Update

Hi. Just a little updating. Please excuse some of the blog entries I am keeping here as links for my new business blog.

Here, I am standing in my new home, in my new awesome kitchen. We have been so tremendously blessed to be in this beautiful home. In this kitchen is where I do all of my food creations for my business, "Decorating for the Senses". I have recently been excited by the opportunity to use my decorating talents as well.

Tonight marks the birth date of my "born again" Christian experience. I will never forget this night. This life altering experience began when my family visited a Pentecostal church on a Tuesday evening. At 14 years of age, I was blessed to become a part of something bigger than myself. The joy of that experience and my life dedicated to Christ, led me to marry my preacher husband and together, we have pioneered 2 churches and pastored several others across the country. We were also blessed to have done much traveling with our two children, Aaron and Hannah.

Aaron, now engaged to be married and expecting my first grandchild. Hannah, a 10th grader, loving life and full of enthusiasm. My hubby, a full time student and sophomore at a secular college and preaching many week-ends among other business endeavors.

decorating for the senses presents...

Take Home Chef…

We deliver to your work place savors that delight the senses. Try one or several of our menu items to complete your evening or cater your own party with our services.

Entrees:

Creole New Orleans Chicken & Sausage Gumbo

Prize winning recipe. You should serve with Steamed Rice and French Bread.

Gumbo for 8, $32. for 4, $20.

Rice and french bread, $6.

Chicken Tetrazzini

for 8, $32. for 4, $20.

Best served with a salad or vegetable and bread

Creamy Chicken Casserole with a Ritz Cracker Crust

Serves 8, $32.

Serve with rice, veggie/salad, rolls

Tortilla Soup with sour cream, and chips

$29. serves 8

Add shredded cheese, $4.

Spinach & Mushroom Quiche

$17. for one pie pan size

Good with a soup or salad

King's Ranch Chicken

A Mexican casserole made with chicken breast, sauce and cheddar cheese

Serves 8, $32.

Chips and a Homemade salsa as a side, 1 large bag of chips and 12 0z. salsa, $6.

Three Cheese Italian Cuisine

A cheesy pasta crust, with home made sauce, ricotta and mozzarella cheeses

Serves about 8, 9 X 12 pan, $32.

Breakfast Casserole

Sausage or Bacon, ready to bake for supreme freshness

This is very good with danish rolls, and fresh fruit. We also recommend a coffee cake from our menu.

Serves 8, $26.

Salad Choices:

All salads are $17. and serves about 6 people

Red tip and Iceburg

with strawberries, mandarin oranges, feta cheese,

candied nuts and home made dressing.

Greek Salad

Romaine lettuce, cucumber slices, tomato slices, black olives, purple onion slices, feta cheese with a home made vinaigrette

Spring mix

with sliced pears, feta cheese and a citrus home made vinaigrette dressing

Wedge Salad

with crumbled Blue Cheese, purple onion slice, tomato slice & blue cheese

dressing in individual servings for 6

Classic Lettuce & Tomato, you provide your own dressing

$10.

Side:

Fresh Green Beans, sauteed in olive oil lemon pepper & a little salt

serve 8, $12. serve 4, $6.

Fresh Fruit Platter

Seasonal fruit serving about 8, $17.

Something Sweet:

Peanut Butter Cookies

with a chocolate Hershey’s’ kiss in the center

$12. for 8 large cookies

Chocolate Home made Cookies

soft on the inside and crusty on the outside

$16. for 24 small cookies

Chocolate Pound Cake

with a cream cheese chocolate icing

$28.

Martha Curls' Chess Pie

very good, also home made

$12.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

drizzled in white chocolate

$9. for 12, these are grocery store quality, not the large stemmed

Brennen’s Bread Pudding

A French bread/custard with golden raisons and a wonderful rum sauce

a 9 x 12 size, serves about 12

This is actual rum, not rum extract

$15.

Pineapple Cake with a Cream Cheese Frosting

This recipe made as cupcakes were featured in the Pearland Examiner, $19.

