On My Easter Table : Greek Pasta Salad

The warm weather this spring season has delighted me. It has made me so happy that I have decided to change up the holiday just a bit. This year following Sunday church we will host a picnic lunch. At the picnic lunch we will have most of the traditional dishes that we normally serve at Easter but with a few changes. A delicious pasta salad is on the list of dishes to enjoy.

Greek Pasta Salad

  source here
Serves 6-8

 12 ounces farfalle pasta (bow-ties)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 cups crumbled feta cheese
1 cucumber, cored and chopped
1 pint grape tomatoes, halved
3/4 cup pitted Kalamata olives, chopped
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons fresh oregano, chopped
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite. Drain. Rinse with cold water; drain well. Transfer to large bowl. Add crumbled feta cheese, cucumber, tomatoes, Kalamata olives, red onions and parsley .   Combine vinegar, garlic, oregano, and mustard in small bowl. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup olive oil. Season dressing to taste with salt and pepper. Add dressing to farfalle mixture and toss to blend. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

 

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Tomorrow is eat some food on a stick day This recipe is easy and allows you to share the day with you family. Enjoy!!

Crescent Dog on a Stick

  My kids love to have pigs in a blanket and when you add a stick to such a great dish I believe it makes it even better. Check out this great recipe from Pillsbury. Try it for yourself and watch as the faces of those you share it with light up with bright smiles.                            

                                  

8  hot dogs                                                      

4 slices (3/4 oz each) American cheese, each cut into 6 strips                        

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury™ refrigerated crescent dinner rolls                        

8 wooden corn dog sticks                    

  

Heat oven to 375°F. Slit hot dogs to within 1/2 inch of ends; insert 3 strips of cheese into each slit. Separate dough into triangles. Wrap dough triangle around each hot dog. Place on ungreased cookie sheet, cheese side up. Bake at 375°F. for 12 to 15 minutes or until golden brown. Insert 1 stick in each crescent dog.

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shaving Cream Easter Eggs

Looking for a fun activity to do with your kids this holiday? Check out this super fun craft. Shaving Cream Easter Eggs are fun, messy and awesome craft to decorate with. Who does not like to get ooey and gooey at times?? Its easy clean up as well. Check it out and have asome fun


items needed

A tray of some sorts

Shaving cream

Cardstock or construction paper

Acrylic paints

Squeegee

A toothpick, paintbrush, or spoon (something to swirl the paint)

Squirt enough shaving cream on the tray to cover the surface.  Spread it around to make the surface relatively even, it won't be smooth. 

Once you have your shaving cream on the tray, squirt some acrylic paint onto it.

Then using a toothpick, paintbrush, spoon, or something similar, zigzag gently though the paint to give it a marbled effect.

Using cardstock or cardboard paper cut out egg shapes paint . 

 

Press your paper into the paint/shaving cream and let it sit for a few seconds. Remove the paper by lifting it straight up.  Let the paint/shaving cream sit on the paper for a couple of minutes before squeegeeing it off the paper. Gently and smoothly squeegee the shaving cream off the paper.  It will remove the shaving cream, but not the paint

 

 

Deviled Colored Eggs

Two things that we always incorporate into our Easter is the coloring of eggs and deviled eggs. I love the recipe I found here that puts these two together. They offer your Easter dinner a bit of color and a surprise. Hope you enjoy


DEVILED COLORED EGGS

 Offer everyone something to nibble on between the Easter egg hunt and the big feast with this colorful palette of deviled Easter Eggs. I like mine with a little pepper mixed in.

– 10 hard boiled eggs
– 1/2 cup mayonnaise
– food coloring

Bring water over the stove to a boil with your eggs in the pot. Turn down the heat to low, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, cool the eggs with running cold water. Peel the eggs, cut them in half, and place the yolks in a separate bowl.  Make the colors just as you would to dye Easter eggs and dip the whites, letting them dry. Meanwhile, mash the yolks and add mayonnaise along with any other add-ins like bacon, pepper, or chives. Fill the emptied egg white halves with your yolk mixture and decorate

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Kraft Macaroni and Cheese Recall

Kraft Foods is recalling approximately 242,000 cases of its trademark original flavor Macaroni & Cheese dinners because some boxes may contain small metal pieces, the company said in a statement Tuesday.
Affected products include 7.25-ounce boxes as well as 3-pack boxes, 4-pack and 5-pack wrapped boxes of 7.25 ounce servings of the family favorite.

