Pumpkin Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup apple butter
• 2 cups brown sugar, packed
• 1 cup sugar
• 3 cups flour
• 1 15oz can pumpkin
• 2 eggs
• 1 tbsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp. baking soda

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mix all ingredients together until dough forms. Spray a bread pan with non stick spray and pour into the pan. 
3. Bake in the oven for 1 hour or until bread takes shape.

Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred Day 2

Well, it still kicked my butt but slightly better.  I am going to stick with it though and finish out the next 28 days.  I am hoping that I will actually see results after doing it.  It is nice to be able to get in a workout just in 20 minutes.  I am thinking about trying P90X after the 30 Day Shred, we shall see

Jillian Michaels 30 day shred day 1

Today I did day 1 of level 1 of the Jillian michaels 30 day shred. It definitely kicked my butt. I am hoping by the time I get to day 10, I won't feel like I am dying.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Holly Crest Dr,Culpeper,United States

Pizza Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 8 slices Italian bread
• 8 slices part-skim mozzarella cheese
• 8 slices tomatoes
• 4 tsp. grated parmesan cheese
• 24 slices pepperoni
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• pizza sauce, warmed

Directions:

1. On four slices of bread, layer one slice of mozzarella, two slices of tomato, 1 tsp. Parmesan cheese, a dash of garlic salt, and six slices of pepperoni.  Top with remaining mozzarella and bread.  Spread outside of sandwiches with butter.
2. On a hot griddle, toast sandwiches for 3-4 minutes on each side or until golden brown.  Service with pizza sauce.

Why I Make a Weekly Menu

The first reason, plain and simple, we have to eat. It is something that every human being does.

The second reason, is because I want to make sure that we have variety, with different kinds of meals all the time. 

Cooking at home is much cheaper and healthier than going out to eat.  You have more control over what you are putting in your both and you can make sure the meal is more rounded.

There are some things that I have to take into account when I am planning the menu.  You have to find stuff that you think sounds good. 

You need to look at the days individually and think ahead about how busy you will be on each day.  So make sure that if you are having a busy day, you do a crockpot meal or something that wont take longer than 30 minutes to make.

Also, make sure to look around in the pantry, fridge, and freezer to see what you have around the house to use.  That way you can make your bill lower and wont be letting food go to waste.

Make sure that your meals are well balance.  If you have a main dish of macaroni and cheese, don’t serve potatoes as a side.

The most important when making your meal plan SALES.  Make sure to look at the weekly sales ads and see what is one sale and plan around that.

Once you make your meal plan, then you can do your list. 

Make sure when you go to the store to shop, you only get the items that you have on your list, and you’ll save money.

Devilish Chili-Cheese Dogs

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 lb. ground sirloin
• salt and pepper
• 2 tsps. worchesthire sauce
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 1 tbsp. chili powder
• 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 8 beef franks
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. hot sauce
• 8 hot dog buns, toasted
• 2 cups shredded cheddar

Directions:

1. Heat skillet over medium-high heat.  Add olive oil and meat and season with salt and pepper.  Brown and crumble beef. Add worchesshire, onion, garlic, chili powder, and cook together 5 minutes.  Add tomato sauce and reduce heat to low.
2. Meanwhile, boil franks in shallow pan to warm through, about 5 minutes.  Drain water and return pan to medium heat.  Score casing on dogs.  Melt butter in skillet and hot sauce.  Add dogs to pan, browning and crisping the casings in hot sauce and butter. 
3. Heat broiler.
4. Place devilish dogs in buns and top with chili and lots of cheese.  Place devilish dogs under broiler and melt cheese.  Serve immediately.

Beef and Green Chile Enchiladas

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 1 cup frozen corn
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 can (4 oz.) chopped green chilies
• 8 oz. (2 cups) Monterey jack cheese
• 1 can enchilada sauce
• 6 flour tortillas
• shredded lettuce, chopped tomatoes, and additional sour cream, if desired

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In 10 inch nonstick skillet, cook ground beef and onion over medium-high heat until beef is thoroughly cooked, stirring frequently.  Drain.  Add corn;  cook and stir about 3 minutes or until corn is thawed.  Stir in sour cream, green chilies, and 1 cup of cheese.
2. Spread about 1/4 cup of the enchilada sauce in a 13x9 inch glass baking dish.  Spread about 2 tsps. enchilada sauce on each tortilla.  Top each with 2/3 cup beef mixture.  Roll up tortillas; place seam side down over enchilada sauce in baking dish.
3. Drizzle remaining enchilada sauce evenly over filled tortillas.  Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese.  Spray sheet of foil with cooking spray;  place sprayed side down on baking dish and seal tightly.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 to 50 minutes or until thoroughly heated.  Serve garnished with lettuce, tomatoes, and additional sour cream.

Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 8 tbsps. (1 stick) unsalted butter, room temperature
• 2 large eggs
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 tbsp. milk
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.  Butter at 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
2. Cream the sugar and butter in a large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.  Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork.  Mix in the milk and cinnamon.  In another bowl, mix together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.
4. Add the banana mixture to the creamed mixture and stir until combined.  Add dry ingredients, mixing just into flour disappears.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour to 1 hour 10 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Set aside to cool on a rack for 15 minutes.  Remove bread from pan, invert onto rack, and completely cool before slicing.

Lemon Pepper Chicken Tenders

Ingredients:

• 10 Chicken Tenders
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• 2 tbsp. lemon pepper

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
2. In a foil lined baking dish, place the chicken tenders.  Pour lemon juice over the tenders and sprinkle with lemon pepper.  Bake in the over for about 20 minutes or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.

Slow Cooker Roast Pork

Ingredients:

• 1 pork loin (or whatever your favorite cut is)
• 1 package dried onion soup mix
• 1 tbsp. fresh minced garlic or 1 tsp. dried garlic powder
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1 tsp. caraway seeds
• 1 cup water (approx.)

Directions:

1. Place roast in crockpot.  Add water, spices, and soup mix.  Cook 4 hours on medium-high for a 2 lb. roast, and 1 additional hour per pound, up to approx. 8 hours.

Topic of the Day–January 24, 2011

The Story of My Serious Injury.

Well, to be honest, I have never really had an injury that I consider serious.  I have had sprained ankles and stuff like that, just like anyone else.  Maybe you have had a serious injury and would like to share your story.

Artisan Bread

Ingredients:

• 3 cups warm water
• 1 1/2 tbsp. salt
• 1 tbsp. yeast
• 6 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

Directions:

1. Mix in a very large bowl, just until all flour is wet.  Cover loosely with saran wrap.  Let sit for 2 hours.
2. Shape into 4 grapefruit size balls and leave on cookie sheet (sprinkled with cornmeal).  Let rise around 40 minutes.
3. Preheat over for 450.  Put a pan on the bottom race and a basking stone on the middle.  Slide loaves onto middle cookie sheet and then pour water in the bottom pan.  Then close over quickly.  The steam will get trapped in your oven.  Cook 20-30 minutes or until brown on top.

Lemonade Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 1/3 cups flour
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. lemon zest

Directions:

1. Preheat over to 350.
2. In a small bowl, combine all the dry ingredients.
3. In a mixer, beat butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
4. Beat in egg and vanilla until well blended.
5. Reduce heat to low and beat in flour mixture just until combined, scraping the bowl with a spatula.
6. Stir in lemon zest.
7. Drop dough by heaping teaspoons 2 inches apart on parchment lined cookie sheet. 
8. Bake for 10 minutes or until just brown around the edges.

Diet…

Well, I decided to try this website and app called MyFitnessPal.  So far, it seems pretty easy.  We will see how it goes.  It is just so hard in the winter to try to eat better and get exercise.  I’ve been using the games on the kinect but I noticed that I’m not getting as many calories burned in the same amount of time that they want me to.  So with that, I am going to have to find other ways to make up with at least the calorie portion.  What I would really love is to find a full time job.  That way, not only will I not be at home to see all the food but, maybe we can think afford a nice gym membership.  You know, the ones that have daycare That way I could go during the day and, at the same time, Brynlee could get some socialization skills that I worry she doesn’t get because she is home with me all the time.  I am just hoping that sometime this year, I can go back to work.  If anything, at least I am trying to get my Master’s

