I've moved!

 

If Y'all are seeing this page it

is because I have made the

BIG MOVE to a NEW SITE!

(insert jumping up and down here!)

I would love it if Y'all would make

the move with me. You can find the

NEW and IMPROVED

Lark's Country Heart Blog HERE!! 

 

There are a TON of New Recipes for Y'all to

catch up on. BE sure to subscribe by clicking

on the "Follow" icon on the right hand side of the page!

 

(www.larkscountryheart.com)

 

See Y'all there! ~ Lark

 



The Winner is....

The WINNER of this Fabulous

12 piece T-Fal Stainless Steel Non-Stick Cookware

 

Is......CINDY BRICKLEY!

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS!!

I just know you are going to LOVE them!

 

*Please make sure you reply with your

email and shipping information in 48 hours

or another winner may be chosen.

 

A BIG Thank you goes out to T-Fal

and Cooking Planit, for asking me to

be involved in this fabulous

review(s) and giveaway.

 #Tfal, #Cookingplanit

Lark



T-Fal Stainless Steel/ Non-Stick Cookware ~ Review/ Giveaway Plus my Chicken and Sausage Gumbo !

It's is finally here.....

I have been posting  teaser's  for week's

now, that have all lead up to this day!

Today is the day I get to share with you

 all about this fabulous Review/Giveaway of:

T-fal Cookware  

I have been looking forward to

cooking with this set of cookware

from  the moment I was approached

to do this review/giveaway.

I mean just LOOK at this set.

Let me share some of the features

 I am sure you will appreciate about this

 set as much as I did.

 

~All Stainless Steel/ Non-Stick

*Plus (2) skillets have the NEW

Heat Indicator embedded in them.

The thermal Spot indicator will turn

a solid red spot that will let you know

when the pan is preheated to

optimal temperature.

This is a wonderful feature!

Especially when you need your

pan HOT for searing meat, or even

to sauté your vegetables perfectly.

~The pieces in this set all have stainless

steel handles with silicone inserts, that

are oven safe up to 350 degree's.

The tempered glass lids are also

oven safe to 350 degree's.

~Printed on the interior of each piece

are measurement increments

for easy convenience.

~Each piece is dish washer safe.

However I was pleasantly surprised

at just how easy they are to clean.

I usually hand wash all my cookware.

Some "other"  pieces I own sometimes

call for a little "soak" time, if you know

what I am mean? Well let me tell you this

 T-Fal Stainless Steel/ Non-Stick Cookware

needs NO soak time at all. I literally just

wiped off the pan! It was AWESOME!!

Since receiving this 12 piece

T-fal Cookware Set I have set aside all

of my other brand of pans. I do not have

 one complaint about this set.

 I just know you are going to love it.

Let me share one of the recipes I

used this fine cookware to make.

Chicken and Sausage Gumbo

8 C. Water

2 C. Chicken Broth

4 Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts

1 (13oz.) Beef Smoked Sausage~ sliced

1 Onion~ Chopped

4 Celery Ribs~ diced

2 Garlic Cloves~ minced

2 TBSP. Butter

1 C. Flour

1 Stick Butter~ cubed

1 (8oz.) Hunts Roasted Garlic Tomato Sauce

Salt/Pepper to taste
*Cooked Rice to serve with Gumbo

In a large stock pot bring to a boil the

water, chicken, broth, onion and any seasoning

you want to add. I like cumin, chili powder

and garlic powder. I use 1 tsp. each. Boil

for 15-20 minutes or until the chicken

is cooked through and easy to cut.

While chicken is boiling, sauté the

onion, celery, garlic and butter.

For 5 minutes or until fork tender.

Add these into the chicken/broth.

Next take the sliced sausage place

in a  skillet cooking over medium

heat to brown on both sides.

Then add this to the stockpot.
Turn down the heat, simmer for
20 minutes.
Now it's time to make your roux.
in a large skillet melt your butter
over medium/high heat.
Stir in the flour, making sure
not to allow the flour to burn!

Once the roux is browned, you will
take a cup at a time of the broth
in the stockpot, adding to the roux
as you whisk. This will become thick.
Keep whisking to make sure you
don't have any lumps.

Take off heat, and stir in the
tomato sauce. Now add this into
stockpot. (at this point all the
ingredients will be in the pot.
Stir until all the roux is mixed in
and blended well.
It will look a little "thin" however
it will thicken up as you stir.
Let simmer for another 20 minutes
then you are ready to serve over
some steamed rice.

ENJOY!
 

Here is your chance to WIN your very own

T-fal 12 piece Stainless Steel/Non-Stick Cookware Set

All you need to do to enter is:

*Register for a FREE Cooking Planit Account 

*Leave me a comment below telling me what

the will be the first thing you would

cook in your T-fal set!

(Make sure you leave your email address)

 

**You can also get a bonus entry by

"Liking" my

 Lark's Country Heart Face Book Page

 

Good Luck, I will Announce the

Winner on August 28th.

 Cooking Planit is partnering with T-fal along with

      50 of the best food bloggers in the country,

          that will be giving away 50 sets of T-fal cookware!

         These 50 foodies will cook a meal with Cooking Planit

           using T-fal’s New Stainless Steel Cookware Set

            then share their experience with you!

         ALL 50 bloggers are giving away a T-Fal

             12-piece Stainless Steel Cookware set.

 Register for a FREE~
 Cooking Planit Account HERE

**You can go HERE for a list of

all 50 Food Bloggers and the dates

of which their giveaway/reviews

will be published.



 

I would like to thank the T-fal company

for asking me to be apart of this

giveaway/review.

Lark

 

~I (Lark) was not compensated for my opinion,

and or review of the T-fal products. I was provided

with a 12 piece T-fal Cookware set in order to

give an honest opinion of this product. All

opinions stated above are my own.

 

DETAILS: Contests open to US only.

 Limit one-winner per household/per family from the

50 blogs participating in the promotion.  

If an individual is the winner of more than one giveaway,

 they will receive only one set of cookware

and an alternate winner will be chosen for the other set. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



What you will find this week...

On the Blog...

I just know this little "teaser"

will make you want to come back

and check things out!

Cooking Planit ~ A Site that will teach you

how to cook a complete meal with everything at

the same time.

Has partnered up with T-Fal Cookware

for a great opportunity for MY readers!

 

*(PLUS 50 of the top Food Bloggers)

to introduce you to  the Cooking Planit

site, teach you how to use it and give you

their opinion of what they thought about it.

And to start you off cooking right and with

the best possible tools, T-fal

has given each of the 50 bloggers a 

12 piece Stainless Steel Non-Stick

cookware set. Wait there is more!

T-fal has agreed to give each blogger

a set to GIVEAWAY!

I cant wait to share with you how

my experience went with both

of these companies!

Check back THIS WEEK!

~ Good Times,

Lark

 



Come visit me over at Christy Jordan's Southern Plate

Doesn't this Peaches and Cream Pie

make your mouth water?

Well Y'all can find my recipe

over at my Sweet Friend

Christy Jordan Southern Plate 

where I will be a guest sharing

this recipe. I hope Y'all will

stop in for a visit, and leave a comment.

If you haven't been to Christy's

site yet, you have been missing out!

Y'all will want to grab a glass

of Sweet Tea and put your feet up.

You will also want to become a

follower of

 Christy Jordans Southern Plate~ Face Book Page

See Y'all over yonder!

Lark



Meet Skylar & Brittany Smallwood Family

 Many of you may have received an invitation to a Online Pampered Chef Party from me, or heard me talking about my friends the Smallwood family...well here is their story~

March 6, 2010, was the day that Skyler and I started our Journey through life as husband and wife.  We moved in with Skyler’s two sisters Heather and Staci, in order to save some money, as Skyler had become laid off a few months before we were married.  For two years he worked on and off, mostly off but tried whatever he could to provide for us.  He would travel anywhere from 45 minutes out of town to work a picket line til 3 in the morning, to 3 hours to ELY, NV to work for his brother in law Nick.  The whole time we were hoping for the job he had been waiting for for ten years.  A job that was pretty secure once he got it. We wouldn’t have to worry about the next step, or when the job was going to end.  Then on February 13th, 2012 we received the best news…Skyler got that job he had been waiting for. 

     He started out traveling by bus every Tuesday for 3 ½  hours to get to work and would stay out there through Friday.  Things were going great, we got pregnant right away and we even started looking at homes to buy so that we would have more room for the baby.  The pregnancy was hard on me in the beginning…I was hospitalized due to dehydration and a significant amount of weight loss, so I had to quit my job. We figured we would be okay since Skyler was making a great living for us.  In June of this year, Skyler started taking the necessary steps to get this weight loss surgery done.  He reached the final step before he could move forward with the surgery, and that was to get blood work done.  When his Doctor received the results, she noticed that his kidneys weren’t functioning properly and so she sent him to a kidney specialist.  After several visits with the nephrologist and blood work for a month, they decided his kidneys weren’t getting any better with the medicine they gave him. 

     Tuesday July 31st, 2012 (his mother’s birthday), I received a phone call that neither of us were ready for.  His Doctor told me that he needed to get to the hospital right away because his kidneys were failing, and failing fast.  He got to work around 6:30 a.m. that day and by the time I got a hold of him; he had only worked a few hours.  I told him the news and so he started the long 3 ½ hour drive home.  That phone call had really shaken me up, and being 6 months pregnant I was already emotional.  While waiting for Skyler to get home, I pleaded with God to make me strong during this trial, especially around Skyler.  I got all my tears out before he got home, and I can tell you that through this whole ordeal, I was able to keep it together around him, and I know it’s because of that prayer and the prayers on our behalf from friends and family. 

     We didn’t know the exact extent of damage to his kidneys and the only way to know was to get a kidney biopsy.  Because of his size, the doctors were afraid that they wouldn’t be able to get a sample.  The Lord was by our side the whole time and they were able to collect not only one good sample, but they were able collect three good samples.  The biopsy was done on a Friday and they sent the kidney samples off to Cedar Sinai in California.  Results typically take 24-72 hours but because it was a Friday, we were told it could take even longer.  We had the weekend to prepare ourselves for the results and decided that if his kidney’s couldn’t be saved, we would look on the bright side that he was still alive, and we would take it one day at a time with the help of family and friends. 

     The results came on Tuesday.  The damage had been done.  85% of his kidneys were damaged and he would have to continue dialysis until he could get a kidney transplant.  In order to get on the transplant list, you can have up to a BMI of 38. Skyler’s BMI was at a 56.  We are determined to get Skyler a new Kidney.  Within a month of his hospitalization, Skyler dropped a whopping 50 pounds!  Even with that progress, his doctors suggested he get that weight loss surgery.  Just like his biopsy, his doctors didn’t have the faith that he could do it.  He told them he would reach that BMI within 6 months.  In four months, he underwent 5 surgeries, has lost 85 pounds, and is now down to a BMI of 46.  He has 2 months left to lose about 40 more pounds. 

     Throughout his multiple hospital stays, Skyler made friends everywhere. Especially the staff.  Even though he was the one lying in that uncomfortable hospital bed, unable to move because of the recent shock his body had undergone, he was able to get laughs out of the doctors and nurses and they became wrapped around his fingers.  His positive attitude and humor was contagious and all I could do was sit back in admiration every day at this incredible man that I married.  There was even talk about creating a T.V. show surrounding Skyler and one of his favorite Doctors who was Muslim.  They would go around visiting the doctor’s patients and Skyler would be there to cheer them up if they were sad, or to offer some medical assessment.  Doctor Mohammed would teach him along the way =).  If ever picked up, this show would be called “The Mormon and the Muslim”. 

     We know we can get through this and have all the motivation in the world; our son.  Kevin Thomas Smallwood was born on November 10th, 2012.  We want to live a healthy lifestyle for the rest of our lives in order to be around for Thomas and our future children as well as to enjoy the health benefits!  Before Skyler’s kidneys started to fail, we didn’t know what dialysis was exactly. Through Skyler’s story, we want people to be more aware of Kidney disease.  We don’t want people to get the phone call like we did.  There are things that you can to do to save your kidneys if you are at risk.  Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from getting worse. When kidney disease progresses, it may eventually lead to kidney failure, which requires dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain life.  Back in the 1970’s there were about 10,000 dialysis patients in the United States  alone, and today there are over 300,000 and they anticipate that number to grow at a fast pace. Here are some facts about Chronic Kidney Disease:

-26 million American adults have CKD and millions of others are at increased risk.

-Heart disease is the major cause of death for all people with CKD.

-Hypertension causes CKD and CKD causes hypertension.

-Persistent proteinuria (protein in the urine) means CKD is present.

-High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension and family history of kidney disease.

-African Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and Seniors are at increased risk.

