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Saturday, December 14, 2013

Rocky Road Brownies


Rocky Road Brownies are one of my mamas favorites. While not a big fan of chocolate these brownies come together and taste delicious

1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter
3 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 1/3 cups sugar
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup miniature marshmallows
1/2 cup chopped walnuts 

In a 2- to 3-quart pan over low heat, frequently stir butter and chocolate until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in sugar, eggs, vanilla, flour, and marshmallows until well blended.
Spread batter evenly in a buttered and floured 8-inch square baking pan. Sprinkle top evenly with walnuts. Bake in a 350° oven until deep brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Run a knife between pan rim and brownie. Let cool in pan on a rack, about 1 hour. Cut into 9 or 16 squares. Notes: Nutritional analysis is per small brownie. Store brownies airtight for up to 2 days.

recipe source: My Recipes

Big Mac Ornament and Sauce Recipe


One of my favorite ornaments thus far. Yes the big mac is for Christmas as well. Just don't let santa real near because he may just want a bite after his long night of traveling you know he has to be a bit hungry

Big Mac Sauce:
1/4 cup Miracle Whip
1/4 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons French dressing
1/2 tablespoon sweet relish
2 teaspoons dill pickle relish
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon onion, minced
1 teaspoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon ketchup                            
1 pinch salt       
 
Mix everything very well in a small container.  Microwave 25 seconds, and stir well again.  Cover, and refrigerate at least 1 hour before using (to allow all of the flavors to "meld").
 
recipe source: here

Friday, December 13, 2013

Moravian Tea Cakes

One thing that I like to do with my grandkids and when my own children were growing up was to introduce them to different taste around the world. These European based cookies are perfect for Christmas time. Enjoy


1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon lemon extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

 

Cream butter in a large mixing bowl; gradually add sugar, beating well. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in vanilla and lemon extract.
Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg in a medium mixing bowl. Gradually add to creamed mixture, stirring well after each addition.
Roll dough to 1/8-inch thickness on a heavily floured surface; cut dough with assorted cookie cutters. Place cookies 2 inches apart on lightly greased cookie sheets. Bake at 350° for 8 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets, and cool on wire racks.

Bit of HIstory : Salute To The Purple Aces


I was yet a young girl when this happened in history but was told by an older friend how terrible this was. Oh my the whole team gone in a flash. Members of the team
Seniors:...
Kevin Kingston, John Ed Washington and Marion Anthony “Tony” Winburn
Juniors:
Stephen Miller, Bryan Taylor
Sophomores:
Keith Moon
Freshmen:
Warren Alston, Ray Comandella, Mike Duff, Kraig Heckendorn, Michael Joyner, Barney Lewis, Greg Smith and Mark Siegel
Coach and Administrators:
Head Coach - Robert “Bobby” Watson
UE Athletic Business Manager - Bob Hudson
UE Comptroller - Charles Shike
Sports Information Director - Gregory Knipping
Radio announcer - Marvin “Marv” Bates
Two weeks after the crash, the only member of the basketball team who was not on the DC-3 was killed after being hit by a drunk driver, leaving all of the members of the 1977 Purple Aces Basketball team dead

Thursday, December 12, 2013




Do you remember making home made cards when you were a child? I sure do they were so fun to make. This year why no take some extra time and put a little love into the Christmas cards and make them for your friends and family. This would be a great project for the whole family to do together. You can find some wonderful Christmas Card resources here

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Appetier Idea : Meatballs


Looking for a festive dish to serve? Guest coming over? Holiday party? We love meatballs while we normally make with grape jelly the cranberry flavor will make it very festive.

Meatballs
1 lb lean (at least 80%) ground beef   
1/2  lb ground pork 
1  medium onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup)    
1/4 cup Progresso® plain bread crumbs    
1/2  teaspoon ground mustard  
1/2  teaspoon seasoned salt  
1/8 teaspoon pepper     
1  egg                                                  

Sauce

1 cup barbecue sauce          
1/2 cup cranberry-orange sauce (from 9.2-oz jar)                
1/2  teaspoon ground mustard         
1/2   teaspoon ground ginger                    
1/2   teaspoon salt               
2  tablespoons chopped fresh parsley                        
             
