long time,no update

Sorry I haven't updated in a while, just alot going on lately.  Nothing exciting, just the norm....work. :(  I'm in need of some help.   I'm running out of meals to make for a picky 5 y.o. who closely examines all of her food before it goes in her mouth.  So as you can imagine this makes sneaking the healthy stuff in realllllllly complicated!

She never gives me a challenge though.  I ask what she wants for dinner, buttered noodles or something so simple pops out, it drives me nuts sometimes!

Hap-V-Day :)

Good morning and happy valentines day lovers!  Hope everyone treats themselves to some chocolate today, diet or no diet!  I have some great news!  Actually let me just show you...

YAY! :)  I am one very happy person today!  My boyfriend however, is not.  I did not make him breakfast... 

But I will surprise him with a gift (which he doesn't think he's getting anything considering he told me V-day is a "girls" holiday) and perhaps I'll get into making something delish today.  I was going to make dinner but one of my good friends is going through a divorce so I'm taking her out tonight to help get her mind off of it all.


We celebrated our V-day last night with a trip to Olive Garden, mmmmm chicken parm!  I also recieved a beautiful necklace.

You  can't go wrong with jewelry and a kitchenaid mixer!  Now all I'm expecting are some chocolate covered strawberries!

I have a really awesome Orange Pound Cake recipe to share with you guys!

 

Orange Pound Cake

 

1 1/2 c. AP flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tbsp. orange zest

1/2 c. softened butter/margarine

1 c. granulated sugar

2 eggs

1/2 c. milk
3 tsp. Orange juice

 

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease and flour loaf pan.

In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, salt and orange zest.

In a medium bowl cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. (about 2 minutes).

Add eggs one at a time, beating after each one.

Add flour mixture alternately with milk until blended.

Stir in OJ.

Pour batter in loaf pan and bake 45-60 minutes, until a toothpick can be inserted and come out clean.

 

Orange glaze

Combine 2 tbsp. granulated sugar and 2 tsp. OJ, brush over loaf after removed from oven and pan, cool on wire rack.

 

 

Keep me updated on what you guys give/recieve/would want to recieve! 

 

And remember, keep it real today and everyday.

 

Hershey's giveaway

Hershey's giveaway 2013
Oh how i'd love to win this!!! This post gets me 25 chances!
 Imagine the things I could make!!! wish me luck! 
I mean it's no kitchenaid mixer, but i'm definately into these giveaways on blogs!

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Straw-nana Bread

OH MY GOSH...If I had smell-o-vision I would totally share the amazing aroma filling my house right now!  It's a mix between banana bread and french toast (along with my morning coffee!).  I'm making Strawberry banana bread, which I decided to call Straw-nana bread...I'm feeling rather inventive today.   I can just tell its going to be a pretty fabolous day.  Considering I'm off today and actually get to see my boyfriend for a little before he has to go into work all day/night. :(

Anyways, this recipe only uses one bowl (yay less dishes!!) and it's super easy!



Straw-nana Bread (Adapted from Lets Dish)
(serves 10)

3/4 c. Whole Wheat flour
3/4 c. AP flour

1/4 c. granulated sugar
1/4 c. light brown sugar, packed
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
2 medium bananas mashed
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. diced strawberries, reserve some for topping (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F, and lightly grease loaf pan, set aside.

In a large bowl combine flours, sugars, baking soda and cinnamon.

Add bananas and stir.

Add applesauce, egg and vanilla.  Stir until "just" combined. (you don't want to over stir!)

Fold in strawberries.

Pour batter into loaf pan, top with sliced strawberries.

Bake for 30-40 min. or until toothpick comes out clean.

Allow to cool in pan for 5 minutes then transfer to cooling rack.

 

 

 

Seriously, it was so simple that I woke up and made it this morning...and its extremely moist!  That's my favorite kind!

 

I'm really not sure why I've been on this bread kick lately...maybe because I have more confidence that my banana bread turned out?   Perhaps the fact that I keep buying fresh fruit and not eating it fast enough?  who knows.

