Caramel Corn

1 1/2 c. unpopped corn
2 sticks butter
1/2 c, white corn syrup
2 c. brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp butter flavor
1/2 tsp salt


Boil butter, syrup, sugar, vanilla, butter flavor and salt for 5 minuets. Remove from heat add 1 tsp baking soda. Pour over popped corn and stir. Spread into deep oven pans and bake @ 250 for 40 mins, stirring every 10 mins.

Texas Turtle Sheet Cake

http://www.aboutamom.com/texas-turtle-sheet-cake/

Bisquick Banana Muffins

Ingredients

• 
  
• 4 Medium Mashed Bananas
• 3 T Vegetable Oil
• 1 Large Egg
• 1/3 C Sugar
• 2 C Bisquick Baking Mix
• ½ C chopped nuts {if desired}
• 1/2 C chocolate chips {if desired}
• 
  

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 400. Paper line or grease a 12 muffin tin.
2. Beat bananas, oil, egg and sugar in large bowl until well blended. Stir in baking mix, nuts, and chocolate chips just until baking mix is moistened (batter will be lumpy). Divide batter into muffin tin.
3. Bake about 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool muffins in pan 5 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack. Serve warm {and with milk please} ;)

Cole slaw for pulled pork

• 
  
• 16 oz. package shredded coleslaw
• 1/4 c. pepperoncini, chopped
• 1/4 c. diced red onion
• 1/3 c. mayonnaise
• 1/2 lemon, juiced
• 1 T. red wine vinegar
• 1 t. granulated garlic
• 1 t. Dijon mustard
• 1 t. sugar
• 1 t. salt
• 1/2 t. granulated onion
• 1/2 t. lemon pepper
• 
  
• 
  

Oatmeal Carmelita

I was looking for new Christmas goodies for our neighbor gifts.  My friend shared this recipe with me that her and her mom  make almost every year. They turned out really yummy!!!

 

 Oatmeal Carmelitas

~ 2 cups all-purpose flour
~ 1 teaspoon baking soda
~ ¼ teaspoon salt
~ 1 cup butter, at room temperature
~ 1½ cups light brown sugar
~ 2 cups quick-cooking oats
~ 14 ounces caramel candies, unwrapped
~ ½ cup evaporated milk
~ 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
~ 1 cup chopped pecans

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
3. Using an electric mixer, cream together the butter and brown sugar on medium speed until combined and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Reduce the speed to low and slowly add the flour mixture until fully incorporated. Add the oats and mix on low briefly to just combine.
4. Transfer approximately half of the dough mixture to the baking dish. Spread and press the dough into the baking dish until you have an even layer with no cracks or crumbles. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven.
5. While the dough is baking, combine the evaporated milk and caramels in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir the mixture constantly until all the caramels are melted and you have a thick sauce. Allow to cool until cookie base comes out of the oven.
6. Once out of the oven, sprinkle the cookie base evenly with chocolate chips and pecans, and then carefully pour the caramel sauce over the cookie base, nuts, and chocolate. Use an offset spatula to spread the caramel sauce into an even layer.
7. Sprinkle the remaining cookie dough over the top of the caramel-chocolate-nut mixture a handful at a time, making sure to get an even coating over the whole dish.
8. Return the dish to the oven, baking until the topping is lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
9. Once out of the oven, cool the dish to room temperature and then refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Cut into 2-inch squares and serve. Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator.

Korean Beef

I came across this recipe and it called for ground beef. That is how I made it, but I don't think it worked. The taste was awesome, but the texture was off in my opinion so next time I will use flank steak.

 Korean Beef

~ 2lbs flank steak

~ 2 medium onions chopped

~ 1-2 T minced garlic

~ 1 cup brown sugar

~ 1 1/4 cup soy sauce

~ 2 T sesame oil plus 1-2 tsp more for sauce

~ 1-2 tsp FRESH GRATED GINGER

~ 1-2 T, crushed red pepper flakes(depending on how spicey you like things

~ Salt and pepper to taste

~ 1 bunch green onions,

Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add the 2 T.  sesame oil and ground beef and cook until almost done. Drain most of the fat and add the onion and garlic and cook until the onion is tender. Meanwhile, in a bowl Whisk the brown sugar, soy sauce,1-2 tsp sesame oil, grated ginger, and red pepper flakes. pour this mixture over the beef and bring to a boil. Simmer for about 20 minutes so the flavors can blend. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serve over steamed rice and top with the green onions.

Homemade Laundry Soap

It started with homemade all purpose and window cleaner, now I make my own laundry soap. I got this recipe from a friend, who got it from a blog, who got it from another blog. Not sure where it originated but I love it and will probably never go back!

