End Of Summer Clean Up Did You Know

The weather is starting to get a bit cooler here and while there are lots of fun still to be had in the fall for the most part the summer time picnics are over and many of us will be preparing for fal. One thing that we must do is put away our summer equipment that we use that often includes containers and thermos bottles and even though I use these on the weekend I really  hate the smell of them being stored. The stale odor that comes with storage can be avoided by using baking soda. Simply sprinkle a bit of baking soda inside to remove and prevent that stale odor.

Fall Leaf Craft For Kids

This would make for a perfect fall craft project. Check out this post to find out how you can do this as well

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Beef Macaroni Soup

An easy recipe perfect for fall. The first time I ever ate this soup was when I was just dating my husband (26 years ago) and his aunt made this up. It was delicious and so yummy. This recipe is perfect for fall. Make up a batch and see how filling it truly is

Beef Macaroni Soup

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 can (14-1/2 ounces) reduced sodium beef stock
• 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
• 1/2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
• 1/4 tsp black pepper

Place ground beef in a large saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes or until no longer pink. Then drain. Stir in the tomatoes, mixed vegetables, beef stock. Season with black pepper. Bring to a boil; add elbow macaroni. Reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until macaroni and vegetables are tender.

Robot Snacks

Are these not adorable? Be the best room mom or create your child a super special snack. These are also super cute for the upcoming trick or treaters which will greet your door at the end of next month. I found these on Pinterest and love them

Juice Box Robot: For the arms... break a pretzel rod in half, wrap in saran-wrap with enough space between the halves to hang over the sides of the juice box. Tape the center of the saran-wrap to the box. Hot-glue the applesauce head and mini boxes of raisins as feet. Tape the spoon antenna on the back of the applesauce cup. Use whatever eyes you like.

I See Me Royal Birthday Adventure Book Review

 

Anyone that has read this blog in the past has most likely read about our little Princess. Our princess is a book fan as well. I personaly love to read books to her from I See Me because they incorporate all about her even her name.

In My Royal Birthday Adventure, your child will be the special guest at a royal birthday celebration. Your little girl can get swept away on a unicorn to a special adventure where she’ll be crowned princess, or your little boy can ride on a dragon to his birthday adventure and become a royal knight. 

One of the most exciting parts of the books is the guest that attend the adventure are the names of people that are in the childs life. From mom and dad to nana and papa and many others that love them the book shares a story of adventure where the child can easily
invision him or herself in.

Be sure to follow I See Me books on Facebook and Twitter to find out about other codes throughout the year! You can also head over to Pinterest to see more photos of their great books.

Happy Haunted Halloween Giveaway Event

To enter for your chance to win, visit our Happy Haunted Halloween Giveaway page on Facebook. Be sure that you've "liked" us on Facebook to complete the giveaway entry.

Manhattan Toys is hosting a Happy Haunted Halloween Giveaway. The giveaway page is on their facebook and up now. The special giveaway page will be up only until October 1st with winner being announced October 5th. The winner will also be notified by email. 

 

Only one winner will be announced with winner having choice between the boy or girl prize package

Boy Prize – Monster and Me™ Roaring Ruzlow™ Costume and matching Roaring Ruzlow™ Soft Toy – retail value = $63

Girl Prize – Groovy Girls® Princess Seraphina™ Girl Size Dress-Up and matching Seraphina doll – retail value = $60

Either of these prize packs would be winners for me. I have to share with you though we have asked our princess what she wants to be for Halloween and her answer was a princess complete with a crown and her brother the prince well she wants him to dress up as a fireman. LOL so that is what we will be looking for.

If you want in on this great giveaway head over to the Manhattan Toys facebook page and like them then go to the Halloween Giveaway tab and enter for your chance to win.

Pappys Restraunt Banana Pudding

BANANA PUDDING
1 c. sugar
...