 

By the way my boyfriends daughter accidently told me what my valentines day gift is... and its not a kitchenaid mixer or a new oven.  darn. I actually got into a small not so major argument with my boyfriend over that fact that he won't get me anything I ask for.  His reason being, they're household appliances and it's not right to get someone appliances for holidays, even if I beg for them.  Guess I'm going to start saving up some money then huh?

100 Cal banana bread/ Blueberry Orange bread

So I mentioned this "100 calorie banana bread" last blog.   Basically what happened was I made it last night and was going to take a picture of it today/post the recipe, however theres none left to take a picture of!  Yes, it actually turned out! As my boyfriend stated "This is the first banana bread you made thats actually good!"  well smartass it was only the 2nd time I made banana bread.   Ohhhhhhhh well, I still love him :)  Speaking of which, Valentines Day is coming up, I have nooo idea what to get my boyfriend.  I mean I already got him the watch he's been madly in love with for a while,  I also got him Burberry cologne, I have no idea what else there is to get him.  I need some help here! It'd be greatly appreciated.  Even better, guys, what would you like to recieve this year?  I'll let you guys in on a not so big secret of what I would love to recieve...  ready?

A hot pink kitchenaid mixer, which i spotted at Target for $300.  And ready....???  A new oven, so I can quit "baking" on broil.  It's tricky but I'm finally getting it down, it's just I can't come up with the right amount of baking time for things without them burning or not being done.  It really is a pain.  Plus we finally broke down and bought a new washer, FINALLY!! :)  I explained to my boyfriend how I would not AT ALL, WHATSOEVER, be disappointed if I recieved either or both of these as a Valentines day, anniversary, etc. gift.  I even asked for them for Christmas.  I don't know how much more upfront I can be about it!!! I'm sure it's less expensive and more productive to purchase either of these things than it is for sparkly pretty jewlery (that I wear only because I don't have a kitchenaid mixer or new oven to preoccupy me).  Just saying.
 

100 Calorie Banana Bread (Adapted from About.com)
10 servings, 100 calories each.


1/4 c. sugar
2 tbsp. butter/margarine, softened
1 large egg
1/4 c. unsweetened applesauce
1 c. ripe bananas (I used 2 medium)
3/4 c. AP flour
1/2 c. Whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 350 F.

In a large bowl combine butter and sugar, beat for about 2 minutes.  Add egg and applesauce, beat for another 2 minutes. 

Fold in bananas.

In a seperate large bowl whisk together flours, baking soda and salt.

Add flour mixture to banana mixture 1/2 c. at a time, mixing after each addition until moist.

Coat loaf pan (sides and bottom) with cooking spray and add batter.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. (Mine only took 40 minutes.)

Allow bread to cool in loaf pan for 5 minutes.  Then remove bread from pan and place on cooling rack to allow to cool rest of the way.

I am currently waiting on this awesome Blueberry Orange bread.  It's definately filling the house with the most amazing smell from the orange in it!

 
Blueberry Orange Bread (Adapted from Eat Yourself Skinny!)
10 servings, 168.9 calories each.


3/4 c. AP flour
3/4 c. Whole Wheat flour
1 tsp. Baking Powder
6 tbsp. butter/margarine, room temp.
3/4 c. sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
2 tbsp. orange zest
1 1/2 c. blueberries
1 6 oz. container organic blueberry (or plain) yogurt

 

Preheat oven to 350 F. 

Spray loaf pan (sides and bottom).

Whisk together flours, baking powder and salt.

With electric mixer beat together butter and sugar. 

Add eggs 1 at a time.

Add vanilla and zest.

Add flour 1/3 of flour mixture, blend well.  Add 1/2 yogurt, blend well.  Alternate starting and ending with flour.

Fold in blueberries, carefully!

Bake 55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Allow to cool in pan about 5 minutes then transfer to cooling rack to complete cooling.

 

 

***You can substitute AP flour for WW or whichever, just so theres 1 1/2 c. of flour.

***You can substitute sugar for 6 tbsp. Splenda.

***You can susbstitute yogurt for 1/2 c. low fat milk.

 

Blueberry Orange Bread Nutrition Facts

 

 

Ladies and Gents...We have a finished product!!!

