Spiced Pumpkin Softies

As Fall begins to arrive my mind turns to baking and the days of my mother and grandmother where canning was done and baking replaced it it in the kitchen. Pumpkin is one of my all time favorite flavors from pies, to breads to cookies I love them all. These little cookies from Womans Day would fit the bill as well. Hope you enjoy.

3/4 cup golden raisins
2 sticks (1 cup) light (Land O’Lakes) or regular butter, softened
1/2 cup each packed light brown sugar and granulated sugar
1 Tbsp pumpkin pie spice
2 tsp vanilla extract
3/4 tsp baking soda
1 large egg
3/4 cup canned pumpkin purée
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
Frosting
2 1/2 cups confectioners’ sugar
6 Tbsp 1/3-less-fat cream cheese (Neufchâtel), softened (3 oz)
1 Tbsp milk
1/2 tsp orange extract
Orange food color
Decoration: White nonpareils

Place raisins in small bowl; fill with hot water to cover. Let stand 10 minutes to soften; drain and reserve raisins. Heat oven to 350°F. You’ll need a baking sheet(s) lightly coated with nonstick spray. Beat butter, sugars, spice, vanilla and baking soda in a large bowl with mixer on medium speed 3 minutes or until fluffy. Beat in egg and pumpkin purée until well blended. On low speed, gradually beat in flour until just blended. Stir in reserved raisins. Drop level tablespoons of dough 1 in. apart onto greased baking sheet(s). Bake 14 to 16 minutes, until golden brown. Remove to rack to cool completely. Frosting: Beat ingredients in a medium bowl with mixer on medium-low speed until smooth; tint pastel orange with food color. Spread about 1 1/2 teaspoons frosting on each cookie. Sprinkle frosting with nonpareils. Refrigerate cookies to set frosting.

Storage Tip: Store airtight in refrigerator with wax paper between layers up to 1 week

Sirlion Steak with Roaste Vegetable Salad

1 cup uncooked barley
4 large Roma tomatoes, cut into wedges
8 ounces baby carrots, peeled
2 medium green bell peppers, cut into 1-inch thick pieces
2 teaspoons sodium-free herb seasoning
1 teaspoon fresh dill, diced
1 pound beef top sirloin steak, cut 1-inch thick
½ teaspoon cracked black pepper
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon garlic powder
4 cups Romaine lettuce
1 cup Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® Light Dressing
2 (6-inch) whole wheat pitas, lightly toasted and cut into 6 wedges each
Olive oil spray

InstructionsPrepare barley according to package directions. Rinse, drain, and allow to cool.
Preheat oven to 400°F. In a medium bowl, add the olive oil, herb seasoning, and dill, and whisk until emulsified. Add the tomatoes, carrots, and peppers and mix until well coated. Place the vegetables on a flat, nonstick oven pan and roast for 30 minutes or until tender. Preheat the grill. Season the steak with black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Grill the steak over medium, ash-covered coals. Grill uncovered, for 5-7 minutes on each side for medium-rare, turning once. Remove the meat from the grill, allow to rest, covered, for 5 minutes before slicing. Divide the lettuce leaves between 4 dinner plates. Top the lettuce with even amounts of the barley, vegetables, and steak. Top each serving with 2 tablespoons of the dressing and the toasted pita bread.

Recipe Source: Hidden Valley Ranch

Microwave Tip

When browning ground beef in microwave place in colander with bowl underneath the grease will drain into the bowl

Coupon Alert & Recipe for Red Gold Tomatoes

Printable coupon for $1 off 3 cans of Red Gold Tomatoes available at http://www.redgold.com/redgold/coupon-promotion.aspx?promo_id=69&urlcode=ebin91013 This coupon can be printed twice. Print your coupon, get your tomatoes and then try all the great recipes like

Sunrise Breakfast Sandwich

1 (1 pound 3 ounce) can refrigerator biscuits
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup chopped green bell pepper
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 (14.5 ounce) can Red Gold® Petite Diced Tomatoes Mexican Fiesta
8 eggs
Salt and black pepper to taste
8 slices pasteurized prepared cheese product
8 slices bacon, cooked crisp and cut in half

•Bake biscuits as directed on package; keep warm. In a medium saucepan melt butter over medium heat. Add green bell pepper and onion; cook for 2 minutes or until tender. Add RED GOLD® PETITE DICED TOMATOES MEXICAN FIESTA; continue cooking until most of liquid is evaporated; stirring occasionally.
•Combine eggs, salt and pepper in a bowl; blend well. Add to mixture in skillet and cook until mixture is almost set but still moist, stirring occasionally. Split warm biscuits and spoon egg mixture evenly onto bottom half of each biscuit. Top each with one slice of cheese, 2 bacon halves and remaining biscuit half.

