Saturday 9

1. Do you listen to music at work, and if so, do you use a mp3 player, play it through your office computer, or do you listen to it collectively via a separate radio you keep nearby?


we listen to a radio I work in a DD facility and the music is something we all enjoy

2. Tell us something about people that you absolutely hate.


their smugness not everyone has it and those that do dont have it all the time but that is one quality that I most dislike
3. What is something someone has done that you'd like the world to know about?

I would love the world to know that this 16 year old girl that grew up to have 6 children and now 2 grandchildren has did a pretty good job with them all in college now and all doing great I believe I did my job as a mom when everyone thought it could not be done


4. Where is your favorite place to sit when at home?

my bedroom my desk my laptop my TV and my glass of tea those are the needed items to calm down after work


5. How did you come up with the title of your blog?

annie the nickname my dad gave me as a kid as well as the doll I love and home is because my blog is my home on the web


6. Tell us about the one who got away.

my first boyfriend graduated from school went to the military and I am very proud of him



7. Have you ever had a big birthday party?

well the biggest has been with a few select friends and family



8. What was the biggest bash you've ever attended?

church homecoming



9. With my kids and an always changing life, I find myself sometimes unable to focus! Do you have that problem, too?
 
yes at times I do

Six Word Saturday

Happy Birthday To My beautiful Daughter

My daughter turned 19 on the 4th of this month and tonight we celebrated her birthday. With the whole world ahead of her I am so very proud of her. She attends college and tries her best at this time in her life the world is at her fingertips and she so knows it.

Sweet Way To Get Dairy Into Your Diet

My mother does not drink milk. Don't ask her why just believe me that she does not drink it. While milk is not her thing she does find other ways to add dairy to her diet. This recipe for Chocolate Ricotta Mousse would be a sweet way to include dairy into her diet


1 15-ounce container ricotta (about 2 cups)


2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar

4 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted, plus more, shaved, for topping

In a food processor, blend the ricotta, sugar, and melted chocolate until smooth. Divide among bowls and top with the shaved chocolate. (The mousse can be refrigerated until ready to serve, up to 2 days. Bring to room temperature before serving.)

Starkist Kids Pizza

find this fun pizza for kids at Starkist

Aloha Friday: Couponing

Aloha Friday is an easy going day where bloggers ask simple questions that require simple answers and is hosted by An Island Life

My question comes after watching extreme couponing on TLC the other night. I am wondering

Do you use coupons? Is there a way that you like to gather coupons? I would love to hear what you do

winners : & Giveaway ends tonight

There are new winners on my blog the first two are for

Enjoy lighting

kayshem said...

Posted giveaway on FB

BethElderton said...

I like the Cocoa Brown Mottled Pillars – Sandalwood Fragrance.


Don't forget the Yoplait Kids giveaway ends tonight and winner will be announced tommorow so head over here

1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained


2 red bell peppers, sliced 1/2 inch thick

1 onion, cut into 8 wedges

2 teaspoons dried oregano

1 teaspoon ground cumin

kosher salt and black pepper

1 1/2 pounds flank steak, cut crosswise into thirds

1 cup long-grain white rice

1 avocado, sliced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves

In a 5- to 6-quart slow cooker, combine the tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, oregano, cumin, 1½ teaspoons salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Nestle the steak among the vegetables. Cook, covered, until the meat is tender and pulls apart easily, on high for 4 to 5 hours or on low for 7 to 8 hours. Twenty-five minutes before serving, cook the rice according to the package directions. Using two forks, shred the beef and mix it into the cooking liquid. Serve with the rice and top with the avocado and cilantro.

Lemon Dessert

1 can (12 ounces) evaporated milk


1 package (3 ounces) lemon gelatin

1 cup sugar

1-1/3 cups boiling water

1/4 cup lemon juice

1-3/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

5 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

Pour milk into a small metal bowl; place mixer beaters in the bowl. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

Meanwhile, in a large bowl, dissolve gelatin and sugar in boiling water. Stir in lemon juice. Cover and refrigerate until syrupy, about 1-1/2 hours.

In a small bowl, combine crumbs and butter; set aside 2 tablespoons for garnish. Press remaining crumbs onto the bottom of a 13-in. x 9-in. dish. Beat chilled milk until soft peaks form. Beat gelatin until tiny bubbles form. Fold milk into gelatin. Pour over prepared crust. Sprinkle with reserved crumbs. Cover and refrigerate until set. Cut into squares. Yield: 12 servings.