-Three simple tests can detect CKD: blood pressure, urine albumin and serum creatinine.

http://www.kidney.org/kidneydisease/aboutckd.cfm

 

http://www.livestrong.com/article/340394-how-to-eat-healthy-to-prevent-kidney-disease/

Our dear friend Lark has been so kind to our family throughout all of this.  Her friend Carol whom we don't even know is putting on a fundraiser for us through pampered chef.  A portion of the proceeds will go to us to help pay for medical bills.  It's amazing to me the acts of kindess we have seen throughout all of this and we are forever grateful for the people who have helped us.  If you would like to buy something from pampered chef to help us out please visit the link below.  It has all the information available on how to go about doing that.  Thank you for your time in reading this and please don't be afraid to share Skyler's story.  Happy Holidays everyone!!

http://www.facebook.com/events/543193662375419/?ref=notif&notif_t=plan_user_joined

  

Thank you all so very much for your thought's, prayer's and for helping a

Special Family this Holiday season with your Pampered Chef order's.

~May The Lord Bless you always, Lark

  

  

Where do YOU live?

Many of you have asked me either via

my Lark's Country Heart Face Book Page,

or My Twitter Page, just where the heck I live?

 Some of you have noticed I post that I

am heading "into town"....but where is town?

So I thought I would take off the kitchen apron, 

sit down and have a friendly chat with y'all.

I live in the Great Silver State ~ Nevada.

In a small town called Alamo.

When I say small I mean... small!

There are no stoplights, no Walmart or Targets, 

no McDonald's, nope not even a Starbucks.

 There are No fast food restaurants.

It has NO city Pool or Gym. 

In order to find any of those listed above I

 travel 100 Miles South to Las Vegas.

Now I can already hear y'all whisper

out loud "WHY?" as you shake your head.

(Caught ya didnt I?...lol)

Let me tell ya WHY...

Here in my hometown we DO have...

A safe environment, where everyone know's your 

name. (Que the Cheer's theme song) 

A public School system where your child

actually knows their teacher and visa versa.

(3) Different Church establishments, that all

reach out to help the community.

Our local "Hardware Store" is affectionately 

called "Logans"~ due to the sweet family that run it.

We have a wonderful "Mom and Pop"

grocery store/gas station,where they have a

Hot Grill  for our "burger/fried chicken" cravings.

There are also local eateries...

we have Carlo's Mexican restaurant,

Scoop's Ice Cream/Sandwich Shoppe.

Our  Post Office is run by only (3) employee's.

 (I worked as the post master relief

for a couple of years after moving here. I can tell

you, this is the "hub" of the town. You can count on 

seeing friends here daily!)

a Credit Union who really does look out for you.

Our local Sherriff's office, Highway Patrol

County Court House as well as the public Library

All share the same building.

It is not a "FANCY" town, just full of good 'ole 

Country folk who wave as you pass them. 

Bring you dinner when a new baby is born.

Who put together a Dinner for family members

after a funeral. Where your children are watched

over as they grow. Where weddings are celebrated 

by the whole town.  Where your children can try out

for any and all Sports. 

Where every 4th of July

is a HUGE event celebrated in the town park,

where kids get their face painted, generations sit on a 

float decorated with crepe paper in a parade.

Where going out  on a date requires a

 4-Wheeler and a rifle.

On hot Summer days the kids can play

Night games with a flash light. Or go to a 

natural Warm Spring, or a homemade slip-n-slide..

I live here for many reasons.

I have listed just a few, there are so many more!

Yes sometimes I wish town was a little closer.

Or that I didnt have to wait for a weekend to make

the trip to see a movie, or go to a mall.

However I wouldnt trade these years I have lived here

for all the Starbucks in the world.

I mean where else could I go on an annual

Thanksgiving 4-wheeler ride?

Or go Rock Tipping?  (lol)

I hope this makes you understand a little bit

better as you look into My Country Heart.

Very Blessed to live here,

Lark

Shoes are laced up...

Shoes are laced up,

the bags are packed.

Headbands, sports beans, 

body glide galore.

Ipod loaded with tunes,

to keep me on pace.

Spandex, Wright socks

and Bio-freeze.

Bodybugg, Pacing watch,

and a spi belt.

NEVER did I think I would

know what half these items were...

let alone WANT them!

For the past 3 years I have been

addicted to Running Marathons!

It all started with a need to lose

some weight. I started slow...

only able to walk a mile a day.

Then moved it to 3, 5, 8 miles a day.

And before I knew it I was jogging

those miles everyday.

