It's a tad late to wish a Happy New Year but I sure hope that it's kicked off good for everyone. Ours kicked off with being so THANKFUL for what God has done and is doing. As I told my family as we were reminiscing over 2024, "There is a lot of 2024 I DO NOT WANT A RE-DO but the Lord has surely taught me so very much. I am truly thankful for each breath, each day, family and close friends. We had our three youngest grands for New Years Eve. We had a great time and the girls enjoyed a little fishing, bonfire with their great-grandfather and roasting marshmallows. Their great-grandfather will be 90 years old next month. As most of you know I do a monthly focus board and this makes my 3rd or 4th year. I've lost count. Only fitting that New Beginnings would be my focus for January. This has been so good for me as it sits on my kitchen counter so I can see it daily. Wonderful way to focus and quote God's Word daily. I felt up to hosting a lunch and movie day with ...
The best time to drink Coffee is ANYTIME to me but I would say NOW might be a good time to drink coffee. I might run out of TP but I am surely trying to keep my coffee supply plentiful along with my green tea. I love a cup of hot or cold green tea too!
So, in the midst of everything that we all are dealing with right now I needed a little baking therapy, so baking it was.
I made a batch of simple cake mix cookie bars. I did not have any regular M&Ms to use but just so happened to have a small box of pastel colored M&Ms. Mercy, chocolate chips and M&Ms make life so much better doesn't it? And....for me, add a cup of coffee and YEP...I will survive! I wanted to share the recipe with you.
Cake Mix Cookie Bars
Ingredients
- 1 box yellow cake mix (I used Duncan Hines)
- 1 small box vanilla instant pudding mix
- 1/4 cup water
- 3/4 cup vegetable oil
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup mini M&Ms
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350.
- In a large bowl combine cake mix, pudding, water, oil and eggs using a mixer.
- Mix until well combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips and M&Ms.
- Pour into a greased 9x13 pan.
- Bake for 24-28 minutes or until golden brown on the edgesTIP: For a real pretty dessert to carry out to family, friend, church or etc. event (that is when we get to GO OUT) use an additional 1/2 cup of M&M's to sprinkle on top before baking.
I also pulled my first batch of new potatoes and YES...they went into a pot of green beans with ham for Sunday dinner. YUM! Nothing like the food you grow from your dirt.
My prayers are wide and abroad my friends as we tackle a new way of life for us right now. In the midst of all that is happening I am keeping my eyes focused on Jesus. May we Praise Him in the midst of our Prayers to Him too. He is worthy of our Praise no matter what we battle.Hugs and blessings, Cindy
This was such an uplifting post! I'm excited about your potatoes! Fun!!! Those cookie cake bars look amazing and so do you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Heather Lou. Hope you are doing well. HUGS TO YOU!
DeleteAmen! I just love your posts, my friend. I hope you have a lovely day.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda. Have a good day.
DeleteYour graphic with message, testimony, triumph and victory is so good. Thanks for sharing it today.
ReplyDeleteAs for the cookies, they look great. So pretty, too!
Thanks Barbara.
DeleteThanks for the recipe. I find all the recipes that start with a boxed mix always turn out great!!
ReplyDeleteYou have potatoes already??? I guess that's the difference between the growing season in Florida and British Columbia.
We planted a couple of rows earlier than usual for us and only because I had a batch of potatoes about to go bad so we harvest them and cut the tops off to plant. Well low and behold they made and worked out perfect for my pot of green beans. YUM!
DeleteI bet those potatoes from your garden were delicious. You're looking good, girl! Thanks for the upbeat thoughts today.
ReplyDeleteHope you are doing well Mary. We are still picking collards but thinking we might get our last batch on the next picking.
DeleteYes, He is surely our only hope! Trusting Him alongside you, my friend.
ReplyDeleteHe is TRUSTWORTHY!
DeleteWish I could share one of those bars with you, my friend! Thanks for the recipe do that I can make my own. Don’t you look so cute in the pictures??! How wonderful to grow your own potatoes. I love ham, green beans and potatoes!
ReplyDeleteYour message at the end is perfect! Stay well and safe! 😘
Thanks Kitty. They are easy to make for sure and surely does serve as a last minute dessert.
DeleteKeeping your eyes on Jesus is just where I want to be also. I hope many come to him as a result of this chaos.
ReplyDeleteI don't see how you keep so slim and trim baking all the time. You look great! Your cookie bars sound and look delicious.
I'm impressed you are growing new potatoes. Bet the fresh ones have a special flavor.
