For Monday, April 2nd, 2012

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

APRIL 2ND,  2012

If you can't see the Bright Side, polish the dull side

It's MONDAY!

  

National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

April 2nd is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day. Celebrate by chowing down on a delicious PB&J sandwich while reading these facts about the legendary snack!

The first found reference to the sandwich was published by Julia Davis Chandler in 1901

The average American will have eaten 1,500 of the sandwiches before graduating from high school

Rations for GI’s in WWII included peanut butter and jelly, and sales of both skyrocketed after the war.  This accident of history is usually credited with making the sandwich a staple of postwar America.

Variations on the classic PB&J include adding marshmallows, bananas, cream cheese, and honey.  It has even been served deep fried with chocolate syrup and whipped cream.

The world’s biggest peanut butter and jelly sandwich was created November 6th, 1993 in Peanut, Pennsylvania. It was 40 ft long and contained 150 pounds of peanut butter and 50 pounds of jelly

96% of people, when making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, put the peanut butter on before the jelly

The average peanut butter and jelly sandwich is about 330 calories

NEW IN THE KITCHEN

Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars

2 sticks unsalted butter at room temperature

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 large eggs

2 cups creamy peanut butter

3 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 1/2 cups jam (your choice of flavor!)

1/2 cups salted peanuts, chopped into small pieces

Preheat the oven to 350.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray, line it with parchment paper, and then spray the parchment with cooking spray and flour it.

Cream the butter and sugar in a mixer on medium speed for about 2 minutes. Turn the mixer to low and add the eggs, vanilla and peanut butter and mix until combined.

Sift the flour and baking powder together. Turn the mixer back on to low speed and add the flour mixture until just combined.

Spread 2/3 of the dough into the baking pan, spreading to the edges (use your hands, it's easiest that way!) Spread the jam evenly over the dough.

Drop small chunks of the remaining dough over the jam. You'll have some spots where the jam shows through, but don't worry about that. Scatter the peanuts over the top and bake for 45 minutes or until the dough is golden brown.

Cool completely and then cut into squares.

NEWS FROM HOME

I really have made a lot of peanut butter sandwiches over the years...I'm still making them for myself too.  My youngest son refused to eat school lunches when it was small and had a PB & J sandwich most every school day for several years.  As he grew up though that did change.  Now I hear that a lot of schools won't even allow children to bring peanut butter in their lunches as there are so many allergies to it.  I don't know how this happened and to such a large degree, but, for me, I love them and don't have to deal with food allergies of any sort that I know of. Sometimes the best things in life are the simple things...

As Holy Week begins today, I'll be reflecting this week on the precious gift of life that we've been given. This is the final week before Easter and the ashes that were placed on foreheads are just about totally worn off now.  Spring has arrived and this coming Sunday we'll be having the greatest celebration ever. God has taken the fear out of death with the promise of eternal life. That's better than a hollow chocolate bunny whose ears your brother has bitten off! Seriously, that is life changing. That's why we celebrate Easter. 

 Life not in just this world but everlasting life.  What a blessing it is to know that even though we've lost loved ones, we will see them again.  We are all God's children and He does love us so very much.

Have a great Monday everyone!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

Lord, hold our troops in

your loving hands.

Protect them as they protect us.

Bless them and their families for the

selfless acts they perform for us

in our time of need. I ask this in the

name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters

and Paramedics and EMT's

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Just to be tender

Just to be true

Just to be glad the whole day through

Just to be cheery when things go wrong

Just to drive sadness away with a song

Just to let love be our daily key

That is God's will for you and me

Author Unknown

COUNTING THE DAYS

While it is still here, bring today’s richness into your life. And make this day one you can look back upon with satisfaction and immense gratitude.

Ralph Marston

80 DAYS UNTIL SUMMER

Celebrate the happiness
that friends are always giving,
make every day a holiday,
and celebrate just living!

Amanda Bradley

A little smile, a word of cheer,
A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma