Ever have days like this

How does that song go...Mama said there will be days like this. Well my momma didn't but boy oh boy am I learning. A sample of my day. We took my little angels to the Dr. with my mom and I to check up on her arm. They were perfect, Dr. kept saying how wonderful and adorable they are (yes I did puff up my chest a little hearing such wonderful comments being made) Later we get home with very long paper towel tubes the DR. decided to give my kids so they could make arts and crafts with (they made a homeschooling momma very happy) so we get home and off to work on some shakers. I bring out the beans since I didn't want to open the rice. I say to my darlings sweeties "Mom is going to run downstairs and get the tape I will be right back" I head down to the cellar and then hear little drops over my head....oh no I think they are touching the beans. "Colby why do I hear beans dropping on the floor?" in which he responds "Well mom you didn't say we couldn't touch them" ahhhh of course I didn't I forgot I need to give detailed intruction for every moment...lol...All is well we made shakers. When we were done I noticed the weather was a steaming 50 degrees and thought we need to take advantage of this warm weather before we are literally snowed in. Send them out and we play. Time to come in I ask them to wash their hands. Angels 1 and 2 do as asked....then I noticed angel number 3 is gigglinga bit much. I walk in and water has flooded my floor, she has decided to wash her hair and is drenched...lol...off I go to clean up. Then lets finish the night with a bang...literally. I am now cooking and hear bang...giggle...bang...giggle. "Um Colby what is that banging I hear?" to which he responds "Don't worry mom I'm just playing with your exercise bands" I then think well at least thay are getting some use now and continue to cook. My darling husband comes home runs upstairs to change and I hear...."MEL some here!" oh boy I'm coming. Off I come wobbling over as fast as I can. I reach upstairs and he shows me a wall full of dents and black marks. Apparently I did have something to worry about silly mom. When the angels were playing so nicely they were using my exercise bands as sling shots and making dents in my wall.......momma forgot to tell me there would be days like this. Have you had days like this?

Homemade hot cocoa and marshmallows

Marshmallows

Ingredients:
4 envelopes unflavored gelatin
water
3 c. granulated sugar
1 1/4 c. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp vanilla extract

powdered sugar for slicing

Directions:
-In large saucepan over medium high heat, combine 3/4 c. water, sugar, corn syrup and salt.
-Meanwhile, in bowl of stand mixer place 3/4 c. water and sprinkle gelatin on top, let plump.
-Bringing sugar mixture to boil, place candy thermometer in middle of mixture, making sure not to touch the side or bottom of the pan and let keep a rolling boil until mixture passes 235 degrees, about 3-5 minutes.
-With mixer on low, carefully pour sugar mixture into mixer bowl and slowly raise beater to high speed.
-Beat sugar mixture on high for five minutes and then add vanilla. (If you'd like to add other flavors here like peppermint, color, or cocoa powder for chocolate, add now).
-Continue beating mixture for an additional 5 minutes.
-Meanwhile, oil a 9x13 pan for large marshmallows or two 10x10 pans for small marshmallows.
-When done beating, pour sugar mixture into pan(s), smooth top and tap to release extra air.
-Leave on counter overnight to form.
-Generously sprinkle working surface with powdered sugar, turn out marshmallow mixture, generously sprinkle with powdered sugar, and cut as desired, lightly coating marshmallow shapes with powdered sugar to avoid sticking.


Easy and Delicious Hot Cocoa Mix

Ingredients:
4 c. vanilla sugar
2 c. Hershey's cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt

Directions:
-Combine all ingredients in large bowl and whisk to combine well.

Directions for serving:
-For cold night: Mix 4 Tbsp cocoa mix to mug, add 1 c. milk and heat in microwave on high for 1 1/2 minutes.
-For a crowd: Add 3/4 c. cocoa mixture and 1/3 c. water in saucepan over medium heat, boil for 2 minutes, add 4 c. milk, heat back up and serve immediately

Vanilla Sugar
Vanilla sugar is about 1 vanilla bean to every 2 c. granulated sugar. You put the sugar in a container, scrape out the innards of the bean, add that and the bean into the sugar and let sit for about 1-2 weeks (I like 2 weeks, but I love vanilla). You can use in anything like granulated sugar.

Lots of yumminess

You don't have to be a coffee connoisseur to enjoy these sweet rolls they go well with your favorite morning drink.

1/2 cup of milk

1 egg

3 tbsp of butter

2 cups bread flour

2 tbsp of sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp of active dry yeast

1/2 cup of coursely chopped of TOASTED walnuts

1 tbsp of butter softened

5 tbsp of brown sugar

1/4 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup of Kahlua....don't worry the alcohol is cooked out of it so it's safe

First proof the yeast in the warm milk and sugar

Then mix together with butter and egg...mix first 7 ingredients into a dough knead well together. Then let sit for 30 minutes covered in a warm spot.

Grease 9x9x2 inch baking pan, and sprinkle toasted walnuts into pan.

On floured surface roll out dough into rectangle. Spread softened butter. Sprinkle with brown sugar. Roll up jelly-roll style, starting from a long side, pinch seams to seal. Cut into 1 inch slices. Place slices cut side down into greased pan. Cover, let rise for another 30 mins.
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Combine whipping cream and kahlua. Pour the mixture over pan of rolls Bake 20-25 mins till light brown. Cool 5 mins, invert onto serving dish.




