Happy Birthday Elvis

More than likely we have all heard about the love Elvis had for his peanut butter and banana sandwiches. The yummy taste can be found in this birthday cake. Since today is Elvis's birthday we decided to share this beautiful cake with all of you.

Banana Layer Cake with Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

Sour Cream Banana Cake Recipe

Adapted from Margaret Wehling via All Recipes and also seen on Food Mayhem

1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 1 cup packed brown sugar 1 cup granulated sugar 4 large eggs 4 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 cup sour cream (I used 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
4 cups sifted cake flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preheat oven to 350°F.  Spray three 9” round cake pans with non-stick baking spray and set aside. Cream butter and sugars together with an electric mixer until fluffy, about 3 minutes.  Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla, and beat until just combined. In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda and salt.  Sift through a sieve at least once.  Add to the wet ingredients in three additions, folding with a spatula until just combined. Pour the batter equally into the three prepared pans.  Weigh each pan to ensure that they are equal, and spread the batter in each pan as evenly as possible.  Bake in the preheated oven for about 30 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean, rotating pans halfway through.  Let cool in the pans for 10 minutes then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely before frosting.

Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Frosting

1 8-oz package cream cheese, at room temperature (I used reduced fat)
1/3 cup unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
Pinch of salt
1 cup icing sugar

Beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy, about one minute.  Add the butter and beat for another minute until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed.  Add the peanut butter and pinch of salt and beat until combined.  Slowly add the icing sugar and mix on low until incorporated. Taste and add more icing sugar if it’s not sweet enough for your tastes.  Store in the refrigerator until ready to use, but remove from fridge at least 10 minutes before frosting so it is easier to spread.

1 8-ounce package cream cheese, at room temperature (I used reduced fat) 1/3 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature 
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups icing sugar,
3/4 cup chilled heavy whipping cream

Beat cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth, about one minute.  Add butter and beat for another minute until smooth.  Add vanilla and 3/4 cup icing sugar, and mix on low until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk whipping cream and remaining 3/4 cup icing sugar until medium-firm peaks form.  I did this by hand but you could use an electric mixer to make it easier. Gently fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture in 3 additions.  Cover and chill in the refrigerator for at least one hour

1. Trim the tops of the cakes with a large serrated knife or cake leveler to level them, if necessary (I just took a bit off the top centers).  Place one cake layer on a cake stand or large plate and insert strips of wax paper or parchment paper underneath for easy clean-up later.
2. Spread about 1 cup of peanut butter frosting over the cake.  Try to make it thicker around the edges.
3. Top with second cake layer, then spread another 1 cup of peanut butter frosting on top, and top with third cake layer.  Make sure you're lining the cakes up evenly.  You should have a bit of leftover peanut butter cream cheese frosting which you can save for decorating the cake later.
4. Spread a thin layer of cream cheese frosting over the top and sides of cake to form a crumb coat.  Refrigerate for at least 15 minutes. 
5. Spread remaining cream cheese frosting over the top and sides of cake, smoothing it out as evenly as possible with a spatula.  Decorate with reserved peanut butter cream cheese frosting and banana chips, if desired.  Remove wax paper strips from base of cake.

have a slice on us.

English Toffee

English Toffee is the focus of celebration on the 8th of January. While it is not known who or when toffee was first made in England it is thought to have gained popular vote during the 1800s. More than likely it was during that time that sugar was able to be purchased cheaper than in earlier years.

 

Toffee is a sweet confectionary that is made by boiling sugar til the mixture thickens enough to set. A variety of toffees have been made over the years including soft brittle, light brittle or dark brittle. Each of them with or without nuts and maybe even raisins included in the pulled or poured treat.

 

 

recipe source here

 

1  butter

1 C sugar

1 C chopped almonds

1 C chocolate

Mix the butter and sugar in a sauce pan and cook over medium/high heat

Continue to cook without stirring until the candy thermometer is at the “Cracked Stage” on candy thermometer or when it's caramel colored and starting to smoke.

Stir in the Almonds.

Line a 9x13 glass pan with parchment paper

Pour the candy into the pan

Let it cool a just a bit and sprinkle half the chocolate over the top, it will melt and you can spread it around.

Top with finely chopped almonds

Once that side is set flip it over, melt the rest of the chocolate and spread it over the second side.