 

The company reports affected boxes were stamped with 'Best if used by' dates of September 18 through October 11, 2015, with the code 'C2' directly below the date on each box.
No injuries have been reported, though Kraft Foods says eight customers have contacted the company regarding the recall.
"We deeply regret this situation and apologize to any consumers we have disappointed," Kraft Foods Corp. said in their recall statement.

Affected customers should not eat the product and return it to their local store or contact the company at 1-800-816-9432 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Eastern time for a full refund.

First Sign of Spring

Yes that's right these are crocus and yes they are making their first appearance. I noticed that the temp uptown was 70 degrees. I believe that spring is here . Not to say that we may have any bad days ahead but it is the first sign of spring and I love it. Cant wait for warm weather

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O the Deep Deep Love of Jesus

The hymn "O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus" was written by Samuel Trevor Francis in 1875. Samuel was born in 1834 in a village north of London but was raised in the city of Hull which is midway up the English coast. He had an enriched childhood with a father as an artist and his parents supplying him with poetry and himself completing a journal of his own poetry. He also developed a passion for music and joined the church choir at the age of nine. Like many teens even in todays culture there was a struggle with spiritually. Moving back to London for a job allowed him to see things that were not right in his heart. On his journey to work one day in the cold rain and loneliness he cried out to God for mercy. It was on a bridge on his path that he took a long look at his life and debated of ending it all in that water that night. He took Jesus in his heart that winter night and changed his life.
Becoming a London merchant and writing hymns while preaching the word. He died on December 28th 1925 and was known for preaching around the world as a Plymouth brethren.



   
This bit of history helps to remind me that there is a plan for my life and He has a plan that we may not even know as of yet. Keep the faith and belief. Share with others what He has done for us and give praise to Jesus

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Crockpot Recipe : chicken taco chili

As I shared with you before our life is busy and thus we depend on the crockpot quite often to help us prepare delicious meals for our family. This soup is perfect for soup and sandwich night and is packed full of goodness. From veggies to chicken there are great vitamin boosters that offer that extra bit of energy to enjoy those spring activities. It offers a bit of warmth that will be welcomed on those not so warm spring days.

 

 

 

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili

 

 

Serves: 4-6

Ingredients

• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 16-oz. can black beans
• 1 16-oz. can kidney beans
• 1 8-oz. can tomato sauce (used a 16 oz. can instead)
• 10 oz. package frozen corn kernels (or 2 small cans of corn kernels)
• 2 14.5-oz. cans diced tomatoes w/chilies
• 1 packet taco seasoning
• 1 Tbsp. cumin
• 1 Tbsp. chili powder (I use a bit more if the tomatoes don’t have chilies)
• 24 oz. (3) boneless skinless chicken breasts
• chili peppers, chopped (optional)
• chopped fresh cilantro

 

1. Combine beans, onion, chili peppers, corn, tomato sauce, cumin, chili powder and taco seasoning in a slow cooker.
2. Place chicken on top and cover.
3. Cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 6 hours.
4. Half hour before serving, remove chicken and shred.
5. Return chicken to slow cooker and stir in.
6. Top with fresh cilantro.
7. Also, try it with low fat cheese and sour cream

recipe source here

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Broccoli Salad

Looking for a delicious salad that would be perfect for Easter dinner and provide great taste? Then check out this recipe

Broccoli Salad
adapted from a recipe by Paula Deen

 1 head broccoli
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup raisins
½ cup of shredded carrots
¼ cup toasted sunflower seeds
½ cup Follow Your Heart Cheddar, cut into very small chunks
1 cup vegan mayonnaise
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1/4 cup raw cane sugar
1/2 cup halved cherry tomatoes
Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Trim off the large leaves from the broccoli stem. Remove the tough stalk at the end and wash broccoli head thoroughly. Cut the head into flowerets and the stem into bite-size pieces. Place in a large bowl. Add the onion, raisins, carrots, sunflower seeds and vegan cheddar. In a small bowl, combine the remaining ingredients, stirring well. Add to broccoli mixture and toss gently. Season with freshly ground pepper and salt.''

