Chicken Puffs

I first had these chicken puffs at a friend's house. This is the first time we've made them, and they were delicious! As I'm typing this, it occurs to me that this recipe could very easily be cut in half, so that there would only be 4 chicken puffs (this would be good for couple). This is definitely going to be something we make again.

Chicken Puffs

© 2012 Jamie V.

Ingredients:

4 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons melted butter
2 cups cooked chicken (about 4 medium sized chicken breasts), pulled apart or cut into small pieces - you could probably use canned chicken, if you wanted or needed to
2 tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 (8 ounce) can Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls
1 can (10.75 ounce) cream of chicken soup

rice goes well with chicken puffs

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350ºF.
2. Boil chicken until cooked thoroughly. Once cooked and cooled down, pull chicken apart or cut into small pieces. -OR- Use canned shredded chicken. 
3. Blend cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add milk, small amount of cream of chicken soup, salt, and pepper. Mix well.
4. Add chicken to mixture. Mix well.
5. Separate the crescent rolls into 4 rectangles, by firmly pressing to seal perforations.
6. Spoon about 1/2 cup of the chicken mixture into center of each rectangle.
7. Pull all 4 corners of dough to top center of the filling, and pinch together to hold. Pinch together the side seams, as well.
8. Place squares (i.e., chicken puffs) on cookie sheet and bake 20-30 minutes.
9. While the chicken puffs are cooking in the over... prepare rice in a separate pot (if you're having rice with the meal).
10. As the chicken puffs and rice get closer to being ready... pour the rest of the cream of chicken soup into a sauce pain. Add milk. Cook over low heat, until it takes on a gravy-like consistency.
11. Serve chicken puff on top of a bed of rice. Pour gravy over. Serve.

Mini Cinnamon Raisin Rolls (updated)

Alright, we tried the Mini Cinnamon Raisin Rolls again, and it was a MUCH bigger success than the first time. They were amazing! I've updated the recipe, based on our changes. These are definitely going to be made again in the future.

Mini Cinnamon Raisin Rolls
Adapted from Pillsbury.com

© 2012 Jamie V.

Ingredients:

1 can (16.3 ounce) Pillsbury refrigerated Grand's biscuits (Flaky Layers)

2 - 3 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted (but not hot)
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 - 3/4 cup raisins (can substitute any other dried fruit)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk, juice, or water

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350ºF.
2. Separate biscuits. Take one at a time, and flatten with your hand.
3. In small bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon.
4. Press raisins into each flattened biscuit.
5. Spread (use pastry brush) butter evenly over each biscuit, over the raisins.
6. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over each biscuit.
7. Roll each biscuit - this can be a little tricky, since there's so much stuff "in" it.
8. Cut each rolled biscuit into 3 slices (2 cuts) - we used a Cook or Santoku knife. Place slices, cut side down, in ungreased 8- or 9-inch square pan.
9. Bake 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes.
10. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix powdered sugar and milk (or juice or water) until smooth. Drizzle over rolls. Serve warm.

Sex, Marriage, & Fairytales by Jeff Bethke

Here's Jeff Bethke's most recent video...

http://youtu.be/I4OK9DmLpCY

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus by Jeff Bethke

I think this is a great video by Jeff Bethke... that speaks for itself...

http://youtu.be/1IAhDGYlpqY

Where's the Line to See Jesus by Becky Kelley

This song is simply AMAZING! I'll just let it speak for itself...

http://youtu.be/OExXItDyWEY

Where's the Line to See Jesus by Becky Kelley

Christmas time was approaching; the snow was starting to fall,
Shoppers choosing their presents, people filling the mall,
Children waiting for Santa with excitement and glee,
A little boy tugged my sweater, looked up and asked me,

Where's the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday,
Why don't we see Him more?

As I stood in amazement at this message profound,
I looked down to thank him, he was nowhere around.
The little boy at the mall might as well have had wings
As the tears filled my eyes, I thought I heard him say,

Chorus:
Where's the line to see Jesus?
Is He here at the store?
If Christmas time is His birthday,
Why don't we see Him more?
Where's the line to see Jesus?
He was born for me.
Santa Claus brought me presents,
But Christ gave His life for me.

In the blink of an eye, at the sound of His trump,
We'll all stand in line at His throne.
Every knee shall bow down, every tongue will confess,
That Jesus Christ is Lord.

[Chorus]

Mini Cinnamon Raisin Rolls

We made these Mini Cinnamon Raisin Rolls the other day. They didn't come out as good as I'd hoped, but they're definitely something we're going to try again... making a few changes. Since they have such potential, I wanted to pass the recipe along.

Mini Cinnamon Raisin Rolls
Adapted from Pillsbury.com

© 2011 Jamie V.

Ingredients:

1 can (8 ounce) Pillsbury refrigerated crescent dinner rolls

1/4 cup butter or margarine, softened
4 teaspoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (can substitute any other dried fruit)
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon juice or milk

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 375ºF.
2. Unroll dough; separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal.
3. In small bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon (we already had cinnamon-sugar made, so we used that... I don't actually know what the "correct" measurements or amounts we used... but, next time, I'm going to add more cinnamon).
4. Spread butter evenly over each dough rectangle (we melted the butter and used a pastry brush to spread).
5. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over rectangles. Sprinkle each with raisins (we didn't measure the amount of raisins we used, but we like them... so next time, we'll pile them on).
6. Starting with the short side of each rectangle, roll up; pinch edges to seal. With serrated knife, cut each roll into 4 slices (we followed the original recipe and did 5 slices per rectangle, but I think 4 would be better). Place slices, cut side down, in ungreased 8- or 9-inch square pan.
7. Bake 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool 5 minutes.
8. Meanwhile, in small bowl, mix powdered sugar and milk (I mixed powdered sugar, milk, and some vanilla extract... it was pretty good) until smooth. Drizzle over rolls. Serve warm.

Love Comes Down by Kerrie Roberts

I just thought I'd share a devotional that a friend had passed along to me a while ago... but, I think it's a good reminder for us all. I'm also sharing a song that I really enjoy, too.

Contentment
By Max Lucado

I have learned to be satisfied
with the things I have and with
everything that happens.
    ~ Philippians 4:11

What if God’s only gift to you were his grace to save you? Would you be content? You beg him to save the life of your child. You plead with him to keep your business afloat. You implore him to remove the cancer from your body. What if his answer is, “My grace is enough.” Would you be content?

From heaven’s perspective, grace is enough. If God did nothing more than save us from hell, could anyone complain?

Having been given eternal life, dare we grumble at an aching body? Having been given heavenly riches, dare we moan about what we don’t have?

http://youtu.be/yGk3JHiflWA

Love Comes Down by Kerrie Roberts

Weak and weary sinner
Longing for relief
You've been watching
As disaster steals another piece
Of all that you held so close
What you love the most
But you can never keep
And hope seems like a promise
Just out of reach
You'd die to feel alive again
You long to be set free

Chorus:
Then love comes down
When your heart is lost
When you've seen your whole world shattered
And your dreams just fall apart
So lift up your voice
Let Him hear your cry
When you've got nothing left to hold onto
That's when love comes down
Love comes down

If you could only know who loves you
Who feels your every pain
If you could only hear Him speaking
With the voice as sweet as rain
You'd know that He counts your tears
He holds them near
Not one will go to waste
And the sorrow that weighs you down
Will float away

[Chorus]

That's when love is stronger
Than any heartbreak
And you know every broken piece
Will be made whole

[Chorus]

When you've got nothing left to hold onto 

That's when love comes down