Top with finely chopped almonds

 

 

 

Bittersweet chocolate scones

.6 ounces white rice flour (about 1/2 cup)
2.3 ounces brown rice flour (about 1/2 cup)
2.1 ounces sweet white sorghum flour (about 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon xanthan gum
1 teaspoon baking soda

1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon nonfat buttermilk, divided
1 large egg

 Preheat oven to 400°.
Weigh or lightly spoon flours into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours, 1/2 cup sugar, and next 4 ingredients (through salt) in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk; cut in butter with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in chocolate.
Combine 1/2 cup buttermilk and egg in a small bowl; stir with a whisk. Add to flour mixture; stir just until moist.
Turn dough out onto a surface lightly dusted with white rice flour. Pat dough into an 8-inch circle; cut into 10 wedges. Place wedges on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Brush 1 tablespoon
buttermilk over surface of dough; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon sugar.
Bake at 400° for 18 minutes or until golden brown. Remove scones from baking sheet to a wire rack. Serve warm

recipe source My Recipes

Can You Donate

Each and every day blood is in need. In one day more than 41,000 blood donations are needed each day. Only 10% of all eligible blood donors actually donate. Our society needs and relies on each other.

Since 1970, National Blood Donor Month has been observed in January, when seasonal illnesses and bad weather make it especially hard to collect enough blood for patient needs. Find out if you are eligible to donate blood.

 Unable to Give Blood? You can help people facing emergencies by making a financial donation to support the Red Cross’s greatest needs. Your gift enables the Red Cross to ensure an ongoing blood supply, provide humanitarian support to families in need and prepare communities by teaching lifesaving skills.

financial wellness

So the new year has started and you have decided to take the higher financial freedom road. Whether you have decided to save money, get out of debt or simply make wiser financial decisions the world is yours and I hope you stay on the great road.

The starting point should of been by taking a close look at your personal financial status. Look at your income, expenses, and overall debt career. What does your financial future look like? It may look healthy and well put together or it could look hopeless where you want to throw in the towel Are you ready to accept responsibility for changing your financial situation?

January is National Financial Wellness Month. Since January is a month of resolutions and many of those have something to do with individuals financial information. Saving more, spending less, using coupons or whatever the resolution may be it can be met if you set your mind to it.


Two quick tips:

Pay yourself first. 
If you wait until the end of the month to see how much money is left over for saving, you’ll probably find that the answer is nothing. Pay yourself first, and then find ways to reduce spending to pay the rest of your bills.
Establish an emergency cash reserve. 
This will give you funds to deal with short-term emergencies such as a temporary job loss, a short-term disability, a major home repair, or a large medical bill. How much you need in the reserve will depend on your age, health, job outlook, and ability to borrow quickly.

Don't Worry He Has it all under control

Life can be difficult at times. No one ever promised it would be a rose garden. Everything from stress at work to children being sick make my day a bit harder The thing is somehow to keep a smile on my face and a song in my heart. Keep our faith high because I know he has it all and while the plan may not be what I want it is what he had in the works since time began.

Let me share a quick praise report:
recently a good friend and a co-worker went to the doctor because she was not feeling well. The hospital did many test and found a spot on her chest. Not knowing what it was they scheduled her for more test. We prayed and prayed and had faith that all would be o.k. We knew that it would and that he had it all in control as he holds the whole world in his hands. When the test results came back there was no sign of any spot. Praise God!!! She told the doctors they may not understand but it is a God thing.

Share your praise report as every day holds one whether it be big or small.

Carrot Spoon Cake

Carrot Spoon Cake

butter flavor Pam
box spice cake mix
2 c shredded carrots
1 box instant butterscotch pudding and pie filling mix
4 eggs
1 8oz can crush pineapple
1 c sour cream
1 c water
3/4 c oil
whip cream

Coat slow cooker with Pam Mix in bowl the cake mix, carrots, pudding, eggs, pineapple, sour cream, and oil. Beat with mixer 2 minutes Transfer to slow cooker. cover cook low 5 hours Serve warm with whip cream

recipe source :
Sandra Lee Semi Homemade

Elvis Week : Jailhouse Rock

Jailhouse Rock the sound track to Elvis Presley's third movie. The song was wrote by Jerry Lieber and Mike Stroller. Song about a party in the "old cellblock" where inmates are rockin' it up. Rock and Roll at its best with lyrics that have proven to be timeless. One of Presley's finest musical number in all of his movies, the one production number that actually worked for him as a singer and as a dancer.

lose the weight and feel great

So now you have made the commitment to start a diet and the first week is doing well. The week(s) after this may get harder. You can do it!!! Stay strong and keep going on. Here are a few tips that may help you along the way. They have helped me.

My story: I am the child of a father who was an insulin diabetic. He was not a good dieter, really did not try to eat right and in the end lost the battle. Me, I was diagnosed diabetic after working as a nurse aide and never being able to stop my thirst. I simply kept drinking koolaid and the thirst never left. They took my blood pressure told me I was in stroke danger and my sugar was to high to register. I made a dr. appointment and found out that I was a diabetic. Medicine and diet were prescribed and I worked hard to stay on my diet, get my weight done and simply feel better Was I successful, well after 10 years I am still only on pills no insulin and while not perfect (I still like my sweets) I have learned to live on a diet.

