Pearls Before Swine and save money with our discounted products. 

We have 23 categories to choose from. Many of our items are discounted, which gives us the opportunity to offer you big saving and with Christmas right around the corner, it's nice to save money and get all the things you need.  

Pearls Before Swine Shop

Oregano's Pizza Bistro review

Last I went out to Oregano's Pizza Bistro in north Scottsdale. I've never eaten there before and was really excited. It was for my boyfriend's best friend. He's getting married, ahh!! :)

The family had rented out this cute cozy backroom. Away from the crowds, which was great. Decorations were beautiful. The food there was outstanding. The pizza was thin and amazing! I had so many slices!

http://www.oreganos.com/index_main.html

Dessert was a warm chocolate chip cookie with vanilla ice cream. Omgosh!! So good!

http://www.oreganos.com/index_main.html

The Original Pizza CookieMore than a 1/2 pound of Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chocolate or White Chocolate Macadamia Nut cookie dough, slightly baked in a 6-inch pizza pan and topped with three scoops of vanilla bean ice cream. This baby serves 2-4.Only 4.99

I'd have to say my favorite was the drink I had. It's called a Bellini. I'm not a wine, champagne drinker at all. Not even a tad bit but this bad boy was the bomb!

The ingredients are peaches and champagne. I put the directions for it down below. Would make a great #poolside, #wedding, #fourth of July #party #drink. So yummy!!

Directions

1. Puree peaches, water, lemon juice and sugar in a blender until smooth. 

2 Fill a champagne flute a quarter full of the puree and then top off with Prosecco, champagne or sparkling wine.

Drink responsibility! Don't drink and drink! :)

Are you a good person? Are you going to Heaven?

Are you a good person?

I think that's a question everyone wonders about at some point in their lives. I sure have, on more than one occasion.  After lots of thought and studying believe I have come to the answer. At least for myself!

So I ask the question again. 

Are you a good person or do you consider yourself a good person? Or others as "oh he's/she's a good person"?

 What makes a person good? 

On what standards do we expect good people to follow?

I've heard people say that time and time again. So I thought I'd give my two cents on the subject. I believe no one is. Yes! you read that correctly, no one is a good person. Here is why I  think so. 

We'll use The Ten Commandments as our first example. Do you know what they are?

Alright. Let's start at number ten and work our way up. 

10. Thou shall not covet thy neighbor's house, wife or possessions. 

Have you ever looked at something someone else has and wanted it? Maybe even a little jealous that they have something you don't. Like a nice house, a great job, cool car, maybe a handsome husband, perfect life?

 . So, you've broken number rule ten and by all standards are not good. It's not good to be jealous or envious. It can make you do or say things that are not good for you or someone else for that matter.

Does a "Good Person" do those things? I'd have to say No. Good people want the best for you and are happy for the good things in your life. 

Moving on.

9. Thou shall not bear false witness.

Ever told a lie? 

We all know the answer to that, so let's keep going! 

8. Thou shall not steal.

Ever stolen anything?

Some of you maybe haven't but I can say for most of us this is a big, YES! 

7. Thou shall not commit adultery. 

Have you ever cheated with another person?

Not just in the flesh. Have you ever fantasized about another person, while with someone else? It's still cheating! 

6. Thou shall not kill. 

Ever killed anything? 

For most of us, hopefully, the answer is no but for others, this may be true. 

5. Honor your father and mother.

Ok. This may be hard for some people who have undergone any pain or abuse from a mother or a father. Honoring them does not have to mean keeping yourself in a bad or dangerous situation just to please them. You can honor people from afar and I believe that counts!

4. Remember the Sabbath Day and to keep it holy. 

Have you ever worked on a Sunday? 

Do you attend church? Read the Bible? 

This again may be hard for some people. I know I certainly have issues with it. 

Does it make you bad to do these things?

Well, it is disobeying God, which is a sin and sin is wrong or not good. So I would say yes. 

