ME AND MY TADPOLE

Thursday Photo Challenge ~ Pink

2012-03-08T07:38:00.000-08:00

Another beauty from my best friend's garden. Moss rose.

I linked up with Spun with Tears for their Thursday Challenge ~ Pink.

The stomach flu has hit our house, hard. At least for poor Spencer. Can I just say how much that really sucks?

Slow Cooker Cube Steak with Gravy

2012-03-07T06:02:00.000-08:00

recipe from thecountrycook.net

I was a little leery to try this recipe. It looked much too easy and cube steak is well, cube steak. I am so glad I did try it. So easy to throw together on a busy weeknight and absolutely delicious. The tenderness and texture of the steak along with the thick hearty gravy is a perfect combo.

I paired this with mashed potatoes but it would be great with pasta too.

Ingredients:

1 - 1/2 lbs. cube steak

1 pkg. brown gravy mix

1 pkg. Aus Jus mix

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can french onion soup

In a medium bowl, combine soups and package mixes well. Put cube steak in slow cooker and pour mixture over the top.

Cover and cook on low for 6 to 8 hours. Serve with potatoes or pasta.

Photoblog Challenge: Vignetting

2012-03-06T05:59:00.000-08:00

Prairie Coreopsis

Good morning! I love this shot. See the little guy trying to be inconspicuous back there?

I linked up with Photoblog Challenges and their theme: Vignetting

Have a great day, my friends!

Cookies 'n' Cream Layer Cake

2012-03-05T05:37:00.000-08:00

I have so many recipes backlogged for this blog. I made this cake for John on his birthday. Way back in early January! I was so excited to drop it off at work for him that I didn't make it as "pretty" as I wanted to but nothing says , "I Love You" like a homemade birthday cake. He loves Oreos and I love layered cakes.

He was kind enough to save me a slice for a photo too!

Cake layers:
1 box white cake mix
1 - 1/4 cups water
1/3 cup cooking oil
3 egg whites
1 cup coarsely crushed Oreo cookies with white filling

Prepare cake mix according to box directions; using the water oil and egg whites. Fold in crushed Oreos.

Pour into 2 greased and floured 9 x 1 - 1/2 round cake pans. Bake in 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes in pans on wire racks, then remove from pans and cool completely.

Creamy White Frosting:
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup shortening
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups powdered sugar
2 shakes of salt
2 TBLS. milk
2 oz. semi - sweet chocolate
1 tsp. shortening

Add butter, shortening, vanilla and salt to your mixing bowl. Cream. Add powdered sugar one cup at a time and salt and blend well. Add milk to thin if necessary. Beat until fluffy.

Frost each cake layer completely (besides the bottom layers). Tops and sides. Stack and smooth the sides to look like one cake.

In a saucepan, melt semi-sweet chocolate and shortening over low heat. Drizzle chocolate over top edge of the cake. Garnish with additional Oreos.

Bacon Crumble Egg Bake

2012-03-02T05:40:00.001-08:00

I have mentioned before that John and I are not big breakfast people. At least breakfast in the morning people. A couple of times a month, we have breakfast for dinner. I threw together some of our favorite breakfast foods all in one for this bake. Tater tots, eggs, bacon and cheese. Yum! The peppers and onion add some great flavor without spicing it up too much so that Spencer could enjoy it too.

Easy to reheat any leftovers also!

Ingredients:

3/4 bag of tater tots

salt and pepper to taste

1 small onion, diced

1/2 red bell pepper, diced

1/2 green bell pepper, diced

1 lb. bacon, crumbled

8 large eggs

2 cups milk

3 cups colby jack cheese, shredded

Add frozen tater tots to a 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Spice with salt and pepper. Bake in preheated 400 degree oven until tater tots are golden brown. Remove from oven and set aside.

Lower oven temp to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, add eggs, milk and cheese. Mix well and set aside.

In a frying pan, fry bacon until crisp, then cool slightly and crumble. Discard all bacon grease except 1 TBLS.

Saute diced onions and peppers in the bacon grease (using the same pan as you just fried the bacon in) until soft. Layer onion and pepper mixture on top of the cooled tater tots. Layer bacon crumbles next.

Pour the egg/cheese mixture over the bacon. Cover with aluminum foil and bake in preheated oven for about 45 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 30 minutes.

Serve warm with biscuits or toast.

Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread

2012-03-01T05:25:00.001-08:00

Not that long ago I posted this recipe for homemade garlic bread with the secret ingredient, honey. I loved this recipe, but John did not so I tried another version. Again, I thought these very good, but John, not so much. So I will share it with you but will be trying to find that right combo that both of us like. If you have a tried and true recipe, please share!

Ingredients:
1 loaf Italian bread
4 TBLS. butter, softened
1/2 TBLS. minced garlic
1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella
oregano

Slice loaf of bread in half, lengthwise. Mix garlic into softened butter. Spread evenly on both open faced sides of bread. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, then mozzarella and oregano.

Bake at 350 degrees for about 10 ten minutes. Turn oven to broil and broil just until cheese begins to brown.

Cool slightly, slice and enjoy!

Photo Challenge, Starts with "L"

2012-02-28T06:18:00.001-08:00

Good morning, friends!

Not feeling very "wordy" today. So I will leave you with this darkly edited (which for some reason I am loving) photo I entered in the Photoblog Challenge, Starts with "L". Make sure and stop by their blog. Some amazingly talented photographers!

Have a great day!

Parmesan Roasted Potatoes

2012-02-27T05:44:00.001-08:00

Potatoes and cheese...yes please! These potatoes are light and tasty. A great side for almost any meal. If you can't find Dutch yellow potatoes at your local grocer, any potatoes will do. Just adjust your roasting time more or less, depending on the type you choose. Test with a fork about 1/2 way through the cooking time to help prevent them from becoming over cooked.

Ingredients:
8 - 10 baby Dutch yellow potatoes
5 - 6 tsp. grated Parmesan cheese
1 TBLS. olive oil
garlic powder, to taste
sea salt and black pepper, to taste
fresh chopped parsley (garnish)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 9 x 13 inch baking dish with non stick spray. Set aside.

Boil potatoes for 5 - 6 minutes, drain and cool.

Once cooled, slice into fourths and combine with Parmesan cheese, olive oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Mix well and place in prepared baking dish.

Roast in oven for 30 - 35 minutes, testing for tenderness with a fork. Re-season with spices if needed. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Delish!

Slow Cooker Cajun Pork Loin

2012-02-24T05:59:00.000-08:00

I thought I would try something new other than the traditional pork loin I normally make a couple times a month in the crock pot. All three of us love how tender and juicy a tenderloin in the crock pot can be. This recipe also produces some really tasty juices to make a light gravy with and the pork practically melts in your mouth. Serve with your favorite potatoes and be ready for seconds!

Ingredients:

1 small onion

1 small green pepper

3 TBLS. butter

3 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp. dried thyme

1 tsp. paprika

1/2 each salt, white pepper and pepper

1/2 tsp. ground mustard

1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce

1 boneless pork loin roast (about 4 lbs)

2 tsp. cornstarch

2 tsp. cold water

Finely chop vegetables and saute in a large skillet with the butter until tender. Add garlic and cook 1 minute longer. Stir in all seasonings and hot pepper sauce.

Cut roast in half. Cut several slits in roast within 1/2 inch from the bottom. Place in slow cooker. Spoon vegetable mixture into the slits and over the top of the roast. Cover and cook on low 6 - 8 hours.

Transfer roast to a serving platter and cover to keep warm. Pour cooking juices from slow cooker into a small saucepan. Combine cornstarch and water in a separate bowl until smooth and then stir into the pan of juices. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Serve over the roast.

Thursday Photo Challenge ~ Two

2012-02-23T05:52:00.000-08:00

You know what a camera is? A mirror with memory.

~Anonymous~

I linked up with Spun with Tears.

Taco Roll-Ups

2012-02-22T05:46:00.001-08:00

Good morning! It seems as my successes in cooking and baking add up, so does my list of "I want/need to try that". In fact, I tried four new recipes yesterday and they all were definite keepers. Not only is my family eating better, but I am having so much fun too!

These roll-ups lasted about 5 minutes. If you like tacos, this is a neat way to add a twist (literally) to your menu.

Ingredients:

1 lb. ground beef

1 envelope taco seasoning

2/3 cup water

1 lb. frozen bread dough, thawed

2 cups grated medium cheddar cheese

Brown ground beef. Drain. Add taco seasoning and water. Simmer for 5 - 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Roll thawed dough into a long rectangle, about 20 x 8 inches.

Spread ground beef over dough, leaving about 1 inch of dough on each long side free of filling. Top with grated cheese. Roll up as for cinnamon rolls, starting with the long edge closest to you. Pinch seam to seal.

Slice the roll into 1 inch thick slices with a serrated knife. Place rolls 2 inches apart onto a cookie sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray.

If any filling falls out, just press it into the top of the rolls. Bake at 350 degrees for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve warm with salsa or sour cream for dipping. Yum!

Beef and Broccoli ~ Dust Off Those Woks

2012-02-21T06:10:00.000-08:00

I have not cooked using a wok before this recipe. At least not that I can remember. I had my brand new wok collecting dust in the corner, meaning to try it but not quite getting around to it (for like two years!). I can't imagine why not because not only are the creations sooo good but it's also a lot of fun! I loved using mine and hope to share many more wok recipes with you in the future. NOTE: in my excitement, I saved the wrong photos from my sd card and am only left with this horrible one. Don't let it stop you from trying this recipe though, it is amazing.

Marinade:
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. sugar
1 TBLS. cornstarch
1 TBLS. low sodium soy sauce
1 TBLS. water
2 TBLS. olive oil
1.5 lbs. steak of your choice, sliced into thin strips

Whisk together baking soda, sugar, cornstarch, soy sauce, water and olive oil in a large bowl. Toss the steak in the marinade to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least one hour.

