Tag Archives: chefs

Messy Jessy’s 1st Annual Sweet Treat Exchange – The Purpose

19 Dec

The Purpose

(This is part of 3 posts.  Click here for the first post and here for the second.)

We got to laugh.

We got to eat some good food.

We got to take home some really good treats.

And we got to make a difference in the life of others.

Together 17 women and 1 man pulled their resources, each giving what they could and if they could and we raised $130.

 

We bought a goat and 2 chickens.

Goats nourish hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt. Chickens provide fresh eggs that are rich in protein and nutrients, and extra eggs and chicks can be sold to pay for basics.  To learn more about what one goat and two chickens can do for a family, click here.

We also were able to give to help mothers in Afghanistan.

Every 30 minutes, an Afghan woman dies of childbirth-related complications. In fact, tragically, almost half of all deaths of women age 15-49 in Afghanistan result from complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Most of these deaths could be prevented with increased access to maternal health services.  To learn more about what just a little less than a dollar a day can do for other women, click here.

To see how you can make a difference both in the United States and around the world, visit World Vision’s Gift Catalog.

My hope is that someday me and a bunch of women from the Midwest will have built a school.  Till then maybe we’ll just start with this or this.

 

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Messy Jessy’s 1st Annual Sweet Treat Exchange – Brunch and Exchange

19 Dec

The Exchange & Brunch

(This is part of 3 posts.  Click here for the first post and here for the third.)
 

In case you’ve never been to one, it’s pretty simple.  Each guest makes their favorite treat.  I went with treats instead of cookies because … well, for one, my mom CANNOT make cookies to save her life and she’s not a lone.  Plus there are so many yummies out there that get looked over that aren’t cookies.  You decide how much each guest should bring; I chose 2-3 dozen.  Then guests come and exchange and take home a little bit of everything.  Next year I think I’ll ask for 3-4 dozen and let us sample while we are there.

I, along with the help of a friend and my mother, provided some brunch like food for the women to enjoy as they chatted and looked the treats over.  We also played a trivia game which came with prizes, had a door prize, and had prizes for the prettiest, the easiest, the most creative,  and most adventurous.

Ice cubes in the shapes of gloves, snowmen, snowflakes and stocking hat

How about some gingerbread men (sugar) with your coffee? Thanks to my mom for coming over the night before and helping create.

Grinch Punch

Delicious egg casserole by Meagan with Honey muffins and jam, and Banana Nut Crunch Muffins, and Caramel Corn

And of course, the cutest little chef of all

Who could not for the life of her stay still... and she's off to the kitchen ... watch out Rachael Ray!

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Messy Jessy’s 1st Annual Sweet Treats Exchange – The Idea & The Invite

19 Dec

So a dear friend told me I should blog about this little party I had.  I shrugged my shoulders and acted all “why would I do that?”  Truth is it was a good idea; it just seemed weird to me to write it.  It feels a bit like shining a light on me.  But I must confess after reading her very nice blog post about it, it really is a good idea and I need to do it.

‘Cus maybe you’ll get to thinking … thinking how you can have a little fun, enjoy friends and food, and make a difference in someone’s life all at the same time and without ever leaving your own kitchen (well… except for supplies).

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The Idea

(This is part of 3 posts.  Click here for the second post and here for the third.)
 

Born out of boredom, echoes of depression due to health problems as a result of pregnancy, labor, and childbirth that seemed never ending, and out of figuring out how to transition from working to staying at home and while loving it (the home thing), still missing the other thing (working).

I needed a project.  I needed a goal.  I needed something to accomplish.  I needed something to do.  I needed something that got me out of myself.  I needed something that got me out of the house or got people in my house.  I needed some laughter.  I needed some hope.  I needed to make a difference.

And so Messy Jessy’s 1st Annual Sweet Treat Exchange was born.

My Cindy Lou inspired outfit for the day - one of the few times I'll be in this much pink

The Invite

How The Grinch Stole Christmas was my theme.  I am thinking that each year I’ll have a different theme and will find ways to involve the guests more in this.  Just not sure how yet.

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Guest Post: Frosting for the Cause

25 Nov

 

I am so excited to share a post I did for Frosting for the Cause today.  It’s in tribute to my mother, in celebration of who she is, being 9 years cancer free, and for her her delicious banana puddin’, which of course has my own twist on it.

Here is just the start …

This past year I’ve grown an obsession with baking.  Baking things I find.  Baking things I create.

My husband just shakes his head when I bring home a new cook book.  How many is too many?  At one point should I seek professional help?

I’m not sure exactly where this new found love came from.  My mother can’t make cookies to save her life.  She often came to class parties with a bag of Oreos.  I always thought it was because she worked at home and outside the home and there simply wasn’t enough time in the day.  As I look back now, I realize it probably had more to do with the fact that she really couldn’t bake a batch of cookies without burning them.  Ever.

Head on over to Frosting For the Cause to read the rest …

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Mini Apple Pies – Super Delicious, Easy, Ingenious, and Cute

20 Nov

Last night my padres joined us for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner.  This year we will be spending Thanksgiving with Nana and Pa so Grandma and Poppa joined us for some yummy, homemade broccoli/cauliflower/cheese soup, accordion potatoes, and these yummy, mini apple pies.

 

This is a really ingenious idea.  Personal mini apple pies.  Great portion control … unless of course, you eat like 4 at a time.  Fun for the kids too.  There are a couple steps – bake apples, make dough, chill dough, roll and cut dough and then bake – which can seem at first a bit overwhelming but once you do it you realize they are easy steps to do.  You can do one and go to work on something else and come back and finish that step and start another.  And then go do something else again.

And I actually found these less intimidating to make, the dough part, than an actual standard pie (which I’ve only done once).  I am always nervous at the thought of making homemade pie crust and struggling with the kneading and rolling.  But when you are just making smaller versions … well it just seemed more doable to me.

And they turned out great!

Yummy!!!

Thank you to Momma’s Gotta Bake for sharing.

 

 

 

 

 

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