Bit of Dessert Strawberry & White Chocolate Mousse

Strawberry & White Chocolate Mousse
. Serves 2.

250g strawberries
1 tablespoon Cointreau
½ cup whipping cream
100g white chocolate
2 teaspoons agar agar

1. Wash and hull strawberries. Purée with Cointreau in blender.

2. Heat strawberry purée over a medium heat until bubbling.

3. Add agar agar and stir until dissolved. Place saucepan in a bowl of ice water and allow to cool (but so much it sets).

4. Melt white chocolate and set aside to cool a little.

5. Whip cream until stiff peaks form.

6. Add cooled white chocolate and whip through.

7. When strawberry purée has cooled, whip into cream-chocolate mixture.

8. Divide into serving dishes and refrigerate for a minimum of 3hrs before serving.

Ragu with Sausage Sauce

Ragù di Salsiccia (sausage sauce)
 Serves 4.

Ingredients:1 small onion, finely chopped
4 cloves garlic, crushed
3 large spicy Italian pork sausages
2 tablespoons tomato paste
250ml passata (tomato puree) 
¼ cup red wine
Salt and pepper, freshly ground
¼ cup finely chopped parsley
½ cup finely grated pecorino, to serve

Method:
1. Cut the ends from the sausages and squeeze the sausage meat from the skins into a bowl.

2. Mash the sausage meat and break it up a little.

3. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan. Sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and sauté until soft also.

4. Add sausage meat and fry, being sure to break meat into smaller pieces like mince. The meat is very sticky due to the lard content so be sure to continually break it apart.

5. When meat is browned, add tomato paste. Fry for a minute or so until thickened.

6. Add red wine and passata then turn heat down and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.

7. Taste for seasoning, then stir through parsley. Remove from heat.

8. Stir through cooked pasta of choice before topping with pecorino and serving.

recipe resource here where you can currently find what is being served for the week

Margarita Day : Margarita Bar recipe

The margarita is a drink that is common but do you know that the original was a concoction of equal parts tequila, orange liquor and lime. The drink was served over ice with a salt rimmed glass. Many say that the Margarita is a version of the popular prohibition drink the Daisy.Margarita in Spanish means Daisy. 

One popular myth about the Margairta is that in October 1941 a bartender at Husson's cantina in Ensenada Mexico created a drink for margarita Henkel who is a well known german celebrity. This remains a mystery but it may be where the name of this drink comes from. 

Yet another myth and yet another place and time where the popular drink got its name was in 1948 in Balines Room in Galveston Texas where a drink was created for Peggy Lee, the popular singer. The spanish version of Peggy's name is Margaret or Margarita.

One thing we do know is that Margaritas are made with Mexican limes or key limes. These limes are smaller with thin skinned limes and much more tart than regular limes

I am sharing a delicious recipe with you for Margarita bars. Hope you enjoy

Serves 9-12. You can also easily double the recipe for a 9×13″ baking dish.

For the crust:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup butter, melted

For the filling:
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup granulated sugar
2 Tbsp flour
1/4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp tequila
1 Tbsp triple sec
2 Tbsp fresh lime juice
2 tsp lime zest
1 drop green food coloring (optional)
Powdered sugar, for dusting

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8×8″ baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, powdered sugar, and salt. Stir in the melted butter. Press the dough into the baking dish and then bake 15-20 minutes or until the edges of the crust turn light brown.

Reduce the heat to 300 degrees. In another medium bowl, mix together the eggs, sugar, flour, salt, tequila, triple sec, and lime juice and zest, and food coloring. Pour the filling mixture over the warm crust and bake another 20-25 minutes.

After removing the dish from the oven, lightly dust with powdered sugar. Let cool and then cut into squares. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.

Chocolate Mint Sugar Cookies and speedy Holidays

Just as we exit the day for lovers every where the stores prepare for the next holiday. While the chocolate hearts, candy bears and all Valentine items are sold for 1/2 the price they were the day before the stores begin to fill the shelves with bunnies, peeps and other Easter items. Yes the time to spend on holidays is short lived. I thought you may be interested in being ready for St. Patricks day as well. Today, February 19 is chocolate mint day and I also think these mint cookies would be perfect for St. Patricks day, March 17. What do you think too early or time to get it all organized??