Homemade Laundry Soap

1 (4 lb 12 oz) Box of Borax

1 (3 lb 7 oz)  Box of Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda 

1 (3 lb) OxyClean

2 Bars of Soap

1 (4 lb) Baking Soda

1-2 (55 oz) Bottle if Laundry Crystals

 

 

Grate soap and add all ingredients into a large trash bag to mix. I keep mine in a big bucket with a lid.  It smells awesome and you only need to use a little per load. Cheap(er) and awesome!

Low and Slow (All Day Pork)

My coupon-er friend let me know about about pretty good pork roast sale. I don't typically care for pork, but my family does. I told her to pick me up about whatever she got herself. I ended up with about 13 lbs. She suggested that I cook it all at once, divide it up and freeze it for quick dinners. I rubbed it down with what I deemed the BEST RUB EVER! and cooked it at 200 degrees for about 11 hours. My hubby was concerned that was too long, but when I stuck my fork in, it literally fell right apart. I ate it two days in a row, and I would say that is pretty good for a non pork lover.

BEST RUB EVER!

1/2 Cup salt
1/2 Cup chili Powder
1/4 Cup garlic powder
1/4 Cup onion powder
1/4 Cup black pepper
1/4 Cup sugar
1 TBS dry mustard
2 bay leaves crushed

Mix it and rub it on any and everything! Store leftover in the freezer.

Skillet BBQ Pasta

1 T olive oil
2 chicken breasts cut into bite-size chunks
1 red onion, diced (I didn't have one on hand so I used a regular yellow onion)
3 cups water
2 1/2 cups chicken broth(I used one 14 oz can and used more water for the rest)
1/2 tsp salt
12-13 oz penne pasta
2/3 cup bbq sauce(recipe for homemade found here.)
1/3 cup sour cream(use nonfat or lowfat if desired)
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup sharp cheddar Cheese

In a large skillet or pot, heat the olive oil over medium heat. When hot add the chicken and cook until no longer pink. Add the onions and cook till tender. Remove the chicken and onions to a plate. In the same skillet add the water, brother, pasta, and salt. Bring to a boil and simmer for 12-15 minutes, until the liquid is almost absorbed, the pasta is tender and the mixture is thick and syrupy. Stir in the bbq sauce,and sour cream. Once mixed, add in the chicken onions, and shredded cheeses. Stir to combine and cook until everything is heated through.

Step One in Achieving Serenity

Frank Costanza -  "SERENITY NOW!"

Hubby and I went on a weekend trip last week for our anniversary. He surprised by picking the best hotel ever. It was a like a B&B but we had our own bathrooms (a must!). Just a handful of rooms that each had a different theme, free snacks and drinks (wine!) all day long. It was simple and quiet. Everything was clean and cool. I didn't want to leave. It really felt like you were in someone's guest bedroom and not a hotel room. It was wonderful to just hang out with Hubby in a peaceful place.

Then we come home. I pretty much instantly started feeling down. I couldn't really figure out why. I mean, yes, it is great to just have one on one time with the spouse, knowing the kids were safe with grandparents, but there was something else. I finally figured out that my house is not peaceful. When I come home, I see chaos. There are toys here, papers there, stuff everywhere. I just can't seem to keep on top of it. I need a system. I need a home for everything so it's not just sitting somewhere.

SO. That is my goal. I will go room by room and make it peaceful. My first room is our bedroom. I really think it makes me the most crazy. It tends to be the catchall room. My dresser is typically littered with school papers and stuff that no one knows where to put  it. "Hey, let's just put it on Mom's dresser, SHE will deal with it." Also clothes. Clean clothes, but not put away clothes. It's just simple things that don't get done that would make a big difference. So I am starting there today. SERENITY NOW!!!

Cajun Sausage Alfredo

Tonight I made something that I never thought I would make, and I got the recipe from an ad in a magazine, which I also never do. Not sure why, but I just don't. I came upon this recipe and thought it was something different and quick and I would get the stuff to have on hand for a night I don't really feel like cooking. Throughout the day, it just started sounding good, so I decided to give it a go. It was so good. It tasted almost identical to a dish I get at Jazz. Son number 1 loved it. The other two were just kind of eh about it, but Hubby and I both loved it. And the best part.... It is so easy and quick. Literally, the time it takes to boil noodles......


Cajun Sausage Alfredo

1 pkg. Smoked Sausage
8 oz. pasta, cooked, drained
2 c. heavy cream
2 t. Cajun seasoning (I used Weber. SO GOOD!)
1/2 c. grated Parmesan


~ Cook noodles 
~ Saute sausage for about 5 minuets
~ Add cream and Cajun seasoning and boil. 
~ Reduce heat, simmer 4 minuets.
~ Stir in Parmesan.
~ Add pasta and toss

You can also add veggies to this. I added peas (cause that is what was in the picture....). Yum!!!