I set a goal to walk a FULL Marathon 

(26.2 miles) I cant tell how accomplished

and proud I felt when I crossed that

finish line running, in 2009.

Ever since then I made a goal to 

myself to never give up! 

NOW don't get the wrong idea,

I am NOT a fast runner!

I like to tell others I am a

"slow but steady" runner.

For ME that is OK !

I do compete against my

own time, trying to improve

each race. Although to be honest

with you half the time I pay no

attention to the clock. 

I am just focused on finishing!

I cant say thank you enough to all

those who believe in me.

My husband & daughter

are my biggest supporters.

I LOOK forward to seeing them

at each race in the crowd cheering

me on. It is such a help to me.

Because when I hit Mile 18-20

when the "mental head games"

start, my saving grace is KNOWING

they will be there waiting for me.

Not to mention that for the past (3)

Summer's, they have allowed me to

schedule a Marathon during our

family vacation! (lol) I am 

soooo NOT kidding! 

(Including this coming race in

San Diego, CA.)

I am thrilled to say this next race

the San Diego Rock-N-Roll Marathon

will be my 12th completed Marathon!

I cant wait to add that medal to 

the collection I have!

ANYONE can DO ANYTHING

if they have the guts to start!

See you at the finish line,

Lark

Blessing's

I am stepping out of the kitchen today

to share a little bit of my 

personal life with y'all.

While Cooking/Baking is a 

large part of my life, it is

also just a "part".

I am also a Sister, Mother and Wife.

Each of those title's I hold dear.

So today I wanted to share a little

bit of my "Sister" role.

This will be a bit lengthy...bare with me.

I am the 5th child out of 7.

Yes, I did like growing up in a 

big family....most of the time (lol)

One of the BEST things in

MY life, is having my little Sister

Niki in my life. She is a TRUE ANGEL.

Niki has a very rare mental retardation~

Microsipholic.

In "lame man" terms her brain never grew.

However the size of her heart

is the largest I have ever seen.

The Sister's & Our Mom
Niki on the left.

Always wanting everyone to be happy.Niki is so easy to please. Growing up 

in a large family we would "draw" names

for Christmas. EVERYONE wanted

to draw Niki's Name. It didn't matter

to her if the gift you bought her was 

worth a penny or a hundred dollars.

She was happy with whatever she

received.

While we were growing up my Mom was a 

Tap Dance teacher....we ALL tapped! 

(yup even the 3 Boys)

Dancing is Niki's LOVE!

Her Memory is amazing! She can still

remember all the steps and music to

every dance she was ever taught.

She didn't have many friends in school,

because she was "different".

In fact there were many a times

I was called to the Principle's Office

because I "took care" of the kids who

would pick on her. I never understood

(and still don't) why others choose to 

pick on someone "different". It would break

my heart, to see her try to befriend kids

and have them laugh at her.

There were a FEW kids in her class that 

didn't "see" her as handicapped.

They are forever in my heart!

Juan, Melinda and Mirinda~ THANK YOU!!

Niki loves to get the whole family together,

for Holidays or any time for that matter.

You can always expect Niki to be sitting

on the couch looking out the window

waiting for each one of us to come home.

Funny thing is....once you are there,

she greets you with a hug and a smile.

Then quickly asks where "Tana" is?

(Or whom ever is still not accounted for)

It is a family thought, that when the time 

comes for each of us to leave this life,

Niki will be there in heaven 

waiting for each of us to come "home".

Making sure we all show!

And NO ONE wants to let Niki down,

so you can make sure we all are

doing our best to make sure to live

our lives with the utmost value's.

Niki and her Service Dog Sugar

Niki is one of my biggest fan's.

She asks me when my next marathon is

and how far I have to run.

Then says "oh..that's to far!"

Not before she tells me "YOU CAN DO IT!"

She is one of the most unselfish 

person's I have ever know.

Niki has been very sick for the

past 3 months. It is so hard to watch

her go through this. Yet she is doing

so with her strong faith in a Heavenly

Father that loves her. 

Niki has always told anyone who

asks her who her Best Friend is

"Jesus" is always her answer.

(even when I bribe her to say it's me..lol)

With all the craziness in the world

today, busy lives, trials we all face,

I wanted to share with you 

my Little Sister Niki's undying

LOVE OF LIFE.

She is the example of

Unconditional Love 

~I LOVE You Niki~