Tastenc.com: Baking, Cooking and Writing with Deanna

Adventures of Smitty: Interview with author Anna Deskins

2011-10-25T10:58:00.001-04:00

Looking for a new book to read to your children? Here is a brief interview with Anna Deskins, telling us about her new children's book, Adventures of Smitty!

Tell us about it.It's the story of a magical island of little creatures called Smilies and the mischievous little main character, Smitty.

He's such a naughty boy. Haha! All the moms and kids I've shared it with have been giving me such a wonderful reaction. I cannot believe it. I have to tell you how excited I am to finally have a life-long dream come true. Writing The Adventures of Smitty was really about finding a story that I would want to read to my children at night. It has to be exciting but not scary so that my two daughters can go to sleep. Basically, I was looking for that perfect blend to read to my kids at night and decided, "Why not try writing my own?" We've had a lot of changes in our life recently, so I want to make sure that when I put my daughters to sleep that they feel safe. I have short chapters because I know how busy we moms are but if you can just sacrifice 5 minutes at night reading to your kids, it makes a world of difference. Your kids will never forget it. And although we're running around the whirlwind of life, our kids grow up so fast, and that time that we'd rather finish watching what happened in our favorite soap opera instead of reading to our kids will never come again. I hope that The Adventures of Smitty and books like it help moms do exactly that.

Where can we get a copy of "The Adventures of Smitty"?

Right now, it's available online by going to: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/94655 You can also visit my website: http://www.annadeskins.com/ where you can read more about my writing process, my recommendations for other books and my own adventures in Mommyhood. I'm so grateful for your support and the support I'm getting from so many wonderful moms who dream of writing children's books one day too. Writing The Adventures of Smitty has been such an emotional experience for me, a true journey as I was going through so many changes while writing it. It's truly been a blessing in my life. It, along with my daughters, and that guy upstairs have really pulled me through a challenging time.

Stanley Home Products: Essentials Feet TreatMint Foot Lotion review

2011-10-16T14:01:00.003-04:00

Essentials Feet TreatMint Foot Lotion by Stanley Home Products is honestly one of the best foot lotions I have ever tried!

Often times, my feel will ache at the end of the day. I decided to try out this Feet TreatMint foot lotion to see if it really did soothe away the aches with its menthol and peppermint ingredients.

I rubbed it into both feet...which is a challenge for me because my feet are so ticklish... (but, I endured) and within minutes, the soreness and achenes were gone! Completely gone. Then, I decided to try it on my 10 year old son. He was saying that his feet were hurting from basketball practice. After all of the screaming and laughing (I guess he got tickle feet itis from me), he said that his feet no longer were hurting either!

I do not promote anything that I do not truly like...I would give this a try if I were you :) It may not work for everyone the same, but as for me and my son...we are hooked :)

If you would like to order a bottle: click here

10 best strategies for de-cluttering and organizing toys in the playroom!

2011-09-28T09:45:00.003-04:00

Calgon, take me away! Remember that TV commercial with the woman who just could not take the stresses of life anymore and just wants a hot, relaxing bath to take her away? Ever feel that way about your child’s bedroom or playroom? Yeah… we all have a time or two!

Here are ten tips to help you de-clutter the bedroom/playroom. Hopefully after you get it cleaned up, you will have time for that hot bath!

1. Pick up all the little things.
Go through the room with a plastic track bag and throw away all the stray papers and little plastic pieces that do not seem to belong to anything. Throw it all away.

2. Get rid of all the McDonalds toys.
Happy meals are a wonderful thing, but all those little toys add up quickly. If your child is anything like mine, the toys end up scattered around the room and never even played with again. You can throw them out, give them away.

3. Find a home for all of the stuffed animals.
Who needs five hundred stuffed animals? Apparently, our children do! Find them a home on a shelf, in a container or on top of a dresser. I have learned the bed is not an ideal space for all of them to live because it can be harmful to the neck and back of your child when they sleep.

4. Storage!
Purchase three drawer storage units to keep off of the small toys. This will help keep them off the floor.

5. Dirty clothes search…
Isn’t it funny how dirty clothes (especially sox in my house) never make it to the hamper? Go through the room and collect all of the dirty laundry and put it in its proper place.

6. Organize the closet.
If you do not have shelves in the closet, you may want to go and purchase some type of organizational closet unit. The wire racks that you can screw into the closet walls work wonderfully and are sturdy enough to hold games and toys.

7. Give unused toys away.
This is something for you to do with your child if they are old enough to understand what you are doing. Go through all of the toys together and get a box of toys that are no longer being played with to give away to other children who are in need. Find an organization or Church in your area that you can donate them to. While you’re at it, go through the clothes and do the same thing!

8. Clean it up.
After everything is picked up off the floor, dust and vacuum the space. It will give it the finishing touch!

9. Disinfect
After the space is picked up and cleaned, go through and disinfect the toys that you are keeping, door knobs, light switches and remote controls.

10. Have a yard sale.
This is another way to clean out your toy space. All of those McDonalds toys can be put into little zip top bags and sold in a yard sale. All of the little micro cars that have ended up between your toes…say bye, bye to them too. Sell it all and make some money!

