Fake Krispy Kreme Doughnuts!

This was what the kids had for breakfast this morning... Probably not the most healthy thing but you gotta live a little right!  These are so good you will have a hard time stopping once you start eattin them! You can have them 2 different ways either with cinnamon and sugar or with a glaze like we had this morning! Here is the recipe:

Get a can of Whomp biscuits LOL that mean any can you can Whomp on the counter to open and cut a hole in them. I used a circle cutter for cookie dough. Then you get some oil hot like around 350 degrees and fry the dough a few min. on each side. You can top them 2 ways here is both toppings:

Glaze:
1 cup powdered sugar
4 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix this with a whisk till smooth!

4 Tablespoons melted butter
1/4 sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Melt butter in a dish then in another dish mix cinnamon and sugar.  After doughnuts are fried dip in butter then dip in sugar mixture!

Enjoy!

No Bake Cookies!!



OK Folks its HOT HOT HOT outside and the last ting that you want to do is turn on the blasted oven. Right?  Well the kids need to eat and what they want to eat is cookies HE HE HE!  I justify letting them eat these because there is oats in there that has to be healthy right?  Anyway these are really good and you have all this stuff on hand and the kids will love them



No Bake Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 cups sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 3 cups quick oats

Method:
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, melt butter. Then add milk, sugar, and cocoa and stir to combine while bringing to a boil. Boil for 1-2 minutes, then remove pan from heat. Stir in vanilla and peanut butter, until melted. Stir in oats.
Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper, and let cool until hard!

                                                                                Enjoy!

Baseball Bracelet!

We decided to have a craft day today and my son found this cool website with people making bracelets and necklaces out of baseballs and basketballs! So here is our try at making these...

We went to Play it Again Sports they had baseballs on sale for a $1.00!
Then you are going to get a really sharp knife and cut out the red threads do not cut the holes or the threads! This is what you will have when you are done...

Then you trim it to fit your wrist and finish it with any kind of clasp that you want!!!

This is the finished product...

           Have fun this is a great summer craft!

Homemade Fabric Softner!

Here is a recipe that I found on a cool website for homemade fabric softner!

6 C. of water
3 C. White Vinegar
2 C. Suave Rosemary Mint Conditioner

Mix together gently in a gallon size container add to your rinse cycle or put in a downy ball!

You can also spritz on a washcloth and throw this in the dryer in place of a dryer sheet!

Homemade Laundry Soap!



In an effort to be more "green" and to save some "green" we decided to make some of our own laundry soap!  This was an adventure and we enlisted the kids to help grate the soap till we got smart and used a food processor! Then the whole process went very fast!

1 Bar of Fels Naptha soap (grated)

1 cup of Washing Soda

1 cup of Borax

Mix together and store in an air tight container

Use 2 T. per load

T-Shirt Redo!!!



Mady and I made a trip to the good ole thrift store today and picked up some t-shirts that we are gonna play around with!  This was our first attempt at this kind of scarf I have made a circle scarf before but this is really cute!!!!

Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake!

We went berry pickin this week and made a whole lotta jam but we also saved some strawberries for this supper yummy cake! This would make a great dessert but also good wit a cup of coffee in the morning!

Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Cake

Ingredients:
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
3 tablespoons lemon juice, divided use
1 teaspoon vanilla extract[
Zest of 1 lemon
2-1/2 cups all-purpose flour, divided use
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 oz. plain Greek yogurt
12 oz. fresh strawberries, diced
1 cup confectioners' sugar

Directions:
1) Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease and flour a 10-inch Bundt pan (10-15 cup pan.) Sift together 2-1/4 cups of flour, baking soda and salt. Mix in lemon zest and set aside.
2) With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in 1 tablespoon lemon juice and vanilla extract. In thirds, alternate beating in flour mixture and yogurt, mixing just until incorporated.
3) Toss strawberries with remaining 1/4 cup of flour. Gently mix them into batter.
4) Scrape batter into prepared pan. Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow cake to cool in pan for 20 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack and cool completely.
5) Once cooled, combine confectioners' sugar and reserved 2 tablespoons lemon juice in a small bowl and whisk until smooth. Drizzle over top of cake. Yield: 10 to 12 servings.

Enjoy!

Lemon Brownies!

Hello Sunshine!

These are so good and lemony and moist! I made these today and they were a huge hit! They come together very fast which is good because they don't last long!

Lemon Brownies

3/4 C flour

3/4 C sugar

1/4 t salt

1 stick butter, soft

2 eggs

juice from 1/2 lemon (about 1T)

zest from 1/2 lemon (about 1t)

Combine the flour, sugar and salt

in a large bowl.

Mix in the softened butter.

