Ham n Potato Soup

2 potatoes, diced, skin on


1 onion, diced fine

1 cup ham stock (or a cup of low sodium chicken broth)

1/2 cup low fat milk

1 cup water

1 can Campbell's condensed Pepper Jack Soup

1 can Campbell's Healthy Request Cream of Celery Soup

1 to 2 cups cubed ham

1/2 cup low-fat sour cream

 Put all ingredients, except sour cream, in slow cooker in morning and mix well. If it looks like you need a little more liquid, add a little more water.  Turn the cooker on medium and forget about it until suppertime.  15 minutes before serving, while still in slow cooker, stir in half a cup of sour cream

Recipe Source: http://www.mydailymoment.com/recipes/ham_and_potato_soup.php

shared at

Smores Cookies

What a sweet treat to follow up any barbq find the recipe here

What A Deal : Duncan Hines Brownies

This was sent to me by my newest and my oldest blog partner. My daughter is perhaps the wisest person that I know with coupons and finds deals like no one else I personally know so from time to time she will be sharing with us some of her great deals. You can print this coupon for yourself here

Giveaways I Entered

One thing that my mom always made sure that we had were outside toys. Perhaps it was because she loved being outside or maybe it was because she knew how much they made us happy. There is a giveaway right now at the blog A Mom's Balancing Act where the prize is a wonderful seesaw that I am sure will provide hours of fun. A second giveaway is being hosted by Thank You Mail Carrier where the prize is a $50 gc.  The giveaway is sponsored by HearthSong and ends July 8, 2011.

Gummy Lump has many awesome toys that are perfect for children. I love to find fun gifts for the young ones in my life. The blog Thanks Mail Carrier is hosting a giveaway where the prize is a fun parachute set. How much fun would that be I can remember playing with parachutes in school and we had so much fun. You can enter this giveaway before it ends on July 8, 2011  
Are you hosting a giveaway I would love to hear about it please leave a comment here so that I can visit and enter as well.

I entered another great gummy lump sponsored giveaway on the blog Second Time Around. This giveaway will give the winner some awesome sand toys. Check it out and enter before July 5, 2011

Veggie Casserole

*1 - 18-ounce package premade polenta, cut up in 1/4-1/2 inch thick slices

*1 - 15.25 ounce cans chili with beans (I use Smart Chili that is vegetarian with veggie ground round in it for some texture. It comes in 10 ounce pouches; I use two to three pouches)

*1 - 15.25 ounce can corn, rinsed

* 1/2 cup low fat cheese, soy or rice cheese, shredded

Spray the bottom of the baking dish with the vegetable oil. This dish is all about layering, so to start with one layer of polenta on the bottom of the pan. Then cover that layer with chili Cover the chili with corn (I actually use only about 1/2 a can. I throw the other half in a salad or save it for another recipe).  Place one more layer of polenta over the corn Then a second layer of chili Lastly sprinkle the top with cheese. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for approximately 20 minutes. I often bake it for 10 minutes first, then add the cheese and bake it for 10 more minutes so the cheese doesn't get dried out.

recipe source: Health Line

Patriotic Recipe: Jello Dessert

found this great recipe while blog hopping you can find out how it was made here 

In Season This Week : Red Radish

I have always loved watching our garden grow and always was excited as we saw the first product of the hard work we put into. The first three veggies that would come out of it would be leaf lettuce, green onions and red and white radishes. While these three placed together would make a wonderful dish by their selves they are also wonderful to serve alone. I can remember my father coming into my mothers kitchen bringing with him the proof that our garden was succesful. Whether it was a few radishes, a brown bag of leaf lettuce or some freshly picked green onions the treat was always something that we all looked forward to. I am sharing a great recipe for red radishes from Rachael Ray

Red Radish Salad

2 teaspoons sugar


1 lemon, juiced

1/2 cup sour cream

8 red radishes, thinly sliced

2 Delicious apples, quartered cored and thinly sliced

1/2 European seedless cucumber, thinly sliced

2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

Salt and black pepper

Combine sugar, lemon juice, and sour cream in a medium bowl with a fork. Add radishes, apple, and cucumber.
Turn vegetables and fruit in dressing to coat. Season with dill, salt, and pepper, toss again; serve.

shared on  Simply Delish

http://realsustenance.com/seasonal-sunday-06-12-11/  

Happy Fathers Day To all Fathers Every Where

Sugar Free Recipe : Apple Pie

Apple Pie (No Sugar)



