A Special Night

Tonight is special.  One year ago on this date I hit publish and the "View From Harmony Hills "  became a blogspot.

It has been an amazing year.  I have seen the world and never left my hilltop.  Traveling to the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, Scotland, Italy, the Island of Malta, and all over the US has been such a blessing.

All of you have made me feel so welcome...you have invited me into your homes and shared your dreams, your lives and your loves.    Thank You!

I wish to express a special thanks to Diana M Davis .   She was my first visitor.  If you have never stopped by her blog be sure you do.   Her watercolors are breathtaking.   Barbara Joan  was the second to visit me.   Her encouraging words gave me the faith to keep posting.   BJ's art is extraordinary.   She works not only with watercolor but pencil as well.  Bless you both for making this "newbie" feel at  home. 

     

Blogging does take time and effort but the rewards are great!  God Bless all of you on this special night.   I am so grateful you let me share my view with you.    
  

 
     

   

I AM Celebrating...

I am celebrating tonight -  this is my 26th post.  There have been times I wasn't sure what I was going to write.  Then something one of you would share or say would inspire me and I would find my way.

With my first 25 posts behind me I am captivated with this blogging thing.  Most of all I am grateful to each and everyone of you who have read and commented and shared your passions, heart aches and inspirations with me.   So to speak you all have been the "Wind Beneath My Wings".  (In the beginning they may have been chicken wings).

This celebration is not about me - it is about You!  I have enjoyed your art, creativity, thoughts on life, travels, pics of family and friends, funnies that make me smile, and most importantly your generosity in taking the time to share your life.  From the bottom of my heart Thank You.

I am looking forward to the next 25 posts (I have ordered a book from the library on HTML)  YEEKS....I MAY FINALLY FIGURE OUT HOW TO PUT THINGS WHERE I WANT THEM.

To all my new friends - God Bless!

Gluten-Free Banana Cream Pie

When I decided to start this blog I thought I would stick mostly with art and art related subjects.  I have changed my mind..  I am an artist and I do love creating but creativity spills over into all aspects of my life.  In my humble opinion I think because we are created beings made in God's image we were made to create as well.

Long before I every picked up a pen or brush I was pursuing cooking and baking.   There was a year in fact when I sampled a new recipe for every day of the year.   (How crazy is this?)

The practice paid off later though when we discovered my husband was celiac.  For any of you who do not know what that is - it is someone allergic to gluten.   Cooking and baking became a challenge for me because I no longer was able to use certain items that were staples in my kitchen.  I have had to re-design or "create" new ways of cooking favorite dishes.   Here is my gluten -free recipe for Banana Cream Pie.  Hope even those of you who are not celiac will enjoy it.   Just substitute the gluten free shell for a regular baked pie shell, using all purpose flour in place of the gluten-free mixture.  

Gluten-Free Banana Cream Pie

                            Gluten-Free Pastry Shell Baked: 1 1/2 C Gluten-Free Flour Mix, 2 tsp sugar, 1 tsp. salt, 1/2 c. oil, 2 Tblsp. milk - In medium bowl, combine first 3 ingredients.   Add oil and milk; blend well and pat into 9" pie pan, fluting edge.  ( I use wax paper to help me pat the gluten free flour mixture into pan).   Bake at 425 degrees for 12 min. 

Banana Cream Filling

1 C. sugar, 1/4 c. cornstarch, 1/2 tsp. salt, 3 C. Milk, 2 eggs slightly beaten, 3 Tblsp. butter, 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract, 2 lg firm bananas, 1 c heavy whipping cream, 1 Tblsp. Sliced almonds

In large microwave safe bowl stir sugar and cornstarch, salt and milk until smooth.  Place bowl in microwave for 10 -15 min. at medium high heat , stirring every 5 min. until thick; place a small amount of warm mixture into the lightly beaten eggs, then return mix back into the hot mixture and cook in microwave on low for approx. 1 to 2 min.  Take out of microwave and place plastic wrap on top of mixture and refrigerate for 1/2 hr.  Slice the two bananas and put them on the bottom of the cooled pie shell.   After 1/2 hr. place the cooled pudding mixture over top of the fruit and once again place a piece of plastic wrap on top of the pudding and place in refrigerator for 8 hours or overnite.  Top with sweetened whip cream and almonds.

Gluten-Free Banana Cream  Pie

          Happy Baking from Harmony Hills - Have a Blessed Day!