The world is surely beckoning for us to focus on everything but Jesus for sure. But, when I find myself becoming overwhelmed I am reminded that "perfect Love cast out fear" and that Our Father surely does love me so very much and I need not to fear. Hope you are doing well and thank you for your sweet comment.
DeleteHi Cindy,
ReplyDeleteHow nice to have the fresh potatoes from your garden. Love the saying you posted what a great way to look at life.
Stay safe sweet friend and Happy Tuesday.
xoxo
Thanks Kris. Hope you are doing well too.
DeleteI think Blogger ate my first comment? So I'm reposting.
ReplyDeleteThe cookie bar looks great. Now you've got me craving M&Ms.
The TP will run out before the tea stash at my place.
I bet you have enough of tea stash Margie to last you a very long time! LOL!
DeleteIndeed HE is worthy to be praised! Thanks for this encouraging post and those potatoes look sooo good. Blessings Cindy!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lea. Our Bible Study is called Trustworthy and I can assure you that the timing of it is right on target with what is happening today.
DeleteCindy, could you please pass me a cookie and coffee is always appropriate. Take care sweet friend. Sending virtual hugs!
ReplyDeletePam, I surely like my hugs in person but girl, I will take one however I can get it. LOL! Have a great day.
DeleteWow! fresh red potatoes from your own garden? How cool is that? Would love to grow my own potatoes...we eat so many!! The ham and green beans and potatoes sure sounds good. Making me want to go get a ham...well...maybe hubby will go buy us one. I'm trying to stay away from the store as much as possible. The cookie bars look good too! Glad you and yours are doing well...stay safe and enjoy these beautiful days we are having. We had some much needed rain finally last night. I hope those storms didn't do any damage where you are. Be blessed my friend. God is with us!
ReplyDeleteWe got very little rain Pam. We need rain so badly too. I was hoping to get a good rain and in hopes that it would wash some of this pollen away.
DeleteCindy,
ReplyDeleteWe still have melting snow up here and there is not a live plant to be found...I am struggling up here.
I do have a few tulips just working their way through the last of the snow and boy am I excited to see them!
I'll take a cookie with my coffee this morning:)
Stay well and blessings to you!
Hugs,
jemma
WOW...snow still. It was cool here this morning. Felt so good though. Would love to share a cookie with you and coffee.
DeleteI love cake mix cookies, and yes coffee is essential!! I just made comfort cookies this week too...I am very impressed you grew your own potatoes, wow!! I LOVE the ending message, saving it so I can read it every day, thank you Cindy!!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Me too Jenna. Hope you have a wonderful day.
DeleteGood morning, dear Cindy! Yes, baking and cooking help keep me grounded during these trying times. J has even noticed our meals are a bit more elaborate. My MIL fell while walking on the lane between our houses and broke her left wrist. She’s doing very well but her gadding about has been curtailed. (God works in mysterious ways!) We are keeping her in meals although she’s learning to do more and more with the cast. And our son will be home tomorrow evening - he’s driving through less populated areas from Montana - so the cooking will ramp up some more! It will be so good to have him under our roof, although in the basement for a time to be sure he didn’t catch the dreaded virus. Oh, these times! Glad you’re staying well and enjoying those new potatoes!! Stay healthy, my friend! ❤️🙏🏻❤️
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear about your MIL. And praying for your son. Lord help us all is what I keep saying and I know that He is in control. Trying to stay healthy.
DeleteSuch a crazy time in the world! Love the pic of you pulling your taters. I have never done that before and at this stage in my life I am happy to say....I HOPE I don't have to start now. haha...I am 60 and started drinking coffee at 32. No clue why I decided to take it on at that time of my life. I think I just wanted to fit in with the rest of the office. I never was hard core at it, mine has to flavored. But I have pretty much given it up lately. I had a cup the other day but its not a NEED to do .....funny. I baked cookies the other day also, from a package. Yep, not really the way to go, not as tasty. But...hey they were CHOC chip. Can't go wrong with CHOC! Stay safe.
ReplyDeleteWe want to plant a garden. My daughter made snickerdoodles and they were so good. I got a tiny bit. I bet the potatoes were great!
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan.
DeleteI'm a morning coffee and afternoon tea kind of person.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Enjoying a cup of coffee and then later a cup of tea is wonderful.
DeleteI knew when I stopped by here, I would get an uplift!
ReplyDeleteStay safe and healthy
Same to you dear Christine.
Delete