Saturday, October 15, 2011

Rollo Pretzel Candy/Cookie

I got this recipe from a woman standing in line at, where else? The Dollar Store! LOL It is so simple and good...your friends will think you are the consummate gourmet when you let them try this. Add this recipe to your go-to gift giving ideas...

Rollo Pretzel Candy/Cookie

6-8 Packages of Rollos (the caramel, chocolate candy rolls, in the candy bar aisle)
1 package of Snyder's of Hanover "Snaps" Pretzels (I like the "Butter Snaps" variety)
1 package of Pecan Halves

Simply place pretzels on a cookie sheet lined with foil if desired. Place one rollo candy on top of each pretzel. Bake for several minutes on 300 degrees until rollos look like they are just starting to melt. Watch closely, won't take 5 minutes, or so.

Remove from oven and cool...delish!

Chocolate Covered Pecans

People go crazy over this recipe, and it is so easy to do. Plus, pecans help migraine sufferers because they contain selenium, a mineral known to relax constricted blood vessels (the thing that causes migraines. Another good reason to eat this deliciousness!)

Chocolate Covered Pecans

1 Bag of Pecans (about 12 oz.) Locally, I buy pecans at Save-a-Lot or the Dollar Store because they have the best deals on pecans.
1 Bag Milk Chocolate Chips (or semi-sweet, if you prefer)
1 to 2 tsp. Crisco Shortening

Roast pecans in a 250 degree oven for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, in an oven proof bowl. Remove from oven and let cool. Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and 1 to 2 tsp. shortening in microwave on 50% power for one minute, stir, repeat until chocolate chips are melted (you can use a double-boiler, too, if desired).

Line a cookie sheet with waxed or parchment paper, or aluminum foil.

Mix cooled pecans into melted chocolate. Drop clusters by teaspoon onto paper or foil. Cool in frig. to set, if you can't wait. Store at room temperature. Put into cellophane bags for gift giving, tied with a festive bow or simple, but cute, curly ribbon.
To make more festive, use white chocolate to drizzle lines over each cluster.

Monday, September 26, 2011

More Money Savers...

I love to give gifts, but I also have to sensible when it comes to my money. I keep a gift closet, and in it there are gift bags, tissue paper, and all occasion cards. Also, I hunt for sale items, and I often go to the clearance area when I shop. From the items I find at good deals, I stock my gift closet. I may have to save items back for a time, but usually, I always have on hand something for baby showers, birthdays or Christmas. Many times, I give great gifts because I purchase things that have been marked down 50 to 75% off. The gift recipients are always thankful because I buy quality items and try to purchase items that are useful.

People love to eat, so I can almost always be assured of a welcome present with something homemade. This day and time, people don't have time to cook, so anything prepared for a family with kids is a sure-fire winner, especially sweets. However, if someone new moves into the neighborhood, or there is a new baby, or even a death in the family, I try to prepare a chicken casserole, which is, a recipe I am often asked for. Here is the recipe:

Chicken Casserole

Boil 3 large chicken breasts in large saucepan for 30 minutes. Cool.

Turn oven to 350 degrees. Put 1 stick of butter in 9 x 13 baking dish. Put into oven to melt, removing when butter has melted, after about 8 minutes.

Crush one to one and a half sleeves of ritz crackers.

Tear up chicken in bite size pieces in mixing bowl. Add 1 to 1 1/2 (8 oz.) cartons of sour cream. Add 1 to 1 1/2 cans chicken noodle soup. Add black pepper. Mix well.

Put crackers crumbs into butter, mix well. Scoop most out into a small bowl for layering on top of casserole.

Pour chicken mixture into casserole, sprinkle top with buttered cracker crumbs. Bake for about 30 minutes.

Saving Money

For my friends, they know I am all about saving money...here are a few tips and tricks I have learned over the years...

Instead of caustic chemicals to clean sterling silver, cut a potato and dip into baking soda. Gently rub silver. Rinse, dry with soft cloth.

To keep drains cleaned out, pour baking soda into drain, then white vinegar. Bubbling action will occur normally.

Vinegar kills germs. Use it for many cleaning purposes. Put white vinegar it in a spray bottle to spray furniture like sofa, cushions to eliminate pet odors. Pour into bowl to eliminate fishy odors like after you cook salmon.

You know how hard it is to restring a pair of tennis shoes that has lost its end-its hard when the ends become frayed. Use scotch tape to create a new end on the shoe string.

An eraser will help remove black scuff marks on shoes.

