Saturday, December 3, 2011

Snow Man Cookies



2/3 cup of all-purpose flour 
16 1/2-oz. roll of refrigerated sugar-cookie dough
Snowflake sprinkles
M&M's Minis buttons
Hershey's Kisses

 

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Knead 2/3 cup of all-purpose flour into a 16 1/2-oz. roll of refrigerated sugar-cookie dough.
  • Tear off a piece of dough and roll it in your palms to form a 3/4 -inch ball. Roll a slightly larger piece into a 1-inch ball, and a still slightly larger piece into a 1 1/4-inch ball. Repeat with remaining dough. Place 1 of each size ball close together on parchment lined baking sheets; flatten balls slightly.
  • Bake cookies for 12 minutes. Cool on rack. Pipe frosting for scarves and to attach M&M's Minis buttons, mini-chocolate chip eyes, snowflake sprinkles and Hershey's Kisses for hats. Makes 8.
  • Note: In the photograph shown, we covered the cookies in white frosting and piped red frosting for the scarves. We also added mini-chocolate chips to make the snowmen smile.

Christmas Party Treat : Meatballs



1 14-ounce can Ocean Spray® Jellied Cranberry Sauce
1 12-ounce bottle Heinz® Chili Sauce
1 2-pound bag frozen, pre-cooked, cocktail-size meatballs

Combine sauces in a large saucepan. Cook over medium-low heat, stirring until smooth. Add meatballs. Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until meatballs are heated through, stirring occasionally.

Makes 30 appetizer servings.

Slow cooker Preparation: Place meatballs in a slow cooker. Combine sauces and pour over meatballs. Cover and cook 4 hours on HIGH.

recipe source: Ocean Spray

Win a T-Rex doll

Our family is quite busy this year and a lot of our shopping will be done online this year. The decision was easy with so many great products out there to choose from how could we go wrong. One place that has many nice items is hearth song perfect for the little joys of life. I recently entered a giveaway on the blog Mommy Katie where one lucky winner will win a T-Rex doll. The giveaway ends December 3, 2011

Friday, December 2, 2011

Green Eats Review

I tried very hard in 2011 to change habits that our family had developed and will take even more steps in the year 2012 to help our family use more green products. Green Eats is the newest company that I have found that will help to make our house green. Green Eats is a new company that carries tableware for kids. While Green Eats may be new to you their sister company Green Toys has been around for a bit.


The founders of green toys Robert and Laurie believe that the world would be a much better place if everyone said "please" and "thank you", cell phones didn't ring during movies, and all toys were fun, safe and made from environmentally friendly materials. As a matter of fact I agree with them the world be a better place but as they realized and so do I the world is not full of manners and so we might as well mark the first two off the list the final wish about the toys is the one that the founders of Green Toys are putting their site on. Green Toys Inc. makes a line of toys that are constructed from recycled plastic and other environmentally friendly materials.



Green Eats products are made in the same manner. The collection of Green Eats has a variety of products includes eating utensils, plates, divider plates, tumblers, snack bowls and plates as well as regular bowls and plates. I was delighted when I was sent a box from Green Eats inside the box we found many of the items in the collection. I will keep these at the house for my little grands the Prince and Princess for when they come to visit Nana. Nothing is to good for them and this includes making sure that the dishes they use are not harmful for them.

My thoughts of the Green Eats dishes are high praise. The wonderful idea that they are safer than other children dishes is an A+ in my book. The sturdiness of the dishes compares to none because of their thickness they will handle well. The one thing that I thought was a bit good as well as a hard thing to consider is the size of the dishes. For children at young age like I believe that Green Eats is intended for the dish size is perfect for older children and adults they may consider having a second serving as the size of the dishes is about 1/2 the size of regular plates.

Buy: you can purchase Green Eats from their website at http://www.greentoys.com/greeneats/index.html

You can follow GreenToys and GreenEats on twitter
Also find GreenToys on facebook 

 


 

Slow Cooking Pasta



1 medium onion, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
1 stalk celery, finely chopped (1/2 cup)
1 carrot, finely chopped (3/4 cup)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 pounds combined ground beef and pork, or meat-loaf mix
1 cup milk
1 6-ounce can tomato paste
6 14-ounce cans diced tomatoes
4 teaspoons kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

