The Wild Gems

After School Oatmeal Muffins With Flax Seed And Mini Chocolate Chips

January 6, 2022January 6, 2022 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Servings: 20 to 24 muffins

Pan suggestion: original muffin pan size or mini muffin pan size with muffin liners

What You Need:

1 1/2 cup of oatmeal

1 cup of whole milk

1/2 -3/4 cup of brown sugar (light or brown)

1/2 cup of unsalted butter melted (1 stick)

1 cup of flour

1 teaspoon of baking powder

1/2 teaspoon of baking soda

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1 teaspoon of cinnamon

2 eggs beaten

1/4 cup of flaxseed

1/2 cup of mini chocolate chips

Steps:

1. In a medium bowl add the oatmeal and milk. Mix together and allow to sit and absorb for 30 mins.

2. In a separate mixing bowl add your flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and flaxseed. (The dry ingredients)

3. Once the milk and oatmeal have sat for a bit, add the beaten eggs, melted butter, and brown sugar. Mix well. (The wet ingredients)

4. Add your dry ingredients with your wet ingredients, combining your two bowls. Once everything is mixed together, add your mini chocolate chips.

5. Pour evenly into mini muffin pans or regular size muffin pans. Bake at 350 for 8 – 15 mins.

Note: the mini muffins cook a lot quicker. I set the time for 8 mins. While the regular size muffins cook in about 15.

White Enchilada Sauce With Green Chiles

January 5, 2022December 17, 2025 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

It’s all in the sauce. This enchilada sauce is so delish. There’s a bonus to this recipe as well. It can also make a great cheese dip for tortilla chips.

Typically I’ll use left over chicken or rotisserie chicken and mix in corn to use as the enchilada filling. If I don’t have chicken I’ll use white beans mixed with corn or spinach as the filling.

Once the sauce is complete, take about a cup of the sauce and mix it with your chicken filling or bean filling until all combined.

Roll your enchiladas in corn tortillas and pour the entire sauce over the enchiladas. Top with jack cheese and fresh chopped cilantro.

Enjoy!

Pan suggestion: a glass 9×13

Servings for: 10-12 enchiladas

What You Need:

4 tablespoons of unsalted butter

1/4 chopped sweet onion

1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic

8 oz block of monterey jack cheese shredded

1/2 cup of parmesan cheese

8 oz of cream cheese

3/4 cup whole milk

1 cup of heavy cream

(2) 4oz cans of green chilies

Salt and pepper for taste

2 tablespoons of fresh chopped cilantro

Steps:

1. Begin with a medium sauce pan on a low heat (between a 2 and 4) and melt the butter. Add in your onion and garlic and sauté until onions are soft.

2. Add your heavy cream, milk, and cream cheese. Mix until cream cheese is completely melted.

3. Next add the parmesan cheese and add 3/4 cup of the jack shredded cheese. Once melted in, add both cans of green chiles.

4. Season with a couple of dashes of salt and pepper. Add the paprika and 1 tablespoon of chopped cilantro. Mix continuously on low for 5 to 7 mins.

5. Reserve a cup of the sauce and mix with your enchilada filling.

6. Once your enchiladas are rolled up and placed in your 9×13 pan, pour the remaining sauce over the enchiladas. Top the enchiladas with the remaining Monterey Jack cheese and chopped cilantro.

7. Bake your enchiladas at 350 for 25 mins.

Hope you enjoy the sauce!

Muffin Frittatas

January 5, 2022 The Wild Gems1 Comment

Servings: 12 muffin frittatas

What You Need:

8 eggs

1/2 cup of whole milk

4-5 pieces of chopped deli meat

1/3 cup of Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of pepper

1-2 tablespoons of fresh parsley chopped

Steps:

1. In a medium size bowl whisk all ingredients together.

2. Spray a muffin tin pan with cooking spray and pour egg mixture into pans evenly.

3. Bake at 375 for 15 to 20 mins until slightly bubbly and a little golden on top.

Enjoy! Great to get your kids involved in and also kid approved. I like to enjoy these with a little salsa or hot sauce as well.

Soften The Heart: Devotional #13

January 4, 2022January 4, 2022 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

For the commandments, “you shall not commit adultery,” “you shall not murder,” “you shall not steal,” “you shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”

Romans 13:8-10

We tend to make things far more complicated than they truly need to be. Sometimes the answers that we receive aren’t good enough for us. This scripture is simple, to love one another. Simple right?

But another person may read this and reply with, “but why, why must we love one another.” And then there we go again making something more complicated than it needs to be.

Would you agree?

Now here’s another example, my husband says I always add too much seasonings in food. He says, “salt and pepper, that’s good enough. Everyone wants to get all fancy with food, but if you have salt and pepper then that’s truly enough.”

Of course I really enjoy more spices, and seasonings than that. But he’s got a point, when it comes down to it, salt and pepper are good enough. Even just salt brings enough flavor!

Life doesn’t need to be complicated, and we shouldn’t be wondering what we need to be doing in this life. The answer again, is simple. The answer is love. With every thing that we do, we must pour love all over it. Soak it, drench it, submerge it in love.