 

I'm going to have to give myself a pat on the back for this one :)

I'm a tad bit disappointed that its 170 cals a slice but, I suppose thats more encouragement to work out so I can eat more!

 



Post- Superbowl

Hello readers, fellow bloggers, etc.  How is everyone doing today?  Me? I'm in need of a nice long workout at the gym...I have super bowl belly and i'm not digging it, at all. 

However, judging by the 3 "ripe" bananas (as my grandma would call them, i'd call them rotten), I've been looking for a low cal banana bread recipe, and I found one!  Therefore after I hit the gym (very shortly) I will be stopping by the store for unsweetened applesauce and whole wheat flour to give this banana bread a try.  It's only 100 cals per a slice and one loaf is 10 servings.   I'm excited and scared at the same time considering the first and last time I attempted to make banana bread it turned out hard as a rock.  The boyfriends grandmother tells me I stirred it too long... I think it's because I didn't go exactly by the recipe and skipped ahead like I knew what I was doing.  Either way I will be attempting banana bread once again.  I shall let everyone know how it turns out and post pictures/recipe for it!


Have a great Tuesday :)

p.s. what are you guys doing today?  It's finally my day off work and I'm awake early and sitting here on stumbleupon.  And theres currently a dusting of snow on the ground.


AND!!!! it's offically been 17 days since I quit smoking :D

It's that time of the year

Ya know, the post-holiday season, valentines, income taxes.  That fun stuff, not!  I actually decided to go get my taxes done "early" this year, rather than wait until the last minute as usual.  Anyways, I'm getting the normal amount back as always... even with buying a house this year has not helped and apparently will not help until next year. :(

Anyways, I was at walmart finishing up my taxes after I went to the gym and I was feeling rather hungry, which I'm not sure why after I all but crashed my diet at lunch time with grands biscuts filled with turkey burger and cheese (it was really the biscuits that did it!).  Anywho,  I decided i'd get a premade salad, something easy, nope of course they did not have in my desperate time of need.  So I checked out the frozen section...yeah I was that desperate!  I found some "lean pockets" with a pretzel crust, how could you turn that down? Plus they were filled with bbq chicken.  So I finally get home and microwave it, I was practically drooling from the smell of it, the taste not so much.  How in the heck did they get something so bland to smell sooooooooooooo amazing...the house still smells of it!

I seriously cannot wait to get off this diet...or at least expand my horizons of food.  Spinach and boiled chicken just aren't cutting it anymore.  I could really use a nice brownie or something super fat right now...or at least something that tastes like it'd be super fattening.   However I've never felt better or more in shape than I do now.  And on Saturday I will offically be 14 days without a cigarette!!! :)  Even better news, I only have 13 lbs. to lose until I'm at my goal weight!!  This week hasn't turned out to be too bad, so far, I still have to make it past the weekend.   Which by the way I filled out a job application last night for a facility literally 5 minutes away from my house rather than 30 minutes away.  Keep your fingers crossed that I get a job offer! I will be calling tomorrow afternoon to make sure they recieved my application.

I've got some frozen yogurt popsicles calling my name :)

Have a great weekend everybody!

Dun, dun, dun...

Good morning everybody, happy Sunday!
I have some great news...I'm 1 pound away from my halfway point in my weight loss!!! Yes things like that really do excite me, hence me jumping up and down after I weighed myself at the gym last night.
Anywho,  I also have some bad news.  My computer magically broke. Not the type of break where it's in pieces, the type of break where no matter how many times I open Internet explorer, it won't. It's just not having it today, therefore I'm posting this off my phone. Perhaps it's a sign for me to finish up my coffee and get to the gym, I'm not sure.
On another note, It's also been 8 days since I quit smoking and do I ever feel good!  It's not even about "proving a point" anymore, I'm now doing it for myself.

Just wanted to share some other great things with you guys:  after I went to the gym yesterday I decided to stop by Kohls and Target, I mean how could you not?  So while at kohls I found a pair of leggings for $3 that were originally $12!  I also invested in socks for my boyfriends daughter, 14 pairs for $3.60!  And a new pair of running shoes (Adidas) for $33 originally $70. I believe all of this is karma since I found someone's phone while shopping at kohls and handed it in.