In a large skillet, combine the onion, celery, carrot, and olive oil and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until tender, about 10 minutes. Add the meat and cook, stirring frequently, until it loses its pink color. Add the milk. Increase heat to high and cook until the milk has evaporated. Transfer the mixture to a 4- to 6-quart slow cooker. Return the skillet to the heat and add the tomato paste; cook over low heat to reduce its bitterness, about 5 minutes. Add the tomato paste to the cooker, along with the tomatoes, salt, and nutmeg. Cook on low for 8 hours, or on high for 4 hours.
By Jane Kirby, March 2004

Recipe Source: Real Simple


Hayneedle giveaway

This fun bench / toy box is from hayneedle and I love it. This would have been perfect for both my boys and girls as they were always into sports. Now I am thinking that this would be perfect for my grandchildren. It looks awesome and would great in their mommys home and help them to keep all their toys put up in one place. I entered to win this on the blog A Mom's Balancing Act and you can as well but you must do it by December 2, 2011

Five Question Friday


 
1. What is your favorite Christmas decoration in your house?

our christmas tree then after that it is our nativity scene

2. Do you finish your Christmas shopping early or are you a last minute type?

I start early yet it seems keep buying til last minute

3. When do you turn on your heat?
somewhere between october and november here in Illinois we could use the heat and air in the same day we have some wicked weather

4. Do you ever wish your blog was private?
not really like sharing with all

5. Do you put your deodorant on before of after you put on your shirt?
before normally

Amish Apple Fritters

The blog In The Lost World shared that today is fritter day. You can read more about fritters there. I love fritters and thought I would share a recipe of my own.

1/2 cup lukewarm water
2 tablespoons yeast
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon shortening, melted
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
1 cup chopped apples (soak apples in lemon juice before chopping)


Soften yeast in lukewarm water. Add sugar, salt, shortening, egg and sifted flour. Let raise 40 minutes.
Stir down, add cut fruit and drop by rounded teaspoon into hot fat or oil, 370 to 375 degrees F. Fry to golden brown and sprinkle with sugar.

recipe source here

Follow Friday


Photobucket
1. I can’t believe_____
2. ___is my favorite Christmas song
3. If I don’t have my ___________ in the morning, I cannot make it through the day.
4. I love my __________ dearly but wish ______ .

I can't believe it is all ready December where did all the time goes seems like it was just summer time yesterday
Silver Bells is my favorite Christmas Song
If I don't have my quiet time in the morning I cannot make it through the day
I love my children daily but wish time would go a bit slower they seem to be growing up to fast


Pickle Rolls

I had these recently at a get together then had a friend share that she made them for her family Thanksgiving. I thought maybe I would share it because it is easy to prepare and very tasty appetizer or side dish

1 pkg. (6 oz.) Oscar Mayer boiled ham slices
1 container (8 oz.) Philadelphia brand soft cream cheese
8 med. size Claussen fresh Kosher dill pickles


Spread one side of each ham slice with 1 tablespoon cream cheese. Place a pickle on edge of each ham slice. Roll ham slice around pickle; press edges to seal. Cover; refrigerate 1 hour. Cut each piece into 6 slices. Serve with assorted vegetable dippers, cheese and olives. Makes 4 dozen. Preparation time: 10 minutes plus refrigerating

Ready for A Barn Raising

Feeling a bit nostalgic right now. Thinking about the times that the entire family would get together to help each other out and the holiday celebrations were large. While feeling this way and looking up a recipe for a get together we will be having I came across this systamtic recipe for a Barn Raising on Cooks.com . We live near a large Amish community where barn raisings are common. If you visit the settlement at times you will see the community getting together to help others get done what needs to get done. To me I wish there was more of this for everyone.

FOOD FOR A BARN RAISING

Read more about it at www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1910,157184-248199,00.html
Content Copyright © 2011 Cooks.com - All rights reserved.
This bit of information was found in a quaint, old handwritten recipe book from Great-grandmother's day. It is included here mainly for the purpose of giving us a peep into the past. As many of us know, a "barn raising" was quite an event during those early years. When a new barn was built, all the friends and neighbors came on the specified day to help put up the framework of the barn. This policy is still carried out in some communities where neighbors are neighborly. Homemakers of our day will no doubt be astounded at all the food consumed in one day. What is more difficult to believe is that it was all made in Great-grandmother's kitchen. Here is the list as I found it:

115 lemon pies
500 fat cakes (doughnuts)
15 lg. cakes
3 gallons applesauce
3 gallons rice pudding
3 gallons cornstarch pudding
16 chickens
3 hams
50 lb. roast beef
300 light rolls
16 loaves bread
Red beet pickle and pickled eggs
Cucumber pickle
6 lb. dried prunes, stewed
1 lg. crock stewed raisins
5 gallon stone jar white potatoes and the same amount of sweet potatoes

