YooHoo-Blondie!! Baked Stuffed Blueberry French Toast

The other day I posted

a recipe for

Baked Apple Stuffed

French Toast.

I promised someone

Blondie/Jane

Blondie'sJournal

(she's kinda shy so

I crossed her name out

but feel free to visit

cuz you will love her-

Pinky Promise)

ANYWAY-

I promised that

I would give her

a recipe for another

prepare ahead~

overnight~

 baked dish~

that I often

make for

Sunday Brunch.

It is easy,

can be fixed ahead,

and always

gets

WOWS!

It is calorie laden and

will add an inch to

your hips just walking by

the pan- but SOO worth it.

Ingredients

12 slices day-old bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, cut into 1 inch cubes
 1 cup fresh blueberries
12 eggs, beaten
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
 1/3 cup maple syrup

Homemade Syrup Topping
1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup water 1 cup fresh blueberries 1 tablespoon butter

Directions

Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish. Arrange half the bread cubes in the dish, and top with cream cheese cubes. Sprinkle 1 cup blueberries over the cream cheese, and top with remaining bread cubes.

In a large bowl, mix the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, and syrup. Pour over the bread cubes. Cover, and refrigerate overnight.

Remove the bread cube mixture from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Cover, and bake 30 minutes. Uncover, and continue baking 25 to 30 minutes, until center is firm and surface is lightly browned.  (This works best in a glass baking pan where you can SEE how brown it is getting)

Topping:
In a medium saucepan, mix the sugar, cornstarch, and water. Bring to a boil. Stirring constantly, cook 3 to 4 minutes. Mix in the remaining 1 cup blueberries. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes, until the blueberries burst. Stir in the butter, and pour over the baked French toast .

I always serve this with overnight ham because it is so easy for an impressive quick morning breakfast.
I guarandurntee it will make the little kids and the big kids at your house smile.
They will bow before your cooking skills and call you marvelous.
The will love you!
They will want to BE you...Yeah...
..Too bad for them, huh?;>)

SweetCheeks Perfect Opera Video- High/Higher/Highest

I know you heard

SweetCheeks

sing before.

However..

this is

OPPRAH

as you have

NEVER

heard it..

Seriously..

She sings it

in

THREE

(count 'em)

different

keys.

See if you can

pick out the

subtle differences
(edited to add:  Notice
how when Papa talks
to her she stops,
listens quietly,
and then ignores
him-she is going to
make a perfect wife someday)
Did I say that?
Ready?
Remember-
3 different keys..

Did you hear the difference?

Yeah?

Say what?

Huh?

Me neither...

But it

WAS

perfect!

My Friend Is Moving! She Moves Me Too!

This is my friend,

Donna

Her blog is called
MyShabbyChateau

Pop over and visit
her
NEW PLACE.
And leave a message
to inspire her
as she travels
across the country
in their motorhome.

We had an email

conversation last night.

She is on her way

to Washington.

This is NOT

an easy move for her...

She did NOT

want to go and

leave her home,

and Mom,

and other family.

But, Donna, being

Donna, and a good

wife and partner,

packed up their

Michigan life

to move to

the state of Washington.

She has asked for

prayer for herself

and her situation.

She wants us to pray

for peace in her

heart and

acceptance of all

that is happening.

She asks that we

uplift her in prayer so

that she does not

get bitter,

or resentful..

that she can truly

have a year of

peace and acceptance.

Because, the promise is,

that in

ONE YEAR

 they will return

HOME.

HOME to Michigan

and their old life.

If you pray
say a prayer for her..

If you DON'T pray
wing a good thought her

way.

You know why?

Because she would do the

same for you.

Yes.She.Would.

Let's
Show Her The Love, Ladies!

A Request For An Injured Hero

One of the blog friends

I have made is

named Marcia.

Her blog is called

BlessedMom'sSimpleHome.

There is nothing

simple about Marcia.