You'll love them in cookies

Follow my chocolate chip cookie recipe and instead of chips add Andes mints baking bits and all I can say is grab your cup of milk and enjoy. I think they just might be my favorite.


2 cups plus 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
12 Tbsp (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted & cooled until warm
1 c brown sugar, packed
1/2 c granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 yolk
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 bag of Andes mints baking pieces

Directions:
-Adjust oven racks to upper & lower -middle positions & heat oven to 325. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
-Whisk dry ingredients together; set aside.
-With electric mixer, or by hand, mix butter & sugars until thoroughly combined.
-Beat in egg, yolk and vanilla until combined.
-Add dry ingredients & beat at low speed just until combined. Stir in chips.
-Roll scant 1/2 cup dough into ball. Holding dough ball in fingertips of both hands, pull into 2 equal halves. Rotate halves 90 degrees and, with jagged surfaces facing up, place formed dough onto cookie sheet, leaving ample room between each ball.
-Bake, reversing position of cookie sheets halfway through baking, until cookies are light golden brown and outer edges start to harden yet centers are still soft & puffy (about 17 minutes in my oven).
-Cool cookies on sheets until able to lift without breaking and place on wire rack to cool.


Beef Stew w/ dumpling in the Crock


1 1/2 of Beef stew meat

Bag of baby carrots

5-6 potatoes peeled and cubed

Green beans

and any other favorite veggie

1 can of golden mushroom soup

! packet of dry onion soup....expect because Mike doesn't like onions, I use a mesh colander (sp) and use only the powder and discard the dried onions

1/2 cup of red wine,

1 cup to 1/2 cup of water

1tbsp of onion powder

1tbsp of garlic powder

1 tbsp of salt

Spray crockpot with cooking spray

Then fill up with veggies then meat then rest of ingredients

Cook on high for 8 hours I sometimes do a little longer I stir throughout the day, last hour cup out some of the broth and thicken with some flour..I eye ball it sorry, then return back to crockpot. At last bring out the Bisquick. Mike and I love love love bisquick dumplings, he grew up with them, and I never had them until we got married.
Follow directions on box for drop dumpling right into the crockpot then your done. Enjoy

Please note Mike hates a lot of things..texture wise, so I have finially come up with this recipe that has a lot of flavor and Mike doen't complain over onion pieces or garlic pieces..lol...feel free to use fresh instead of powder...lol

Coconut-ginger chicken skewers

Coconut-ginger chicken skewers


1/4 cup coconut milk
2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger root ...if you only have ginger powder that's fine
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon orange juice
1 teaspoon brown sugar
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into bite-size pieces
salt to taste
skewers




In a shallow container, mix the coconut milk, ginger root, lemon juice, orange juice, and brown sugar. Place the chicken breasts in the mixture, and marinate at least 30 minutes in the refrigerator.

Season chicken with salt, and thread chicken onto skewers. Discard marinade.

Place skewers on the grill (I use a George Foreman grill easy clean up), and cook 15 minutes, turning to cook on all sides, until chicken juices run clear.



I make a few then what I don't eat I freeze them for an easy lunch on days I get behind and warm them up in the oven.





Note somedays when in the mood, I add mango on the skewers or pineapple

The big glop you see in the picture is hummus....I love hummus with veggies

So what's in your fridge?

I recently had an email about food and what I usually buy, well I thought what better way to answer then to take a picture. So here it is

My fridge...tada


Lots of Kefir, we drink a lot of it. Cage free eggs, broccoli, hummus, baby thai coconut, of course hot dogs..I have kids, yogurt, pumpkin puree, oj of course Mike's diet soda (yuck)





My freezer Ezeikiel 4:9 bread, all natural sausages, vitamuffins,multi grain waffles, flax seed waffles, and since I do my big grocerie shopping every 2 weeks you see a lot of meat on the bottom drawer



Do you see those...Dianas bananas...all I can say about those is oh my goodness thet are frozen chocolate bananas and I know I can make them but such a great treat to grab one out of the freezer and indulge.


Veggie drawer



My fruit drawer with blackberries, raspberries, strawberies, pomagrante, blueberries, and grapes

Not to mention the 12 pounds yes 12 pounds of fresh oranges I keep on y basement stairs (I bought them at Aldi for 99 cents for 4 lbs, a box of clemetines (my candy) regular bananas, permissins, mangos. Oh yes I love fruit honest could possibly live off the stuff

Preggers 6 months

Tada...here's my ever growing belly

Turkey in the morning, turkey in the evening turkey at supper time...what to do with all that turkey?

So we have lots left over here. So here is one yummy way that I use up some turkey.

Turkey Tortilla Soup

2 cans of low sodium chicken broth

1 jar of your favorite salsa...I used Newman's own..the pineapple salsa

2 cups of sliced cooked turkey

2 tbs chopped fresh cilantro

1 tbs lime juice

an avocado..sliced of course

tortillas shells cut in to strips....I used whole wheat shells


In large stock pot over high heat, bring broth and salsa to boil. Reduce heat to low , cover and simmer about 15 minutes, adding turkey during last 5 minutes. Meanwhile in a nonstick skillet heat up 3 tbs oil (i used coconut oil) over medium heat. Add tortilla strips in batches , cook turning until golden. Drain on paper towels. Just before serving, sti in cilantro, and lime juice into soup, Serve and garnish with tortilla strips and avocado....Yum