Giveaway!

[I got this from Nikki, who got it from Tye.]

The first five people to respond to this post will get something handmade by me! My choice. For you. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- It'll be done this year.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. But I promise that I will take time to think of something that seems right for me to send you! :)
5- I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.

The catch? Oh, the catch is that you must re post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog. The first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did will win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it!

Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!

That is one sour strawberry!

***picture courtesy of Tanner***

More from Monica's Cupboard

Back Bean Rice Chili

2 cans black beans, rinsed, drained
1 can diced tomatoes, undrained (if your canned tomatoes are sliced or whole, you can dice them)
1 can corn, undrained
1 can Green Enchilada sauce
2 cups water
1 chicken bullion cube
Cumin (1- 2 tsp maybe, I'm afraid I can't remember, you can do it to taste I am sure)
About 1 cup wild rice (or whatever is left in the bag, white rice will work too I bet)

Combine ingredients into a medium large saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat. Simmer for about 15 minutes, or until rice is tender and children are whining about whether dinner is done yet because it smells so good!


A Tip
I found today that you can replace peanut butter for butter in brownies when you are out of butter and payday is tomorrow, but you have been wanting to make brownies for the last three days and decide it would be fun to experiment anyway. Just add about a Tbs. of milk for 1/2 cup peanut butter. Batter will still be thick. It makes filling, tasty brownies!

While on the Subject of Food and Slim Pickin's

Today for lunch I opted for noodles (bread takes too long if you wait until you're hungry to start it). But, what to put on them? Well, we had a bit of Italian dressing left, which is pretty good with Parmesan, but we were out of cheese. Not as good. So I tried adding a can of tomatoes (well, 1/2 can since it is just Landon and I) with the dressing (heat until warm). Really Good!

Also another idea recently. Easy Peasy cinnamon rolls. My boys love them. Make a batch of dough for biscuits (whatever is your favorite recipe will work I bet), roll it out, spread with melted butter (whatever it takes, a couple of TBS's maybe) and cinnamon-sugar (2TBS sugar mixed with 1 tsp cinnamon), roll up like cinnamon rolls, cut with a string, bake as directed for biscuits, and top with powdered sugar icing (I used some left from when Adria made cookies, but it would probably only need 1/2 the recipe, if that, although it was convenient to have in the refrigerator to use for a couple of days).

A lesson learned over and over....

Never sign a contract to buy things like books, Cd's, or videos. Even if they say you may cancel at any time. Although, that does help- a bit. I have had a problem canceling a CD by mail thing before, despite the 'cancel at any time' note. Right now we cannot afford the Book of Mormon videos that we are paying for every other month (for the past two years), and my children don't watch them, and I can't get out of it without paying 1/3 of what I still have left! I don't have 1/3 of anything right now. What was I thinking?

Recipes

Well I've been living a little lean lately and came up with some recipes based off other recipes depending on what I had on hand. I thought I would share some.

Pizza

1/2 recipe of Janice's Good Bread (makes 2 med. pizza's and 1 loaf, or 4 med pizza's I suppose)

1/2 jar spaghetti sauce

cheese

Make bread dough according to directions. Spread thinly onto pan or cookie sheet in desired pizza shape. Spread with sauce and cover with cheese. [This time I used Monterey Jack and sprinkled it with Parmesan. Because that is what I had.] Bake at 425 degrees for 15 - 20 minutes (maybe longer if you use a cookie sheet, my pizza pans have holes in the bottom).

White Turkey Chili

1 lb. ground turkey, browned (sprinkle with chicken seasoning if you prefer, I did) - this is a lot more affordable than other meat these days, and it is low fat!

1 can corn

2 16 oz cans of Navy Beans (I used Bush's)

2 cups of chicken broth (I used 2 bullion cubes and 2 cups of water)

6 TBS olive oil

1/2 TBS onion powder

6 TBS flour

4 tsp ground cumin

Shredded Monterey Jack Cheese (optional)

Sour Cream (optional)

Salsa (optional)

Brown ground turkey. While it is cooking pour beans, chicken broth, and corn into a medium sauce pan, start heating to bring to a boil. In a separate bowl, mix the oil, flour, and seasonings. Add to sauce pan. Add turkey to the sauce pan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for ten minutes. Garnish with cheese, sour cream, and/or salsa. We just used cheese, really good.

Oh Pooh.

What a weekend. Starting with being late for scouts, then being stuck at home because I can't find my wallet, and somewhere during the hunt for my wallet I lose my keys (Stephen being out of town with his keys). Not paying attention as Jacob grabs the blender as I go by so that it crashes to the floor in many pieces, and being excited for a dinner somewhat invented on my own only to have biscuits that tasted strongly of baking soda... Anyway, I strangely don't need a nap from depression, but to bring me down a bit. I'm struggling not to feel manic as far as I can tell.

Later....I found my keys! I was able to get a couple of bills paid. And Jacob has his first tooth!

Peanut Butter the Second

Something to Say

If they're all wrong. That means I'm right.


By the way, does anyone understand exactly why the stock market affects the economy on down to those of us who sometimes grow our own food? Would putting a lot of money into banks, etc. really help the country, or is it just a band-aid that will be bad for our children in the future? Where is the money coming from? I'd really like to know.
I saw on the news that Citibank is buying out a bank and taking on their debts and in the process taking pay cuts. Cool.
Anyway, I would love some opinions, and more especially, more knowledge on this if anyone knows where to direct me (you know, some really basics to start with, like a picture that shows how these things connect to affect the country - including the little guy).

