Below is a Recipe for Heather who just had her first baby ... "Brodie". It's a Boy! Congratulations Sweetie... you sure have grown up since we first met at Listening Heart Farm Bed and Breakfast.

Heather has requested a Toffee Syrup Cookie Recipe made with left over crackers she tasted when she was a Guest at Listening Heart Farm Bed and Breakfast. Children and Adults both like this unique Recipe.  This Recipe was originally served to me by Toby, the wife of  Michael...  The Pastor of Lion of Judah Messianic Church, back in the 1980's.

• Enough Saltines Cracker to fill a Foil Lined Cookie Sheet *about 40
• 1 Cup Sugar (white or brown)
• 1/4 Cup Water
• 2 Sticks Butter (use one stick for cruncher cookies)
• Small Bag Chocolate Chips

Preheat Oven To 425 degrees.  Lay out the Crackers on a Foil Lined Cookie Sheet, back to back.  The Cookie Sheet will need to have a rim. A Jelly Roll Pan will work too. Bring Sugar, Water and Butter to a boil and stirring continually, boil about 5 minutes.  Slowly pour hot syrup mixture over Crackers which are laid out on the Foil lined Cookie Sheet, covering them evenly.  Bake 5 Minutes. Remove from Oven ... immediately sprinkle Chocolate Chips on top, smearing them over the Cookies as they melt with a Spatula or the back of a spoon.  Refrigerate or freeze till hard, about 15 minutes. When cold, break them into pieces like Peanut Brittle. If the Chocolate does not melt all of the way, you can put the tray back in Oven for a minute or so to help in this process.

Options, sprinkle crushed nuts over melted chocolate, I prefer Hazelnuts. You can vary the Recipe by using the left over Crackers of your choice; Graham Crackers will make this cookie even sweeter. Personally I find it sweet enough without the Graham Cracker ... but would suggest if you use Graham Crackers, that you try making them similar to Smores by drizzling melted Marshmallow Creme on top.  This is also a good way to use up Stale Crackers as once they are baked, the heat and moisture freshens them.

~~ The Resource Links added here are predominately for the benefit of those who are new or adventurous cooks ... some of these items can be found in your local Grocer, Discount or WalMart type of store for those who want to be frugal. ~~

Next:  Recipes for those looking to fill non traditional Easter Baskets.

Enjoy and Happy Baking!

When I was an Inn Keeper and Chef at Listening Heart Farm Bed and Breakfast... and Guests asked me to bake them something special; 'Death by Chocolate' was usually in their descriptions of what they wanted. Below is a Recipe given to me by my long time friend Randue back in the 1980's that always fit the bill. I am posting it at the request of a newer friend, Gordon. He says when he's depressed he uses Chocolate as a pick me up ... Gordon is battling with Prostate Cancer... and wants to thank anyone in advance who would say a prayer in his behalf.  If you would include Urba, Walter, Barb, Sherry and Laurie ... all those in such a battle, I know they are hoping to be cancer survivors too! Father we ask and thank You for the gift of a Miracle according to Your Will and Timing.



Randues' Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe

• 1 Box Pillsbury Plus Devils Food Cake
• 8 Ounce Cream Cheese
• 1 Cup Sugar
• 1 Egg
• 1 Tsp Vanilla
• 12 Ounce Bag Chocolate Chips

Mix Cake according to directions on box. Blend the rest of the ingredients together.  Fold in Cream Cheese Mixture. Bake 30-40 Minutes til top firm.  Cool on a cooling rack before Frosting.

Randues' Mississippi Mud Frosting

• 2 Packages Dream Whip
• 1 1/2 Cup Milk 
• 1 Pack Fudge Instant Pudding 

Mix together well.

Option: 1 cup of chopped Walnuts can be added to cake or frosting or both.

ADDED TREAT: Here is an excerpt of a Blog with another Mississippi Mud Cake Recipe, that one is made from Scratch, just discovered it while looking for an Image to post. If anyone tries it or has other's to recommend, do leave a comment.

A Muddy Cake Story.

Today, July 13^th

I discovered that today is the anniversary in 1832 of the source of the Mississippi River, for which we must all be very grateful, as otherwise we might not have Mississippi Mud Cake. Thank you Mr. Henry Rowe Schoolcraft.

Recipes are never actually invented, they evolve over time. The Mud Cake is a fairly new species which seems to have sprung off the American parental tree in the early 1970’s, along with its cousin, The Mud Pie. Its ancestors are the Brownie (a mud cake is a more sensible sized brownie, that is all) and Fudge, but there must be a few rogue genes in there too, as the early 1970’s recipes for Mud Cake also contain marshmallow.

This particular type of Mud Cake either never migrated to region Australia, or when it did, the marshmallow was removed, for all of the Aussie Mud Cakes I have met are entirely marshmallow-free (which makes them purer and better, to my mind, but you may disagree.