I know we have all heard it and not always agreed but must say. if I can stay on a diet then you can to. Try these simple steps:

eat small meals throughout the day. This helps to stop the stopping snacking between meals Eating something every 3 to 4 hours. Remember proteins and carbs travel hand in hand and should be eaten together.

set your environment up for your new diet life style. Live like a champ you will be a champ. Instead of having candy and chips at hands reach replace it with fruit and veggies.

Keep hydrated to be successful. Hunger pains and thirst pains are a lot alike and when you are thirsty you may end up getting something to eat because you miss read signals.

Most of all keep your head up. Be positive that you will get it done that it has to be done so there is no way that you will fail. Keep a smile on your face, love in your heart and fight in your spirit. You can do this

hamburger soup

1 pound ground beef
1 onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 1/2 c. frozen peas
1 small head of cabbage, chopped
2 medium red potatoes, diced
2 large carrots, sliced
1- 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes
10 c. beef broth
1- 15.25 oz can corn
1- 15.8 oz can great northern beans, drained and rinsed
1 tsp basil
salt and pepper
1 c. small shell noodles

In a large soup pot, fry ground beef, onions, garlic, salt and pepper until beef is cooked through. Add the rest of the ingredients except the pasta. Cook over medium heat for about 15-20 minutes. Add the shell pasta and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes until pasta is cooked through and veggies are tender.

Joan of Arc A Leader of so many

Joan of Arc a young girl who lived during the 1400s. She was nicknamed "The Maid of Orleans" and was a heroine of France as well as a Roman Catholic Saint. Born to a peasant family Joan believed she was gifted with visions of saints that would instruct her to support Charles VII. France at that time was under English domination Charles would send Joan to help take Orleans back for the French At the age of 18 she would be captured by the English and put on trial and found guilty on a variety of charges. On May 30 1431 when Joan was still a teenager she was burned at the stake.

In 1456 the court authorized by Pope Callixtus III would examine the trial of Joan and find the charges against false and pronounce her innocent declaring her a martyr. She would become a symbol of the Catholic League and in 1803 be declared a national symbol of France as declared by Napoleon Bonaparte. Joan of Arc is one of the nine secondary patron saints of France and remains a popular figure in literature, painting, sculpture and other cultural works since the time of her death.

— Stephen Richey
The people who came after her in the five centuries since her death tried to make everything of her: demonic fanatic, spiritual mystic, naive and tragically ill-used tool of the powerful, creator and icon of modern popular nationalism, adored heroine, saint. She insisted, even when threatened with torture and faced with death by fire, that she was guided by voices from God. Voices or no voices, her achievements leave anyone who knows her story shaking his head in amazed wonder.

The Joan of Arc parade kicked of the Carnival season tonight.

 

 

 

 

Oatmeal Scotchies with Pecans

Oatmeal Scotchies with Pecans Adapted from Nestle - I increased the cinnamon and added pecans to the recipe. The cookie dough freezes well, if you don't want to bake the whole recipe.

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups of quick cooking oats (or may use old fashioned oats)
11 ounce package of Nestle Butterscotch Morsels
3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
In a small bowl combine the flour, soda, salt and cinnamon.
In a large bowl cream the softened butter with the sugars. Stir in the eggs and vanilla until well combined.
Gradually  beat in the flour mixture. Stir in the oatmeal, butterscotch morsels, and the pecans.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets.
Bake for about 7-9 minutes for chewy cookies. Cool cookies on baking sheets for about 2 minutes; then remove to cooling racks. Enjoy! Makes about 4 dozen

January Cervican Cancer Screening Month

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness month. The goal is to increase the publics understanding of the disease. Cervical Cancer affects the cervix, the part of the body that connects the uterus to the vagina. Every year more than 11,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and approximately 4,000 die from the disease each year.

There has been a lot of talk lately about the HPV vaccine and whether to take it or not. The good thing about the vaccine is that it may help prevent HPV which has been shown to lead to cervical cancer. The key is to stay informed with the latest news so you are ready for what comes your way. Prevention and screening is an important step in reducing your risk of developing cervical cancer.

 

More information on Cervical Cancer HERE! 

