Weekend Company {Guest Blogger Bekki}

Good Morning and welcome to another Saturday. I hope this finds you at the end of an amazing holiday week. Our week is ending just as special as it began. See, today two very special people are getting married. My brother in law, Matt, is marrying his soul mate, Jill. There love story is one for a fairy tale. As some of you will remember, back in May 2011 Matt was diagnosed with one of the rarest forms of leukemia. Then in August Adam was his donor for a stem cell transplant to fight that cancer. Well, about a month after that, during his recovery, he "met" a friend of a friend, Jill. But see, they couldn't really meet at all. Part of recovering from a stem cell transplant is extreme isolation, as to avoid germs. Three months of phone conversations was how they spent the beginning of their relationship. Then on December 23rd they met face to face for the very first time; and according to Matt, he knew in that instant she was "the one". They were engaged in June and now today is the big day. Matt has waited for so long to find the perfect woman to share his life with, and as we all told him many times, the best things come to those who wait. I remember sitting in a hospital room telling him that "I didn't know why he was being tested by God with his illness, but He was going to make sure wonderful things on his horizon." Little did we know, just how wonderful they would be.

Congrats to Matt and Jill~ may God bless your marriage always and love fill your life forever more. 


Please welcome Bekki back for her second week in a row, to share something special for our New Year!

I am married to my wonderful husband Josh, have a beautiful 12 year old step daughter Amy and 2 fur-baby sweethearts Minnie and Shadow. I am a self taught baker/cook. I taught Wilton cake decorating for a while, worked in a grocery store bakery and have even spent time baking wedding/birthday cakes as a hobby on the side. My love for cooking has been since childhood. Spending time with my mother, aunts, and grandmothers. Aiding in their recipes or just being there for the conversation. Its always been a source of calm, peace, and ultimate fulfillment. The idea that you add your love to each recipe and share it with the people you care about is such an amazing blessing to me in more ways then I can ever put on paper. I have decided writing a cookbook was something I could do to share my love of food with family, friends, and whomever else comes my way. I hope your day is blessed with all your favorite things. 

Hello EMM Fans, I hope your Christmas was blissful and full of all your favorite things! 
Can you believe it? We are actually just days away from the New year? Nope, I can't either but its here and we have to celebrate. These recipes are dedicated to The Everyday family who was just blessed with a new member! Congratulations to the happy couple on their blessed day. With this beautiful union I had to match it with something just as decadent and beautiful! A fizzy new years eve punch great for any crowd, even the little ones. Yep, a punch with zero alcohol and my favorite, maraschino cherries. Now that we have a fizzy drink you need a oh so chocolaty dessert too right? Yes! How about a Chocolate Turtle cheesecake? That's right I said it! Now that I have your complete attention lets celebrate this amazing time of year with the ones we love. May God bless you all in the new year and give you His best. 

Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake Adapted from a family Christmas
6 tbs. margarine, melted
2 c. vanilla wafer crumbs 
1 pound caramel candies
3/4c. evaporated milk
1 1/4c. coarsely chopped pecans
2 (8oz.) packages cream cheese, softened
1/2c. sugar
2 eggs
4oz. semisweet chocolate melted 
 
 Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine margarine and vanilla wafer crumbs and press into the bottom of 9 inch spring form pan. Bake 5 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside. 
Place candies and milk in saucepan; melt together. Pour into crust. Sprinkle pecans over top. Set aside. Beat cream cheese and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and mix in melted chocolate. Pour over pecans and smooth out. Swirl long toothpick through cream cheese to get desired design.Bake for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on wire rack for 1 to 2 hours Chill 4 to 6 hours. Serves 12 

Garnish with raspberries, if desired.

Photo from A Family Christmas Cookbook

New Year's Eve Celebration Punch Adapted from a family Christmas3c. sugar
3c apple cider or apple juice
6c. grapefruit juice
1 1/2 quarts ginger ale
10 maraschino cherries with stems

Lemonade ice cubes
1 (6 oz) frozen lemonade, thawed and prepared


 In a saucepan, mix the sugar and apple cider. Cook until the sugar is dissolved.
Cool and chill. After chilling add grapefruit juice, orange juice and ginger ale. Pour the
punch into a large deep bowl, or punch bowl.For lemonade ice cubes, pour lemonade into ice cube trays and freeze. Place cups around the punch bowl. Place cherries and ice cubes in each serving of punch. Serves 10

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