Frito Lay Prize Pack Giveaway

I just entered a giveaway that both my teens and I will agree on. Frito Lay makes wonderful chips and is a name brand that my house hears often. This prize pack consist of


The Frito Lay Prize Pack Includes:
Frito Lays Bag
Sun Chips-Original
Frito Lays-lightly salted chips
Tostitos-Scoop chips
Frito Lays- bag clip
Frito Lays- Stainless Steel Bottle
A FREE Coupon for Frito Lays Products (Up to $3.99)

You can enter this giveaway at the blog Live, Love, Laugh with Leslie This giveaway ends September 26, 2010.

Tips to get Kids to Eat More Veggies

One area in being a parent is making sure that they eat nutritious and balanced meals. However, the problem is when our children refuse to eat what we serve them. We try our best but sometimes I feel rather desperate when I attempt to prepare delicious and nutritious meals. Here are a few tips that have worked for me and may hopefully work for you as well:

• Make a deal with your child. You decide what you serve, when you serve and they in return decide if and how much they eat. This no pressure deal often leads to our children wanting to eat more because they are in charge
• Provide structure for your child's meals and snacks. Setting times allows your child to know when they eat so that they are hungry for the next meal. Structure in a child's life gives them direction.
• Repeated exposure and role modeling allows your child to gain an attitude to try new foods including veggies, chicken and fish. If you serve veggies that are common to the child routinely then they will become accustomed to the dish and the taste of it. Eating together as a family allows them to feel secure and also to see you eat nutritional foods
• Get your children involved in preparing the food. Allow them to cook with you in the kitchen will allow them to watch as foods are prepared and also prepare them for when they go out on their own.

Pamper Gifts To Grow Points

New points for Pampers Gifts To Grow were shared on the blog The Frugal Girls. For 20 points use the code gifts2growbonus

for a long list of codes you can head over to The Frugal Girls blog

Where were you?

I will always remember as I watched in astonishment of what would happen on live T.V. on September 11 Where were you? I was at work that morning and was turning on the t.v. for the nursing home residents that we cared for. I called home as well as many of the other girls did. My husband had been listening to the radio working in his shop. Oh my the details that would happen that day will never be forgotten.

Saturday 9

Saturday: 9 post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak.


1. When was the last time that you had to tell someone that you loved, that the answer was no?

daily I am a mom of 6

2. When was the last time you visited a hospital?

its been a little while but probably when my mother in law was bad

3. If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?

parenting or recipes

4. Have you ever hit someone of the opposite sex?

yes but love pats only except when I was younger and would fight with my brothers

5. What's the first thing you notice about the preferred sex?

first thing would probably be their apperance and then ability to hold conversation

6. What really turns you on?

niceness will win me over any time

7. What was your biggest mistake?

Not going to college after highschool

8. Tell us something totally random about yourself.

I have hazel eyes like my dad

9. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity?

You have to listen to this

Wynonna shares a very touch testimony and then sings a song that I love so very much. Hope you all enjoy

Fritters

I recently bought a fry daddy and one thing that I can not wait to make it in it are fritters. Oh so sweet and good and full of fruit fritters are delicious to me. Just take a look at the fritter picture below what do you think?



I enjoy reading old recipes and seeing what they used and how they cooked. In this recipe you can see that the housewife must have known how to cook fairly well without real instructions or guidelines

Peach Fritters
Instructions
Make a batter. Take the fruit from a small can of peaches, lay it on a plate, and sprinkle with a spoonful of sugar and a glass of wine. Let it lie an hour, turning it once. Dip each piece in batter, and drop in boiling lard, or chop and mix with batter. Prepare the juice for a sauce. Fresh peaches or slices of tender apple can be used in the same way. Drain on brown paper, and sift sugar over them, before they go to table.