Well, off to the gym! Have a great week everybody!

The first 24 hours!

Alright everybody, it's official.  I've been smoke- free for 24 hours! It feels pretty awesome, plus I'm definately proving a point to my boyfriend now.  He doesn't believe I can quit smoking due to the fact I've been smoking since I met him.  However, I have some really supportive co-workers, and some not so supportive co-workers.  But it's whatever, I'm willing to quit for a legit reason.  I even came home yesterday and cleaned my car out and sprayed it down, you can't even tell I smoked in there now!  However, I believe withdrawal is kicking in, I'm really not 100% sure.  I'm just super irritated right now, possibly from the stress at work then to get stuck behind someone with their turn signal on for 5 miles...how do you not know your turn signal is on for that long?  And even better why would it stay on for that long?  I'm just getting myself worked up talking about it!  Not to mention the lovely mess of broken Christmas ornaments that my dogs got into while I was at work, broken glass everywhere, and the dogs are fine no one got hurt. 
Also, since I've started this diet, I lost 12 pounds but now I ended up gaining 3 pounds back. I'm not happy about this at all!!!  I need tips and suggestions (for quitting smoking and my 1200 calorie diet, and yes I am going to the gym.)

On a positive note, I went shopping with my mother on Thursday and found some awesome stuff.  For example a Wilton Spritz cookie press.  I used to have one when I was younger and had the spritz cookie recipe memorized, kid you not. I got this bad boy for $13, it comes with 16 pattern disks, can't beat that.  I also found a pair of WV mountaineer yoga pants for $15 which is rather exciting for me.

Yikes!

It's been sooooo long since i've been on here, with the holidays and all.  Not to mention my work schedule changed and all that good stuff.  Anyways, I hope everyone had a good holiday and could hold their liquor (unlike myself)...
 
Just wanted to share an awesome story with you guys.  It all began the day after Christmas, you know when Bath and Body Works has their Semi-Annual sale, yeah. So I took my boyfriend to work at the mall and hung out with him until the mall actually opened at 8 am.  Keep in mind it was flurrying when we arrived at the mall.  So I probably spent 2 hours at the mall shopping, because I've been on this mission for a new pair of boots, not snow boots, just regular ol' boots...like the other 6 pair I have.   I was very unsuccessful with the boots but got all but a new wardrobe for under $100.   So I leave the mall, which is about 45 minutes away from our house, but as I was cleaning the snow off my car I was thinking how grateful I was that I wore my cowgirl boots and not moccasins.  So I'm on the interstate, which hasn't even been touched by a plow, yeah going 40 mph on the interstate instead of 65 mph, it was rough but with being in a car that absolutely sucks in the snow, I wasn't pushing it. After all slow and steady wins the race, apparently.  So I stop at Kohl's on my way home because well, I'm already out in this weather might as well get some great savings on a pair of boots.  Total success at Kohl's, I got a pair of biker looking boots and a few shirts for like....$40 or so. So I leave Kohl's and of course the roads still aren't plowed, at this point I'm thinking they got lost or something...  So silly ol' me takes the fastest route home...the back roads.  Of course my car got stuck on a hill and 15 cars passed by as I sat there bawling like a big baby.   Finally 15 minutes went by and I'm still trying to get up this hill, definately not working.  All of a sudden I see a white pick up truck pull over, get out and walk up to me (keep in mind i'm still bawling like a baby). The guy asks if I mind if he tries to get my car up the hill, of course not, it's not like he's going to get anywhere if he tried to steal it. Then another guy gets out of his SUV from behind me and helps push.  Well these 2 fine gentlemen didn't have much luck with my car, but I give them kuddos for trying.  Luckily the one guy was going in my direction and offered me a ride home.  Yes, scary but I had my boyfriend on the phone the whole time and made it home safely.  It just makes me really happy to know there are people out there who are willing to help.