Enough food for 175 men.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

Betty Crocker and way to win $50 gc

Betty Crocker is a brand that my cupboards know well. There are always those last minute rush meals when time is a issue yet all want to well. Betty Crocker is there to help and now you can find amazing recipe ideas on the Betty Crocker website as well. I also recently entered a giveaway on the blog baby loving mama. You can also enter to win a $50 visa gc but do it by December 1, 2011

Super Cute Snowman Craft

This cute little snowman would be so fun to make and add to the festive collection of holiday decorations. The great thing about snowmen is that they are perfect decor for the entire winter not just the holidays Check out the directions to this snowman here

Nutritious Christmas Snack

Delicious and fun nutritious snack would make perfect treat for a party or snack time. Check them out here


Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Wee Believers Giveaway

Princess and her brother were taken to the church right after their birth and every time the church doors opened after that. Their parents are very active within the church and if you ask me Princess has blossomed with it. I would love to win the Wee Believers prize in the giveaway sponsored by A Moms Balancing Act this giveaway ends November 30, 2011

Walnut and MinceMeat Pie


This recipe to me is one that brings the home town christmas of my childhood and folds in with a new flavor. One pie that seemed to make it at the table when I was a child that is not seen as much now days was a mincemeat pie. I love this recipe that adds the delicious nutty flavor with the mincemeat flavor of yesterday.



Pastry for single-crust pie (9 inches)
1 cup sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 cup prepared mincemeat
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Line a 9-in. pie plate with pastry; flute edges. Line pastry shell with a double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Bake at 450° for 5 minutes. Remove foil; bake 5 minutes longer. Cool on a wire rack. Reduce heat to 350°. In a large bowl, combine the sugar, flour and salt. Stir in the eggs, butter, mincemeat and walnuts until blended. Pour into crust. Bake for 40-45 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Cover edges with foil during the last 15 minutes to prevent overbrowning if necessary. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: 6-8 servings.

Recipe Source: Taste of Home

shared at


Around My Family TableKatie's Nesting Spot

catch a glimpse Thursday

Win a Deep Fryer

Do you ever feel like some sinful pleasure? My sinful pleasure would be some fried food. The only thing is that it takes forever to fry enough food to please me and my teens. But the Calphalon XL Digital Deep Fryer could get the job done with ease. The best part is that I just entered a giveaway on the blog Minnesota Mamas Must Haves to try to win my own deep fryer. You can enter as well but do so by November 30, 2011 when the giveaway ends

Roasted Pork with Cranberry Sauce


Pork:
1 teaspoon dried sage
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 (1-pound) pork tenderloin, trimmed
  Cooking spray
Sauce:
1 cup fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
1 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup cranberry juice cocktail (such as Ocean Spray)
1 tablespoon grape jelly

Preheat oven to 400°. To prepare pork, combine first 4 ingredients; rub evenly over pork.
  • Heat a large ovenproof nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Add pork; cook 4 minutes on each side or until browned. Place pan in oven; cook pork at 400° for 12 minutes or until a meat thermometer registers 160° (slightly pink). Place pork on a cutting board; keep warm.
  • To prepare sauce, add the chicken broth, dried cranberries, and juice to pan; bring to a boil, scraping pan to loosen browned bits. Stir in jelly; cook 8 minutes or until mixture is slightly thick, stirring occasionally. Cut the pork into (1/2-inch) slices. Serve with sauce.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Scandle Candle Review and Giveaway

The weather has started changing in many parts of the world. Here where I am in Illinois the days become shorter , the workload and stress become heavier as the holidays near. After a long day of work my body seems a bit stressed but I never want to miss a minute of the precious holiday season. One way that I have relaxed in the past is by relaxing with a scandle. As you can imagine by the name the Scandle is a candle but not any candle. The Scandle is a body candle You burn the candle and the lotion melts and you can pour it directly onto your skin The warmness of the lotion did not feel overly warm but felt like a comfortable temperature that allowed my muscles to relax.



Put a new spin on it and you have a candle that is perfect for setting the mood between a couple as well. The candle smells great burning and looks beautiful on ones skin as well. The Scandle Body Massage Candle offers the perfect tool for massages and is better that a massage oil in my opinion. The Scandle gives off a sweet fragrance and melts into a wonderful body massage oil that helps to ensure the health of your skin. The hand poured Scandle is also healthy for the environment because they give off less soot and toxins than parrafin candles

Buy: You can purchase The Scandle Candle on their website here

Win: One of Annies Home readers will win their own Scandle Candle Traveling Tin.