Also like Red Gold on facebook and follow them on twitter

Sun Protection Zone Review and Giveaway

My family has learned the hard way about the damages the sun can do to ones body. I come from a long line of farmers who work in the sun, sports players who play in the sun and those that just love to relax in the sun. No matter what one does in the sun whether it be work, play or relaxing we all must be careful and use smart sun protection skills. Sun Protection Zone can help us do just that. With products for the entire family Sun Protection Zone helps to eliminate the threat of deadly skin rays reaching our skin.

Where we live the weather changes and we do have winter so every day is not a day to be in a swimming suit. However, there are still plenty of sunny days and the chance of getting a burn and redness from being in the yard or at a outdoor sports event is still a high chance because we stand in the sun with the rays of intense pressure. Sun Protection Zone is based on the concept of keeping kids safe and having fun in the summer sun. The children's rash guard shirts are made of proprietary high density yarn that provides 100 SPF/UPF 50+ UV Protection. The rash guard shirts are comfortable because of the flexibility of the fabric, dry quickly and works like sunscreen that you can't wash off. This is good news for moms who no longer will have to worry about reapplying sunscreen. We received one of the super cute SunSkinz shirts and Princess loves it. It is comfortable on her not restraining and the material does not feel rough.

Buy: you can purchase great Sun Protection Zone products from their website located at
http://store.sunprotectionzone.com/

Win: One of Annies Home readers will have the chance to win their choice of SunSkinz shirt.

To enter this giveaway take some time go window shopping at the Sun Protection Zone. Let me know a product that you would like to have

Extra Entries:

• follow Sun Protection Zone on twitter (2 entries)
• like Sun Protection Zone on facebook (2 entries)
• follow my blog (2 entries)
• follow my blog on twitter (2 entries for following and 1 entry for each tweet unlimited)
• share this giveaway on your blog, review / giveaway site, facebook etc... leave link if available or tell me what you did in comment (5 entries each)
• enter any of my giveaways (1 entry each)

Giveaway starts now and ends October 1, 2010. Good Luck. Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count.

we received a shirt like the one for the giveaway for review purposes. Opinions and thoughts are my own and may not agree with yours or others.

ABC Wednesday starring the letter I

With the letter of the day being the letter I there is no other way than to share with you all abou the great state from which I have lived my entire life the state of Illinois. Illinois is home to coal miners and farmers as well as business people and others. One odd fact about the part of Illinois I live in is that Shawneetown, a city in the southern part of Illinois was once a wonderful well functioning town that refused to buy bonds to help Chicago rebuild. They believed that the town of Chicago would never be anything. Boy did they have that pegged wrong.

Watery Wednesday : At the River

Last weekend I had a great time with friends one place that we visited was the river in Metropolis Illinois. I thought I would share with you a few of the great pictures that helped to capture the memories.




The wide expansive river how lovely it looks. Calm on this day but sometimes wild and unexpected on others. The river seems to roll on and on and the shore line on the other side looks so far away.

This is my hubby without him there the trip would not of been the same. He is funny and talkative and just loving. Of course I may be partial.

These two here are great friends. Not only is the dude in red my hubby's brother but they are also great friends of ours. No he is not drinking but rather recycling.

What is Your Child Learning

Today's world is becoming a busy world where an average family normally has both parents working. This leads to more children in day care and preschool. I overheard a conversation between two concerned moms the other day discussing what children in preschool should be learning. The concern was if the teachers were able to do all that they had in the past because of budget cuts, less supplies as well as less workers. So I thought I would share some of the tips found in the Parents online article What Your Child Should Learn in Preschool.

