Peppermint Bark

     It doesn't seem like the holidays unless I make peppermint bark.  I keep it in the freezer and when I want a cool holiday treat, I grab a couple pieces of bark and pop them into my mouth.  They are delicious and they give you minty fresh breath.  This is the easiest recipe on the planet to make and it does not take a lot of effort.  I like to use white chocolate for this recipe but you could use dark chocolate if you like it better.  It is a nice addition to the Christmas dessert table on a pretty plate. 

Peppermint Bark:

1 box candy canes
1 pkg white chocolate almond bark

Crush the candy canes with a hammer until you get small pieces.  Melt the chocolate in a glass measuring cup in the microwave for one minute.  Stir.  Keep melting one minute at a time until the chocolate is smooth.  (Make sure that you stir every 30 seconds so the chocolate does not burn.)  Stir the crushed candy into the melted chocolate.  Place several pieces of wax paper on the table or kitchen counter.  Pour the chocolate mixture on the wax and let harden for several hours.  Break into pieces and store in the freezer. 

Rosemary Peppermint Foot Scrub

     I thought you might like a gift idea for the holidays.  I made this today and it smells really good.  It is super easy to make.  Enjoy!

Rosemary Peppermint Foot Scrub:

2 c sea salt
1/4 c jojoba oil
1/4 c olive oil
1 t rosemary
6 drops peppermint essential oil
4 drops rosemary essential oil

Mix ingredients in a large bowl.  Put in glass jars.  To use: massage into feet & rinse

Slow Cooker Saurerkraut Pork

     I got invited to a harvest party this weekend.  It was kind of a crazy weekend and I didn't have a lot of time to cook something to take with me.  I decided that I needed a slow cooker meal that would taste great.  Here is what I came up with.  Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Saurerkraut Pork:

1 pork shoulder roast
salt & pepper to taste
1 quart jar of saurerkraut
6 large potatoes washed & cut into large chunks

Place the pork roast in a slow cooker.  Generously salt and pepper both sides.  Pour the jar of saurerkraut with the juice over the top of the pork. Cut up potatoes and place around the pork. Cook on the low setting for 7-8 hours.

Tuna Salad

     This recipe is the best with fresh tuna.  You can use canned tuna and it will taste just fine.  I like to eat it with Triscuit crackers.

Tuna Salad:

fresh cooked tuna or 1 can of tuna
1/4 c mayonnaise
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 c diced black olives
1 diced avocado
6 diced cherry tomatoes

In a bowl, mix up all of the ingredients.  Place in the refrigerator for 1 hour before serving.  You can eat this plain or with crackers.

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies

     This recipe is how I get my husband to eat zucchini.  It takes care of a chocolate craving for sure.  Have a blessed Wednesday!

Chocolate Zucchini Brownies:

1/2 c olive oil
1 1/2 t vanilla
2 eggs
1 1/2 c sugar
2 c shredded zucchini
1/2 c cocoa
2 c flour
1 1/2 t baking soda

Frosting:
1/4 c butter
1 t vanilla
3 T cocoa
1/4 c heavy cream
2 c powdered sugar

In a large bowl, add oil, vanilla, eggs, sugar & zucchini.  Mix well.  Slowly incorporate the dry ingredients and stir until combined.  Pour the batter into a greased 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.  Let cool completely. Mix up the frosting ingredients in a small bowl and frost the brownies.

Salmon & Spinach Breakfast Potatoes

     I really like fried potatoes and hashbrowns.  Here is a recipe that puts some "healthy" into potatoes.

Salmon & Spinach Breakfast Potatoes:

3 large Russet potatoes
salt & pepper to taste
2 T oil
2 eggs
1 T parsley
1 T minced onion
1 pkg smoked salmon
3 c spinach leaves

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.  Wash & peel the potatoes.  Cut them into bite sized pieces & place in the hot skillet.  Cook the potatoes until they are done turning frequently.  Season with parsley, salt, pepper & onion.  Crack the eggs into the skillet and cook until almost done.  Add the salmon & spinach leaves.  Cook until the spinach is wilted.  Serve warm.

Are You Kidding Me?!?!!

     I took my daughter back to school shopping this evening.  We were trying to find some underwear and I was SO mad that it was difficult to find polite and appropriate underwear for little girls.  Why on earth does a little girl need to wear bikini or leopard print underwear?  What happened to modesty and politeness?  I don't have anything else nice to say about this matter.  Grrrrr!!!

Allergies

    My husband and daughter have terrible allergies this time of year.  Doterra has a hand cream with no fragrance that you can add essential oils to.  I have been adding the essential oil breathe to the cream and rubbing it on to my daughters hands.  I also use breathe in my diffuser to provide my family with some relief.  Other oils that help with allergies are lavender, lemon & peppermint.  A few drops of each of these oils can be put in a capsule and taken internally or can be put in water to drink.

Blackberry Cinnamon Scones

     I enjoy eating warm scones with a cup of coffee in the morning.  It makes me feel like I am at a bed and breakfast even though I am not.  I don't know why.  Anyway, these are tasty and you should try them.  Have a blessed weekend!

Blackberry Cinnamon Scones:

1/2 c milk
1 egg
2 1/2 c flour
1/2 c sugar
1 T baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t salt
1 T cinnamon
1 stick of butter
1 c blackberries

In a large bowl mix flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt & cinnamon.  Set aside.  In a smaller bowl, whisk together the egg & milk.  Cut the butter into small pieces and mix into the dry ingredients.  Pour the milk & egg mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until combined.  Gently fold in the berries.  Scoop the batter into a greased scone pan and bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Serve warm.

Beef Tomato Pasta

     I like to serve this dish with French bread and a salad.  This is a great meal to make with children who are learning how to cook.

Beef Tomato Pasta:

1 pound ground chuck
1/2 onion (chopped)
1 t chili powder
1 T minced garlic
1 can diced tomatoes
1 T parsley
1 c water
1 c pasta
1/2 c shredded cheese

In a large skillet, brown the chuck with the onion.  Add chili powder, garlic and parsley.  Cook until brown.  Drain the grease.  Stir in the tomatoes and water.  Bring to a boil.  Stir in the pasta and simmer for 15 minutes.  Sprinkle the cheese on top.

Easy Nutella Bars

     This is a super easy and delicious treat.  It is nice to make when you need a last minute dessert but don't have a lot of time to make it.

Easy Nutella Bars:

6 c rice cereal
3/4 t salt
1 c Nutella
1 c agave nectar
1 T vanilla

Pour cereal & salt into a large bowl.  In a saucepan, combine Nutella, agave nectar & vanilla.  Heat over medium heat & stir until smooth.  Pour into the bowl of cereal & stir until combined.  Grease a large cookie sheet & press the mixture down.  Place in the refrigerator until cool.  Cut into bars.  (You can melt a dark chocolate bar and drizzle it over the top of these if you want a prettier bar.)

Huckleberry Pancakes

     We just got back from camping.  While we were there, we picked a bunch of huckleberries.  When I say a bunch, I mean enough to make pancakes one time.  If you have ever picked huckleberries, you know that it takes hours of picking to get a small amount.  They are very tasty and worth the trouble.

Huckleberry Pancakes:

1 c flour
2 T sugar
1 1/2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 egg
1 c buttermilk
2 T oil
1/2 c huckleberries

In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients.  In a seperate bowl, mix the buttermilk, egg & oil.  Add to the dry ingredients and mix until smooth.  Fold in the huckleberries.  Heat up a cast iron pan over medium high heat.  Cook the pancakes until they are golden.  Serve with maple syrup and butter.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

     I like to eat frozen cookies.  Weird, I know.  Tonight I had a craving for cookies.  I made these and they turned out delicious.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies:

1 1/2 sticks melted butter
1 c sugar
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
1 t vanilla
2 c flour
1 c oats
1 t baking soda
1/4 t cinnamon
2 c chocolate chips

In a large bowl, mix butter, sugars, egg & vanilla until smooth.  In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients.  Add to the wet ingredients until combined.  Place large spoonfuls on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.

Quote For Today

     "The most cheerful people I have met, with few exceptions, have been those who've had the least sunshine and the most pain and suffering in their lives.  The most grateful people I have ever known were not those who traveled a pathway of roses all their lives, but those who were confined to their homes, some to their beds, and had learned to depend on God.  The gripers, on the other hand, are usually those who have the least to complain about." M. R. Dehaan

The Stick

     A few weeks ago, my daughter & I went camping.  She found this huge stick and she carries it with her everywhere.  She herds the chickens in at night with the stick, she uses it to pull back the zucchini leaves and cucumber leaves to check for produce that is ready to be picked and she uses it to play pretend.  Whenever I see her with the stick, it reminds me of the quote, "Speak softly and carry a big stick."  It makes me laugh!

Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burritos

     This morning, I made these burritos for breakfast.  They were simple to make, tasted delicious and they used up some leftovers out of my refrigerator.

Egg & Cheese Breakfast Burritos:

6 eggs
2 T oil
1 T parsley
salt & pepper to taste
1 T minced onion
1/4 c cream
1/2 c shredded cheese
1/2 c leftover mashed potatoes
flour tortillas

In a skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.  Meanwhile in a bowl, whisk the eggs, parsley, salt, pepper, onion and cream.  Pour into the hot skillet and scramble.  Set aside.  Flatten the potatoes into a large pattie and fry each side in the skillet until golden brown.  To assemble the burritos: place scrambled eggs in the center of a tortilla, add shredded cheese and top with some of the potato.  Fold up the burrito and eat immediately.  You can serve with salsa and sour cream.

Drying Chives

     My chives have been flourishing this summer.  When they get long and beautiful, I cut them and tie them together in a large bunch with twine.  I hang them up in my kitchen and wait for them to dry.  When they are completely dried, I crumble them up and place them in a glass jar with a lid or in a plastic bag.  Dried chives are so nice to have on hand for soups, casseroles, pizza, seasoning meat, etc..

Flavored Whipping Cream

     Whipping cream tastes good by itself but when you add different flavors to it, it can really make your food taste even better.  Vanilla in whipping cream tastes really good mixed in fruit salad, cocoa in whipping cream tastes great on top of hot chocolate or a warm brownie.  Maple in whipping cream tastes divine on top of a pancake or French toast.  Lemon juice in whipped cream gives pie a fresh citrus taste.  Be creative.  The possibilities are endless.