Easy Peasy Mixed Bean Salad

EASY PEASY MIXED BEAN SALAD

1 can cannellini beans
1 can kidney beans
1 can chickpeas
(Please note that ANY beans of your choice may be used!)
1 tin of sweetcorn
1 medium red onion
Handful of fresh parsley
Handful of fresh coriander
Some sweet red pepper (I used ones from a jar as I didn’t have any fresh and this worked really well but I’m sure fresh would be good too!)
Handful spring onions
2-4 cloves of garlic
Sprinkle of paprika
Olive oil (a good swish)
White wine vinegar (start with 2 tablespoons)
Juice of half a lime

In essence just mix all of the above into a large mixing bowl! In terms of the olive oil, just add a good swish to the bean/sweetcorn/pepper/herb mix to coat. Don’t drown in oil of course otherwise it won’t end up being very healthy but just add a swish of oil then the white wine vinegar and lime juice and taste and adjust to your liking.
I added paprika but you don’t “have” to.
I used 2 garlic cloves so as not to offend anyone I might see that day with my garlic breath but you can add more of course.
Once you are happy with your bean mix refrigerate for a few hours before serving to allow the beans to soak up the flavour of the dressing. My other half couldn’t wait for a few hours so we did have a serving straightaway and it tasted very nice- if you have time to refrigerate it just adds to the flavour.
This amount (using 3 tins of beans) does last for a few lunches so if you don’t want to be eating beans for days then you could halve the amount of beans used. We loved this so much though that we were happy to have it for a few days in a row.

shared here

Cuddle Up Day

The last month or so has been very full and very busy. With all the goings on with the holidays I am sure that many of you just need to take a deep breath and relax for a moment. Why not take a moment and cuddle up with someone you love It can be your spouse, your child, your pet whatever it may be. Perhaps you just want a second alone to cuddle up with a blanket and a good book or the T.V. remote control.

The weather this year has been pretty warm so cuddling up to rub noses may seem a far stretch. The truth is that cuddling up warm weather or cold does the body good. Cuddle Up day occurs every year on the 6th of January and it is your choice to celebrate or not. Our little princess is always looking for someone to cuddle up with and my husband and I never miss an opportunity no matter how brief to enjoy a cuddle.

Peach Pie Bars

 

These delicious bar type cookies offer all the great flavor of a peach pie with a shortbread crust and streusel topping. Yummy!!! The delicious summer time taste comes in a cookie best made when peaches are in season but today's canned peaches are tasty as well.

 

makes 24 bars

CRUST:
3 cups UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)

1 ½ cups sugar

¼ tsp. kosher or sea salt

3 sticks unsalted butter, chilled

PEACH PIE FILLING:
3 cups peeled, finely diced peaches

1 ½ cups sugar

4 large eggs

1 cup sour cream

½ tsp. cinnamon

dash of salt

1 tsp. vanilla

¾ cup UNBLEACHED all-purpose flour (bleached flour toughens baked goods)

CRUST

Stir sugar, salt and flour together in a large mixing bowl.

Cut in butter with a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form.

Measure out 1 ½ cups of ingredients for topping and set aside.

Press remaining ingredients into the bottom of a greased 9x13” glass baking dish.

Bake at 350° for 12-15 minutes or until lightly browned.

PEACH PIE FILLING

Whisk eggs in a large mixing bowl.

Whisk in sugar, sour cream, cinnamon, salt, vanilla and flour to combine.

Gently fold in peaches until combined.

Pour peach mixture over hot crust.

Sprinkle with remaining 1 ½ cups crumb mixture.

Bake an additional 55-65 minutes or until set.

Cool at least one hour before cutting into bars.

 

recipe source here

River Rock Trivet

January 7th is a day that takes a new look at old rocks. While these trivets are made up of new rocks rather than old they are an awesome inside craft that is perfect for the cold winter months.

craft resource here




bag of river rocks (you won’t use them all for just 1 trivet though)
felt
glue gun
square cork mat (about 1′ x 1′)
pencil
scissors

Take a pot and place on top of your square cork mat. Trace around the bottom of the pot onto the cork with a pencil. Cut out the cork circle. Place a piece felt on top of the cork circle and trace it so that it’s the same size as the cork circle. Then, cut out that circle. Glue the felt to the cork with a glue gun. Let dry. Then with the hot glue gun, glue the rocks to the top of the felt in any pattern you want. It works better if you have flatter stones so keep that in mind when planning your design. Let dry.

Apple Tea For Two

1 cup water
4 whole allspice
2 individual black tea bags
1 cup unsweetened apple juice or cider
2 tablespoons honey

In a small saucepan, bring water and allspice just to a boil; add tea bags. Remove from the heat; cover and steep for 3 minutes. Discard allspice and tea bags. Stir in apple juice and honey; heat through.

recipe source here

pear chutney

Pear Chutney

chutneys are traditional Indian condiments that are often prepared from raw ingredients. Chutneys balance out meals. They help ensure that all 6 tastes of  sweet, sour, salty, pungent, bitter, astringent are met

 

 

6 cup peeled and finely chopped pears

1/4 cup currants

1/4 cup organic sugar (sucanat or coconut sugar work well)