• 
  
• 1 cup white sugar
• 3/4 cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups mint chocolate chips
• 1/4 cup white sugar for decoration

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a medium bowl, mix together 1 cup sugar and vegetable oil. Stir in the egg and vanilla until smooth. Combine the flour, baking powder and salt; gradually stir into the sugar mixture. Mix in mint chocolate chips. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls. Roll each ball in the remaining 1/4 cup of sugar to coat. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto the cookie sheet.
3. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

all recipes recipe

National Cafe au Lait Day

It seems in our area that coffeehouses are the best thing going. I think it is funny watching our little town come back from the devastating tornado leap year 2012. With coffeehouses, cupcake shops, candy shops, gift shops, and oh so many other things going on. Now days there are bigger things like new stores, restaurants, and even a movie theater. Yes, it is awesome and we do love each other and we have fought back. We can all head over to the steam factory to get our favorite hot drink.

For some it may be a café au lait A cafe' au lait is a drink made up of strong drip brewed or French pressed coffee to which steamed milk is added. Popularized in New Orleans a Caf'e au lait is made with scalded milk or milk which is warmed over heat to just below boiling rather than steamed. 

Want a treat to eat while donning on a hot drink? Check out this yummy Cafe' Au Lait  bars

3 large eggs, room temperature
10 ½ ounces white granulated sugar (1 ½ cups)
2 tsp vanilla extract
6 ounces unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled (12 Tbs)
8 ½ ounces unbleached all-purpose flour (2 cups)
½ tsp fine grain sea salt
½ ounce instant coffee crystals (1/4 cup)
2 fluid ounces heavy cream (1/4 cup)
4 ounces chopped pecans (1 cup)


Preheat oven to 325F. Lightly grease a 9” x 13” pan (For thicker bars, a 9” x 9” pan works nicely – just increase baking time accordingly). 
Beat together the eggs in a large mixing bowl until light colored & thick – beat in sugar, until thick & glossy. Stir in vanilla & melted butter, then the flour & salt. 
Reserve 1 ½ cups (12 ounces) of the batter into a small bowl. Stir together the coffee crystals & cream until well mixed. Add mixture to the remaining batter, then spread into the prepared baking pan. Pour the reserved batter on top of the coffee batter & use a knife to “swirl” the two batters together to create a marbled effect. Sprinkle the pecans on top and place in the oven on a middle rack. 
Bake for ~30 minutes. Bars are done when the edges start to pull away from the sides of the plan and the center is just firm to the touch. 
Cool in pan on rack. Slice into squares, rectangles, whatever shape floats your boat...


recipe source here

PTA Founders Day

National PTA Founders Day is celebrated on February 17th of every year. National Parent Teacher Association has been in existence for over 100 years. The National Congress of Mothers was the original founding name and the first founders of the organization was Alice McLellan Birney and Phoebe Apperson Hearst. The group gives a voice to all school children, families, communities and public education. Today the PTA networks millions o families, students, teachers, administrators, business and community leaders devoted to the educational success of children and the promotion of family engagement in schools. 

The founders of the PTA were not allowed to vote but the ladies still started a strong organization as they believed that mothers would support their mission to eliminate threats and endangered children. In 1897 the union of the PTA began a nationwide campaign. Mainly mothers but also fathers were interested in the organization. 

In 1970 the National Congress of Parents and Teachers (PTA) and the National Congress of Colored Parents and Teachers merged to serve all children. Now the largest volunteer child advocacy organization in the nation. The association fights for good education for all children as well as

• Creation of Kindergarten classes
• Child labor laws
• Public health service
• Hot and healthy lunch programs
• Juvenile justice system
• Mandatory immunization
• Arts in Education
• School Safety

February 17th the PTA celebrates founders day and their ambitious motion to better the lives off every child in education, health and safety. The commitment to be a:

• powerful voice for all children;
• relevant resource for parents; and
• strong advocate for public education.

The simple idea to improve the lives and future of all children was created by women who were full of imagination and courage. They worked beyond the accepted barriers of their day and took action to change the world of all children. 