1/2 c. flour
3/8 tsp. salt
3 c. milk
3 eggs, separated
2 tsp. vanilla
Vanilla wafers
Bananas

Blend sugar, flour and salt thoroughly. Mix egg yolks in center then add a little milk slowly; then add rest of milk, stirring all the time. Cook on high heat and stir vigorously until thick. Take off heat; add vanilla. Put in casserole dish in layers of cookies, bananas, then pudding. Top with meringue.

 

recipe source Pappys Restraunt


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Mega Bloks Giveaway

Our little ones love blocks. Some of the earliest sets of blocks our family gave our children was Mega Bloks. Mega Bloks now has first builders for the youngest among us. If you have not checked them out head over to Mega Bloks now to get a first glimpse of these super cute toys a perfect present for any little one with building in their heart. You can also enter a great giveaway on the blog an island life where you could win a mega bloks first builders set for your little princess

  Taking a few moments for a blog hop to just say hi to some other bloggers So "HI!!!"

Baked Pumpkin Donut Holes

For the Donuts:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/8 teaspoons ground cloves
1/3 cup canola oil
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup canned plain pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)
1/2 cup milk
For the Coating:
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
 

1. Preheat oven 350°F. Spray a 24-cup mini muffin tin with baking spray and set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. In a separate, large bowl whisk together oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin and milk until smooth. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and mix until just combined.
3. Divide batter evenly among muffin cups. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
4. While the muffins bake, melt butter in one bowl and combine granulated sugar and cinnamon in another bowl. Remove muffins from oven and cool for 2 minutes. Dip each muffin in melted butter, then roll in cinnamon sugar to coat. Serve muffins warm or at room temperature.

Recipe from The Craving Chronicles

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1929 charmer

Apple Sauce Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

 

 

For cake

• 2cupsall-purpose flour
• 2teaspoonsbaking powder
• 1/2teaspoonbaking soda
• 1/2teaspoonsalt
• 3/4teaspooncinnamon
• 1/2teaspoonground ginger
• 1/8teaspoonground cloves
• 1stick unsalted butter, softened
• 1cuppacked light brown sugar
• 1teaspoonpure vanilla extract
• 2large eggs
• 1 1/2cupsunsweetened applesauce
• 1/2cupwalnuts (optional), toasted (see Tips), cooled, and chopped

For frosting

• 5ozcream cheese, softened
• 3tablespoonsunsalted butter, softened
• 1/4teaspoonpure vanilla extract
• 1cupconfectioners sugar
• 1/2teaspooncinnamon

• Preheat oven to 350°F with rack in middle. Butter an 8- or 9-inch square cake pan.

Make cake:

• Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices.
• Beat butter, brown sugar, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition, then beat in applesauce. At low speed, mix in flour mixture until just combined, then stir in walnuts (if using).
• Spread batter evenly in pan and bake until golden-brown and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 40 to 45 minutes. Cool in pan 15 minutes. Run a knife around edge of cake to loosen, then invert onto a plate. Reinvert cake onto a rack to cool completely.

Make frosting:

• Beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla with an electric mixer at high speed until fluffy. Sift confectioners sugar and cinnamon over cream cheese mixture, then beat at medium speed until incorporated.
• Spread frosting over top of cooled cake.

 

recipe source gourmet

Cut Food Cost

It seems that our grocery budget is ever growing. So if you are like me you need to simplify it just a bit. A few tips that I have used and seem to help are:

make a meal plan. That way you know what you are having and only have to shop one time a month. Those extra trips to the store often catch up with us and helps to make our budget grow

While my mother is not an advocate to buy store brands I often find that they are very similiar to the brand products that we choose to buy. Try them out for yourself if you like them as well or better then your grocery budget may be able to shrink up to 25%

Check out warehouse stores for staples like milk , eggs, butter, cheese and sugar. While not everything is not cheaper when you buy in bulk you may be able to find some awesome savings. Likewise keep your eye out for deals at places you would not regularly think of shopping for groceries. Our local gas station has cheaper milk than our grocery stores in this area.