Grease marks on wallpaper can be removed using a piece of loaf bread.

To tidy up a white stove top that has been chipped revealing a black mark, use white out (the stuff one uses to correct a typing error).

Freezing candles before use makes them last longer. Same holds true of panty hose.

To thin out white glue use white vinegar, not water.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Chicken Stir Fry with Rice

Chicken Stir Fry with rice


2 chicken breasts (I use the boneless, frozen kind), thawed
2-3 tbl. butter (or margarine)
2 tsp. garlic powder
3-4 Tbl. soy sauce
2 TBL. Honey or sugar (If you prefer, you can use teriyaki sauce, just eliminate soy sauce and honey/sugar)
1 Bag frozen stir fry veggies
1 can of water chestnuts (I love htese crunchy veggies)

For Rice:
1 cup of rice
2 cups water
1 tbl. butter (optional, for rice preparation)

In a med sauce pan (on high), add two cups water, and butter or margarine, if desired. Once water boils, add rice, stir, cover, turn heat to low. Cook 15 minutes. Turn off heat.Let it sit on eye for at least 5 more minutes, and then 5 minutes to 'rest'-it takes rice 20 minutes to cook- 5 minutes to 'rest'. Usually, by the time I am finished cooking stir fry, it is perfect. Fluff with a fork, serve.

While rice is cooking, cut thawed chicken into bite sized pieces, shaking garlic powder on--the more garlic, to me, is better in this recipe. Heat butter in skillet on med. heat, add chicken, continue cooking, stirring frequently. Once chicken is cooked thoroughly, add soy sauce, honey or sugar/ or teriyaki sauce, mixing well. Add bag of stir fry vegetables on top of chicken, cook a few more minutes, then mix vegetables into chicken, continue cooking about 10 minutes until vegetables are tender, stirring vegetables and chicken through, occasionaly.

Layer chicken and vegetables on a bed of rice. Add more soy sauce/teriyaki sauce, if desired.


Note: I never buy garlic salt, only the powdered garlic powder . I do not like to add salt a lot in cooking because of people's dietary limitations. Soy sauce and teriyaki sauce are usually high in salt to start with. Further, salt can actually toughen some vegetables during cooking. However, salt makes food taste better, of course, but I usually let people do their own seasonings...

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Meat-atarian Subs

This recipe is from the "Simple & Delicious" (Aug./Sept. 2011 edition) Magazine out on stands now...Shanon Mayer of Mountain View, WY submitted it and won the contest with it. Judges were ALL men, and they loved it! Be the hit of the party with this recipe! I tweeked it for the ingredients I had on hand at the time...Thanks goes to Shanon and "Simple and Delicious"...now, for the good stuff, uh, prepare to be 'worshipped'! LOL

Meat-atarian Subs

1 cup (4 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
(I used Domino's packs-I halved the recipe and used about 9 packs to get 1/4 cup-I was out of Parmesan Cheese, at the time-it worked!)

1/2 cup softened butter (I used margarine)

1/2 cup mayonnaise

2 garlic cloves, minced (I used 1-2 tsp. garlic powder)

1 tsp. Italian seasoning (basil &/or oregano will work-basil causes less indigestion-just so ya know)

1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes (again, I used a Domino's packet, but I have a bottle of this stuff I bought at the $ store for 50 cents-I buy most of my spices at the $ store-black pepper, too-a big $ saver)

1/4 tsp. black pepper

1 loaf (1 lb.) french bread, halved lengthwise (I used hot dog buns-hey, I was at the $ store when I was buying my ingredients-it works and is perfect for kids, too)

1 lb. Deli Ham ( I used fresh ham, chopped-I keep small packages of ham (when I cook a big one) in the freezer, for omelets)

2 pkg. (2.1 oz. each) ready-to-serve fully cooked bacon, warm (I used packaged bacon I cooked in the microwave-one slice to each hot dog bun)

4 oz. pepperoni (yes, they have it at the $ store-lol-I precooked mine to remove a lot of the grease, in the oven, as I defrosted the ham in the oven , as well, in a covered bowl-blot the pepperonis on paper towels or coffee filters before assembling subs-Shanon did not do this, but I think its healthier to cook the pepperonis some)

1/2 cup pizza sauce (recipe will follow for homemade pizza sauce-Shanon did not include it, but it is easy and way cheaper to make your own)

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a small bowl. Spread mixture on inside halves of bread. Layer bottom halves of bread with ham, bacon and pepperoni and dollops of pizza sauce, spreading gently over meat. Replace tops of bread.

