beautiful southern Illinois sky over the water. I love spending time with our Heavenly Father enjoying the beauty that he provided for us.

A Glimpse of Our Week

This weeks menu includes some old fall favorites as well as a few nights of simple fun. On the menu are dishes such as tatertot casserole this one from Taste of Home is one of our favorites and when my nephews stayed here was a favorite of theirs as well

 

 

1/2 pound lean ground beef (90% lean)
1 can (8-3/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained
 2/3 cup condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
 1/3 cup 2% milk
 2 tablespoons sour cream
 3/4 teaspoon onion powder
 1/4 teaspoon pepper
 2 cups frozen Tater Tots

In a large skillet, cook beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Stir in the corn, soup, 1/4 cup cheese, milk, sour cream, onion powder and pepper. Place 1 cup Tater Tots in a greased 3-cup baking dish. Layer with beef mixture and remaining Tater Tots; sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake, uncovered, at 375° for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly. Yield: 2 servings.

recipe source: Taste of Home

other dishes this week include
ham n beans, corn bread, fried potatoes, coleslaw
baseball food as we will watch my son play ball
bacon sandwiches and chips

what a yummy week with a busy weekend to follow

Halloween Treat : Witches Hats

Here it is a super cute and easy recipe perfect for after school treats or an easy weeknight dessert. I simply love to surprise my family with seasonal goodies. They are always so much fun and the conversations that are to be had run from how cute and I remember .... Why not surprise your bunch with a special Halloween treat such as witches hats.

 

 

2 fudge striped cookies
2 Hershey kisses (milk or dark chocolate)
orange gel icing
orange colored sugar

Place the cookies, striped side down on a plate. Dab a little gel icing around the center of each cookie. Place a Hershey kiss on top of the gel icing, pressing down to stick. Dab some gel icing on the tip of the Hershey kisses. Sprinkle orange sugar over icing.
Makes 2 witches hat cookies

Sweet Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

1 cup	Today, October 7 is national pumpkin day so for a sweet treat why not try some baked up pumpkin seeds pumpkin seeds, rinsed and dried
1 Tbsp	melted butter
1 tsp	sugar
1/4 tsp	cinnamon

 

Once the innards are scraped from the pumpkin or squash, remove the seeds from the squishy, stringy stuff, rinse and spread out to dry.  Preheat oven to 375  In a bowl combine melted butter, sugar, and cinnamon. Toss in seeds; mix until seeds are coated well.  Spread evenly on a baking sheet and bake until toasted and slightly browned, about 15-20 minutes, tossing halfway through. Watch carefully to avoid burning as all ovens vary on cook times. Remove from oven, and let cool before serving.

 

recipe source here

 shared here
Inspiration Exchange

Win $50 GIFT CARD

No matter how big the baby gets it seems there are always more things that they can use, they want and you want for them. I would love to win this $50 Babies R Us gift card. I entered a giveaway over on the blog The Bragging Mommy in order to have a chance in this giveaway that is sponsored by Carters Giveaway ends October 8 , 2013 want your chance as well? then head over and enter this giveaway

Siamese Cats

 

This is a picture of my friends cats. They so remind me of the lady and the tramp son 

 

shoofly muffins

When I was a child Rockhome Gardens was a common place for our family to visit. The beauty that would be found here I have never forgot and one day plan to return with my own family. One of the things that my mother always wanted when she visited was to eat at the restraint and enjoy a piece of their shoofly pie. Oh the flavors in this pie was one that my mother enjoyed with intensity and I would be surprised to find out later in life when I spent the holidays with my husbands family that my mother in law always served a dessert that was very much like my mothers beloved shoofly pie.

Shoofly pie or what my mother in law would have called chess pie is a delicious piece of many customs. Both the Pennsylvania Dutch and Southern Cooking makes this delicious pie a tradition.
The pie may get its name because the sweet molasses odor attracts flies that must be "shooed" away.  The difference between the chess pie and the shoofly pie are the layers.

Shoofly Muffins are a sweet little dessert that have a wonderful topping like the shoofly pie and oh my the taste will bring back yummy memories

 

 

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

5 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pieces

1 cup boiling water

1/2 cup molasses

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 teaspoon vanilla extract   

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line 18 muffins cups with paper liners. In a large bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking soda and salt. Add butter and mix with a fork or your hands until crumbly. Reserve 1/2 cup of mixture for topping. Stir remaining ingredients into flour mixture.

Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Sprinkle reserved topping mixture over batter, distributing evenly. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center of muffin comes out dry. Cool 10 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

recipe source here

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Serenity Saturday

Have Fun With Preschool and Writing

My grand=daughter Princess who is now 5 years old has been practicing her writing skills. I hope that she ends up being a great writer and love to share her thoughts on paper. One way to help children her age is to have fun while they learn. I recently found some fun activity sheets for Halloween that will help preschoolers with their writing skills. You can print them off and have fun with your child. Check them out here

Memories and Football Hand In Hand

Fall is one of my favorite seasons full of fun, colors, bonfires and football. I love this Kenny Chesney song because if you have ever played, cheered at or simply watched a football game you know that there is a lot of passion there. My dad played football and always hoped that one of his grandsons would grow up to play the game as well. While he did not live long enough to see it one of his grandsons my youngest son did play football and loves the sport as much as he did. Sometimes I wish my dad was here to see how his grand-boys all of them grew up and loved the sports he loved as well. He would have been very proud of how his youngest son and all of his grandsons love the sport of football. In the future perhaps there will be even more boys of fall in our family. I am sure though that my dad is looking down from the best seat in the house and has us all in great picture view. I miss you dad







I am sure that a tasty treat is also required here to feed some very hungry boys of fall. So if you have some hungry football fans try this delicious recipe

3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup vegan margarine (I used Earth Balance buttery sticks)
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup dark chocolate candy melts

What you do: 

Cream softened margarine, sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla extract. Add the flour until well combined into a stiff dough. Roll into balls and shape into footballs by tapering the ends a bit. Place onto parchment lined or non-stick cookie sheet. Bake at 325 degrees Fahrenheit for 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are deep golden. Let cool before dipping.
Melt the chocolate as directed on the package in a microwave or double boiler. Carefully dip each cookie to coat the bottoms and place onto a cool, parchment lined cookie sheet. With a butter knife, draw the "football stitches" onto the cookies. Let harden before moving (placing them into a refrigerator makes this quicker).
Source of recipe: I wanted to make cookies that wouldn't spread too much and keep it's shape. So I based this recipe on a basic Mrs. Field's shortbread cookie recipe. These came out great with the peanut butter-chocolate combo twist.

Preparation Time: 

15 minutes, Cooking time: 15 minutes

Cooking Time: 

15 minutes

Servings: 

recipe source here

Letter of the week is T

The letter of the week is T. T can have great fall beauty in both eye appeal and taste. Just take a look at what T words I share this week.

 

 

Fall is a time for beautiful trees. So many awesome colors and hues of reds, oranges, browns and yellows. Makes for a beautiful picture

T is also for treats and while we are discussing the beautiful leaves of fall. I found this delicious treat that celebrates the trees of fall

 Autumn Tree Crisps

             

Pretzel Crisps
 Caramel chews or frosting
Leaf sprinkles
-Chocolate

Melt caramel chews on Pretzel Crisps in the microwave for about 25 seconds. Press leaf sprinkles on top. An alternative is to spread on frosting and shake sprinkles on top. Melt chocolate and drizzle a trunk across the bottom of each crisp. Allow to harden and serve.
recipe source here

Gratituesday

As I sit here in the quiet of the night watching my hubby, the dog and the cat sleep and not hearing any other voice in the house as well. I must say that I know that I am very lucky to lead the life that I do. One that allows us to make mistakes and to be forgiven for them. I was just a little girl when I heard the preacher teach on the subject of forgiveness. It was said that if you ask for forgiveness that it should be given. Now that does not always mean that life is easy but that you can begin a new each day and try harder to be the person that God would want us to be. To belong to a family that believes in the term of forgiveness gives me a much better world to live in.

Sunday night I attended church service and learned all sorts of things that are going on Missions in our own town that needed more hands to help out. I am so happy that these missions are available for those around. I am sure that there are many that are thankful. I to am thankful for the opportunities that I will be able to volunteer for in the future.

What is it you are thankful for?

