Semi-Homemade

I like the idea of using ready-made products to make homemade dishes.  Sandra Lee does a good job of this, but sometimes she gets a little "out there".  I want to try some of her recipes.

Mocha Amour Brownies

Soft Granola Goodies

Bourbon Honey-Glazed Ham

Upside Down Apple Skillet Pie

Orange-Glazed Salmon

Okay, now I want to go to www.allrecipes.com and try to see if any of these are posted.  I already found Grandma's Iron Skillet Apple Pie!!!!!  You really can't beat this site for finding good recipes.  At least, I haven't found a better site out there.

Pretzels for Lent

Though the true origin of the pretzel is unknown, legend states that it has Christian and Lenten significance.

Our church bulletin states that the common pretzel was created for Lent during the Middle Ages, when people abstained from meat, eggs, milk, butter and lard.  Some say pretzels originated in Germany, while others say they started with monks in Southern France or Northern Italy.  If you turn a pretzel "upside down" where the two humps are on bottom, it symbolizes the way children used to pray - with their arms crossed and hands resting on opposite shoulders.  Some also say that the three open areas of the pretzel symbolize the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.  If you turn the pretzel 180 degrees, it resembles a heart and reminds us of Christ's love and sacrifice.  And breaking the pretzel bread while eating reminds us of the Last Supper, when Jesus broke the bread and passed the cup.  Here's an interesting article about the different histories of the pretzel.

Here is a simple pretzel recipe, even though it still uses dairy.  So, if we're going to cheat, let's go all the way and make the mall pretzel recipe here.  Or, let's just go to the mall and get some of those tasty pretzels...

Southern Plate Cookbook

I just downloaded my free Southern Plate Slow Cooker E-book.  Yay!!!

Click on the photo to go to the download page, and then check out the rest of her blog!  Thank you for the free Download, Christy!

Apple Salad

This easy, yummy salad is good for pot lucks, church suppers, family gatherings, or as a snack for the kiddos.

Apple Salad

*Peel, core and dice apples to fill your container about 2/3 full or as many as you want, mix them in a splash of lemon juice to keep them from browning.
*Add raisins (white, regular or both kinds) - as many as you want
*Add pecans - as much as you want
*Add just enough Cool Whip to coat and mix it all up - can use low fat cool whip
*Keep refrigerated. 

Linking up to the All Things Delicious post today - share your favorite salad!!!

 

Tortilla Roll-ups

I can't sleep tonight.  I get wired this time every night.  I need to start drinking a glass of wine or something to ease me into sleep mode.  While blog hopping, I found a recipe I've seen many places before, but it is yummy and easy and I wanted to remember it, so I'll post it here. 

Tortilla Roll Ups

2 (8oz) Cream Cheese at room temp

1 pkg Hidden Valley Ranch dressing mix

1 can Ro-Tel Tomatoes, drained

1 sm can chopped olives, drained (I use green onions instead)

1 pkg 10 lg flour tortillas

Mix cream cheese and dry dressing mix together. Add tomatoes and olives. Spoon out onto tortilla shell and spread thin. Roll tortilla up and refrigerate for a few hours.  Once firm, cut into pinwheels.

You can also leave out the tortillas and mix this as a dip with chips.

Apple Cider Cupcakes

I heard about these at a gathering and have been looking around for a recipe to try.  Think I've found one that sounds good.

http://www.food.com/recipe/apple-cider-cupcakes-442749

Cupcakes

• 2 eggs, at room temperature
• 1 2/3 cups flour
• 1 cup pasteurized apple cider
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Frosting

• 1 cup apple cider
• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 pinch salt
1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease or line 12 cupcake wells. 

2. Make cupcakes: In large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Add eggs, beat well. Add the baking powder, cinnamon and salt. Stir. Add the flour alternately with the apple cider until thoroughly combined. Pour into prepared cupcake pan, filling each cup 3/4 way full. Bake 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center of the center cupcake comes out clean. Cool completely. 

3. Make Frosting: Put the apple cider in a small pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Continue to boil until the cider is reduced to about 2 tablespoons (it will be slightly syrupy). Set aside to cool completely. With an electric mixer, beat together cooled reduced cider, cream cheese, pinch of salt, and 1 cup of the powdered sugar. Add enough additional powdered sugar for desired frosting texture.

4. Frost cupcakes!

Tree Years Old!

Started the day with Monkey Bread

Jackson Wynn turned three on Monday.  I can't believe my baby is three.  He's a hoot, adorable, and fearless.  He has started talking a lot more and people besides us can understand large portions of what he says...sometimes.  He is really into Thomas the Tank and has given up on Wubbzy lately (joy!!!) and the Wiggles are take it or leave it fare.  He likes to sing and loves to dance.  He's my rough and tumble baby.  He got Buzz and Woody dolls and some trains for his birthday.  His little party is this weekend.  We are doing a Toy Story theme because he's into Buzz and Woody and their stuff is plastered everywhere, so it is easy to get party supplies.