Flavored Whipping Cream:

1 c heavy cream
1 1/2 t flavoring of your choice
1/2 c sugar

In a mixing bowl, beat the cream and sugar until it reaches your desired consistency.  Fold in the flavor and serve immediately.

Chicken Zucchini Pizza

     Yes, I am still on a zucchini kick.  It is coming out of my ears so I have to be creative.  I made this pizza for dinner last night and everyone thought it was delicious.  This pizza tastes especially good dipped in ranch dressing.

Chicken Zucchini Pizza:

1 recipe of your favorite pizza dough
1 T cornmeal
1 c cooked & diced chicken
1 T olive oil
1 T Italian seasoning
1/2 c sliced olives
1 small zucchini sliced into rounds
1 1/2 c shredded cheese

Grease a pizza pan and sprinkle with cornmeal.  Roll out the dough and brush on the olive oil.  Sprinkle on the Italian seasoning, shredded cheese, chicken, olives and zucchini.  Bake at 500 degrees  for 10-12 minutes.  Cut and serve immediately.

Kielbasa Rice Dinner

     Here is a delicious dinner that will use up peas from your garden.  I like to serve it with biscuits, cottage cheese and a salad.

Kielbasa Rice Dinner:

1 pkg kielbasa (sliced into rounds)
1 T butter
1 c rice
1 1/2 c water
1 can cream of celery soup (or 1 c homemade)
2 c peas
1 c diced mushrooms
1 c shredded cheese

In a large pot melt the butter.  Add the cream soup and water.  Bring to a boil.  Add the rice & kielbasa and simmer for 18 minutes.  Add the peas & mushrooms and cook another 15 minutes.  Stir in the cheese right before serving.

Apricot Smoothie

     Over the weekend, I found a small stand that was selling organic apricots.  I stopped and bought some.  They are so sweet and delicious!

Apricot Smoothie:

1 c apricots (peel the skins off)
1/2 c plain yogurt
3 T honey
1 c milk
dash of cinnamon
1 T flax seed
2 c ice

Blend the ingredients in a blender until smooth.  Drink immediately while it is cold.

Balance

     The other night, I was experiencing some anxiety.  This happens to me sometimes.  I have found some relief by using essential oils.  I put some Doterra balance oil in my lotion and rubbed it on my hands and arms.  I got into bed and was talking to my husband about my anxiety and telling him how I have found relief by using essential oils.  There was silence for a while and my husband rolled over and said, "I am glad that you found relief but I don't understand how smelling like a pine tree can get rid of your anxiety."

Calzones

     Calzones taste SO good!  If you like bread and pizza, you will love calzones.  You can create them to fit individual tastes.

Calzones:

1 1/4 t yeast
1 c warm water
1 T sugar
1 1/2 t salt
2 T oil
2 c flour

In a large bowl, stir together the yeast, sugar and water until dissolved.  Add the remaining ingredients to form a soft dough.  Knead for 10 minutes.  Place the dough in a greased bowl and let rise for 1 hour covered.  Punch the dough down and divide into 8 pieces.  Roll each piece into a circle and fill half of the dough with desired toppings.  (tomato sauce, sausage, cheese, olives, mushrooms, etc..)  fold the dough over and pinch to seal.  Place calzones on a baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal.  Poke a hole in the top of each calzone to let the steam escape.  Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.  Bake at 375 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve with marinara sauce or ranch dressing for dipping.

Gardening

     I have learned a lot about gardening this year.  Yesterday, I started a smash book about my garden. I wrote down everything that I planted in my garden and where it is located as well as useful tips that I have learned a long the way.  For example:  (Do not plant tomatoes and corn so close together.  Corn needs more water than tomatoes do.)  I think that this smash book will be really useful in years to come.  If you have never heard of smash booking I encourage you to google it.  It is really fun!  My daughter and I enjoy having craft time together and smash booking is something that we both enjoy.  Have a blessed Saturday!

Fried Zucchini

     I don't think that I have ever eaten anything fried that I didn't like.  That is not to say that it is good for my body but every once in a while I indulge in something fried.  Fried zucchini is one of those indulgences.

Fried Zucchini:

3 medium zucchini
onion salt & pepper to taste
1 c flour
1 large egg
1 T water
2 c oil

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium high heat.  Slice the zucchini into rounds and set aside.  In a small bowl, beat the egg & water.  In another small bowl, mix the flour, onion salt & pepper.  Dip the zucchini rounds in the egg mixture and then into the flour mixture.  Do this step twice before frying.  Gently place the rounds into the hot oil until they are golden brown on each side.  Place them on a towel lined plate to soak up some of the grease.  Serve by themselves or with ranch dressing.

Coconut Blueberry Cake

     This cake smells so good while it is baking.  Sometimes I like to eat it for breakfast.  Shhh don't tell.

Coconut Blueberry Cake:

2 c flour
1 c sugar
2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
2 eggs
1 c milk
1/2 c oil
1 1/2 c blueberries
1 c coconut

In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients.  In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.  Add the milk & oil.  Gradually stir into the dry ingredients.  Fold in the blueberries.  Pour into a greased 13x9 pan & sprinkle with coconut.  Bake at 375 degrees for 25 minutes.

Naughty Chicken

     One of my chickens likes to eat eggs.  This has been very frustrating to me because I have to race the chicken (my daughter has named this chicken Henrietta) to see who gets to the eggs first.  My concern is that this chicken will teach the other "ladies" to do the same.  I put three golf balls in the nesting box to discourage the egg eating.  We will see how that turns out.  In the meantime, I am  refreshing my memory with how to butcher a chicken.  Henrietta may become soup very soon..

Easy Baked Ravioli

     Here is a really quick dinner to make when you don't have a lot of time to cook.  I like to serve this dish with bread and a salad.

Easy Baked Ravioli:

1 pkg large ravioli
1 jar spaghetti sauce
1 c shredded cheese

In a large glass pan, pour in the spaghetti sauce.  Layer the sauce with the ravioli and sprinkle the cheese on top.  Bake at 350 degrees until done.

Cooking Zucchini

     If you are like me, your garden is abundant with zucchini.  It is kind of a love/hate relationship that I have with my zucchini.  I LOVE having fresh produce at my fingertips.  I hate it when I feel like it is taking over my life.  So far, I have made zucchini bread, zucchini cookies, zucchini brownies, zucchini stir fry, etc..  Today, I wanted to give you a simple recipe for cooking your zucchini to bring out its flavor.  I hope you like it!

Cooking Zucchini:

1-2 medium sized zucchini
salt & pepper
butter
water

Wash and slice your zucchini into bite sized pieces.  Put the slices in a saucepan and generously salt and pepper.  Dot the zucchini evenly with butter. Pour enough water in the pan to cover halfway up the zucchini.  Cover and bring to a boil.  When the water boils, turn off the heat and let the pan rest covered for 5 minutes.  Stir the zucchini and serve while hot.

How To Get Gunk Off Shoes

     My grandma used fingernail polish remover on a cotton ball to remove gunk off of shoes.  It sounds weird but it works great.  I use it for cleaning the rubber on my converse and it makes them look brand new.  You should try it.

Body Scrub

     Sorry I haven't posted in a while.  We went camping and I had no service to post.  Today, I wanted to post a body scrub recipe.  Body scrub is so easy to make.  It is wonderful to put in a pretty jar and give it to a friend. You can use different essential oils to make the fragrance of your scrub your own.  Have fun with it!

Body Scrub:

1/2 c coconut oil
1 t almond oil
10 drops orange essential oil
7 drops lemon essential oil
7 drops lime essential oil
1/2 c  sugar

In a bowl, mix the ingredients well.  Scoop into a glass jar with a lid.  To use:  massage into damp skin and rinse.

Oat Banana Snack Cookies

     I am on a sugar detox right now.  It has been hard but I feel so much better.  I have been looking for every recipe that I can find that is sweet without sugar.  Today, I bought a Mother Earth Magazine from the store and it had a recipe for these snack cookies in it.  It only has three ingredients and there is no sugar in them.  The recipe calls for walnuts but I prefer pecans or almonds instead.

Oat Banana Snack Cookies:

2 mashed bananas
1 c oats
1/4 c nuts

In a bowl, mix the bananas and oats.  Fold in the nuts.  Scoop tablespoon sized scoops on a baking sheet & bake at 350 for 15 minutes.

Spinach Bacon Quiche

     I am looking for egg recipes because my chicken are laying and we have a surplus of eggs.  I made this recipe for breakfast yesterday.  It was so good!

Spinach Bacon Quiche:

4 large eggs
1/2 c cream
salt & pepper to taste
1 T parsley
1 t dried minced onion
1/2 pkg cooked bacon
1 large handful spinach

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs & cream until smooth.  Stir in salt, pepper, parsley & onion.  Dice up the bacon and spinach and add to the egg mixture.  Mix well to combine.  Pour into a greased pie pan and bake at 375degrees for 20-25 minutes.  Cut into pie wedges and serve hot.

Mushroom Sauce

     This sauce tastes really good served over meat.  I like it on my steak but it tastes great on chicken, pork, etc..  It is delicious served over white rice.  You can use it in place of cream of mushroom soup in a recipe.  (If you decide to use it this way, chop the mushrooms into small bits instead of slicing them)

Mushroom Sauce:

1lb fresh mushrooms (sliced)
2 T butter
salt & pepper to taste
1 c heavy cream
1/4 c flour
1 c beef broth

Sauté the mushrooms in the butter until they are golden.  Remove mushrooms and set aside.  In the same pan, whisk in the flour and slowly add in the beef broth.  Cook the liquid down until it is the consistency that you like.  Add the mushrooms in to the beef broth & slowly pour in the cream.  Add salt & pepper to taste.  Serve while hot.

Mincemeat Brownies

     This recipe came from my grandma.  You can purchase mincemeat in most grocery stores in the baking section.

Mincemeat Brownies:

1 c flour
1 1/4 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1/4 c butter
1 c brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 t vanilla
1/2 c mincemeat

In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking powder & salt.  Set aside.  In another bowl, cream together the sugar, butter, egg, vanilla & mincemeat.  Add to the flour mixture and pour into a greased baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Bean Dip Salad

     This recipe was given to me by a friend. She made this dip while I was at her home and wrote down the recipe for me.  It is very addictive.  This salad tastes delicious with chips, crackers or by itself.

