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Saturday, February 22, 2014

World Thinking Day


Today was a rather rough day for me. It seems that there was so many with emotional breakdowns at work and that is always rough because it always pulls at my heart strings. What did you think about today was you creative? Would love for you to share any links with me that shares what you have been doing lately

Girl scouts around the world participate in World Thinking Day. It is a day that students are promoted to think about other children around the world and daily issues that they all face.

 Today marks the birthday of Robert Baden-Powell and Olave Baden-Powell, the Scouting and Guiding founding leaders and World Chief Guides. Many celebrate this unofficial holiday as simply B. P. Day or just Founders’ Day.

Aloha Chops

 
 
2 tsp.  oil
4 bone in pork chops (1 1/2 lb) or 4 chicken breast boneless (1 lb)
1 red pepper, chopped
1 yellow pepper, chopped
2 cans (8 oz. each) pineapple chunks in juice, undrained               
1/2 c fat free reduced sodium chicken broth
1/4 c catalina dressing
1/2 t garlic powder
1 1/2 c instant white rice, uncooked
 

Heat oil  in large non stick skillet on medium heat. Add meat, cook 5 minutes on each side or til brown on both sides Mix all but rice spoon over chops Boil Stir in rice cover Cook on medium heat 5 minutes or til chops are done Remove from heat stand 5 minutes
 
recipe source KRAFT
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 











 
      
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Lower Cal Stuffed Peppers

STUFFED PEPPERS 150 CALORIES PER HALF
 
while I love yummy recipes like this I don't like heavy foods and can do without all the extra calories.      
 


 Olive Oil
1/2 lb lean ground turkey breast
1 cup chopped onions...
1 heaping tbsp of homemade taco seasoning (or you can use the packaged type if you like)
2 cups of cooked rice (any type you like – I like brown)
3-4 organic bell peppers, halved and seeds removed
1 can of black beans, drained & rinsed
½ cup of organic frozen corn
1 (15 -16 ounce) jar of salsa (my favorite is mango peach)
Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Toppings:
fresh cilantro
sour cream
sliced avocado
 
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Lightly coat the peppers with olive oil and roast in a baking dish about 20-25 minutes just until cooked thru. Remove the peppers from the oven and allow to cool until you can handle them
 
*****Note – make sure you cook your turkey ahead of time that way you do not have to worry about it later. Also, I sauted the onions until cooked thru, I then added in my cooked rice, black beans and corn.
 In a bowl add the taco seasoning, cooked ground turkey, chopped onions, black beans, corn and rice. Add in the jar of salsa and mix well.
 Carefully spoon the turkey mixture into each half of the bell peppers and place back into the baking dish. Cook the peppers for another 15-20 minutes or until the peppers are cooked all the way thru. Before removing from the oven sprinkle the tops of each pepper with shredded cheddar cheese. Place back into the oven just until the cheese has melted.
 Remove from the oven and top with fresh cilantro, avocado slices and/or sour cream just before serving.
recipe source here

Love Comes In ALL Sizes

Love this super cute idea Love comes in all sizes This was shared with me from a great friend and I wanted to share it with you

Condition those legs

Get those legs  ready for those shorts and sandal weather. One great frugal way to do this is to shave your legs. It will work just like shaving cream and cheaper and will leave legs really smooth. Also a great way to use up those conditioner samples you got.

shared at
Frugality Gal

Dessert from the Diner


I absolutely love eating at little diners. One of the best reasons is because of the delicious pies that are served there. Many times the desserts are as big as the eye can see and bigger than my tummy can handle. When I saw this pie recipe from Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls, Texas I knew I had to share it

 Bluebonnet Cafe Coconut Cream Pie...

1 Cup Sugar
3 Tbsp of Butter or Margarine
1/4 Cup Cornstarch
1-1/2 Tsp Vanilla
1/4 Tsp Salt
1 (3-1/2 oz.) Can Flaked Coconut
3 Cups Milk
4 Eggs, Separated
Your favorite pie crust, baked in a 9-inch pan
Your favorite whipped cream

Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Reserve egg whites for a meringue topping or discard.

Combine sugar, cornstarch, salt and milk. Cook mixture over medium to low heat, stirring constantly. After mixture bubbles ups and thickens, cook an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.

Beat egg yolks slightly. Gradually stir 1 cup of hot mixture into yolks, being careful not to scramble the yolks. Return the egg mixture to saucepan; bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat.

Add butter and vanilla; stir until butter is melted. Add the coconut and mix. Pour mixture into a baked 9-inch pie crust. Allow pie mixture to cool.