Do A Grouch A Favor

Were you aware that there is a day set aside for doing a grouch a favor?? If not then I can most likely reckon that you may have never done a grouch a favor. Today, is do a grouch a favor day. IT gives every one a chance to do just that allows everyone to do a grouch a favor.

We have all known a grouch at some point and time. In fact we all most likely have been a grouch some time along the way. Sometimes it is a simple favor that will break that bad mood , that slump we find ourselves in, and simply offer us that hand up. For some though there may be nothing that can be done to make them smile. That grouchy neighbor ( not any of my neighbors as we all get along real well) or someone else that never seems happy. However, do that one little favor you may get a surprise when a smile comes up on their face.

It is not quite sure who invented this day. Was it someone who had a grouch to live with?? Was a goody too shoes trying to get everyone smile?? It may have even been Big Bird from Sesame Street who wanted to see Oscar not live up to his name one day. The 'grump' is a character that has not been given the best description. Grouches have been around for ever it seems being portrayed in the ancient Greek plays featuring grumpy characters and not grouches.

No matter who the grouch in your life is Do a Grouch a Favor Day is a great time to surprise them with a favor Even if the favor is a simple smile and a polite chat it may do the trick so that for one moment the grouch is pronounced happy. You may even see a different side to the person that you feel is a grouch.

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lou lou girls

Happy Gumdrop Day

Sharing the day with Presidents Day is one of the sweetest days of the year. President Day that always falls on the third Monday just so happens to fall on Gumdrop day that happens every year on the same day every year, February 15th.

If you are not sure what gumdrops are they are tasty, chewy candy made with gelatin and coated with sugar. They come in a variety of fruity flavors such as grape, cherry, orange, lemon and spice flavors as well. There is an easy way to know what spice you will find in the gumdrop

orange is clove
yellow you will find as all spice or sassafras
red is cinnamon
green is spearmint
purple is cardamom or anise
white is wintergreen or peppermint
black is licorice

Gumdrops have been a popular confection for at least two hundred years. So famous in fact that the boardgame Candy Land featured both a gumdrop Pass and a Gumdrop Mountain.

It is believed that Percy Trusdale invented the gumdrop in 1801. Trusdale worked for the Snyder Chafee Company before he founded and incorporated the P.S. Trusdell Candy Manufacturing Company. Trusdale was known as the Gumdrop King

Gumdrop Cookies
Yield: 1 1/2 dozen

1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup of chopped gumdrops

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar
Add eggs, one at a time. Beat well after each addition
Beat in vanilla
Combine flour, baking powder and salt into a bowl
Gradually add the flour mixture to the creamed mixture while the mixer is still running.
Fold in the chopped gumdrops
Bake on a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10-13 minutes

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Presidents Day

Today, the third Monday in February, as usual is celebrated as Presidents day. It is a day for schools to close and workers to take an extra day off of work. This federal holiday is more than a day off in the middle of winter and a great white sale. It is a day to celebrate past leaders of our great country. 

According to history .com 

Presidents day has been celebrated since 1885 when it was established to celebrate our first president George Washington's birthday. In 1879 President Hayes signed a law to celebrate the day in the district of columbia. In 1971 it was established to make a three day weekend of President Day

• If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.” – George Washington

Washington's birthday is still celebrated in many states. Many states also celebrate Abraham Lincoln and other notable Americans. Presidents day was established to celebrate all U.S. presidents. In 1971 Presidents day was established to celebrate both Washington's birthday (FEB. 22 ) and Lincoln's birthday (FEB 12) 

• “If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem. It is true that you may fool all of the people some of the time; you can even fool some of the people all of the time; but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” — Abraham Lincoln

Two other presidents also have birthdays in February. President William Harrison (Feb 9) the ninth president and Ronald Reagan (FEB 6) our 40th president both have birthdays in February.

It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed. In this life we get nothing save by effort.” — Theodore Roosevelt

President Day may be celebrated with children learning about presidents as I am sure Princess did. Parades and Historical Displays also take place in areas. In 1932 Presidents Day also marked the reinstatement of the Purple Heart which is the medal given to soldiers killed or wounded in battle.

