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Monday, September 27, 2010

Sloppy Joe -- $5 Dinners

http://www.blessedwithgrace.net/2010/09/tempt-my-tummy-tuesday-mexican-pasta-shells/
1 pound ground beef ($1.50)
1 medium onion, chopped (pantry)
2 celery stalks, chopped (pantry)
8 ounces tomato sauce (.50)
1/4 cup ketchup (.25)
1 Tablespoon cider vinegar (pantry)
1 1/2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce (pantry)
1 Tablespoon sugar (pantry)
1/8 teaspoon black pepper (pantry)
1 tsp salt (pantry)
8 hamburger buns ($1)

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown the beef. Remove to paper towels and wipe the excess fat from the pan.Still over medium-high heat, cook the onions in the beef fat until they are softened and translucent, about five minutes. Add the celery and mushrooms, and cook until the mushrooms have released all their moisture and turned golden brown in spots, about eight minutes. Add the garlic and saute until fragrant, about thirty seconds. Return the ground beef to the pan, and add the remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes. Taste for seasoning. If the sauce is too thin, simmer uncovered for another 5-10 minutes until the desired thickness is reached. Serve on hamburger buns. Don't forget a napkin.

Impress your Family WIth this Easy To Make Recipe

4 double-cut, bone-in pork chops
Kosher salt and freshly ground 

black pepper, to taste
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups soy sauce
1 tbsp. molasses
1 3⁄4 cups ketchup
1 1⁄2 cups chili sauce, such as Heinz
2 tbsp. French dressing
1 tbsp. dry mustard

Put pork chops into a baking dish and season with salt and pepper. In a small bowl, whisk 1⁄2 cup brown sugar, soy sauce, molasses, and 1 cup water and pour over meat. Cover with plastic wrap and let pork chops marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours. Heat oven to 375°. Drain pork chops and transfer to a 9" x 13" baking dish. Whisk together remaining brown sugar, ketchup, chili sauce, French dressing, mustard, and 1⁄3 cup water in a small bowl. Pour sauce over pork chops and bake, turning pork chops and basting with sauce occasionally, until pork chops are tender and sauce has thickened, about 45 minutes. Let pork chops rest for 10 minutes before serving. 



SERVES 4 recipe source Saveur online

win a $25 gift card to T.J Maxx or Marshalls

I love to shop most the time but this time of year shopping and find ing great deals becomes mandatory. Christmas is in less than 3 months away and I must say that in a way that seems too soon. I love the fact that T.J. Maxx and Marshalls are sponsoring a giveaway on the blog Thank, Mail Carrier where a lucky winner will receive $25 gift card to go shopping. Giveaway ends October 22, 2010

Sunday, September 26, 2010

Recipe for making Catalina Salad Dressing

Catalina Salad Dressing

1 cup ketchup, fruit sweetened if possible (.39, non fruit sweetened price)
1 cup apple cider vinegar (.09)
1 cup light olive oil (1.00) (.26, canola)
1 ½ cups cane juice crystals(.80) (.24. white sugar)
1 t minced garlic
1 T season salt

Combine all ingredients in a blender and mix on medium until everything is completely combined. Store in a quart size canning jar and put in the fridge until ready to use.

source: The Family Homestead

Pumpkin Cake perfect for fall or Halloween

Cake mix
Bundt cake pan
Cupcake pan
Cupcake paper liner
Frosting
Spatula
Red, yellow, and green food coloring
2 small mixing bowls


Cooking InstructionsMix the cake according to directions on the box.
Pour the cake mix into ONE cupcake liner.
Pour the rest of the cake mix into the bundt cake pan, coating the pan as directed on the box.
Bake according to the directions on the box, making sure you don't overbake the cupcake.
Let the cakes cool.
Mix up a small amount of frosting in one mixing bowl using green food coloring.
Mix up the rest of the frosting in another mixing bowl using red and yellow food coloring to create orange.
Frost the cake with the orange frosting.
Frost the cupcake on the sides and bottom with the green frosting.
Place the cupcake, bottom side up, on the top of the cake.
Enjoy!

K.C. Fuzzy Cowabunga Art Collection Giveaway

My daughter is at that point in the pregnancy where she still has energy to decide how she wants to rearrange the nursery. She will find our very soon the sex of the baby and then decide the path of decor that she will take. There are some very cute Art Pictures that I recently came across that I must say would be perfect in the nursery for either a boy or a girl. The Cowabunga Art Collection by K.C. Fuzzy is the decor of which I speak. Just take a look at some of the cute prints available.