• A 2 year old gains experience in day care by building muscles and skills to paint and color as well as exposure to printed material. You should not expect your child to be reading and writing at this age but you should expect them to be able to tell you a story by a picture or words they create. Potty Training is a goal at this age as well.
• The world of a three year old is full of meeting friends and interactions. Words and writing as well as books (larger the better) become mixed into their world. Counting and understand numbers by counting objects has a role as well. Three year olds are old enough to take out toys and put them back where they belong. A big step for many day care providers as well as parents
• The days of yesterday Kindergarten of more play than learn are over. Kindergarten of today has reached goals that nearly makes it look like the first grade of yesterday. By 4 years old they should be showing signs of being ready to learn to read. Attention is placed on the child's attention span as well as following directions 2 things that will be expected in kindergarten. Often friends circles begin to grow and kindness is more openly seen.

While any and all of these skills can be learned at a center or at home the emphasis is placed on early learning skills as well as a bit of academics. Learning to play, socialize, using skills of early years is very important to their futures.

Frank and Bean Bake

Frank and Bean Bake


2 packages(12 ounces each) all-beef franks
4 cans(16 ounces each) vegetarian beans
1/4 cupketchup
2 tablespoonsDijon-style mustard
2 tablespoonsdark-brown sugar
2 tablespoonsdark molasses
2 teaspoonshot-pepper sauce
2 green onions, including part of the green, chopped
2 tablespoonsolive oil
1-1/3 cupsyellow cornmeal
2/3 cupall-purpose flour
2 tablespoonsgranulated sugar
2 teaspoonsbaking powder
1 teaspoonsalt
2 eggs
1 cupmilk

Heat oven to 350°F. Brown franks in large skillet, about 3 minutes on each side. Cut diagonally into 1-inch pieces. Mix beans, ketchup, mustard, sugar, molasses and pepper sauce in 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Stir in sliced franks. Can be prepared a day ahead to this point and refrigerated. Bake in 350°F oven 30 minutes. Meanwhile, sauté green onion in oil over medium heat until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Set aside. Whisk cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Stir in green onion along with cooking oil. Mix eggs and milk in small bowl. Stir into flour mixture until smooth. Spoon over casserole. Bake for 30 minutes more or until top is golden brown. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes before serving.

Recipe Source : Parents Online

Bob Books Review and Giveaway

Bob Books were created by teacher Bobby Lynn Maslen's with the special care that in my opinion only a school teacher could do. Special attention was placed on specific needs of children learning to read for the very first time. Bobby taught at the Catlin Gabel School in Portland Oregan where he worked with 3 to 5 year olds involved in constant invention in art, math, physical growth activities and reading. Bobby created the Bob Books after not being able to find books that were interesting enough for her young students.



Bobby was inspired by two small dolls she bought at a craft fair when she created the first books. One of the dolls was circular and one triagular. The book featured dolls named Mat and Sam and Bobby created stories around the characters and illustrated the book with line drawings. Children could copy and color the stories. At first the books were very personal created for each student later she standardized the set and her school printed 300 copies.

As the word about the books spread it eventually became a family project. Portland State University published the books for several years later they were self published. The Maslen’s worked on the books together as husband, John Maslen, a watercolor artist and former architect, drew new pictures and the couple's growing children helped collate and staple. The Bob Books grew in such popularity that they became the Children's Book-of-the-Month-Club selection, and the series was adopted by home-schoolers and Montessori teachers. News spread about the Bob Books on major T.V. shows The family turned to Scholastic Inc. a major publisher of children's books for help.

Our Opinion: we love the Bob Books and have talked to several elementary teachers who also love the Bob Books and believe that children are drawn to them and this makes learning easier. I volunteered several years as a reading assistant and have to say that I love it. I would do it all over again to watch these young children learn to read. We would read in the books, use flash cards for sight words and just have a wonderful time reading together. The Bob Books are a valuable resource in my opinion allowing Children to have fun while they learn to read. We received 2 sets of sight words one for Kindergarten and the other for First Grade. They instantly brought back memories of the years of being a reading assistant. The set of books that can be turned to and are kept nicely in a box where they can be turned to time and time again. I can remember making books out of printed paper that helped the children learn site words. The problem with the paper books was that the staple easily came out and the paper never stood up to much wear. The Bob Books on the other hand are put together nicely and I can only imagine what a great resource they would be to a classroom, a homeschool room or just anywhere a child is learning to read.

Scholastic sent me two sets of these valuable Bob Books. One of these sets I will keep and help my grandchildren learn to read and the other a lucky reader of Annies Home will receive. The winner will get their choice of set.