Source
The Easiest Way in Housekeeping and Cooking (1903)


2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup cold whole milk
3 Tbs. light brown sugar
1 cup all-purpose flour
Pinch baking soda
2 1/2 cups firm, peeled peach slices
3 cups peanut oil for frying
2 Tbs. confectioners’ Sugar

Beat together eggs, milk, brown sugar, flour and baking soda in large mixing bowl. Add peach slices, a few at a time, and coat well with batter. In large stockpot or deep fryer, heat oil to 375F. Using long slotted spoon, remove peach slices from batter, and place in oil. Fry 2 to 3 minutes, turning once, until lightly browned. Remove, using long slotted spoon, and drain on paper towels. Repeat process until all peach slices are fried and light brown. To serve, sprinkle fritters with confectioners’ Sugar, and serve hot.

Chocolate Bread Pudding

2 tablespoons unsalted butter
5 ounces (1/2 loaf) stale baguette, cut into 1-inch cubes
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
8 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
3 large egg yolks
1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon cocoa powder, for dusting

Preheat oven to 325° F. Coat six 5-ounce ramekins with the butter. Place the bread in a large bowl. In a small saucepan, whisk together the cream, milk, and vanilla and warm over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, just until the mixture comes to a boil. Remove from heat and add the chocolate chips, whisking until smooth. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg yolks and the sugar. Slowly whisk in a small amount of the hot chocolate cream, then whisk the egg mixture into the cream until thoroughly combined. Pour the mixture over the bread, stir, and press firmly with a spatula, making sure all the bread is soaked. Cover with plastic wrap and let sit for 20 minutes at room temperature. (It can soak in the refrigerator for up to a day.)
Bring a large kettle of water to a boil. Remove the plastic wrap and divide the chocolate bread into the prepared ramekins. Press down gently and ladle any remaining liquid evenly among the ramekins, then place them in a large roasting pan. Transfer the pan to the oven and fill with boiling water until it reaches halfway up the sides of the ramekins. Bake until the pudding is set, about 25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool at least 5 minutes in the water. Dust each ramekin with the cocoa. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Source Real Simple

Angela's Spicy Buffalo WIngs

2 1/2 pounds chicken wing pieces (wings already cut)
2 teaspoons salt
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1 cup all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
Spicy Buffalo Sauce
Cool Ranch Sauce
Celery sticks

Sprinkle wings with salt and next 3 ingredients. Dredge in flour, shaking to remove excess. Pour oil to depth of 2 inches into a large deep skillet; heat to 350°. Fry wings, in batches, 3 to 4 minutes on each side or until done. Drain on a wire rack over paper towels. Toss wings in Spicy Buffalo Sauce; serve immediately with Cool Ranch Sauce and celery sticks.

Source: Southern Living, SEPTEMBER 2010

Spiders

In our area there are spiders all over the place but for some reason it seems like the spiders are more noticed when the summer nights get cooler and before the colder nights set in. I just know that I do not want to meet up with any of these creatures any time soon.

Say It Aint So Joe

Rudy is one of my favorite movies of all times. It is a powerful movie about the underdog, team spirit and family. Joe Montana recently said that much of the fanfair was not true. While it is a hollywood movie and I am sure that there was parts added it just seems sad to me. I will always remember Rudy the movie a very inspiring one and the message that it sent.

My Teens Love English Muffin Pizza

One of the easiest things for my teens to make for snack or small meal are English Muffin Pizza For one thing they can fix them any way they want to and everyones can be different. Another reason is that they do not cost a lot of money. Here are a few different ways you can fix your english muffin pizza. You can also be creative and fix it a new and diverse manner.

Basic English Muffin Pizza Recipe

1 pkg. English muffins
1 can pizza sauce
1 (8 oz.) pkg. Mozzarella cheese

Lay split English muffins on paper plate. Pour pizza sauce over muffins, enough to cover them. Sprinkle cheese on top. Cook on medium high in the microwave for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Team Spirit Cupcakes

You all know that I am a big sport fan and tonight is no exception we will be going to cheer the freshmen football team on. Here is a great way to easily prepare a great snack or dessert for the tailgate party.