Now, it will be up to you and your child/children to keep this space all nice and clean. I have taught my son that after he plays with one toy, it needs to be put back before he can play with another. You may be thinking: yeah, right lady, you don’t know my child.
Well, you’re right, I don’t but our children are very smart and can be taught how to accomplish this with some direction and persistence from us.

Now, go clean up that play space so you can take your hot bath! :)

Participants must include the following disclosure as a footnote of their post:
“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Hot Wheels® blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”

Product review: Stanley Degreaser

2011-09-21T11:35:00.003-04:00

I recently received a bottle of Stanley, Degreaser from Stanley Home procucts.

The first thing I used it for was to de-grease my pots and pans. I followed the directions on the bottle and mixed it into separate container. I have to say it works wonderfully! It immediately cut the grease from my pans and I was able to get them clean quickly.

There are many other ways to use this wonder soap, you can use it for: Baked on grease, in the sink, drain or garbage disposal, on grease spots on fabric, as a laundry booster, for general cleaning or on garden tools.

Each requires a different formula to work properly, but the directions are all listed on the back of the bottle.

To learn more about Stanley Home Products, you can visit their website.

Time to bake with apples!

2011-09-19T10:20:00.002-04:00

Now that the weather has cooled off a bit, it has gotten me into the fall spirit! I have even noticed some of the leaves starting to change color! Yey!

I love the fall! I love cool weather, colored leaves, falling leaves, cool breezes and baking! Having the windows open and fans blowing brings a smile to my face...in addition, having something good baking in the oven during this fall experience is a wonderful thing!

Today, I put together an article filled with apple recipes. Each recipe had apples as the star! There are recipes and recipe links listed through the article and then a list of 5 more recipes at the end. Oh, and don't forget to flip through the slide show on the left under the picture of cinnamon apple bread!!!!

Hopefully, this will get you into the mood for fall! Just click the link blow titled apple recipes.

Apple Recipes

Its pumpkin time!

2011-09-08T08:11:00.004-04:00

September often brings cool weather, pretty colors and pumpkins! Pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, and pumpkin baking are all fun things we do with the sweet squash!

If you are a pumpkin pie freak...like me, you start making pumpkin pies at the slightest sign of fall :)

There is nothing like using fresh pumpkin to make pumpkin pie. If you have never done that before, I encourage you to try it this very year! Here is an article I wrote yesterday that will explain how to puree a pumpkin.

I have also included recipes for you to use your newly pureed punkin! (yes, that was intentional...not a typo)

How to cook a pumpkin and pumpkin recipes

And because you are my loyal blog readers, I am going to include more pumpkin recipes in this post just for YOU :)

Pumpkin chocolate chunk cookies

Pumpkin apple pie

Pumpkin spice cheesecake

Pumpkin casserole

Pumpkin pie spice coffee creamer

After you read the article I attached, be sure to scroll down to the end. There you will find a list of 5 more pumpkin recipes!

Fall foliage!

2011-09-06T12:38:00.006-04:00

I was browsing through my pictures the other day and found some great fall foliage shots I took right from my back yard!

The unfortunate part: the reason I found them was because I was clearing pictures off my old, dying computer!

The fortunate part: I took some really pretty pictures and they made me smile :)

So, I am going to share them with you today! I hope they make you smile too! When i think of fall, I think about the pretty colors of the leaves, pumpkins, baking pies, Thanksgiving and Pine Sol!

Pine Sol? Yes, Pine Sol! I open up all the windows and clean my house with it. The smell is fabulous!!!!

If you are now in the "fall" mood and are yearning to bake, here are a couple of my favorite fall inspired recipes:

Banana bread recipe

Chocolate latte cookie recipe

Smile! Happy Baking and Happy fall!

I love apples!

2011-08-29T10:52:00.003-04:00

Apples are my favorite fruit...they always have been, even when I was a little girl!

I loved apples so much, I decided when I was about 7 or 8 that I was going to name my first daughter Apple! Yes, I know....

Her name was going to be Apple Cree. Thankfully our tastes change when we grow up. Imagine if I had actually done that? I could hear the teasing now...Apple Tree, Apple Tree! Oh my!

I still enjoy apples. I like to eat them raw, bake with them and even cook with them. I like apples so much, I have written an article about them :)

Please click to read: Learning about apples

There are apple based recipes listed at the bottom of the article :)

The Cupcake Shoppe in Raleigh

2011-08-25T11:18:00.009-04:00

We decided to take a trip to, The Cupcake Shoppe located at: 104 Glenwood Ave. in Raleigh, NC.

We drove over there from Capital Blvd. and it only took about 12 minutes. However, once we got there, we had a hard time finding a parking place :( We wound up finding a spot on the street and paid to park. No big deal...we put 4 quarters in the parking meter, figuring 1 hour would give us enough time to enjoy a cupcake...and it did :)

They had a nice selection of cupcakes. I chose chocolate with peanut butter butter cream, my son chose a red velvet with cream cheese topping and my husband chose a carrot cupcake with cream cheese icing.