While we have baby and decorating nursery on our minds I believe these cute prints would be great in any pool area, beach room, bathroom or anywhere a bit of fun is needed. K.C. Fuzzy art prints are creation of the artist Katie Covington. Katie loves to draw animals adding a bit of character or fuzziness to each of her creations. Katie started out by creating snapsuits for babies that were neither pink nor blue but had lots of love and fun in them. So she created beautiful snap suits featuring animals. The art prints I reviewed and were featured here in this post are the newest additions to her collection. Katie's hopes are that you will as her customers fall in love with the animals and their fun side and share it with your children to help them understand and appreciate the world of animals

Want one of the cute art prints for yourself? Katie from K.C. Fuzzy would love to give one of Annies Home readers their choice of art print. To enter this giveaway simply visit the K.C. Fuzzy website and tell me which art print from the cowabunga collection you would choose.

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Giveaway starts now and ends October 11, 2010. Good Luck email must be in comment or on blog profile or they will not be accepted

we received a fun print from K.C. Fuzzy for review purposes. The thoughts and comments in this post are my own and may not agree with yours

Olivia 2 in 1 Play Set and Plush Review

There is less than 100 days to Christmas which gets one to thinking of not only past holiday seasons but the approaching one as well. When we were kids we loved play sets. Little kits that we would get that we would spend hours at a time. Add in a popular character and some how the fun became more. That is Why I was so happy to be able to review the Olivia 2 in 1 play set and plush toys. Now I must say that I was not truly aware of who Olivia was. She is a new character and one that I was determined to find out who she was. My older teens had no idea because Olivia came around after they had left the play set scene. My niece who is nearly 5 years old had no problem in filling me in on who Olivia was.

A child's imagination and the Olivia 2 in 1 play set will be so much fun when paired together. Can you imagine all the creativeness that will go into their world. I do not think that we can even phantom how much fun will be had. The Olivia's 2 in 1 play house magically transforms from her home to a pirates ship. Included in this wonderful play set is an Olivia figure and base with 23 accessories and a sticker sheet. The Olivia 2 in 1 transforming play set is available at Kmart, Target or Toys R Us. You can also find out more information on the SpinMaster website.
The Olivia Plush Character comes in four different outfits including artist, opera singer, cow and basic outfit as shown here. Olivia is a plush doll that makes the day a bit better for everyone. Everyone becomes a star and Olivia is ready to perform and entertain. Olivia is 8:" in height so just the right size to take to every event a child will attend. The Olivia Plush toy is available at Toys R Us, Target and Kmart 

We were very happy to receive both the Olivia Plush toy and the Olivia 2 in 1 play set for review purposes from TeamMom. Thoughts and opinions shared in this post are those of mine alone and may not agree with yours.

An Adorable Fall Craft

Silk leaves (found in craft and department stores)
White fabric paint
White or silver glitter
Paintbrush or foam brush
Scissors
Waxed paper
Black permanent marker

Here's how:

1. Turn each leaf so the points face up. Use the scissors to round the top to resemble a ghost's head.

2. Working on a waxed paper-covered surface, paint the leaves white (front and back). If needed, give them a second coat.

3. While the paint is still tacky, sprinkle the surfaces with glitter.

4. Once the paint dries, use the marker to draw on ghostly facial features.

Source : Disney Family .com

Easy Chicken Chow mein

1 cup vegetable broth or Progresso® chicken broth (from 32-oz carton)
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1/4 teaspoon red pepper sauce
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 bag (1 lb) frozen snap peas, carrots, onions and mushrooms
2 1/2 cups coleslaw mix
4 cups chow mein noodles

Mix broth, cornstarch, oyster sauce and pepper sauce; set aside.2Heat oil in 10-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook garlic and frozen vegetables in oil about 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables are crisp-tender.Stir in coleslaw mix and broth mixture. Cook and stir 1 1/2 minutes. Serve over noodles

recipe source: tablespoonscom

Saturday, September 25, 2010

Cheddar Cheese Straws

1 1/2 cups butter, softened
1 (1-pound) block sharp Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 to 2 teaspoons ground red pepper
1/2 teaspoon paprika
4 cups all-purpose flour

Beat first 5 ingredients at medium speed with a heavy-duty stand mixer until blended. Gradually add flour, beating just until combined.Use a cookie press with a star-shaped disk to shape mixture into long ribbons, following manufacturer's instructions, on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Cut ribbons into 2-inch pieces. Bake at 350° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool.