Every family has its black sheep, and at some time after the birth of the Mud Cake there sprang up something called Dirt Cake. I have never come across a live specimen, but in the interests of culinary history, sought out a recipe for you. It has an ingredient called ‘chocolate pudding mix’ in it, as well as broken up commercial biscuits (Oreos, which I believe are quite revered in their homeland), and I confess I could go no further. I am not sure what ‘chocolate pudding mix’ is, but I am pretty sure I wouldn’t like it, and I am very sure it has no place in a cake. Call me a purist. Call me a snob. Just don’t call me to the table and make me eat chocolate pudding made from a mix.

I would, however, be more than willing to sample this recipe....."

For the Recipe please check out this link worth mentioning The Old Foodie 

Enjoy ... Happy Baking!

UPDATE: Since creating this Blog I have been asked to post my Favorite No Bake Cookie Recipe by a Friend who tasted it while visiting our home. Plan to do so in about 3-4 blogs from now... as to do so sooner will interrupt the flow of its spiritual continuity. Thanks for your patience my Friend......

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As the Chef of Listening Heart Farm Bed and Breakfast... I decided to offer the guests what they wanted meal wise ... when appropriate. We offered 3 meals a day, to include Picnic and Candle Light Dinners. The reason for their visit and amount of Guests booked and season of the year often determined the meals. Those who wanted to eat quickly because they had come for local events as well, simply wanted a light Breakfast. Those who were on their Honeymoon or having an Anniversary, often liked a meal alone in their rooms... or in front of the Fire in the Great Room, if there were no other guests coming. When all the rooms were booked, the Large Dining Room Table in the Great Room in front of the Picture Windows, with a fantastic View was usually the best place to serve the meals. When the weather was pleasant... eating on the wrap around multi leveled Cascading Deck with Hot Tub, which led down to the Heated Pool, Gazebo and Picnic area, with a view of the Mountains of Skyline Drive off in the distance worked for others. Often... we had those who came for a Bed and Breakfast experience who simply wanted to befriend us... they usually requested the opportunity to hang out and eat in the Eat In Kitchen and talk with us as I prepared their meals and my hubby helped to serve. This usually worked out to their advantage... because when they wanted a casual meal... I could make their eggs and bacon to taste... over easy, scrambled, crisp and the like...

When it came to Breakfast... I was usually able to offer anything from Light, Healthy, in season Home Grown Organic Vegetarian, Casual, Gourmet or a Hearty Country Breakfast.

When I made suggestions... the men who wanted a Hearty Country Breakfast requested this one the most. Juice and Coffee or Tea of choice. Baked Pears with Maple Syrup and Crushed Walnut. Chipped Beef Gravy over Fried Biscuits with a side of Fried Potatoes and Onions. Some women were so delighted to be there with their Spouses... they were usually pleased with whatever their Husbands wanted.

Baked Pears with Maple Syrup and Crushed Walnuts: While the Potatoes and Onions were frying, I would cut a pear in half, core it and add crushed walnuts... next I'd sprinkle a little of the seasoning I made of brown sugar, apple and pumpkin pie seasoning mixed together... finally I'd drizzle maple syrup over the top and into the hole in the middle. I'd bake that until soft about 10-15 minutes at 350. I served it warm with their coffee and Juice

Chipped Beef Gravy over Fried Biscuits: Next I'd take a simple biscuit recipe, (**Bisquick type can be used) and drop it into a pan coated with butter and fry it like a Hamburger Pattie, mushing it as I turned it, one side twice. When I turned it I would add more butter to top and bottom, if it was to be used as a plain Fried Biscuit to be served with preserves... if it was to be served with Chipped Beef Gravy, I'd leave off the extra butter on top. For the Chipped Beef Gravy, I'd cut up a package of Esskay Air Dried Chipped Beef with the scissors into bite size pieces and add that to a pan with 2 1/2 Tb of Bacon Fat... saute it for a minute then add 2 Tb of Flour and 1 Tsp of dried Mustard (the key ingredient), and cook that 2 minutes until browned and thick... then I'd add whole milk a 1/2 cup at a time... let it simmer until thick, adding more milk until it is the right consistency. This was served over the Fried Biscuits.

Fried Potatoes and Onions: The night before I would use my Food Processor to thinly slice Red and White Potatoes before par boiling them. After cooling I would season them with a little Garlic Powder... a fair amount of Salt, Pepper and Paprika, then I added diced onions and refrigerate it over night... the Potatoes were the first things I would begin to cook, after making Carafe's of Coffee for the guest who liked to get up early and enjoy the facilities within our separate Recreation Building, walk the trails created for their enjoyment, visit our gardens or Tree House (a work in progress), sit out on the Deck with it's relaxing view or in front of the Rock Wall Fireplace on the leather wrap around sofa seeking to get to know other guests and the like. I would begin by cooking it all together in a little bacon fat and melted butter. I would add extra butter when needed. I fried it turning it regularly until fairly crisp.