The Little Things

Hubby has a band that he loves. I wouldn't say they are his favorite, but they are probably his second or so. I, on the other hand, don't so much care for them. They are Metal, they are loud,  and I am pretty sure they worship the Debil..(a cookie if you got the Waterboy reference). All that aside, I let him talk me into going to see them in concert. He has been so excited for the past week about tonight. This particular band has somewhat of a mascot. He is a ghoulish looking, zombieish something guy that is featured on all of their album covers. His name is Eddie. He is a creep O.

The opening band was on stage and I noticed that they were only using front half of it, and they other half was filled with big, bulky items covered by tarps. I realized they were props for the main band. I was looking and noticed one rounded tarp looked sort of familiar. I leaned over to Hubby and pointed at it and said "I bet you that's Eddie."  My husband looked at me like I had just handed him a thousand dollars. I said what?? He said, I can't believe you knew that. I thought you didn't care about these guys at all.... Well, I don't. But, he does. Just paying a little bit of attention, I seemed to give him a little gift today.  He was touched that I cared enough to remember that freaky looking guy's name. It didn't take much. I didn't have to listen to hours of crappy music that is so loud that I can't even understand  what the heck they are saying (wow, how old am I??). Just paying the slightest attention is all it took to make a happy hubby for today. :)

CHAOS

Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome. Do you have that? I do right about now. I learned this acronym from a home organization website. It hit the nail right on the head. Yes I live it CHAOS most of the time. You know when you are walking thru your house and you pray that no one shows up unexpected to see the crazy that is your house. There are toys here, clothes there, papers EVERYWHERE, and when WAS the last time you dusted??? Sigh. On top of living in CHAOS, I am also the queen of procrastination. Which brings me to today. The most dreaded of all days. The mecca of stressful days. The Colosus of Clout of horibleness...... People are coming over...... (du du duuuuuuu) Cue scary music and tornado like cleaning (praying no on opens THAT closet, or that drawer and PLEASE OH PLEASE, don't open that box!) 

Why do I do this to myself? I hate it. I yearn to be organized. I have tried several times to have a cleaning schedule and feel like I am constantly on the kids to pick up after themselves, but it never seems to be enough. Then I get frustrated and feel overwhelmed and then nothing gets accomplished. Sigh.  So like many other areas in my life, I am a work in progress. It takes time. It takes patience. I will get there. :)

Stand Up

 I am straying WAY away from my "food/craft blog" for this post. So bear with me and I will be back to regularly scheduled programing shortly.

Did you know, that when you are at a parade or some event in which a color guard walks past you, you are supposed to stand as our flag passes? I hope you do know, and if you don't, now you do and please teach it to your children.

My grandpa served in the Korean War.

 

That's him. Second from the left. Isn't he handsome. :) He never said much about it and honestly I was pretty old before I knew he was a military man. I do know that my grandma waited at home for him in a tiny un-airconditioned apartment with a baby and one on the way.

This past weekend we went to a city celebration. They had the usual, a parade, carnival, car show and all the nasty carnival food you can eat. I took my kids to the parade first thing in the morning. I prepared them as we waited. "OK, when you see the guys coming carrying the flags, you do what?" "Stand until they pass." :) Yep. And they did. What was disappointing was, there was only a handful of us standing. One being a very old man, in a wheel chair, who could barely lift himself up, but he sure did stand, took off his hat, and remained standing until the flag past. It made me tear up. All these able bodies just sitting there and it took everything he had, but he did it. Maybe they don't know they are supposed to? Maybe they do know, but they don't care. I'm not sure which is worse. Regardless of how you feel about our government, that man carrying that flag was a veteran. He went to war. He was in an unfamiliar place, missing his family, missing his friends, missing all the little things we do everyday that we take for granted. Please, stand up and show respect for him and all of the other men and women who fight so that we can watch a parade on a Saturday morning with our kids. 

The Best Chocolate Zucchini Muffins EVER

I say that they are the best because anything that makes me eat that slimy, gross squash HAS to be the best. I'm sure the chocolate has NOTHING to do with it. Right? We briefly had an over abundance of zucchini in our garden but we lost the plant due to heat and some weird looking bug. Grrrrrrr. I made a batch (24) of these muffins and they were gone the next day. This coming from myself who hates zucchini and also a few kids who thought the idea of chocolate and zucchini was literally the worst possible thing you could do. I mean, how could you insult chocolate that way!? We were all pleasantly surprised. :)



Chocolate Zucchini Muffins (24)

 preheat oven 350 degrees

1 1/4 c. sugar
1 c. unsweetened applesauce (can use oil)
3 eggs
3 t. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. cocoa
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda
1 t. ground cinnamon
1/4 t. baking powder
2-3 c. shredded zucchini
1 c. chocolate (this is optional but really, why wouldn't you?)