John Campbell still loves to terrorize him and one day (soon) Jackson Wynn is going to beat the tar out of that boy.  Mama will have to hide in a closet and allow the reckoning, as long as there is no blood spilled.  John Campbell has a lot of payback coming his way.  And Jackson Wynn is going to be a big boy.  Sometimes they are really sweet to one another, and through all the shoving and meanness, you can see the brotherly love.  I've been told that brothers will beat the dickens out of one another, whether I know about it or not, it is sure to happen.

I sure do love my boys and I'm so glad they are part of my life.  Even now, I can look at them and be a little shocked that they are really mine.  Three years ago, we stayed the night in a nice hotel downtown and then checked in at the butt-crack of dawn to the hospital.  I was first on the table.  It was a wonderful, planned, controlled C-section and the anesthesiologist was kind enough to slip me a little something extra at the end because I told him I was scared.  He even patted my forehead.  At that moment, that small gesture made me feel safe and I knew things would be okay.  I got to hold my son and have photos taken and I was up and around, caring for him and loving on him, later that day.  He nursed like a little champ from the get go (still is *cough cough cough*) and slept like shit for the first two and a half years.  We are just now getting through the night without the a.m. whines of "ba baaaaaaaah".  But, ba baaaaaaah has been a wonderful experience. 

I think the girls are done and are ready to flatten on out, stretch down and hang there like two well worn empty tobacco pouches.  Fun.

He loves to be read to and there is one particular Thomas book we have memorized.  I love reading it each and every time he brings it to me.  His face is so satisfied and happy when that book opens and he is tucked into my lap.  Happy Birthday, little man.  You are filled with sweetness and charm.  My facebook update is:

 is celebrating three years of free spirited, sweet loving, adorable incorrigibility

That pretty much sums up my sweet, little man.  Happy Birthday, my lovey.

Here's photos from our little party on the day of.  His "actual" party will be on the weekend.

 

I can't say no to this sweet face.

Bada Bing Pork Chops

I love the All Recipes website and get a lot of inspiration from there.

My next thing to try is Bada Bing Pork Chops.

1 cup Italian-style salad dressing
1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
1/2 cup applesauce
1/4 cup hot pepper sauce
1 lime, juiced
6 bone-in pork chops

Mix together the Italian dressing, Worcestershire sauce, applesauce, hot pepper sauce, and lime juice in a bowl. Pour the marinade over the pork chops, and refrigerate in marinade for 6 hours or overnight.

Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat, and lightly oil the grate.

Remove the chops from the marinade, and pour marinade into a saucepan. Bring the marinade to a boil over medium heat, and allow to boil for about 1 minute. Place the pork chops onto the preheated grill, and grill until well browned and no longer pink in the middle, about 6 minutes per side, basting the chops occasionally with the marinade. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read 160 degrees F (70 degrees C). Allow the marinade baste to cook completely onto the chops.

I'm going to make two batches of marinade so I can use fresh for the basting process. And I'm going to use lemon juice instead of lime. Can't wait to try it. I'll marinade them tonight and then Abbie can grill them tomorrow. Now, what to go with???

Maybe some corn on the cob and baked beans? Sounds good to me. The boys will like it.

And here are the boys I cook for, working on a puzzle during the weekend.

I am SO making this!

FINALLY!!! A monkey bread recipe that sounds like the boys and I can make without destroying the kitchen or taking much time. Yippee! I need to post it here so I don't lose it.

I started by looking at handmade aprons by Jennifer Carr, then ended up on her Hot Mama Apron Blog. Then, I found the recipe for Monkey Bread. I'm making this stuff this weekend. The boys will have fun and we'll all enjoy eating it.

Sweet Monkey Bread
2 cans Pillsbury Grands Homestyle refrigerated buttermilk biscuits.
1 stick butter, melted
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Slice each raw biscuit into four pieces. Roll each piece into a ball.
Put butter in a bowl and melt it
Combine sugars and cinnamon in a bowl

Dip each ball of dough into butter then into sugar. Place ball into a lightly greased bundt pan. Repeat until all pieces of dough have been dipped and placed in the bundt pan. Kids will love doing this!!

If there is any remaining butter or sugar, pour it over the top of the dough in the pan.

Bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until golden brown and no longer doughy in the center.

I'll try to get some pics when we make it and then post. I'm glad to have a blog, this is more of an organizational tool and a memory "book" for my kids than something that other people read, but I'm a visual person and this is right up my alley.

Daddy's Favorite Milestone

John Campbell has become quite the carnivore, but Daddy was most proud when his son ate his first Krystal.  Now he knows, without a doubt, that John Campbell is, indeed, his son.

I have noticed that, since he quit nursing, John Campbell has started eating meat.  He likes chicken, beef, and pork (BBQ so far), but he isn't a big fan of fish so far.  I'm not sure which meat category the Krystal fits into...but here are photos commerating the occasion.