Then gather these ingredients:

1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
2 TBLS. brown sugar
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 TBLS. flour
3 TBLS. olive oil
2 heads of broccoli, crowns only

In a small bowl, stir together soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic and flour until smooth. Set aside.

Heat 2 TBLS. of the oil in a large wok over high heat until simmering. Add broccoli and saute 3 minutes, stirring constantly. Transfer broccoli to a plate.

Carefully add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the wok. Add the marinated steak and half of the sauce mixture. Saute for 3 - 4 minutes, stirring often, until the meat is cooked through and no longer pink. Stir in the broccoli and the remaining sauce. Saute 1 minute more. Serve over rice.

*make sure and use LOW sodium soy sauce or this will be much too salty.

Chili Cheese Hash Brown Bake

2012-02-20T05:39:00.000-08:00

Another hearty, delicious recipe I recently added to my weeknight easy menu. Not only is so simple to put together after a long day, but you can spice this up or down as much as you want. I wanted to keep this family friendly so Spencer could enjoy it to.

To kick it up a notch, just add some cayenne pepper or replace the chili beans with hot ones.

Ingredients:
1-1/2 lbs. lean ground beef
1 (15.5 oz) can original sloppy joe sauce
1 (15 oz.) can chili with beans
1/2 bag (30 oz.) frozen country-style shredded hash browns (about 4 cups)
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded medium cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Brown beef in a large skillet. Break it apart well until crumbles. Stir in sloppy joe mix and chili.

Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9 x 13 inch baking dish. Top with frozen hash browns.

Bake uncovered for about 30 minutes, uncover and bake 10 minutes more or until edges are brown and crisp. Sprinkle with cheese and bake 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

Biscuits or bread-sticks are a great side too!

Make Your Own Restaurant Style Garlic Bread

2012-02-17T05:48:00.000-08:00

Good morning, friends!

A recipe I am always experimenting with is garlic bread/garlic sticks. One, I am a starch nut and two, all three of us love our garlic and bread. Often times when I am at a restaurant, while I am savoring all the good flavors, I am also trying to figure out what ingredients they have used. All it takes is an extra ingredient, or two, to really make some breads mouth watering. You know what I mean, right? Right.

Some garlic breads are sweeter than others and I think I have found out why. Honey. Simple as that. Adding a little honey gives your bread just enough sweetness to compliment both the garlic and the cheese. Don't knock it until you try it!

Here is a quick, easy recipe if you want to give it a try.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup margarine, softened

1 tsp. fresh minced garlic

1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

1 prepackaged pizza crust

1 tsp. honey

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine butter and garlic. Spread over pre-made crust. Top with mozzarella cheese. Drizzle with honey.

Bake 10 -15 minutes, or until cheese is golden brown and melted. Slice and enjoy!

Photo Challenge ~ Love

2012-02-16T05:39:00.000-08:00

My sweet Spencer wearing his Valentine headband he made in school. The two upside down hearts in the middle, yep, that's my boy!

I linked up with Spun With Tears, Thursday Photo Challenge: Love.

Slow Cooker Meatballs ~ Appetizers

2012-02-15T05:47:00.000-08:00

I love trying new appetizer recipes. Who am I kidding, I love trying any new recipe. Even better if I can use my slow cooker! A couple of weeks ago when I went to clean mine out, I realized it had a huge crack down one side. I seriously felt like crying. Sure it is just a slow cooker but I had had it since I moved out of my mom's house when I was 18. It had brought many great meals to my table and traveled with me during my many moves. I was sad to see it go, really.

John bought me a shiny new black one I have yet to try out. Can't wait though!

This meatball recipe requires a little more effort than my past meatball recipes. More prep time and ingredients. While they are meant to be appetizers, with the thick, hearty sauce they produce while cooking, they can also be used over potatoes or pasta. Might also work in small buns as sliders.

Meatballs:

3 lbs. lean ground beef

4 cloves garlic, minced or pressed

1/2 cups seasoned bread crumbs

1 1/2 cups tomato juice

2 small onions, minced

4 tsp. salt

4 tsp. prepared horseradish

pepper, to taste

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Combine all ingredients and shape into 1" balls. Place in deep baking dish and brown in oven for 10 minutes. Remove and drain.

Sauce:

1/4 cup butter

2 Tbls. lemon juice

2 small onions, chopped

1/4 cup ketchup

1/2 cup flour

2 tsp. salt

3 cups beef broth

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup red cooking wine

pepper, to taste

In a large skillet, melt butter. Add onions and saute until golden brown. Blend in flour. Add broth, stirring until smooth. Stir in remaining ingredients and simmer over low heat for 15 minutes. Add meatballs. Simmer about 5 minutes more.

Pour into slow cooker. Heat on low. Use toothpicks to serve.

Photoblog Challenge ~ Romantic

2012-02-14T05:41:00.000-08:00

Happy Valentine's Day!

I linked up with Photoblog Challenges. Make sure and stop by to see all the entries in their Romantic Challenge. Some very talented photographers!

Pepperoni Crescent Roll Calzones

2012-02-13T05:38:00.000-08:00

recipe from themenumom.com

We have come to love crescent roll recipes in this house. Since we are already pizza lovers, these pockets of pepperoni and cheese were a nice change to our menu.

Easy to make, you can serve these for lunch or dinner with a side dish or alone as a snack or appetizer. Either way, you can't go wrong!

Ingredients:

1 can refrigerated crescent rolls

pepperoni slices

shredded mozzarella cheese

1/4 cup pizza sauce, plus more for dipping

garlic powder

dried oregano

dried basil

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease or spray cookie sheet.

Unroll dough on cookie sheet and separate into 4 rectangles. Press each into a 7 x 4 inch rectangle, firmly pressing perforations to seal. Spread 1 TBLS. sauce on each triangle. Place 4 pepperoni slices on top of each sauced triangle. Sprinkle 2 TBLS. cheese over each triangle.

Fold dough over filling; firmly pressing edges with a fork to seal. Sprinkle the top of each calzone with garlic powder, dried oregano and dried basil.

Bake 15 - 20 minutes or until deep golden brown. Remove immediately from cookie sheet. Serve warm.

Little pockets of goodness!

Photo Friday ~ Handsome Pug

2012-02-10T07:25:00.000-08:00

Dexter ~ a.k.a., Al Pugcino~

One of the rare moments that Dexter is sitting still.

I linked up with Photo Friday's challenge, Handsome.

Thursday Photo Challenge ~ Red

2012-02-09T05:41:00.000-08:00

Just living is not enough... one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.
~Hans Christian Anderson ~

I linked up with Spun with Tears.

Easy Skillet Potatoes and Kielbasa

2012-02-08T05:57:00.000-08:00

I will start this recipe off with a disclaimer. There are sure to be healthier and more varied versions of this recipe. This is my version and how we like it. We like margarine, like in major amounts. I use butter in my baking but always use margarine in my cooking. This is a basic, full of flavor, weeknight easy recipe for us. Stick to your gut food and boy is it good!

Ingredients:

3 lbs. russet potatoes

1 ring of kielbasa

1 1/2 - 2 sticks margarine

Lawry's seasoning salt

onion salt

garlic salt

salt and pepper to taste

Spray large skillet with non stick spray or olive oil. Peel potatoes and cut into 1/4 inch disks. Place potatoes in skillet and top with 1 stick of margarine, cut into smaller squares. Sprinkle entire top with Lawry's. Using lesser amounts, sprinkle with onion and garlic salt. Without stirring, cover and heat on med - low heat for a minimum of 20 minutes.

After about 20 minutes, remove cover and stir gently. Cut kielbasa into 1/4 inch circles and add to skillet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to your liking.

Cover and heat another 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. As potatoes become more tender, make sure to stir as gently as possible to keep them from breaking up.

Test potatoes with a fork for tenderness and also add additional seasoning if needed. At this point, I may also add some more margarine slices if I feel it needs them. I usually do!

Serve immediately and be ready for the second helping requests.

*note: I use yellow potatoes (not gold) whenever I can find them at my local grocer. When I do, I add less seasonings as the yellow potatoes have their own amazing flavor. I also cut down the cooking time by 5-10 minutes per step. Yellow potatoes are less dense and will turn mushy if cooked too long.

Have You Hugged Your Beardie Today?

2012-02-07T05:58:00.000-08:00

My beautiful bearded dragon, Sun (any Lost fans out there?).

I really do love most animals, with the exception of spiders and cats. If I didn't have John to reign me in with his common sense, who knows how many critters I might have. They are more than just pets, they become part of the family when they come to my house. Silly as it sounds, they become my friends too.

John got me Sun as a Christmas gift over 3 years ago. While I have always admired bearded dragons, I have not thought of actually bringing one home. I mean they look kind of scary or at the very least, grumpy. They can be, well, intimidating to say the least.

Sun is one of the neatest, gentlest sweeties I have ever known. If you are not familiar with beardies, they can be amazing pets. They really don't do much of anything. Contrary to their looks, they are so very sweet and yes, cuddly. She likes to bask in her sun lights all day, eat, sleep and be lazy. When she is happy, she turns the beautiful shades of orange you see above. She also loves to be petted and sleep on my lap. Oh, and my annoying baby talk I can't seem to stop using makes her the happiest of all! She has really become a great companion to me. I love her very much and she seems to love me back.

Beardies are great with kids too. Who would have known by looking at that face?

If you are interested, I would be glad to pass on any knowledge I have gained about bearded dragons. If you are looking for a great pet for yourself or the family, you really should look into these beauties.

I linked up with Photoblog Challenges theme: Orange.

Red Velvet Krispies

2012-02-06T05:41:00.000-08:00

recipe from passthesushi.com

Like red velvet, chocolate and rice krispies? Yeah, me too! Usually when a dessert looks this great, a lot of work is involved. Not so with this recipe. So pretty and super easy to make a batch. The bright red coloration makes them perfect for Valentine's Day but really, these krispies are sure to be a hit with any occasion. Kid friendly too!

You could also use cookie cutters to make shapes (after they have cooled). Another way to get the kids involved in the kitchen.

Make sure to grab one of these for yourself as they won't last long!