Purchase 12 cupcakes with vanilla frosting from your local grocery store or bakery. Top with coarse sugar in your team's colors. Tie coordinating colored ribbon around stems of 12 small lollipops; insert stems into center of cupcakes

Banana Split Cake

I had this dessert many years ago for the first time when my older sister fixed it for me. I found the recipe again and placed it on my blog for both me and you. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Recipe Source: Good Press blog

BANANA SPLIT CAKE

1 1/2 sticks margarine or butter, divided, softened
2 cups crushed vanilla wafers
2 cups confectioners sugar
1 8-ounce package light cream cheese
1 large can crushed pineapple, drained, reserving 1/4 cup pineapple juice
1 tub Cool Whip
3 medium bananas, sliced
chopped walnuts
maraschino cherries

Melt 1 stick butter and mix with vanilla wafers. Press into a 9-by-13 pan and bake 8 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool.

Beat 1/2 stick margarine and sugar together. Whip in cream cheese and pineapple juice. Fold in 1 cup Cool Whip. Spread over cooled crust.

Layer with sliced bananas.

Top with crushed pineapple.

Spread with remaining Cool Whip.

Sprinkle with nuts. Evenly space cherries on top.

Buffalo Chex Mix

Buffalo Chex® Mix


4 cups Rice Chex® cereal
4 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
2 cups Parmesan-flavored tiny fish-shaped crackers
2 cups pretzel twists
6 TBSP butter
2 1/2 TBSP hot sauce
1 packet ranch dressing mix
2 tsps celery seed


In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, crackers and pretzels; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in hot sauce and seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High 4 to 5 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Munchie Mug giveaway

Munchie Mug is a product that is 100% proudly made in America. The #1 goal of the Munchie Mug is safety. The cup itself is made of tough, durable and recyclable no. 5 polypropylene from American suppliers. The munchie mug comes with a 16 oz. plastic jar that holds 10 oz. of dry foodstuffs and is suitable for children 10 months and older. The cup has a lid screws on tight making sure that food stays in and the lid stays on.

Princess has a munchie mug of her own before the munchi mug her mommy would fill mini snack bags with her snack or place the snack in miniture bags. Neither worked real well. Both would spill easily leaving a mess but the Munchie Mug allowed Princess to get her snack easy without problems or worry of spilling. I believe that the munchi mug is great for toddlers like Princess or teens like I have. We all know how teens can be careless and my teens are no exception. Spill happen quite often but with the munchie mug it is less worry of making a mess because the snack is contained. The reasons that the Munchie Mug is so great is because:

•

• Secure Screw-On Top with Easy Grip Handle
  •Soft fabric closure for sensitive little hands
  •Easy to clean: Top Rack Dishwasher Safe
  •Great for healthy snacking: Cereals, dried fruits, crackers, etc.
  •Additional stay-fresh lid included for keeping snacks fresh when mug is not in use
  •Economically friendly: Made in the United States of America
  •Child friendly: Made of all FDA food grade compliant materials
  •Environmentally friendly: Made of 100% recyclable materials & eliminates waste created by plastic snack baggies that are used once and thrown away. Use the Munchie Mug, again, again, and again!!!

Buy: Order Munchie Mug for $15.95

Munchie Mug would love to give one of my readers their own mug. To enter this giveaway you must visit the Munchie Mug website and let me know which color you would choose.

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog (2 entries)
• subscribe to my blog (2 entries)
• place text link or button on your blog list (5 entries)
• follow munchie mug on twitter (2 entries)
• follow munchie mug on facebook leave message on their page that you entered giveaway here (3 entries)
• follow my blog on twitter and tweet this giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) link in comment
• blog this giveaway (5 entries) link in comment

Giveaway starts now and will end September 22, 2010. Good Luck Email must be in blog profile or in comment or entries will not count

there was no product or financial value received. This post was posted free of charge based on my personal opinions.