Meat Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 zucchini, quartered lengthwise and sliced
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 15oz can tomato sauce
• 1 15oz can crushed or diced tomatoes
• 1 4oz can tomato paste
• 1/2 cup beef stock, optional
• 3 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1/2 – 1 tsp. salt, to taste
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 1/8 tsp. allspice
• 1 bay leaf

Directions:

1. In a large skillet or saucepan, add ground beef with the onions, green peppers, garlic, and zucchini.  Season with 1/2 tsp. salt and crushed red pepper flakes.  Cook until browned; drain. 
2. Add the remaining ingredients and stir to combine well.  Continue cooking over medium heat until it just starts to bubble.  Cover, reduce heat, and simmer as long as you like.  Serve over pasta.

Potato Soup

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. spicy breakfast sausage
• 10 medium russet potatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 can cream of chicken soup
• 1 can corn
• 1 cup shredded cheddar

Directions:

1. Peel and Cube Potatoes.  Cover with water in large stock pot and put on to boil. 
2. Brown sausage and onions.  Set aside. 
3. After the potatoes become soft, whisk in soup and corn
4. Add sausage and onions.
5. Stir in cheese and serve.

Skillet Corn

Ingredients:

• 5 tbsp. butter or margarine
• 1/2 onion, diced
• 1/2 green or red pepper, diced (optional)
• 1 bag frozen corn
• 1 tbsp. cumin
• 2 tsp. chili powder
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Directions:

1. In a large skillet, melt butter or margarine over medium heat.  Add onion and optional peppers.  Cook until onion is translucent.  Add corn and seasonings.  Cook, stirring often, until the corn begins to just slightly crisp.

Layered Italian Casserole

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. uncooked spaghetti
• 1 1/2 lbs. lean ground beef (90% lean)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 cans (15 oz. each) Italian tomato sauce
• 3 tbsps. minced fresh parsley
• 1 tbsp. dried oregano
• 4 cups (32 oz.) 1% cottage cheese
• 2 1/2 cups (10 oz.) shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese, divided
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided

Directions:

1. Cook spaghetti according to package directions.  Meanwhile, in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the beef, onion, and garlic until meat is no longer pink;  drain.  Add the tomato sauce, parsley and oregano; heat through.
2. In a large bowl, combine the cottage cheese, 2 cups mozzarella cheese and 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese.  Drain the spaghetti.
3. Spread 1 cup of meat sauce into a 13x9 in baking dish coated with cooking spray.  Layer with half of the spaghetti, cheese mixture, and remaining meat sauce.  Repeat layers.
4. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.  Uncover;  sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses.  Bake 5-10 minutes longer.

Baked Beans with a Kick

Ingredients:

• 6 slices bacon, diced
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 cans pork n beans
• 2 cans kidney beans
• 2 cans butter beans
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 2 tbsp. molasses
• 2 tbsp. mustard
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 cup picante sauce

Directions:

1. Fry bacon and onion in large stockpot. 
2. Rinse and drain butter beans and kidney beans. 
3. Add all beans to bacon and onion. 
4. Mix ketchup, barbecue sauce, sugars, mustard, molasses, salt, and picante sauce.  Blend, then add to bean mixture.
5. Bake at 350 for one hour.

Crock Pot Macaroni and Cheese

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. elbow macaroni, cooked
• non-stick cooking spray
• 12 oz. evaporated milk
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. black pepper
• 4 cups shredded cheddar

Directions:

1. Coat the crockpot with non-stick spray.  Add all ingredients, saving 1 cup of cheese.  Cook on low 4-5 hours.  Sprinkle remaining cup of cheese over the top a few minutes before serving.

Grilled Chicken Marinade

Ingredients:

• 3-4 Chicken Breasts
• 1/2 cup barbecue sauce
• 1 cup Italian dressing

Directions:

1. Put chicken in resealable, gallon size plastic bag.  Dump in the barbecue sauce and salad dressing.  Shake,flip, and mix together.  Let sit in fridge overnight or at least 4 hours.  Grill as usual.