Ingredients:

3 Tbls. butter

1 (10.5 oz) bag mini marshmallows

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3/4 cup red velvet cake mix

6 cups cocoa Rice Krispies cereal

4 oz. white chocolate chips, melted

Line a 9 x 13" pan with wax or parchment paper; coat well with cooking spray and set aside.

In a large saucepan, melt the butter over low heat. Add marshmallows, cake mix and vanilla, stirring frequently until melted and smooth. Fold in the cereal until well combined and coated.

Transfer the sticky cereal mixture to the prepared pan, pressing down until the top is level. Drizzle white chocolate over the top.

I wanted to make the photos for this with a Valentine's theme but was called in to work for a few hours. I brought a plateful along. Even short-staffed they only lasted minutes. Yeah!

You're Only As Tall as Your Heart will Let You Be ~ Photo Friday

2012-02-03T05:43:00.000-08:00

You're only as tall as your heart will let you be and you're only as small as the world will make you seem.

Have a wonderful weekend, my friends!

I linked up with Photo Friday.

Thursday Photo Challenge ~ One

2012-02-02T06:01:00.000-08:00

“Words and feathers are easily scattered, but not easily gathered up”

I linked up with Spun with Tears.

Have a great day, everyone!

Mini Raspberry Heart Cakes

2012-02-01T05:44:00.000-08:00

recipe from opensourcefood.com

Mmmmm...raspberry. One of my favorite flavors ever. Have you ever had raspberry syrup on your pancakes? If so, the filling for these is very close to that, if not better.

Not only are these so easy and fun to make, but they are so cute. Perfect for any Valentine in your life.

I think you could make many variations of this with different fruits, shapes and toppings. I plan on trying some down the road to hopefully share with you. I just thought these perfect for Valentine's Day. If you try any, please make sure and let me know!

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix

1 cup raspberry jam

2 Tbls. water

2 pkg. fresh raspberries

1 oz. white chocolate

Bake cake according to package instructions. Cool completely.

Using a large heart shaped cookie cutter, cut cake into heart shapes. Split each heart horizontally into 2 layers of equal thickness.

Boil raspberry jam with water until thickened and brush onto top of each heart. Brush the darker, smoother side of the cut cake.

Stack two hearts together, forming a heart sandwich with the filling in the center.

Arrange raspberries on top. Brush the raspberries with more jam.

Drizzle melted white chocolate over tops.

The kids might want to help too!

*I used a 4" heart cookie cutter and made 5 mini cakes.

Valentine Cowgirl Cookies

2012-01-30T05:41:00.000-08:00

recipe from buddingbaketress.blogspot.com

I am not much of a cookie person. When searching for some Valentine's Day recipe ideas, I came across this recipe for Cowgirl Cookies. The name is really what got me first. They just sound interesting. Upon further reading, I found out these are really Cow"boy" cookies but with red, white and pink M&Ms, so the baker changed the name. Not only do I think they look great for a Valentine's Day snack, they are so very yummy too. Needless to say, they didn't last very long.

Ingredients:

1-1/3 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup cooking oats

3/4 cup Valentine M&Ms

3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1 slightly beaten egg

1/2 cup butter, melted slightly in the microwave

1 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Stir the first 10 ingredients in a large bowl. Mix the egg, melted butter and vanilla into the dry ingredients; using the back of large spoon to work it all together. You may need to use your hands to get everything incorporated.

Roll the cookie dough into 1-1/2" balls. Place on greased or parchment covered baking sheet. Bake for about 10 minutes.

Makes 26-30 cookies.

Photo Friday ~ Greenery

2012-01-27T06:25:00.000-08:00

Do you see my little friend there? I could take photos of frogs/toads all day long. I am really itching for spring to get here so I can see some green again and all the new life that comes with it. Hurry!

Hope you all have a wonderful Friday.

I linked up with Photo Friday and it's Greenery theme for the week.

Thursday Challenge ~ New

2012-01-26T05:47:00.000-08:00

I have always been delighted at the prospect of a new day, a fresh try, one more start, with perhaps a bit of magic waiting somewhere behind the morning.

John Boyton Priestly

Yet another photo from my best friend's flower garden. It is full of beauty and life, just like her.

I linked up with Thursday Challenge with this week's challenge being New.

Dreaming the Dreams of Children

2012-01-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing.
Camille Pissarro

I want to curl up on the soft green banks, listening to the river gently flowing by me. Dreaming the dreams of children, if only for a little while.

I linked up with Lensday.

Valentine S'mores Bites

2012-01-24T05:52:00.000-08:00

I love Valentine's Day! I don't care that's it's completely over the top commercialized or have the hang up that we shouldn't need a special day to show someone we love them. It's so much fun despite and because of all those things. I am a total romantic at heart. Combine that with all the hearts, pink and red and I am right in the middle enjoying the allure the day can bring.

Before I blog this recipe, let me add a few things I did so I don't confuse you. Much. I originally intended to make these with heart marshmallows and couldn't find them anywhere. Of course they are in every store NOW. These would be so much cuter with them! So either use a heart shaped cookie cutter and heart shaped marshmallows or a round cookie cutter with standard shaped marshmallows. OR be a dork like me and use a heart shaped cutter and standard marshmallows. You pick.

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup melted butter

dipping chocolate

heart shaped marshmallows (I used strawberry flavored regular)

sprinkles (I used heart shapes)

Mix melted butter and graham cracker crumbs together. Spread evenly into a foil lined 9 x 13 inch pan. Press down firmly, as firmly as you can using a spatula. This is important or when cutting the shapes, the base will break into pieces. Place in freezer for an hour. Remove the foil from the pan and use a mini cookie cutter to cut into shapes.

Dip the very bottom of the marshmallows into the dipping chocolate and place them on the top of your cut out graham cracker shapes.

Wait for them to cool. Then dip the whole thing back in the dipping chocolate. Place on wax paper and top with sprinkles.

Macro Monday ~ What is Art?

2012-01-23T05:47:00.000-08:00

Do not concern yourself with the questions, "What is art?" or "Who is an artist?" Everything is art. If what you see and do comes from your heart, you are an artist. - Anonymous

Good morning, friends! I hope everyone had a great weekend; how fast they seem to go!

I chose this quote today because I think it, in a way, reflects how I personally see myself. Take this shot. A pink clover flower about the size of a thumbnail. They pepper the fields here in Wisconsin and probably aren't anything but a spot of color underfoot to many. Yet I am quite fascinated at the detail and color of something so common and tiny.

Sometimes...it's the little things.

I lined up with Lisa's Chaos for Macro Monday.

Slow Baked Macaroni & Cheese ~ Crockpot Recipe

2012-01-20T06:00:00.000-08:00

recipe from whiskandaprayer.blogspot.com

Cheese, noodles, cheese and a crockpot. Did I mention cheese? This is another fantastic Pinterest find for our family. I love everything about it, including the part about serving my family a hearty home-cooked meal. Using my crockpot, pasta, cheese and staying away from boxed, processed foods. We were made for each other. Happy to say that this was added to our "favorites" list for meals. Perfect texture and flavor!

Ingredients:

1-1/2 cups milk

12 oz. evaporated milk

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled to room temperature

3 large eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

3 cups (12 oz) cheddar cheese (medium cheddar makes this so smooth, sharp cheddar adds a great "bite")

1/2 lb. elbow macaroni, par cooked & drained (this means cook them for about 5 minutes until tender but not fully cooked)

ground pepper, to taste

1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese

bread crumbs

olive oil

Spray the inside of your slow cooker with cooking spray. Combine milk, evaporated milk, eggs, butter and salt in slow cooker and whisk until smooth.

Add the shredded cheese (not the Parmesan) and macaroni. Sprinkle with black pepper. Stir gently with a spatula to coat evenly.

Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese on top. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to low and continue to cook for at least 2 more hours. Until custard is set in the middle and pasta is tender.

Can be kept on low for 30 minutes before serving.

Optional: Before serving, saute some bread crumbs with olive oil and sprinkle over the top.

And Then There Were Five ~ Meet Remington

2012-01-19T06:02:00.000-08:00

It's no secret that I am a dog lover. Some of my best friends in life have been dogs. To me, a dog is not just a pet, they are a part of my family, a companion and a loyal friend. My very first puppy as a young adult, a Rottweiler named Thor, has long since gone to doggy heaven, yet I still think of him fondly and miss him often.

In mid December, I walked into work and saw this face, this sweet adorable face. I don't know if it was the beautiful big brown eyes, the oversized floppy ears or the massive amount of "polka dots" that got me. I still don't know but what I do know is that I was smitten immediately. A local shelter had set up for the day with loads of puppies and kitties. A pen of the cutest Australian Shepherd puppies had the place already filled with admirers but I saw none of them, just this boy...

"Zach" is a 7 month old Coonhound. He was much larger than the other dogs and wasn't getting much attention. Isn't it funny how we all have our preferences and ideals so different from one another?

I walked past him into work and as the morning went on, I visited him and asked questions wondering what the heck I was thinking? I called John, sent him pictures from my phone, dragged my co-workers out to meet him and asked the shelter what I needed to do to take him home. I could barely concentrate! Then they told me that Zach had others interested in adopting him. Was I serious about him, did I want to start the paperwork (they could obviously see how taken I was with him)? After some minor begging, John gave in and said if I really wanted him, we could bring him home. But. He was my dog.

So, meet Remington. We renamed him and call him Remy. He is so sweet and so very naughty. The naughtiest dog I have ever known. He is young though and is learning quickly and I adore him so much. He is wonderful with Spencer and Dexter and him play and fight over food.

I am not only happy to have a new friend, but also feel wonderful adopting him. I couldn't imagine him one more night in that shelter with no forever home. He needed a family, our family.

So, say hello to my polka dotted puppy, who is eating all of my house and thinks he is a lap dog. He fits right in with our crazy life!

I linked up with Spun with Tears photo challenge "Toys".