To enter this giveaway share with me what you do on a stressful holiday shopping day

Extra Entries after you leave a comment to the question above

  • follow Scandle on twitter (2 entries)
  • like Scandle on facebook (2 entries)
  • follow my blog on twitter (1 entry)
  • like me on facebook (2 entries)
  • share this giveaway on facebook leave link in comment (3 entries)
  • tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) leave link in comment
  • share this giveaway on your website or blog (10 entries) leave link in comment
Giveaway starts now and end 11/29/2011 Good Luck email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count. Winner will be emailed and have 2 days to claim prize

we did recieve a scandle candle for review purposes and would like to thank Scandle Candle for providitng the product to be reviewed. no other compensation was involved

Remembering Christmas Past : Plum Pudding


My daddy loved plum pudding and when I was a kid grandma would make this for him each and every year. I could never quite understand what all the fuss was about as there were so many delicious goodies to be had but to daddy Plum Pudding was the star. Plum Pudding if you are not familiar with is round, thick, sweet and delicious. With a strong history leading back to kings and castles the plum pudding was something all alike would partake in. I can remember grandma as she collected those coffee cans in order to prepare the families Christmas Puddin'


* Six (6) candied and sliced pineapple rings
* 1 lb. whole candied cherries
* 1 lb. raisins, dark and golden mixed
* 1 lb. dates, pitted and chopped
* 1 cup chopped citron
* 1/2 cup each chopped, candied orange and lemon peel

Put the prepared fruit into a large bowl.

* 2 cups sifted flour
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 2 teaspoons cinnamon
* 1-1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon allspice
* 1/2 teaspoon cloves

Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the flour over the fruit and set aside. In a second bowl, sift the rest of the flour together with the soda, salt and spices, and set aside.

* Three (3) eggs
* Juice of one lemon
* 1-3/4 cups buttermilk
* 1/2 cup oil
* 1/4 cup orange juice
* 1/4 cup brandy
Beat the eggs. Then add the buttermilk and remaining ingredients to the egg mixture, and mix together well. Now blend the liquid mixture with the flour mixture until it forms a batter.
Pour the batter into the large bowl containing your fruit. Use a wooden spoon to stir and mix well, making sure the fruit is well-covered with batter. (now here is something that I will never forget grandma using all those coffee cans) Grease 1 lb coffee cans and pour the mixture into each until they are about 3/4 full. Cover each one securely with foil, and place in a pot or steamer. Steam in any covered pot or canner, allowing the water to rise to no more than halfway up the filled tins.
Steam your puddings in consistently heated water for at least 4 hours. Check a tin periodically to note when the steaming is complete, when the dessert no longer appears creamy. When your plum pudding is steamed, remove it to a counter or dry shelf and let it cool for about 30 minutes.
While the puddings are cooling, cut up cheesecloth pieces amply enough to securely wrap around the individual puddings, and soak each cloth in brandy. (Grandma only did this step for the grown ups I believe she used a sweet syrup mixture for the kids but can not find her recipe to share)
Carefully remove each cooled pudding from its mold. Wrap each pudding in a cheesecloth. Over wrap each packet in aluminum foil, then set them to mature in a corner of your refrigerator for two weeks to a month. When you’re ready to serve, steam each pudding again for about an hour.

This is not my grandmothers recipe but did bring back many great memories. I found this recipe here




Hearth Song Giveaway

Creativity and fun through learning are two of the things that I keep in mind when Christmas shopping. HearthSong has some awesome gift ideas for many members of the family. You can enter to win a $50 gift card on the blog The Adventures of Paul and Natalie. This giveaway ends November 29.

One of Moms Favs : Rocky Road Fudge

My mom loves Rocky Road Fudge and it is so tasty. I found this recipe here and plan to fix it for her very soon


Popular Toy Item Xia Xia Pets

Xia Xia sounds like a name that belongs either hundreds of centuries ago or somewhere in the future. It is actually the name of some fun filled characters. My family loves to go into the designer shops at the malls and see the hermit crabs. Sometimes they look super cute other times the give me the jimmys. That is why we have never owned our own hermit crab. Xia Xia gives my kids the opportunity to have the next best thing. Cepia, LLC has debuted the ewest toy craze that is already on the Toys 'R US list of Hot Holiday Toys for 2011: Xia-Xia.