1/4 cup water

1 Tbsp lemon juice

1 tsp apple cider vingegar

1/2 tsp salt

1 Tbsp peeled & minced fresh ginger

Optional: 1 pinch cayenne pepper

1 cinnamon stick

1/4 tsp gr. cloves

Optional: 4 green cardamom pods

 

Peel, core and chop the pears in 1/2 inch dice Combine all ingredients in a large stainless steel cooking pot Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium low Cook, stirring frequently, until the pears are soft and the mixture is thick Transfer to a sterile glass jar, with a tight lid Cool, and store in refrigerator

Whipped Cream Day and a Delicious Cupcak Recipe

Today is a day to honor the birthday of the man who was known as the whipped cream King. Aaron Lapin born on January 5th 1914 in Missouri was the inventor of whipped cream in the aerosol can. Lapin big invention of Reddi Wip is one of my all time favorites. Oh my what fun we have had with this sweet whip cream in a can. The fun of watching the whip cream shoot out when the valve on the can was pushed out all of it being worked by nitrogen gas in the can.

Reddi Wip was and is the convenient way of making whipped cream. Before, one would make whip cream by pouring cream into a bowl, sweeten it and whip by hand or mixer til it was thick and creamy. The aerosol can allowed the whipped cream to last longer which pleased many as well. As an extra bonus Lapin created a valve that was fluted so that the whipped cream came out with a swirly pattern.

If you want to try to make whipped cream from hand follow this easy to make recipe
An easy recipe just takes a half a pint of cream, a teaspoon of vanilla and of course 3 tablespoons of sugar.  Just whip it up with a whisk or in your blender but don’t over whisk it because then you will have butter on your hands!!

Reddi Wip Filled Cupcakes

PAM® Baking Spray

1 pkg (18.25 oz each) extra moist cake mix, any flavor

1 can (6.5 oz each) Reddi-wip® Original Dairy Whipped Topping

Topping suggestions - Reddi-wip, prepared frosting, ice cream toppings, optional

'Sprinkle' Suggestions -- candy sprinkles, chopped nuts, toasted coconut, fresh fruit, candy pieces, optional

Preheat oven to 350°F. Spray 24 medium muffin cups with baking spray. Do NOT use cupcake liners. Prepare cake mix according to package directions. Spoon batter evenly into prepared muffin cups. Bake according to package directions.
Cool cupcakes in pan 5 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack.
Assemble selected toppings and sprinkles, if desired. When ready to serve, fill each cupcake to be eaten immediately with Reddi-wip according to the Cook's Tips. Immediately 'frost' with a topping and 'sprinkle' if desired. Serve immediately.

Cook's Tips

To fill cupcakes, shake Reddi-wip can. Turn can completely upside down, insert tip into bottom of cupcake and press nozzle sideways to gently fill without cracking cupcake. (Don't worry -- 'blow outs' are tasty too!) Cupcakes may be baked the day before. Store between sheets of parchment paper in an airtight container. Fill and enjoy as desired.

recipe source here

 

Ham and Pinto Beans

Ham and Pinto Beans

 

As normal for our family we fixed up beans on New Years day. While they were cooking I reminisced and told the kids the story of coming home from school to smell the beans that mom was cooking. Comfort food is what they call it and I can well agree it makes me feel comfortable and they taste like comfort as well. Ham and beans was something that mom would fix often and we would all enjoy. Corn bread and fried taters often accompanied the beans and together they were a delicious feast for all to enjoy.

 

If it is the first time that you will be preparing pinto beans don't worry it is easy enough to get done. Depending on the time you have to prepare your beans you can either soak your beans overnight or give them a quick soak the day of cooking. The beans will cook up in about 2 hours.

 

 

We had previously cooked a ham and saved the ham bone to use in our beans. The extra bits of meat and bone offer the beans more flavor.
 

HAM and PINTO BEANS

1. You must go through the beans by hand first. To do this, pour a small amount of beans on your counter and go through them looking for any tiny pebbles, dirt or bad beans. Throw those away and scoop the good beans into a colander. Rinse beans with water. Pour beans into a soup pot, and pour water over them to cover a couple of inches. Place lid on pot and let soak overnight.

2. When ready to cook, drain off all the water from the beans. Place the ham bone in the soup pot. Pour the drained beans into the pot. Then refill the pan with enough water to cover the beans at least an inch. At this time, add a small chopped onion. Bring soup to a boil; reduce heat to low and simmer, covered until beans are tender. Check the beans fairly often as they really can use up the water, so you may need to add more water during cooking. So make sure the pan does not get dry and cause the beans to burn. Burned beans do not taste good! (I learned this from experience too!) Beans are done when you can easily smash them with a fork, or taste them to check tenderness. In my altitude, the beans are done in less than 2 hours.