Bean Dip Salad:

2 c cooked sweet corn
2 c cooked black - eyed peas
2 c cooked black beans
1 can green chilies
2 c diced tomatoes
1/2 c chopped green onions
1/2 c chopped green peppers
1 chopped garlic clove
1/2 t salt
4 oz. Italian Dressing

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.  Pour into a strainer and let sit over a bowl for one hour in the refrigerator.  Discard the juice.  Serve by itself or with chips.

Quote For The Day

      Here is a quote for today:  "You cannot hang out with negative and expect to live a positive life."  Isn't that the truth!  Have a blessed Wednesday.

Trail Mix

     This recipe is really easy to throw together last minute as you are heading out the door to go hiking.  Sometimes I like to keep some in the car for a quick snack while I am running errands.

Trail Mix:

pumpkin seeds
dried cranberries
almonds
chocolate chips
peanuts

Mix ingredients together in a large bowl.  Store in Ziplock baggies (about 1 cup of mix in each baggie).

The Ladies

     My "ladies" (chickens) have started laying eggs.  I am SO happy about that!  Today, I wanted to share with you some of the ways that I care for my chickens.  I hope this will be useful information to you.

5 Ways To Care For The  "Ladies":

1.)  Let them roam around the yard during the day.  They like to explore and eat bugs.

2.)  Feed them lettuce from your garden.  They like to each a small bunch of lettuce every day.

3.)  Check on their water often.  Chickens need clean, fresh, cool water frequently.  In the summer, their water gets really hot so put some ice cubes in their water dish.  In the winter, their water can freeze so make sure that they have access to thawed water at all times.

4.)  Put flowers in their nesting boxes.  They like it!

5.)  Clean their food & water dishes often.  Chickens are messy and they poop everywhere, all the time.  I use vinegar mixed with essential oils in a spray bottle to do this.

Jambalaya

     This dish is hearty and freezes well.  If you decide to freeze it, do not add the rice until you thaw it out.  Have a blessed Sunday!

Jambalaya:

1/2 c chopped onion
1/2 c chopped celery
1 1/2 T salt
1/4 t pepper
dash of Tabasco
8 c water
1 whole chicken
1/2 c green pepper, minced
1 T minced garlic
1 lb sliced smoked sausage
2 c diced tomatoes
2 c rice
3 c chicken stock
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 T sugar
1 1/2 T Worcestershire sauce
1/2 t thyme
1/2 t Cajun seasoning

Combine chopped celery & onion, salt, pepper, Tabasco & water in a large saucepan.  Bring to a boil. Add chicken & cook until done.  Skin & debone (reserving the stock, celery & onion).  In a large pot sauté onion, pepper, garlic & sausage.  Add chicken, celery & onion.  Mix well.  Add tomatoes, rice 3 c chicken stock, salt, pepper, sugar, Worchesterchire sauce, thyme & Cajun seasoning.  Simmer 20-30 minutes.

Strawberry Bowl

     This is a simple recipe to use strawberries.  I make it as a side to go along with dinner.  You can use other kinds of fruit or berries but, I prefer strawberries.  My daughter really likes this recipe with whipped cream on top but I prefer to eat it without.

Strawberry Bowl:

1 carton sliced strawberries
1/2 c roughly chopped pecans
1/2 c chopped dates
sprinkle of cinnamon
whipped cream

Mix all of the ingredients together in a large bowl.  Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Buttery Crescents

     I got this recipe several years ago from a dear friend of mine.  It is one that they use in their family for holiday gatherings.  It turns out delicious every time that I make it.  Have a blessed weekend!

Buttery Crescents:

1 pkg yeast
1/2 c warm water
1/2 c warm milk
1/2 c butter
1/3 c sugar
1 egg
3/4 t salt
4 1/2 c flour

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water.  Add milk, butter, sugar, egg, salt, & 2 c flour.  Beat & stir in enough flour to form a soft dough.  Place in a greased bowl & let rise 1 hour.  Punch down the dough.  Divide the dough in half.  Roll each half into a circle & cut into 12 wedges.  Roll up and place on a greased baking sheet.  Cover & let rise 30 minutes.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12-14 minutes.  Brush with melted butter.

Digest zen

     Over the weekend our family went to see a movie in the theatre.  It was a treat for us because we don't go to the theatre very often.  My daughter LOVES popcorn!  She ate a lot of it while we were there.  On the car ride home she said that her tummy wasn't feeling well.  I talked to her about listening to your body when it tells you that you are full.  By the time that it was time for her to go to bed she was still complaining that her stomach hurt.  I rubbed fractionated coconut oil and five drops of digest zen on her stomach (Doterra essential oil).  Within minutes she was feeling better and she slept through the night.

Yummy Summer Salad

     I like to eat a lot of salad when the weather is hot.  My husband calls salad "chick food".  He is not a fan of salad but every once in a while I can get him to eat it.  The recipe that I am posting today came from a picture that I saw in a magazine.  It looked delicious so I thought that  I would try to duplicate it (with a twist of course).

Yummy Summer Salad:

1 honey dew melon (cut into bite sized pieces)
1 bunch of dark green lettuce (torn)
1 c blackberries
1/2 c feta
sprinkle of cinnamon
1/2 c chopped pecans
drizzle of honey

In a large bowl mix together the melon & lettuce.  Gently stir in the blackberries & feta.  Sprinkle with a tiny bit of cinnamon and drizzle with honey.  Top with pecans.

Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate

     I am going to stick with the strawberry theme today and give you the recipe for strawberry lemonade concentrate.  You can mix this concentrate with water, ginger ale, sprite, vodka, etc.. and serve it over ice.  I take a mason jar with concentrate and an empty mason jar and pour half of the concentrate into the empty jar.  I then fill both jars with water (or whatever you want to use) and ice.  Serve with a straw and an umbrella if you are in to that sort of thing.

Strawberry Lemonade Concentrate:

6 c strawberry purée
6 c sugar
4 c lemon juice

In a large stock pot, add purée, sugar & lemon juice.  Stir well.  Heat over medium high heat to 190 degrees.  Do not boil!  Skim off the foam.  Pour the concentrate into jars & process 15 minutes.

Strawberry Muffins:

     I bought a 15 pound bucket of strawberries this week.  I have been canning jam and strawberry lemonade concentrate and I still have strawberries left.  Today, I am going to make some muffins.  I thought that I would share the recipe with you.  Enjoy!

Strawberry Muffins:

1/2 c. butter
1 c sugar
1 egg
2 c flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1/2 c milk
1 t vanilla
1 1/2 c strawberry purée
1/2 c chocolate chips

Mix all of the ingredients well in a large bowl.  Grease a muffin tin and fill two thirds full with batter.  Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Quote For The Day

     Here is a quote for today:  "The devil doesn't come to you with his red face and horns, he comes to you disguised as everything you ever wanted."

Tasty Cherry Milkshake

     Sometimes a milkshake sounds good.  Here is a recipe for one of my favorites.  Have a blessed Thursday!

Tasty Cherry Milkshake:

1 c milk
2 large scoops of vanilla ice cream
1/4 c chocolate syrup
1 small handful of pitted cherries

In a blender, place the ingredients in the order given.  Blend until smooth.  Pour into a glass & serve with a straw.

Garden Salad

     My daughter came up with this recipe to use some of the produce out of our garden.  She enjoys cooking as much as I do.  We both hope that you enjoy it.

Garden Salad:

Radishes
Chives
Lettuce
Carrots
Tomatoes
Spinach

Cut up all of the veggies and mix well in a large bowl.  Serve with ranch dressing and croutons.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Dessert

     Have you ever wondered what to do with a small cast iron skillet?  I have.  I always thought they were pointless until a few months ago.  I went to a restaurant with some friends and had one of the most divine desserts that I have ever eaten!  Here is my version of that recipe.

Chocolate Chip Skillet Dessert:

1 batch of your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough
1/2 stick of butter
vanilla ice cream
chocolate syrup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a small cast iron skillet melt the butter.  Swirl it around the sides of the pan so that it is greased really well.  Press the cookie dough into the bottom of the pan and bake until golden brown.  (8-10 minutes)  Place two scoops of ice cream on top of the cookie & drizzle with chocolate syrup.  Serve immediately in the skillet.

Headaches

     Nothing is more annoying than having a headache.  I don't get headaches all that often but when I do I want to get rid of them quickly.  Here are some natural remedies that have helped me to get rid of a headache.  I hope some of these will help to bring you some relief.

1.)  Reflexology - rub the tops of your big toes

2.)  Herbal - drink rosemary, lime blossom or chamomile tea

3.)  Aromatherapy - rub Doterra lavender & peppermint to your temples and into the back of your neck

4.)  Homeopathic - take two tablets of Belladonna and dissolve under your tongue

Father's Day

     Some people have earthly dads who are absent.  Maybe it is because they are not living anymore or maybe it is because they chose to be absent.  Whatever the case may be, there is a Heavenly Father  who is always present,  who fills the hole in a broken heart and who never changes!  Happy Father's Day!

Grandma's BBQ Ribs

     I found a good price on spare ribs yesterday.  We don't eat them very often but when we do the whole family enjoys them.  Here is my grandma's recipe for making BBQ ribs.

Grandma's BBQ Ribs:

3-4 lbs spare ribs

1 lemon

1 onion

Sauce:

1 c ketchup

1/3 c worchesterchire sauce

1 t salt

1 t chili powder

2 dashes of Tabasco sauce

1 pint hot water

Cut the ribs and place them in a roasting pan meat side up.  Thinly slice the onion & lemon.  Place the slices on top of the ribs.  Roast for 30 minutes at 450 degrees.  Turn down the heat to 350 degrees.  Mix together the sauce ingredients in a saucepan.  Bring the sauce to a boil.  Remove the onion & lemon slices & pour the sauce over the top if the ribs.  Bake for an hour and a half longer.  Enjoy!

Goulash

     I was barely able to made dinner tonight.  While I was cooking on the stove, my stove decided to stop working.  Thank goodness for propane and a camp stove.  It turned out delicious even though it took longer to make it.