In another bowl whisk the eggs with

the lemon juice and zest.

Add to the larger bowl and mix well.

Pour into prepared 8X8 brownie pan.

Bake at 350 for 25 minutes.

You can double the recipe and bake in a

9X13 pan for 30 minutes.

Remove and let cool, then glaze.

Glaze

1/2C powdered sugar

1 T lemon juice

additional lemon zest

stir together

note: 1 stick of butter is = to 1/2 C or 1/4 pound.
I use unsalted butter.

Perfect Summer Treat!

Sour Patch Grapes!

This was a treat I made the kids this weekend and we loved them sooo good!  Here is what I did i bought a bunch of grapes and I removed them from the stem and washed them. Then you shake off all excess water and roll them in lime jello powder. Or you can put them all in a ziploc bag shake it around and put them in a bowl and refrigerate for a few hours!  I also did purple grapes with grape jello powder!  These are so yummy Enjoy!

Mother's Day Cookies

Today is the day that all children should do something nice with and for their momma!  She did give birth to you after all hehe So when my kids said we wanna bake you something today I nearly ran screaming out of the kitchen!  You see "bake" in my house with my kids means they make a HUGE mess and then momma gets to come in a clean up and bake whatever it is they started because all they really want to do is crack the eggs and lick the bowl! Right? Well here is a recipe they did start to finish and my kitchen was still intact when I checked on it!  I am one happy Momma I ate 3 ok ok 5 of them and they were so good!

Cake Batter Cookies

1 box of cake mix {we used yellow}

1 t. baking powder

1/2 cup oil

2 eggs

1/2 cup choc chips {we used a mix of choc. chip and butterscotch cuz thats how we roll}

Mix all together in a big bowl with a wooden spoon drop by teaspoon onto an ungreased cookie sheet and bake 350 degrees for 10 min!! Enjoy!

On days like today when it is cold and rainy outside nothing warms my soul like a big bowl of my potato soup!  This is my go to recipe for potato soup and everytime I make it everyone loves it!  Give it a try you will love it as well!  Thanks Granny Susan for a great recipe!


Potato Soup
5 lbs. potatoes peeled, cut into cubes
1 big box Velvetta cut into cubes
1 can cream of celery
1 can cream of onion
1 stick of butter cut into cubes
1 can of evap. milk


Boil potatos in water till fork tender.  Drain off some water not all of it just some!!!  Add into the pot your cubed velvetta and butter and soups and evap milk mix till all melted!  Enjoy we like ours with bacon and chives and cheeses on top!!

Doritos Casserole!

This is Yummy and the kids will GOBBLE it up and so will you!  If you like Doritoes and you like tacos this is the casserole for you!  My kids even my very picky daughter love it!

Ingredients:
1 lb. hamburger
1 pkg. taco seasoning
8 oz. sour cream
1 pkg. crescent rolls
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced tomatoes
1 c. shredded cheese
Dorito chips crushed


Ok here we go... get out  a 9x13 baking dish and spray it with Pam cooking spray then press your  crescent rolls onto the bottom of the dish.  Set this aside for now!  Brown hamburger meat, drain fat add taco seasoning, tomato sauce and diced tomatoes mix well! Ok back to the baking dish top crescent rolls with sour cream then top with meat mixture then spread on the cheese! Then top with doritoes! Bake 350 degrees for 30 min.  I cover this with foil the last 15 min so doritoes wont burn! Enjoy!

 

If you have kids or an animal or a husband YOU NEED THIS!  I'm sure this has been out awhile but it's new to this household and I am so glad I picked it up!  This had been by far the best stain remover I have used, I spray it on the stain and toss in the washer no rubbing, no second guessing will it work?? It works everytime!  Another great product in my book!

Faux Iced Caramel Macchiato

Well living out here in the sticks has many advantages that I have grown to love, what it does not offer is a Starbucks!  Which is prolly a good thing for my pocketbook!  I would be there everyday for an Iced Caramel Macchiato!  This is heaven in a glass to me, Yummo!  So I have had to get creative so I decided to mess around and I have come up with a pretty good substitute for the real thing!  This of course will in no way stop me from running to the nearest Starbucks I can find when I am traveling I mean anything tastes better when its made for you right? Just Sayin! 

Cast of Characters!

Make a batch of strong coffee or brew some espresso you will need about a half of a cup!

Get a really cool cup doesn't have to be a Starbucks cup like me but it does help me get in the right frame of mind! Put an ounce of vanilla syrup in the cup, fill cup with ice, add milk till 2/3 full then add esspresso top with drizzled caramel sauce!

Pantene Hair detangler!