Copycat Recipe McDonalds Shamrock Shalke

Now that Valentines day has been celebrated the next holiday on the horizon is Shamrock Day better known as St. Patricks Day. Here is a cool smooth treat to enjoy while you celebrate. 

2 cups vanilla ice cream

1 1/4 cups low fat milk 

1/4 teaspoon mint extract (not peppermint) 

8 drops green food coloring 

1. Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend on high speed until smooth. Stop blender to stir with a spoon if necessary to help blend ice cream. 

2. Pour into two 12­ounce cups and serve each with a straw. Serves 2

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Inspiration Monday

HOme Decor Giveaway

I love all things vintage. In fact I feel as if I live in the wrong era as the older things are more pleasing to me than the new products that are produced today. Another thing that I love is all the great signs on the market today. Currently there is a giveaway hosted on the blog Kenarry.com and the great signs are produced by Summary Umbrella

Rose Rolls Pizza

Ingredients:
For the dough:

1. All purpose flour-2cup
2. Milk powder-1tsp
3. Instant Yeast-1tbp
4. Egg-1
5. Sugar-1tsp
6. Salt-to taste
7. Oil-2tbsp

For the filling:
I used to make the same filling for my pan pizza filling.
egg white-1
sesame seeds-1tbsp
Preparation:

• Mix yeast and sugar with little warm water until dilute.
• Mix it with all other ingredients and knead a smooth dough (if need add more water).
• Cover it with a damp cloth and let it rest for an hour.
• Divide the dough in to equal sized balls.
• Roll each balls into 4'diameter circle.
• Apply some butter on top of it.
• Make 4 diagonal slits on it without touching the Centre.
• Top it with the pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese.
• At the centre put the chicken filling.
• Now cover the filling with one side of the dough.
• With the opposite side, cover the other side of the filling.
• Do the same with the remaining two slits.
• Seal the edges with little egg wash.
• Now brush the pizza roses with egg white and sesame seeds.
• Bake it in a pre-heated oven for 25-30 minutes or until the top gets brown in color.
• After baking, brush it with some melted butter on top and serve hot.

recipe source here

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homestories A to Z

six word saturday

Today, February 14, is valentines day. With so many things going on we decided to get the entire family together and go out for breakfast. I must say that it sure is cold out there. I truly love my family and since Valentines day is meant for those that love each other to be together To me this was an awesome warm hearted day spent with my family even though it is cold outside. 

So for my six word sentence 

I want to share with you a sentence about today:

Happy Valentines Day Please stay warm!!!

What would your sentence be?? Play along here

Winter Issues : Frozen Pipes

Frozen water pipes???

Older houses always have issues. One issue that is nearly always present is that of frozen water pipes. Since the weather around here has been quite chilly (down right cold) there is no real surprise. The scary part is that frozen water in the lines has the capability of busting the pipes

 There are things that must be done to ensure that pipes do not freeze.

Insulate all water pipes from cold moving air and keep them dry

Heater tapes wrapped around the pipes or a heated reflector lamp in dry enclosed space works great.
allowing the water to run at a slow constant drip this is cheaper than repairing it

Thaw out a frozen pipe by checking to see where the pipe is frozen at. Some plastic and copper pipes will split and flood and area when thawed out. In this case it is better to call a plumber.

an electric space heater placed around the frozen part or a hand held hair dryer can help to unthaw local frozen pipes.

Kitchen Safety Tips

1. stay in the kitchen, don’t leave cooking food unattended. (stand by your pan!)

2. wear short or tight fitting sleeves. Long loose sleeves are more likely to catch on fire or get caught on pot handles.

3. don’t become distracted.

4. enforce a “kid-free zone” of 3 feet around your stove. Turn pot handles inward facing the wall to prevent burns caused by overturning or spills.

5. keep the area around the stove clear of towels, papers, pot holders or anything that could burn.

6. cook at indicated temperatures settings rather than higher settings.

7. regularly clean your cooking equipment so that there are no cooking materials, food items or grease accumulation.

8. have a pot lid handy to smother a pan fire. Do not attempt to pick up the pot or pan. Shut off the heat and cover the fire with a lid. Do not use water. It will cause splashing and spread the fire.