Oven Fries

Ingredients:

• 5 large russet potatoes
• 3 tbsp. oil
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, optional

Directions:

1. Fill a large bowl halfway full of cold water.  Slice the potatoes lengthwise into ovals about 1/2 inch thick.  Then, slice each oval into individual fries.  Immediately place the cut fries into the bowl of water.  Place the bowl in the refrigerator and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to up to a few hours.
2. Place 2 cookie sheets in a cold oven and preheat to 400 degrees. 
3. Thoroughly drain water from potatoes and pat dry.  Toss with the oil and salt and pepper.  Spray the heated cookie sheets or lightly brush with additional oil.  Spread the potatoes onto the cookie sheets in a single layer.
4. Bake the fries until golden brown, about 20 minutes.  Sprinkle on the parmesan cheese, if using, and bake an additional 5-8 minutes,until cheese is caramelized.

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H-O-T Boneless Buffalo Wings

Ingredients:

• 8 oz. raw boneless, skinless lean chicken breast, cut into 10 nugget-shaped pieces
• 1/4 cup Fiber One cereal (original), ground to a breadcrumb like consistency in blender or food process
• 1 oz. Pringles Light Fat Free Potato Crips, Barbecue
• 3 tbsp. Frank’s Red-hot Original Cayenne Pepper Sauce
• dash onion powder
• dash garlic powder
• dash cayenne pepper
• dash black pepper
• dash salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Crush potato crisps completely and, in a small dish, mix with cereal crumbs.  Add a dash of each of the seasonings and mix well.  Place chicken pieces in a separate dish, and cover and toss with Frank’s Red-hot.  Spray a baking pan with nonstick spray.  Give each chicken a shake and then coat it evenly with the crumb mixture.  Lay the battered nuggets on the baking pan.  Place in over, and bake for 10 minutes.  Then flip the wings over, and return them to the over for 10 more minutes, or until outsides are crispy and chicken is cooked throughout. 

Sunday Beef Roast

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 lb. chuck roast
• Lemon Pepper
• 3 tbsp. lemon juice
• salt and pepper
• 4 medium red potatoes, washed and quartered
• 4 carrots, peeled and quartered
• 3 celery stalks, cut into 2 inch pieces
• 1/2 yellow onion, diced
• 2 cups hot water

Directions:

1. Marinate the chuck roast in the lemon juice, sprinkled with lemon pepper, and a bit of salt and pepper.
2. Place into a roasting pan and add the red potatoes, carrot pieces, celery pieces, diced onion, and some hot water.
3. Cover with roasting pan lid and roast for 2 hours, or until internal temperature reaches 160.
4. Slow Cooker Alternative:  Place the marinated beef roast in the base of a slow cooker.  Add all the veggies and water if you want to thin out and save the beef broth.  Set on low and cook for 8 hours.  Serve.  Save the broth, let it cook, and then freeze it in 2 cup portions.
5. Serve the beef roast with all the veggies.

Pierogi Casserole

Ingredients:

• 9 – 12 lasagna noodles, prepared according to package directions.
• 2 cups cottage cheese
• 1 egg
• 3 cups mashed potatoes
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese
• 6 green onions, thinly sliced incluing the tops
• 2 tbsps butter, melted
• 1/4 cup mozzarella cheese
• 1/4 cup cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.  Grease a 9x13 pan.  Place 3-4 noodles on the bottom of the pan.
2. In a small bowl, combine cottage cheese and egg.  Spread the mixture evenly over the lasagna noodles.  Sprinkle 1/3 of the green onion sliced over the cottage cheese mixture.
3. Place 3-4 noodles over the green onions. In a medium bowl, combine mashed potatoes and mozzarella cheese.  Spread the potato mixture over the noodles.  Then top with half of the remaining green onion slices.
4. Place 3-4 noodles over the green onions.  Brush melted butter over the noodles.  Sprinkle with remaining green onions and cheese.
5. Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove foil and bake for additional 5-10 minutes or until the cheese begins to brown.

Beef and Mushroom Lasagna

Ingredients:

• 1 can (10 3/4oz) cream of mushroom soup
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 2 cups spaghetti sauce
• 9 cooked lasagna noodle
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 400 degrees.  Stir soup and milk in a small bowl until smooth.
2. Cook beef in skillet over medium-high heat until well-browned, stirring often to separate meat.  Pour off fat.  Stir in sauce.
3. Layer 1/2 beef mixture, 3 noodles and 1 cup soup mixture in 2 quart shallow baking dish.  Top with 3 more noodles, remaining beef mixture, remaining noodles and remaining soup mixture.  Sprinkle with cheese.  Cover baking dish.
4. Heat broiler.  Broiler 4” from heat 2 minutes or until cheese is golden brown.  Let stand 10 minutes.