Ham & Egg Breakfast Burritos

2012-01-18T05:49:00.000-08:00

Good morning, friends! This is such an easy, filling recipe. I have mentioned before that we rarely do breakfast here (except Spencer) but often have breakfast foods for dinner. Here is another meal that can be made at any time of the day and is great for the busy weeknights too when you want a homecooked meal but are running short on time.

You can easily mix this up with your own add on spices or ingredients too!

Ingredients:
6 large eggs
1/4 cup chopped onion
2 Tbls. milk
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 Tbls. olive oil
1 cup (4 oz.) shredded cheddar cheese
3/4 cup diced fully cooked ham
4 (8 inch) flour tortillas, warmed

In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, salt and pepper.

In a large skillet, heat oil. Add egg mixture and onions. Cook and stir over medium heat until eggs are completely set. Stir in ham and cheese. Warm ingredients.

Spoon egg mixture evenly divided between the 4 tortillas. Roll up and serve warm immediately.

I put extra shredded cheese on top and microwaved it for a few seconds to melt.

Homemade Garlic French Fries

2012-01-17T06:12:00.000-08:00

I have a serious weakness for starches, particularly any type of potatoes. I can easily forgo the rest of the meal and just eat mashed potatoes or french fries. I don't, but the temptation is always there.

These homemade fries were great! Nothing like a fresh steaming plateful right out of your own oven. Slightly crunchy on the outside with a soft center. With a side of ranch dressing...major goodness.

Ingredients:

6 gloves garlic, minced or pressed

5 Tbls. olive oil

4 Russet potatoes, each cut into 10 - 12 wedges (I used my Pampered Chef crinkle cutter)

3 Tbls. cornstarch

1 tsp. coarse salt

1-1/2 tsp. ground pepper

1/4 tsp. cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Combine olive oil and garlic in a large bowl, stirring until well blended. Sifting out the garlic as much as you can (leaving it in the bowl), transfer oil to a baking sheet. Coat sheet evenly with the oil.

Add cut potatoes to the garlic left in the bowl. Toss potatoes to coat with the garlic. Plastic wrap the bowl and microwave 5 -7 minutes or until the potatoes are translucent around the edges. Shake the bowl to mix up the potatoes about halfway through microwaving.

Combine the cornstarch, salt, pepper and cayenne pepper in a small bowl. Pour over the hot potatoes and mix (toss) well, coating the potatoes as evenly as possibly. Try not to stir them as the fries will break apart.

Arrange the potatoes in a single layer on oil prepared baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and slightly crispy on the edges, around 35- 40 minutes. Turn at least once during cooking.

Serve hot with your favorite dipping sauce. YUM!

Macro Monday ~ Be Original

2012-01-16T06:08:00.000-08:00

It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation. ~Herman Melville

Mr. Herman Melville, best known for being the author of Moby Dick, is also the author of the quote above, one of my favorite quotes of all time.

Be yourself. Not everyone will love you, maybe not even like you, but those who do will be the ones that matter.

I linked up with Lisa's Chaos for Macro Monday.

Another Weekend Is Upon Us

2012-01-13T05:58:00.000-08:00

Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth.

Buddha

Wishing all my friends a great weekend!

I linked up with Skywatch Friday and Photo Friday.

Make Your Own Girl Scout Cookies ~ Samoas Bars

2012-01-12T05:59:00.000-08:00

recipe from bakingbites.com

When I first saw this recipe floating around Pinterest, I ignored it. First off, I believe in supporting the Girl Scouts and second, I hadn't had much luck with copycat recipes up until this point. They usually require a lot of prep time and rarely taste close to the original. However, after seeing so many say they were amazing on top of the fact that for the last few years, Girl Scout cookies starting taking on that whole processed flavor so many foods have these days, I thought "Why not?".

Conclusion, I am so glad I did! These are, in my humble opinion, much better than the original. Same texture, better flavor and I can make them whenever I want. Plus, these are bars. So you get the same concept without having to decorate each individual cookie. You decorate (top) the pan of bars and cut them to cookie size. If you can get over the fact that they are squares instead of circles, which I definitely can...

Cookie Base:

1/2 cup sugar

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 large egg

1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 tsp. salt

First, make the crust. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 9 x 13 inch pan. In a large bowl, cream together sugar and butter, until fluffy. Beat in egg and vanilla. Working at a low speed, gradually beat in flour and salt until mixture is crumbly, like wet sand. The dough does not need to come together. Pour crumbly dough into prepared pan and press into an even layer.

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, until base is set and edges are lightly browned. Cool completely on wire rack before topping.

Topping:

2 cups shredded coconut (sweetened or unsweetened)

12 oz. good quality chewy caramels

1/4 tsp. salt

3 Tbls. milk

10 oz. dark or semi sweet chocolate (chocolate chips are ok)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Spread coconut evenly on parchment lined baking sheet and toast 20 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes, until coconut is golden brown. Cool on baking sheet, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

Unwrap the caramels and place in large microwavable safe bowl with milk and salt. Cook on high 3-4 minutes, stopping to stir a few times to help the caramel melt. When smooth, fold in toasted coconut with spatula. Put dollops of topping all over the shortbread base. Using a spatula, spread the topping into an even layer. Let topping set until cooled.

When cooled, cut into 30 bars with a large knife or pizza cutter. Once bars are cut, melt chocolate in a small bowl. Heat in the microwave at 45 second intervals, stirring thoroughly to prevent scorching. Dip the base of each bar into the chocolate and place on a clean piece of parchment paper. Transfer all remaining chocolate into a piping bag or ziploc bag with the corner snipped off and drizzle the tops with chocolate

Let cool completely before storing in an airtight container. Enjoy!

Homemade Cheesy Dog Biscuits

2012-01-11T06:10:00.000-08:00

recipe from dogtreatrecipes.org

Now that we are up to two dogs again (Remy post to come soon), making my own dog treats is not only fun but much easier on the checkbook. Plus since my first attempt with the Peanut Butter recipe was such a hit with Dexter, I wondered why I hadn't thought of making a healthier snack for him earlier.

I made two sizes of these so I could give the boys a smaller snack as a reward for listening well as they both only will do if the word "treat" is involved. Funny how even dogs have selective hearing, isn't it?

This recipe has garlic as an ingredient. I have read controversy on using garlic in pet treats and a call to my local vet verified that garlic in small quantities is actually healthy for most pets. If you are still leery, however, make sure and contact a vet you trust and ask them. My boys gobbled these up in record time and I assure you, they are just fine.

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/4 cup grated cheddar
1 stick butter or margarine
1 clove garlic, crushed
1/4 cup milk
pinch of salt

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.

Mix all ingredients except for the milk, in a mixing bowl. To the mixture, add just enough milk to form a ball.

Put the cheese ball into the fridge to chill about half an hour. Roll onto lightly floured surface. Cut into cute shapes. Bake about 15 minutes or until firm.

Makes about 29-36 biscuits depending on the size of your cookie cutters.

After these were slightly cooled, I put them in an airtight container which allowed them to soften a bit, yet keeping their firmness for good chewing!

Photoblog Challenge ~ Human Portrait

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

Spencer and I attempted to get out of the house last weekend and we made a trip to the park. I loaded up the camera, tripod and kid and off we went. I had great visions of some stark winter photos due to an overcast but bright sky and a smiley boy.

The wind had other plans for us and we lasted a mere 10 minutes. Yeah, we're lightweights! We did some shopping, bought some snacks and went back home. At least we tried. When I asked Spencer if he was cold, this is the expression he gave me. If my adorable boy had this awful, pained look, I can only imagine how I must have looked. Ha!

Don't knock the weather. If it didn't change once in a while, nine out of ten people couldn't start a conversation. Kin Hubbard (1868 - 1930)

I linked up with Photoblog Challenges.

Blonde Brownies ~ Perfectly Adapted

2012-01-09T05:44:00.000-08:00

I am not a huge fan of brownies, of any type. You would think with all that chocolate, I would be all over them, but they have never really appealed to me. A friend made me a batch of brownies for my birthday in October. Now how thoughtful is that? They were blonde brownies and I must say they were really good. I decided they could use a little tweaking, so the following recipe is an adaption from both my friend's recipe and Paula Deen's Lady & Sons version. My idea of blond brownies...

Blonde Brownies:
7 Tbls. butter
16 oz. packed brown sugar
3 eggs
2 cups self rising flour
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butter and brown sugar together, until blended. Add eggs and mix well. Gradually add flour, mixing well. Stir in vanilla. Fold in pecans and chocolate chips.

Bake in a lightly greased and floured 9 x 13 inch pan for 25-30 minutes. Allow to cool completely before cutting and serving.

These make a great snack for company or a quick and easy option for a get together. The nuts are optional but really add to the flavor and texture.

Friday Photo Link Ups & Happy Birthday to my Guy

2012-01-06T06:24:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite photos from this summer. I couldn't figure out how I wanted to process it, so it has sat in a folder while I tried to make up my mind. I finally decided on high contrast and sharp tone, hoping to capture the expanse of the sky with it's volumes of clouds from a worm's eye view.

I linked up with both Skywatch Friday and Photo Friday.

Also today is a super special day as it is John's birthday!!! He often gets robbed of his birthday with it following so closely behind Christmas but he is much too awesome to not be recognized. Plus, he puts up with Spencer and I! So I am wishing him the best day ever and I hope he knows how loved he is. We would be lost without him. Happy Birthday, Baby!

Chili Salsa Cheese Dip

2012-01-05T06:00:00.000-08:00

It really doesn't get much easier than this when it comes to dips. Quick, easy and a crowd pleaser too! Just the right consistency, not so thick that you break off your chips (I just hate that, don't you?) but smooth enough that veggies would be a great sidekick in place of chips.

Ingredients:

1 lb (16 oz) Velveeta cheese, cut in small cubes

1 cup of your favorite salsa

2 cans of chili, without beans

Mix ingredients in a microwavable bowl. Microwave on high for 5-6 minutes or until cheese is completely melted, stirring after a few minutes.

Serve warm with chips or veggies.

*Put in slow cooker on low to keep warm.