She is a lovely

person, sweet,

giving,

and

deeply loving.

She has asked a favor.

Her nephew,

Jordan, was

injured in the line

of duty in

Afhganistan.

They really did not

expect him to survive.

But this man is a fighter..

and he is fighting his way

back for his wife

and son and family.

You can read about him

.here

He has a birthday

this week and

I would love it

if anyone that

could would send him

a card...a card of

thanksgiving for his

life and for all he has

done for all of us..

that he has

survived and will

be here for his

birthday.

Here is his address..

No last name needed.

Jordan

NNMC

8901 Wisconsin Avenue

Building 10 Ward 5 E

Room #17

Bethesda, Md.  20889

If you have a moment,

If you have a card,

If you have a stamp,

If you have a son,

If you have a heart,

please send Jordan

a birthday card.

You'll be glad you did!

(and don't forget to

say a prayer for him

and his family)

I've Got A Song In My Heart And A Thank You!!!

~Her name is Melody~

Do you ever know

just know in your heart

that someone,

somewhere,

for no reason you can fathom,

loves you..

loves you as a person..

loves you just because

you are you?

I have met many wonderful

bloggers in the past

year or so..

some that I know in

passing..

some that I know on

a more personal level..

ONE

that I know from

Yuku that was

my inspiration to start blogging.

Had I NOT started

BLOGGING

I would not have met

all you wonderful ladies

out here in

Blogland.

Now, down South,

in good old

Louisiana,

 lives a wonderful soul.

Her name is

Cindy Adkins

and her blog is

Cindy Adkins Whimisical Musings.

Doesn't that name

just make you smile?

If you have NOT

visited her you need to

drop what you are doing

and head over there.

This is one

talented chick!

Not only that..

she is
NICE-

REALLY NICE..

and sweet..

and loving.

That love extended all

the way to Green Bay, WI.

Yes-it-did!

I opened my mailbox

and if you look up

you will see what

was inside!

It is gorgeous.

Pictures do not do

MELODY

justice.

There is so much

texture..

and richness..and

well~ let's just say

that what we used to

call

CRAFTING

has gone to a whole

other level.

This is

ART..

pure and simple

ART.

And I LOVE IT!

And I love Cindy,

and I want to say

THANK YOU-

You made my day.

Her name is Melody

and she sits right by

my computer screen..

where I can smile

every time she

catches my eye.

Now...what are you

doing still here?
SCAT!

Go check out

Cindy's BLOG!

(ps-when you get there-look at her

header-you might see a familiar

face-NaneeNaneeBooBoo-

Hooray for me)

Sunday Morning Breakfast....

Every few weeks my

daughter will come up
from Milwaukee

for a day or two..

usually when her

hubby,

The Island Scout,

is traveling for

business.

Wasn't she a beautiful bride..
Wasn't he a handsome groom...

And, after they were married
for about 3 years,
they blessed us with this

wonderful little

BabyE 

Now my son-in-law

being a Southern boy

likes to eat!

Yes.He.Does.

So, for Sunday morning

brunch I made

Quiche Lorraine... Baked apple stuffed

French toast...(SO GOOD)

Here's the quick version of it..

French bread sliced about 1/2" thick.

Layer it into a heavily buttered pan.

Top with 1 can of apple pie filling.

Top with 1 more layer of 1/2" slices of French bread

Whip together: 8 eggs and about

                       3-4 cups of milk and 1 t vanilla.

                       (should be enough milk to thoroughly soak bread)

Pour egg mixture over bread.

Pop in fridge overnight.

Next morning-heat oven to 350º

Top bread mixture with 1/2 cup softened butter

          mixed with 1/2 cup brown sugar and

          1 teaspoon cinammon or apple pie spice

Sprinkle with pecans..

I only sprinkle half because

we have some that like nuts..

and then we have some nuts

that don't like nuts!

Bake about 45 mins to 1 hour until golden brown.
Most top it with syrup here
but I like my own naked!