Top with whipped cream or:

Meringue

4 egg whites, reserved from coconut filling
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 Cup sugar
1/4 tsp cream of tartar
toasted coconut flakes

Beat egg whites (at room temperature) and cream of tartar with an electric mixer at high speed. Beat until foamy. Gradually add sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until stiff peaks form and the sugar is dissolved (2 to 4 minutes).

Beat in vanilla and spread meringue over hot coconut filling, sealing to the edge of the pastry. Sprinkle extra coconut on top of meringue. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes or until browned. Allow pie to cool completely before cutting.

Delicious Morning Treat



Sticky buns are served traditionally at dessert or breakfast. They consist of rolled pieces of dough, brown sugar or cinnamon rolled together to form a flat loaf. Before the dough is placed in pan the pan is lined with "sticky" ingredients like syrup, honey or sometimes both as well with nuts, butter and sugar. When the buns are baked they are turned up right so that  the pan lining then becomes a topping.

Sticky buns have been made since the Middle Ages when cinnamon was first prominent. Sticky buns also have a german background where they were known as schnecken The Dutch brought this type of sticky bun to the U.S.

An easy way to prepare sticky buns:


Sticky Buns

Ingredients:
  • 1 loaf frozen bread
  • Cinnamon sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup butter or margarine
  • 2 Tablespoons white Karo syrup or honey
  • Chopped nuts (optional)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.(Note: This can sit in the refrigerator overnight; just warm for about half an hour before cooking.)Butter 9 x 13 inch pan. Add chopped nuts to syrup, if desired. Cook sugar, butter, and syrup until almost boiling. Pour into pan. Roll out bread into rectangle. Butter well. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll up like jelly roll. Slice 1/4 inch thick. Set into caramel mix. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 20 to 25 minutes.Serves: 12.

Friday, February 21, 2014

My Answers This Week

1. If you could live anywhere, where would you live?
 
If I could live anywhere I would choose the mountains where beauty would surround me.
 
 
2. Sand or Snow
 
I would so much rather take the sand than the snow and while they are both beautiful to look at walk along a beach line will always be more pleasurable to me than a walk in the snow
 
 
 
3. What Winter Olympic sport would you rock at?
 
I am sad to say that I do not skate or ski and can not make anything go straight and scared of anything that goes to fast so the Olympics to me is one to be watched rather than perform so I guess my sport would be one of spectator
 
4. You're cooking a romantic dinner- what is your go-to dish?
 
 
I love romance as much and maybe more than the next guy. I believe that steak, macaroni and cheese and strawberry with whip cream is romance food to me.
 
5. Fill in the blank: This year, I gave the grandbabies each 2 new outfits and lots of sweets for Valentine's Day.
 
shared at The Boys Behind The Blog
 

Bread Recipe Hawaiian

 
 
 
 

I love the sweet taste of Hawaiian bread but the price of popular brands often leaves me wanting a more frugal way to serve this type of sweet bread with my family I think this recipe does justice


6 cups all-purpose flour, plus an additional 1/2 cup flour, divided
3 eggs ...
2 cups pineapple juice, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 (1/4 ounce) envelopes yeast
1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) butter, melted

In a small bowl, beat your 3 eggs. Add the 2 cups pineapple juice, sugar, vanilla, and melted butter.
Measure 3 cups of the flour into a large bowl. Stir in your egg mixture until well-combined. Sprinkle in the yeast packets, one at a time, mixing well
 Add the remaining 3 cups of flour and mix well. If it becomes to difficult to stir with a wooden spoon, just use your hands! Make sure all of the flour is well incorporated—the dough should be tacky to the touch but not overly sticky. If it appears too wet, sprinkle in a bit of extra flour, just a tablespoon or so at a time. Cover your bowl with a clean kitchen towel and set it in a warm place to rise for 1 hour.
Remove your dough from the bowl and knead in an additional ½ cup of flour. I kneaded mine 10 to 15 times, making sure the flour was well incorporated. Form the dough into rolls, and/or loaf. Place in buttered pans. Cover and place in warm place to rise for an additional hour, or until the dough doubles in size.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush tops with melted butter, and serve warm


recipe source: facebook
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weekend retreat

Get Rid of Ants



While it may not a problem yet when the weather starts to warm up so does the problem with insects. Want an easy no poison way to get rid of ants?  Put small piles of cornmeal where you see ants. They eat it, take it 'home,' can't digest it so it kills them. It may take a week or so, especially if it rains, but it works and you don't have the worry about pets or small children being harmed!