See how easy that was?

Oreo Krispies ~ Gooey Goodness!

2012-01-04T06:45:00.000-08:00

recipe from buddingbaketress.com

If you like Oreo cookies, then this recipe is for you. These taste just like a big Oreo only gooey with a little crunch. They have an almost "melt in your mouth" texture while satisfying any chocolate craving you might have.

Only three ingredients too!

Ingredients:

1 (16 oz) package of Oreo cookies

5 cups (1 bag) of large marshmallows

4 Tbls. butter

Line 8x8 inch baking dish with aluminum foil to hang over the edges. Set aside.

Place Oreos in food processor (or crush in a large Ziploc bag with a rolling pin) and pulse until crumbly but not ground.

Melt marshmallows and butter in a large microwave safe bowl until puffy, about 11/2 to 2 minutes. Remove and pour in ground cookies. Quickly stir to combine, then transfer to prepared baking dish. Allow to set 10 to 15 minutes. Remove bars from pan by foil edges.. Cut, serve and enjoy!

Photoblog Theme Challenge ~ Indian Paintbrush

2012-01-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

Good morning everyone! I feel like I haven't blogged in forever when it's only actually been a few days.

As you can easily tell, I love photo theme challenges. Not only does it give me some goals to work towards in my own photography but I get the wonderful opportunity to meet other photographers and admire their creativity or viewpoint from behind the lens.

I linked up with Photoblog Challenges. If you have a chance, click on the link and see some of the talent that inspires me.

This week's theme is "I". In Wisconsin, we have always called this tiny, bright flower an Indian Paintbrush. They grow wild in great vigor in most lawns and fields towards the end of Fall. I have loved them since I was a small girl and wait every year for them to make their appearance. Curious to know what others might call these as when I googled them, another type of flower came up as well with this one being further down the list and listed as sometimes called the common name Indian Paintbrush.

Ranch Ham 'n' Cheese Pasta ~ Lowfat Version

2011-12-30T07:31:00.000-08:00

We have so much ham leftover from Christmas. I can't stand to see it go to waste, yet all of us have already had our fair share of ham sandwiches and the platter hardly had a dent in it. Taste of Home came to my rescue with this pasta recipe that our whole family just loved. I found it in the December/January 2011 issue. I have yet to make a Taste of Home recipe that wasn't just short of amazing. All from scratch from cooks, moms, grandmother's and bakers who really know how to put together flavors with everyday ingredients.

My best friend got me a subscription a few years ago for a Christmas gift and it's one of the best gifts ever! Perfect for me and I plan on returning the favor to her...ssshhhh.

My picky eater ate 2 platefuls in record time. He continues to surprise me and I love it.

This is a lighter version in not only calories, but fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and sodium.

Ingredients:
1 pkg. (16 oz) penne pasta
1 Tbls. butter
1 Tbls. all-purpose flour
1 cup fat-free milk
2 tsp. dried parsley flakes
1 tsp. garlic salt
1 tsp. salt-free lemon pepper seasoning
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. dried minced onion
1/2 tsp. dill weed
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/8 tsp. pepper
1 cup (8 oz) reduced fat sour cream
2 cups cubed fully cooked lean ham
1-1/2 cups (6 oz) shredded reduced fat Mexican cheese blend
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain. In a Dutch Oven (large kettle), melt butter, whisk in flour until smooth. Gradually add milk and seasonings. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.

Reduce heat; fold in sour cream until blended. Add ham and pasta; cook until heated through. Remove from heat; stir in Mexican cheese blend until melted. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.

Take a bite, savor and repeat!

Pumpkin Spice Pudding Torte ~ My New Pumpkin Pie!

2011-12-28T07:03:00.000-08:00

Remember this Chocolate Pudding Torte recipe I posted a while back? A family recipe from my mom with different versions of pudding. Now this recipe is always received well whenever I have made it. I really didn't think it could get any better, but I was so very wrong!

When I took suggestions for our Christmas meal, a friend said he would like something pumpkin for dessert. I had seen photos on Pinterest of what pinners were calling Pumpkin Lust that looked very similar to my torte recipe and decided to replace chocolate pudding with Pumpkin Spice pudding. I really have him to thank for this new absolute favorite pumpkin recipe. I seriously may never make pumpkin pie again! Easier than pumpkin pie too. I , of course, taste tested this first before serving as I do with any new recipe and had the urge after just one single bite, to run and hide in the closet with it and not even share. This will be the start of a new Thanksgiving tradition at our house, sorry Pumpkin pie...

I made only a couple of changes from my original pudding torte recipe. I added more Cool Whip on the top layer to closer resemble Pumpkin Pie and sprinkled the top with nutmeg. Perfection.

Ingredients:
Crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup margarine
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)
2 Tbls. sugar

Mix like pie crust and spread into a 9 x 13 inch baking pan. Pat down. Bake for 15 minutes at 350. Cool completely.
First filling layer:

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
8 oz. Cool Whip, divided

Beat cream cheese and powdered sugar together. Fold in 2 cups Cool Whip. Spread on cooled crust.
Second filling layer:

2 small packages of instant Pumpkin Spice pudding

Mix with 2 1/2 cups of milk. (do not follow package instructions) Pour over cream cheese mixture. Let set in refrigerator and cover with remaining Cool Whip, plus another 8 oz container. Sprinkle top with nutmeg.

Pumpkin Spice pudding is seasonal and starts to show itself in stores a few weeks before Thanksgiving. I found some in the clearance aisle at our grocery store and picked up a few extras as it has a shelf life of a couple of years.

Try this! You just have to!

Easy, Delicious Homemade Honey Glaze (for ham)

2011-12-27T08:12:00.000-08:00

I have missed you, blogging friends! We had a really laid back, wonderful Christmas here at our house. Lots of good food, good friends and really good gifts! I couldn't have asked for a better day. I hope you all can say the same. Thank you so much for the Christmas cheer given here, on Twitter and facebook too. The smiles all of you brought to my face with each greeting! Thank you.

Even though our store-bought ham came with it's own packet of glaze, I am always the food rebel and had to make my own. There is something rewarding about putting your own touches on a Christmas meal and then watching your family and friends eat to their heart's delight, isn't there? For me, that is a Christmas gift in and of itself.

This is so easy to mix up and the flavor soaks through the whole ham. The only tricky part is rotating the oven bag if you have a bigger ham. But that's what big strong men are for, right? I like big strong men in my kitchen, what can I say.

Ingredients:
1 ready to eat spiral ham
1/4 cup whole cloves
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup honey

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 inch baking dish with foil.

Mix brown sugar, butter and honey in a small bowl until smooth. Set aside.

Stud ham with cloves. Place ham in oven bag and put in foil lined dish. Pour sugar/butter/honey mixture over ham. (Don't worry about how evenly distributed the mixture is. As you warm the ham, you will have multiple opportunities to coat it better.) Seal bag and put in oven.

Turn the whole bag (and ham) every 15- 20 minutes. Cook ham until warmed through using the guide of 15 minutes per pound.

When warmed through, remove ham from oven and unseal the bag. Carefully remove ham and transfer to cutting platter. Remove cloves as cutting. Before serving sliced ham, coat one more time with glaze from bottom of oven bag.

So moist and delicious!!!! An overnight in the refrigerator just seals in the glaze flavor further too.

Merry Christmas, My Friends!

2011-12-23T05:56:00.000-08:00

Red Lobster Cheese Garlic Biscuits

2011-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have been making these biscuits regularly for at least 10 years now. My grandma gave me a cookbook, a fair cookbook, that has this recipe and since I loved Red Lobster back then, I decided to try these. I now see they are all the rage on food blogs and Pinterest. There are many varied versions of them, however. I have tried a lot of them, in fact we tried another last night, but this one is still my favorite. The others call for extra steps or lesser or greater amounts of ingredients and I find them either overkill or lacking in flavor, so I decided to share my version. They are SO simple to make and are a huge hit with everyone! I have yet to find a person who doesn't like them.

These go great with any meal. If you have room for them on your Christmas menu, I highly recommend them!

One of my favorite things to do is to have them for breakfast the morning after I have made them. Pop them in the microwave for about 15 seconds. YUM! I am having one right now...

Ingredients:
2 cups Bisquick
2/3 cups milk
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (I use medium cheddar)
1/2 cup butter
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
3/4 tsp. dried parsley flakes

Mix Bisquick, milk and cheese until soft dough forms. Beat vigorously for 30 seconds. Drop dough by spoonfuls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes at 450 degrees (until tops are golden brown).

Melt butter in microwave. Add garlic powder and parsley flakes and mix. Brush butter mixture over warm biscuits (right out of the oven).

Makes 12 biscuits.

Easy Sloppy Joe Pot Pie

2011-12-20T05:54:00.000-08:00

Here is another recipe to add to my quick and easy category. For those busy weekdays when you want to put a warm delicious meal on the table but have had a hectic or busy day. Super easy, yummy and a great recipe for those who like sloppy joes.

Ingredients:
1 lb. lean ground beef
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, pressed or minced
1 can (15.5 oz) original sloppy joe mix (I used Manwich)
1 cup BBQ sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup original Bisquick mix
1/2 cup milk
1 egg

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Cook beef, onion and garlic over medium heat until browned. Drain and stir in sloppy joe mix and BBQ sauce. Remove from heat and sprinkle with cheese. Pour into smaller baking dish. I used a round cake pan but a 10.5 inch rectangular or square one would work fine too.

In a separate bowl, mix Bisquick, milk and egg. Pour over beef mixture.

Bake 30 minutes or until golden brown.

See?! How easy is that!

NOTE: To use a standard size baking dish or rectangular cake pan, just double all ingredients. This easily fed our family of three as is.