 Heat oven to 375°F. Spray 15x10x1-inch pan with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix all meatball ingredients. Shape into 1-inch meatballs. Place in pan. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until no longer pink in center and juice is clear.   In 2- to 2 1/2-quart slow cooker, mix all sauce ingredients except parsley until well blended. Add meatballs.  Cover and cook on Low heat setting 2 to 3 hours or until thoroughly heated. Stir in parsley. Serve meatballs with cocktail forks or toothpicks. Meatballs will hold on Low heat setting up to 2 hours; stir occasionally.

recipe source here

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The Taylor House

Christmas Guest




Have you ever thought about those that you meet along the way? If you take the time and listen to this you may change your mind on how you treat those that come along your path

Snowman Craft

This is a great craft that in my opinion is suitable for school age children and teens.





White Buttons - Use buttons with only 2 holes
Ribbon
Craft Foam
Magnets or Pin backing
Paint Brush
Acrylic Paint
Craft Glue
Scissors



Secure the two buttons together as if in a snowman shape. This may be easier done with a glue gun but tacky glue will work as well. Use the ribbon to create a scarf that covers where the buttons were glued together. Create a nose for the snowman out of orange construction paper so that it resembles a carrot nose. Create a hat for the snowman out of construction paper as well. This is where creativity comes in as all hats do not have to look alike. Using acrylic paint create a face for the snowman. Be creative and decorate the snowman the way you want it to look. Here in this house I am sure we would have a football snowman somehow as my son is a football fan

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Making Home Base
Sweet Haute
The Inspiration Gallery
The Brambelberry Cottage


Treasure Hunt Thursday
All Things Thursday Blog Hop

We Got Mention

The post where I shared my hubbys favorite fritter has earned mention at a fellow blog on the blog hop What WE Accomplished Wednesday. So very cool.

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Christmas Decorations You Can Easily Make Yourself

These super cute Christmas tree ornaments are easy to make. Simply use green felt, a cookie cutter, pencil and scissors trace the cutter pattern onto felt and cut out. Then to add the colorful beads you can either glue, sew or attach however you would like

Tissue Paper Snowman face is so very fun. Use construction paper to create the snowmans feature and glue onto the paper. The top hat can be created using cardstock You can even have fun create a bonnet for the mrs. Snowman.

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What We Accomplished Wednesday
thank goodness its monday
Sew it cook it craft it
Inspire Me Wednesday 

DS2 Prize Pack Giveaway


There is going to be one lucky winner of this DS2 gift package that includes
  • Nintendo 2DS system
  • Mario Party: Island Tour
  • Nintendo 2DS travel case
  • A Mario plushie (fun “travel companion” for kids)
  • A branded Nintendo water bottle
  • Mini backpack

  • Enter the giveaway at Mom and More
    Giveaway ends 12/23/13


    Spicy Sausage Dip


    This would be a great dish to bring to that next get together holiday party. It would also be great to serve along with Christmas breakfast buffet. Yummy I found this recipe while doing a bit of blog hopping on the blog Cassie Craves. As always trying to bring you the best I find

    Spicy Sausage Dipsource: Annie's Eats
    1 pound spicy/zesty sausage
    1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained
    2 8-ounce packages cream cheese
    Hot sauce, to taste

    1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the crumbled sausage until browned. Drain off any excess fat.

    2. Reduce the heat to medium and mix in the tomatoes, cream cheese, and hot sauce. Continue to cook, stirring frequently, until the mixture is warmed through and the ingredients are well blended. Taste and adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve warm.

    Monday, December 9, 2013

    Snowy Days



    The schools are closed again tomorrow in our area. It seems the snow and ice have made it a winter wonderland for the children. My niece and nephew had a great time getting out and playing in the snow the other day. Simply take a look and see if you can find their smiles. Building memories :)





    with all the fun they are having I truly would have only one wish and that is that we have a bit of the white stuff at Christmas

    Sunday, December 8, 2013

    Keeping Kitchen Cleaned During Holidays

    The holidays makes it very hard to keep the house organized and looking good. One thing that I hate is having guest over and my kitchen not being tidy. Here are some tips that may help you be prepared for guest with a clean kitchen:


    • One great idea to help keep the top of fridge from getting cluttered is to create a display on top of your fridge that takes up the entire space or placing a decorative item up there that does the same. I love vintage items so on top mine I have a beautiful old pitcher and glass set that I have spaced out to cover the top
    • Were you aware that the top of your microwave works better if not covered with mic... items? Well it does. If you insist on items being on the microwave or they end up there somehow then one thing that you can do is place a pedestal bowl on top of the microwave as sort of a catch all. this allows the microwave to still breathe as well
    • Organizing pantry space will not allow them to look neat but also help you put groceries away as often make it easier to find that ingredient when cooking. Separating items by use or variety are two great ways to set up your pantry.
    • One idea to keep counter space clear is to attach appliances such as coffee pot, can opener, etc... on the under neath side of the cabinet
    • One tip that I use all the time is to clean as you go. This takes less time because you have it all done as you cook and also makes kitchen look much better
    • One pet peeve of mine is when we save leftovers but for one reason or another do not label them. The best thing to do with left overs is to label them with date, and what it is. Remember these items have shelf life as well.
    I hope that these tips help you not only during the holidays but help to make life a bit easier. It seems to me that if my home is tidy I am happy. Do you have any tips to share would love to hear them please share in comments

    One of my dreaded jobs that seems like I do it more than my fair share is mopping the kitchen floor. I now can see why grandma would get so mad at us for spilling on the kitchen floor right after she got done mopping it.

    How to Mop a Floor:
    The best way to mop a floor is to start with the cleanest pallet possible so go ahead and sweep or vacuum that floor. Fill a bucket with hot water and add a small amount of cleaner to the water. Cleaners you can use include detergent, ammonia, or floor cleaner. The cleaner choice is up to you just read the directions on the container prior to using Now after the floor is clean and the water is ready it is time to start mopping the floor. First dip your mop into the bucket. Wring out the mop using your hands or if you have a mop that has a wringer you can use that as well. The best way to scrub (mop) is to go in a straight line if you are using a sponge mop or if you are using a rag mop then swirl the mop head in figure eight shapes. To remove hard stains you will have to apply pressure to the mop. Now that you have started mopping you will want to occasionally wring the pop out in the bucket One of the most important steps one that is not always possible for me is to let the floor dry before walking on it.

    Tips to help while mopping the floor
    1. Flip your mop over often to expose a clean side. If you use only one side you will have to rinse it more, wasting time.

    2. Before you mop your floor be sure to vacuum or sweep it first. Remove soil when it is dry before it turns into sticky mud.
    3. Use the correct amount of floor cleaner. If you try to be cheapo and use too little it will not work as quickly. if you use too much you will leave a residue on the floor making it get dirty quicker.
    4. Make at least two passes over each area. On your first pass you will wet the floor with cleaner. Give the cleaner time to work and then remove the soil on your second pass.
    5. Rinse your mop often to keep from spreading dirt around. If your floor is very soiled you may need to dump your mop water one or two times.

    Well having shared this information with you I am off to mop my floor. Hope you all have a great day.

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    Christmas Jello Recipe

      This recipe helped bring back awesome memories of my childhood Chrstmas' My mother loved recipes that included jello. This taste of home recipe would have been right there in the list of favorites I am sure



       
    1 package (3 ounces) cherry gelatin
    3 cups boiling water, divided
    1 can (29 ounces) sliced pears, undrained
    1 package (3 ounces) lemon gelatin
    1 package (8 ounces) PHILADELPHIA® Cream Cheese, cubed and softened
    1 package (3 ounces) lime gelatin
    1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple
    In a bowl, dissolve cherry gelatin in 1 cup boiling water. Drain pears, reserving 1 cup juice (discard remaining juice or save for another use). Stir pears and reserved juice into cherry gelatin. Pour into a 10-in. fluted tube pan or 3-qt. ring mold coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate until nearly set, about 1-1/4 hours. In a bowl, dissolve the lemon gelatin in 1 cup boiling water; refrigerate until slightly thickened. Beat in the cream cheese until blended. Pour over the cherry layer.  In another bowl, dissolve lime gelatin in remaining boiling water. Drain pineapple well, reserving juice. Add enough water to juice to measure 3/4 cup. Stir pineapple and reserved juice into lime gelatin; spoon over lemon layer. Refrigerate until firm. Unmold onto a serving plate. Yield: 12 servings.

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