Its Cold Out Protect Yourself

Its Cold Outside Protect Yourself

The temps are really cold not reaching above the mid teens here today. If this is the way your area is then you need to take care of yourself and that means protecting yourself against the cold air.
Here are a few tips that can help you protect yourself:

• wearing three layers of clothing may seem a bit excessive but when it comes to staying warm outside it is not really. Layering clothes helps to provide and conserve body heat. The layer that you have closest to the body should be thin as it will pull moisture from your skin, the second and third layer should be bulkier providing insulation. Wool is a good material to wear for these layers. It is always a great idea to wear a water proof top layer if possible
• Wearing a stocking cap is always great to help prevent body heat to escape through the scalp. My grandmother always told me to wear a hat in summer to keep the sun off and in the winter to keep the heat in
• Mittens are better to wear in extreme temps because they keep hands warmer
• If for any reason such as snow or rain the clothing gets wet remove it asap
• Keep at least one room in the home at a comfortable temperature. Close the doors to other rooms that are not in use. To conserve heat, jam towels or blankets under gaps at the bottom of doors. I can remember as a kid sleeping in the living room with my brothers and sisters as the air in the other rooms was cold and mom would block off the other rooms

I hope these tips help to keep you warm

Friday's Fave Five

We are doing this a day late but here is our top 5 this past week

Peanut Butter Pretzel Heart Treats

Little Pink Tools review

Prevent Heart Disease 

Are You Ready For Some Football

Meatless meatloaf and Crack Potatoes


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Great Reads

Have you been following a recipe and realize you don't have all the ingredients? Well I know that this has happened to myself and many others as well. The blog Simply Stacie has created a great post sharing all about what to use when you dont have what you need. Check out the Emergency List, it may even be a great idea to copy or print it out.

Little Pink Tools

The world has certainly changed with women being welcomed into jobs and hobbies where they never would have had a fair chance before. Construction, reconstruction always seemed to be a mans world of the past. Now I have many friends who are women like me are destroying, creating and recreating beautiful homes. Whether you decorate, build or are a weekend warrior I am sure of your work and what you do. Let me introduce you to The Little Pink Tools a division of K J Tool Kits Inc. A woman owned family run company with over 30 years experience in the tool and custom assembly business. They do all their own work from answering phones, processing customer orders and assembling and shipping each order to ensure customers get what they ordered on time and the way they ordered it. 

They offer an awesome guarantee on their tools as well. 

• Hand Tools are "lifetime guaranteed". If a tool should break call us for a free "no-charge" replacement.
• Zipper Tool Cases are covered for 1 year against defects in materials and workmanship. This guarantee includes free replacement if a zipper fails within the first year.
• The Little Pink Drill is guaranteed for 1 year.  This guarantee includes the drill, batteries, and charger.

As you read in the previous post it is National Cancer Prevention Month. Little Pink Tools does their part to give back by giving 10% of all sales to Stefanie Spielman Breast Cancer Foundation at the James Cancer Research Center of Ohio State University. The Stefanie Spielman Comprehensive Breast Center is the first of its kind in the Midwest to offer the full continuum of breast cancer care. The full circuit from prevention and screening through detection, diagnosis, treatment and survivorship is dealt with in one world class facility.

We found ourselves lucky enough to be sent the Little Pink Tools 12 v Li-on cordless drill from little pink tools. The ease of the drill is something that has no measure, the freedom of moving about, the feel of the drill all makes this drill untouchable. The best part to me is the color of the drill. While one of my favorite colors it is also one that will not be found in my husbands toolbox and all will know that it is mine and mine alone. I am not into construction work but I do love to decorate and re-do vintage items. The drill will come in handy with any of my projects. What is it you like to do?? Take a look at Little Pink Tools website and see all they have to offer. 

Chapstick Prize Pack and My Bakers Box Giveaways

Enter to win a chap stick prize pack on the blog Thanks mail carrier. Giveaway ends February 24th.

Enter this giveaway at Networking Witches to get your chance to win a subscription box to My Bakers Box. Giveaway ends February 20