To enter this giveaway share with me a story or a tip to help someone to read.

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog (2 entries)


• take a look at all the Bob Books available and let me know what book you would love to share with someone (3 entries)


• follow Bob Books on Twitter (2 entries)


• like Bob Books on Facebook (2 entries)


• follow my blog on twitter and tweet about this giveaway (2 entries for following me on twitter leave your twitter name and 1 entry for each tweet unlimited)


• Share this giveaway on your blog, facebook, or giveaway place (5 entries each) share link in comment


• enter any of my other giveaways (1 entry each)


• comment on the reviews here or here or here (3 entries each)

Contest starts now and ends September 30, 2010. Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count

We received a set of Bob Books for review purposes. The opinion I shared here are personal and are my own. Your opinion may not be the same as mine as all opinions are a bit different

Pop Pals by Keen Distribution review

Most of us can recall the days that we would enjoy delicious ice pops. In fact for some of us that may not be too hard at all as if you are like me you still love them. As a young child I could never finish an ice pop before my hands were cold. That is why I am so happy to see that Keen Distribution created Pop Pals. Now young children like my grand daughter, niece and nephews will not have to remember days of their hands freezing while enjoying a favorite treat.

I also love the cute look that the Keen Pop Pals have. They are very colorful with matching color spots lining the backs. Not for sure about you but they almost look like an amphibian or reptile. My little Princess thought they were very cute. Pop Pals are insulating ice pop holders that are designed to help keep hands warm and ice pops cold. The pop pals are soft as they are made from soft flexible FDA food grade material and are PVC free, phthalate free and BpA-free. Kids will love to use the Pop Pals and they are a breeze to clean as they are dishwasher safe and freezer safe. The Pop Pals are created to be used with major brands of ice pops with features such as

Key Features
•Keeps hands warm
•Keeps ice pop cold
•Helps prevent sticky mess
•Dishwasher-safe
•Freezer-safe
•Made with FDA food grade material
•Versatile

To find a location where you can purchase Pop Pals as well as any of the other wonderful Keen products visit their website at http://keendistribution.com/buy.php

Keen Distribution sent me a set of the Pop Pals as well for review purposes. Thank you Keen. The opinions in this post belong to me personally and your opinions may or may not agree with them. In order to form your own opinion you will need to test the product yourself.

Sunkist S'alternative and contest information

Lemons that delicious yellow fruit that makes our drinks, desserts, salads and meats come to life. But with all the wonderful flavor they offer have you ever stopped to think about their health feature? I truly have never stopped to think about a lemon being healthy, sour maybe but never healthy. Sunkist S'alternative wants you to know that lemons are the healthy and flavorful salt alternative. We all know that lemons add wonderful flavoring to dishes now we can also rest assured that they are good for us as well. To help bring awareness to lemons the sodium alternative they have created a wonderful website full of information and recipes located at http://www.sunkistsalternative.com/

Sunkist wants to allow you and other lemon lovers to get in on the act as well by entering a recipe contest sponsored by Sunkist. S’alternative recipe contest ends September 30, 2010 so you have from now til then to submit your recipes for appetizer, salad, main course or sauce featuring Sunkist lemons as an alternative to salt. Winners have a chance to win up to a $1,000 grocery gift card!!! Two first prize winners will each receive a $500 grocery gift card!!!!! and seven third prize winner will receive a $100 grocery card. For a total of 10 winners, sounds like a great contest to me. Contest rules include open to U.S. residents 16 years of age and up. Official Rules

“I wrote this blog post at the request of Sunkist, making me eligible to get $10 in free Sunkist Lemons.”

Polish Sausage and Pepper $5 Dinner

I was lucky to recently be able to visit our local Amish community where good buys can be found all around. I came home with a bushel of bell peppers for $4. Great buy there were nearly 100 peppers I came some, gave some to my mom, my husbands dad and my husbands brother. I made many recipes with bell peppers including the one I am sharing here:

Polish Sausage and Pepper Dinner

polish sausage (this is the most expensive you can use bratwurst, hotdogs or sausages mine were $3 and I used smoked sausage)

3 bell peppers ($1 is what normal price would be here but as I shared I got a much better buy)

onion .50 (you can add more if you like one onion chopped was enough for our family)

Chop up sausages, peppers and onions. Brown sausages first and then add peppers and onions as if to smother the sausage. Stir and heat together til you can nearly see through the onion and the peppers look limp.