The Road To Nowhere


Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Open The Waterflow

 
This beautiful picture is taken in the bluffs of central Illinois near a little place by the name of Hillview I love places like this so very peaceful. As I was looking for a way to share this picture I found this song. I am not sure if it is new to me or not but must say it is peaceful as well
 
 


shared at
Love Bakes Good Cakes

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Hot Pockets Recall


Nestlé USA’s Prepared Foods Division today announced the voluntary recall of HOT POCKETS® brand Philly Steak and Cheese in three different pack sizes and HOT POCKETS® brand Croissant Crust Philly Steak and Cheese, in the two pack box.   The voluntary recall is limited to these two products, which were distributed nationwide. No other batches, sizes, including multi-packs, or varieties of HOT POCKETS® brand products are affected by this recall. The reason is due to the recall announced last week by Rancho Feeding Corporation which affects many companies.  Our teams at Nestlé have reviewed our vendor records and have determined that one Nestlé brand has been impacted by the Rancho meat recall.
While Nestlé did not purchase meat directly from Rancho, our procurement teams worked with our supply chain to understand whether any company in this chain may have purchased meat from Rancho Feeding at any time during 2013, the period of time covered by the Rancho Feeding recall.
From this review, we have confirmed that a small quantity of meat from Rancho was used at Nestlé’s Chatsworth, California production operation, a facility devoted entirely to HOT POCKETS® brand sandwiches.  The affected batches of the two varieties in our range of HOT POCKETS® brand sandwiches are being removed from the marketplace.
Consumers who may have purchased the affected batches of HOT POCKETS® brand Philly Steak and Cheese should not consume the product, but instead should return it to the place of purchase for a full refund or contact Nestlé Consumer Services at (800) 392-4057.
USDA notes that no illnesses have been reported in relation to the Rancho Feeding Recall

Cheesy Taco Soup



Adapted from The Recipe Critic via Pillsbury

 1lb lean ground beef
2 Tablespoons butter
2 Tablespoons flour
2-1/2 cups milk, divided
salt & pepper
1 cup freshly shredded cheddar cheese, plus more for topping
1 package taco seasoning
10oz can Rotel, undrained
15oz can black beans, drained & rinsed
Crushed tortilla chips
Directions: 
  1. Brown ground beef in a large soup pot over medium-high heat, seasoning with salt and pepper, until no longer pink. Drain and return to pot.
  2. Meanwhile, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat then whisk in flour and cook for one minute. Slowly whisk in 1 cup milk, season with salt and pepper, then switch to a wooden spoon and stir mixture until thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Remove from heat then stir in shredded cheese until smooth. Set aside.
  3. Add taco seasoning, rotel, black beans, cheese sauce, and remaining 1-1/2 cups milk into cooked ground beef then stir well to combine. Bring to a heavy simmer then turn heat down to medium and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with crushed tortilla chips and more shredded cheese, if desired.
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Brambelberry Cottage
Seven Alive
Share Your Cup 
domestic superhero
recipe source here

HIstorical Day in lives of Dairy Farmers of America


Today is a special day in the Dairy Farmers of America Today February 18 is

82nd Annieversary of a Cow Milked While Flying In an Airplane
      
Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane on this day in 1931. During the flight she was milked and the milk was sealed in paper containers and parachuted over St. Louis, Missouri.

In 1930 the International Aircraft Exposition was hosted in St. Louis, Missouri. The organizers of the trade show thought it's a good idea to fly in cow to the location. A cow named Nellie Jay was selected because of her sweet disposition and she was led to the airplane with much fanfare. The funny thing is that while the name of the cow can be recalled the type of plane has went with history. The plane ride was 72 mile long and during the ride Nellie Jay continued on her daily routine and produced 24 quarts of milk The milk was put in paper containers, sealed tightly and parachuted down over St. Louis



After the plane ride Nellie Jay became quite  famous and was nicknamed Sky Queen. To many taking a cow in a plane and being milked was similar to science fiction. Nellie Jay will always be remembered and has been portrayed in art and songs such as The Bovine Cantata in B-Flat Major has been wrote about her

“Sing we praises of that moo cow, 
Airborne once and ever more, 
Kindness, courage, butter, cream cheese, 
These fine things we can’t ignore.” 