Bean Burritos

Ingredients:

• 15 oz. pinto beans
• 1/2  cup brown rice
• 1 cup diced tomatoes with green chilies
• 8 burrito sized flour tortillas
• shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cook rice as instructed on the package.
3. In a medium size skillet, add the beans, tomatoes with green chilies, and the cooked rice.  Let this simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Once the mixture is done simmering, add 2 tbsp. of the mixture to a tortillas and top with cheese.  Roll each tortilla and place seam down in a greased 9 x 13 baking dish.  Top with cheese
5. Bake in oven for about 15 minutes.

BBQ Bacon Burgers

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup mayo
• 1/4 cup barbecue sauce
• 4 bacon strips, cooked and crumbled
• 1 1/2 tsp. dried minced onion
• 1 1/2 tsp. steak seasoning
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 4 slices Swiss cheese
• 4 hamburger buns, split
• lettuce leaves and tomato slices

Directions:

1. In a small bowl, combine mayo and barbecue sauce.  In another bowl, combine the bacon, 2 tbsp. mayo mixture, onion, and steak seasoning.  Crumble beef over mixture and mix well.  Shape into four patties.
2. Grill burgers, covered, over medium heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until a meat thermometer read 160 degrees and juices run clear.  Top with cheese.  Cover and cook 1-2 minutes or until cheese is melted.  Spread remaining mayonnaise mixture over buns;  top each with a burger, lettuce and tomato.

How To Make Money Selling Gymboree on eBay

Here’s how:

Buy

Yes, Gymboree retail is quite expensive but if you purchase clothes on Gymboree.com or in-store when they are having a HUGE clearance and pair the sale with a coupon, you can usually walk away with a pretty good deal.  They also offer Gymbucks at certain times of the year.  So buy $50 worth of clothes and receive $25 worth of Gymbucks to use later.

Why Gymboree is so popular

Every few weeks, Gymboree releases a new line or collection that is themed and includes everything from socks to hair accessories.

Another reason gently used Gymboree is so popular on eBay is because of the high quality of the clothing

Sell

Typically they should be listed in lots.  They sell for approximately 50-75% of what you originally paid for them.  Extreme care should be taken to the clothes.  Using the delicate cycle, hang dry, etc. so they are almost like brand new.  List with a lot of pictures, write very detailed descriptions, and start each listing at $.99.

You can make a lot of money selling Gymboree on eBay or just dress for close to free!  Some lines ell out so quickly, that eBay is the only play to find them.

Tips for a way to save money…

One way that we save money as a family is having the guys in the house cut their hair at home.  We bought a $30 pair of sheers at Best Buy 6 years ago and it was the best $30 spent.  Who knows how much money we have saved in 6 years…

Dinner Tonight–January 6, 2011

Chicken Wonderful

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 cup mayo
• 16 oz. sour cream
• 1/2 can cream of mushroom soup
• 16 oz. frozen broccoli
• 1 cup brown rice
• 1/2 cup lemon juice
• dash of lemon pepper
• dash of chili powder
• 2 cups shredded Colby jack cheese

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Season the chicken with the lemon pepper and then it can either be cooked in the skillet or boiled (I put them in the crockpot all day).  Once it is fully cooked, cut the chicken into cube pieces.  Pour lemon juice over the chicken and let it sit a few minutes.
3. Meanwhile, boil the rice and steam the broccoli as instructed on the packages.
4. In a large bowl, combine the chicken, mayo, sour cream, soup, broccoli, cooked rice, and cooked chicken then mix well.  In a 9 x 13 baking dish, pour 1/2 of the mixture on the bottom, and then top with 1 cup of cheese.  Add the remaining mixture and top with more cheese and a dash of chili powder.
5. Bake in over for 15-2o minutes or until cheese is fully melted.