Genesis 20 verses 8 to 11. The Hebrews believe that God created the world and everything in it in seven days. However on the seventh day, God rested and commanded His people to do the same and devote themselves entirely unto Him. This is the subject matter of the fourth of the Ten Commandments

3. Thou shall not take the Lord's name in vain.

Ever used God's or Jesus name in vain? Watched a tv show or movie and heard it being used and you continued to watch the show? Well, that's blasphemy and not tolerated by God. 

2. Thou shall not make unto thee any graven images. 

Any images of God or Jesus?

1. Thou shall not love any other gods before me. 

Put anything before God? 

So from what I have just listed. Do you think these are things that good people do? Maybe bad people only do certain things on the list and good one's don't. We don't really believe that mumbo jumbo, do we? 

Well, whether you believe in God or not. 

These are the matters on which we will be judged on. I know I've done my fair share of them. Even as a young child I told simple lies, not knowing what sin was.  The point I'm trying to make is, no one is truly a good person. 

We have all fallen short, we have all  sinned and we are all sentenced to an eternal life of burning and gnashing of teeth.  

Only one person can save you from this eternal destiny and His name is Jesus Christ. Now I'm not trying to make this a "get saved session" but it is the truth. Jesus is the only one who can take away our sins and give us a new life. 

Now, that does not mean you'll never sin again but it does mean you can be forgiven and washed clean in the eyes of God. You can then get back up and try again, you can make a different choice than before. It says in the bible "that no man knows another man's heart but God". 

Only God can truly judge who is good and who is evil but none of that really matters if you haven't excepted Jesus as Lord of your life. If you have not and would like to, please contact me and I will help in any way I can. 

Jesus is the only way into Heaven, a true repentance for what sins you have done. A true understanding of what God and Christ have done. God sent His only son to take your place in judgment. Jesus paid for all your sins. All you have to do is submit your life to Him and He will do the rest! 

I truly care about people and have a genuine interest in their lives. If there's a small thing I can do, them I'm going to do it! 

DIY Saturday

D.I.Y. Saturday

This can be achieved verily easy and less expensive than buying one already done. 

So first you're going to want to get a fun ceramic pot or fire-safe pot to use for your new tabletop fireplace. 

Next, you'll need a filler such as river rocks, small fire crystals, small rocks or pebbles or maybe a colored glass. 

Last you need to get the gas burner to insert into the bowl for the fire. I left a link where you can buy the gas burners. :)

Assembly

1. Take your ceramic or fire-safe pot
2. Add Gas burner in center
3. Add filler or your choice around gas burner
4. Place on the outdoor tabletop in a fire safe location. 

Away from any blinds or anything flammable. Take in mind the wind and where the fire may blow.  :)

   

http://www.woodlanddirect.com/Fireplace-Accessories/Ethanol-Gel-Fuel-Accessories

Another fun DIY Project

Shotgun Shell Wreath

If you're an avid shotgun shooter, then this DIY is for you! 

Save all your empty shells and string on wire 

Add lights to each empty shell

Wha-LA! 

A New beautiful entry way your guests will surely enjoy! :)

http://www.soda-creek.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MTC-01

Home Idea Fridays

Home Ideas Friday!

I absolutely love the idea of adding rock, or tile to the backyard. I've always wanted to try it and think it would be great for an outdoor dining area. Giving you a more formal living space! 

Have your guests saying "WOW"! and envious of your outdoor space. :)

Mediterranean Patio by Los Angeles Landscape Architects &
 Landscape Designers Cassy Aoyagi, FormLA Landscaping

http://www.houzz.com/photos/1107549/Andalusian-Courtyard-Fountain-and-Lounge-mediterranean-patio-los-angeles

Obama taught to ruin America? Really..Whata shocker!

Obama learned to ruin America at Columbia University? Seriously!!!

I can't say I'm too surprised at what I just read. Learning that Obama and other students were being taught to hate America and bring it down. Not surprising with all we have seen from them these last six years.

Let me start off by saying "Shame on you"! We have men and women who have fought and some paid with their lives to keep this country safe. We should put people like you on the battlefield. Then if we lost one, it wouldn't be such a loss.

Cheering when President Reagan was shot, what kind of evil are you? I'm shocked we'd allow such crap to be taught to our students. They should be teaching them how to make America better and safer for our future generations.