Monday, February 17, 2014

121 tunison avenue

Wow!!! you may be wondering why this post has such an odd title. Odd yes but not to me. I am not sure why but today I wanted to share with all of you where it is I come from. 121 Tunison avenue is the address of the house I lived in as a child many years ago in a tiny little town called White Hall Illinois

I played  at the park a lot. Back then the world and town were so very different. One summer at this park I learned to skateboard here as well I always imagined the brown stone building was a palace. It was fun to play there. While you can not see it from this picture there were swings and playground equipment there as we. The statue in front was one there to remember a special teacher many years ago who saved the students of a one room school house when a tornado hit.



Many years ago, before my time, this building was where the kids and I reckon adults as well went to the movies. It was a special event for my parents to go into town for such an event when they were teens as they were farm kids. I can remember my mother telling me stories of date nights that her and dad shared.



There was a hotel in the town and the rumor is this is as well how our town got its name. When the stage coach pulled into town they would holler out White Hall because the original hotel was a large white building. It was later replaced with this brick building and many enjoyed a meal, overnight stay as well as hosting club meetings many different times.



I plan to share more about my hometown from time to time

shared at
Sparkle Party

Bathroom Decor


I love the vintage feel and yet live in the modern world so when I can put those two together I think it is awesome. Here is a great idea easy to do and yes serves a purpose as well. What do you think


shared at

create  link and inspire
Whats It Wednesday

MaMade Blog Hop MaMade Blog Hop #3!

Dont Want To See This Upclose


Punch Bow Cake

I was first introduced to this recipe by a co-worker. It was new to me but I soon learned it was oh so good This recipe is easy, delish, and always a hit! I promise!



 1 18.25 oz. package yellow cake mix and all the ingredients that make the cake (or homemade recipe)
1 20 oz. can crushed pineapple, drained (I just drain a little bit)
1 5 oz. package instant vanilla pudding mix (or 3 cups homemade custard)
1 21 oz. can Strawberry Pie Filling or Cherry (or fresh strawberries)
1 16 oz. pkg. frozen whipped topping, thawed (or homemade whipped cream)


Prepare the cake mix as directed by the package directions.
 Bake in a 9x13 inch pan, or two 8 inch round pans. Cool the cake; set aside.
 Prepare the vanilla pudding according to package directions; set aside (if making homemade custard, let it cool completely).
 Crumble the cake in large chunks into the bottom of the punch bowl.
 Spoon the pineapple over the cake, pour the pudding over the pineapple, spoon the strawberry pie filling over the pudding, then top with the whipped topping.
 Place in the refrigerator for 2 hours or overnight. Serve cold.

shared at
craft o maniac
Two Cup Tuesday
 

Mandy's Recipe Box

Spiked Recipe Challenge : Spiked Jello Ribbon Salad


Now I grew up with Jello but mama never made a recipe quite like this But being that the Frugal Foodie Mama is hosting the
 
Like me you have probably heard of Jello shots but why just make simple shots when you can make spiked jello like this


4 1/2  cups water, divided                        
6 packages (3 oz) flavored gelatin dessert mix      
3 envelopes plain gelatin (6 tsp gelatin powder, divided)                                         
3 cups flavored rum or vodka, divded                        
1 1/8 cup vanilla yogurt, divided                        
 
Place the bottle of liquor in the freezer for several hours before beginning recipe.                                  Lightly spray bundt pan or gelatin mold with non stick cooking spray. (I used a 10 cup bundt pan.) Wipe off the excess spray with a paper towel. A slight residue should remain, just enough to help unmold your gelatin, without affecting the taste or appearance. Pour 3/4 cup water into a saucepan and sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the plain gelatin. Allow gelatin to soak for a minute or two. Heat over low heat, stirring constantly, until gelatin is dissolved (about 5 minutes). Wisk in the first package of flavored gelatin. Whisk for at least 2 minutes, or until completely dissolved. (I find the sugar free mix dissolves much faster than the regular!).
Remove from heat. Add 1/2 cup of the cold liquor, and stir to combine.
Pour 3/4 cup of the gelatin mixture into the prepared mold, and place in refrigerator. Allow to set for 20 to 30 minutes, until the gelatin is a little firm, but still sticks when touched. Very important – if the layers set up too much, the next layer won’t bond appropriated.  Refrigerate the remaining gelatin mixture in bowl about 5 minutes or until slightly thickened (consistency of unbeaten egg whites). Gradually stir in 3 tablespoons of yogurt and stir until well blended. This cooling step is also important – the gelatin must be cooled to room temperature before adding on top of other layers, or the layers will not be well defined! Gently spoon the gelatin/yogurt mixture over set gelatin and return to the refrigerator. Refrigerate about 15 minutes or until gelatin is set but not firm (Again, it should stick to finger when touched.) As the layers progress, the setting time will become shorter as the pan and gelatin becomes colder, and the layers become thinner as more layers are added to the mold. Repeat steps with remaining gelatin flavors, for a total of 12 alternating clear and creamy gelatin layers.  After completing all the layers, refrigerate the gelatin overnight. To unmold, fill a larger container or clean sink with warm water (not too hot!). With clean fingers, loosen the gelatin around the edges of the mold cavities. Next, dip the mold almost to the edge into the warm water for just a few seconds (10 seconds worked for me). Dry the bottom of the mold with a towel and check the edges to see if they are loose, if not, repeat the dip for just a few seconds. Place your serving plate on top of the mold and invert. Viola!