3. Carefully remove the ham bone from the soup. When cool enough to handle, remove the ham from the bone and take off any fat that may be still attached. Add the ham pieces back to the soup. I then taste them to see how much salt and pepper to add.

4. As you can see, this is a very basic method. If you like beans with a kick, add some seeded hot peppers while cooking. My Mother sometime added a dried Bay leaf to the pot. It just depends on what you like. My husband and I love to eat our Ham and Pinto Beans with a spoonful of spicy salsa added. Delicious! If you haven't cooked dried beans before, I hope you'll give these a try. They are not only tasty, but healthy as well. Enjoy!

NOTE: IF the beans are almost done and there happens to be more liquid than you want in the pot, just remove the lid and let the broth cook down some.

National Bird Day

The beauty, songs and flight of birds have long been sources of human inspiration.

Today, nearly 12% of the world's 9,800 bird species may face extinction within the next century. That is more than 980 species of birds. This number includes more than 330 parrot species.

Birds serve as barometers of the ecosystem health. They alert to global environmental ills.

Many of the world's parrots and songbirds are threatened with extinction due to pressure from the illegal pet trade, disease, and habitat loss.

Public awareness and education about the physical and behavioral needs of birds can go far in improving the welfare of the millions of birds kept in captivity



The survival of the birds depends on public education and support for conservation

Slow Cooker Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches

It's the first of the year, school starts back tomorrow, back to work as well its a great time to rely on a quick meal and the crockpot to me is the best. The stores have been having some awesome sales on chicken and our family loves delicious barbecue chicken sandwiches. The choice to use up your own personal barbecue sauce or to use your favorite bottled sauce is your decision and either work well.

Slow-Cooker Barbecue Chicken Sandwiches From Lynda's Recipe Box
This is so easy you don't really need a recipe, but here's what I do. Made 8 large sandwiches for us, but can be stretched to make more. If you want fewer sandwiches, cut the recipe in half, or freeze some of the meat for another meal.

Ingredients:
3 pounds of boneless-skinless chicken breasts, or thighs
1 large onion
1- 18 ounce bottle of your favorite barbecue sauce, or use  your homemade sauce
salt and pepper
buns

Directions:
Spray the inside of your crock pot with cooking spray. Salt and pepper the chicken breasts and lay them evenly in the crock pot.
Slice or dice the onion. In a skillet over medium high heat, add 1 tablespoon of oil or butter and the onion. Saute the onion until it begins to brown around the edges. Then add the onion to the chicken in the pot. Pour the bottle of Barbecue sauce evenly over the chicken. Cook on low until the chicken breasts, or thighs, can be easily shredded with a fork, 31/2 - 41/2 hours, depending on how fast your crock pot cooks. When done, remove the chicken to a pan and shred the meat using 2 forks. Pour the sauce over the meat and serve. Or you can add the shredded chicken back to the crock pot if desired. Enjoy!

Tom Thumb ----- Born January 4th

Happy Birthday to General Tom Thumb. Born on January 4th 1838 as Charles Sherwood Stratton was better known by his stage name "General Tom Thumb". A dwarf of a man who achieved great fame as a performer in the P.T. Barnum circus.

Charles Stratton was born to the son of a carpenter named Sherwood Edward Stratton from Bridgeport, Connecticut. Edward Stratton married his first cousin Cynthia Thompson. Both of Charles Stratton's maternal and paternal grandmothers were allegedly small twin girls. However, both of Charles (tom) parents were both of medium height.

Charles was a relatively large baby weighing 9lbs 8ozs at birth. For the first six months he grew normally then he stopped growing. The doctor informed his parents that he would never reach normal height Charles would not grow any taller or gain weight but all though he was surrounded by many siblings of average size.

P.T. Barnum the famous carnival man would come to know Charles. He would teach him to sing, dance, mime and impersonate famous people. Stratton's father would die in 1855. Tom would go on tour at the age of 5. The tour was a large success and the tour expanded. At the age of 6 Tom and Barnum would tour Europe. The tour bring Tom instant fame and make him a celebrity. Tom would meet many of the royals and join in the campaign to bring attention to those living in poverty.

Tom would fall in love an get married. P.T. Barnum would help Tom live a wonderful rich life where he traveled and entertained often. At the age of 45 Tom Thumb passed away due to a strike.





^7]

Get Your Smile Back

Today, we find ourselves busier than ever. We have to get the grand-daughter to school, take the car to the shop, pay a few bills, grocery shop and that's just what we have to do this morning. Wow, I sure do hope that we can keep our mind together and keep on smiling.