Bean and Corn Salsa

1 (15-oz.) can Green Giant® Black Beans, drained, rinsed*
1 cup Green Giant® Niblets® Frozen Corn (from 16-oz. pkg.), thawed
1 cup chopped tomatoes
1/2 cup chopped green onions
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons lime juice
1 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
2 serrano chile peppers, seeded, chopped

In large bowl, combine all ingredients; mix well. Cover; refrigerate to blend flavors. Serve over grilled meat.

Source: Tablespoon

Corn Muffins

Love thes as it becomes fall time for a big pot of ham n beans or just long side some soup. I shared with you a vintage recipe as well as an updated one.

Tennessee Muffins

•1 pint of corn meal
•1 pint of flour
•1 tablespoonful of sugar
•1 teaspoonful of salt
•3 teaspoonfuls of baking powder
•1 tablespoonful of lard or butter
•2 eggs
•1 pint of milk

Sift together corn meal, flour, sugar, salt and powder; rub in lard or butter cold, and eggs beaten and milk; mix into batter of consistency of cup-cake; muffin-rings to be cold and well greased, then fill two-thirds full. Bake in hot oven fifteen minutes.

Source White House cookbook 1887

TENNESSEE VALLEY GEMS

2 c. flour
3/4-1 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 lg. egg
1 c. milk
1/3 c. butter, melted & cooled
1 tbsp. vanilla

Sift dry ingredients. In a separate bowl, beat egg and add other ingredients. Grease mini muffin tins. Bake 15-16 minutes at 400 degrees. Sprinkle tops with powdered sugar. Makes 36 mini muffins.

Someday

Reminds me of my home town the place I wanted to get out of when I was young but now I want to go back to so bad.

Menu Planning

Can you imagine what would happen if there was never any plan for homemaking, menu making or planning for anything just going around willy nilly through life? Well, I can and i can tell you that I am not sure that a thing would get done. I am not sure that the laundry would be done, that the floors would be swept, the meals would be cooked or anything at all would be done. After all there is no plan that states that anything has to be done so we could just blog all day long, run around with friends or just take an easy day relaxing without worry. STOP THE INSANITY!!!! that is too much for me. I believe that I will go ahead and make a menu plan so that I will be sure that at least a few meals will be served in my home.

Meals for this week include:

• stir fry with bell peppers, onions and beef strips, cheese cake for dessert


• chilli dogs, tots, cheese, cookies for dessert


• fish, fries, slaw, jello for dessert


• chicken breast sandwiches, peas, slaw, pudding


• pork chops, stuffing, corn, cupcakes


• burritos, corn, chips, salsa, cookies


• pasta with meat (not sure what yet), garlic toast, green beans, jello

What will you be having or will you be going willy nilly?

•3 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
•2 red bell peppers
•3 tomatoes, sliced
•3 ounces arugula leaves
•1/2 cup mayonnaise
•1/4 cup Dijon-style mustard
•5 tablespoons olive oil
•2 tablespoons fresh thyme
•1 tablespoon black pepper
•1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
•1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
•1 teaspoon salt
•6 buns or 12 slices of bread

Pound chicken breasts to an even 1 inch thickness. Cut each breast into 2 equal sized pieces. Coat chicken breasts in a mixture of 3 tablespoons of the olive oil, black pepper and thyme leaves. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. Meanwhile cut the bell peppers into quarters and lightly coat with remaining olive oil. Place on preheated grill and cook until the surface begins to char. Turn to heat evenly. Remove peppers from grill and cut into thin slices. Combine mayonnaise, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar and salt in a nonreactive container. Grill chicken breast over a medium heat for about 5 to 6 minutes per side. Check for doneness before removing from grill. Juices should run clear. Remove from grill and assemble sandwiches while the chicken is still hot. To chicken with roasted peppers and sauce and put into buns or sliced bread.

shared on organized junkie

Shox Scooter By Shred Sled Review

WOW!!!! Are impressed, scooters have come a long way since the days my kids were young. Just take a look at the new Shox Scooter. My nephews are going to have a zipping good time enjoying this ride. I am sure my niece and grand daughter will quickly show them up just as soon as they are old enough to. The Shox Scooter is the first ever active shock absorber scooter that allows riders to perform higher, faster, more awesome tricks! Totally cool!!!! I have seen the super cool trick that the bikers perform but never on a scooter would I have imagined such tricks. Part of the reasoning behing the neat tricks is that the Shox Sooter is not like traditional scooters because the supreme shocks increase a rider's speed and air time, making stunts bigger and better. The Shox Scooter is not heavy not is it big it fits snuggled in the bottom of my closet and could easily go in most car trunks make transporting it to the park or other play area easy.