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Friday The 13th

This is the second Friday the thirteenth this year. The first was in February and will happen again in November. If you are superstitious then you may or may not look forward to the occurrence of Friday being on the 13th of the month. Often considered an unlucky day and is often blamed when bad things happen it is a day where you may want to be on your toes.

Through history the number 13 has been an unlucky number. Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13. Some have even viewed Friday as an unlucky day of the week. Now in this generation we would not agree with that but rather with TGIF.

However, there are those welcome Friday the 13th and don't agree with the negative superstitions. In fact they think of the number 13 as lucky. However those that were victims in the Friday the 13th movie would have to disagree.

Were you aware that         
there are skyscrapers that are built and do not have a 13th floor
Ship skippers do not go to sea with a crew of 12 as the skipper would make 13.
Ancient Mayans of Central America were the most advance culture in all of Americas and that they considered the number 13 sacred  
In biblical references it is believed that Cain killed Abel on Friday the 13th.
           
     

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Planting Spring Bulbs

Leap Day 2012 was a day I will remember forever. It was a day that changed not only mine and my families lives but our entire community. It was the day that a tornado hit our town and ate a path and destroyed houses, lives and our community. Our house was in the path and while it was hit and damage was done there were others that were hurt more than us. A few years later and you will find us still cleaning and fixing what damage was done. One thing that was done at our house is that the tornado picked our yard  trees, flowers, bushes up by the root and took them with us leaving things like the tree but flowers and plants never to be seen again. So we must replant and one thing I miss most are the spring flowers. These were the first sign of spring to me and I miss seeing them in the yard. So I thought I have to replant so I might just share with you my friend all about spring flowers and planting bulbs.

 

What to plant when.

 

 

You will want to do a bit of research like when the flowers will bloom, what colors the flower will be, how tall these plants will be. You can find most of this on the bag or box where you purchase the bulbs.

 

Spring flowering bulbs must be planted in the fall from September to December. Check with the material on the package that bulbs arrive in to see how deep to plant. With this knowledge it will be time to plant. Using a garden fork or shovel, break up the soil where you want to plant bulb. Bulbs should be planted individually. A hole should be created in the soil twice the size of the bulb.

 

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Chocolate Popcorn

Yes this is a recipe for chocolate popcorn. I love popcorn and I love chocolate this easy Paula Deen Recipe combines the two and makes it great.

 

 

 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light corn syrup

1/2 stick butter

2 tablespoons cocoa

1/2 teaspoon salt

8 cups popcorn

Over medium heat, using a 4 quart pot, combine the sugar, corn syrup, butter, cocoa, and salt and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is well mixed, add the popped corn. Cook and stir until popcorn is coated, approximately 2 minutes. Cool mixture and shape into 3-inch balls

Did You Know

One of the easiest ways to make a Million $$$  is to purchase a lottery ticket for as little as $1. With this $1 you have the opportunity to participate in a chance to be wealthier than you ever imagined. It is the chance of a lifetime to become rich over night. States can also generate lots of revenue for education and other state projects by selling lottery tickets. Did you know that state lotteries as we know them have been active in the U.S. for over 50 years.

March 12th , 1964 in New Hampshire the first state legally sold lottery ticket occurred in the U.S. Take note that Puerto Rico had a lottery system since 1934. New Hampshire was the first U.S. state to hold a state lottery. Not long after other states followed suit and created their own state lottery. Reasoning was that state revenue could be created by lotteries. Mega Millions and Powerball games are building state revenue while those that purchase the tickets hold tight to the hope that  they may hit the big one. In 2008 Arkansas became the newest state to host lottery and making the 43rd state.

 

Harriet Tubman Day

Harriet Tubman Day celebrated March 10th since approved by congress in 1990. Harriet was born in Bucktown, Maryland around 1820. The year is not for sure as she was born into slavery. In 1849 she escaped from slavery and became a "conductor" on the underground railroad making at least 19 trips. There were great hardships and dangers that she would face but she believed in freedom so strongly that she would lead hundreds of slaves to freedom.

Harriet would become an eloquent speaker leading for support to abolish slavery. She was not only a conductor and speaker but also served in the civil war as a soldier, spy, nurse, scout and cook. Se also was the leader for newly freed slaves.

