I have been blessed in many ways in my lifetime.  I mean, really,  haven’t we all?  We’ve all had difficulties and even tragedies, as we’ve witnessed in recent days and weeks in many tornado-stricken parts of the U.S.  I see the beauty rising from the debris already, though.

It’s always breath-taking to see what happens when fellow  human beings are suffering.  Others jump into action and look around to see what they can to do help, whether it be delivering food, helping find lost pets, or just helping with clean up when one’s world has fallen down around him, literally and figuratively.  

It’s a beautiful thing.

There is something to be grateful for in every single day that we’re given.  Each breath that we take is a gift.  Each morning that we awake to find ourselves still here is a blessing.  We haven’t earned it.  It’s a gift.  Be thankful.

I have been blessed with so much that I can hardly believe it; a healthy, handsome family who loves me, so many wonderful friends who give so much time and support and love to me, and more.  The people God puts into our lives make a huge difference in who we are, and who we become.  I’m so grateful for them all.

In recent weeks, I’ve had a huge gift on a professional level.  The wonderful people at KLTV7 in Tyler,  Texas have allowed me to work with them off and on since last August, which was a huge surprise for me, I assure you.  I never expected to be in front of a camera!  In front of a classroom, yes; in front a camera, no.  However, it happened, and then they allowed me to host my own cooking and baking segment, In the Kitchen with Mama Steph, for the whole month of May during Good Morning East Texas.  What an adventure it has been!  I am truly grateful that I’ve had the experience, and am humbled by everyone’s support and encouragement as they’ve watched.  

People can be so kind.    God is always so good.

Well, today was my last May baking segment, and I enjoyed every second of it.  Once again, friends pitched in to help me and encourage me.  Kim and Roger Wilson, owners of Tyler Consignment Warehouse on DC Drive in Tyler, Texas, met my son late last night to lend me two items from their store, these beautiful baskets of fruit. (If you’re lucky I won’t buy them and you’ll have a shot at getting them for yourself…call them at  903-509-3395 if you’re interested.) 

Look how pretty:

I have loved getting to feed the folks here at KLTV, too, which was really fun because they loved the things that I made, and you know that makes me happy.  🙂  They have been very gracious and have done all they could to help me and teach me.  I’m really grateful for that!

Here’s what I made on my last day of In The Kitchen With Mama Steph:

It’s a delicious, moist, and dense apple cake with a brown sugar sauce that I found on Southern Plate, that food blog that I mentioned to you recently.  Christy, the author,  is a mom, like me, who loves to cook and has learned much of it by watching her relatives and by cooking for her own family.  She has a great personality, too, and has been singled out by Southern Living Magazine to do a series of dinner videos for their website.  I don’t even know her and I’m proud of her.   🙂

Here’s the recipe: 

Super-Moist Apple Pecan Cake

via Southern Plate.com

• 3 cups plain flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)
• 1 cup canola oil
• 2 cup granulated sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 3 cups apples (preferably Granny Smith), peeled and chopped

Mix oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla.  Sift together flour, salt, soda.  Add to first mixture.  Fold in pecans and apples.  Bake in tube pan at 350 for 1 hour.

Sauce

• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4 cup milk
• 3/4 cup butter (1 -1/2 sticks)

Mix and cook 3 minutes after it begins to gently boil, stirring constantly.  Pour over hot cake while cake is still in pan.  Let cake cool completely before removing.

The people in the studio today really enjoyed it; I think it’s the brown sugar sauce that really puts it over the top.  I hope you’ll try it out with a hot cup of coffee or a big glass of cold milk and then let me know how you like it. 

And thanks again for your support!

Enjoy!