And so the wonderful "New Years resolution" began...losing weight and excercising.  So far I've lost 9 pounds, and my boyfriend....20.  What the heck?! This is not even fair!  And of course I've been sick with god knows what for the past week, even the dr. can't figure out whats wrong with me.  Guess I'll just have to wait it out, or sweat it out at the gym.  What's your New years resolution?


How's everyones weekend going?  This is actually my first weekend off in months!  And it was a 3 day weekend thanks to my dr. visit who made me stay home on Friday, can't complain!  Not to mention yesterday it was 60 degrees out, I actually got to turn the heat off and open the windows, in Janurary!  I actually just turned the heat on an hour or so ago, considering it's not going to be warm at all today, just rainy :(

I  have this plan now. After I get off this low calorie diet (i'm only allowed 1260 calories a day), which I thought would be hard but it's really not to bad, it's just getting my butt to the gym is the problem. Anyways, after this diet is over and I'm at my "goal weight" (130 lbs, rather than 159 lbs) I'm going to attempt to do a little something like "Julie and Julia", I mean it could potentially be fun, right?  First things first though, the oven needs fixed...still. Or we just need to invest in a new one, which would probably work out for the better.

Alrighty everyone, sorry I haven't been on here lately, you know how it is during the holidays! Absolutely crazy, I'm actually at the point where I'm writing posts from my phone, yeah crazy. I totally cannot wait for Christmas to be here just so I can see the expression on my boyfriends face when he opens his Bulova skeleton face watch :) He's been looking at that thing for months now, EVERY time we go into the jewelry store, so of course I broke down and bought it! What can I say I'm a sucker at Christmas time, I absolutely love buying gifts for people, and making gifts.  We've been putting goody baskets together for our neighbors, they included ghiradelli milk chocolate covered gummy bears, pretzels and Pringles, yes Pringles. Probably the most amazing thing you will have tasted in a while. We also made 12 qt. of apple pie, I think the neighbors enjoyed the fact that we added a nice alcoholic beverage with their baskets.  Off topic, topic. Duke our Great Dane officially weighs 53 lbs. my little puppy's getting so big, it's hard to believe he's only 4 months old!  Hope everyone has a great holiday if I'm not back on before then! Safe traveling everyone :)

Awesome Blossoms

Alrighty, I just about had a panic attack.  I forgot all my login info!  But i'm here now.  All is good.


I've had this major craving for peanut butter blossoms, which is extremely rare, but I'm going with it and making some. :)  

So I went to the grocery store this morning for some kisses&reeses, thinking they wouldn't be as much as they were...$4.29 for a small bag....I about fainted in the store.  However, I went next door to Kmart, which I've never been a huge fan of.  Now I remember why.  They talked down to me because I wouldn't sign up for a rewards card, or whatever it's called.   Yeah...way to be extremely rude to your customer.  And to top it off you can fill out a survey online and possibly win $200,  my cashier told me "I'm not even going to bother explaining that to you, you probably don't have a computer."  Exxxxxxcuse me?! Anyways, these melt in your mouth pieces of heaven are ready for chowing on!


Start by grabbing all of your ingredients:
Flour
Baking Soda
Granulated Sugar
Brown Sugar
Unsalted butter
Vanilla Extract
1 Egg
Salt 
Hershey's Kisses and/or Reeses Mini Peanut Butter Cups

Unwrap approx. 48 pieces and set aside.

Remember to reward yourself with one, after going through that torture!

In a large bowl, combine butter, peanut butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar.

Beat until light and fluffy.

Add egg and vanilla extract.

Add flour and baking soda.

Finished dough will look something like this.

Roll into 1" balls, and coat in granulated sugar. (If dough is too soft to roll place in refrigerator for 30-60 minutes.)

 Place on an ungreased cookie sheet. 

Bake on 375 F for 8-10 minutes, or until golden brown.

Remove from the oven and immediately push candy into the center of the cookie.

 Place cookies on a cooling rack.

 Go on, try to resist eating one (or five) fresh from the oven.