Mrs. Tubman led her life and fought the battle for human dignity, human rights, opportunity and justice here entire life. She was courageous ad dedicated to the causes. She believed in America and what it offered she wanted a common goal for all. March 10, 1913 Harriet Tubman passed from this world.

 

 

What Needs Done

Wow where do I start well actually today has been rather busy all ready

1. Menu planning and shopping done for the week
I have created a menu that includes
ham and potatoes
tater tot casserole
beef stew and biscuts
meatloaf and potatoes
shepherds pie
pork cutlets , veggie, and gravy
fish and mac n cheese
tenderloin in crockpot

Oh yes and shopping is done as well this has started out well

2. I had to clean out fridge and rearrange freezer so that I could put up groceries I will be needing this week

3. bathroom is clean but neglected I have to arrange and clean where I have not yet

4. since groceries are purchased I have to clean pantry, shelves and so forth so that they all look great

5. Grandkids have been here more with papa than I have so it is time to straighten up there area as well

That will be good for my day off and hope to do more next time I find myself not having to go to work

Are Your Ready For This .....

Do have a tired feeling today? If so then you may be living in an area like I do where daylight saving time started yesterday. That's right we lost an hour of sleeping time and more daylight time or so the reasoning goes. This is also the day that you should have changed the batteries in your fire detectors. So today if this was you yesterday you will be glad to know that you can celebrate with many of us who look forward the little known but should be widely recognized holiday of

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Crockpot Recipe : Meatballs

On nights when I work late and / or the kids have to be somewhere and I have little time to cook I love to use recipes that are easy to make and of course that means using the crockpot. A little planning ahead always helps out. Recipes like crockpot meatballs is always worth the time

 

  

 

It's ok to use frozen meatballs when you are in a rush. They are often found at great deals as well. They also make this dish much easier. It's time to relax and enjoy!!! Serve over hot cooked noodles along side a vegetable or salad and there you have it a delicious easy meal.

 

 

 

Crock Pot Meatballs Stroganoff

1-lb bag frozen meatballs
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can beef broth
1/2 chopped onion
1/2-1 C mushrooms, big chop - or 1 can
1 T Worcestershire sauce
1 t tarragon (if you have it)
1/4 t pepper
1 C sour cream
Combine the soup, onion, mushrooms, tarragon
and pepper in the crock pot. Mix well. Add
the meatballs and stir to coat.Cover and cook
on low for 6 hrs. Stir in the sour cream and
heat for 10-20 minutes while you cook the
noodles.   Serves 4

recipe source here

National Crab Meat Day: Crab Dip

NATIONAL CRAB MEAT DAY

 

 

1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened

1/4 cup mayonnaise

3 tablespoons milk

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

dash cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce, or to taste

1 can (7 1/2 oz) crab meat, drained, cartilage removed, finely chopped

• Prep Time: 10 minutes

• Total Time: 10 minutes
• Yield: 2 Cups

In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, mayonnaise, milk, salt, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper or Tabasco sauce to taste. Blend well. Gently fold in the chopped crab meat. Chill and serve crab dip with chips, crackers, or raw vegetable dippers

 

recipe source here

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Happy Birthday Barbie and a yummy frosting recipe

Happy Birthday to Barbie lets celebrate with these super cute cupcakes all sparkled up. If you want check out this quick and easy recipe for making an easy to make icing


7 minute frosting

3/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup boiling water
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
3 unbeaten egg whites
food coloring (optional)
coconut (optional)

Mix sugar, cream of tartar, vanilla and egg whites. Add boiling water. Beat on high til mixture forms peaks (like meringue) approximately 5-7 minutes.

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Clusters

These yummy little snack bites are filled with yummy ingredients like Peanut Butter and cereal. We love them use them quite often for lunch box fillers. Enjoy!!!


2 lbs white chocolate for melting
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4 cups of Rice Krispies
3 cups of mini marshmallows
2 cups of roasted peanuts

In a sauce pan over medium heat or in the microwave, melt white chocolate and peanut butter together.  Add remaining ingredients and stir gently until cereal, nuts and marshmallows are coated in the chocolate/peanut butter mixture.
Spread wax paper out on counters and drop spoonfuls of the treat onto the wax paper.  Allow 30 minutes for clusters to set before serving or storing in an air-tight container