Free Graco LightUps Clippers for Moms To Be ($5.99 value)

LiteUps™ Clippers feature a bright LED light so you can see your baby’s nails more easily - you can even cut your baby’s nails in the dark while she sleeps. Sign up to receive Graco weekly newsletters on how to prepare for your baby's arrival and you will receive a pair for free! ($5.99 value)
Source Thrifty & Jinxy Thanks

Chance To Win Jamis Kids Bike

Snikiddy is joining the mobile world and would love to add you. Simply fill out the data form or text BIKE0101 or 2300 and you will be entered to win the Jamis Bike shown here. Giveaway ends September 17, 2010

Passed to me from a facebook friend

Bill Gates speech: 11 rules your kids did not and will not learn in school
.by Kent Summers on Wednesday, May 26, 2010 at 7:34am.

Rule 1: Life is not fair - get used to it!

Rule 2: The world doesn't care about your self-esteem. The world will expect you to accomplish something BEFORE you feel good about yourself.

Rule 3: You will NOT make $60,000 a year right out of high school. You won't be a vice-president with a car phone until you earn both.

Rule 4: If you think your teacher is tough, wait till you get a boss.

Rule 5: Flipping burgers is not beneath your dignity. Your Grandparents had a different word for burger flipping: they called it opportunity.

Rule 6: If you mess up, it's not your parents' fault, so don't whine about your mistakes, learn from them.

Rule 7: Before you were born, your parents weren't as boring as they are now. They got that way from paying your bills, cleaning your clothes and listening to you talk about how cool you thought you were. So before you save the rain forest from the parasites of your parent's generation, try delousing the closet in your own room.

Rule 8: Your school may have done away with winners and losers, but life HAS NOT. In some schools, they have abolished failing grades and they'll give you as MANY TIMES as you want to get the right answer. This doesn't bear the slightest resemblance to ANYTHING in real life.

Rule 9: Life is not divided into semesters. You don't get summers off and very few employers are interested in helping you FIND YOURSELF. Do that on your own time.

Rule 10: Television is NOT real life. In real life people actually have to leave the coffee shop and go to jobs.

Rule 11: Be nice to nerds. Chances are you'll end up working for one.

Snikiddy Snack Review and Giveaway

Snikiddy knows that our children are heading back to school and they also know about the after school munchies. While there are many things that our children find to snack on not all of them are good for their bodies. Snikiddy creates Snikiddy Snacks which are simple and wholesome snacks for not only our children but the entire family.





Snikiddy recently announced the arrival of their new snack all natural baked fries. The fries are available in several different flavors including bold buffalo, southwest cheddar, cheddar cheese, classic ketchup, original and Parmesan garlic. Like all Snikiddy Snack the fries are available in individual serving size and sharing size. As a mother I like this because if only one child is desiring a snack the snack bag works great but if we are serving the entire family a snack or serving snikiddy snack chips with sandwiches or along side a meal the sharing bag works great. Your choice just like you snack and the best thing is that Snikiddy has so many great snack choices that you can have a different one every day.




Snikiddy Snacks are perfect for the entire family from the youngest members toddler age to the oldest members of the family. Families are looking for high quality snacks that not only please the entire family but also promotes healthy eating habits. Snikiddy Snacks are made with real wholesome ingredients including cheese, potatoes and corn. Unlike other competitive snacks Snikiddy Snacks are gluten and wheat free and are made without high fructose corn syrups,
trans fats, artificial flavors or colors, or preservatives. It makes a mom feel good when I know that Snikiddy Snacks are loved by my teens, my nieces and nephews as well as me and my husband and that the snacks are better for us than other snacks that I could purchase. That makes Snikiddy Snacks tops in this house.


Want some delicious snikiddy snacks for yourself? Snikiddy is sponsoring a giveaway right here on Annies Home blog where the winner will receive a basket of delicious snacks including big bags of Grilled Cheese, Mac n’ Cheese, Cheddar Fries, Bold Buffalo Fries

To Enter giveaway visit the Snikiddy website and let me know what snack you are dying to try.