Goulash:

1lb ground beef
2 T brown sugar
1/2 t chili powder
2 (8oz) cans of tomato sauce
salt & pepper to taste
1 T worchesterchire sauce
1/2 pkg shell noodles
1 c shredded cheese

Cook the noodles according to the package directions and set aside.  In a large skillet brown the beef over medium heat.  Drain the grease.  Sprinkle in the brown sugar & chili powder.  Add the worchesterchire sauce & tomato sauce.  Cook until the liquid cooks down a bit & the sauce gets thicker.  Add the salt, pepper, noodles & cheese.  Serve hot with bread.

Beet Salad

     When I was a child, I thought that beets were nasty.  Now that I am an adult, I can't get enough of them.  I think that they have a great flavor.

Beet Salad:

3 large beets
2 carrots
3 c water
1/4 c nuts
pineapple balsamic vinegar

Place the beets in a glass baking dish.  Cover with tin foil.  Bake at 400 degrees for one hour or until done.  Let them cool.  Remove the skins and slice the beets.  Place the slices in a bowl and set aside.  Peel & dice the carrots.  Place them in a saucepan of boiling water & cook until  tender.  Drain the water & place the carrots in with the beets.  Chop up some nuts (pecans or hazelnuts are my favorite) and sprinkle on top of the carrots & beets.  Drizzle with pineapple balsamic vinegar.  Enjoy!

Bacon Scramble

     I like protein for breakfast!  Here is a delicious recipe that will satisfy you until lunchtime.  Have a  wonderful Wednesday!

Bacon Scramble:

1 pkg bacon
6 eggs
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 c cilantro
1 T minced onion
1 T parsley
1/2 c shredded cheese
1/2 c your favorite salsa

Cook the bacon according to the package directions.  Save 1 tablespoon of grease.  Crumble the bacon and set aside.  Heat up the grease in a skillet and add the eggs, salt & pepper, cilantro, onion, & parsley.  Cook until the eggs are almost done.  Add the bacon, salsa & cheese.  Stir together until the cheese is melted.  Serve with toast.

Indonesian Layered Soup

     I had a really yummy Indonesian soup today at an MAF conference that I attended.  Here is an Americanized version of the soup that I recreated.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Indonesian Layered Soup:

1 head of cabbage chopped very thin
3 c cooked white rice
3 c shredded cooked chicken
3 c cooked bean threads (or cooked angel hair pasta)
6 c chicken broth
1 T ginger
1/4 t pepper
1 c diced carrots
1 bunch green onions chopped
1 c chopped nuts

Layer rice, chicken, bean threads & cabbage in soup bowls.  In a large pot heat up the chicken broth, ginger, pepper, carrots and onions over medium heat.  Simmer for two hours.  Ladle the chicken broth mixture over the layered ingredients in the bowls and top with nuts.  Eat hot.

Paper Cut

     I got a magazine in the mail the other day.  It had a bunch of perfume samples in it.  I just love those things!  Anyway, I throw out all of the stinky ones and keep all of the good smelling ones for later.  This morning I got a good smelling one out and rubbed it all over myself.  My neck started to sting and I realized that I got a paper cut on my neck.  Oh well, at least I smell good..

Honey Butter

     Don't you just love butter on your toast, biscuits, rolls, bread, etc..?  Here is a yummy recipe for a sweet butter that tastes really good on any kind of bread.

Honey Butter:

1 stick of butter (softened)
1/4 t cinnamon
1/4 c honey
1 T sweetened condensed milk

Whip all of the ingredients together in a bowl until light and fluffy.  Serve on any kind of bread or scoop it out with a spoon and put it directly into your mouth!

Natural Healing

     My mom is visiting from out of town and she has a chest cold.  I have been trying to treat her illness naturally.  I gave her the essential oil breathe (Doterra brand) with fractionated coconut oil to rub on her chest.  I have also been giving her one tablespoon every two hours of a garlic, onion, cayenne pepper and horseradish tincture.  This has worked really well to clear out the junk in her chest.

Veggies

     I have been enjoying fresh veggies from my garden.  Here is a healthy recipe for you to enjoy:

Veggies:

Swiss chard
spinach
kale
broccoli
sugar snap peas
carrots

Sauce:
1 T soy sauce
1 T rice vinegar
1 t sugar
1 T sesame seeds

Pour ingredients in a small saucepan & heat until the sugar is dissolved.

Rough chop all of the vegetables.  Heat 2 T coconut oil in a skillet over medium high heat.  Pour in the vegetables and cook until they are just starting to get soft.  Place them in a large bowl and pour the sauce over the top of them.

Scrambled Eggs With Asparagus

     Several weeks ago, I was in Spokane, WA with my girlfriends.  We ate at a French restaurant called Madeline's.  The food was amazing!!!  One of the breakfast items that they served was scrambled eggs with asparagus.  I tried to duplicate the recipe as best as I could.  Enjoy!

Scrambled Eggs With Asparagus:

1 bunch of asparagus
5 eggs
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 c cream
1/2 t parsley
1/2 t minced onion
1/4 c shredded cheese
1 T olive oil

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Wash asparagus & cut off the ends.  Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray & spread out the asparagus on the cookie sheet.  Lightly drizzle the asparagus with olive oil and sprinkle with course salt.  Bake for 6 minutes.  Meanwhile, crack the eggs into a bowl and beat until smooth.  Add salt, pepper, cream, parsley and onion.  Stir until combined.  Cut the asparagus into bite sized pieces and add to the egg mixture.  In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Pour in the egg mixture and stir to scramble.  Turn off the heat while the eggs are just a little bit underdone and let them finish cooking on their own.  Sprinkle with cheese.  When the cheese is melted, serve the eggs along side of fruit.

Airport

     I am sitting at the airport with my daughter waiting for my parents.  I always come early so that I can go to the gift shop.  Of course I get suckered in to buying a four dollar bottle of water and a three dollar container of Nutella.  Why do I come to the gift shop hungry snd thirsty?

Homemade Bread

     Nothing smells better than walking into a room and smelling freshly baked bread.  Yum!!!  I cannot imagine a world without bread.  That would just be WRONG!!!  I have several recipes for homemade bread.  They are all delicious.  Some are really sweet, some are soft, etc..  This recipe came from my dear grandma.

Homemade Bread:

2 T lard
1 T sugar
2 c hot water
2 1/4 t yeast
1/4 c lukewarm water
6-7 c flour

Combine sugar, lard & salt in a large bowl.  Slowly pour in  the hot water and stir.  Let this cool to lukewarm before you proceed.  Dissolve yeast in a small bowl with the lukewarm water.  Add to the other ingredients.  Stir in the flour a cup at a time until you get a soft dough.  Let it rise in a greased bowl for 1 hour.  Punch down the dough & divide between two greased loaf pans.  Cover the pans and let the dough rise for 30 minutes.  Bake at 400 degrees for 50 minutes.

Movie

     If you haven't seen Mom's Night Out at the theatre, I recommend that you grab your closest girlfriends and go see it right away.  The movie is hilarious!  I laughed until my sides hurt.  It is a clean movie .  And by clean I mean no potty mouth, nudity, etc..  It is rare to find a clean movie these days.  When I left the theatre, I didn't feel like I wasted my money like I usually do.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

Sourdough Starter

     I believe that everyone should have sourdough starter on hand.  There are so many things that you can make with it.  (Cake, biscuits, bread, pancakes, etc..)  Here is a recipe for making sourdough starter.  I keep mine in the refrigerator and feed it every couple of days.  (IMPORTANT:  DO NOT LET METAL OF ANY KIND COME NEAR YOUR STARTER!!!)

Sourdough Starter:

2 large potatoes
water
2 c flour
cheesecloth

Peel the potatoes and place them in a glass bowl or crock covered with water.  Let them sit on your counter overnight.  In the morning, discard the potatoes & all but 4 cups of the potato water.  Slowly stir in the flour.  Cover with cheesecloth and let it sit on your counter for 2 days before you use it.

Breakfast Pockets

     My husband and his buddies are getting up really early in the morning to ride 4 wheelers.  Today, I am making them breakfast pockets so that they have something quick to grab and eat for breakfast.

Breakfast Pockets:

pizza or biscuit dough
1 pkg breakfast sausage
6 eggs
4 c hashbrowns
1 t parsley
1 T minced onion
1/2 t garlic salt
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 c shredded cheese

Brown the sausage with the onion, parsley, salt, pepper & garlic salt.  Put the meat in a large bowl & set aside.  Cook the hashbrowns in the same skillet until done.  Add the meat back to the skillet  along with the eggs.  When the eggs are cooked, turn off the heat & sprinkle the mixture with cheese.  Divide the dough into 14 pieces.  Roll out each piece into a circle.  Place a large scoop of the meat mixture into the middle of the dough , fold  & seal.  Place on a baking sheet.  Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Watermelon Popsicles

     I love watermelon and I love popsicles.  Why not put these two things together to make a tasty treat?  Enjoy!

Watermelon Popsicles:

3 c watermelon
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c water
2 t lemon juice

Place watermelon in a blender and blend until smooth.  In a large saucepan heat watermelon purée, sugar and water over medium heat.  Cook for 3 minutes or until the sugar is not grainy.  Remove from heat & stir in the lemon juice.  Pour the liquid into plastic popsicle containers and freeze.

Art

     My daughter and I really enjoy working on art projects.  I found a wonderful art book that we have been working on this summer.  It is called With Art In Mind by Patricia Parker Groebner.  Each lesson tells you the materials that you need, gives you step by step directions and gives you sample pictures of the finished project.  If you are looking for some fun art projects to do with your children over the summer, I highly recommend this book.   

Cheese Steak Sandwiches

     I am always trying to find a quick and easy meal to make for dinner.  This time of year is a busy time for me and I don't always have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen cooking.  You can add peppers and onions to this recipe if you like.  It is a quick and delicious meal that can be made up ahead of time and warmed up later.

Cheese Steak Sandwiches:

french bread rolls
cross rib steak
sliced provelone cheese
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t salt
1/2 t parsley
1 t minced onion
1 T minced garlic
1/2 t seasoning salt
dash of Tobasco sauce
2 T butter

Melt the butter in a large skillet.  Cut the steak very thinly in small pieces and add to the skillet.  Sprinkle with salt, pepper, onion, garlic, & seasoning salt.  Cook until the meat is no longer pink.  Scoop the meat onto the rolls and top with the sliced cheese.  Roll tightly in  foil and bake at 250 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Missing You

     Yesterday I saw a quote that pretty much sums up how I feel about some of my loved ones who have passed away.  I thought I would share it with you today.  Maybe you can relate.