Recipe Source: taste of home

Moms Banana Bread

1 cup sugar


1/4 cup light butter, softened

1 2/3 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)

1/4 cup skim milk

1/4 cup low-fat sour cream

2 large egg whites

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine sugar and butter in a bowl; beat at medium speed of a mixer until well-blended. Add banana, milk, sour cream, and egg whites; beat well, and set aside. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt; stir well. Add dry ingredients to creamed mixture, beating until blended. Spoon batter into 4 (5 x 2 1/2-inch) miniature loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool in pans 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pans. Let cool completely on wire racks.
Note: To make one 9-inch loaf, spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; bake at 350º for 1 hour and 10 minutes. Yield: 1 loaf, 20 servings (serving size: 1 slice).

recipe source: my recipes

Light and Lovely Lemon Cream Cheese Cupcakes

1 pkg. (2-layer size) white cake mix


1 pkg. (3.4 oz.) JELL-O Lemon Flavor Instant Pudding

1 cup water

4 egg whites

2 Tbsp. oil

1 pkg. (8 oz.) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1/4 cup (1/2 stick) butter, softened

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 pkg. (16 oz.) powdered sugar

HEAT oven to 350ºF. BEAT first 5 ingredients in large bowl with mixer on low speed until moistened. (Batter will be thick.) Beat on medium speed 2 min. Spoon into 24 paper-lined muffin cups. BAKE 21 to 24 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 min.; remove to wire racks. Cool completely. BEAT cream cheese, butter and juice with mixer until well blended. Gradually add sugar, beating on low speed after each addition until well blended. Spread onto cupcakes.

recipe source: Kraft

http://romantichome.blogspot.com/2011/04/show-and-tell-friday.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+MyRomanticHome+%28My+Romantic+Home%29

Celebrate Today with Caramel Popcorn

Cooking spray


1 cup packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup light-colored corn syrup

1/3 cup butter

1 tablespoon light molasses

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

12 cups popcorn (popped without salt or fat)


Preheat oven to 250°.Coat a large jelly roll pan with cooking spray. Combine sugar, corn syrup, butter, and molasses in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook 5 minutes, stirring once. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla, baking soda, and salt. Place popcorn in a large bowl; pour sugar mixture over popcorn in a steady stream, stirring to coat. Spread popcorn mixture into prepared pan. Bake at 250° for 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Remove from oven; stir to break up any large clumps. Cool 15 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Note: Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week
 
recipe source: my recipes

Sweet Shapes Easter Cookie Cutter Giveaway

One that I remember about the holidays is my aunt and her delicious decorated sugar cookies. I can remember how she would come around the house each year and bring a paper plate full of goodies. Mom of course was in charge of those delicious cookies and each of us would receive our share. They tasted as good as they looked and the memories of those cookies has stayed very sweet in my memories. Do you prepare any delicious goodies for those you love during the holidays? Perhaps you would like to make your own attempt at making Easter sugar cookies. An easy sugar cookie recipe to start out with is:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour


1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

1 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cups white sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonfuls of dough into balls, and place onto ungreased cookie sheets.Bake 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheet two minutes before removing to cool on wire racks

Now that you have the sugar cookie recipe try creating shapes. In fact why not get the kids into the fun by allowing them to help cut out sugar cookies. With clean hands little ones can have lots of fun with this experience. SweetShapes makes some lovely cookie cutters for Easter just take a look:

These cute grippys are perfect for Easter. With an Easter Egg, a butterfly (perfect for spring), bunny head (great for creating decorated bunny faces), flower cutter (perfect for spring)

You can purchase these cute cutters from SweetShapes

Win: 2 of Annies Home readers will each win the four piece set. What fun they will have creating Easter sugar cut out cookies.

To enter this giveaway it is very simple share with me a recipe that you use for Easter dessert.

Giveaway starts now and ends April 13, 2011 Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile.

The post was created with thoughts of my own and no product was received for hosting the giveaway

Easter Pillow Pets

My Pillow Pets are the perfect friends when ever you may need one. While they are great stuffed animal friends they also double as pillows that can be taken anywhere. My Pillow Pets have a long list of animal pets that are available as well as Holiday Pillow Pets. Take a look at what we were recently sent

hat do you think? Don't you think he is a most adorable Easter floppy bunny? While I love that he is purple in color I adore the green plaid that lines his underside and inside his ears. Just helps to remind me of the vintage Easters in some way and offers my eye something fanciful to look at.

Great news!!! One of Annies Home readers will be able to win their own Pillow Pet fluffy eared rabbit. To enter this giveaway you must visit the My Pillow Pet website and let me know what pet caught your eye.

Extra Entries

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• follow my blog on twitter (2 entries)
• tweet the giveaway ( 1 entry per tweet unlimited) leave link in comment
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Giveaway starts now and ends April 16, 2011 Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count.

I would love to thank My Pillow Pets for the cute product that we were able to review for this post. Thoughts shared on this post are those of mine own.

Diabetic Recipe: meat pie

3/4 cup noodles, uncooked


2 1/2 cups tomato juice

2 cups celery , chopped fine

1/2 cup green pepper, chopped fine

2 cups lean beef , cut in 1 in cubes

cooked

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

1/2 teaspoon diet margarine



heat oven to 350f . combine all ingredients: turn into wellgreased casserole: bake 45 minutes and enjoy

Styling and Profiling for Black & White Wednesday

shared at http://thelongroadtochina.blogspot.com/

Spring Chicken Salad

Dressing:


1 tablespoon sugar

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1 tablespoon water

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

Salad:

4 cups torn romaine lettuce

4 cups arugula

2 cups quartered strawberries

1/3 cup vertically sliced red onion

12 ounces skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast, sliced

2 tablespoons unsalted cashews, halved

1/2 cup (2 ounces) crumbled blue cheese

To prepare dressing, combine first 5 ingredients in a small bowl. Gradually drizzle in oil, stirring constantly with a whisk. To prepare salad, combine romaine and next 4 ingredients (through chicken) in a bowl; toss gently. Place about 2 cups chicken mixture on each of 4 plates. Top each serving with 1 1/2 teaspoons cashews and 2 tablespoons cheese. Drizzle about 4 teaspoons dressing over each serving.



recipe source: my recipes



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Have You Had The Talk?

As our children grow up there are some very special talks that we must have with them. None more important than the talk about sex? The age of having this talk is up to you sometimes it comes early and sometimes come later. Our church helps take some of the pressure off parents by showing them how to have the talk and introducing the Silver Ring Thing. If you are not familiar the silver ring thing helps students to stay innocent until their marriage date.While I stand by this practice sometimes it does not always happen. When this happens it is time to talk to your child about using protection not only to help protect against pregnancy as well as STDs.

April is STD awareness month and Bloggers are coming together in Bloggers Unite to help spread awareness. Have the talk with those you love don't leaving theme searching for answers by their selves.

 I am sharing this on http://www.bloggersunite.org/event/std-awareness-month-april-2011 where you can find more information

New Giveaways I Entered

The blog Two of A Kind Working On a Full House is hosting a giveaway sponsored by Wilton. Easter is a wonderful time to create goodies with your family and Wilton goodies can always help. This giveway ends April 11, 2011  

Cute Easter Treat

This is very cute header to place on your peeps. If you want to make a few of these up for those on your Easter list check it out here

Delicious Mexican Cake

Sometimes I create meal plans with themes. The problem is that sometimeswhen I would try to find Mexican themed desserts I had trouble This delicious cake recipe would fit right in and you can find it here

Monday Meal Plan



share yours here



Meal planning helps keep me straight while working and now that spring is here it will be needed

Monday:

Pork Chops, veggies, rolls, brownies

Tuesday:

Taste of Home noodle bake ( I will share recipe later)

Wednesday:

meatball subs, chips, cookies

Thursday

cheeseburger mac casserole,

Friday

corndog, fries,

Saturday

breakfast casserole

Sunday

roast, potato, corn

What will you be having this week I am always looking for ideas I would love it if you would share your meal ideas

Flowers For Mom

Macaroni and Ham Casserole

1 package (7 ounces) elbow macaroni


2 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes

3/4 teaspoon ground mustard

1/4 teaspoon pepper

2 cups 2% milk

1 package (16 ounces) process cheese (Velveeta), cubed

2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

1 package (10 ounces) frozen cut asparagus, thawed

1 jar (6 ounces) sliced mushrooms, drained

3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs

Cook macaroni according to package directions. Meanwhile, in a large saucepan, melt butter. Stir in the flour, parsley, mustard and pepper until blended. Gradually stir in milk. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in cheese until melted. Drain macaroni; add to cheese sauce. Stir in the ham, asparagus and mushrooms. Transfer to a greased 2-1/2-qt. baking dish. Sprinkle with bread crumbs. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25-30 minutes or until bubbly. Yield: 6 servings.