• Here is another awesome hair product that we love around here it is a wonderful product by Pantene.  I do not use this product on my hair since I have cut it short but I use it daily on my daughters hair and it makes a world of diffrence after bath time!  It works magic to get her hair untangled and it smells really good as well!  Give it a try you won't be disappointed! 

This is a new DRY shampoo from Suave! I have never tried a dry shampoo before but I had a coupon and I thought I would give this a try.  Well I love this stuff I use it everyday I like what it does for my hair it adds volume and bounce to my hair!  I shampoo my hair and dry it then I spray this at my roots and fluff it up I love it!  I have also used this as a dry shampoo on my daughter for those in between days of shampooing her hair!  Oh Yeah and the smell is AAAMMMAZZING!

Brings me back to Childhood!

Do you ever have those things that you can taste or smell and it brings you way back to you days of being a child? So carefree, not a worry in the world, man those where good times! Well for me this sauce was what my grandparents gave us to eat with roast that they would fix for supper on Saturdays!  I remember those Saturdays so well hangin out with my cousins and playin and havin a ball!  I tell my kids all the time don't be in a hurry to grow up savor each moment! Well they no longer make this sauce anymore so I did  little hunting and I found a copycat recipe and it is pretty darn close to the original! Needless to say I am happy it doesn't take much folks I'm a simple girl!

Old Style Sauce

1/2 C mayo

2 T. Horseradish Sauce

2 t. Ketchup

1/4 t. paprika

1/4 t. salt

1/8 t. dried oregano

dash of black pepper

dash of cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients and refrigerate at least an hour!



Crock Pot Magic!

We have had a really busy weekend of doing nothing in particular LOL but I made this for the family and it was a huge hit!  As always this is very simple and delish!! Enjoy Folks!

Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff

2 lbs. Beef stew meat
2 can Golden Mushroom Soup
1or 2 onions chopped
2 T. Worcestershire sauce
8 oz. cream Cheeses softened
1 bag of egg noodles cooked

Put the stew meat and onion and both mushroom soups and the worcestershire in the crock pot turn it on 8 rs on high.  About a half hour before serving make noodles and stir in your soft cream cheese! Serve over the noodle sit back with a bowl of goodness!

Such a sweet Child!

While I am cooking this sweet little thing is cleaning out my cabinets for me! Gotta love a girl who works hard in the kitchen.

Crock Pot Baked Potatoes and Drunken Pork Chops

I made this yesterday for dinner and it was amazing and of course simple to do as you know I have things to do and slavin in the kitchen isn't one of them LOL

Crock Pot Potatoes
Hold onto your hat folks here we go you wrap your washed and poked potatoes in foil and put them in the crock pot put the lid on and turn the crock pot on low for 8 hrs! Done that's it!

         

                                                                                                                

Drunken Pork Chops

2 T. Oil

6 Pork Chops

1 Bottle Beer

1/2 C brown sugar

1/3 cup ketchup

1 T. Corn Starch

1/4 C water

Put a little bit oil in the bottom of a skillet. Season the chops with salt and pepper and brown both sides. While pork chops are browning, combine beer, ketchup, and brown sugar in a bowl. Pour this sauce mixture over the pork chops and simmer for 40-45 minutes.
Remove pork chops and thicken the sauce a bit. In a small cup, combine 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch in 1/4 cup of water. Stir to combine and add to the boiling sauce, whisking so that no lumps form. Put pork chops back into the thickened sauce, flip to coat.

I love you in the Morning and In the Afternoon! I love you in the Evening and underneth the moon.......

Game Changer Syrup!

OK who doesn't like a plate of warm homemade pancakes.... no one right well folks I have stumbled upon a gold mine here!  This will make you slap yo mama this syrup is so good I ain't kidding lol!

Buttermilk Syrup
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 cup white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1 t. baking soda
1 tsp. vanilla

In a LARGE saucepan mix together buttermilk and butter and sugars till melted and just about boiling remove from heat and add the baking soda and vanilla!  OK I said use  a large saucepan for a reason when you add the baking soda this will bubble up like crazy you need room in the saucepan for this to happen or you will be scraping this stuff off your stove till Christmas and I don't want you mad at me I told you Large now listen to me!  You need to let this sit on the counter a little while so the bubbles go down and then make a batch of pancakes or waffles or pour it over ice cream or grab a spoon a lick it off! Yes folks its that good!

Not your traditional Spaghetti Dinner!

OK we love spaghetti around here but sometimes I like to mix things up a bit and when I found this recipe I knew my kids and Hubby would LOVE it! Boy this was simple and it tasted great!