Macro Monday ~ What Makes a Good Photograph

2011-12-19T06:12:00.000-08:00

“A lot of photographers think that if they buy a better camera they’ll be able to take better photographs. A better camera won’t do a thing for you if you don’t have anything in your head or in your heart.” -Arnold Newman

Good morning, friends! As I pull my camera strap over my head and head out my door (front or back), I can guarantee that the direction I head off into would be different from many of you, or maybe even most of you for that matter. Some of you may look at this photo and wonder what ever possessed me to take it. Others will appreciate my eye for detail, the way the light and dark compliment each other, the blur and vignette of my camera lens and the gentle fade and focus.

If you get a chance, click on the link below to the other contributors of Macro Monday/Lisa's Chaos and you will see the strong differences on what we, the person behind the lens, capture with our eyes, imagination and hearts. All of these things go into every photo I take along with the hundreds I discard (sometimes daily). It takes work, perseverance and a lot of trial and error for many of us. We are always learning, always hoping for that next great capture.

So even if you don't necessarily care for the subject matter of a photo, I hope you at least try to appreciate the thought, detail and heart that go into all photography. It's not just the click of a button or an expensive camera...honest!

On a side note, we rescued the most adorable, beautiful 7 month old puppy this weekend. I can't wait to share my sweet Remy with you! He is the sweetest boy!

Hope you all have a great day. I promise to catch up on blog visiting this week. Thank you all for stopping by and I appreciate your comments more than I can say.

I linked up with Lisa's Chaos.

Mind Therapy, It Does a Body Good

2011-12-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

Photography is way to tell others how you feel about what you see. ~ Anonymous

This week's Photo Friday theme is Meditative. I could sit here at this spot for hours. Doing some of my favorite things in life. Reading, with my camera beside me, wildlife and nature at my feet. Meditating on life and how wonderful it can be, leaving my worries behind...

Do you have a favorite spot to sit and free your mind? Do you have hobbies that give you that much needed break from life's chaos? Retail therapy maybe? Hey, I'm all for a going on a shopping spree too. What time should I pick you up? ;-)

I think we all need mind therapy. It's healthy not only to ourselves but to those around us too. Helps us keep our perspective, right?

Only boring people, are bored. True story.

Wishing everyone a great day and a wonderful weekend!

I linked up with Photo Friday.

Christmas Cupcakes with Vanilla Buttercream Frosting

2011-12-15T05:53:00.000-08:00

I think we can all agree that I am not the best cupcake decorator out there. These originally started out as Christmas "tree" cupcakes but the tree part got lost when I just started making leaning towers of frosting instead of anything that resembled a tree. I am perfectly OK with that since these are festive enough for me and were so much fun to make. They are also really really moist and delicious!

I used Baker's Corner Holiday Confetti box cake mix for the cupcakes. I have not used Baker's Corner products before and can I just say I am extremely impressed?! John found the cute cupcake present liners at our local Dollar store.

confetti Christmas colors - love it!

So start off with your favorite cupcake recipe, boxed or otherwise. Then whip up this vanilla buttercream frosting.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
3 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

In a bowl, combine butter, sugar and salt. Beat until blended.

Add the milk and vanilla. Beat for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until smooth and creamy.

I then used this handy little bottle of Wilton's Leaf Green Icing color. 4 dipped toothpicks produced this green which is exactly what I was looking for. I also saved about 4 tablespoons and used liquid yellow egg dye (food coloring) for the yellow tops.

I used the small star shaped tip on my Wilton's cake decorating tool to make the frosting more "fun" than just using a frosting knife. Your choice. Add sprinkles for even more fun.

I keep these in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Get the kids to help with these too! Have fun. :)

Pug Expressions

2011-12-14T06:19:00.000-08:00

If you have ever known a pug, they have the cutest, funniest facial expressions ever. Dexter is a continual source of comic relief for us. For such a tiny dude (under 10 lbs.), his appetite is pretty fierce. He spends his days sleeping (and snoring) and waiting for food. Ah, what a life!

Did someone say bacon?

I'll be the best pug ever? Bacon?

I don't think they have any bacon...

Christmas Bark ~ Peanut Butter Chocolate with Secret Ingredient

2011-12-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

recipe from grinandbakeit.com

I am admitting that I while I have always baked for Christmas, I don't have any recipes that I make yearly. No tried and true favorites or family traditions. Until now. This Christmas Bark changed all that in one little bite. They are absolutely heavenly and are sure to be a hit with most everyone.

I have had homemade toffee bark before and thought it was delicious. This recipe has saltine crackers as the middle layer and makes the traditional bark a thing of the past, at least for me. You can't tell they are crackers, all you know is that the texture is somewhat softer, a little more chewy and absolutely divine! I will be making this every Christmas from now on.

Also, after I started to making this, it was so easy and quick. I have no idea why I hadn't tried making it myself before! The hardest part of this recipe for me was crushing the M&Ms. Seriously...

In the blogging/foodie world, this is sometimes called Christmas Crack. I don't use cliches like that but I totally understand where it comes from now. It is also called Holiday Bark, but in my house we proudly use the word Christmas.

Ingredients:

1/4 lb. (1 sleeve) saltines (the salted ones)

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter

2 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup peanut butter

chopped M&Ms

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper. Place saltines in pan, salted side up. Leave just a little bit of space between crackers so the toffee can encase the entire cracker when done.

Bring sugar and butter to a boil in a sauce pan. Boil for 3 minutes (time boiling after the whole thing starts boiling, not just the edges). And, resist the urge to stir, no stirring!

Pour boiling mixture over crackers. Place in oven for 5 minutes.

Put dollops of peanut butter on top and return to oven for 1 minute.

Spread melted peanut butter over the mixture with a spatula and top with chocolate chips. Then put back into the oven for 1 minute.

Use a spatula to spread the chocolate chips (which have melted). Top with M&M pieces. Place in freezer for at least 1 hour.

Once set, crack into individual pieces. Then try not to eat the whole pan...

Honey Sauced Chicken ~ Crockpot Recipe

2011-12-12T06:14:00.000-08:00

recipe from mmmcafe.blogspot.com

Another recipe I found perusing Pinterest. While I am getting better about it, I seriously spend way too much time on that amazing site. At least I actually make things I find, so that helps me justify it a little, right? Great, glad we agree on that!

This is SO easy to make up and the flavor is amazing. White rice perfectly compliments this too but any type of pasta would also work.

Ingredients:

3/4 lbs. chicken (of your choice)

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/8 cup chopped onions

1/8 cup ketchup

1 Tbls. vegetable oil (I used olive oil)

1 clove garlic, minced or pressed

1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes

Season both sides of chicken with salt and pepper. Put in crockpot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 3 hours or high for 1 1/2 hours. Remove chicken and cut into bite sized pieces. Return to crockpot and toss with sauce.

Serve over rice or noodles.

See how easy that was!?

Christmas Morning ~ Sugar Donut Muffins

2011-12-09T06:00:00.001-08:00

Muffins, sugar, donuts...these are a few of my favorite things. When I decided to make these little morsels of goodness, I expected them to be good. I didn't expect them to be THIS good. Imagine sugar donuts but even better because they have the texture of a muffin. Muffins are my thing, in case you didn't know.

I now have my Christmas morning breakfast for the family. I can make these the night before which works well with the busy Christmas schedules we all have. They are filling but light enough for those of us that "save" ourselves for the Christmas meal we have waited all year for!

Ingredients:
3/4 cups sugar
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3/4 cup milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 Tbls. melted butter, for dipping
1/2 cup sugar, for rolling
1 Tbls. cinnamon, for rolling

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease muffin tin with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, beat together sugar and egg until light and fluffy.

In a smaller bowl, mix together flour, baking powder, salt and nutmeg. Pour into sugar/egg mixture and stir until well combined.

Add in vegetable oil, milk and vanilla. Mix well.

Pour into muffin tins (mini or standard) filling each about 3/4 full.

Bake about 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Melt butter in a small bowl in the microwave.

Stir together sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.

When the muffins are done, allow them to cool for a few minutes so you can easily handle them.

Dunk tops of the muffins first in the melted butter and then in the cinnamon/sugar mixture.

Take a bite and make as many noises as you need to while savoring that first bite. Yes, they really are that good!

Keep in an air tight container. They will keep their softness for a few days. You can also pop them in the microwave for a few seconds to warm them up. Enjoy!

Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches

2011-12-08T05:25:00.001-08:00

recipe from the-girl-who-ate-everything.com

It's that time of year here again where my crock pot is my best friend. I use it on a weekly basis and am always on the lookout for new recipes to add to my ever growing list. These sandwiches were so good!

Ingredients:

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken thighs

1/2 to 1 cup of your favorite Caesar dressing

1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup fresh chopped parsley (2 tsp. dried)

1/2 tsp. ground pepper

2 cups shredded Romaine lettuce

12 slider buns or 4-6 regular hamburger buns

Place chicken in slow cooker with 1-2 cups of water and cook on low for 4-6 hours.

Remove chicken from cooker using a slotted spoon and drain water from the cooker. Place chicken on a cutting board and pull into shreds, discarding any fat (yuck!).

Place chicken back into the cooker and pour dressing, Parmesan cheese, parsley and pepper over the top. Stir until evenly mixed. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes or until mixture is hot.

Spoon onto buns. Top with extra Parmesan cheese and lettuce to serve.

Now how easy was that?!

Have a great day, my friends!

Center - Off Centered Fall Scene

2011-12-07T05:42:00.001-08:00

When people ask what equipment I use - I tell them my eyes. - Anonymous

Whether you consider yourself an actual photographer, an enthusiast or just someone who enjoys taking photos, you have probably been asked what kind of camera you use, right? I have done the same myself. Before John got me my new DSLR, I was using an older point and shoot. When I would tell people this, I saw most of them didn't believe me. How could that be? I was keeping my secrets, they just knew it.

Photography is so amazing, so unique to the person behind the camera itself. How they see the world, what they find interesting or beautiful. Talent or creativity is solely based on you and you alone. Of course a higher quality camera and equipment can make those visions much better, but photography is really based on an individual's ability to see beyond what is laid before them and more of what is in the mind's eye, it really is.