God has woven love like a ribbon into each and every one of us. We want to love, we crave love, we need love. The best way to receive it, is to give it.

But sometimes we do put up walls and boulders to prevent that flow of love. Love doesn’t want to be restricted, it so badly wants to be released. But some truly don’t know how to release the love that is buried deep like oil in the ground. It needs someone to help discover it. To show that person, love has been with them this whole time. They just didn’t know.

We must be patient with those, and do as we are instructed. To love those as ourselves. How God has been incredibly patient with us, can’t we do the same for others.

If someone doesn’t know how to love, you must show them. Let your compassion, empathy, and kindness be exposed for all to see. Be that guiding light, and pass the flame, that they too may have light in their lives.

Allowing yourself to love or to love others can be difficult for some. Wounds that were once covered in sand and repressed are now exposed and have to be dealt with. But you don’t have to remove those boulders that block your flow of love by yourself. Help is always near. God wants us to work together to become closer to Him.

We often think love is a feeling, but love is more than that, it’s a choice. And we must choose love at all times.

I pray, that the love that flows in each and every one of you may be released. That you may follow love, and submit to it. God is love, we know this. Like a river, love may take you to unimaginable places. But you must surrender, and trust the almighty. Who knows what waits down the river of love. I pray that you seek the unknown and discover new beautiful things that would not have been discovered had you not trusted your Heavenly Father. I pray that you may have courage and not be afraid. For God is always with us. May each of you always feel His presence, even during those rough trenches. May you let love in, and be free.

Amen.

Spinach Artichoke Dip With Green Chiles

January 2, 2022October 16, 2022 The Wild Gems1 Comment

What You Need:

10oz of fresh spinach

2 14oz cans of artichoke hearts (rinsed and drained)

1 1/2 cup of whole milk

8oz of cream cheese softened

1/2-3/4 cup of Parmesan cheese

2 cups of shredded pepper Jack cheese or Jack cheese

Salt and pepper for taste

1/4 cup of minced garlic (jarred is fine)

8 tablespoons of unsalted butter

2 4oz cans of green chilies

Steps:

1. In a large skillet melt 4 tablespoons of butter with the garlic. Add spinach, season with salt and pepper and sauté until spinach is wilted. Transfer to a strainer.

2. In the same pan, melt 2 tablespoons of butter and add the artichoke harts. Season with salt and pepper. Sauté for about 7 mins. Transfer artichokes to strainer as well.

3. Keeping the same skillet, add the remaining butter (2 tablespoons), the milk, and cream cheese . Once cream cheese is melted add the pepper Jack cheese (leaving a little left out to top it off with) and Parmesan cheese. Cheese mixture will become a little curd like. Add the green chilies and turn on low heat, while watching carefully and mixing.

4. Chop up the spinach and artichokes, then add to the cheese mixture. Turn off heat and mix well until all combined.

5. Pour into a 2 1/2 quart baking dish, top with additional pepper jack cheese and bake at 375 for 15 to 20 mins until cheese is bubbly and a little golden on top.

Enjoy with tortilla or pita chips!

Homemade Lemonade

December 30, 2021December 30, 2021 The Wild Gems1 Comment

What You Need:

A juicer (Hamilton brand is fantastic)

2 cups of fresh lemon juice (about 6-7 lemons)

2 cups of sugar

8 cups of water

Steps:

1. Wash your lemons and place into juicer, unpeeled. (The lemon rind is what really gives a nice flavor)

2. Pour juice into pitcher, add water, and sugar.

3. Serve with ice.

Can store in fridge for 5 days.

Note: we use lemons from our tree. I’ve never tried store bought lemons. Once I try it I’ll update this blog if it’s the same flavor or a little different.

Soften The Heart: Devotional #12

December 14, 2021December 18, 2021 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?”

For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your Heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about it’s own things. Sufficient for the day is it’s own trouble.

Matthew 6:31-34

We are hardwired to worry. Which means it’s a feature that each and every one of us is born with. If we define the word worry it means to give way to anxiety or unease; allow one’s mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. I’m sure this sounds very familiar to many.

Worrying isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It’s what aid’s our survival. If you’ve seen the movie ‘The Croods’, (it’s a kids movie, its very cute) the dad is caught saying, “fear is what keeps us alive.” If we define fear, it reads, an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.

Worry and fear truly go hand in hand, and are emotions that each and every one of us feel and experience.

While worry and fear may help keep us alive, it is not Gods wish that we give these emotions complete control over our lives. Which many of us do without realizing it. And that is where we stumble. We give fear and worry much power, and there’s no denying that.

It’s a very difficult way to live. However we have been given Jesus to show us that there is a better way. That it is possible to release the power of fear that holds us. None of Gods creation can be enjoyed fully or embraced if our focus is on something else entirely.

God knows this world, and God knew that many of us would trust or choose fear of the world over Him. It is God we must fear, for He is the creator, the whole, the thing in which we truly want and seek.

