Seriously

Do these trees really fit back in to the box! Next year I am getting Giant plastic wrap, and wrapin this thing up lights, decorations and all!! I have all things Christmas packed and ready to go into the attic until next year. I am enjoying a clean house but the is a sigh of sadness to pack up all that Christmas delight.

** I did find a sucker stick, small toy cow and a napkins stuck in my tree...hmmm wonder who put that there!
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Leftover Christmas Ham?

I have never used a Pressure Cooker befor. Mr Safety spent 2 years in Brazil living off of food cooked in a pressure cooker. I am scared of the things, I envision the house exploding with some crazy mishap. I am here to tell you its not that scary!! I was very pleased.

First I "Quick Soaked" my Great Northern Beans by keeping a 2 cups of water to 1 cup of Bean ratio.

Bring Beans and water to Boil

Boil for 2 mins

Cover for and hour drain water

My pressure cooker said to add 5 cups of water for dried beans so that's what I did

added my leftover diced ham, dried onion, salt and pepper

**I followed the instructions that came with my cooker**

bring to pressure on high once it starts to left off steam or jiggle turn down to med-low (like a 4-5 on my stove) then start time

20 MIN that is it I tell you, 20 minutes to this yummy dinner!!! LOVE IT

SnowMan Kit

Ok now that I have given this gift I can post about it! G was so excited to give a gift that she can use!
This fun little kit went to her Pop and Grandma



SNOWMAN KIT

1 Black Hat
1 Red Scarf
2 Rocks eyes
1 carrot Nose
Handful of rocks for a mouth
3 tin buttons
2 sticks for arms
2 mittens

***Just add Snow

Found the hat and scarf at the store
I hot glued tin lids from canning jars and painted them Black for buttons.
Found some rocks (in my neighbors yard!) and painted them black also.
The carrot nose was hard to find (I wanted a fake one) I looked at a couple stores and ended up finding it at Hobby Lobby.
Mr Safety cut some branches of our tree for arms.
I think it turned out cute, a fun gift for someone who gets to live where it SNOWS!

Is he here yet?

Just Checking

Merry Christmas

We have been Busy Baking

If you want a yummy easy Holiday Treat my Sugared Almonds "how to" is HERE

Christmas Tag

Christmas Tag

1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?

Yes and finished! (in November)

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.

Baking as a Family. Temple Lights, Zoo Lights taking walks at night to see the lights (um we like lights)

Coco Latte!!!

3. When do you put up your tree?

Day after Thanksgiving

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper?

No, but if YOU go I will send money

5. Do you travel at Christmas or stay home?

Home Sweet Home

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?

G and the Purple House, maybe the Toots Hippo game.. she just makes so many. Or the time I shot Mr Saftey in the eye with a Candy Cane

7. What is your favorite Christmas movie of all time?

Elf (Christmas Vacations, A Christmas Story, Shreck The Halls)

8. Do you do your own Christmas baking? What's your favorite treat?

Oh man we do, Sugar Almonds, Fudge, Divinity, Cookies, Carmel Pop Corn ....stop me now!

9. Fake or real tree?

Fake Tree and LOVE IT

10. What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?

Oh I love to Panic Year Round.

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?

Somethimes

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?

Playing Games and eating, and Polor Express

13. What Christmas Craft do you like the best?

I am going to call Baking and EATING a craft!

14. Christmas music? Yes or no

Yes it starts after Thanksgiving

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?

I thought I was done, I need a 100 watt light blub, (Santa ask me to pick it up)

Our Ocean Theme Christmas Tree

Turkey Day is coming Fast!

I have had these coloring pages for a few years now, I can't remember which site I got them from (most likely I did a color page search) sorry I am not able to give credit. They are cute and a fun thing for the kids to do. I think thye would be a cute Place Card for Thanksgiving Dinner too! Remember last year we made this  Little Turkey

This years Halloween Best Book Pick goes too.....

Goodnight Goon: A Parody by Michael Rex

If you love Goodnight Moon, you will love this frightful delight, the pictures will have you looking at all the spooky details. My 3 year old has ask to read it everyday this week!

Halloween Chili

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
6 slices of bacon, chopped
2 pound coarsely ground sirloin (yes sirloin get a 2 lb roast and have the butcher grind it!)
3 tablespoons chili powder
1/2 tablespoon cumin
Freshly ground black pepper
½ medium onion, chopped
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
2-3 15-ounce can pinto beans, drained and rinsed (I add one Big can and one 15 oz can)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire
8-12 oz Beef Broth (pour un till it just covers bean/meat)
1 cup chili sauce (I use Heinz Chili Sauce)
Salt to taste
Yields: 8-10 servings big bowls
Preparation
.
Preheat a heavy bottomed pot over medium heat with vegetable oil and brown the bacon until crisp. Remove to a paper towel-lined plate to drain, leaving the fat in the pot.