Wrap in foil, and place on large baking sheet. (I wrapped 4 hot dog buns together, for my son, and one separate, for me-I wanted another one-darn it! LOL)

Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes or until heated through. Cut into slices if using french bread.

Pizza Sauce

1 small can of tomato sauce (you can use large can of tomatoes, or tomato sauce if you are doubling this recipe. Just make sure, if you are using whole tomatoes to puree or chop tomatoes well-some people do not like whole tomatoes...)

1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning (basil/oregano-or one of these will work, again, basil is milder and better for people with indigestion)

1/2 to 1 tsp. garlic powder (or 1/2 clove of garlic minced)

1/2 tsp salt (optional)

1/4 tsp. pepper (optional)

1 tsp. olive oil, vegetable or canola oil (optional, although, true Italians use olive oil)

Mix well. You can warm this, but it is not necessary... Viola!


Now, prepare to receive a lot of compliments on this sandwich, and be prepared to fix this sandwich every game day. LOVE~

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Thumbprint Cookies

This recipe was given to me by a good friend, Lori Marshall, many years ago when we worked together. It is just like the cookies that are sold at our local bakery. Scrumptious! Be careful, they are addictive!

Thumbprint Cookies
Makes about 70
(You can half this recipe.)

1 cup margarine (regular Blue Bonnet is good) I found that margarine tastes better for some reason, or you can use butter, (2 sticks) softened
5 Tbl. confectioners sugar
2 cups (all-purpose) flour
2 tsp. vanilla
3/4 to 1 cup (or less) finely chopped pecans or walnuts (I do not use as much as the recipe calls for, and they are still great! How much do I use? about 1/4 cup nuts, and I shave them with a knife, or you could use a food processor.) Walnuts taste better to me!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Blend margarine and sugar together. Add flour, vanilla, and nuts and mix. Roll into small balls (about an inch-doesn't take much), place on cookie sheet, press with thumb to make thumbprint in center. If dough seems too sticky, add some more flour.

Bake for 18 minutes. Remove from oven. Cool on cookie sheet.

While your cookies cool, make the icing for centers with recipe below. Using a teaspoon of icing, touch center of cookie with teaspoon, let a little icing go into center of cookie. Viola!

Icing

1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
food color-1 drop-your choice of colors
2-3 drops of milk, add more, if desired if icing is too thick

Note: icing should be thick so that it very slowly (and I mean slow) flows off teaspoon. If you get it too runny, add more con. sugar.

These cookies are so delicious!

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Thin Mint Cookies (Like the Girl Scout Variety)

Thin Mint Cookies (Like the Girl Scout Variety)

1 Bag semi-sweet (or Milk Chocolate) Chocolate Chips
Peppermint Flavoring
Shortening (optional)
Ritz Crackers

Melt chocolate chips in microwave on 50% power, stirring every minute, until chips are melted. You can use a double boiler instead of microwave. Watch, though, if using microwave...chips can easily burn. If chocolate chips seem too thick, add about a tsp. of shortening.
Once chips are melted, add about a 1/4 tsp. mint flavor,adding more until mint taste you desire is achieved.

Dip ritz crackers in chocolate mixture. Lay on cookie sheet lined with waxed or parchment paper, or foil. Slip into frig until chocolate is set.

Yummy, and taste just like the girl scout version!

Amazing Funnel Cakes...Recipe Found!

I love to cook, and I am overjoyed when I find a recipe that is both delicious and amazing...the following is one of those...your family will think you're a veritable genius...

Funnel Cakes

3/4 cup milk
1 egg
3/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Salt
1 1/4 cup flour
2 TBL. Sugar
Oil for Frying
Confectioner's sugar
Fresh fruit, if desired
Maple syrup, if desired

Mix all ingredients, starting with milk and egg beaten together, then adding dry ingredients, while oil is heating in saucepan, or mini fryer. If batter appears too thick, add a tablespoon or two of milk.

Using a funnel, hold finger over small hole opening, gently pouring 3-4 TBL. of batter into large opening. Once funnel is filled with amount of batter desired, remove finger and crisscross batter into pan or fryer. If you do not have a funnel, simply use a small bowl or measuring cup to distribute batter into fryer, which I have found, is less messy! Depending on width of your fryer, your funnel cake will take on shape of fryer. Fry for one minute, turn over using a fork to fry the other side. Remove from fryer when golden brown, laying it on paper towels or coffee filters to absorb excess oil. Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar, serving while warm, and with fresh fruit, if desired. One can also serve with maple syrup, as well. Makes about 6-8 funnel cakes depending on the size of fryer. Enjoy!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Blog #9...Poignant, true story...Don't believe in God?...I dare you to read this...

