The Gaither Kitchen: Cinnamon Toast

We have been under the weather here at The Gaither House for the past week.  It honestly seems like everyone has had their turn at this nasty head cold that is going around.  Yuck!

This past weekend I was on the the tail end of my cold, but Scott was just really starting to feel bad.  On Friday night he started to reminisce about when his mom would make him cinnamon toast.

So, I started asking questions because I could tell immediately this was a childhood fave.  Basically, "Mama Gaither" would take a piece of toast, cover it with butter and sprinkle with a cinnamon and sugar mixture.  Then pop the toast in the oven under the broiler, where Scott said they would then stare at the oven to make sure it wouldn't burn! So cute! 

As Scott was taking in some much needed extra sleep Saturday morning, Fiona and I were up with the birds for playtime.  Then it hit me, I can totally make cinnamon toast and hopefully make the husband feel a little better.  Now, if you know me, I always have to mix things up a bit.  So, I of course turned to Pinterest to check out a couple different variations of this much talked about Cinnamon Toast.  I decided to go with a variation from my fave Ree Drummand of The Pioneer Woman.  She's pretty amazing in my book!

Here's what you'll need!

2 Sticks of Butter

3 tsp Ground Cinnamon

1 cup Sugar

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

16 Slices of Bread

Now, let make some yummy Cinnamon Toast!

First, soften your butter!  I just popped the two sticks of butter into the microwave for about 15 seconds.

Then just helped the melting process a little with a fork. 

Next, mix in your sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract.

Once you have all your ingredients in your mixing bowl, give them a good stir until all are blended. 

Next, you guessed it! Lather those pieces of toast up! 

Once you have your toast covered in this sweet goodness, pop into your oven to bake on 350 for 10 minutes.  Then turn the broiler on to really toast it up for about a minute.

This recipe yields 16 pieces of Cinnamon Toast.  We did over indulge, but there was NO WAY just the two of us could devour all 16 slices.  So, we saved the leftover mixture for Sunday morning.  Just pop it back into the microwave for 15 seconds and give it a good stir.

And there you have it!  A super simple and crowd pleaser recipe to cure the childhood craving and help get over the yucky sick blues!

My Comfy Bed & Cotton

It’s official the weather roller coaster has taken me for a ride and I am now SICK!  

 From a beautiful 70 degrees yesterday and a low of 19 today with a chance of snow, I mean it’s kind of to be expected right?  Thanks Mother Nature, you’re the best!   
The only thing on my mind right now is my warm comfy bed which in turn then makes 
my mind drift to cotton stems.  I know, just a day in the life of 
a runny nose, watery eyed interior design lover.

I was just telling the husband and mother-in-law the other day that I need to grab a few stems to place in our guest bathroom.  I just love the purity and gentleness of the little white poufs.
What about you?!

Pick up your own cotton goodness over at the Magonolia Market

images via pinterest

Unconditional Love

My darlings...

 

I just wanted to pop in to let you know that my sweet baby girl Presley Hope, who has battling a severe case of gallbladder disease had surgery this morning and is in ICU recovering.

After receiving the news last week that her gallbladder was continuing to enlarge and a consultation with the surgeon yesterday it was decided to operate this morning.

I will stop back in later this week or weekend but, just want you all to know why I'm going MIA for a few days.  Quite honestly my nerves are shot and I'm mentally and emotionally exhausted but, thanking GOD for answering our prayers and bringing my sweet girl through the surgery.

The next 24-48 hours are very crucial, so please keep her in your thoughts and prayer.  She may still run around like a puppy but, reality is that doll face angel is 11 years and 4 months old.

I hope more than anything to have my baby back home where she belongs by the weekend and in time for Memorial Day!

 

 

Quote Of The Week and "My Heartbeat"

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more

than he loves himself.”

-Josh Billings

They say when it rains it pours and this could not be more true of my life since Thursday of last week.

I went MIA on Thursday morning as my 11 year old Yorkie, aka my heartbeat and side kick 

Presley Hope became incredibly sick.  After a rush to the vet then a another emergency transfer to a specialty vet we now know my baby girl had a severe infection in her gallbladder that was extremely painful for her and effecting her pancreas and liver as well.

Pitiful would not even begin to describe her and I cried more than you can image.  After returning from NYC I was coming down with a cold but, after the stress and heartache of my baby girl feeling so yucky and not knowing if she was going to make it my sickness worsened as well.

Talking to doctors while coughing up a lung and having next to zero voice was not the easiest but, my amazing parents and brother stepped in to help in every way they could.

I am happy to report that after an insanely stressful weekend for all involved, especially my "Sweet P", my darling girl was able to come back home where she belongs yesterday.

We have lots of meds that she will have to take for the next 2 weeks, a very strict diet, and a follow up ultra sound next week but overall Presley is back to her old self.

Below is a pic of Presley and I on Saturday when she was finally able to come outside for a little fresh air.  She was still very sedated (hence the tongue sticking out- haha) but, doing much better.

By Sunday she had a complete turnaround and we were able to bring her home!!!!

Presley says "Hey, I think I wanna chase a few more balls"

My heartbeat is back where she belongs and we are both recovering nicely now that we are back together!!

There is just something about the unconditional love of a dog!!

Happy Monday!

For The Love Of Cooking

Before we get to this weeks recipe let's talk about EVERYBODY being sick!

I love love love this time of year but, when the weather starts going from 40 degrees one day, to 70 the next, sometimes there is just no fighting yuckies.  My sweet Mama has been down with a nasty cold for over a week, my brother's gf came down with a sore throat and cough on our last day in the city, numerous friends have the yucky stuff and now, yours truly! 

Last night as I was prepping this weeks "I Spy" post, my head started to do that bombin' thing when your fighting sleep and my eyes just would not stay open!  So, hold tight and fingers crossed that tonight after I force myself through gym-time {Vegas in a few weeks} I have the energy to wrap up the post.

Ok, so enough with germy talk...on to this weeks receipe!!

Skillet Rosemary Chicken

recipe

For The Love Of Cooking

It's official...I'm sick (cough cough-sniffle sniffle...the whole works)!

I tend to be the biggest baby (so "they" say) when I'm under the weather.  

I want to do nothing more than sleep and eat soup!

So today, it's all about soup!

Broccoli Chowder with Corn and Bacon

recipe

Jazzed Up Chicken Noodle

recipe

Slow Cooker Chicken Tortilla Soup

recipe

A Not So Secret Chili

recipe

Now to find someone to whip one of these tasty feel good soups up for me!!

Missing In Action

Sorry for going MIA on everyone yesterday but the past two days have been very eventful for me.

I woke up at 3am Friday morning with excruciating pain in my stomach, after a visit to urgent care and the emergency room; several rounds of tests (ultrasounds & cat scan), shots (too many to count) and blood drawn 4+ times (did i mention I'm terrified of needles???) It was finally determined that I had an appendicitis and would need immediate surgery.  So as of 5:30pm yesterday I underwent surgery...all went well but, WOW am I sore!!

image

I just got back home about an hour ago (so glad to reunite with my computer) and starting the recovery process!!

Now it's time to curl up, watch a movie and rest!

How's your weekend going?? 
Hope you all are enjoying the GORGEOUS weather!!!

It's just beautiful outside!!