I have seen many with expensive cameras taking flat lifeless photos. I have seen others create beauty with an old beat up camera and a rock for their subject. I have seen both of them happy with the outcome because we are all our own masters behind the viewfinder. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and creativity doesn't create itself. We create it, capture it and make it extraordinary, even if it's only to ourselves.

Be inspired!

I linked up with Two for Tuesday. (Yeah, I know it's Wednesday, I'm late...)

Fiesta Salad Featuring T. Marzetti's Simply Dressed Ranch Dressing

2011-12-06T06:44:00.001-08:00

I recently was given a fun opportunity to review T. Marzetti's Simply Dressed salad dressings. I found it easily in one of our local grocery stores and while they offer a large variety of choices, I rarely can pass on anything ranch flavored.

I was thrilled to find upon opening my bottle (love the marketing on these, by the way) to find a rich, creamy delicious ranch dressing similar in taste and texture to what you may find at your favorite restaurant. Not only is Simply Dressed packed full of flavor but has that fresh made taste you don't often find in bottled dressings anymore. Add to that the fact that Simply Dressed has no preservatives, trans fat, high fructose corn syrup, MSG or artificial flavors and colors and you will wonder where it has been all your life.

We have been having some heavy meals here lately with Thanksgiving not long gone and Christmas just around the corner. The recipe I am posting was a refreshing change from the holiday foods yet what I would consider a "winter" salad.

Fiesta Chicken Salad w/ Simply Dressed Ranch Dressing

1 lb. skinless boneless chicken breast meat

1/3 packet taco seasoning

1/3 cup of your favorite salsa

1 lb. chopped or shredded lettuce

8 oz. T. Marzetti's Simply Dressed Ranch Dressing

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/4 cup Colby and Monterey Jack blended shredded cheese

4 boiled eggs

4 tostada bowls

Cook the chicken breasts in a medium skillet over medium heat until cooked through. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Cut into strips. Return chicken to pan. Add taco seasoning and salsa, stirring until well blended. Simmer on low for 10 minutes stirring occasionally.

In a large bowl, toss together slightly cooled chicken, lettuce, ranch dressing, cheeses and boiled eggs. Warm tostada bowls according to package directions. Add salad mixture to bowls and serve!

Simply Dressed Ranch Dressing can be used for so many dishes or even on it's own for dipping fresh veggies. It's flavor stays true and it's creamy texture is a perfect addition.

If ranch isn't your favorite, T. Marzetti offers a large variety of other Simply Dressed flavors:

Blue Cheese
Caesar
Pomegranate
Balsamic
Coleslaw
Champagne
Strawberry Poppyseed
Greek Feta
Ginger Sesame (not gluten free)

Simply Dressed is available in your grocer's produce section for a suggested retail price of $3.59 - $4.59 per 12 oz. bottle.

I highly recommend trying it, you won't be disappointed!

I was one of the bloggers selected by T. Marzetti Company and Clever Girls Collective to host a Marzetti Simply Dressed review. They provided me with product to test myself and compensation for my time. However, my opinions are entirely my own.

Macro Monday~ Purple Dragon

2011-12-05T05:57:00.001-08:00

The Purple Dragon, from the Spotted Deadnettle family. A tiny yet striking ground covering flower. Such detail on something so small, amazes me.

I will be relying on my myriad of spring/summer photos as backup a lot this winter as the world will be white for at least the next three months here. I will do my best to find snow covered treasures too though!

Here's to a great week for all of us.

I linked up with Lisa's Chaos.

Camera Critters ~ Male Mallard Duck

2011-12-03T07:53:00.001-08:00

Happy Saturday my friends! Can I just say how much I love this shot? This is a male mallard duck. They are quite common to our area and can be seen on any decent size waterway in large groups. I am lucky enough to be within a few miles of an area where many types of birds gather for a stop on their way down south for the winter. The winters here in Wisconsin can be harsh and if I could, I would leave for the winter too!

I could distinguish this was a male by the yellow beak. During mating season, the males also have a beautiful emerald green head and neck. This was taken on Labor Day, with mating season long gone yet you can see a small trace of the green left on this beautiful boy.

Hope you are all having a great start to the weekend.

I linked up with Camera Critters.

SkyWatch Friday

2011-12-02T05:28:00.001-08:00

Good morning friends! One of the things I missed instantly when I moved to the city years ago was the sky. Just seeing the landscape before me, unhindered by skyscrapers and fog. I couldn't look out my windows and see the clouds rolling by or the deep blue of the summer sky without some distraction in my view. You have a lot of advantages in a larger area but seeing something like this is not one of them.

The colors a Wisconsin sky can display is something I have not taken for granted since.

TGIF! Here's to a great weekend for us all.

I linked up with Skywatch Friday.

Butterfinger Cake

2011-12-01T05:22:00.001-08:00

Just looking at this cake makes a person's day better. I can't say enough good things about it; you just have to try it for yourself so you know too! So many yummy flavors and it's not terribly heavy either. The creamy top combined with crushed Butterfingers with a layer of moist cake and gooey filling make it hard to resist. Perfect for holidays or get togethers as it goes far and is sure to be a big hit. Best part, it's not complicated to make!

Ingredients:

1 box yellow cake mix (plus ingredients listed on cake box)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 jar Smucker's Caramel Ice Cream Topping

1 8 oz. tub Cool Whip

4 regular sized Butterfinger candy bars, crushed

Bake cake according to package directions.

While cake is baking, mix milk and caramel topping until well blended. When the cake is done and while it is still hot, poke holes in it with a fork or straw. Pour milk mixture evenly over the cake. Allow to cool completely.

Sprinkle two of the crushed candy bars evenly over the cooled cake. Spread cool whip over them and then sprinkle with last two candy bars. Chill and serve.

Homemade Onion Dip

2011-11-30T05:33:00.001-08:00

recipe from foodnetwork.com

Work is seriously trying to kick my butt this week. This is definitely one of those days I am glad to have a backlog of recipes waiting to be blogged.

Creamy sweet onion dip. Yum! Chips, crackers or fresh veggies all would work well with this too.

Ingredients:

2 Tbls. olive oil

1 1/2 cups diced onions

1/4 tsp. Kosher salt

1 1/2 cups sour cream

3/4 cups mayonnaise

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp ground white pepper

1/2 tsp. Kosher salt

1/2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

In a saute pan over medium heat, add oil. Heat and add onions and salt. Cook the onions until they are caramelized (average 20 minutes, onions should be soft, caramel in color and sweet to the taste).

Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Mix the rest of the ingredients together in a small bowl and then add the cooled onions.

Refrigerate until chilled. Stir before serving.

Souperior Meat Loaf

2011-11-29T05:34:00.001-08:00

Meatloaf. You probably either love it or hate it. Around here, we love it. Well, the original concept anyway.

I can't even tell you the number of meatloaf recipes I have tried over the years. Tried them all I think! Looking for an actual meatloaf recipe, not salsa meatloaf, not hummus and beans meatloaf, not barbecue meatloaf, just plain ole basic meatloaf. Many of the recipes I tried were tomato or milk based and honestly, we found them quite disappointing and somewhat "mushy" in texture.

Being the Pinterest fanatic that I am, I am amazed at all the foodies of the world trying to outdo each other with their so called gourmet recipes. Do people really eat those odd concoctions? Is this the new "in" thing?

That said, I finally found a real meatloaf recipe that we absolutely LOVE. I make two loaves so we can have leftovers and they are still gone in record time.

Where did I find this? On the back of the box for Lipton Onion Recipe Secrets (dry packets). Yep, sure did and not ashamed to say it.

Tastes like meatloaf with a great texture and a ton of flavor. Quick and easy too and who doesn't like that?

Ingredients:
1 envelope Lipton Recipe Secrets Onion Soup Mix
2 lbs. ground beef
3/4 cup plain dry bread crumbs
2 eggs
3/4 cups water
1/3 cup ketchup

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.

Transfer mixture to bread pan or shape on 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

Bake uncovered for 1 hour or until done. Let stand 10 minutes.

Caramel Filled Chocolate Cookies

2011-11-28T05:27:00.001-08:00

Good morning, friends! Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. Mondays come around again so quickly, don't they?

Well, here is a recipe for some ooey gooey, completely decadent cookies to help get you through the week. Chocolate has a way of making any day that much better. Now add some caramel to that equation...

These cookies are so soft and chewy. Don't let the extra steps involved keep you from making them; the effort is well worth the finished result!

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 Tbls. white sugar
48 chocolate covered caramels (Rolos, Riesens, etc.)

Beat butter until creamy. Gradually beat in the 1 cup white sugar and brown sugars. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, cocoa powder and salt in separate bowl. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, beating well.

Cover and chill for a minimum of 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Put 1 Tbls. of sugar (or more as you need it) into a small bowl. Divide dough into four equal portions. Work with one part at a time, chilling the remainder until use. Now divide that portion into another 12 portions. Quickly press each piece of dough around chocolate covered caramel. Roll into a ball and dip the tops into the sugar.

Place sugar side up, 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake for around 8 minutes. Let cool 5 minutes out of oven before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

If desired, drizzle with caramel or sprinkle with tops with extra sugar.

Store in an air tight container for up to 5 days.

I realize the colors are a bit off in these two photos and am working on better indoor lighting for my photos.

My Love Affair with Nature

2011-11-26T08:22:00.001-08:00

Flowers are the sweetest things God ever made and forgot to put a soul into.
~ Henry Ward Beecher ~

Any amount of time spent here on my blog and you easily see how much I enjoy nature and the outdoors. I have always been more comfortable in an isolated forest full of wonders than a room full of people. I have lived in large cities and while I do enjoy all they offer, I am truly a country girl at heart.

I would much rather witness, enjoy and capture the weather than talk about it.

I have always thought bees to be amazing little creatures. I have so many photos of them from this summer. They are very photogenic and tolerant of me, thankfully. This photo was taken on one of Spencer and my walks to the school playground.

Hope you are all having a great weekend!

*note: I have removed the photo slideshow on my sidebar and hope my site loads faster now. Let me know if you notice an improvement or not. Thanks!

I linked up with Camera Critters.