Awesome Blossoms

1/2 C. Granulated Sugar

1/2 C. Light Brown Sugar

1/2 C. Unsalted Butter (1 stick)

1 C. Creamy Peanut Butter

1 Egg

1 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp. salt

1 3/4 C. All Purpose Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

Granulated Sugar for rolling

Hershey's Kisses and Mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups (approx. 48)

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Combine granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.  Gradually add flour and baking soda.  Shape the dough into 1" balls (if dough is too soft refrigerate 30-60 minutes).  Roll balls in sugar.  Place on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.  When cookies are done, immediately press candy into the center of the cookie.  Transfer to a cooling rack.

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Sorry guys, this is usually the time of the year that I get sidetracked...alot.  So much has happened this past week or so. Not really, but to me, yes.  

Let's see, This past weekend my boyfriend and I went to West Virginia University to visit my best friend.  We usually try to go visit her at LEAST once a football season.  Luckily we squeezed that in!  I would totally love to go down every weekend, but ya know...reality sucks.  I was pretty upset this visit, we ALWAYS win when I go to a game...nope not this time.  TCU beat us :(  by 1 point, one stinking point, IN OVERTIME.  It was pretty intense.  But as the say at WVU "Win or lose, we still booze".  I love it! 

After we got back from WV on Sunday we pretty much just had a chill night, ya know eat some fat snacks, watch tv/play call of duty in bed.  Then Monday, ohhhhhhh boy did I love Monday.  We set up a new wireless phone plan and... Drum roll please.


We got Iphone 5's  :)  I'v been dying to get another iphone for like.....a few years now. Let me just say, it feels flippin' fabolous to own one again.


Anyways, I've decided to make some buffalo chicken dip...ya know, I'm still in the tailgaiting spirit.  I made it the not so fancy way...I didn't feel like cooking chicken, this and that.  Me and canned chicken have always had a nice connection.


Buffalo Chicken Dip
1 5oz. can of canned chicken (in water)
1 8oz. package cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1/2 c. shredded monterey jack with jalapeno cheese +extra for topping.
1/2 c. Franks red hot sauce
1/2 c. ranch dressing
4 tbsp. spicy brown mustard


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  Mix the ingredients by hand (I found that a pastry blender works excellent! If you don't have a pastry blender just make sure the cream cheese and chicken aren't in huge chunks.)  Pour mixture into an ungreased 9x9 pan.  Sprinkle more monterey jack with jalapeno cheese on top (if desired).  Bake for 25-30 minutes.  Serve warm with tortilla chips.

Trick or Treat!

Happy Trick or Treat everyone...yes, I realize not everybody has trick or treat tonight.  I think they should just do trick or treat on one day, everybody has off, it's an all day event....yes much like Christmas, but with candy!  Oh, I would love it!!!  Here at our house we're prepped for trick or treat tonight...we're pumped!

Our goal is to be "that house" with the good candy...not the whoopers, apples, bananas, oranges...ya know..."yucky" stuff.  (I do love apples, bananas and oranges...just not for trick or treat.)

oh yes, the 5lb. assortment bag :)  plus we have 2 more of different kinds!

Apparently sour warheads turn your tounge extremely blue. I really don't remember that ever happening before! (Please excuse my "bum" clothes today.)

Have a safe and happy holiday everyone!!

Lazy Wednesday

Good morning guys!  Hope everyone is doing well.  I'd like to take the time and show you my failed attempt at banana cake....yeah.  It probably wouldn't be so bad if I used baking soda instead of baking powder, which is what I accidently grabbed out of the pantry :(  Plus our oven still doesn't work...well...kinda.  Broil works....that's about it,  now all we have left from this cake is horrific scratches on our new wood floor from pulling the stove out to try and fix it.  

The cake is exactly how it looks...gummy. :(  It actually has the consistency of banana bread, sort of, kinda.

However...great news!! The repair man is coming tomorrow for our oven and washer!

We bought a new spice rack yesterday....they gave us double of 6 spices.

We finally got our money for our trailer we just sold, gooooooodbye car payment, hello mortgage payment :(

Time to get a start on this day, have a great hump day!

Sweet Rice

It's Monday!!!! That means it's wing night for us, unfortunately we can't go for them until after 9 o'clock tonight, rather than our normal early bird 5 o'clock.  Work....always interfering with life.  Oh well.