Buy: you can purchase the Shos Scooter for $59.99 at the Shred Sled website. The Shox Scooter is recommended for children ages 5 and up.

Stay up to date with Shred Sled to find out cool products they are offering as well as news and deals you can follow them on twitter and like them on facebook

We received one of the Shox Scooters from Team Mom. The thoughts and opinions are mine alone. Thanks Team Mom for the opportunity

Happy Homemaker Monday

The weather in my neck of the woods:
a bit cooler this morning you can tell that summer is ending and fall is on its way.

Things that make me happy:
seeing the smiling faces of my grandbaby, niece and nephews.


Book I'm reading:
Dork Diaries be watching for upcoming review


What I'm enjoying on TV:
lots of videos no cable or satelite here

On the menu for dinner:
taco salad

On my To Do List:
Laundry, general cleanup after weekend, helping with church highschool lunches, a few errands

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
been experimenting with my new fry daddy made fritters and they were great you can do search for this recipe on my blog


In the craft basket: nothing at present time need to start on christmas real soon

Looking forward to this week:
Looking forward to starting high school lunches, visiting childrens home and helping with fall fest and football game friday night


Tips and Tricks:
dont count your self down and out when you have God and great friends there for you

My favorite blog post this week:
wow been reading alot of great ones trying to leave comments whereever i go


Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Found lots of great ones out there too many to list

No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):






Lesson learned the past few days: grandbabies are special individuals

On my mind:
My sister who I have not seen for a while, my grandbaby, the precious bundle my daughter is carrying (she goes to doctor today so we should know more soon)


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
we are enjoying a series on prayer life at church very interesting

Sunday Stealing

. :::sniff, sniff::: Is the dog in the house?

nope outback where he belongs but there are bulldog fans in this house

2. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received?

My grandmother was always full of advice much of which I still share with those I love

3. What's the worst experience you've ever had involving alcohol?

Getting drunk and being embarrased at our local Hardees in the town where I worked

4. What's the worst thing you've ever done to another person?

I can not think of a worst thing however I did have my brother arrested to calm him down charges were later dropped

5. Who do you think started the concept of memes?

someone who wanted to see what everyone else thought and if it agreed with their thoughts

6. Give a song title or line that describes how you are feeling right now.

working woman's day off

7. What's your favorite search engine? Yahoo!, Google, Ask, Bing? or something else?

yahoo but use swagbucks a lot

8. If Paul is the Cute One and John is the Smart One and George is the Quiet One and Ringo is the Funny One, which Beatle are you?

I am the don't remember anything about any of them

9. The democratic government decides that, not only do we have to share our money with people who choose not to work, we also have to share our children with those who do not want to ruin their bodies with being pregnant. Which child do you give up?

thank goodness mine are all teenagers and older so if they want to pay out the college tuition and food bill that is required they are welcome to it LOL

10. When should you procrastinate - now or later?

later may be to late to procrastinate better do it now if we are going to

11. What is your favorite fast food?

Sonics or pizza

12. What was your favourite game as a child?

monopoly we would play for hours (this was before we all had video games)

13. Why terrible twos have to be terrible

Its the only age they can get away with it

14. Describe your favorite family member.

My favorite family member there are so many but one of them is the one that would play monopoly hours upon hours with us

15. What does your favorite breakfast consist of?

favorite but don't have it very often is overnight casserole

16. What food is better the day after it was made?

chilli

17. What was your last big purchase?

my granddaughter showing up at my house with her parents no warning what so ever

18. When was the last time you kissed someone and really enjoyed it?

my hubby today

19. Why are there memes?

I thought this was answered earlier with who invented them

20. Described yourself using two words that rhyme. (i.e. fuddy-duddy)

nana cana

21. If you were given the option of a "do-over" in life .. would you take it?

as long as I did not have to do everything over. I like my life for the most part the experiences have made me a strong person there are times that I would go back and listen or spend more time with those I loved

