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by Teresa Bell Kindred

I am the mother of five children. Each time one of them was born, I gave them a piece of my heart. How do I know? Because when they started school, started driving, started dating, and started college, my heart went with them.

Last night, I was sitting at probably my one zillionth basketball game beside my daughter, who was home visiting from college. Justin, who is a senior in high school, went in for a lay up and suddenly he was on the bottom of a pile of very large boys. I grabbed my daughter’s hand and squeezed it tightly, while saying a prayer that he would be safe.

“Mom,” she laughed, “he’s okay. Why are you freaking out?”

I looked at her and smiled. She isn’t a mother yet. She doesn’t understand about giving away your heart.

Over the years, I realized that somewhere along life’s journey part of my soul had become attached to each piece of my heart that I had given away. If my children were sad, so was I. When they hurt, I felt their pain. When they fell in love, I rejoiced with them. When their heart ached, so did mine. And then I became a grandmother! Guess what? I didn’t think I had more heart to give, but I was wrong.

My grandmother lived to be 89. She was blessed with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When she died, even though I know it was because her body finally failed her, my personal theory is she died because she’d finally given away all of her heart and all of her soul to her precious children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. God took her home to make her heart and soul whole again. One day, I know He will do the same for me.

The truly amazing thing about love is that you can’t limit it. There is nothing it can’t do. It’s bigger than the ocean. It is higher than the sky. No matter how much you give away, there is always more to give.
I am especially humbled to think that as powerful as the love is that I have for my family, God’s love is greater. He loved all of humanity so much that He gave His only son as a sacrifice for our sins. The story of His love and the life of Jesus are truly the greatest love story of all time. And isn’t it amazing to think it all began with a tiny baby in a manger and a mother who gave her son a small piece of her heart.

But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. (Luke 2:19 NKJV)

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Reprinted with permission from http://www.nanahood.com

by Teresa Bell Kindred

I admit it. I am a chocoholic. It’s my favorite comfort food.

When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I’m feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things (come on, sing along with me) and then I don’t feel….sooooo bad! Yep, chocolate is definitely one of my favorites.

Just the other day I found a recipe that sounded good and I thought I’d make it for my seventeen-year-old twin boys (okay, for me too). Yesterday I went to the grocery and got the ingredients but after I turned the oven on I realized I’d gotten the wrong kind of chocolate (can there be a wrong kind of chocolate?) and I was out of something else I needed. So I put the recipe on hold and today I went back to the store, got what I needed and tonight I started again. But, guess what? I still hadn’t gotten everything I needed. Once again I went back to the store. After three trips I finally had everything. It isn’t the easiest recipe I ever tried because there are three layers and by the time I finished and took it out of the oven the twins were getting ready for bed.

“You cannot go to bed yet!” I yelled upstairs. “I’ve been to the grocery store three times. I’ve worked for two hours on this stuff and you are going to eat it before you go to bed. Further more if you don’t like it I want you to lie and say you do! ”

They came downstairs grinning. I had cut myself a small piece (okay a large piece) and I handed them the knife. They each carved out a chunk (literally) and I was rewarded with big smiles.

“Is this white stuff on top mayonnaise?” asked one son.

“It’s marshmallow crème,” I answered.

“I thought it tasted too good for mayonnaise,” he said as he finished it off and went back for more.

If you would like to satisfy your chocolate cravings with a dish that is guaranteed to bring smiles to your children’s faces and put pounds on your hips (everything comes with a price) then the recipe follows. Let me know if you like it and join me in a big yee-haw for chocolate!

Smore Bars

The recipe says it makes 24 bars but as you can see my two seventeen year olds ate almost half a pan.

Also says prep time is 25 minutes…not if you go to the store three times in two days it isn’t!

Crust:

(I shop at a discount grocery and buy off brands to save money. I promise it didn’t make a bit of difference in the taste. These were awesome.)

14 whole graham cracker boards, crushed
3 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Brownie:

6 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 1/2 sticks butter
3 eggs
1 1/4 cups sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons vanilla

Topping:

1 jar (7.5 ounces) marshmallow cream
2 tablespoons milk
1 cup Hershey’s mini chocolate kisses
1 cup chopped pecans

Crust: Combine cracker crumbs, sugar, salt and butter in a bowl until evenly moistened. Transfer to a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan: press evenly into bottom, refrigerate one hour.

Brownie: Combine chocolate and butter in a glass bowl. Heat in microwave on HIGH until chocolate and butter are melted, about one minute. Stir mixture until smooth.

Beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until blended. While beating, gradually add chocolate mixture to egg mixture beat until smooth.

Stir in flour and salt. Add vanilla. Pour evenly over crust. Bake at 350 degrees until the smell drives you crazy and your dog sits in front of the oven and salivates (or 30 minutes).

Topping: While brownie is baking, whisk marshmallow cream and milk in a small bowl until well blended and smooth. Remove brownie from oven and cover with marshmallow topping. Spread evenly until completely covered.

Sprinkle mini Kisses and nuts (if so desired, and I desire nuts on mine) evenly over mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 3 more minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Good luck on letting it cool. My boys ate it warm with a big glass of cold milk (uh, and so did I).

More on the Smores!

They were so popular at my house that we made them again today.

This is my assistant, Chef Abby. She cracked the eggs (and I fished out the shells). She stirred the chocolate (a big blob went in the floor but the dog cleaned it up for me). And she put the chocolate kisses on top of the marshmallow crème. Best of all, she helped me eat them. They sure are good!

Grab your grandchild and let them cook with nana. It’s messy but fun!

Reprinted with permission from http://www.nanahood.com