Alright, so I've been working like a maniac.  I usually only work 3 12 hour days, Friday-Sunday, it's pretty awesome having off 4 days a week, every week.   However, our first house payment is coming up :(, I think this is my least favorite part. Long story short, I was on my way home from work and hungry for sweet rice, not to mention I've been bragging about this sweet rice to my boyfriend for like...a long time.  And it just makes the house smell splendid :)

The one thing I love most when coming home is seeing these sweet faces:

this means they missed me...

and these...

mean they did something bad...like knock the trash can over.

I don't think I'll ever understand why dogs are so obsessed with knocking trash cans over.  Gotta love them either way <3

Combine all ingredients in medium saucepan.

Bring to a boil on medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Once it starts to thicken up, reduce to low heat, stir frequently, until there is no excess moisture and rice is soft.

Serve warm or cold, with cinnamon on top. Enjoy! 

(I am completely unaware of what "1 serving" of sweet rice looks like...it's usually at least 2 servings in my bowl)

Grandmas Sweet Rice

4 C. milk

11/2 C. Rice

1/4 C. Granulated Sugar

1 tbsp. butter

1/4 C. raisins (optional)

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. cinnamon

Grab a medium saucepan and add all ingredients.  Stir together.  Boil on medium heat, occasionally stirring.  Once this starts to thicken up reduce to low heat and stir frequently for 15-20 minutes, until there is no excess moisture and rice is soft.  Serve warm or cold, with cinnamon on top.  Store in fridge.

***Let it cool down to room temperature before putting in the fridge.

Homemade Ham Pot Pie with homemade noodles

Alright guys, I've had this huge craving for chicken n' dumplins from Cracker Barrel, like my most favorite resturant, but...times are tough.  So I thought of the next best, closest thing, ham pot pie, with home made noodles. Plus I STILL can't use the oven :(  Not to mention it's helping me get in the holiday mood!  I just found out that trick-or-treat is next Thursday for our new town, yaaaaaay! Now we just need to stock up on candy and lots of it!

Homemade Ham Pot Pie
1 5lb. ham hock (fully cooked and cut into pieces.)
2 qt. any flavored broth (we used the broth from our ham when we cooked it.)
4-5 small potatoes cubed
2 c. frozen peas and carrots
1/2 c. chopped onion
1/2 c. chopped celery
1/4 c.all purpose flour
2 tsp. parsley

Homemade Noodles
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
 3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs
2 tbsp. cold water 

It's actually a very simple easy recipe, not too many ingredients.  Just simple and to the point, perfect for me who is cooking challenged.  

Start out either cooking your ham on the stove in a large pot with about 2-3 quarts of water, or how ever much you need to cover it about 3/4 of the way.  After your ham is done, ours took about 2 1/2 hours, remove it from the broth (DO NOT POUR OUT THE BROTH!!!!) and cut it up into small pieces, return to the broth.  Add potatoes, onions, and celery, let them cook on medium heat. When potatoes become soft (able to put a fork through) add your frozen peas and carrots along with flour and parsley.  Now time to make the noodles. Combine flour, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl.  In a separate bowl beat together eggs and water.  Slowly add flour mixture to egg mixture. Stir dough until it forms a ball (add small amount of water if necessary), dough should be stiff.  Cover surface with flour along with your rolling pin.  Roll out dough approx. 1 in. thick.  Cut into 2 in. squares, makes about 24 squares.  Slowly add noodles to pot pie, add them one at a time, if not they will stick together. After all your noodles have been added, let it simmer on low for about 1 1/2 hours, or until ready to be served.

Sorry guys!

Sorry guys, I know I said I'd have something new up yesterday come to find out I had actually signed up to work the next 3 Mondays.  And not to mention the fact that everyday this weekend felt like Monday, except for Monday...it felt like Friday.    Anyways, the oven still is not fixed :( we haven't had time to call anyone until today, so hopefully we can get this show on the road!  Well, I have some errands to run and some appliances that need fixed, I will actually try to get another post on here either later today or sometime tomorrow.  Have a great Tuesday and drink some coffee for me!