Check out the farmers market and local farms that sell produce. They often have a better taste and savings

Pick up some rotisserie chicken. Look for bargains at your local deli counter, krogers and walmart all often have deals that you cant resist. You can stock up, chop up, and freeze for a later time.

Check local flyers, restraunt.com , and groupon.com for great deals at restaurants. Gift cards from PlasticJungle.com also make great deals when it comes to eating out.

Discover all the Kids Eat Free offers and don't forget about all the Report Card Freebies?

Brown bag your lunch instead of eating out this will help you cut your grocery budget quickly and help save money as well.

I hope you will find these tips useful and save some money as well

South Western Cobb Salad

What a great salad to serve to your family after a busy day of rushing. Sure to build energy back up and provide protien that is so much needed.

 

For the salad

• 1 small head romaine lettuce, chopped (6 cups total)
• 1 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup cooked chicken breast (or use additional black beans)
• 1/3 red onion or red bell pepper, finely diced (1/2 cup)
• 1 avacado, diced
• 1 cup corn kernels, fresh, frozen, or canned (thawed, if frozen, drained and rinsed if canned)
• 1/2 cup diced or shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese

For the dressing

• 1/2 avacado
• 3 tablespoons low-fat sour cream
• 1/4 cup lime juice (1-2 limes)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon olive oil
• Hot pepper sauce, to taste (optional)

1. Put the lettuce in a large serving bowl, and top with the rest of the salad ingredients.
2. Mash the 1/2 avacado and whisk it in a medium bowl with the remaining dressing ingredients.
3. Toss the salad with about 1/2 the dressing, then add more to taste.

recipe source kiwi

3 meat pizza casserole recipe

1 lb bow tie pasta
1 lb mild pork sausage
1 large onion, medium size chopped
2 (26 ounce) jars spaghetti sauce (I used Bertolli’s Mushroom and Garlic)
1 lb cubed cooked ham
1/2-1 lb of sliced pepperoni
3 (8 ounce) bags of shredded mozzarella cheese
6 tablespoons of grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
1 teaspoon dried oregano
　
Directions
1. Cook pasta in boiling water until al dent é.
2. Cook sausage, garlic powder and oregano with onions until the juices run clear.




3. In a lightly greased 9x13x3 inch pan, pour a small amount of sauce to lightly coat bottom.

4. Layer ingredients in the order listed below.
5. 1st layer-1/3 of the pasta, 1/3 remaining sauce, 1 bag of mozzarella cheese, 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese, sausage and onions.
6. 2nd layer-1/2 of the remaining pasta, 1/2 remaining sauce, 1 bag of mozzarella cheese, 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese, ham.
7. 3rd layer-all remaining pasta, all remaining sauce, 1 bag of mozzarella cheese, 2 Tablespoons parmesan cheese, all the pepperoni(completely covering the entire top with pepperoni).
8. Bake at 375°F for 40 minutes.
9. Let sit for 5 minutes before serving.

recipe source here

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shabbylicious

Copy Cat Recipes : Joes Crab Cakes

2/3 cup mayonnaise
5 egg yolks
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
2 teaspoons black pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon blackening seasoning
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 cup crushed, chopped parsley
2 1/2 cups breadcrumbs
2 lbs crabmeat

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together.
Make into 4 oz. patties
Coat with flour and fry in 1 inch of oil until golden brown.

 

recipe source here

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OOEEYY GOOOEEEYYY Worms Perfect for Halloween

find the recipe here and make your own

Moz Sticks

 

 

12 pieces string cheese

12 egg roll wrappers

Oil for deep-fat frying

Marinara or spaghetti sauce

 

Place a piece of string cheese near the bottom corner of one egg roll wrapper (keep remaining wrappers covered with a damp paper towel until ready to use). Fold bottom corner over cheese. Roll up halfway; fold sides toward center over cheese. Moisten remaining corner with water; roll up tightly to seal. Repeat with remaining wrappers and cheese. In an electric skillet, heat 1/2 in. of oil to 375°. Fry sticks, a few at a time, for 30-60 seconds on each side or until golden brown. Drain on paper towels. Serve with marinara sauce. Yield: 1 dozen.

