It's party time! Ultimate Blog Party 2011

Okay, friends! Let's party!

Welcome to Taste and See God's Goodness! I'm Marsha and I'm the chief cook and bottle washer around here.

Pull up a chair and share a piece of Nutella Walnut Strudel with me.


I started blogging so I could share recipes with family and friends. I love to try new dishes, too. I'm a well-known tweaker, though - meaning I rarely ever follow a recipe exactly. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.

I also love my family. I've been married to my handsome husband for 12 years. We have two children - Mr. Lego who is 10, and the Princess who is 8. They are my joys!

Another passion besides cooking is homeschooling. We're just about done with our fourth year, and I love it more now than I did when we first started. Occasionally I'll mention what we're doing in school. I'm not a homeschooling expert by any stretch, but I'm happy to share what I've learned along the way.

More important than all of those loves is my love for Jesus. I'm not perfect but I do strive to please Him. My life would be a mess without Him. Sometimes I'll share what He's doing in my life. If you're a Christian, too, let me know! I love meeting new brothers and sisters in Christ!

So, that's my blog in a nutshell. Thank you for dropping by and have a lovely time at the party!

PS - if you want to participate, too, just click on that big banner at the top of this post and join in the fun!

Nutella Walnut Strudel

As soon as I saw this recipe for nutella strudel, I knew I had to try it. What could be easier than nutella and puff pastry? And why had I never thought of it before? Ha ha!

Okay, confession time. I love nutella. But this is the first time I let the kids have any! I wanted it all to myself before this. I'm such a selfish mother! I knew they'd like it. And I was right. I'm going to have to hide the jar from now on!

Here's what you need:

1 puff pastry sheet (there are 2 sheets to a box, so you can easily double this recipe)
1/2 cup nutella
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 TBSP milk

Thaw the sheet of pastry and allow it to come to room temperature. Then gently unfold it. With a sharp knife, cut slits about an inch apart on each side of the puff pastry. The pastry has previously been folded into thirds, so there will be lines to help you know where to start the slits.


Spread the nutella down the center of the pastry and sprinkle with the chopped walnuts.


Now carefully criss cross the dough strips over the top, making sure to cover the filling.


Pinch each end closed. Brush the milk over the top of the pastry.


Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.


Slice into 4 pieces with a serrated knife.


This dessert was fantastic! It's definitely something I'd serve to guests. In fact, this Sunday night after church we're having a dessert party and I'm going to make this as one of my contributions. It will be easy to double and slice into smaller pieces to share.

Would there be anything wrong in making this for breakfast, you think?

For more yummy recipes, visit Miz Helen's Full Plate Thursday.

Fudgy Brownies

I confess, I've never been good at making homemade brownies. They always turn out too dry or crumbly or something. So I was convinced that using a boxed mix was the only way I'd ever make yummy brownies.

Until I tried this recipe.

These brownies are fudgy and moist and almost melt in your mouth. Did I mention they were easy, too?

Here's what you need:

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
1 bag of chocolate chips - I use milk chocolate
1 cup sugar
1 teas vanilla
4 eggs
1 cup white flour
1/2 cup white wheat flour
1/2 teas sea salt
1 cup chopped nut, optional

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the entire bag of chocolate chips. Stirring constantly, combine the butter and chips. When the chocolate is completely melted, remove from the heat.


Stir in the sugar and vanilla. Then add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.


Add the flour and salt. Mix until the batter is smooth.


If you're using nuts, stir those in. Now beat the batter until air bubbles form.


Pour the batter into a greased 9x13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.


Cut into small squares and pour yourself a glass of ice-cold milk! You're going to love these brownies!

It's almost time to party!

Once again, 5 Minutes for Mom is hosting its annual Ultimate Blog Party and you can get in on the fun! Join hundreds of bloggers from around the web to introduce yourself and your blog, win prizes, and gain some new friends.

I participated last year and had a GREAT time! This is a fantastic way to connect with others. Click on the graphic above for more details.

Then come on back here and join me Friday, April 1, for a great blog party!

Menu Plan March 27-April 2

Oh my word! April is almost here! Last year for April Fool's Day, I made sweet sushi for the kids.


This year I got nuthin'! I've been dealing with some health issues and trying to get meds regulated, so my ability to plan ahead is being sorely tested. Just getting a regular menu plan together this week was a major feat! Maybe I'll hint around to hubby that he needs to come up with something.

But if he doesn't, here's what I came up with:

Sunday
Pulled pork sandwiches, fries

Monday
Hamburger cheesesteaks, veggie platter

Tuesday - brought to us by the letter "N"
Noodle soup with chicken, naan bread, nutella strudel for dessert

Wednesday
Taco salad, cheesy fiesta potatoes

Thursday
Grilled burgers, grilled veggies

Friday
Bourbon chicken over rice, sesame broccoli

Saturday
West Virginia pepperoni rolls - didn't get to these last week

For more yummy menu ideas, head over to Organizing Junkie and check out her Menu Plan Monday.

It's not all about winning

A friend sent me the link to this video about a young woman whose injury after hitting her first ever home run was going to prevent her from running the bases. Players from the opposing team demonstrate compassion and sportsmanship even though it cost them the game. Amazing!

Fiesta Chicken and Rice

This recipe comes from my dear friend Shannon. Back in the mid-nineties when we were both single, Shannon and I used to hang out. She has an extraordinary cooking talent that is still unmatched. Right now she's in Malaysia going through an adoption process that could take months. I know she'd appreciate any prayers you could spare for her and her husband.

Anyway, I knew when she posted this recipe I wanted to try it. But in typical Marsha fashion, I tweaked it a little. And I loved it! So did the family. This one's a keeper!

Here's what you need:

3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized chunks
salt and pepper, to taste
1/4 cup olive oil
1 cup long grain rice
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 TBSP minced garlic
1 teas dried oregano
1 teas chili powder
dash cayenne pepper
1 can diced tomatoes, drained (I use petite)
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
2 cups chicken broth
shredded cheese to sprinkle on after cooking (I use sharp cheddar)

Season the chicken chunks with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Cook the chicken chunks until mostly done.


Scoot the chicken over to one side of the pan and add the rice and onion. Cook and stir until the rice starts to brown. Stir in the garlic and spices until the chicken pieces are coated.


Then add the tomatoes, green pepper and chicken broth. Bring to a boil.


Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Give the entire pot a good stir, then put the lid back on and simmer until the rice is tender and all the liquid is absorbed. That will probably take another 10 minutes or so.

You could stir the cheese into the entire pot, or you can do what I did - top individual servings with the cheese. Some children in my family don't like cheese sprinkled on top of anything. Weird, huh?


I was so happy that the kids gobbled this up. I loved that it took only one pot! Yay! And we took the small amount of leftovers the next day and added them to quesadillas. Super yum!

Thank you, sweet Shannon, for the inspiration!