4 c Apple

1/2 c Frozen apple juice

Concentrate, undiluted

2 ts Tapioca or cornstarch

1/2 To 1 tsp. cinnamon



Mix apples and all ingredients until well coated; pour into pastry

shell and top with pastry. Bake at 425 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

 
 
shared at

Sugar Free Sunday

Cangles Review

How many cans of soda will be consumed this summer? If you are like me then you may consume more than you think you will. Have any idea where those empty cans will end up? Do you recycle like our family does? I have found an awesome company that recycles those used cans and makes beautiful jewelry from them. Cangles are known for being fashionably green. From bracelets to earrings and even more Cangles is making the world beautiful by recycling.

One thing that caught my eye are their Eco-Friendly Big & Bold Retro Flower Bracelets

These are super cute and so perfect for summer time with the awesome colors. The bold colors will have others wondering where you found such a treasure.

We recieved this beautiful Lacy Butterfly necklace. I love the colors that the Arizona Tea can helped to create. The lacy feel of the butterfly offers a spot of beauty. This would be a perfect piece in my opinion to wear in the fall, winter or warmer months.

Another great piece we were able to review was this awesome diet coca cola bangle. Not only was I impressed but so were many of my friends. They thought it was awesome that a can could be recycled and made into a beautiful bangle. I love it because Diet Coke is often my drink of choice. Another awesome thing about these bangle bracelets is that none of them are alike because the whole can is used therefore depending on the width of bracelet as well as what part of the can was used is how this atractive bangle ends up looking.

You can find Cangles on facebook To check out all the great items that are available at Cangles be sure to check out their website at http://www.cangles.com/

We want to thank Cangles for allowing us the opportunity to review the two items that we shared. The items were recieved for review purposes and I shared my own opinion within this post

Peach Cobbler

8 peaches (about 2 1/2 pounds), cut into 1/2-inch-thick wedges


1/2 cup sugar

1 1/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled

6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

2/3 cup heavy cream

vanilla ice cream, for serving

Heat oven to 350° F. In a bowl, toss the peaches with ¼ cup of the sugar and 2 tablespoons of the flour; transfer to an 8-inch square baking dish. In a food processor, combine the remaining 1¼ cups flour and ¼ cup sugar with the butter, baking powder, and salt. Pulse until coarse crumbs form. Add the cream and pulse just until moistened (the dough will be slightly shaggy). Drop spoonfuls of the batter onto the peaches. Place the baking dish on a rimmed baking sheet and bake until golden brown and bubbly, 50 to 60 minutes. Serve with vanilla ice cream, if desired.

recipe source: Real Simple

shared on
 Sundae Scoop  Just Something I Whipped Up

Friday 5 : Jobs

a. What’s the funnest(that’s not a word, but I’m going with it) job you had?


b. What’s the most boring job you had?

c. What’s the most stressful job you had?

d. What’s the most laid back job you had?

e. What’s the craziest job you had?
 
the funnest job I had was a waitress at a 4H food stand during the fair
 
b. most boring job I had was midnight shift at a nursing home when every one slept midnights is not for me
 
c. I would say the one I am at right now caring for disabled adults with behavioral problems
 
d. summer work as a secetary that was a dream job loved it
 
e. maybe the one I love of being mom and wife

Aloha Friday : Its A bit Stormy

An Island Life

This afternoon we had a big storm brew up and the rain, wind, thunder and lightning were all present. I love to watch a good storm as long as I am in a good place My question for today is

Do you like storms or would you rather avoid them?

Where Are We

located in beautiful Southern Illinois

TeaCup Tuesday

One thing that we collect is occupied japan. There are so many little things that we have found but here are a couple of tea cups I recently saw on the internet that I would love to have.

shared on TeaCup Tuesday

In The Garden

In the garden this week I have been admiring how the tomato plants are starting to grow. After the rain slowed me down a bit and the plants got out a bit late I am so happy to see them growing

Being able to go out in the yard and spend time with my flowers and veggie garden is a small thing that I like to do. It is relaxing work but work it is. I admire this poem that I found and I think you will see why.

Today the world seemed cruel, but evening hours

Were filled with perfume from forgotten flowers.

I saw again familiar filigree

Of moonlight through my lacy Lilac tree;

I heard the robins stirring in their nest;

And saw the path that fairy feet had pressed;

Reflected stars were in my garden pool;

On my warm face the breeze was kind and cool.