"I hide my tears when I say your name, but the pain in my heart is still the same.  Although I smile and seem carefree, there is NO ONE who misses you more than ME!!!"

Plain Cookies

     Here is another recipe from my grandma's collection.  These taste good plain or with frosting on top.  You can play around with the recipe to make it your own.

Plain Cookies:

3 c flour
1 c sugar
1 c lard
3 egg yolks
1/2 c sour cream
1/2 t salt
lemon rind & juice of one lemon
In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar and salt.  Cut in the lard until you get course crumbs.  Add the egg yolks, sour cream, rind & lemon juice.  Roll out the dough until it is 1/4 inch thick.  Cut into desired shapes.  Frost if desired.

Rockfish

     My mom gave me some rockfish a while back and I decided to make it for dinner.  It tastes delicious made into fish tacos or breaded by itself.  I breaded it for dinner.  Here is the recipe:

Rockfish:

2 rockfish fillets
salt & pepper to taste
1 T parsley
1/4 t cajun seasoning
1/2 c panko bread crumbs
2 T olive oil

Heat up the olive oil over medium heat in a skillet.  Generously sprinkle salt, pepper, cajun seasoning & parsley over the fish.  Press the bread crumbs onto both sides of the fish.  Gently place the seasoned fish into a skillet & cook both sides until it starts to fall apart when poked with a fork.

Alfalfa

     I was driving into town this morning and I drove past a farmer who was cutting down his alfalfa.  The smell of the alfalfa was strong as I drove by.  It was a familiar smell.  Then I remembered that it smells like one of the green smoothie recipes that I make sometimes in the morning.  I could actually taste it in the air.  Weird!

Oatmeal Shortbread Cookies

     I like to eat cookies while I drink my tea or coffee.  Shortbread cookies are some of my favorite to make and eat.

Oatmeal Shortbread Cookies:

3 1/2 c oats
2/3 c sugar
1/4 c flour
1/2 t salt
3/4 c butter
1 t vanilla

In a large bowl mix together oats, sugar, flour, & salt.  Cut in the butter until the mixture resembles fine crumbs.  Add the vanilla.  Mix well.  Roll out in a greased baking sheet and cut into squares.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

Antelope

     When my daughter was three years old, we ate at a restaurant for dinner.  My husband and I had taught her to order her own meal.  This time was no exception.  The waitress asked her what she wanted for dinner and she said, "I want chicken nuggets and antelope please!"  The waitress chuckled and told her they didn't have any antelope.  I looked over the menu and figured out that she wanted cantelope. We all had a good laugh over that one.

Brownies

     I have hundreds of brownie recipes.  I adore each and every one of them.  Here is a simple recipe for brownies that I found in my grandma's collection.  They taste especially good with a cold glass of milk.

Brownies:

1/4 c butter
1 c sugar
2 eggs
2 squares bitter chocolate
1/2 c flour
1/2 t baking soda
1 t vanilla
1/2 c chopped nuts (optional)

In a bowl, cream together butter & sugar.  Add eggs.  Melt chocolate & add to batter along with flour, vanilla, soda & nuts.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes in an 8 inch square pan.

Jam Muffins

     My daughter wanted to make breakfast this morning.  She got out her children's cookbook and decided to make jam muffins.  They turned out delicious and made our whole house smell good.

Jam Muffins:

2 c flour
1 T baking powder
3 T sugar
1/2 t salt
3/4 c butter
1 egg
1 c milk
your favorite jar of jam

In a large bowl, mix flour, baking powder, sugar & salt together.  Add softened butter, egg & milk to the dry ingredients & mix well.  Grease muffin tins & fill 1/2 way with batter.  Top the batter with 1 tablespoon of jam.  Add more batter until tins are 2/3 full.  Bake at 425 degrees for 23 minutes.

Joke For The Day

     Years ago, I worked in a salon that was in a retirement center.  One of my clients came in one day and said, "Did you hear that UPS and FedEx are merging?"  I said, "No.  Really?"  She said, "Yes, they are going to call it Fed Up."  Ha ha.  There is a joke to end the week with.

Country Girl

     My daughter said to me the other day, "Mom, I can never live in the city again.  I am a country girl.  I completely agree!

Little Bites From Heaven

     Have you heard of True Bliss Confections?  They are selling them at Costco right now.  They are dark chocolate covered bits of coconut and I am pretty sure that they came straight from a kitchen in Heaven.  If you have never tried these, you must  go get some today.  It does help if you love coconut as much as I do.  If not, I guess you are out of luck.  Have a blessed Thursday!!!

Breakfast BLTs & More

     BLTs are the best when you can pick the ingredients fresh from the garden.  I have lettuce in my garden right now but my tomatoes are still growing.  Here is a recipe for a breakfast version of BLTs. Enjoy!

Breakfast BLTs & More:

1 pkg bacon (cooked)
lettuce (torn)
tomatoes (sliced)
avocados (sliced)
eggs (hard boiled & sliced)
sourdough bread
butter

Butter the desired amount of bread & fry in a skillet until golden.  Place on a plate and top with four slices of bacon, lettuce, tomato, avocado & eggs.

Walnut Pie

     My grandma LOVED walnuts!!!  She put them in everything.  (breads, salad, etc..)  Here is her recipe. You will really enjoy this if you like walnuts.

Walnut Pie:

1/4 c butter
2 T flour
1/2 c corn syrup
1/3 c sherry
1 c sugar
3 well beaten eggs
1 c walnuts
1 unbaked pie crust

Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.  Add the flour, corn syrup, wine & sugar.  Gradually add the eggs until combined.  Stir in the walnuts & pour into the pie crust.  Bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes.

Blended Coffee Drink

     Over the weekend, I had a craving for a Starbucks Frappachino.  It cost me four dollars!!!  What a rip off.  That is the price of a gallon of milk, a carton of eggs, a loaf of bread, etc..  But it was Mothers Day weekend so a gave myself a treat.  (It was free.  I used the last of a gift card that I got at Christmas)  Still, the price was highway robbery!  Anyway, I decided there must be a better way.  Here is a recipe that you can make at home when you have a blended coffee craving.

Blended Coffee Drink:

1 c strong coffee
1 T chocolate syrup
1 T carmel syrup
1/4 c heavy cream
1 T raw honey
2 1/2 c ice

Place ingredients in a blender  in the order given.  Blend until smooth and drink immediately.

Happy Mothers Day!!!

     One of the greatest joys in my life is being a mother.  I feel so privileged to be given a job that is challenging, that blesses me beyond what I could have ever imagined,  that has taught me so much about myself and about life.  I feel a great responsibility as a mom.  I don't take my job lightly.  In my opinion, it is the MOST important job on the planet.  To all you moms out there:  Happy Mothers Day! I hope that you have a nice, relaxing day.

Venison Sausage Gravy

     I was given some venison sausage this week.  Some people don't like venison because they think that it tastes too gamey.  My family and I really like it.  I think the taste depends on the way that you cook the meat and the spices that you use.  This is a delicious recipe that you can serve over biscuits.

Venison Sausage Gravy:

1 lb venison sausage
1/4 c minced onion
1 T parsley
1 t salt
1/4 t white pepper
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t sage
1/2 t thyme
2 T flour
1-1 1/2 c milk

In a large skillet brown the sausage with the onion.  Drain off the grease.  Add the remaining spices and mix well.  Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and stir it in.  Gradually pour the milk in until you reach your desired thickness.  Serve over biscuits.

Where Did You Hear That?

     Yesterday, I was driving in the car with my daughter in the backseat.  It was very quiet for a long time.  (This is not normal.  Usually there is constant jabbering). I said,"Whatcha thinking about munchkin?"  She said, "Does donkey and ass mean the same thing?"  I said, "Yes, it can."  More quiet..  "Mom, is it ok for me to say ass?"  I said, "It's better to say donkey instead of ass because ass can also mean a naughty word."  She said, "Ok mom."  Even more quiet..  I said, "Who did you hear about ass from ?"  She said, "I read it in my bible this morning."  I said, "Oh."

Breakfast Hash

     Here is a quick and easy breakfast recipe.  Sometimes I feel like having corn beef for breakfast.  I don't know why.  Strange..  Have a great day!

Breakfast Hash:

1 can corn beef
1 c shredded cheese
1 T flour
1/4 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 t parsley
1/2 t onion powder
2 eggs
1 1/4 c milk

Crumble corned beef in a greased 9x9 pan.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Combine the rest of the ingredients and pour over the mixture.  Bake at 350 degrees for 35 minutes.

Favorite Lunch Salad

     I wanted to share my favorite lunch salad.  It takes a bit of work to chop up all of the ingredients but if you make it ahead of time it is an easy lunch for the week.  I eat this salad with Ranch dressing.(is there any other kind of dressing?)  You can choose your favorite dressing to top this salad with if you don't like Ranch.

Favorite Lunch Salad:

3 c spinach
1 head of broccoli (cut into bite sized pieces)
1 c cherry tomatoes (red & yellow)
3 diced carrots
1 can salmon
1/2 c diced cheddar cheese
2 diced hard boiled eggs
1 diced avocado
1/4 c slivered almonds

Layer all of the ingredients in a bowl in the order given.  Toss before serving.

Lavender - Lemon Tea Cakes

     I enjoy drinking tea.  I find it relaxing after a stressful day.  I have many fond memories of drinking tea with  special people in my life.  Here is a recipe for a light cookie that goes great with a cup of tea.  Enjoy!

Lavender - Lemon Tea Cakes:

1 stick butter (melted)
1/2 c brown sugar
1 egg
1 c flour
1 pinch of salt
1/2 t vanilla
3 drops of lavender essential oil
5 drops of lemon essential oil

In a bowl cream together the butter, sugar & egg.  Add flour, salt, vanilla & essential oils.  Mix until combined.  Scoop out by teaspoonfuls on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 8 minutes at 375 degrees.

The Ladies

     Yesterday, I cleaned out the chicken coop.  Today, I thought that I would tell you about what I do to keep my coop clean and fresh for my chickens. Here are six easy steps for a clean coop. (I let my "ladies" roam around the backyard while I do this.)