Homemade Peanut Butter Dog Treats ~ Christmas Gift Idea

2011-11-25T09:32:00.001-08:00

recipe from dogtreatrecipes.org

If your dog is anything like our pug, then you know how fast they can go through dog treats. Garbage disposal comes to mind... We like to reward Dexter for being a good boy or for just being his silly self and making us laugh when he tries some new stunt and fails miserably.

I got the idea to make him some homemade treats after I saw how fast he demolished any store bought treat. This can get quite expensive and the thought of a healthy option for our garbage disposal sounded like a good idea too.

These treats are so easy to make. They would be a great gift too for the fur babies in your life. Around here, even silly pugs get Christmas stockings.

Great activity for the kids to help out with too! They will feel proud making their own Christmas gifts and there is nothing better than spending more time with Spencer helping in the kitchen for me.

Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 Tbls. baking powder
1/2 cup oatmeal
1 cup peanut butter (smooth only, please)
1 cup milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Lightly grease a baking pan.

In a medium mixing bowl, add flour, baking powder and oatmeal. Mix well. Add peanut butter and milk. Stir until dough forms.

Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface, knead it and then roll it out until it's about 1/4 of an inch thick. Break out your cute dog bone cookies cutters or a pizza cutter and cut the dough into desired shape and size.

My cute helper

Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool before spoiling your fur baby.

Store in an airtight container or reusable freezer bag. Amount made from recipe depends on the size of your cookie cutters. I used standard size cutters and made about 24.

Dexter approved!

Happy Thanksgiving, My Friends!

2011-11-23T05:30:00.001-08:00

Hello! I have been staying away from the recipes this week as I think many of us are focusing on our Thanksgiving meals and the last thing we need to look at is another recipe for pumpkin. I will be posting them in full force at the end of the week again with Christmas in mind too.

Wishing all of you who celebrate, a wonderful Thanksgiving full of laughter and great food! I leave you with Dexter. I think he has been getting into the leftover Halloween candy. He is such a spaz. His lip is malfunctioning and are those crumbs on his whiskers? He will gladly come help clean up any leftovers.

Be safe and have fun!

The pug is living proof that God has a sense of humor. ~Margo Kaufman

What are You Thankful For?

2011-11-22T06:07:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving is almost here and many of you are probably tired of hearing about it already. To some it's all about the food, other's about the family getting together and the feelings that only family and close friends can bring. To some it means nothing at all.

I love all holidays that we celebrate here in the U.S. Each one has their own meaning and tradition to my family and I. Many have been commercialized and you know what, I go right along with that to. As long as I remember what the holiday is really for, I see no harm in it.

I am thankful for so many things this year. Little things like Spencer's laughter and John's smile. Big things like my new job (that I LOVE) and new friends who make my heart smile. Totally vain things like the Homemade Girl Scout cookies I just made that totally rock. I am also thankful for my followers and those of you who are so good to me through your comments and inspiration. Thank you all so very much.

What are you thankful for even if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving? Have you stopped and thought about it today?

I linked up with my3boybarians.

There are Two People in Every Picture

2011-11-21T05:41:00.001-08:00

There are two people in every picture, the photographer and the viewer. ~Ansel Adams

Isn't this the truth? Every person taking a photo, takes that photo because something has captured their interest, be it a simple leaf or their child's smile. Memories are captured every second of every day, to look back upon in remembrance of that moment. However, what interests you and what interests me may be two totally different things. I love that about the human spirit, it's what makes this world go round. Diversity.

With that said, I do pity the poor person who never takes that step to find all the beauty around them. It's everywhere if you look around, in the simplest of things.

I linked up with Lisa's Chaos.

The Best Shots are Generally Attempted Through the Lens Cap

2011-11-19T08:07:00.001-08:00

My title is a quote I found online and can't help but relate to. Please tell me I am not the only one who does this? I can't tell you how many times on an average day I pick up my camera and in my excitement to get that "moment" forget to take off my lens cap. Sigh.

This is a Hover Fly and was one of my first photos taken this summer.

I linked up with Camera Critters.

Walk Away Baked Spaghetti

2011-11-18T06:05:00.001-08:00

recipe from pauladeen.com

Another recipe success from my idol Paula. Spaghetti has always been one of my favorites to fall back on when dinner ideas escape me. I think it was one of the first dishes I learned to make on my own way back in the day. I haven't really done any experimenting with a new recipe as I love my own as it is. I usually make my own meatballs too.

Since Paula hasn't disappointed me yet, I tried this from her website. I have not made baked spaghetti before but I can guarantee I will be making it again. Delish! Super easy too, although with something this good, you could never tell.

Ingredients:

1 lb. browned and seasoned beef

3/4 lb. spaghetti, cooked

1 jar (approx. 15 oz.) of your favorite pasta sauce (I used Preggo Tomato and Basil)

2 cups mozzarella cheese, grated

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Brown and season beef. Drain

Prepare spaghetti according to package directions.

In a large saucepan, simmer browned meat and pasta sauce together. Toss the cooked noodles into the sauce.

To assemble: Spray a casserole dish with non stick cooking spray. Spoon half of the noodle mixture into the dish. Pack it down lightly and add half of the mozzarella cheese. Add remaining noodle mixture and pack down lightly again. Top with remaining mozzarella.

Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until cheese is bubbly.

Chili Cheese Crockpot Dip

2011-11-17T05:21:00.001-08:00

I love the convenience of crockpot dips. Throw a few ingredients in the crockpot, turn on low and stir. What's not to love? John and I spend many nights after Spencer has gone to bed on our computers, side by side, sharing some sort of snack. On nights where we have had a lighter dinner, a dip like this is one of our favorites.

Ingredients:
2 (8 oz.) cream cheese
2 (15 oz.) cans of chili, (with/without beans)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese (I use medium cheddar)
cayenne pepper
salt and pepper
tortilla chips

Layer cream cheese and chili in crockpot. Turn on low. Depending on whether or not you have softened your cream cheese, warm 1 to 1 & 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. When cream cheese and chili are at least half melted/warmed together, add shredded cheese again stirring occasionally. Add cayenne pepper, salt and pepper to your taste, spicing it up or keeping it more mild.

When all ingredients are mixed and warmed thoroughly, serve with chips.

Great for get togethers or game day too. This can be left on low in the crockpot most of the day, just make sure to keep the cover on and to stir it occasionally. Can also reheat it in the crockpot on low, stovetop or in the microwave.

Oatmeal Fudge Bars

2011-11-16T05:25:00.001-08:00

Most of my recipes are based off of getting the right texture. I have an aversion it seems to certain textures. For instance, sushi, oysters, and soups are out for me. Also dishes that require gravy toppings and cream pies for the most part. Just can't handle their textures. At all. May be the same reason I like all meats well done. If I order a burger or steak in a restaurant, I don't want to see any red whatsover. I also don't want charcoal on a plate and many restaurants can't distinguish between the two, so I rarely order beef when out.

The only steak have touched for the last several years has been the ones John grills for me. You want to have the best steak of your life, come over here and I'll have him grill you a New York Strip with his secret grilling marinade and you probably won't leave.

These bars appeal to these texture issues I have. The drier oatmeal base with the soft fudge center is really a great combo.

Ingredients:
1 cup butter softened
2 cups packed brown sugar
2 eggs
3 cups quick cooking oats
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

2 Tbls. vanilla extract, divided
1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
3 Tbls. butter
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup sliced almonds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease or spray 9 x 13 inch baking dish.

In large bowl, beat together 1 cup butter and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla. In another bowl, combine oats, flour, baking soda and 1 tsp. salt; stir into butter mixture. Set aside.

In a medium saucepan, heat sweetened condensed milk, chocolate chips, 3 Tbls. butter and 1/2 tsp. salt over low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Stir in almonds and 1 tsp. vanilla.

Pat 2/3 of the oat mixture into the bottom of prepared pan. Spread chocolate mixture evenly over the top and dot with remaining oat mixture. (leaving some of the chocolate mixture exposed in places)

Bake for 30 - 35 minutes in preheated oven. Do not overbake! Let cool on wire rack, then cut into bars.

Windmills & Weather

2011-11-15T05:33:00.001-08:00

I took this photo at a beautiful hidden little park/recreation area my best friend introduced me to early this fall. I have lived here for over 8 years and didn't know it existed until a few months ago. I have since spent some time here as it's full of photo opportunities along with a well maintained walking path through the woods. Spencer, John and I have spent a few afternoons here and I loved the quality family time.

I only wish we had known about it earlier in the year as the weather here in Wisconsin is gloomy as heck. Cold, windy, rainy, snowy and while the sun comes out it does little to warm the soul. I rarely discuss the weather because I can't change it and frankly often times find the topic boring but as the winter months are yet to come with their fierce cold, ice and snow, I am mourning a little like I do each year at this time. Mourning the sunshine that makes me so happy and cheers up the world. Mourning the walks Spencer and I talk and the precious time I get to spend with my sweet boy away from the rest of the world. And vainly mourning my sun-kissed tan that has already faded...

Anyone else just dread the winter months like I do?

I linked up with Sweet Shot Tuesday.

Macro Monday ~ Sweet William Flower

2011-11-14T06:03:00.001-08:00

Another weekend has come and gone. We had a busy weekend to say the least.

First the best news ever! Spencer had his 6 month cancer check-up and he is CLEAR again!!! Thank God. He has those angels watching over him...to make it even better, his oncologist no longer thinks 6 month tests are needed and he has graduated to yearly tests. This is one happy momma! Spencer was brave and the best boy through it all. He really is one in a million as far as sons go!

We also celebrated my friend Carolyn's daughter ,A's, 8th birthday on Saturday.

Last night my best friend and her family had us over for the best stir fry I have ever had in my life. Venison stir fry. John and I ate so much we could barely move. When done right, venison is one of my favorite foods.

The photos above are also from my best friend's flower garden. Sweet Williams. I find them to be very photogenic little flowers.

Hope you all have a wonderful Monday!

I linked up with Lisa's Chaos.