Extra Entries:

• follow my blog (2 entries)
• follow snikiddy on twitter (2 entries)
• like snikiddy on facebook (2 entries)
• subscribe to snikiddy newsletter and get $1 off coupon (2 entries)
• follow my blog on twitter and tweet this giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) link in comment
• subscribe to my blog (2 entries)
• place my button on your side bar (3 entries)
• place my text link on your blog (5 entries)
• blog about this giveaway link back to this post and to snikiddy (5 entries each)
  

Giveaway starts now and will end September 29, 2010. Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entry will not count

Snikiddy sent us some sample bags of their delicious snacks for review purposes. The thoughts expressed in this post are my opinion only . You may or may not agree with them depending on your own personal opinion.

Wallet Friendly Wednesday

I found a new meme that I thought would be awesome to take part in. The name of this meme is Wallet Friendly Wednesday and is hosted by Bargain Shopping Paradise. It is where we can share the deals we found this week no matter where it is. The grocery store, thrift shop, where ever a deal was to be found. Most of mine this week were on food. Such as the $10 I saved on 10 Kraft cheese products. My family loves cheese and I buy it quite often but with a coupon like that we could afford to buy more kinds and varieties. Thank you Kraft for the wonderful coupon. Another deal was buying a bushel of bell peppers from a Amish family in Kentucky they were $4 a bushel and the bushel held nearly 100 peppers. They were great I can only imagine all the great recipes I will be able to make.

We also attended a labor day festival where everything was free. A church puts this on every year. I must say there was plenty of games, attractions and food for everyone. The food was grand and it was all free from the kettle corn to the burgers from the corndogs to the cotton candy. Where ever you looked it was all free. This is the type of family event I love to share with my family.

What did you find this week that saved you money?

Greek Sliders and Honey Banana Chips

1 cup Fiber One® original bran cereal
3/4 cup Yoplait® Fat Free plain yogurt
2 teaspoons Greek seasoning
1 cup tightly packed fresh baby spinach leaves, finely chopped
1 lb extra lean (at least 93%) ground beef
10 whole wheat mini burger buns or dinner rolls, split
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (1 oz)
20 fresh baby spinach leaves
20 thin slices plum (Roma) tomato (from 3 medium)

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray broiler pan rack with cooking spray. Place cereal in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and finely crush with rolling pin or meat mallet (or finely crush in food processor). In large bowl, mix cereal, yogurt and Greek seasoning (mixture will be thick). Let stand 5 minutes. Add chopped spinach and beef; mix until thoroughly blended. Shape mixture into 10 small patties, about 1/2 inch thick. Place on rack in broiler pan. Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted in center of patties reads 160°F. Meanwhile, place dinner rolls on baking sheet, cut sides up. Spoon about 2 teaspoons feta cheese on top half of each dinner roll. Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until cheese is softened and rolls are warm. Place a burger on bottom half of each dinner roll. Top each with 2 spinach leaves, 2 tomato slices and top half of bun.

Source : Eat Better America

Honey Banana Chips

1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/8 tsp nutmeg
4 large bananas
Cooking Directions:
Slice bananas into .125 in.-.25 in. thick slices. Combine honey and lemon juice. Mix thoroughly. Dip banana slices into honey mixture. Pat dry. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Place on trays and dry at 135°F degrees F for 16-40 hours, or until chew

Snooki

Just had a curios thought as Snooki goes to court for being a public nuisance. I thought about my children and the pride I have in them. I am proud of my children for the good grades they get, for the good deeds they do, for standing up for who they are and for just being who they are. As Snooki faces court again I just wonder how her parents feel? Are they proud of her? After all she is a household name now. Even in my house where we do not have cable T.V. I know who Snooki is. But with Snooki getting in trouble a few different times do her parents keep their pride? I guess she is being who she is and that she is standing up for her self and she is their child so I would reckon they would be proud of her. or are they?

