Eat Outside Day

Life's a picnic on August 31^st. It's Eat Outside Day.


While it is super hot outside some may prefer to eat inside. As far as for us we will be eating outside at a local festival. No telling how long we will stay with temps over 100 but I hope to enjoy it just a bit. What are you doing today? Cookout for labor day, fair , picnic or will you be throwing a spread inside and enjoying the cool air???
 

Cow Chips Were Meant For Throwing

How many of you are aware of what a cow chip is???

That's right Cow Chips do come from cows. Can you imagine anyone wanting to pick up these dried chips and collecting them for a contest. Well some individuals actually think this is fun.

Cow Chip tossing day actually may have started in Wisconsin. Since then though it seems that tossing cow chips has really caught on. August 31st is the day to celebrate this sporting event. Tossing cow chips has become a contest as popular as watermelon seed spitting. While contest like the biggest bubble is a lot cleaner the cow chip contest may draw more attention. In a local town the week long festival also included cow chip tossing until those in charge agreed that the mess that was made was more than anyone wanted to deal with. After the contest was all these little pieces of chips that had dropped all over the place during the tossing. If you are like those who like attention but don't care for the mess left behind perhaps you would rather make some goodies

Brown Sugar Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 1/4 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup butter, room temperature

1 1/4 cups brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 large egg

1 1/4 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and salt.
In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light, about 2 minutes. Beat in vanilla extract and egg until smooth. With the mixer on low speed, gradually add in all the flour mixture, stopping when the dough has just come together and no streaks of flour remain.
Stir in chocolate chips.
Place slightly rounded tablespoons of dough on baking sheet.
Bake for 9-11 minutes, until just golden around the edges.
Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Makes 3 dozen.

shared at
meatless monday

Watermellon Jelly

I have shared the importance of watermelon on my blog before. My dad would always bring my children watermelon in the summer time and as they sat and ate, spit seeds and spent time I was able to have a moment and relax. I never knew before that there was a watermelon jelly and I think that my dad would be happily surprised as well. So enjoy this delicious recipe

 

Watermelon Jellyadapted from Food in Jars
makes about 7 eight ounce jars

6 cups pureed watermelon (remove any seeds prior to pureeing)
5 cups white sugar (I think next time I'd add 4 or less)
1/2 cup bottled or fresh lemon juice
1 packet powdered pectin

Combine watermelon puree, sugar and lemon juice in a large, non-reactive pot (anything but aluminum). Get one bigger then you think, you'll want plenty of space for things to foam up without overflowing. Bring to a boil and let it boil vigorously until the temperature of mixture reaches 220 degrees. Be sure to stir frequently, you don't want it to burn on the bottom. Add the powdered pectin and boil for another five minutes.

Remove from the heat and pour into clean, sterilized jars, leaving about a half inch of headspace. Wipe rims, apply lids and screw on bands. Process in a boiling water bath for 10 minutes.

When time is up, remove from canner and let jars cool completely, preferably overnight. When they’re cool enough to handle, remove rings and test seals. You can eat immediately or store unopened jars in a cool, dark place for up to a year. Print up some pretty labels (I used the template from here found at this cool site) and start scheming.

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amaze me monday

Today is A Day For A Slinky

The humble Slinky was invented in the 1940′s by Navy engineer and inventor, Richard James. It proved an immediate hit, and selling out in just a few hours, quickly became one of our favorite toys. Slinky Day celebrates the humble Slinky, and should be spent doing slinky tricks, watching Slinkys race down staircases, or simply untangling the things as they inevitably knot, twist and spiral!

Celebrate A Bit of Frankenstein

If you are a fan of sci-fi or Frankenstein then you may all ready be aware of the fact that today is  Mary Godwin Wollstonecraft Shelley birthday. Shelley is the author behind the novel Frankenstein. Today we celebrate the creation and the vision of the this author. In honor of the birthday I am sharing a fun Taste of Home recipe that may help you cool down a bit as well.

• 2 packages (6 ounces each) lime gelatin
• 2-1/2 cups boiling water
• 3/4 cup bean sprouts
• 12 orange jelly beans
• 6 red jelly beans
• 3 tablespoons sour cream
• 12 miniature marshmallows
• Purple kale, optional

 

In a bowl, dissolve gelatin in water. Pour into an 8-in. square pan that has been coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm. Cut into six rectangles; place each on a plate. Decorate with bean sprouts for hair, orange jelly beans for eyes an a red jelly bean for nose. Fill a small plastic bag with sour cream; cut a small hole in the corner of the bag. Pipe a jagged smile on face. Place marshmallows on side of head for bolts. Garnish plates with kale if desired. Yield: 6 servings.

It's Hot Out There

It’s Hot!
By Shel Silverstein
It’s hot!
I can’t get cool,
I’ve drunk a quart of lemonade,
I think I’ll take my shoes off
And sit around in the shade.
It’s hot!
My back is sticky,
The sweat rolls down my chin.
I think I’ll take my clothes off
And sit around in my skin.
It’s hot!
I’ve tried with ‘lectric fans,
And pools and ice cream cones.
I think I’ll take my skin off
And sit around in my bones.
It’s still hot!

First Day of School

Today was my lil Princess first day of school. She has grown so fast and I can not believe that the summer is gone and she is ready to go back to school. Our little Prince Gager is also wanting to go to school just not big enough. Poor little guy. Soon he will be able to go though

shared at
blue Monday
Outdoor Wednesday

What we are Eating

This is a new week and while it is very hot outside it is a week where we are hopefully having some cool eats

Monday- steak and potato

Tuesday- tatertot casserole

Wednesday- sloppy joe and chips

Thursday - calico beans and wieners

Friday - eating out with family
Saturday and Sunday - neighbor hood cookout all food and entertainment is free

Go Ahead Kiss and Makeup

 
 
 

 
 
 
Today is Kiss and Makeup Day so why not just do that and if you find this a bit to simple then makeup a batch of these and share with the one you truly love
 
 
 

 

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

Additional sugar

40 milk chocolate kisses with almonds

 

GLAZE:

1 cup confectioners' sugar

1 tablespoon milk

4 teaspoons raspberry jam

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

In a bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg and extract. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Cover and chill for 1 hour or until easy to handle. Roll into 1-in. balls, then roll in additional sugar. Place 2 in. apart on ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 325° for 13-15 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. Cool on wire racks. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over cookies. Yield: 40 cookies.

shared at
weekend potluck
Meatless Monday

 

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