22. What movie makes (or has made) you cry? What touched you about it?

steel magnolia is the one I can think of now but there have been many

23. What is one big mistake that you did in your life? And what did you do to make it right?

I learned from mistakes there have been several along my life path

24. When Life Gives You Lemons, What Do You Do With Them?

do the best you can to make the good out of the bad just like lemonade out of lemons

25. How different are you in real life as compared to the online identity you have created for yourself?

I share it all on this blog if you read my blog then you know me

26. Do you know what your parents would have named you if you had been born the opposite sex?

they never gave a boys name other options for girls so glad they stuck with the one I got

Guess who came by for a suprise visit

Princess stopped by to see nana and papa. I love this little girl she is growing up so fast. Love you Princess

Metropolis Illinois

One of our favorite pictures taken from our day trip. This taken at dusk on the banks of the river. In the distance you can see the factory stacks and buildings as well as the tree line. It just seemed rather cool to us to capture a picture such as this

Crunchy Nacho Dogs

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations® refrigerated seamless dough sheet
4 slices (3/4 oz each) American cheese
4 hot dogs
1 tablespoon milk
1/2 cup crushed nacho cheese-flavored tortilla chips

1.Heat oven to 375°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
2.If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate dough into 4 rectangles. Firmly press perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut into 4 rectangles.
3.Place cheese slices on rectangles; place hot dog in center of each. Fold short sides of dough over hot dogs; roll up each. Press edges to seal. Brush rolls with milk; roll in crushed chips. Place rolls, seam side down, on cookie sheet.
4.Bake 15 to 22 minutes or until deep golden brown. If desired, serve with ketchup, salsa or sour cream.

Recipe source: Betty Crocker

Cinnamon Apple Cake

1 3/4 cups sugar, divided
1/2 cup stick margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 ounces block-style fat-free cream cheese, softened (about 3/4 cup)
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups chopped peeled Rome apple (about 2 large)
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°. Beat 1 1/2 cups sugar, margarine, vanilla, and cream cheese at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended (about 4 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture, beating at low speed until blended. Combine 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon. Combine 2 tablespoons cinnamon mixture and apple in a bowl, and stir apple mixture into batter. Pour batter into an 8-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon mixture. Bake at 350° for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool the cake completely on a wire rack, and cut using a serrated knife.
Note: You can also make this cake in a 9-inch square cake pan or a 9-inch springform pan; just reduce the cooking time by 5 minutes.

Recipe Source: My Recipes

Spiced Pork and Apricot Stew

This recipe provides a wonderful meal supper time. It combines a fruity taste with the spice of pork

2 ½ pounds boneless pork shoulder or butt, trimmed of excess fat and cut into 2-inch pieces
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground ginger
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
kosher salt and black pepper
1 medium onion, sliced ½-inch thick
2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
⅓ cup apricot preserves
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 15-ounce can chickpeas, rinsed
½ cup dried apricots, halved
cooked couscous, sliced scallions, and chopped roasted almonds, for serving

In a large Dutch oven, toss the pork with the paprika, cumin, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne, 1 teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper. Scatter the onion over the pork. Add the chicken broth, preserves, and vinegar to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, until tender, about 2 ½ hours. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and ¼ cup water and stir into the pot along with the chickpeas and dried apricots. Simmer, uncovered, until the cooking liquid is slightly thickened, 15 to 20 minutes more. Serve over couscous and sprinkle with the scallions and almonds, if desired.

Recipe Source : http://www.realsimple.com/

Maple Chipotle Glazed Corn on the Cob

Maple-Chipotle Glazed Corn on the Cob

6 ears of corn, husked
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup butter
2 chipotle chilies, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

In a small saucepan, combine butter, maple syrup, garlic, salt, pepper, and chipotle chilies. Allow to simmer over medium heat for about 10-12 minutes. Remove from heat and cool. Preheat grill for medium heat. Place corn onto grill and brush with maple glaze. Be sure to turn corn frequently and brush with glaze. Cook for 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and serve.

shared on blog remodelaholic

Playskool Walk n Ride

My grandbaby has a Playskool Walk n Ride and loves it. Right now Amazon has a wonderful deal where the price is less than 1/2 off. Right now the Playskool Walk n Ride is $13.54 the original price is $29.99 Check it out here at Amazon.com but hurry because the price may not last long.