I Can Only ImagineBeautiful By Mercy Me...order both CDs through Amazon.com

Dark days, adversity, I know too well what those means...but I also know what God has promised me...that He will take everything bad and turn it to my good...I just need a little FAITH...let me tell you, He knows all, sees all...God is not some mean, fist-clinching God who doesn't want us to be happy...quite the opposite...If you follow His word, He promises you a life of prosperity and happiness...now, things happen that try to thwart our faith, and satan will try to trip us up everytime...but don't give in, don't get wound up, if you are trying to live right, He will guide your path...The following is a story of Faith in His word, His love for us,and Hope...He sends us just what we need, and He is always right on time...

Back in 2010, I was living my dream of being self-employed, and I owned a little store. I had many customers who became my friends. One such customer was a lady I got to know really well, a beautiful woman with long red hair.

My favorite topic I like to talk about with friends is God. You see, I know there is a God, and yes, I believe He is real. In fact, I know He is real. This lady confirmed that. Here is her true story, as she related it to me...

My friend confided to me that she used to live in my hometown, and had come back to live again in Cleveland because of God, Himself. She said, in the weeks before July 7, 2007, she felt God was leading her to return to Cleveland. She related she was not overtly religious, but felt that God wanted her to return to where her son and his family were currently living. Moreover, she felt God wanted her to spend some time with her son, specifically.

Friends of hers, where she was living at the time, thought she must be losing her mind. They couldn’t believe she just wanted to pick up and move back to Tennessee because she had a sudden urging. After all, she had spent many years building her now successful photography business. With her move, she would need to find someone to take over her clients and all the obligations she had for upcoming weddings.

As she moved forward with her plans, she found someone she could trust to take over her business. Selling what she felt she couldn’t use of her personal items, and taking care of all final bills, she was still short $80 to complete her trip to relocate back to Tennessee. Realizing that she may not even be able to go on the eve of her move (which was July 6, 2007), naturally, she was overwrought. She began to pray, “Dear Lord, I know you wanted me to go to be with my son, but today, one day before I leave, I am short $80. Now, I trust that you have me in your care, and as you can see, I am faithful. But, Lord, I have no idea what to do. I have friends who just think I am nuts, so I cannot borrow from them…Please, Lord, if it is your will, I ask for some help here!”

Forging ahead, and telling no one of her predicament, she continued to pack her final belongings into her suitcases. The next day, intent on leaving, even if it meant leaving without all the money to make the trip…then, she heard a knock at the door. She opened it, and there stood an elderly couple. The woman said, “Don’t be startled, and don’t think we’re crazy, but we felt an intense urging from God to come here today.” Then, the woman asked her, “Do you know what today is?” my friend responded, “No, I don’t”. The woman went on, “Well, today is the most blessed day, for it is 7-7-07”, and with that, she handed her an envelope. Then the elderly woman said, “Do not open this until we are gone, but God wanted you to have this.”
Not knowing what was inside the envelope, my friend quickly opened it to find $77, and couldn’t believe her eyes. From that moment, she felt her urgings from God were ordained, loaded her rental truck and headed out.

Now, I wish the story ended here, but it doesn’t… my friend was able to spend almost a month with her son, his wife and their children. She said that she had the most beloved visit with him, discussing things that she thought impossible in the past, and even discussing his belief in God, she said, that he confirmed was strong…

On August 6, 2007, less than a month later, her son and his partner, who was also his brother-in-law (they had married sisters), headed out to do a transport job. They worked for a trucking company, and were in a tractor trailer rig somewhere in the upper mid-west. On August 8, 2007, my friend and her family were notified that her son and his brother-in-law were killed instantly in a collision with another truck that crossed over the median and hit their truck head-on…

Now, do you believe?


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y534wZSInUI


Listen to this moving song by Jennifer Hudson...this is a link you can order Jennifer's CD:

Friday, July 8, 2011

Blog #7... a few clean jokes and some other things...Keep your friends close, and keep your enemies off your Fb page...just sayin'

Well, it has been an exciting week...gettin this blog started, tryin to figure out stuff with the whole set up, trying to keep the critics happy! lol

Nothing like an embarrassing story about oneself to keep laughs going. And believe when I say, its always better to laugh at yourself, rather than the other way around-at others...the latter will almost always come back to bite you in the butt...if you say something like, "Oh, I would NEVER live in a trailer"...guess what? Somebody, don't know who???, will make sure you're livin in a trailer before years end...