Add the sirloin to bacon drippings in the pan, using the back of a wooden spoon to break it up while it browns. Season with the chili powder, cumin and ground black pepper.

Add the onion and garlic, and cook until softened, about 7-8 minutes. Add the beans, brown sugar, Worcestershire and Beef Broth, and cook 5 minutes. Add the chili sauce and season with salt to taste.

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A few minutes before serving, add bacon back to the pot and stir to combine.

Make This

Another fun idea from Glamma, we made a mini size to start. Then enlarged a new one, put on card stock and took to have it laminated. Cut out the pieces put magnets on the back. I can't wait to make accessories for it. Necklaces, skirts, bags, shoes oh the possibilities. Just you wait! I hope to finish it be for next week.

Chalk Pumpkin

Our Delightful "Crazy Aunt Bethany" made this Chalk Pumpkin, she just painted it with chalk board paint! My three year old loves it! What a fun idea. I am thinking I might try it on a large artificial pumpkin. We will see if I have time this year, it not I absolutely will be doing it next year!

Scary Tree Display Finished (for this year)

Quick Witch Lunch

We had a Witch stop by and stir up a spell for lunch. It was a frightful delight. My little goon helped wrap the mummy, she shrieked with delight.

We swirled and whirled a brew so green (amazing how coolaid can do that thing) It was fresh worm juice.

Creepy crawly spiders joined us, but not for long they got gobbled up too!

Color it Halloween

Get more Free Pictures Here












**Pictures are from Coloringpages.com see link above**

Pillow Cases

My very Crafty sister had us over to make some Very Spooky Pillow Cases! They were so easy all you need it one yard of fabric and my sister! You can find her HERE. We made all 4 in an hour with crazy kids, each one took there turn! They all loved getting to sew. Take your fabric fold in half iron to make creases. Sew bottom and side. Inside out and measure 5 inches to make the "cuff" sew that and TA-DA! One more way to have some Halloween fun.

Price of Old Navy Halloween Socks

$1.00

How they look on this baby's chubby feet.
Priceless!

Halloween Tree

Thank you Monsoon Season for breaking a perfect size limb off my neighbors tree. It will make the perfect "Scary Tree" to add to my Halloween collection. I cut the branches trimmed it up and shaped it. Filled a tin can with "quick set" cement and spray painted it black. We added some hanging bats. It is still a work in progress, we are painting black pumpkins, and need some cob webs. I got some flashing lights to put under and around the tree (on the ground not the actual tree per Mr Safety putting lights on a dried out tree= fire hazard) check back for a picture of the final product I think it will be great!

Creepy Crafty Halloween

This very fun Craft was an inspiration from a great blog, Life and Art with Glamma Fabulous click here to see it. It was under $15.00 and my 3 year old loved it.

Carmela's Chicken and Rosemary Bread

If you want an AMAZING melt in your mouth meal, keep reading below. This is a copy cat recipe from Macaroni Grill.

CARMELA'S CHICKEN

Ingredients:

6 oz butter

8 oz mushrooms

2 chicken breast (Pre-cooked)

Salt and pepper to taste

1 medium onion sliced and caramelized

6 0z cooking wine

1 pint heavy cream

24 oz pasta of choice (rigatoni or bow tie work well)

8 oz Parmesan cheese

Directions

1-Cook pasta as directed on package.

2-In a hot saute pan add butter, mushrooms, chicken, caramelized onions, salt and pepper and saute for 2 min

3-Add the wine and saute for another minute. Add the heavy cream and bring to boil over high heat.

4-Drain pasta and return to pot, mix the saute mixture until well Incorporated. Toss briefly and add cheese and mix well.

5-Transfer to plate and serve.

ROSEMARY BREAD

Ingredients:

1 package yeast

1 tbls sugar

1 cup warm water

2 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp salt

2 tbls rosemary (I didn't have rosemary so I just used Italian seasoning)

2 tbls butter

Directions:

1-Place yeast, sugar, and water in large bowl or food processor.

2-Mix in 1 tbls butter, salt, and 2 cups of flour.

3-Add one tbls of rosemary

4-Knead for about 10 min by hand or in food processor about 5 min until smooth

5-Add more flour if necessary

6-Oil a bowl, put dough in it and cover with towel.

7-Let dough rise in a warm place for one hour until double.

8-Punch down dough and divide in half. Let raise about 5 min

9-Spray baking sheet with cooking spray and divide bread into two rounded oval loaves.

10-Sprinkle remaining tbls of rosemary over the top of loaves.

11-Let loaves rise again until double, about 45 min

12-Bake at 375 for 15-20 mins until lightly browned.

