On My Mind Today

From Philadelphia Cream Cheese, you can enjoy the great flavor of fall any time of year with this delicious cheesecake that requires no baking. Prepare in about 15 minutes and refrigerate until firm. So simple and sure to be a big hit with family and friends. Our guests enjoyed it so much they wanted to take the remainder home. No-Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake 1 package (8 ounces) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened 1 cup canned pumpkin 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice 1 tub (8 ounces) Cool Whip whipped topping, thawed and divided 1 ready-to-use graham cracker crumb crust (6 oz.) ** Beat cream cheese, pumpkin, sugar, and pumpkin pie spice with mixer until blended. Gently stir in 2-1/2 cups Cool Whip. Spoon into crust. Refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm. Top with remaining Cool Whip to serve. Enjoy!! **For an additional layer of flavor, you could make this with a crust made from ginger snaps. 1-1/4 cups ginger snap cookie crumbs 5 tablespoons melted butter pinch of cinnamon (op

The last week of February with its ever-changing temperatures gives rise to visons of what will come. Although we will surely see more winter weather, we have recently been blessed with a few warmer days that give us a twinge of early spring fever. Even though the sun may not shine as brightly as we would like, the warmer temperatures, no matter how briefly they last, give us a burst of energy. After feeling lethargic on the cold days this brief respite makes us want to take advantage of each moment. Last fall there were many flowers that bloomed well into November and beyond. Even after a couple of snow falls, one lone Snap Dragon and several wildflowers blessed us with their beauty into early December. And then they were buried under winter's snow and cold. As the winter rains continued to melt the snow, the remnants of these flowers eventually appeared from their hiding place. At this point they were soggy and sad looking, and in desperate need of removal. Recently, it has been

Common sense, sound judgement, wisdom, insight, perception or street smarts. No matter what you call it, as you look around and see the decisions that some people make, it's apparent that common sense has gone out the window. There appears to be a total lack of ability to think things through; too many snap decisions that lead to disappointment or worse. Having a good education is important and you can become extremely versed in many areas, but if you have no street savvy then you are lacking some very essential skills. The ability to adapt to whatever environment you find yourself in allows you to assess each situation and make a sound decision. Common sense can ensure your safety. Our children need to be taught common sense. To do this, we can't control everything around them or make every decision for them. If they are allowed to make choices (based on their age) they will learn quickly. Either it will be a good choice and things will go well, or it will be the wrong choice

 From Allison at  celebratingsweets.com  , this recipe is one of the easiest and delicious "pancakes" that you will ever have. It is a thick and fluffy pancake casserole that is filled with blueberries and topped with brown sugar crumbs. From prep to the table in just over an hour, it is great for your family weekend breakfast, or for a Sunday brunch with friends. It does make a 9x13 dish, so I cut the recipe in half for the two of us and it was delicious! Blueberry Buttermilk Pancake Casserole Serves 12 Crumb Topping: 1/2 cup flour 3 tablespoons light brown sugar 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted Casserole: 2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 eggs 2 cups buttermilk ** See note below 1/2 cup milk 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted finely grated zest of 1 small lemon 1-1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1-2/3 cups

We all would love to live in a country where our leaders did exactly as we wanted; where everything is as we want it to be. However, we also know that is not a reasonable expectation. What they need to do for their citizens is to ensure things are as fair as possible for everyone. They need to learn the true art of compromise. With this art of compromise slipping away in today's political environment, it's easy to see where people are angry or upset. However, in an effort to protest, many are resorting to using their anger to incite violence as if that will force the change they are looking for. Anyone that thinks logically about this, knows that all it will create is more anger, hatred and violence. I have to wonder where they see a recovery at the end of this tunnel. It's nothing but a downward spiral to nowhere; to a world that none of us would want to live in. I find it alarming when the news portrays images of the unpeaceful protests going on all around the world. Seei

After cold, sleet, and freezing rain it is a joy to wake up to bright sunny skies and warmer temperatures. It has not been a terrible winter in New England terms, but it has been cold and filled with more ice than snow. These odd winters are more  difficult to deal with than those filled with several feet of snow. Since we are more than a month beyond the shortest day of the year, each day brings us more daylight hours which makes winter more tolerable. Longer days and sunshine give  us hope for what will come in the next several weeks. Although we will inevitably get more snow before all is said and done, the warmer days will prevent it from remaining for an extended period of time. Each milestone lifts the burden of winter a bit more. In just over four weeks we will turn the clocks ahead for daylight savings time making the weight on our shoulders feel a bit lighter. Seven days after this the first day of spring arrives making our soul feel brighter and hopeful for what is to come. T

From Taste of Home contributor, Janet McCormick of Proctorville, Ohio, this rich and tasty dish is a blend of all the Tex-Mex dishes molded into one casserole. The simplicity of it makes it a great choice for nights when time is short as it is ready in only half an hour. Add a side salad for a complete meal. Salsa Verde Chicken Casserole 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken 1 cup sour cream 1-1/2 cups salsa verde, divided 8 corn (or flour) tortillas (6 inches) 2 cups chopped tomatoes 1/4 cup minced fresh cilantro (or 1 tablespoon dried) 2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese Optional toppings: Avocado slices, thinly sliced green onions or fresh cilantro leaves In a small bowl, combine the chicken, sour cream and 3/4 cup salsa. Spread 1/4 cup salsa on the bottom of a greased 8-in. square baking dish. Layer with half of the tortillas and chicken mixture; sprinkle with half the tomatoes, minced cilantro and half of the cheese. Repeat layers with remaining tortillas, chicken mixture, tomatoes

Where did you go with your vibrant soul, that once shined as bright as a star. In the midst of everyday chaos, did you lose yourself once again? It used to be easy feeling free to dream, never letting things get in your way. These days so much seems to cloud your mind, that barriers hinder your vision of what could be. Torn between the inherent need to do for others, and the yearning to chase a buried dream. Your heart is filled with a desire to care for the ones you cherish, and your soul cries out, what about me? Balance, you whisper, or everyone will lose, yet balance is elusive most days. Pulled here, then there, to make sure that loved ones thrive, and telling yourself tomorrow will be for you. There is great joy in what you do for others, and their happiness is a true reward. But you are empty when there is no time left for you, and your soul feels the void. Don't lose yourself,  take a breath and step back. Remember the dreams, set time aside, and bring your heart and soul b