1.)  I scooped the chicken poop out and put it in my compost pile.
2.)  I emptied out the water dish, sprayed it with an orange vinegar solution and wiped it clean.  I did the same with the food container. Then I set both containers in the sun to dry.
3.)  I sprinkled diotemacious earth all over the bottom of my coop and spread out bedding over the top of that.
4.)  I filled up the food and water containers and put them back in the coop.
5.)  I picked a generous amount of tall green grass  and put it in their nesting boxes.
6.)  Gently I herded them back into their coop.  They were very happy!

That is it!  Pretty easy and my "ladies" are VERY happy.

Pineapple Smoothie

     Pineapple was on sale at the store today.  I bought some.  I am the only one in my family who will eat it.  I decided to make a smoothie out of some of it and it turned out delicious!  I hope that you like it as much as I did.

Pineapple Smoothie:

1 large handful of spinach
1 T flax seeds
1 t honey
1 c diced pineapple
1/2 c blueberries
1/2 c frozen strawberries
1/2 c milk

Place the ingredients in a blender in the order given.  Blend until smooth.  Serve immediately.

Baked Custard

     This recipe uses a lot of eggs so I do not make it very often.  It tastes really good in the evening along with a hot cup of coffee.

Baked Custard:

3 qts milk
12 eggs
1 1/2 c sugar
3 t vanilla
3/4 t salt
1/4 t cinnamon
nutmeg

Beat the eggs in a mixing bowl.  Add the sugar, salt, milk, cinnamon & vanilla.  Mix well. Pour into ramekins and sprinkle the tops with nutmeg.  Place the ramekins in a 13 X 9 pan and pour some water in the bottom of the pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Potato Salad

     I made pork ribs for dinner.  I was trying to think of a yummy side dish that I haven't made in a while and potato salad came to mind.  My potato salad is very plain but really good.  My family doesn't like anything green, crunchy or fancy in their potato salad.  If you have a picky family like I do then you will love this recipe.

Potato Salad:

5 Russet potatoes
4 eggs
1/2 c mayonnaise
1/2 t  seasoning salt
1/4 t mustard

Place the eggs in a saucepan with cold water.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat.  Boil for 15 minutes.  Let rest until the water is lukewarm.  Remove the eggs and set aside.  Peel and dice the potatoes.  Put them in the egg saucepan with water covering the top of them and bring them to a boil over medium high heat.  Boil for  20 minutes.  Drain the water and place the potatoes in a serving bowl.  Add mayonnaise, seasoning salt & mustard.  Peel and dice up the eggs and add them to the bowl.  Stir well.  Chill in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours before serving.

Grandma's Corn & Tomato Soup

     Some evenings it is nice to throw together an easy soup recipe with bread and a salad.  When it gets warm outside, I am usually looking for a light recipe instead of something heavy for dinner.  This is one of those light meals.

Corn & Tomato Soup:

1 1/2 c corn (cut off the cob)
1 1/2 c diced tomatoes
1/2 onion (minced)
2 T butter
2 T sugar
2 c water
2 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1 t celery salt
1 can evaporated milk (6 oz)

In a saucepan melt butter.  Add minced onion and cook until carmelized.  Add corn & tomatoes.  Season with salt, sugar, celery salt & pepper.  Add water and bring to a boil.  Turn down the heat to low and add the milk.  Simmer for 15-20 minutes.  Serve warm with bread.

What If..

      What if today was your last day on earth?  Would you stop to admire the sunrise or would you rush out the door?  Would you hang on to your child's every word or would you half heartedly listen to them?  Would you eat dessert with your girlfriends or would you eat a salad?  Would you take advantage of your husbands caress or would you give him the cold shoulder?  What if..

Spicy Oatmeal Drops

      This is another one of my grandma's recipes.  The name doesn't really sound appealing but they are tasty.  If you don't like raisins, just replace them with chocolate chips.

Spicy Oatmeal Drops:

1 1/2 c flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t soda
1/2 t salt
1 t cinnamon
1/2 t nutmeg
1/2 t cloves
1/2 c lard
1 c brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 c milk
2 t vanilla
1 c walnuts (optional)
1 c raisins
1 c oats

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  In a seperate bowl, cream lard & sugar.  Add egg, milk & vanilla.  Add to the dry ingredients and mix well.  Add nuts, raisins & oats.  Drop by tablespoon onto a greased baking pan.  Bake at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.

Kale & Bacon

     I am a weirdo!  I LOVE KALE!!!  I think that it tastes super yummy and it is good for you.  Here is a recipe  to use up that kale that is hanging out in your refrigerator.  Just try it.  It's yummy.

Kale & Bacon:

1 large bunch of kale (washed & torn)
1 pkg turkey bacon. (cut into bite sized pieces)
1 T minced garlic
1/4 t pepper
8 red potatoes (washed & quartered)
1 T olive oil

In a large skillet, fry the bacon until crisp.  Remove from the pan & place on a plate  lined with paper towels.  Wipe out the skillet  and pour in the olive oil.  Fry the potatoes until done.  Add the bacon back to the skillet along with the garlic, pepper and kale.  Cook until the kale is withered and dark green.  Serve warm.

Sunday Morning Parfait

     Some mornings I need a quick breakfast to feed my family.  Here is one that satisfies and looks pretty.

Sunday Morning Parfaits:

1 large container of your favorite plain yogurt (store bought or homemade)
3 c granola (store bought or homemade)
3 c blueberries
3 c raspberries
honey
cinnamon

Line up three or four glass cups on the counter.  Place a dollop of yogurt in each cup.  Top with  a bit of granola and drizzle with some honey.  Place a layer of blueberries & raspberries on top of the granola and sprinkle with a little bit of cinnamon.  Repeat with a layer of yogurt, granola, fruit, etc..  Breakfast is served.

Grandma'a Chocolate Chip Cake

     Sometimes you just need to eat something sweet.  Here is a recipe that I think you will enjoy.  It came from my grandma.  She loved nuts in all of her baked goods.  If you don't like them or if they don't appeal to you, feel free to leave them out.

Chocolate Chip Cake:

1 1/2 c flour
2 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
1 c sugar
2 eggs
1/2 c lard
1/2 c milk
1/2 c pecans (optional)
3/4 c chocolate chips

Cream together lard, sugar and eggs.  Add the dry ingredients with the milk.  Stir in the pecans & chocolate chips and mix well.  Pour into a greased glass pan.  Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

Sugar Scrub

     The dry air can really get to my skin.  Sometimes I just need something to exfoliate and hydrate my skin all at the same time.  A sugar scrub is simple to make and it works really well to hydrate my dry skin.  If you have essential oils you can play around with  scents.

Sugar Scrub:

1/2 c olive oil
1 c sugar
2 t lemon zest
10-15 drops lavender oil
1/2 t vanilla

In a bowl, mix all of the ingredients really well.  Pour into glass jars.  To use:  Take a generous amount of the mixture and gently rub on skin.  Rinse thoroughly.

Flavored Water

     Sometimes I get tired of drinking plain old water.  I know that it is good for you so I jazz it up with flavor.  My favorite flavored water at the moment is to take an orange, slice it up and put it in my water along with a handful of blueberries,  I also enjoy sliced strawberries and lime slices together,  lemon slices with peppermint leaves and apple slices with a cinnamon stick.  Pinterest and Google are great resources for  flavored water ideas.  You should give it a try.  It may change your life.

Good Friends

     It is so important to have good friends in your life.  I am blessed with many friends but only a handful are "good" friends.  Trust me, there is a huge difference between the two.

     A friend is someone that you enjoy being around, someone that you enjoy talking with and someone that you care for.  A friend will flatter you and try not to step on your toes.  A friend will hang around when life is good and make themselves scares when it's not.  A friend will disagree when others are talking about you behind your back but they will remain silent.  A friend will feel bad for you when you are sick.  A friend will tell you all of the things they think you need to hear when you are devastated.  A friend will miss you at the girls weekend when you don't get to come because finances are tight.

     A "good" friend tells you the truth even if it is not what you wanted to hear.  A "good" friend sticks by your side in the good and bad times.  A "good" friend knows when you are not yourself and calls you on it.  A "good" friend stands up for you when others are talking bad about you.  A "good" friend brings you a meal when you are sick.  A "good" friend sits in silence with you when you are devastated.  A "good" friend pays for the girls weekend when you are broke.

     What kind of friend are you?

Egg Salad Sandwiches

     I was talking to a dear friend on the phone yesterday about what to do with leftover hard boiled eggs from Easter.  Egg Salad Sandwiches were on the top of my list.  Yummy!!!

Egg Salad Sandwiches:

8-12 hard boiled eggs
salt & pepper to taste
1/4 t paprika
1/2 c mayonnaise
sourdough bread
2-3 avocados

Remove shells from the eggs and place eggs in a large bowl.  Add salt, pepper, paprika and mayonnaise.  Blend with a blender until smooth.  Toast desired amount of bread and top with the egg mixture and slices of avocado.

Meat Casserole

      This is a flavorful casserole that you can throw together quickly for dinner.  It is very adaptable.  You can change the veggies, meat & seasonings around and it will still taste good.

Meat Casserole:

1/2 onion diced
1 pkg ground beef, sausage, chicken, etc..  (whatever you have on hand)
1 1/2 c wild rice
1 c chopped veggies (broccoli, celery, carrots, etc..)
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 t garlic salt
1/2 t paprika
1 t parsley
3 c broth (chicken or beef)
1 c shredded cheese

In a large skillet brown the meet with the onion.  Add the remaining ingredients and cook for 5-10 minutes.  Pour into a glass dish and bake for 45 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees.  Sprinkle cheese in top and let it melt before serving.

Happy Easter!

     I just got back from camping at the sand dunes over the weekend.  It was so much fun but I am exhausted.  I thought that Easter weekend would be quiet in the campground.  It was really noisy.  In fact, the campground was full.

     There was a crazy windstorm last night. Things were flying everywhere.  This morning the wind died down and all was calm.  We had an Easter sunrise service by the dunes in front of the lake.  It was freezing!!!  The sun was shining and the birds were chirping.

  I hope that you had a happy and blessed Easter and that you were able to enjoy the day.  The best part if the day for me is celebrating the fact that HE IS RISEN!!!