~ Beat sugar, applesauce, eggs and vanilla until smooth.
~ Combine flour, cocoa, salt, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder.
~ Slowly add the dry ingredients to the wet and mix until smooth.
~ Stir in zucchini
~ Fold in chocolate chips.
~ Bake 20(ish) minuets until center is done.

NOM NOM NOM 

You could make these a bit healthier by swapping half whole wheat flour half white and maybe adding some flax seed and reducing the sugar and using dark chocolate chips. YUM!

Nailed it! (No really, for realz.)

I'm not a crafty person. I like to think I am, and I start projects and then I remember, I'm not crafty. I have many things pinned on Pinterest that I would love to do. I have done a few of them and they have turned out ok, but they didn't really require much thought. Basically glue this to this and then you are done. YAY!  But then I saw this...




Cute right? I just love it. So so cute. So I thought, that shouldn't be too hard. You just melt crayons right? So I asked my dear friend Beth, who is in fact way crafty and I am uber jealous of her and her oh so pretty house with all the pretty things that she has made with her own two hands and.............
 Anyhoo..... I asked if she could get me the silhouettes for me, and of course she could and did. I bought some 11x14 canvasses and found that Crayola has packs of crayons that are all in the same color family!! SCORE!!!

I sat down at nap time with crayons taped to my canvas and my hair dryer. I need to mention here that I have ZERO patience..... which may be why I feel like I can't be crafty. I want it done. NOW. The blow dryer just wasn't working. I mean, I'm sure it would have eventually but again, no patience. What to do, what to do. Oh yes...Fire! I grabbed Hubby's grill lighter and went to town. It worked swimmingly, and after a blister and a burned fingernail, I was left with art, that I created for my little girl's room. I love it. I love it even more than the original picture. They just turned out so pretty. 

Easy Stuffed Peppers

This is one of those recipes you think, Eww! There is no way that is good! Well you would be wrong. I got this one from my father in law. He uses it for stuffed jalapenos, but they were just too hot for me. I decided to use fresh green bell peppers from our garden and TA DA! So yummy!


Stuffed Peppers

1 package breakfast sausage
1 box  Zatarain's Dirty Rice
1 can Cheese Whiz (yeah, I know, just trust me)
6 green bell pepper (could use any color bell or just about any pepper you like)

~ Cook sausage, drain
~ Cook rice as directed
~ Mix sausage, rice and cheese whiz together

~ Cut peppers in half longways, take our seeds.
~ Fill peppers and place on foil lined baking sheet.
~ Bake 400 degrees for around 20 mins.

Thai Cucumber Salad

My hubby and kids got me a cilantro pot for Mother's Day. Cilantro is basically the best thing every grown on this earth. I LOVE IT! The plant has taken off quite well, so we have lots. We also have cucumbers growing in our garden. Hubby was surfing recipes to find something we could make for a 4th of July cookout. He found one and it is delish!



Thai Cucumber Salad

3 large cucumbers, peeled and seeded
1 T. salt
1/2 c.. white sugar
1/2 c. rice wine vinegar
2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
1/4 c. cilantro (or more!)
1/2 c. chopped peanuts


So yum!

In a Rut

I am in a severe food rut. I have been putting as little effort as possible into making dinner and it needs to stop. Partly this comes from us having something going on about every evening. If I was organized, I would plan a head so I wouldn't feel so rushed in between dance class and baseball practice on the same night. The crock pot would be an excellent option for these crazy nights. Hopefully some new recipes to come very soon! :)

In a Pinch (Cheater Chicken Parm)

We spent the majority of the day at church today. We got home close to dinner time with 2 extra kids in tow, bringing my total up to 5 kids to feed. Did I mention I haven't done a very good job of grocery shopping lately? Tired and lazy with no desire to run to the store. What do I feed all these yahoos? I had noodles and sauce. Perfect. Spaghetti it is. Then I realized I have no burger. I always have hamburger in the freezer, except when I really need it apparently. I would be fine with meatless spaghetti but the Hubby would not. Then I saw a bag of dinosaur shaped chicken nuggets. Chicken Parmesan it is! The kids came to the kitchen and said "Spaghetti AND CHICKEN NUGGETS?!?!?!? AWWWEEESSOOMMMEE!!!" I think it works. :) 

I am not good at impromptu meals, but this one worked out really well.