Decorate with Nature

Here we are again in the season of autumn. I love this season full of color and fun. I have so many memories of raking leaves, jumping in leaves and simply admiring all the amazing colors. A fun activity that the whole family can take part in is making a fall wreath. Making a wreath out of beautiful fall leaves is easy and frugal to do. Simply cut a cardboard circle that you will attach the beautiful fall colored leaves to. Add a simple ribbon and you have a wreath that the whole family can be proud of. It is a great project for families to spend time together as well.

Type 2 diabetes

I was diagnosed a few years ago with Type 2 Diabetes. My father had Type 2 Diabetes and so it was a great possibility that I would have it as well. Type 2 Diabetes affects millions of Americans. Individuals with type 2 diabetes are not able to use insulin properly. Our bodies require us to insulin to help move glucose (sugar) to millions of cells in our body for energy. When the body does not have enough insulin the glucose gathers in the blood rather than being transported to the bodies cells. Many with Type 2 Diabetes may have for years without being aware of it because there are either no or mild symptoms that easily go unrecognized. I want to share they signs and symptoms with you so that you can be aware if there is a sign that says you should have it checked out.

• frequent urination
• increased thirst
• unexplained loss weight
• foot pain and numbness
• wounds that heal slow
• frequent infections
• blurred vision

All of the listed are symptoms of type 2 diabetes and worth a visit to the doctor to have things checked out

Halloween Treat : Skelatin Treat Bag

You have to check this out. I think it is simply adorable. You can find the how tos here

Halloween Treat: Marshamallow Suckers

I have seen cute suckers like this on the shelves at the local stores for a bit. I love to make my own and know what I put inside of each and everyone and since they are so super cute I know that they should be a favorite during the Halloween season.


1/4 cup green melting wafers
1 cup orange melting wafers
1 cup purple melting wafers
Lollipop sticks
24 large marshmallows
Sprinkles, candy corn, and candy icing decorations
1/4 cup chocolate chips, melted

Place melting wafers in separate small bowls. Microwave for 15-second intervals, stirring in between, until melted. Insert one end of lollipop sticks into melted green wafers. Push green-colored end of each stick into a marshmallow. Let set 3 minutes. Dunk marshmallows into orange or purple melted wafers, shaking off any excess coating. Place on a sheet of wax paper, and top with assorted sprinkles or decorations.
To make faces, place melted chocolate in a resealable plastic bag, and snip off one tiny corner. Pipe face designs onto marshmallows.



Recipe Source : Parents

Tis The Season FOr Spiders

here in southern Illinois there is always a place for a spider to hide. Under the rocks, in the trees, in the ground where ever they find a home the life of a spider is one that I want to stay away from

 

 

 

Want a spooky way to use spiders (plastic ones) and decorate a place in your home for Halloween?

 

coconut fudge

Coconut Fudge

Not as hard to make as regular candy/fudge and not as sweet, but just as
delicious. You might want to keep to the low end of the sugar measurement as
coconut milk has a lot of sugar in it already.


* 1/2 cup coconut milk
* 1 cup milk
* 1 3/4 to 2 cups sugar
* 3/4 cup fine desiccated coconut
* 1 cup butter

Heat coconut milk, milk, and sugar in a pan and keep stirring until thickened.
Add the coconut and the butter, Keep stirring until the fudge thickens further
and leaves the sides of the pan to form a somewhat loose ball in the center. Pat
down on a greased pan. \

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More the Merrier Monday
Melt In Your Mouth Monday
Motivate Me Monday

Gift Idea From The Kitchen

Its never to early to start planning and making those awesome hand made gifts for Christmas. A real nice one that I love to give my friends who love to brighten up their kitchen as well as those that love sweet treats is

Cappuccino Mix in a Jar

2/3 cup instant coffee granules
1 cup powdered non-dairy creamer
1 cup powdered chocolate drink mix
1/2 cup SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Have ready 2 (12 ounce) canning jars. Put the instant coffee into a food processor, and process to a fine powder. If you don't have a food processor, put it into a large plastic bag, and crush with a rolling pin. In a large bowl, combine creamer, chocolate mix, instant coffee, SPLENDA® Granulated Sweetener, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir together until well mixed. Spoon into 2 - 12 ounce jars. Attach a note to each jar that reads: Cappuccino: Mix 3 tablespoons of powder with 6 fluid ounces hot water.

weekend pictures

Marching Bulldogs

Simply love the colors of my home town school . Marching proud the bulldogs are awesome.