Cheese Wafers: Combine ingredients as directed; chill dough 2 hours. Shape dough into 4 (8-inch-long) logs; wrap each in plastic wrap, and chill 8 hours. Cut each log into 1/4-inch-thick slices; place on parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 13 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks to cool. Store in an airtight container 1 week.

Source Southern Living

Blondie Cupcakes

These delicious blondie cupcakes is a a recipe from Real Simple that I believe would be good for afternoon shack, bakesales or a simple dessert

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1.Heat oven to 350° F. Line a standard 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners.
2.In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large bowl, whisk the butter and sugars until smooth. Whisk in the egg and vanilla. Gradually stir in the flour mixture, then stir in the chocolate chips.
3.Divide the batter evenly among the prepared muffin cups. Bake until the centers are just set and a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs, 25 to 30 minutes

WIth Arms WIde Open

Some may say this is not a Praise song but I can tell you that I am so happy that I was welcomed by my Lord with Arms Wide Open








shared at
brag about it party
wonderful wednesday

shared at life on lakeshore drive 

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Back To School Cookie Cutters Giveaway

Is it not funny how certian shapes can bring to thought certian memories, thoughts and ideas? Well, by now we are all back in school and Sweet Shapes thought it no better time than to sponsor a giveaway here on Annies Home to celebrate being back in school. If you have followed my blog long you probably recall Sweet Shapes sponsoring several giveaways in the past. The massive collection of cookie cutters and baking accessories has allowed them to be part of many events, holidays and good times here on Annies Home. Back To School is no different with over ten (10) cookie cutters dedicated to back to school I believe you can find the special one to make that afternoon snack extra special. In fact if you can not find the cutter to suit your needs simply ask as Sweet Shapes now makes cookie cutters designed by the customer. I am sure that you will want to get your hands on some of these wonderfully made tin cookie cutters. Sweet Shapes would love to give 2 winners a set of 3 cookie cutters each. The cutters the winners will recieve include

To enter the giveaway: please visit the Sweet Shapes website at http://cp32.heritagewebdesign.com/ and let me know what three cutters you would love to use to make special cookies for someone

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Giveaway starts now and ends October 10, 2010 Good Luck. Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count

we did not receive anything for posting this giveaway

GlassDharma Review

I have shared here on Annies Home a variety of ways to keep our Earth looking its best. Activities such as recycling, reusing and usig eco friendly products are all wonderful ways to do our part. I recently found out a great way to not only help our Earth stay looking its best but to also help make sipping our favorite drink a bit more special. Glass Dharma are the makers of the original glass straws which are handmade in the USA. I am not sure about you but there are several ways that I may use a straw in any given day. Drinking a carton of milk, juice, or even a soda can all lead to using several straws in several days leading to a massive amount of straws which are placed in the trash which end up somewhere in a collection cluttering our green Earth. Rather than using all those straws why not use GlassDharma glass straws which can be reused eliminating the massive amounts of straws which end up in the trash. GlassDharma carries a great variety of straws to choose from in order find the perfect one for you or the event you have planned.

The Simple Elegance Shorty
Whether you choose the "Shorty" straw for the kids juice or milk box or a simple drink for yourself the short stature and simplicity may be all you need. The simplicity line of straws comes in three different sizes all getting a bit bigger.
Decorative Dots Straws (color did not show up in this picture)
These beautiful Decorative Dots GlassDharma straws add elegance to the event you are celebrating. While the color did not show up well in this picture you must see them on the GlassDharma website as the primary colors seem to make these straws look like the life of the party.  

Whether you are planning an event or living life the GlassDharma has the straw that is perfect for you. You can purchase Glass Dharma straws from their website located at http://www.glassdharma.com/  or from one of the wonderful places on this list

Win A $25 Visa Gift Card

Teachers are wonderful people in my opinion who should be commended for all they do. I have had several in my years through school and can remember many that my children have had as well. A Nut in a Nutshell is hosting a giveaway to honor teachers. Winner gets a $25 visa gift card. If you want to enter this giveaway head over there before October 7, 2010

Thai Sweet Chili Salmon Sliders

I can remember having Salmon patties for supper at my husbands mothers often. They were easy to make, inexpensive and when she made them tasted great. She would have loved this recipe with the extra spice. My mother in law was an extra special person who spent many days busy in the kitchen. This recipe was the Grand-prize winning recipe in the Chicken of the Sea SuperCook contest by Edwina Gadsby from Great Falls, Mont.