The First in the Peanut Butter and Jelly Series

Well, if you have a laptop, I guess you can turn it sideways. I couldn't see a way to turn the video in the applications that I am familiar with. Anyone know how to do that?

Remember when?

Does this bring an "awww" of remembering to anyone else?

Picture courtesy of http://weewonderfuls.typepad.com/wee_wonderfuls/

Melanie, check this out.

This is really cute. I came across this blog through Beth's page and noticed they have a Molly too!

Grosgrain: Wandering Waif Collection GIVEAWAY!!!!

PINK

To Megan in pink.

You know it just hit me how versatile pink is. I remember once someone telling me grey or tan went with everything, but now I would have to say pink. Think about it. Pink and blue are cute. Pink and green, pink and brown, pink and black, pink and purple, pink and red, pink and white, pink and yellow, and pink and grey (or tan). Oh,yes, and in the current Fons&Porter magazine there is the cutest quilt that is pink and orange! It definitely good to be pink!

Ziploc Omelets

I hope it is o.k. to post this. My mom emailed this (from her friend Janice Reay)to Megan and I, and I love that there are no dirty pans and you don't have to stand over the stove forever. I'm thinking this would be great to use camping too:

This works great!!! Good for when you're alone or when all your family is together. The best feature is that no one has to wait for their special omelet. Have the guests write their name on a Quart Size Ziploc Freezer Bag with a permanent marker.

1. Crack 2 eggs into the quart size Ziploc bag (not more than 2) shake to combine them.

2. Put out a variety of ingredients such as: Cheeses, Ham, Onions, Green Peppers, Tomatoes, Hash Browns, Salsa, Etc.

3. Each guest adds prepared ingredients of choice to their bag and shake the bag to mix them well.

4. Make sure to get the air out of the bag and zip it up.


5. Place the bags into rolling, boiling water for exactly 13 minutes. You can usually cook 6-8 omelets in a large pot. If you have more omelets, make another pot of boiling water.

6. Cut the bags and the omelet will roll out easily. Be pre pared for everyone to be amazed.



7. Nice to serve with fresh fruit and coffee cake; everyone gets involved in the process and it becomes a great conversation activity.
Imagine having these ready the night before, and putting the bag in boiling water while you get ready. And in just 13 minutes you have a nice omelet for a quick breakfast.

Funny

Today I was getting after Bryce and Landon to rinse their breakfast plates and finally Bryce heads over to the counter and says "Landon, if you don't come rinse your plate I am going to do them both!" Umm. Landon wasn't exactly motivated to do his.

Don't get Mad get Glad

Man, sometimes that is easier said than done. We've been doing so good, but today the children were literally ignoring anything I asked them to do, and I finally lost it. It is totally something I did to Mom (trying to say I would do it later), but she just did it herself. So although I believe the children need to clean up after themselves, I also believe I need to be stronger and not let the needling get to me. All I know is that is not who I want to be.

Idaho

I don't have pictures I am afraid. My camera is on the fritz again. I also wrote a thank you note to Jedd and Celeste for our first visit, and never mailed it, so I thought I would try the blog.
So;
Thank You!
We loved our visits to Idaho! Here are the top 10 (not necessarily in this order):
1. Pumpkin muffins with chocolate chips. Mmmmm!
2. Strawberry and apricot syrups
3. Sledding
4. Very good sleep. We were so comfortable both visits. Elisa's room was very welcoming and sweet.
5. A wonderful shower (Micquel brought that to my mind actually, how great that really was).
6. A beautiful waterfall
7. Tubing
8. A chicken coop!
9. Good company
10. A nice breeze..

And so much more, I am sure, my memory isn't always the best! Thanks for setting everything up and allowing us to stay with you!

Cookie recipes for Micquel to try

So here are the cake mix cookies I told Micquel might work for her:

1 cake mix (any flavor)
1 box of pudding (regular size - some complementing flavor to cake mix, or vanilla)
1/2 c oil
2 eggs
3 TBS water (or juice)

Bake on an ungreased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes.

OR

(from Adria's friend Cathryn)
---don't use Duncan Hines brand---
1 cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 c oil
1 tsp vanilla

Roll into balls. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 - 10 minutes. Bottoms will be slightly brown and tops will be wrinkled.

Good luck!

What I Learned While Mopping the Floor.

The other day after I had swept the kitchen and decided I could mop, I headed to the front entry thinking it would be good to do that little square of floor too. On my way there, cheerfully thinking of the pretty shine it would be, I looked down the stairs and felt kind of ornery. They were a mess, why did the kids do this? Then pushing away the discouragement (it made me want to sit down and give up), I thought of how pretty the kitchen floor would be when I was finished and it was all shiny. Do you see? If you look at the mess and that is all you see, it is depressing and discouraging, but if you see the potential, the pretty it will be, it is actually fun and exciting!
You'll See!
"It's all how you look at it." - PBS I think

For me it also helps to pick one thing I can face, even if I start grumpy, and I find as I get moving it's not so bad. (It's kind of like excersize when you haven't done it for a while, you dread the first steps, only to realize you feel better after you've taken them).

So, Which One do You Like Better?

Also, have any of you seen August Rush? Beautiful movie.