And  you need a big old

baked ham on the side!

Even the little guy

loves to eat...

and will eat

just about anything...

And imagine this...

SweetCheeks

"reading" him a story..

Can you imagine?

Seriously?

Imagine that?

I think we might just

get lucky and

he will grow up

normal in spite

of SweetCheeks

influence...

Either that or he

will have a

phenomenal imagination!

I can hardly wait

til he starts talking

and interacting

with

SweetCheeks..

that ought to be

good for a movie!

SweetCheeks Talks About Easter-Video

Well, it is hard

to get

SweetCheeks to talk on

camera without being goofy..

(when she knows she

is being recorded)

so I filmed this in

2 little short

segments.

Anyone out there know

how to edit video

in an easy online

program?

Watch how she goes

from cute to

dopey in about

5 seconds flat!

Part One

Now comes

Part Two..

Watch the goofy face...

Soooo..
If you see Jesus and
The Easter Bunny
playing together
DO NOT
be suprised!
The End

One More SweetCheeks Video..East/West Man

This story is a little

complicated.

It is about the

East/West man

that can make you sick!

And he has a big cross

that fell off the end

of the Earth~

which appears to be

right across the water

from my house.

And, did you know

that God CAN

make you better

 but you really

have to watch out

for the East/West guy?

Did you know that?

It is another amazing

fact I learned listening

to SweetCheeks.

If you have kids at home

please, please

just take the time

to stop and listen to

them...you will

never regret it~

I promise!

Who the East/West

guy is remains a

mystery to me..

However... I DO

know he is from

the East/West!

After this I will

give the

SweetCheeks videos

a rest for a while~
ps...no extra charge
for the nose-picking
segment.....



SweetCheeks Sings Chinese OPPERAH Video

SweetCheeks always

always sings

(or talks non-stop)

when we are driving.

On this drive home she

informed us that

she knew how to

sing

Chinese OPPERAH.

There are

several versions

but this is the

clearest.

I hope this allows

some of you to

develop a whole

new appreciation

for opera!
(click the little square
on the lower right hand
side for full screen viewing-
you won't want to miss anything);>)

EASTER? EGGactly!

 Every Spring since the 1980's\

I  get out the totes

that hold all the

wonderful

Easter decorations

that my husband's

grandmother had.

There is a "head bobber"

little man

(which she didn't make)

There is a

Hat Box~

pink with white polka dots~

that holds many of

the special

eggs that she hand-crafted.

There is a little

"duck wagon"

that holds a

fuzzy chick

with orginal "grass"

from the 40's or 50's

As you all know,

my picture taking is not

all that great..

but here is an egg she made..

And here are a couple more....

And here is the

Easter Egg Tree

that was her own...

Sitting next to it is an

old Steiff bunny..

I wrapped the tree

 with

 soft pink lights

several years ago...

and I promise to post

more

did you say clearer?

pictures soon..

I have more to share

including a little tin

Easter "basket"

that my Mother got

around 1920..

and some more

bunnies...sugared..

and not..

But for right now

my own little

sugared girl..

SweetCheeks

is calling me away

for the

"entertainment"..

I can't wait! 

I Won Another Give Away- Come & See!!!



 Well, I am still trying to figure out

this new blog thingy-

I was using the old editor

and am now on the new

one...so pardon

my fumbles..

I have been trying

to move pictures

around and lost a couple..

But..

Here goes!

I won another give away.

Do you know Julie Harward

from

Circle Cliff Views?

If you don't please

pop over and meet her.

She is beautiful-

inside and out!

She loves God,

her family,

her home,

her grandchildren,

yep...

even her husband!

Her blog was one

of the first ones I

discovered and I have

been a follower since

then.

Isn't she beautiful?



Julie Harward with Sophia



 Now, I signed up for her give away,

never thinking I would win..

because, before blogging..

I never won anything...

But the package arrived while

we were gone on vacation..

and look what was inside...