The silence seemed to speak, my head was bowed,

Then ramblers that had grown into a cloud

Lifted my eyes that, tear-washed, now could see

The beauty that today was lost to me.

Dear god, who is so near to flowers, and birds,

Be nearer still, as I shall search for words

To thank Thee for the blessings night revealed,

Which through the day discouragement concealed.

-EvA SPARKs TAYLOR

Oh the summer work must still be done there are always more jobs to do and while I enjoy the work it never seems to end The list of chores continues to grow and often includes hours of work that I enjoy but tire after as well.

shared on Tackle It Tuesday

1roll (16.5 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated chocolate chip cookies
1package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened
1/2cup creamy peanut butter
1cup powdered sugar
1/4cup milk
1cup frozen whipped topping, thawed
3/4cup hot fudge topping
1/4cup chopped peanuts

Heat oven to 350°F. In ungreased 12-inch pizza pan, break up cookie dough. With floured fingers, press dough evenly in bottom of pan to form crust. Bake 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, in medium bowl, beat cream cheese, peanut butter, powdered sugar and milk until smooth. Fold in whipped topping. Spread 1/2 cup of the fudge topping over cooled crust. Spread peanut butter mixture over top. Drizzle with remaining 1/4 cup fudge topping. Sprinkle with peanuts. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes or until serving time. Cut into wedges or squares.

recipe source: Pillsbury

Pizza Pasta Salad

I am a lot like my mother in that pasta is often my go to meal. I love a good pasta salad in the summer time and this one pleases both me and my children.

What You Need3 cups penne pasta, cooked, cooled

4 tomatoes, chopped

12 slices OSCAR MAYER Hard Salami, chopped

1 cup KRAFT Finely Shredded Italian* Five Cheese Blend

1/2 cup sliced fresh basil

1/2 cup KRAFT Grated Parmesan Cheese

1/2 cup KRAFT Tuscan House Italian Dressing and Marinade

Combine all and chill 1 hour
 
hope you enjoy

recipe source : KRAFT

shared on Anything Goes Party

http://foodtripfriday.net/foodtripfriday-115/

Boogie Wipes Giveaway

We all know that summer colds are no fun. Allergies are not any better and often worst. no matter what is ailing you or your child Boogie Wipes are here to help. I have reviewed Boogie Wipes and Achooz at an earlier time and you can read the review here BoogieWipes wants to offer one of Annies Home readers a special prize pack of their own. This will come in quite handy for those summer colds and allergies. All you need to do to enter this giveaway is to comment on the original Boogie Wipes post shared on Annies Home and be a follower of this blog as well.

After doing that feel free to earn any of these extra entries:

• follow boogie wipes on twitter
• follow my blog on twitter
• like boogie wipes on facebook share with them that you entered the giveaway here (3 entries) leave link in comment
• Join the Boogie Bunch for updates and coupons
• tweet about this giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) leave link in comment
• share this giveaway on your blog or facebook page (3 entries each) leave link in comment
• enter any giveaway currently running on this blog (2 entries each)

Giveaway starts now and ends June 27, 2011. Good Luck Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count

As stated in review post we received products for review purposes and shared our personal thoughts and opinions in the post.

PetCakes Giveaway

A short while back I reviewed the super cute PetCakes and shared the review here on Annies Home The folks at PetCakes liked reading the review so much that they are allowing me to offer my readers a chance to win a PetCakes of their own. In fact two lucky individuals will win a PetCake. To enter this giveaway you must visit the original review post here and leave a comment. Then come back here and leave a comment here on this post telling me that you completed the first entry. This must be done to enter the giveaway and is the only way that extra entries will count.

Extra Entries

• like PetCakes on facebook and leave a comment there that you entered the giveaway here on my blog
• follow PetCakes on twitter
• follow my blog on twitter
• tweet about the giveaway (1 entry per tweet unlimited) leave link in comment
• share this giveaway on your facebook page (1 entry may do this daily) leave link in comment
• comment on any non giveaway post (2 entries each)
• enter any giveaway currently running on my blog (1 entry each)

Giveaway starts now and ends June 27, 2011 Email must be in comment or on blog profile or entries will not count. Good Luck

As stated earlier we did recieve PetCake products for review but shared my own personal thoughts in the post