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 large egg, beaten
1 teaspoon baking soda
Change Measurements: US Metric

Preheat oven to 350* and grease cookie sheets. Beat together peanut butter and sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until smooth. Add beaten egg and baking soda to peanut butter mixture and beat until well combined. Roll 1 teaspoon of dough into a ball and place on cookie sheet. Place dough balls one inch apart on cookie sheet and flatten with tines of fork making a cross pattern. Bake until puffed and a golden pale, about 10 minutes. Cool cookies on baking sheet about 2 minutes and then transfer with spatula to rack to cool.

May be kept in air tight container at room temperature for 5 days. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Creating a Compost Pile

A compost pile be nothing special it does need to be in a special area as this is where you will be keeping leaves, food leftovers, and anything else that you will decompose in your compost pile. One great idea I found on Living Off the Grid suggests using skids or wooden pallets as the basis. This is a a great idea as the storage locker up the street has pallets for free. Many other places if you look around may as well. Follow the directions located on the blog easy and simple with well given directions.

Baby Crys What They Might Mean

Parents Magazine Online is always offering wonderful tips and ideas for rasing children. I found and article on reasons baby crys to be very thoughtfully composed. So why does the baby cry? The reasons may suprise you. Here are 8 reasons as to why the baby may cry as defined by Parents Magazine Online.

1. Too Hot often we think that our baby for some reason must be kept warmer than ourselves so we put more clothing on them than we do ourselves. This may lead to the baby getting overly warm which is something that they are not able to tell us so it may lead to the baby crying.
2. Simple arguing may upset the baby. They do not understand what is going on only that there is a lot of shouting and their world seems a bit messed up. To avoid this have discussions at normal voice tones as not to upset the baby
3. Babies can get stressed out easily by noise, too many people, busy places, not enough attention, too much attention and the list goes on. Stress can make big people cry so why wouldnt make little babies cry as well. Comfort them make sure they know all is o.k.
4. Tummy hurts, after having a child with chronic colic I know this cry all to well. Burping your baby more often may help to avoid the gas that can develop into a tummy ache, if the tummy aches, spitting up, etc... are a concern then you should talk to the babies doctor
5. One reason that babies may cry is because they are getting pinched. Remember our babies are small beings and even a simple hair wrapped around their finger or toe may cause pain. Look make sure their is no hair or thread that may be cutting off circulation on the baby leading to pain
6. Babies get lonely this often happens between 6 and 9 months of age when they develop a bond and are aware that they are alone. One thing that may help is a mobile or activity center. It can keep the babies attention busy and allow you to move around a bit as well
7. A common cry is hunger but sometimes this cry may full you. If you are on a scheduled feeding try to go for a stroll with the baby first if the crying does not stop then you should feed them a bit more
8. Babies get bored to and may lead to fussing and crying. Attempt to move your baby around in different areas so they do not become bored looking at the same environm

One Pan Italian

Recently I had a coupon for Johnsonville Sausage product and decided that I would be the ground Italian Sausage. Not really knowing what I would do with it but thought that it would go great with pasta and sauce I purchased the package of Italian Sausage. I visited the Johnsonville website and to my suprise found this easy to make one pot dish. Simple and perfect for Wednesday night when we are all expected at church at 6 p.m and since the kids do not get home that night til around 9 p.m. supper has to be quick, filling and delicious. So for supper tonight this is what I will be making.

One Pan Italian


•1 pkg. (19.76 oz.) Johnsonville® Italian Mild Sausage Links, casings removed
•1 jar (26 oz.) your favorite pasta sauce
•3 cups water
•8 oz. uncooked spaghetti, broken in half

In a large skillet, add sausage, breaking into bite-sized pieces. Cook over medium heat until browned and no longer pink; drain. Add pasta sauce and water; bring to a boil. Add spaghetti. Simmer, uncovered, for 8-10 minutes or until spaghetti is tender, stirring often

shared on Dining with Debbie

Ramen Noodles more than just soup

If you are like me then there has been some time in your life that you have dined on Ramen Noodles. I was a bit suprised to find all the wonderful recipes that call for ramen noodles.