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recipe source : Taste of Home

Book Review for Baseball Fans

Author Scott Lamb and Tim Ellsworth published by Thomas Nelson.

Are you a baseball fan? It seems that everyone has their own favorite team. In Southern Illinois where I live it seems you are either a St. Louis Cardinal fan or Chicago Cubs fan and the rivalry between the two is thick. Whether you are a fan of baseball or not I would recommend you check out the book Pujols More Than The Game. Albert Pujols is considered by many the  greatest player in the history of baseball! He has hit more homers than Babe Ruth, more hits than Pete Rose, more RBIs than Hank Aaron, and more runs than Rickey Henderson did at that age. With all the points of history and fame Albert has no problem stepping up and taking on the role model position.

The authors Scott Lamb and Tims Ellsworth share the story of Albert Pujols from his early life in Santo Domingo   Dominican Republic the son of a professional baseball player. The excitement of watching his father play ball made Pujols want to play himself. While he loved his father very much there were a few things that his father did that he vowed he himself would never do. His father would follow up the ballgames with drinking with friends til he stumbled home drunk directed by young Pujols. It was these early experiences that aged Pujols early and made him strong something he thanks God for doing.

While in his teen years Pujols moved to Kansas City Mo. with his family. He attended Fort Osage Senior High School and played baseball there which he was good at and struggled to learn English. During the summer he would play American Legion baseball as well as play college ball for Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City and as we all know play in the Majors as a Cardinal

I enjoyed the book because it shared the story of Albert Pujols both on and off the field. I also loved it because a young baseball fan can find a great Christian role model. Pujols wife was the one that influenced him to become a Christian believer. The authors shared how becoming a Christian influenced Pujols throughout his life. “Every time I go out there, it’s to glorify my God,” says Pujols.

When the issue of drug use by major league baseball players came up they found Pujols on the list of players. This is also shared in the book as well as how the media reports were declared inaccurate and the calm actions of Pujols' during this time helped show his strength. The reasons he avoided drug use are also listed in the book.

This is a great book for anyone young or old. I shared it with my mother, my teens, as well as me and my husband reading it. Each of us received a message from it.

Greek Sandwich

Vinaigrette:


2 tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

1/2 teaspoon sugar

1/2 teaspoon dried oregano

1/8 teaspoon salt

1 garlic clove, minced

Sandwich:

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

8 (1/4-inch-thick) slices tomato

8 (1-ounce) slices sourdough bread

1 peeled cucumber, diagonally cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices

3 cups chopped arugula

1/2 cup vertically sliced red onion

2 tablespoons chopped pitted kalamata olives

To prepare the vinaigrette, combine the first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.
To prepare the sandwich, combine 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper in a medium bowl. Place 2 tomato slices on each of 4 bread slices, and sprinkle evenly with half of the salt mixture. Arrange the cucumber slices over the tomato slices; sprinkle evenly with remaining salt mixture. Add arugula, onion, and chopped olives to the vinaigrette; toss to coat. Arrange the arugula mixture evenly over the cucumber slices. Top with the remaining bread slices.

recipe source: My Recipes

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Blue Monday : First Car

This is my cousin and his car when he was in highschool. Do you remember your first car? Mine was a Ford T-Bird loved it

Divvies Review and Giveaway

Divvies is one reason why children with food allergies can enjoy the delicious sweets of the Easter season. I have had the opportunity to work with Divvies on a few different occasions and love the delicious sweets that they have shared with me. If you are not familiar with Divvies let me share a bit of background with you:

The Sandler family sought a homemade fun-foods that their whole family and friends could enjoy. They wanted foods that were peanut, tree nut, eggs and milk free and they wanted their goodies to be delicious ones where everyone would ask for more. They saw their goal become reality and now Divvies fun-foods are available to share across the country with friends and family. Snacks such as cookies, popcorns, and cupcakes are made in the company’s-own dedicated facility where no peanuts, tree nuts, eggs or milk enter the doors.  Divvies candies, frosting, and sprinkles are certified by their manufacturers to be peanut-, tree nut-, milk-, and egg-free and are packaged in Divvies Bakery. Divvies conducts routine testing to minimize the risk of any cross-contamination in their certified allergen-free ingredients.