recipe source here

100 day of schoo

Today at kindergarten here where we live now they celebrated the 100 day of school with a super awesome way they let the little ones dress up for the special event. What do you think???
Highhill Homeschool

Happy Presidents Day




History of President's Day
Celebrated on the third Monday of February, President’s Day is a United States federal holiday that honors George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and our nation’s presidents. Though the holiday is currently held as a celebration for all Presidents of the United States, this was not its original intent.
In 1880, an Act of Congress deemed George Washington’s birthday, February 22, a federal holiday for government offices in the District of Columbia. In 1885, the holiday was implemented in all federal offices across the United States. This holiday was known as Washington’s Birthday because its purpose was to commemorate the first President of the United States. For decades, Washington’s Birthday was celebrated on the actual day of his birth, until January 1, 1971 when the Uniform Monday Holiday Act took affect, shifting the holiday to every third Monday in February. The purpose of Uniform act was to schedule certain holidays on Mondays, as opposed to sporadic fixed dates throughout the week, in order to allow federal employees to have long weekends during the year. When drafting the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, it was proposed to rename the holiday from Washington’s Birthday to President’s Day to honor both Washington and Abraham Lincoln, as the holiday falls between both of the president’s birthdays. Congress declined changing the name, leaving the holiday’s legal name to be Washington’s Birthday. By the 1980s, President’s Day became the commonly accepted name for the holiday due to a push from advertisers, retailers, and people of the nation, hence the designation that is publicly used to name this patriotic holiday. Throughout the country and in Washington D.C., celebrations, ceremonies, and parades are held to honor George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and the accomplishments of all Presidents of the United States.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

911



When I was a kid it was very important to have several numbers near by the phone. One for the fire, another for police and yet even more for ambulance or poison emergencies. Sometimes knowing what emergency number to call could be confusing. Today it is a lot easier with one simple number 911 to call. Just by calling 911 you can reach an emergency dispatcher who can help you reach fire, police or ambulance.



When to call 911:
The only time 911 should be called is when a person is badly hurt or in danger.
For example:
a car accident, see someone committing a crime, someone is showing signs of heart attack or unable to breathe, if someone passes out, or if there is a traffic accident or there is a fire.

911 should never be called unless there is an emergency The dispatcher on the other end knows where the call is coming from and one can get in trouble for calling as a joke or continuous non emergency calls.

Parents should make sure that children know the rules of 911

Blazing Star Plant


The blazing star plant offers lots of great color and is perfect for border plant or a plant to be surrounded by other smaller plants. This plant is native to the area in America east of the Rocky Mountains. The blazing star does just that and stands proud at one to five feet tall with tall spikes with bright purple flowers.
The blazing star desires full sun but will compromise a bit and live well in part shady area. The plant desires rich, moist soil that drains well. It is best not to grow  in a soggy area as the roots will rot. When planting new plants they should be placed approximately a foot apart Add a layer of mulch around the plant  to help keep weeds down. Fertilizer should be added after the plant goes through the blooming period. Every few years separate the clumps of flowers. Do this by digging them up and separating the eyes with a sharp knife Each piece should have at least one eye. Replant plants

While this  flower is new to me I love the beautiful purple color and would love to have them in my yard. I would use them in corner spaces because of their height I believe they would be beautiful

  shared at
party

Do A Grouch A Favor

Do a Grouch a Favor Day
When : Always February 16th             As we have just celebrated random act of kindness week we may have found inividuals not so happy and at times can be considered a grouch.
  Today is the day to do something nice for them you never know it may just bring a smile to their face.            

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much ado about monday

Create A Snowman


This is a very cool activity that can be done inside while the frigid temps and snow are here simply take time and decorate the snowan insie where you are warm Visit here and get the how tos