Visit our website: www.donnamadden.me

donna_r_madden@yahoo.com Call: 281.222.3423

Save the date...Skin Care Party You'll Love

There is a scripture that says "Love thy neighbor as thyself". I think many times our relationships become marred by the fact that we just don't love ourselves enough. Notice. When you are feeling really bad, ugly, your life feels in the "out of control" mode, you can find yourself treating others rude and with an ugly spirit. Personally, I think this can come when we are really feeling bad about ourselves. Try this. Treat you like you want to be treated. Stop belly aching about no one ever complimenting you, giving you a gift, telling you how special you are, etc. Try doing that for yourself. Use a marker and write on your bathroom mirror, "I am beautiful, skinny and wise". Funny? Right, you will laugh at yourself every time you see it, but, you just might need to lighten up to brighten up. And, in time, you will start believing more in yourself. Don't wait for someone to buy you flowers, buy some for yourself. You will feel pampered when you buy something new to wear or get a mani or pedi or massage. Love you and you will see for yourself, you will begin to love others more.

This is one reason I am hosting a Mary Kay party for my niece's new business. When I attended her party last week, I left feeling pampered and beautiful. Learning how to take care of yourself can give you a roadmap to a better you and ultimately a better caring person. When you come to my apartment, I hope you will feel catered to and an atmosphere of relaxation. I regret that my apartment can only hold a handful of friends and guest, but I am sure Jen will be happy to come to your home and give you a private consultation.

The date is: April 8, Thursday p.m. 7:30. For products shop Mary Kay's website, then let me know what you would want to order, request a book, a party date or call to reserve a spot at my party: 281-222-3423.

Now get up and do something nice for yourself. I love you and so does He.

"After the Maid"

My "after the maid" service is my unique service. I do not know of anyone doing this. I come preferably on the day the maid comes, bring dinner for the family, something to drink when you arrive, and a snack. I can have everything ready to warm, time it so that it is ready to eat when you arrive, or have ready in your frig to finish baking. I give you menu choices and work with you to make it "kid friendly" if need be.

At this home, I made a chicken tetrazzini, a green salad with pears, feta cheese, and candied pecans, my Zuni dense no flour chocolate cake, and chocolate covered strawberries.

Even if you do not have a maid, you will enjoy this service. We aim to please.

Wedding Shower of Josh & Josie

The Menu:

Petite Ham Sandwiches
Chicken Salad Sandwiches with Walnuts & Grapes
Greek Egg Salad Sandwiches
Cucumber/Cream Cheese Sandwiches
Tuna Salad Sandwiches

Relish Tray
Potato Chips
Home Made Salsa & Tostitoe Chips

Sparkling Cranberry Juice
Red Velvet Cupcakes (by Melissa's Cupcakes)
Coffee

Color Scheme:
Pink/Red/Ivory

Theme:
Floating Candles/ Rose Petals/ Crystal

Guest enjoyed home made sandwich fillings with fresh breads, some from Central Market, Houston. To add to the romance of a wedding shower, we chose floating candles and lots of votive candles with rose petal sprinkles of red, pink and ivory.

One focal point was a place for guest to leave a "Recipe for a Happy Marraige" coupled with hand made cookbook covers to reflect the bride and groom.

Special party favors were pretzels dipped in
white chocolate and drizzled with milk
chocolate and special tags honoring the
wedding date of Josh & Josie.

Click on each pic to enlarge. More pics can be viewed on my website soon. donnamadden.me

Baby Shower

The Menu:

Sausage Cheese Egg Casserole
Fresh Fruit
Sparkling Fruit Juice/Starbucks Coffee
Shower Cake

Theme:

Baby Birds

Color Theme:

Pale Yellow and Teal

My inspiration was a really beautiful napkin. Loved these colors. I felt that the decor for the shower would be a little less unexpected to use baby birds and nests rather than the typical baby stuff.

The house was packed with 30 plus guests, but everything went very smoothly. As guests arrived, we had the sparkling fruit juice, followed by the light breakfast plate. The shower time was 11 a.m. The large floral arrangement housed 4 baby birds in the branches. We chose very "naturey" type flowers to showcase the look.

Christmas Candy Recipes

Just click on the recipe to open each. Enjoy!