HMMM...This wasn't listed

in the give away...

but Macadamia nuts are

my very favorite~



 And this wasn't listed either..

Seriously, a frame that says

NANA?  For real?  For me?

ohhh...I just had a thought.

I'll bet Julie put those letters

on there cuz I have NEVER

seen a Nana frame anywhere!

And here is what WAS

listed...

A Spring apron,

freshly starched

and ironed..

AND..

A cookie and brownie

cookbook..

My fat cells thank you, Julie,

as do my grandchildren~

And, you know what

else was in there?

2 pairs of footsie socks

in bring Spring colors,

Some sweet & sour

star shaped gummies,

and some Mint scented

sachets.

A wonderful give away..

From Julie to Me!

And, honey, it just

don't get any better

than that!

SweetCheeks- VIDEO-Waiting For The Groom!

For all of you that

have waited to

HEAR

SweetCheeks..

here is she..

watch the

facial expressions...

Now you know
why I am
Always Smiling!
(and I finally figured out
how to get a video
on my blog..
not bad for an old broad)

Help- I Need Some Help Here...

No!
I don't need
HELP
with a hangover..

I DO
NEED
HELP
with another issue.

Can anyone tell me
how to get my blog
back to single spacing?

I type it in-
It looks like it is
single spaced.

I post and
Presto-Chango
It is double spaced.

Any ideas?
Anyone?
Anyone?

Please?

Edited to add:

Okay- Just to prove that

God does, indeed,

have a sense of

humor..

I can see that it is now

single spaced..

but I can't get the

top to go to

the middle

even with highlighting

and hitting the

middle thingy..

Remind me to

take an Excedrin

when I am done here.

xxoo Diana

SweetCheeks And Alice In Wonderland

As you can plainly see..

Lulu is thorougly engrossed

in something..

And SweetCheeks

is enraptured,

as always,

by animated movies...

Her favorite today?

Alice In Wonderland

Ria- Ria...hurreee upp

an' lookit or yohu arhe

gonna miss the besst parht!

Iss whehre the burd is gonna

peck her eyes out or sumthin'

Lasst time it just peckked her

nose a liddle bitt..but wahtch cuz

this tihme it could peckk her

eyes out....Nana...

Lookit Ria...

Hers is gonna miss the

besst parht, huh?Ria doesn't care~

Ria is old enough to

know that the outcome is

always the same in a movie.

A bit different than real life..

one little change in your life

plan can make a huge difference..

Huge...

I don't know about you

but I am glad that I

have Somebody

smarter than I am

watching out

for me!

My Last Post ...

Look at Poor

SweetCheeks!

She is sad because

this is the last post about her.

My SweetCheeks stories

are over-

done with-

I am tired of writing about her

and her adventures..

I am sick of blogging..

I don't think I have

one more story

or

one more laugh

left in me..

and I think you all must be

getting tired of all my nonsense too

SOOO...

I QUIT!

APRIL FOOL!Had you going there for a minute

though, didn't I?

Well, sorry to say..

you can't get rid of me

that easy!

I will be here and

checking to make sure

YOU ARE HERE

too..

I am keeping a tally,

you know?

Yes.I.Am.

Tete- Visited- Check

Donna- Moving- Check

Anonymouse- Too Lazy To Read - Check

Lisa-Visited-Check.

Laura, Pam, Cindy, etc. etc...

Connie (my Door County friend)-check

GET IT?

I am checking!!!

Here is my all time favorite

April Fool's joke!

I tape down the handle on

the kitchen faucet sprayer..

and then I wait..

and, eventually,

SOMEONE

who shall remain nameless

MyHero

turns the faucet on

and stands there dumbfounded

while the water courses down the

front of him.

Works EVERY year!

And EVERY year

he is just as mad as he

was last year.

Yep!

Consistency at its best...

I love being

consistent.

That being said...

I'll be here tomorrow~