Camping

     I enjoy camping!  It is something that I look forward to every summer.  While I enjoy cooking and eating good food, I do not like to fuss with high maintenance cooking while I am camping.  The week before I go camping I start cooking the food that I am going to take with me.  Cooking and freezing makes quick warm up meals while you are away from home.  Here is a sample of a camping menu for a weekend camping trip:

Fri
Dinner:  hot dogs (cooked over the camp fire), fruit salad (made ahead), cut up veggies

Sat
Breakfast:  burritos (egg, potato, sausage, cheese, bacon, etc..  made a head of time, wrapped in foil & warm up on top of the fire grate)
Lunch:  sandwiches, fruit salad, veggies
Dinner:  chili (cooked ahead of time & frozen, heat to warm up on a camp stove) cornbread (warm up in tin foil on the camp fire)

Sun
Breakfast:  bagels & cream cheese, fruit salad
Lunch:  calzones (filled with beef, tomatoes, cheese, etc.. wrapped in tin foil & warmed on the camp fire)

By the time you are ready to leave on Sunday afternoon, there is hardly any clean up and you can focus on getting the rest of your things packed up.  I hope this helps you as you plan camping meals for your family.

Sweet Potato Fries

     I don't usually have sweet potatoes laying around at my house.  No one in my family likes them except me.  When I do get to have them they are a treat.  Here is a quick recipe that satisfys my craving for fries.  Make sure to stir them around a couple of times during baking so that they don't burn.  Enjoy!

Sweet Potato Fries:

1-2 sweet potatoes
1 T olive oil
1 t garlic salt
1/4 t pepper

Peel the sweet potatoes with a potato peeler.  Cut into rounds and then quarter the rounds.  Place the potatoes in a bowl and drizzle with the olive oil.  Sprinkle with seasonings and stir well.  Grease a cookie sheet and spread out the potatoes in one layer on the cookie sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 25-35 minutes.

Looking Good

     Yesterday my daughter and I both had hair appointments at the beauty salon.  I got my hair colored and she got her hair cut.  When we walked out of the salon to go home I said, "Wow, it seems like we spent all day in there."  She flips her hair (like a Cover Girl commercial) as she turns to look at me and says, "Mom, it was worth it!  I look fabulous!"

Walking

     I am not a fan of exercise.  I don't like sweating and I heard a rumor that if you exercise that you will have more energy.  (When I get done exercising I want to take a nap!). That being said, exercise is good for my body.  So what do I do?  I suck it up and sweat!

     I found an exercise DVD that is just perfect for me.  It is called The Walk Diet by Leslie Sansone.  You can choose to walk one, two or three miles.  Most days I walk two miles but sometimes I am done after one.  If you are looking for a program that is easy to follow and is not hard on your knees, I would recommend this DVD.

   

Dog Treats

     My dog loves his treats and we love giving them to him.  I have several treat recipes but, this one is my favorite.  It came out of a children's magazine.  We use a heart shaped cookie cutter to make his treats.  They are so easy to make that even my daughter can make them by herself.

Dog Treats:

1/2 c flour
1 c whole wheat flour
2/3 c peanut butter
1/4 c oil
3/4 c water

Mix flours, peanut butter, oil & water together in a large bowl.  Knead the dough into a ball.  Roll it out on a floured surface until it is about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut out shapes with a cookie cutter.  Bake 18 minutes at 375 degrees.

Dandelion Root Tea

     I heard that dandelion root tea is really good for digestion and has beta keratin which our bodies convert into Vitamin A.  I bought some yesterday at the store and decided to make iced tea out of it.  I figured that it would taste better cold than hot.  To my surprise, it actually tastes really well.

Dandelion Root Iced Tea:

1 large pitcher
water
ice
3 dandelion root tea bags
2 T lemon juice
1 T honey (optional)

Fill up a large pitcher halfway with water and ice.  In a saucepan bring 4 cups of water to a boil.  Turn off the heat & place the tea bags in the water.  Cover and let steep for 3-5 minutes.  Stir in the lemon juice & honey.  Pour into the pitcher.  Add more ice if necessary.  Keep in the refrigerator.

Breakfast Cups

     Breakfast is the most important meal of the day (or so I've been told).  I am more of a brunch person.  I prefer to eat a bit later in the day because eating first thing in the morning makes me feel sick.  I like to start the day off with a hot cup of coffee or tea and work my way into eating breakfast. Here is a delicious meal to start your day.

Breakfast Cups:

6 eggs
2 T cream
salt & pepper to taste
4 slices cooked bacon (chopped)
1/2 c cooked breakfast sausage
1/2 c shredded cheese
1 T minced onion
1 T parsley
1/2 c chopped yellow & red pepper
1/4 c chopped spinach or kale

Beat eggs & cream in a bowl until smooth.  Season with salt & pepper.  Stir in the remaining ingredients and pour into greased Ramekins.  Place Ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Brittany's Breakfast Sandwiches

     My friend Brittany makes these delicious breakfast sandwiches.  They are simple to throw together on a busy morning and everyone in my house loves them.  Happy Friday!!!

Brittany's Breakfast Sandwiches:

1 pkg bagels
sliced Canadian bacon
hashbrown patties
sliced cheddar cheese
eggs
1T olive oil

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Cook the hashbrowns according to package directions.  Toast desired amount of bagels in the toaster.  Place a cooked hashbrown on top of each bagel.  Pour the oil in a skillet and fry the desired amount of eggs.  Place the egg on top of the bagels.  Top with a slice of cheese.  Fry the Canadian bacon until golden brown. Place on top of the cheese.  Enjoy your sandwich!

Ouchy

     I was putting my wet clothes into the dryer and I scraped the top of my hand on the washing machine as I pulled the wet clothes out.  It started to bleed.  I got the first aid kit out and the only band aid that would work was Strawberry Shortcake.  (Note to self: buy more band aids)  Later in the afternoon I decided to make myself a green smoothie.  It was very healthy.  It had spinach and kale in it.  As I took the last gulp of my smoothie, I noticed that my band aid was gone.  I frantically looked on the floor, in the garbage can, on the counter, etc..  I have a Vitamex so I am pretty sure that it will blend up anything.  I feel myself starting to get sick and for the rest of the day I was a bit nauseated thinking that I have just been drinking my blended up band aid.  Luckily I can report that my daughter found my band aid on the kitchen floor.  I did NOT eat a band aid!

Useful Tips in the Kitchen

I put together a list of things that you might find useful while cooking in the kitchen.  Some you may already know.  Hopefully, there will be something useful here.  If not, sorry!  Have a great Wednesday!!!

Useful Tips in the Kitchen:

1.)  sear large pieces of meat to seal in the juices

2.)  use squash instead of pumpkin for pie for a delicious taste

3.)  cut up & wash fruit & veggies as soon as you buy them (it saves lots of time when cooking meals)

4.)  feed veggie peels to chickens (it makes them very happy)

5.)  when making hard boiled eggs, use very cold water before you boil (this helps the peels to come off easily)

6.)  use 1 cup vinegar in a sink full of water to wash fruit & veggies

7.)  cook homemade pizza at 450 or 500 degrees for 8-10 min. to get a chewy crust

8.)  brush melted butter on bread & rolls as soon as they come out of the oven so they stay soft

9.)  put an opened box of baking soda in the refrigerator to absorb odors

10.)  freeze herbs & olive oil in an ice cube tray to preserve the herbs until you are ready to use them

Simple Veggie Stir Fry

Toward the end of the week, I gather up all of the veggies that I have left in my refrigerator and try to find a recipe to use them up.  Stir fry is a very simple dish to make and a great way to use left over veggies.

Simple Veggie Stir Fry:

Broccoli (chopped)
Carrots (chopped)
Kale (chopped)
Sugar snap peas
Zucchini (chopped)
1/4 onion (minced)
1t ginger
1T garlic (minced)
1 T soy sauce
1/8 t pepper
2 T olive oil
1 c rice
1 1/4 c water
1 T sesame seeds
1/4 c peanuts (whole or chopped)

In a large skillet, heat oil over medium high heat.  Add veggies & cook until they are just starting to get soft.  Add ginger, soy sauce, pepper, rice & water.  Bring to a boil.  Turn the heat down, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until rice is done.  Sprinkle with sesame seeds and peanuts.

PB Grill Cheese

     Don't knock it til you try it!  I know peanut butter and cheese sounds disgusting but it is really tasty.  I promise.

PB Grill Cheese:

2 slices of bread
I large slice of cheese
creamy peanut butter
butter

Spread a thick layer of peanut butter on a slice of bread.  Put the slice of cheese on top of the peanut butter.  Butter the outside pieces of the sandwich.  Toast in a skillet until the cheese is melted.  Serve warm.

Essential Oil

     Have you ever used essential oils?  I have been using them for several years now and I just love them.  It is important to use high quality oils.  I recommend DoTerra.  There are several other brands out there that work just as well.  

I wanted tell you about a few of my favorite oils and what I use them for.  

When I am having trouble sleeping at night, I rub some chamomile/lavender oil on my wrists and sleep with my hands by my face so that I can breathe in the scent.  This works really well for me.

When my daughter is having growing pains in her legs, I rub some eucalyptus oil on them.  Eucalyptus oil also works really well for cuts and scrapes.  

For cleaning, I put lavender, lemongrass, rosemary and tea tree oil in 1 cup of vinegar.  I then add 2 cups of water and shake it up in a squirt bottle.  This is a great all purpose cleaner.

These are just a few ways that essential oils can be used.  If you are interested in trying them, I encourage you to buy the book The Complete Book of Essential Oils & Aromatherapy by Valerie Ann Worwood.  It is an easy to understand guide to using the oils.  

BBQ Chicken Sandwich

      The sun is starting to come out in my neck of the woods.  It makes me want to barbecue everything!  Last night I made this tasty chicken sandwich for dinner.  Enjoy!!!