Do you ever just get up and fear that the day is not going to be good. Maybe, it happens when you get up out of bed and one little thing sets you off. Perhaps it's in the middle of the day and you find yourself behind and your mood goes down. For all these things there are a few ideas that can you help you get into a better mood. Remember to always smile.


Music is great to alter your mood and pick up your smile as well. Positive, uplifting songs that you can sing along to help pick me up. In fact I am not sure if any of you do it but when things start getting away from me and my day starts slipping away I burst out into songs it helps motivate me and keeps me smiling as well.

Have a few moments, take a quick relaxing shower. It will help increase circulation and rid the mind and body of negative energy. Sometimes the reason that we are struggling with the day is because we are tired, a good shower wakes me right up and helps me prepare for the day. Late afternoon after work I love to get a shower as well to relax and motivate.

Spend some time with your pet is something that relaxes my husband quite a bit. Behavioral therapists use animals to help with healing and this can help moods as well.

One thing we often do at work when we see someone having a bad day is to give them a hug. This helps both of us out as we talk a moment and we know someone knows what we are going through and move on. Touch offers healing energy and has a way of brightening a smile.

Remember to breathe. One of my favorite stress reducer is to take a deep breathe in and let it out. Simply relax for a moment and breathe.

Try one of these the next time you find you losing your smile and have a great day

National Trivia Day

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 How many letters are there in the phrase Happy New Year

 

What are the names of the friends on Seinfield

 

Who is famous for the line "You are Fired"

 

What is the name of this blog

 

Bonus: what is the nickname of my grand-daughter

 

 

New Year Resolution Start Now and Keep Determined

Now that New Years Day has come and gone you may have made resolutions that you still want very much to work on and reach a goal this year. For many this will mean trying hard in the beginning and then stopping when they tire of it or believe their goal is unachievable. Part of making your goal should become your daily life style. Studies have shown repetition helps change daily life. So whatever it is keep it up and reach that goal.

For many their resolution is to get into shape and/or losing weight. It is estimated that over 1/3 of the population will make some sort of resolution that has something to do with these two. Moving is the game and starting out slow with just moving 5 minutes a day will help get you started and since you may have been doing nothing all ready this will give you something to grow on. With many many exercise and diet programs out there it will be no problem finding one. The trick is to find the best one for you and that you will stick to. It is a great idea to get a fitness buddy to keep you accountable. Key to remember diet and exercise go hand in hand without one the other will be harder.

Another resolution many make is to simply eat healthier. When there is junk food where ever we seem to go changing our diet habits and eating healthy may again be a challenge. But like any challenge it can be beaten. Determination will be the tool to use in this battle. Again it takes time and eating healthier will not happen over night. Planning is a key here as well. There are many healthy recipes here on annies home as well as throughout the great www do a quick search and find what you are looking for.

Start today don't put if til tomorrow because you will have the excuse tomorrow. The fun can be in the fitness or after wards. Perhaps you should take that walk to where ever the fun is at. That way you get fitness in as well as what you really want to do.

Ragu di Salsiccia

Ragù di Salsiccia (sausage sauce)Anna’s very own recipe. Serves 4.

1 small onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 large spicy Italian pork sausages
2 tablespoons tomato paste
250ml passata (tomato puree)
¼ cup red wine
Salt and pepper, freshly ground
¼ cup finely chopped parsley
½ cup finely grated pecorino, to serve

Cut the ends from the sausages and squeeze the sausage meat from the skins into a bowl.
Mash the sausage meat and break it up a little. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan. Sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and sauté until soft also. Add sausage meat and fry, being sure to break meat into smaller pieces like mince. The meat is very sticky due to the lard content so be sure to continually break it apart. When meat is browned, add tomato paste. Fry for a minute or so until thickened. Add red wine and passata then turn heat down and allow to simmer for 5 minutes. Taste for seasoning, then stir through parsley. Remove from heat. Stir through cooked pasta of choice before topping with pecorino and serving.

Buon appetite!

I Try to be The Best I can Be

 

 A truly good wife is the most precious treasure a man can find!  Her husband depends on her, and she never lets him down. She is good to him every day of her life, and with her own hands she gladly makes clothes. She is like a sailing ship that brings food from across the sea. She gets up before daylight to prepare food for her family and for her servants. She knows how to buy land and how to plant a vineyard, and she always works hard. She knows when to buy or sell, and she stays busy until late at night. She spins her own cloth, and she helps the poor and the needy. Her family has warm clothing, and so she doesn't worry when it snows. She does her own sewing, and everything she wears is beautiful. Her husband is a well-known and respected leader in the city. She makes clothes to sell to the shop owners. She is strong and graceful, as well as cheerful about the future.  Her words are sensible, and her advice is thoughtful.  She takes good care of her family and is never lazy. Her children praise her, and with great pride her husband says, "There are many good women, but you are the best!" Charm can be deceiving, and beauty fades away, but a woman who honors the LORD deserves to be praised. Show her respect-- praise her in public for what she has done.