2 (6-oz.) Chicken of the Sea® Premium Skinless & Boneless Pink Salmon Pouch
1/4 chopped cup cilantro
1/4 chopped cup green onions
1 Tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
4 Tablespoon Thai sweet chili sauce - divided
1 grated teaspoon lime zest
1/2 cup Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) or fresh breadcrumbs
1 egg white
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
6 small dinner rolls, spilt
12 thin slices ripe mango
12 thin slices cucumber


DirectionsCombine Chicken of the Sea® Skinless & Boneless Pink Salmon, cilantro, green onions, soy sauce, 1 tablespoon sweet chili sauce, lime zest, breadcrumbs and egg white until just combined. Shape mixture into 6 small patties. Heat oil in nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add salmon patties; sauté until cooked through and lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes per side, brushing with remaining sweet chili sauce during last few minutes of cooking. To serve, on each roll bottom, place a salmon patty; top with 2 slices of mango and 2 slices of cucumber. Add roll tops. Makes 3 servings, 2 sliders per serving.

Pampers Gifts To Grow

There are 2 new codes for Pampers Gifts to Grow. The codes are 1FORMEGTGSEPT23 and PAMPERSTWITTER5 Head over to get enter the codes at Pampers Gifts TO Grow site

Halloween Deviled Eggs



•12 hard boiled eggs
•2/3 cup mayonnaise
•1 tbsp Dijon mustard
•1 pinch celery salt or celery seed
•1 tbsp prepared yellow mustard
•2 green onions, finely minced
•1 tsp. dried parsley flakes
•1 tsp. salt
•2 drops blue food coloring, or as needed
•1 (6 ounce) can sliced black olives, drained
•½ red bell pepper, cut into small chunks
•red gel food coloring, as needed

1. Place 12 eggs into large pot of cold water. Bring to a rapid boil and boil for exactly 2 minutes. Shut off flame, cover pot and let sit for exactly 11 minutes
2. Drain eggs, run under cold water, until cool to the touch.
3. Peel eggs and cut in half, horizontally and scoop out the yolks into a glass bowl.
4. Mash the yolks until smooth, using a potato masher. (A fork will also work).
5. Add the mayo, mustards, celery salt, green onions, parsley flakes and salt to the mashed yolks and mix well.
6. Add a few drops of blue food coloring to get a green color to your yolks.
7. Spoon green yolk mixture into each white half of egg.
8. Place one black olive slice on top of each yolk filling. Add red pepper for the pupil, in the middle hole of the black olive slice.
9. Using a toothpick dipped in red food coloring gel, draw red veins on egg white's surface

For Easy Steps to Boil Deviled Eggs check out this article.

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Weil Baby Products making life better for babies



I was a very young mother, having my first child at the age of 16. I did not know a lot of facts about being a mother I learned later that none of us really do we just learn as we go. My oldest daughter had colic. Oh my was it bad. I tried everything. Now years later I hear about the wonderful bottles that are being invented to help babies and toddlers with such problems. Dr. Andrew Weil has been devoted to developing, practicing and teaching the principles of interrogative medicine for the past 30 years. Dr. Weil carries a Harvard education and a lifetime of investigating natural and preventative medicine and has adapted a unique approach to health care to care for the body, mind and spirit. Dr. Weil is a world renowned leader and pioneer in field of integrative medicine. He is a best selling author as well writing books such as Spontaneous Healing, 8 weeks to Optimum Health, Eating well for Optimum Health, and healthy Aging. You may of also seen or read his works in TIME magazine, Larry King Live, Oprah and the Today Show.

One of the great products that Dr. Weil has helped to develop is the airwave venting system. The system is composed of one piece and has been shown to effectively help reduce colic because the system works from the inside out. The Air Weave System works like this:
  • Threads on both the ring neck and the bottle securely connect the nipple assembly to the bottle.
    ■Sealing ring on the nipple seats in the bottle neck and positions the nipple in the correct orientation.
    ■Four protrusions within the bottle neck provide a means for air to enter the bottle.
    ■The flexible inner ring of the nipple rests against the inside surface of the bottle neck. This allows air to flow into the bottle but prevents fluid from leaking out.
    The AirWave™ Venting System

The Air Weave system has been developed by world class engineers and has been shown to outperform leading venting systems. One of the best features that new moms and dads will love that it is easy to clean.

I am so happy that one of my grand babies may not have to go through the pain of colic or that their mom and dad will have to struggle with not knowing how to make it all better. You can purchase Weil Baby Products from their website located at http://www.weilbaby.com/

Friday Nights At Our House











Friday Night at our House is full of football and lights. How much fun it is to attend the games with friends and have fun cheering.