Pumpkin Spiced Cream Cheese Rolls

It's officially fall, I realized this while I was driving home today and all the leaves are falling off the trees, not to mention the 40  degrees windy weather!  I'm kind of bummed out about it this year, only because I love baking and right now I can't...our oven is broke!!!! :(  Not to mention I've been wanting to make something with pumpkin in it to get in the mood for the holidays, which are right around the corner, and nothing warms up the house like baking! I haven't been able to bake anything since we moved into our house.  Total buzzkill.  As I mentioned I'm obsessed with stumbleupon, I found this wonderful sounding recipe for pumpkin spice cream cheese rolls, and it's so simple, unfortunately I can't make them or test them out.   Anyways, here's the recipe, maybe someone will make them and send me some, or just let me know how they turned out, that would be fine too.

Pumpkin Spiced Cream Cheese Rolls

 2 packages of Pillsbury Crescent rolls

4 oz. softened cream cheese

1/4 c. brown sugar

1/4 c. canned pumpkin

1/4 tsp. cinnamon

1/8 tsp. nutmeg

Frosting 

 4 oz. softened cream cheese

1/2 c. powdered sugar

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1 tbsp. canned pumpkin

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Unroll crescent rolls to form 4 rectangles placed side by side.  Pinch together seams to form one large rectangle.  Beat together cream cheese, brown sugar, pumpkin, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Spread mixture over crescents leaving a 1/2" border around the edges.  Starting at the end roll up and cut into 1" pieces.  Place rolls on a greased cake pan. Bake 28- 30 minutes.   While the rolls are baking mix together the frosting ingredients, spread on rolls when they are done baking.


So this is the end to todays blog. Not so entertaining, no pictures...nothing.  I'll make up for it on Monday, it's back to work tomorrow, plus hopefully we'll have the oven fixed and tasty good looking stuff will be made if we do! Have a fabulous weekend everybody!

P.S. I have an Esty account, check it out!

Mod Podge!

Alright, here's the deal... My boyfriend and I just recently bought a house.  Sounds nice, but it's not, I absolutely hate moving stuff, hate it.  However, I sure don't mind making things to decorate the house.  So I decided to spruce up the toilet brush holder I bought today.  Just a plain white one from dollar tree, oh how I love that store!! It's actually quite simple, almost fool proof!

Grab your supplies:
toilet brush holder
Mod Podge (any finish, I used gloss)
Sponge brush (to brush on mod podge)
Scissors
Clear spray paint (finishing coat)
Acrylic paint if needed/wanted
and last but not least, and probably the hardest part....
a pattern you want to put on your toilet brush holder, I used this pattern.

or you can just as well Google a pattern or print.

First, print your pattern, I printed out four 3.5"x5's of my pattern ( I only ended up using 3 of them). Just use plain ol' printer paper, no need for anything fancy.

Next, apply a generous amount (not slopping wet, but enough to hold your paper in place) of Mod Podge to the toilet brush holder.

Cut out your pattern, I found it was easier to cut it into different pieces rather than just put the whole 3.5"x5 piece of paper on there, things slide and don't agree with me, ever.  Anyways whatever you decide to do with your paper that has your pattern printed on, mod podge that back of that (the plain white side).  Apply to the toilet brush holder, smooth out wrinkles, I had a bunch but you really can't tell. 

After your toilet brush holder is covered in the pattern put another coat of mod podge on top of that, all over.  DO NOT FREAK OUT, the mod podge will dry clear!!!

After the mod podge is dry (I used my hair dryer since I'm impatient), apply acrylic paint to any white areas, I had a white area around the top of my holder.  After the paint is dry apply a clear finishing coat.

V'oila! fancy toilet brush holder, enjoy!

The great thing about this project is that it's super inexpensive.

Mod Podge- already had (runs about $5 for a 5 oz. bottle)

Toilet Brush holder- $1 (dollar tree)

Acrylic Paint- already had (usually runs about $1 and some change for a 2 oz. bottle)

Clear finishing paint- already had (costs about $2 at Wal Mart)

Total Project Cost- $1.06 (stupid taxes)