How often does a parents heart ache when they see their child worrying about something where no worry is necessary. But the child doesn’t trust the parent, because they believe “we don’t know.” We don’t understand this emotion that they are feeling, that’s what the child thinks right?

But the parent does know. Which is why it’s so difficult for the parent, it’s more than difficult or can become frustrating. We are in this same scenario with God, our Heavenly Father. As difficult as it may be, and it is very difficult at times, we have to choose God over fear and worry in this world. We have to trust that He knows better, and he does! It has to be a deep conscious effort every day, and with God it is achievable. We must decide to choose God every day.

We have to strap on that armor everyday. To battle ourselves! But the greatest thing is God is on our side. And the more we continue to seek Him and know Him, the stronger our armor becomes. Fear and worry don’t stand a chance. Hope and courage are what we begin to rule.

What may help you focus on today instead of the worries that have yet happen is when I begin to worry or have fear I immediately begin to count my blessings. How can I moan and groan or even worry when I have been given so much. I shall rejoice everyday for Gods grace!

Turn it over to God, study and ponder his word, and pray about it. He knows what you need, but we also must be patient.

God Bless

Cozy Little Christmas Playlist

December 6, 2021December 6, 2021 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

A little bit of indie, a little bit of jazz, my cozy playlist right now for baking, wrapping presents, or just a chill evening with family and friends.

If you have a Christmas song recommendation, please share! We’d love to hear it!

• Ribbons and Bows Kacey Musgraves

• Feliz Navidad Kacey Musgraves

• It’s The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year Pentatonix

• Santa Baby Eartha Kitt

• What Is Christmas? Ryanhood

• You Make It Feel Like Christmas Gwen Stefani

• Merry Christmas Baby Lawrence

• Bells Will Be Ringing Calvin N. Emery

• Merry Christmas, Happy New Year Ingrid Michaelson & Zooey Deschanel

• Sleigh Ride Ryanhood

• Sleigh Ride Ella Fitzgerald

• Winter Wonderland The Andrews Sisters

• Let It Snow Kacey Musgraves

• Rockin around the Christmas tree Kacey Musgraves

• Cozy Little Christmas Katy Perry

• White Christmas Ingrid Michaelson

Overnight Sweet Cinnamon Rolls

December 4, 2021December 8, 2021 The Wild GemsLeave a comment

Makes 12 rolls

What You Need For The Dough

4 large egg yolks at room temperature

1 large whole egg at room temperature

1/4 or 1/2 cup of white sugar

8 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter plus additional for spreading on pans

3/4 cup of whole milk at room temperature

3 1/4 cups of all purpose flour, plus additional for dusting

1 package instant dry yeast ( 2 1/4 teaspoons )

1 1/4 teaspoons of salt

Cooking spray

Just a bit of heavy cream (optional)

What You Need For The Filling:

1 cup packed of light or dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Pinch of salt

2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter

What You Need For Icing:

8oz of softened cream cheese

3 tablespoons of heavy cream

1/4 cup of unsalted butter

1 1/2 cups of powdered sugar

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

Steps:

For the dough: in a large bowl whisk the egg yolks, whole egg, sugar, butter, and milk. Add 2 cups of the flour along with the yeast and salt; whisk until combined. Add the rest of the remaining flour (1 cup and 1/4). Begin to knead dough (will be a little sticky, add just a little bit of flour if necessary, I always add a little extra, like 1/4 extra.)Continue to knead until combined and doughy. (Dough should be stretchy. If kneading by hand, knead for about 20 mins)Lightly oil a large bowl and transfer the dough to the bowl, lightly oil the top of the dough, cover with plastic wrap and allow to sit out for 2 to 2 1/2 hours.
Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a medium bowl. Mix well and set aside.
Butter a 9 by 13-inch glass baking dish. On a floured surface shape the dough into a large rectangle. Brush the dough with the melted butter. Sprinkle the filling mixture over the dough, pressing the filling into the dough. Roll the dough into a tight cylinder. Using a sharp knife, slice the cylinder into 1 1/2-inch rolls; making 12 rolls. Arrange rolls cut side down in the baking dish; cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight.
Take the rolls from the refrigerator and place in an oven that is turned off. Fill a pan or pot of boiling water and set on the rack below the rolls. Close the oven door and let the rolls rise until they look slightly puffy; 30 mins or so.
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Pour a little bit of heavy cream over each of the rolls, covering the bottom of the pan. (Optional; this gives a more buttery, doughy taste/texture. While without is more original)
When the oven is ready, place the rolls in the oven and bake until slightly golden on top; bake for 8 mins. Oven time may vary.
Mix together ingredients for the icing starting with whisking the cream cheese first, then adding the heavy cream, next the butter, then gently adding the sugar. Spread on cinnamon rolls. Allow to sit for 30 to 1 hour and then enjoy!

Note: whatever is not eaten make sure to refrigerate. When ready to eat pull out and allow to sit for 1 to 2 hours until at room temperature.

Additional note: try using vanilla spice eggnog instead of heavy cream! It’s delish!

Enjoy!