Easy Chicken Noodle Soup
8 cups water
2 tablespoons oil (I like to use sesame oil)
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves, cut into bite-size pieces
1 carrot, shredded
1 cup thinly slivered cabbage (like for coleslaw)
2 cloves garlic, minced or crushed
1 teaspoon peeled and grated fresh ginger (optional)
4 packages chicken- or oriental-flavor ramen noodles
Soy sauce to taste

Bring water to a boil in a soup pot. While water comes to a boil, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Sauté chicken until browned on all sides and cooked through. Once water comes to a boil, add sautéed chicken, carrot, cabbage, garlic, and ginger to pot. Cook 2 minutes, then add ramen noodles along with only 2 of the flavor packets that come with the noodles. Cook 3 minutes and not a second longer – ramen is best when not cooked to death. Taste, then add a slosh of soy sauce if you like. (I like.)

Source: My Recipes

Mexican Bow Tie Pasta with Chicken

1 pound uncooked bow-tie pasta
1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs or breasts
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1 cup chicken broth
1 cup salsa
One 8-ounce package cream cheese, cut into 1/2-inch cubes

Cook pasta in boiling salted water according to package directions. Drain and set aside. Meanwhile, cut chicken into bite-size pieces. Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add chicken; cook, stirring, 4 to 5 minutes. Add garlic and continue to cook until chicken is just cooked through. Stir in flour; slowly pour in milk and broth, stirring constantly. Add salsa and cream cheese and stir until sauce is hot and bubbling and cream cheese is melted and smooth.

recipe source: my recipes
Add drained pasta to skillet; stir until pasta is coated with sauce and everything is well combined. Serve immediately

Tiny Talk : the things kids say

School is back in session and there is lots of tiny talk going on over at my sister in laws house. I just love to hear what they have to say for instance:

• she asked her 6 year old to go over and help his sister to this he replied "No, thats no my job I'm not the parent" She asked where he had heard that and he said his friends at school. No doubt there will be more statements like that coming home.

has your little one said anything out of sorts as of late? Share them on Not Before 7

Snap EZ one size pocket diaper review

My children were born during the disposable diaper era and that is what we chose to use. My mother used cloth diapers on us as they were easy to find, easy to care for and easy to use. Now my daughter and sister in law have the same privilege. Cloth diapers have come a long way from the era my mom used them til now.

Snap-EZ stands by their products and the principle of combining high quality products and friendly customer service The leader of the company a homeschooling mom to 11 children who range from ages of toddlers to adults she desires the company to be high quality with great customer service in order to meet the needs of families. The goal is to make raising children more economical and a better experience and believe it starts with Snap EZ diapers. As a mother of 11 she has 18 years of diapering children, 6 years experience as a professional seamstress and several years of business experience as well. With all that going for the Snap EZ company you still may be thinking that there are several cloth diaper companies on the market what makes this one different? Well let me tell you about the Snap EZ products. Snap EZ products are all handmade (no mass production) They strive to make designs that attract to the lifestyle of today to make cloth diapering a way of life for more people. The materials used are top of the line with highest quality. One other thing they do is that the products are tested on a variety of children before the new product is introduced to the customer.

Look at the rainbow of colors the Snap EZ one size pocket diaper is available in. Oh the variety of colors and outfits that could be worn to match. Girls colors, boys colors and those that are for either are available. The One Size Pocket Diaper Snap EZ grows with your little one and fits sizes from 8 to 28 lbs.

Buy: you can find EZ Snap diapers at http://www.snap-ez.com/index.html Currently there is a sale going on where the Snap EZ eco training pants are marked $1 off each. You can keep up to date with all the great sales and ongoing by signing up for their newsletter.