So if you thought you would not be able to get your child with food allergies Easter goodies think again as Divvies has beautiful and tasty Easter Candies. We were sent two hand poured gourmet chocolate bunnies, two different kinds of jelly beans and their chocolate bag kit.

Chocolate Bag Kits are fun to make for Easter with the family. The needed ingredients and instructions are included in the kit. After creating the chocolate sack imagine how fun it would be to fill them with Divvies candies While I am saving this for an all day Easter event I know that our whole family will love it.

Chocolate Bunny Rabbits are hand poured and are made of solid, gourmet peanut free, tree nut free, milk free and egg free chocolate. This 4 oz. bunny is one that everyone will want. Looks just like the store bought bunnies but even better. These are perfect for giving anyone on your Easter list whether they have food allergies or not.



Buy: you can buy any of the delicious Divvies goodies on their website at http://www.divvies.com/

Win: One of Annies Home readers will win a gift package of box of Easter treats that would include the Chocolate Bag Kit, 2 chocolate bunnies and 2 bags of jelly beans and a stack of sugar cookies. This giveaway will run for 10 days and end on the 14th of April. The winner will have 36 hours to accept the prize

Mandatory Entry to enter this giveaway is to follow my blog and subscribe to the Divvies email list

Extra List:

• subscribe to my blog via reader or email (2 entries each) let me know how you are subscribed in comment
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• follow divvies on twitter
• like divvies on facebook leave comment that you entered the giveaway here on Annies Home (3 entries)
• follow my blog on twitter
• tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) leave link in comment
• enter any giveaway on my blog or leave a comment on any other post (2 entries each)

Thank you to Divvies for sending the goodies to review and sponsoring the giveaway for my readers. Good Luck Giveaway ends March 14, 2011

Happy Easter Store Review and Giveaway

I was recently contacted by Happy Easter Store that has great Easter Gifts For Kids about reviewing and hosting a giveaway. As my readers know Easter means a lot to me and I hopped at the chance. Upon visiting the Happy Easter Store I was greeted with so many goodies I instantly felt like a child again looking forward to the goodies of Easter Sunday. As a mother and grandmother I thought it was wonderful to find so many great items for Easter on the same website.  Just take a look at a few of the items that are available from the Happy Easter Store

Personalized Easter Pails

Cute Easter outfits that can be personalized with the child's name and some that can even be personalized with first Easter.

The happy Easter Store even has great delicious treats that grownups would love as well.

Our choice was the adorable denim bunny dress for my little princess and I ordered the denim bunny overalls for my little man the prince. They will look adorable dressed alike for Easter. The dress is made of soft denim and with Easter at the end of April this year I am hoping that the weather here will be nice and warm if I am right the dress will be perfect for the egg hunts that Princess is sure to take part in.

Buy: You can shop for your Easter desires at the Happy Easter Store

Win: One of Annies Home readers will receive a $50 gc to shop at the Happy Easter Store. Because Easter comes April 24th this giveaway will run 10 days and end on April 13, 2011. After that the winner will have 36 hours to claim prize and then be sent a gift code which will allow them plenty of time to shop. Open to US/Canadian residents only. Good luck!

To enter giveaway visit the Happy Easter Store and tell me how you would spend the $50 if you were the lucky winner..

Extra Entries:

• like The Happy Easter Store on facebook (leave a comment on their page) 3 entries
• follow my blog via gfc (2 entries)
• subscribe to my blog via reader or email (2 entries each) please leave in comment which one
• share this giveaway on your facebook, blog or other giveaway site (5 entries each) in comments let me know what you did
• tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) link in comment
• enter another one of my giveaways or comment on any post (2 entries each)
• share with me how you celebrate Easter at your house (3 entries)

Giveaway starts now and ends April 13, 2011 Good Luck Email must be included in comment or on blog profile or entries do not count.

I would love to thank the Happy Easter Store for the product they sent to me for review The thoughts in this post are those of mine alone and were not influenced