We are under attack from within our own country. We have a terrorist on our own turf. Only you and I can change this! We as proud Americans need to get off our asses and do something! Write letters to your state governors, your congress, sign every petition that calls for action against these evil men and women the vow to destroy us from within.

Most importantly, vote them out of office! Take away their power. Show them that America is run by the people, for the people and we stand in the pledge "In God we trust".

Read the article here!

Are you Engaged to be married?

Shop Amazon - Create an Amazon Wedding Registry

You can now move any items from your other registry to Amazon.com

Shop at Amazon- Get the NEW Fire Phone

Shop at Amazon- Get the New Fire Phone 

Famous Oatmeal Cookies

These Oatmeal Cookies also known as "Cowboy Cookies" are not only delicious but super easy and quick to make!
** Another great idea is putting all the ingredients into a mason jar with a decorative lid. Great for wedding favors or cowboy/ cowgirl birthday parties. 

Let's start with the ingredients.

Ingredients

• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3 cups quick cooking oats

First, you want to cream together the butter and sugars. Once creamed together add the eggs, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and mix again. 

Second add any raisins, nuts or chocolate chips and mix together. Plain oatmeal is just as good in my opinion.

Lastly, add the flour. Going slowly and a little at a time to minimize mess. Once mixed add the oatmeal. You may want to mix this by hand with a spoon or mixer may be more difficult.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees, drops cookie dough onto cookie sheet making four rows or more depending on the size of your pan.
Set timer for 10-12 mins or until golden brown.
Remove from oven to parchment paper and Enjoy!

These are one of my families favorites! :)

• 
  

Chevy Bel Air, is the Car Of The Day!!

Every Wednesday I'd like to feature a fun vehicle that I would love to own myself. 

Today's car of the day is.

1955 Chevrolet Bel Air 

This classic is not only beautiful but a great collector car. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/55_Chevy_Bel-Air

For 1955, Chevrolet's full-size model received all new styling and power. It was called the "Hot One" in GM's advertising campaign. Chevrolet's styling was crisp, clean and incorporated a Ferrari-inspired grille. Bel Airs came with features found on cars in the lower models ranges plus interior carpet, chrome headliner bands on hardtops, chrome spears on front fenders, stainless steel window moldings,^[1] and full wheel covers. Models were further distinguished by the Bel Air name script in gold lettering later in the year.^[8] For 1955, Chevrolets gained a V8 engine option.and the option of a 2-speed automatic transmission Powerglide or a three-speed manual transmission with optional overdrive. The new 265 cu in (4,340 ccs) V8 featured a modern,overhead valve high compression, short stroke design that was so good that it remained in production in various displacements for many decades. The base V8 had a two-barrel carburetor and was rated at 162 hp (121 kW), and the "Power Pack" option featured a four-barrel carburetor and other upgrades yielding 180 bhp (130 kW). Later in the year, a "Super Power Pack" option added high-compression and a further 15 bhp (11 kW). "Idiot" lights replaced gauges for the generator and oil pressure.^[9]

Motor Trend magazine gave the Bel Air top marks for handling.^[9] Popular Mechanics reported acceleration for a V8 Bel Air with Powerglide as being 0-60 mph in 12.9 seconds, plus a comfortable ride, and good visibility. On the other hand, the horn ring blocked some of the speedometers, regular gasoline made the engine knock, and the first V8 engine off the line burned too much oil.^[10] Front legroom was 43.1".^[1] Brakes were 11" drums.^[11] A new option for V8-equipped 1955 models was air conditioning, with outlets on each side of the dashboard; a heavy-duty generator was included on cars equipped with this option.

This beauty is for sale and needs a new home! Check out the link below for more pictures and information about the car's motor.  

55 Chevrolet Bel Air - 327 V8 FOR SALE

Price 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air $57,900

Contact Best of Show Automotive  

MUSEUM and SHOWROOM:

7700 Tyler Blvd., Mentor, Ohio 44060

Phone: (440) 350-1480 

Fax: (440) 350-1638

http://www.bcautos.com/bestofshow/best55belair.html