To be the Proverbs 31 wife a mother I strive to be. In these days and times when the world is turned upside down to me it gets a bit rough but can be achieved. I get up early make sure all is done before heading out to work, go to work for 8 hours and then come home to love and care for my child again.

Happy Drinking Straw Day

Their have been so many inventions I have shared here at annies home and learned a lot myself along the way. If it was not something that naturally occurred and discovered then it was invented. Today's invention is something that every place that sells a fountain drink has, kids love and makes our drink easier to share. That's right it is the drinking straw.

A drinking straw is a short tube for transferring a beverage from its container to the mouth of the drinker. A thin tube of plastic that is either straight or angle adjustable.

January 3, 1888 Marvin Stone was awarded the patent for the drinking straw. The first drinking straws were not used for fountain drinks and kids most certainly did not use them. The first straws were used for drinking beer. These old straws date back to the Sumerian 3,000 B.C where a gold tbe inlaid with precious blue stones was found in a tomb. The Argentines used similar metallic device called a bombilla which served dual purpose of sieve and straw.

Today's straw was invented while drinking a mint julep. Stone wound paper around a pencil to make a thin tube and glued the strips together. A bit crude I would recon but it worked. Later he would build a machine that would coat the outside of the paper with wax to hold it together.

Drinking Straws have healthy benefits as well. Tooth decay can be reduced when using a drinking straw. Many soft drinks have acidic properties that can harm teeth a straw reduces the liquid contact with the teeth reducing tooth decay and risk of cavities. However they can be harmful to the environment as well as they end up in the landfill. Straws can be reused and recycled.

A depiction of the various widths of drinking straws. Size in mm.

• A basic drinking straw is straight for the full length.
• A bendable straw or "bendy straw" (known in the industry as an "articulated straw") has a concertina-type hinge near the top for convenience. This variation was invented by Joseph Friedman in 1937.^[1][6]
• Candy straws, such as licorice straws (or lico-straws), are made from some type of chewy candy.
• A recent addition to the straw family is the cereal straw, such as the ones made by Kellogg's.
• Special "color-changer" straws change color when cold (or hot) liquid passes through them. At some restaurants, frozen beverages like slush or frappes are served with color changing straws. Many of these are larger in diameter than typical straws to aid in drinking the thicker beverages.
• A "crazy straw" is hard, transparent or translucent plastic and has a number of twists and turns at the top. When liquid is sucked through the straw, it quickly flows through the winding path, creating a mildly amusing spectacle, popular with children.^[7] The crazy straw also has some occupational therapy benefit for autism.^[8]
• Extendo-straws come in small plastic wrappings like miniature straws, but can extend to reach the bottom of the carton.
• Flavor straws are a form of drinking straw with a flavoring included, designed to make drinking milk more pleasant for children. They first marketed in the United States in 1956 as Flav-R-Straws.^[9] In recent years, newer variations of the original idea have been resurrected in forms such as Sipahhs, and Magic Milk Straws that contain hundreds of flavored pellets encased within a stiff plastic straw.
• A miniature straw is often attached to a drink box.

• Polypropylene is becoming favored over polystyrene for manufacturing plastic drinking straws as polystyrene is brittle and tends to crack easily. Polystyrene is also denser than water, causing straws to sink when placed into beverages. Polypropylene straws, by contrast, are much more durable and do not sink.
• Silicone is a newer material used in drinking straws. Silicone straws are marketed for their freezability, invulnerability to cracking or peeling, and insulation for hot and cold drinks.
• Metal straws, very popular among campers, are made from stainless steel, aluminum, and even titanium.
• "Sanitary" straws are individually wrapped to avoid contamination. Straws were originally marketed as a means for people to reduce the risk of contracting an illness from improperly washed containers, glasses, or cups.
• A spoon straw features a cut-away shape at one end that functions as a miniature spoon. It is intended for slush drinks and milkshakes. Their original purpose was to avoid ice clogging up the submerged end of the straw.^[10]
• A wide straw is used for sipping bubble tea. The larger diameter is necessary to accommodate the drink's characteristic tapioca pearls, and can also be used for stirring. The tip of these straws are sometimes cut at an angle creating a point. This allows the straw to puncture the plastic cover of the cup

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Measurements and Temperatures for Baking

January is the perfect time to stay inside and bake. Not only will it have our house smelling delicious and warm for all those that visit but it will also provide some yumminessas well. Often there are times that we will find a recipe that we just have to try. The measurements or temperatures may be foreign to what we are used to working with. So I am sharing some equivalent charts with you today. I hope that these graphs will help you

 

 

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mix it up monday