Xia Xia is pronounced Shah-Shah they are four colorful, skitter-scattering pitter pattering loveable, crazy hermit crabs with interchangeabe shells and kooky friends to collect and trade. Their story is that they come from faraway land of xia-topia, these bright crustaceans that sport a Carnivale theme in both color and spirit. They are happy to dance and play all day long. These little friends all have a wild and wacky shell fashions, silly faces, and a funny little wobby shuffle. They allow the feeling of caring for a real hermit crab but allow sthe child to spend the imagination

Princess was ready to go it was so very exciting to her. The excitement over the large box that had arrived contained crabs, playsets and shells. We would spend the day playing and exploring. I loved it as she made friends with the family of xia xia.

The super fun colors of the crabs and shells and the playful features that they all had were just a bit different. It was fun to watch her as she decided who was in charge and what this one or that one said.


The play places that the Xia Xia have are awesome as well. Providing even more imagination power to the fun that the Xia Xia pets share. Alone or with friends fun is to be had for sure Choose from teh Confetti Cottage Play Set, The Copacabana Play Set and the Rio de Trio Village Play Set all with their own characteristics.

We invited guest over to share in the fun of the Xia Xia pets. They all loved them as much as Princess did and we had lots of fun. Each guest was able to leave with a pet of their own to start thier own collection. They look forward to buildig their own collection as much as they had fun playing along with us. I am sure your little pet collector would have lots of fun as well.




A big thank you to Xia-Xia and MomSelect for allowing us the opportunity and sending us the xia xia pets to review

Sunday Stealing : Bud Is Back


1. Why did you sign up for writing your blog?
I was out of work and needed an outlet for sharing and meeting others


2. Why did you choose your blog's name? What does it mean?
Annies Home is the name of my blog and Annie is my nickname and Home is because my blog is my home on the great www

3. Do you ever had another blog? no

4. What do you do online when you're not on your blog?facebook, email, shop

5. How about when you're not on the computer?work, church

6. What do you wish people who read your blog knew about you?
I am a mom of six, grandma to 2, been married 25 years this January and that I am a lover of Christ

7. What is your favorite community in the blogosphere?there are several that I love and visit quite often this to me is a good question to see what others share

8. What is your philosophy on your blog layout?
wow philosophy never much gave this a thought seems sort of deep to me

9. Tell me about your picture you use to represent you on your blog.
It is who I am a picture of me in my nursing scrubs , a  hard working mother and grandma

10. Pick 3 random blogs from your blogroll and tell us about them.
Thanks Mail Carrier I first met the author of this blog as she entered and won several of my own giveaways, now she host many giveaways of her own
Leslie Loves Veggies another blogger that I met early through memes and giveaways now she has a great blog of her own as well
3 kids n us Kat is an awesome blogger who has helped me out several different times, she is also another Illinois blogger

11. What features do you think your blog should have that it doesn't currently?
I would love to add more crafts, organization and tips on raising family / keeping house

12. What do you consider the 10 most "telling" interests that we would infer from what you blog persona?my blog persona would be found in my background (always fun) I have several sponsors listed on sidebar (lots of giveaways) enter many giveaways so you will find info on my blog about them, I have many buttons of other blogs there (I like to meet and visit other blogs) Lots of recipe post (I love to bake) and the others just visit my blog and you figure them out http://shopannies.blogspot.com

13. Do you have any unique interests that you have never shared before? What are they?
no normally share all I can on my blog

14. The best thing about blogging is all of the friends that you make, Beside from those folks, do you think your blog has fans?yes I believe it does I recieved many comments about the recipes I share etc...

15. What's your current obsession? What about it captures your imagination?
no real current obsession the holidays are here so sharing lots about that for obvious reasons

16. What are you glad you did but haven't really had a chance to post about?
lots of places we have traveled and taken the youth from church this is something I want to share in the future

17. How many people that first became a blog friend, have you met face to face?
none as of yet but never know maybe one day

18. What don't you talk about here, either because it's too personal or because you don't have the energy?Politics is something that sometimes comes up but not all that often had a few tell me I should stay out of politics because it does not go with my blog style

19. What's a question that you'd love to answer?I don't know ask me and I will see if I would love to answer it

20. Have you ever lost a blogging friendship and regretted it?
not really lost it just neglected it because time gets away from me so easily
21. Have you ever lost a blogging friendship and thought, “Was that overdue!”
no