Cornbread and Beans Pie

I actually found a recipe that Evan ate

Ingredients:

• 1 box corn muffin mix
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 egg
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 taco seasoning packet
• 1 can ranch style beans (I couldn't find any at the store so I bought chili beans and used 2 cans)
• 1/2 frozen corn (I didn’t put any in because Evan and Jay do not like corn)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix the corn muffin mix, milk, and egg until smooth consistency is formed and set aside.
3. In a large skillet, brown the meat and add the taco seasoning as instructed on the packet.
4. In a medium skillet, warm the beans and corn, the add in the cooked and seasoned ground beef.  Let this simmer for 5 minutes.  Pour this mixture into a 9 inch pie pan and spring the corn muffin mix on top.
5. Bake in over for 15 minutes or until corn muffin mix is completely done.

Chicken Ranch Quesadillas

Ingredients:

• 1/2 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cooked and thinly sliced
• 1/2 lb. bacon, diced
• 1 green pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 onion, thinly sliced
• 2-3 cups shredded cheese
• ranch dressing
• 8 tortillas
• butter or margarine, for cooking

Directions:

1. Cook the bacon in a skillet until desired crispness.  Remove to drain with a slotted spoon.  Pour out all but 1 tbsp. of the grease.  Add the sliced green peppers and onions to the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes, until crisp tender.
2. Add a handful of cheese to the tops of 4 tortillas.  Top each with chicken and bacon, then lightly drizzle some ranch dressing over that.
3. Top each tortillas with cooked peppers and onion.  Then add the remaining cheese on top of each pile.
4. Top each tortillas with remaining four tortillas.  Melt a little butter or margarine in a large skillet and cook the tortillas stacks one at a time over medium heat, about 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and cheese is melted.  Add more butter or margarine to the skillet as needed.
5. Cut each quesadilla into wedges and serve with extra ranch for dipping, if desired.

Topic of the Day–January 6, 2011

Why I Don’t Vote…

Well, for the most part, I try to vote.  I really wanted to vote in the last presidential election.  At the time, I was still pregnant with Brynlee.  That day, I had an appointment with the doctor and just like most of the appointments at that point, I was sent over the hospital to be monitored.  By the time they finally released me, the polls were closed

Perfectly Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Ingredients:

• 1 4 lb. Boston butt or pork shoulder
• 1 12 oz. can or bottle root bear
• 1 18 oz. bottle BBQ sauce
• 8 hamburgers bun, split and lightly toasted

Directions:

Place pork meat in a slow cooker;  pour the root beer over the meat.  Cover and cook on low until well cooked and pork shreds easily.  Shred the meat and drain the root beer from the slow cooker.  Stir the barbecue sauce and toss gently.  Serve over hamburger buns.

Baked German Potato Salad

Ingredients:

• 12 medium red potatoes
• 8 bacon strips
• 2 medium onions, chopped
• 3/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2/3 cup water, divided
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
• 1/3 cup sweet pickle juice
• 2 tsps. dried parsley flakes
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1/2 to 3/4 tsp. celery seed
• 4 1/2 tsps. all purpose flour

Directions:

1. In a saucepan, cook potatoes until just tender;  drain.  Peel and slice into an ungreased 2 quart baking dish;  set aside.
2. In a skillet, cook bacon until crisp; drain, reserving 2 tablespoons drippings.   Crumble bacon and set aside.  Sauté onions in drippings until tender.  Stir in the brown sugar, 1/2 cup water, vinegar, pickle juice, parsley, salt, and celery seed.  Simmer, uncovered, for 5-10 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, combine flour and remaining water until smooth;  stir into onion mixture.  Bring it a boil.  Cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened.  Pour over potatoes.  Add bacon; gently stir to coat.  Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for 30 minutes or until heated through.

Topic of the Day–January 4, 2011

My Favorite Place on the Planet

My favorite place on the planet is my home.  I just loved hanging out and just relaxing.  I guess I am kind of boring in that way.  I’m not trying to say I am a hermit or anything like that.  It is just nice to have a place to come to and not have to be dressed a certain way…you can just chill.  Home doesn’t necessarily have to be this house either.  It may not be this house in a few months anyway.  I have a feeling that my landlord is going to foreclose on this house…and I hate moving….