13-Carefully remove from oven, brush with remaining butter.

Oil and Vinegar Dipping Sauce for Bread

Verde

Enchiladas Verde, I got the recipe from Americas Test Kitchen (click here). Really good but a lot of work, just as good as any restaurant. I am not a fan of cumin so I reduce the amount a lot, and I also used jalapenos and the canned tomatillos (for more on tomatillos and a good salsa click here).

Bird Nest Cookies
12 oz butterscotch chips or semisweet chocolate chips
1/3 C peanut butter
1 (5oz) can crunchy Chinese noodles

peanuts, jelly beans, M&M's or what ever you would like to top them with!

Melt butterscotch, peanut butter together in double boiler. Mix in noodles. Spoon onto wax paper, add your "egg topping" refrigerate until harden. keep refrigerated

How to Boil Eggs

Nope, I'm not kidding there is a technique to this, so you don't get broken shells!

*** Bring raw eggs to room temperature before you start!!!***

Saucepan half full with warm water, carefully lower eggs into water, bring to a boil. Turn the heat down immediately to simmer and set timer for 15 min. Remove eggs and put into bowl filled with cold water. When eggs are cool, place back into clean egg carton.

Easter Egg Dye

1/4 tsp. food color

3/4 Cup boiling water

1 tsp. vinegar

Happy April

The first day of April

For those for follow NieNie it means new Silhouette's

If you read her blog you know her struggle

In honor of Nie we will be making family Silhouette today

Below is link if you would like to make them also

http://www.ehow.com/how_2267239_make-silhouette-art-piece.html

5 Minute Chocolate Cake

So I got this email from one of my friends. Starving for chocolate with none in the house I pulled the email out and made it. SO YUMMY. It is like Chocolate Chip Muffins.

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE
4 tablespoons flour
4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1 egg
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons oil
3 tablespoons chocolate chips
A small splash of vanilla extract
1 LARGE coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again.
Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don't be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.
EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous).

AFTER POST EDIT:

This is Julie, we tried it, fun to make, really easy, smelled yummy, BUT, hard as a rock after cooling. I think my microwave is way more than 1000 Watts, will try an cook for half the time, because I cant give up on such an amazing idea and it worked for Amanda, maybe it is the crazy Kansas weather!

Go Green, Saving some Green and Keeping it Clean

Vinegar the wonder Cleaner

Cleaning with vinegar:
*Clean counter tops and make them smell sweet again with a cloth soaked in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
*Clean the microwave by mixing 1/2 cup white distilled vinegar and 1/2 cup water in a microwave-safe bowl. Bring it to a rolling boil inside the microwave. Baked-on food will be loosened, and odors will disappear. Wipe clean.
*Rid a faucet of lime deposits by tying a plastic bag containing 1/2 to 1/3 cup of white distilled vinegar around it and leaving it there for two or three hours. If mineral deposits don’t wipe off, scrubbing with an old toothbrush should complete the job.

*Stainless still sinks can be cleaned the same way, then dry out with cloth and take a soft towel dipped in olive oil to polish up the sink, it help with water spots.
Kill germs all around the bathroom with a spray of full-strength white distilled vinegar. Wipe clean with a damp cloth. (Because it is not harmful let the kids so this!)
Spray shower doors with full-strength white distilled vinegar after you’ve squeegeed the glass, or before you step in and turn on the water. It will help release the hard water deposits so they don’t remain on the glass.
Shine pennies by soaking them for a couple of hours or overnight in a glass or bowl of undiluted white distilled vinegar.

It's Spring Make Some Ice Cream

This is a yummy super fresh tasting Ice Cream

Tuttie Fruitie Ice Cream

4 bananas mashed

4 lemons (juiced)

4 oranges (juiced)

4 cups sugar

2 quarts half & half

mix together and pour into ice cream maker, mix untill desired cool, icy thickness.

St Paddy's Day

Corn Beef and Cabbage anyone? Here is the thing about Corn Beef, it really is like turkey, not so much in the taste but in the tradition, you only cook a whole one up once a year, usually with the same side dishes on the same day. I find eating to much of it makes me tired (and a little gassy)Click here for the recipe and some St Patricks Day facts I posted last year.

Lotion Recipe

So one of the women I work with shared this recipe with me for a nice creamy lotion. I got all of the ingredients at the Dollar General Store.
1-15 oz Sleepy Time Baby Lotion
1-4.5 oz Creamy Petroleum Jelly
1-4 oz Vitamin E Skin Cream

Mix all together. I reused an old bottle of lotion to put it in, or you can put in tubbies for gifts. I had some peppermint extract so I added that. I am sure you could add any scent to customize it to yourself. It is super dry here so this combination works a lot better for me than the Aveeno.