I'd make a large batch of Fried Potatoes, so the leftover's could be used the next day in a Country Fried Omelet with Cheese and Bacon Bits.... this was served with Angel Biscuits... and a variety of Preserves to include Homemade Pepper Jelly and a side of fresh fruit. (Will Share the Angel Biscuit Recipe in another Blog... this is a light yeast Biscuit... this Recipe was requested by many of our Guests.)

All meals were garnished with a sprig of Parsley for breath/digestion.... and in the summer, when available, Home grown Nasturtium Blossoms or leaves were added... just for the fun of having our guests try them.

**In Future Blogs I will share Exact Measurements for Master Mixes: Homemade Bisquick Mix... Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix, Snack Cake Mix, Cream Pies Mix and a Basic Pudding Mix with Recipes. Ultimately these recipes are not only economical, but once prepared, time savers. So do come back if such interests you. 

Hope you enjoy trying them!

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"While your Husband was building on my Home, helping me to prepare it for a Christian Ministry, did the Spirit of the Lord tell you what it is suppose to be?" were the unexpected words I heard from a Sister in the Lord... in the late 90's.

She was unaware in the late 80's... while in prayer, among other things I had seen myself and a Husband I was yet to meet, serving in a Bed and Breakfast Healing Retreat someday and sensed Father telling me that this was something HE was going to bring to pass ... It was impressed upon my Spirit, He would provide the finances and all which was needed when the time came.... such would have something to do with our having a listening heart, it would be on a wealthy Estate of some sort, in the country. As time went by, on two occasions, like Sarah, Abraham's wife in the Book of Genesis... I tried to help Him along through my own understanding. Each time the doors were quickly and abruptly closed... with the gentle reminder... 'I said I would bring it to pass.' On the second occasion, I decided to surrender this promise into His capable hands as I let go of my image and understanding of the final outcome... and simply experienced the days which opened up before us, with an awareness He was preparing us for that which was to come, in His timing and His ways.

When she first hired my soon to be Hubby  and shared her Call to have a Christian Ministry with us, I quietly pondered over the prospect that someday she'd have a Bed and Breakfast/Retreat... somehow we'd be involved... especially after I heard the name she had chosen for her 32 ace Estate in the country. When I answered her, I was very much aware I did not want to manipulate the situation, as I only desired His will, so I decided to suggest 5 things... tucking into the middle the words: A Bed and Breakfast Healing Retreat.

Upon hearing those word she eagerly responded with among other things, something similar to this, "That's it! My new Husband is not interested in having a Christian Ministry... but I know Father has been having me prepare Listening Heart Farm at Rose Hill to be one. I have set aside a sizable amount of my money to finance it and I am to do it for 3 years. This is perfect!! I can justify holding on to my children's inheritance from their deceased father. I can rent it out for the month of August and we can have our family gatherings there each year. Your hubby knows the place like the back of his hand... as a team you can take care of the home, the grounds and the visitors easily; with your faith, spiritual gifts and talents you'd make a perfect Host and Hostess. The two of you can move in and set the place up and then we can try it for 3 years and see what the Lord would have us to do after." For her the matter was settled...

After completing her many projects and renovations... my Hubby was suddenly unable to find fresh employment as a Jack of all Trades... very little was opening up for him no matter how much we advertised and passed the word out into the Community that he was available again; and when something did open up, more often than not, the door quickly shut due to an unexpected circumstance on the part of the one who had hired him.

Although this was frustrating to everyone involved, previous spiritual experiences had given my Hubby and I the understanding, when Father backs us into a corner after closing doors... it is because a new spiritual season is upon us ... He has a specific door for us to walk through and He is changing our focus and working on our will to bring it into alignment with His.

Our Ideal of a Christian Ministry was something the two of us had come to realize... was something we did not have the power or resources to bring about in our own strength. We would be in need of Supernatural Provision, having done all we knew to do in the moment. So we were not too surprised when we found ourselves considering the prospect of renting out our cozy furnished Cottage on one acre and moving onto her Estate... with all her possessions to do something we had never done before; my Hubby being one who likes to work alone... struggled with the thought of being an Inn Keeper... but we desire HIS will... and thus Father's will won out.... giving us 3 glorious years we will never forget!

Lord willing, I will be writing some Blogs... describing some of the miraculous events which took place during that season, ultimately revealing the Sovereignty of God and His bringing us into a deeper abiding place in Christ ... as Father proved HimSelf and revealed His unfolding plan and sovereign will for us. I will also publish some of the Recipes our Guests enjoyed and I enjoyed serving through my role as a Chef ... with that said, it is my hope you will come back to read them and try the Recipes too....