Easy Banana Cake

Ingredients:

• 1 box yellow cake mix
• 2 boxes vanilla pudding mix
• 5 bananas

Directions:

Prepare cake mix and pudding as directed on boxes.  After baking cake, spread pudding on top.  Slice bananas and layer over pudding.

Sausage Zucchini Bake

Ingredients:

• 1 pound sausage, mild or spicy
• 1 chopped onion
• 1 chopped green pepper
• 1-3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1-2 large zucchini, sliced
• 1 jar spaghetti sauce
• 1 tbsp. fresh basil, chopped
• 1-2 roma tomatoes, sliced
• 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Brown sausage.  sauté onion, pepper, and garlic with the meat.
2. Pour a little spaghetti sauce in a 9x13 glass baking dish.  Layer 1-2 large zucchinis on top.
3. Mix the remaining spaghetti sauce in a large bowl with sautéed meat and veggies along with the fresh basil.
4. Pour overtop the zucchini.
5. Layer sliced tomatoes on top, then cover with mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese.
6. Cover and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for 15-30 minutes longer, until the cheese is browned and the sides are bubbling. 

Topic of the Day–January 3, 2011

What’s your favorite restaurant and why?

I don’t think I really have a favorite that I always want to go to.  I do have some that I do enjoy.  For fast food, I really like Chick-Fil-A.  I haven't had it in a couple of weeks so it is time for some more.  As for other kinds of restaurant, we went to Red Robin the other night, and I really enjoyed that.  I also like Glory Days Grill…especially on Monday nights when they have their $5 burgers. 

Topic of the Day for January 2, 2011.

What TV Show do you remember most from your childhood and why?

I have 4 that also stick out in my mind when I think about my childhood. 

The first was She-Ra.  I remember being in 1st grade and I loved watching that show.  I remember getting a ton of the toys and sometimes, I still wish I had them.  I remember having the Castle and Crystal Falls, it was a good time.

The next one I remember is Punky Brewster.  I really loved that show and it was nice to see something that actually had a message to it.  I think I am going to try about getting the DVDS for the seasons.  I think there was only 4.

The next I remember is Jem.  Yes, I still could probably sit the whole theme song…ME AND MY FRIENDS ARE JEM GIRLS…JEM…JEM IS MY NAME..I remember trying to get all the dolls.  I had a good amount of them from what I remember.  Although, their hands were poorly made cause they keep falling off.

The last show was mostly from my middle-high school years and that was Beverly Hills, 90210.  I was obsessed with that show.  I collected the dolls and had some pjs with them on it.  Oh and I had a pillow too.  Yup, I was one of those.

Blog Topic of the Day: How I Earned My Worst Karma

How I Earned My Worst Karma….

I guess I earned my worst karma by any of the times that I was mean to people.  I would like to think that I am not a mean person but, perhaps, some people might think otherwise.  I don’t think I really have bad karma.  I have a hard time believing that you have some sort of karma that decides what is going to happen to you.  I think you have to go and make things happen for yourself.

New ideas…

So, in order to get some more content and followers to my blog, I have decided to draw some random topics to write about.  I have found a list from a website and put the topics on little sheets of paper.  I will draw a different on everyday and go with that topic.

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp. milk
• 40 miniature chocolate covered peanut butter cups, unwrapped

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Sift together the flour, salt, and baking soda; set aside.
2. Cream together the butter, sugar, peanut butter, and brown sugar until fluffy.  Beat the egg, vanilla, and milk. Add the flour mixture; mix well.  Shape into 40 balls and place each into an ungreased mini muffin pan.
3. Bake at 375 for about 8 minutes.  Remove from oven and immediately press a mini peanut butter cup into each ball,  Cool and completed remove from pan.

How I Use Facebook

It seems that everyone has a different reason for using Facebook.  To me, it is a great way to keep in touch with people that you normally would not.  It is amazing how many people I have been able to find and keep in touch with now.  I wish that I the ability to actually hang out with some of them more.  No one really lives here in Culpeper so it is hard to find people to “hang with”. 

Another way to use Facebook is promote any business activities that you have going on.  I know plenty of people who use Facebook to advertise stuff they are selling or even their blogs.  I think Facebook is a great way to get information out to people.