SPAGHETTI BRAID

Recipe By: Holly Lofthouse

• 1 can Pillsbury Pizza Dough
• 1 pound lean Ground Beef
• 1 1/2 cups of your favorite Spaghetti Sauce ( I use 'Ragu' Traditional)
• 2 tablespoons Cream Cheese ( I used 1/3 less fat version and it was great!)
• 2 cups shredded Mozzarella Cheese

Glaze for the top:

• 2 tablespoons Butter, melted
• 1/8 tsp Garlic Salt
• 1/8 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1/8 tsp Dill Weed
• 1/8 tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Unravel roll of pizza dough and lay out onto a greased cookie sheet. Set aside.

Cook the ground beef in a large skillet and cook until browned. Drain the grease. Pour in the spaghetti sauce and heat to boiling. Reduce heat and let simmer 5-10 minutes or until sauce is thoroughly heated.

Dough should now be room temp and easy to work with. Shape it out onto the cookie sheet and form into a large rectangle. Down each side of dough, cut 2 inch wide slits with a pizza cutter.

Spread beef mixture down center of dough. Take the cream cheese and dot evenly over the meat.

Sprinkle the shredded cheese over the top and start to braid the dough over the top of the filling. Criss-crossing to form a 'braid' and making sure to cover any holes.

Microwave butter to melt completely. Add in all the seasonings and mix well. Brush evenly over the top of the braid.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven. Sprinkle the braid evenly with Parmesan cheese. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing

Lemons!

I am a little obsessed with lemons lately I love them! They are bright, yellow, sunshiny goodness! My Hubby is not on the bandwagon... Last night I made some lemon Pasta and the kids said these noodles would be good if you left out the lemon UMMM what that's the point of lemon pasta right! Hubby preferred to eat white sandwich bread instead of my noodles OH WELL more for me!  I'll post lemon pasta recipe later! OK I told you all of that to tell you that EVERYONE in the house loves these I mean I had to hide the plate I made because I am bringing them somewhere!

This recipe is from the sweetest lady I go to church with!

Lemon Blossoms
1 box yellow cake mix
1 small box Lemon pudding mix
4 eggs
3/4 cup oil
Combine all these things in a bowl beat with a mixer. Spray mini muffin tins with cooking spray then fill half way with cake batter  Bake 350 degrees for 10 min.
Glaze
2 cups Confectioners sugar
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
zest of 1 lemon
1 1/2 T. oil
1 T. Water
Dip mini cupcakes in glaze and let sit a few minutes to harden!!

Enjoy!

Ok so the smoke alarms went off........

Spicy Honey Pork Chops
This was what I made for dinner tonight and they were so so very good just a hint of heat! They are easy and you do not need to do anything ahead of time which I really need on a crazy busy weeknight!  I used boneless pork steaks but I have made it with chicken as well and it was very good!  Even better the next day we took the chicken the last time and made chicken salad out of it YUMMY! OK here is the recipe:

Rub:
2 tsp. Garlic powder
2 tsp. chili powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cumin

 Mix all these together and SMEAR it on your meat don't be shy rub it into the meat I also used a little olive oil drizzled on the meat to help the spices stick better!
Next get your grill pan really HOT HOT HOT and slap the meat on there cook for 5 min. per side then paint on this glaze...

Glaze:
1/2 cup Honey
1Tb. Cider vinegar
 When you put the glaze on your grill is gonna SMOKE and that is when my smoke detectors went off which added a little excitement to the house but man it is so worth it when you taste these!

Key Lime Pie!

If you have not tried THIS yogurt you need to run not walk to your nearest store and buy at least a half dozen and bring a spoon because you are gonna wanna eat one on the way home! Yes it is that good! My kids licked the empty container clean till it looked brand new LOL

Brown Butter Rice Krispy Treats!

OK So Mildred Day invented Rice Krispy Treats in 1928 but oh hunny let me tell you these are sooooo much better then I have ever had before! All you have to do is let the butter brown in the pot till it is a golden brown color then add you marshmallow's, mix till melted then add cereal! Press into a 9x13 pan and go hide the whole pan from your kids because they will eat them all gone while you are out of the room!

Here is the recipe:
1 stick of butter I use salted
10oz. marshmallow's
6 cups rice krispy cereal

I carry your heart with me, I carry it in my heart I am never without it, Anywhere I go, you go with me my dears!  By: E.E. Cummings

                                                            Gulf Shores April 2012

Corny Dog Muffins!!

Tonight was "kid food" night at our house! Which means of course Kraft Mac and Cheese and something new I have been wanting to try.  I used a package of Jiffy Corn muffin mix made according to package directions pour into muffin tins then cut a hot dog into thirds and SMUSH it in the batter! Bake 400 degrees for 15 min!   Enjoy... We Did!