2 Minute Microwave Fudge	5 Minute Fudge	7 Layer Bars
Aaron's Buttery Cashew Brittle	Almond Bark	Amanda's Peppermint Creams
Ann's Cream Nut Candy	Bavarian Inn Peanut Bars	Beth's Delicious Fudge
Brownie Fudge Dessert	Buckeyes	Buckeyes
Butter Toffee	Candied Yams	Candy Bar Brownies
Candy Cane Brittle	Candy Cane Fudge	Caramel Krispie Treats
Caramels	Carmel Corn	Carol's Christmas Treats
Chocolate Almond Bars	Chocolate Balls	Chocolate Billionaires
Chocolate Chow Mein Candy	Chocolate Covered Cherries	Chocolate Covered Nuts
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Balls	Chocolate Covered Pretzels	Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Chocolate Covered Pretzels	Chocolate Nut Caramels	Chocolate Popcorn
Chocolate Silk Bon Bons	Chocolate Truffels	Christmas Candied Walnuts
Christmas Crackle Candy	Christmas Mice	Chunky Mallow Candy
Cinnamon Hard Candy	Cinnamon Popcorn	Cranberry Nut Fudge
Cream Cheese Candy	Creamy Chocolate Truffles	Creamy Microwave Pralines (Texas Stye)
Crispy peanutbutter balls	Dark Chocolate Fudge	Deborahe's Holiday Chocolates
Disappearing Marshmallow Brownies	Dish of Dirt	Divinty
Dorothy's Peanut Butter/Butterscotch Noodle Cookie	Dreamcicle Fudge	Easy Candy
Easy Divinity	Easy Divinity Easy Divinity Candy	Easy Fudge
Easy Granola Candy	Easy Microwave Carmel	Easy Microwave Fudge
Easy Pecan Logs	English Toffee	English Toffee
English Toffee Bars	Fabulous Fudge	Fake Brittle
Fantasy Fudge	Festive Chocolate Truffles	Five Minute Fudge
Fool-Proof Fudge	Frosted Pecans	Fudge
Brownies	Fudge for One
Fudge Puddles	Georgia Nuggets	Grandma Donna's Nummies
Grandma F's Delicious Fudge	Grandmother' s Holiday Fudge	Hard Candy
Hard Tack Candy	Hazelnut Fantasy Fudge	Ho-Ho Hash
Holly Confection	Honey Comb	J & D's Peanut Butter Balls
Jeanne's Tiger Butter	Jen's Chocolate Meringues	J's Cream Fudge
Kim's Famous Cashew Brittle	Magic Marshmallow Fudge	Mama's Fudge
Maple Rum Balls	Margie's Best Candy	Martha Washington Candy
Martha Washington Mounds	Marzipan	Melting Moments
Melting Moments	Memaw's Reese's	Meme's Best Ever Peanut Butter Fudge
Meringues	Micky's Mints	Microwave Peanutbutter fudge
Microwave Pralines	Milk Fudge	Milky Way Bars
Million Dollar Fudge	Mimi's Famous Fudge	Mocha Truffles
Mom's Mints	Mr. Monroe's Famous Fudge	Mrs. Eisenhower's Fudge
Never Fail Fudge	Never Fail Fudge	No Bake Rum Balls
No Cook Peanut Butter Fudge	No Fail Fudge	Novia Scotia Treats
Nut Mallow Goodies	Nutty North Pole Fudge	Orange Balls
Orange Glazed Pecans	Out Of This World Fudge	Oven Carmel Corn
Peanut Brittle	Peanut Brittle	Peanut Brittle
Peanut Brittle (Microwave)	Peanut Butter Balls	Peanut Butter Balls
Peanut Butter Balls	Peanut Butter Bars-An Elve's Favorite Treat	Peanut Butter Candy
Peanut Butter Candy	Peanut Butter Cups	Peanut Butter Cups
Peanut Butter Fruit Squares	Peanut Butter Fudge	Peanut Butter Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge	Peanut Butter Snowballs	Peanut Clusters (mircrowavable)
Peanut Krispies	Peanut Patties