Here goes...worked like a banshee all day, dog tired, finally arriving home, only to realize I had forgotten my kitty's food. Hoping my cat was somewhere chasing down a mouse, I quickly told my middle child, "Let's go to the grocery store, I forgot to get cat food". Taking off like a rocket to the car (and hoping for a treat of her own, I'm sure), my daughter was out the door. She must have set off the cat's alarm, cause when I stepped on the porch, my kitty met me with a look and meow that could kill.

Clearly seeing my cat was not happy with me, I turned to go get a can of tuna that I kept for emergencies such as this. Opening the can really quickly, I rushed to the front door to sit the tuna on the porch. As I did, my daughter bumped into me as she came back into the house to see what was taking me so long. Little did I know, when she bumped me, some of the tuna splashed onto my shirt. Thinking I was fine, we quickly got into the car and drove to the store.

At the checkout, as I began to pay, my daughter again bumped into me. As she did, being about at the heigth of my mid-driff, she got a whiff of the tuna and its juice. When she did, she blurted out, "Ooohhh, Mama, you smell like fish". Well, I thought I would die right then and there, because the whole crowd of people at the check-out stands turned around to look at me. Wishing I could wither into the floor, I spent the next 15 minutes trying to explain to a bunch of strangers why I smelled like fish...and then another 5 minutes in the car, trying to explain to a 5 year old why women do NOT want to smell like fish, nor do they like to have it broadcast if they do...lovely experience, to say the least. uuggghhh

I used to wait tables, and I could count on these two older ladies to come in on Tuesday afternoon for lunch. They were obviously Christian and very straight laced. Over time, we became great friends, and we enjoyed the occasional chat together.

One afternoon, discussing their grandchildren, one of the ladies shared this: "I had just gotten a new clock that I then hung on the wall in my kitchen. On the hour, the clock announced , 'hallelujah!' ".

She then related, "My grandson visited me not long after I got my clock, and upon hearing it strike the hour, pronouncing, 'halleluja!', he asked, "What the hell is that?'" She went on to say, "I spent the next 5 minutes trying to explain to my 4 year old grandson why it was not polite to use such language." I guess all children have the ability to 'undo' our lacing at times.

A man, having new neighbors move in next door, was eager to learn just what kind of neighbors would be residing next him...Spotting a little boy playing outside, he approached him, and introduced himself. He continued with the question, "Son, do you pray before your meals?" The little boy quickly answered, "Oh, no, we don't have to...my Mom's a good cook!".

A local preacher, who always called up the little children in the audience to come, sit, and talk about God with him, rounded the wee ones to the front of the church. Discussing The Commandment, "Thou shalt not steal", he asked the children if they ever had anything stolen from them. One little boy, about 5 or 6, piped up and said, "Oh, yes, just yesterday, someone stole my Dad's beer out of his boat!".

Children learn from us, are like sponges, and they will live by our examples wet set for them...no doubt about it, they are watching our every move. We should all want a better life for our children, more than what we had growing up...and,we should all honor them by teaching them right from wrong. In fact, The Good Book tells us that we are supposed to show them the way to do good and right !

Here is another story about children and what each parent, or at least, Daddy should be teaching their sons and daughters about respect for their Mother...

Doug had two children, a son and daughter, about 4 and 6 years of age. However, when he heard one of them using a tone with their Mother that he didn't appreciate, he sat them down to have a little conversation...this is how it went..."Children, you I know I love you, right? "Yes, Daddy", they answered. And, you know, I only want the best for you right? "Oh, yes, Daddy"...Doug went on..."I have noticed you using a tone with your Mother that I do not appreciate. Now, you probably haven't even realized this, but before she was your Mother, she was my wife, and I love her very much. From now on, when you speak to my wife, I do not want to hear anything disrespectful come out of your mouths toward her. OK?" They all agreed that evening that the children would treat their Mother with respect and kindness.

A few days later, Doug, having just arrived home from work, was met by his daughter. She was excited and exclaimed, "Daddy, you won't believe how brother has been speaking to your wife!"

So, you see, we can ask for respect, and we get respect when we treat others the way we want to be treated...its that simple...yelling gets no where...sitting down, getting on their level, showing you care, above all else, for them, treating them well, teaching them well because you love them...that is what good parenting is all about!

Out of the mouths of parents, into the minds of our children...love and cherish them!

This Blog dedicated to the memory of Caylee Anthony.