BBQ Chicken Sandwich:

1 pkg boneless skinless chicken breast
1 bottle Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce
1 pkg bacon
sliced cheese
romaine lettuce
sliced tomato
1 pkg sour dough bread
butter

Rub:
1 T parsley
1 t garlic powder
1/2 t paprika
1 t onion powder
1/2 t turmeric
1 T sugar
1 t salt
1/4 t pepper
1/2 t thyme
1/2 t sage
1/4 t coriander

Place rub ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Generously massage the rub into the raw chicken.  Heat up your barbecue to medium & cook the chicken until done.  Brush the barbecue sauce on the chicken the last 10 minutes of cook time.  While the chicken is cooking place the bacon on a wire rack with a cookie sheet underneath. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes on 375 degrees.  Butter slices of bread & fry in a pan until crisp.  Layer the bread with chicken, cheese, bacon, lettuce & tomato.  Take a huge bite.  Yum!

Snicker Cookies

     A good friend of mine gave me this recipe.  These are some of the BEST cookies that I have ever eaten in my life.  They are soft and chewy with a little surprise inside.  Whenever I make these cookies they never last long.

Snicker Cookies:

1 c. butter
1 c. peanut butter
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
2 t. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. soda
1/2 t. salt
2 pkgs. mini snickers

Combine butter, peanut butter and sugars in a large bowl.  Add eggs & vanilla.  Mix in flour, salt & soda.  Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 2 hours.  Unwrap snickers & shape 1 tablespoon of dough around each snickers.  Place on a greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 10-12 minutes at 350 degrees.

Rainwater

    For a while, I have been looking for some barrels to catch rain water.  The Costco ad came out this week and there were a couple of them ranging from $100-$300.  My husband was able to find some on Craigslist for $5 a piece.  (He rocks!!!)  We purchased them last night.  I heard that in some states it is illegal to collect rainwater so I started researching it on the Internet.  I was shocked to find out this is true.  In fact, I read an article about a man in Oregon who was put in jail for 30 days and had to pay a $1,500 fine for collecting rainwater.  All that I can think to say is WOW!  Before you know it we are going to be charged if we get too much sun, breath in too much air, laugh too much, etc..  I am SO glad to know that God wins in the end!!!

Rhubarb Crisp

     Years ago my husband and I were invited to dinner and Rhubarb Crisp was served.  It was delicious!  It tastes the best with a large scoop of vanilla ice cream.  I made sure to get the recipe before we left.  Here it is:

Rhubarb Crisp:

4 c diced rhubarb
6 T flour
2 eggs
2 c sugar
1/2 c flour
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c butter
1 t cinnamon

Mix rhubarb, flour, eggs & sugar in a bowl.  Pour into a 9x13 pan.  Mix flour, brown sugar, butter & cinnamon together & crumble over the batter.  Bake at 375 degrees for 35-45 minutes.

April Fool's Day

     I heard a story about a mom who put vinegar in her family's milk.  When they drank it, there was spitting, crying, etc..  I heard another story about someone who put half Sprite and half soy sauce in an empty plastic Coke bottle and gave it to someone to drink.  How about the guy who threw a Baby Ruth into a swimming pool?  There are some brilliant tricks out there.  While I think the idea of these jokes are funny, I would not like to be on the receiving end of one of them.  In my house, we choose not to participate in April Fool's Day.  Call me boring if you want to.  I am ok with missing out on this tradition.

GG's Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup

     Happy Monday!  On a cloudy day like today, I like to put on a pot of soup.  This one is simple to make and full of flavor.

GG's Slow Cooker Hamburger Soup:
1 lb ground beef
1/2 t salt
1/2 t oregano
1 t basil
1 pkg onion soup mix
3 1/2 c water
1 can tomato sauce (8oz)
3 stalks celery (diced)
3 carrots (diced)
1 c split peas
1 c macaroni noodles

Brown meat in a large skillet.  Season with salt, oregano & basil.  In a slow cooker add the meat along with the remaining ingredients.  One half hour before serving, add the cooked macaroni.  Serve with crusty bread & salad.  Yum!

Snack Attack

     I don't know about you but when I have the munchies I will grab for anything that is in my reach.  (healthy or not)  I have devised a plan to help me make better choices throughout the week.  On Sunday afternoon, I make a list of healthy snacks and prepare them a head of time so that when I get hungry, I am grabbing something that is good for my body.  Here is an example of some healthy options:

carrot sticks and hummus
apples or celery sticks and peanut butter
boiled eggs
rice cake with cream cheese
almonds
cheese & meat on whole grain crackers
date rolls
string cheese
cherry tomatoes mixed with mozzarella, basil & olive oil
make ahead smoothies in the freezer
pretzels
fruit salad

Chicken Wings

     I love tasty chicken wings with celery.  I do not like the classic blue cheese dressing to dip them in.  I think that blue cheese is nasty.  The taste reminds me of how stinky socks smell.  Yuck!  Instead I dip my wings and celery in ranch dressing or sour cream.

Chicken Wings:

4 large boneless chicken breasts

2/3 c hot sauce

1/2 t pepper

1/8 t cayenne pepper

1/2 t garlic salt

Cut the chicken into strips & place in a ziplock bag.  Add the remaining ingredients and seal.  Place in the refrigerator overnight.  Cook the chicken on the barbecue until done.  Serve with celery slices and the dressing of your choice.

GGs Date Bars

     My grandma loved dates.  She use to eat them like candy and she cooked with them often.  Here is her recipe for Date Bars.  It is a cross between a cookie and brownie.

    She had the best sayings.  Here is one for today:  "Every day is a good day above ground."

GGs Date Bars:

3/4 c lard
1/2 c brown sugar
1 c sugar
1 egg
3 c flour
1 t baking powder
1 t salt
1/2 t soda
1 c buttermilk
1 c chopped dates
1/4 c chopped walnuts (optional)

Cream sugars, egg and lard together in a large bowl.  Stir in the dry ingredients and buttermilk.  Mix well.  Fold in dates and walnuts.  Pour into a greased 13x9 pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Herbalix

     I found a new to me deodorant called Herbalix nighttime detox cleansing deodorant.  It is formulated to "cleanse away metals, metabolic impurities and other residues that have collected in the body."  I absolutely LOVE it!  I keep it by my nightstand and use it every night before I go to bed.  I have been concerned for a while about the aluminum found in regular deodorant.  I have tried every organic deodorant that I could find but they have always made me stink and that kind of defeats the purpose of using deodorant.  With this Herbalix deodorant I do not stink.  Hallelujah!!!  If you want to check it out, their web address is:  www.herbalix.com  Just so you know, I do not sell this deodorant or get any profit from sales.  I am just a happy consumer who wants to get the word out.

Green Smoothie

     I really enjoy drinking smoothies.  This one is super healthy and it tastes great.  I drink it when I feel like I am catching a cold or when I have put too much junk into my body and I want to feel better.

Green Smoothie:

1/2 c almond milk
1/2 c spinach
1/4 c broccoli
1 diced apple
1 T flax seed
1 T chia seeds
1 large scoop chocolate whey protein powder
1 bunch green grapes
1 stalk celery chopped
1 T parsley

Place all of the ingredients in a blender & blend until smooth.  Drink immediately.  Place leftovers in the refrigerator.

Garbage Craft

     My daughter LOVES crafts.  I am not a big fan of them because they are usually messy and there seem to be hundreds of teeny tiny pieces of paper all over the place when all is said and done.  I try to put aside my feelings and let her be creative though.

     One day I walked into her bedroom and noticed lovely decorations hanging all over the ceiling in her room.  I thought for a moment, "Hmmm where did she get the string to hang all of those decorations?"  As I looked a little closer, I realized that the string was actually dental floss.  I ran to the bathroom to check the garbage can and sure enough all of the used dental floss was missing.  It is at this point that I had to set some ground rules for crafts in our house.  There will be no dumpster diving in order to make crafts.  I am a mean mother I know.

Broccoli Breakfast Scramble

     I have been reading The Daniel Plan by Rick Warren.  The thing that I like about this book is the recipes.  They taste good and are easy to change if you don't have ingredients on hand.  This morning, I wanted to make the Breakfast Scramble but I did not have some if the ingredients that the recipe called for so I adjusted it to fit the ingredients that I had on hand.  It turned out really yummy!

Broccoli Breakfast Scramble

1 T butter
1/2 c broccoli (cut into small pieces)
1/4 c diced tomatoes
salt & pepper to taste
2 eggs
1 T milk
1/2 avocado diced

Melt butter in a skillet.  Add broccoli and tomatoes.  Cook until the broccoli softens a bit.  Crack eggs in a bowl.  Add milk, salt & pepper.  Whip with a fork & add to the hot skillet.  Cook until the egg is done.  Take off the heat & add the avocado.  Serve immediately.

Whistle Pig

     I am driving in the country one beautiful sunny morning.  The birds are chasing each other.  The cows are grazing in the field.  The sunrise is so amazing it cannot be described.  Worship music is blaring from my car.  God's glory is all around me.  Life is good!  Just then a cute little whistle pig darts out in the road and I smashed it with my tire.  Just like that his life is over forever.  How sad is that?  I decided at that moment that I had a choice to make.  I could choose to focus on the death of the whistle pig and let it ruin my day or I could choose to focus on the beauty and glory around me.  Life can be like the smashed whistle pig in the middle of the road.  It can catch us off guard at any second.  We can either let those moments bring us down or we can choose to see the beauty that is all around.

Monthly Organizing

     I like to organize.  It makes life so much easier when I need to find things.  (especially tax things)  

     At the beginning of each year, I get twelve manilla folders and write the month and year on them.  Throughout the year, I place anything for that month in the folder that I made.
   
     I also do the same thing for receipts.  I have a small box with monthly labeled dividers that I put all of my receipts in.  This really helps when I need to go back and find something for a warranty or for taxes.
   
     At the end of the year, I get a cardboard box with a lid, label it with the month and year and put all of the manilla folders and receipts in it.

     I hope this will help if you are having trouble organizing.

Grandma's Sweet & Sour Meatballs

     This dish is sweet and savory.  It tastes delicious over white rice.  This is another recipe that my grandma use to make.  I sure do miss her!  

Sweet & Sour Meatballs:

1 T oil

1 c pineapple juice

3 T cornstarch

1 T soy sauce

3 T vinegar

6 T water

1/2 c sugar

4 slices pineapple

18 meatballs

Combine oil & juice in a saucepan.  Cook over low heat.  Add cornstarch, soy sauce, vinegar & water.  Add sugar and mix well.  Cook until the juice thickens.  Add meatballs and sliced pineapple.  Serve over rice.