 

recipe source: Taste of Home

Pardon Day

When : Always September 8th Pardon Day is today. Its an opportunity to seek forgiveness where needed. Today is also a day to say "Pardon Me", or Excuse Me" as appropriate. In today's busy society, too many people race about their lives, forgetting the small courtesies in life. Among the easiest things to let slip by, is etiquette. Pardon Day is the perfect day to tell those who need to hear it "Pardon me" or "Excuse me" Use the manners that mom or grandma shared with you. Its a perfect time to give forgiveness or ask for forgiveness as well.  Origin of Pardon Day:
The roots of this day go back to September 8, 1974. On this day, newly installed President Gerald Ford issued a Presidential Proclamation pardoning President Richard M. Nixon of any wrong doing related to the Watergate scandal.

September 9 Salute To Bacon With Bacon Donuts

For Brioche Dough:
-2 1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
-1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast
-1/4 cup cool water (about 70 degrees F)
-4 large eggs
-2 tablespoons sugar
-3/4 teaspoon sea salt
-1 cup (8 ounces) cold unsalted butter
For Maple Frosting:
-3 ounces unsalted butter
-1/2 teaspoon salt
-2 cups powdered sugar
-3/4 cup maple syrup
For decoration:
-1 cup bacon crumbles
Method:
Place 1 1/2 cups of the flour, the yeast, water, and whole eggs in a mixer bowl. Beat at medium speed, using the flat beater paddle, until smooth. Cover the mixture and let sit for 45 minutes. It will develop some bubbles, but not change a lot due to the thinness of the batter. However, the yeast is getting a head start.
Add the remaining flour, the sugar, and salt, and beat for 8 to 10 minutes, until the dough cleans the sides of the bowls and is shiny and elastic.
Sprinkle a work surface with a small palmful of flour (about 2 tablespoons of flour). Place the butter on the flour. Pound with the side of a rolling pin until it has become a cohesive rectangle about 1/4-inch thick. Fold it over several times as you pound; it will become pliable without getting too warm or soft. Add it to the dough and beat until it is fully incorporated.
Cover the dough with a towel and let it rise in a warm room for an hour. It should be very soft and have risen about 1/3. Turn the dough out on a lightly floured surface and fold it over several times. (Use a bench knife or dough scraper to scrape up any bits that stick to the table.) Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover the bowl, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours (or up to 16). The dough will firm up considerably and be easier to work with.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface. Using a rolling pin with handles, roll it out to a thickness of 1/2 inch. If the dough is difficult to handle after rolling, place it in the freezer for 20 minutes. Cut the dough using a donut cutter or two round cutters of graduated size. Dip the cutters in flour each time to make it easier.
Cover and let rise until double, 30-40 minutes. At 25 minutes, begin to heat vegetable oil in high-sided stock pot to 350 degrees F.
While the donuts are rising, make the maple frosting. Heat butter over low heat until it is melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar until smooth. Stir in tablespoons of maple syrup one at a time, until desired consistency. Set aside until ready to frost.
When the oil reaches 350 to 360, carefully place 4 or 5 doughnuts in the oil. Fry for 1 minute, then use a slotted spoon to flip them over carefully. Fry the other sides for 1 minute, then flip the doughnuts again and fry for 30 seconds more, or until dark golden brown. Remove the doughnuts from the oil and drain them on paper for 30 seconds before frosting. Generously spread frosting over the top of the donut and sprinkle with bacon.

Nanas Special Day

National Grandparent's Day

When: the first Sunday after Labor Day Originated: 1978 President Jimmy Carter declared it to be the first Sunday after Labor Day It is only right and fitting that one day of the year is set aside to honor our grandparents. It is time to celebrate those special people who are always there with a hug, a kiss, a cookie, something special, or take us somewhere.