In addition, we ordered a cup of coffee. The total of our bill came to $10.75. Thankfully, they offer free water ;)

We did enjoy our cupcakes and the service was wonderful! The place is small, quaint and clean. All in all it was a pleasant experience.

I have to interject: we all agreed that mom (me) makes the best cupcakes in the world!

If you would like to read my article about The Cupcake Shoppe and view more photos, please click the highlighted links!

My dads cookbook...Pol Martin: Supreme Cuisine

2011-08-20T19:43:00.005-04:00

This book, Pol Martin: Supreme Cuisine was copyright in 1993.
My dad is a chef and this is one of the books he used to learn some techniques and recipes. He gave this to me and I will cherish it always.

I have to say, the recipes included in this book do range from beginner to advanced. However, if you are looking to make dishes that will impress, Supreme Cuisine will be a great addition to your cookbook collection.

This is one book I will never sell or give away. To be quite honest, I may not even loan this one out either. I love how it has little hand written notes in it from my dad and added loose papers where he wrote things down.

We should all have something special like this that will always remind us of our parents! If you don't, ask your mom, dad or grandparent to hand write some recipes for you. Then, you can pass them down to your children later in life :)

To read more about this book and see some pictures please click on this article: Supreme Cuisine cookbook

Back to school...packing the lunchbox!

2011-08-17T08:49:00.004-04:00

Can you believe it is August already? Where did the summer go? If you have children, it is time for them to head back to school. Yes, it's waking up early and coming home hungry time again too!

This post is dedicated to those of us who will be packing those lunchboxes again. I have been thinking about some quick and easy lunchbox ideas.

We can prepare a few things ahead of time to make our mornings a bit easier and save a few dollars too! Here are my ideas:

Lunchbox snacks:

Instead of buying prepared muffins, make your own. You can either make them from scratch (basic muffin recipe) or buy a bag of muffin mix from the grocery store that will cost less than $1.00 (you will get 6 regular sized muffins or 12 mini muffins from this bag).

Place 1 regular sized muffin or 3 minis in a zip top, plastic bag or a plastic storage container and send your child to school with something homemade with love.

Looking for a healthy cookie? Try these: No bake walnut cookies. These can be made over the weekend and can be stored in an air tight container for the week!

Lunchbox meals:

Lunchables are a great way to send your child to school with an easy meal. However, they can get pricey! Instead of buying them, make your own!

Using a plastic Tupperware (or any other container) fill it with Ritz crackers, sliced cheddar cheese, pepperoni slices and slices of turkey (all cut small enough to fit onto the cracker). Pop in a fruit drink or small bottle of water and your child will have an enjoyable lunch.

If you are a sandwich type of parent, you can prepare your child his/her favorite sandwich and add to it one of the homemade snacks and a drink and they will be all set.

One thing you may want to invest in are small packages of mayo and/or mustard for your child to add to the sandwich before they eat it. No one likes soggy bread :(

Lunchbox drinks:

Personally, I am all about sending a bottle of water as a drink. However, there are other options. Kool Aid has these drink tabs that your child can add into a bottle of water that will give it flavor and fizz.

You could also send instant iced tea or lemonade mix in a plastic bag or container for your child to add to the bottled water.

For more snack ideas:

Apple cinnamon shakeups

Honey Granola

Mini Corn Cake snack

Testing out my new signature

2011-06-27T19:58:00.002-04:00

This is strictly a test! I wanted to see how my new signature looks in my blog posts now :) I like it!

Ten time saving tips to make your life as a busy mom easier!

2011-06-22T16:39:00.006-04:00

Have you ever wished and maybe even prayed for more hours in your day? I know for me, my wish consists of a personal chef that could come in and prepare three meals a day for me and my family! Oh, wouldn't that be such a blessing? (picture blank stare and cheesy smile here)

I would like to help all of the busy Mom's out there who have also felt this way a time or two. Here are ten time saving tips that may help you:

1. Become friends with your crockpot (slow cooker).
Put your food into the crockpot in the morning before you start your day, turn it on low and allow it to do the cooking! (This may be the closest we will get to having that personal chef cook our dinner for us).
A great book to purchase is: Fix It and Forget It cookbook. This book is packed full of crockpot recipes! They even have a Christmas version :)

2. Save time by saving on the mess. When you do have to cook dinner, line your pans and baking dishes with no-stick foil. The clean up is a breeze! No washing every pan!

3. Invest in a Keurig coffee maker. Instead of waiting for your old, standard coffee pot to brew your morning coffee, invest in the Keurig and make the one cup that you need. It will be done in a flash!
Instead of having to buy the individual coffee pods for the machine, purchase the tool that allows you to use your own coffee.

4. Make breakfast for dinner. This is a super fast way to make dinner. Not only that, it is an inexpensive way to make dinner too. Who doesn't like breakfast for dinner????

5. Use that dish washer! Don't waste time washing the dishes, silverware and cups after each meal. Just rinse them off and put them into the dish washer. Run it once a week. This will not only save you time after eating, it will save money because you will be using less water.

6. Have a McDonald's night. It does not have to be McDonald's, but designate one night a week when you make a trip to the drive through instead of cooking dinner. For us, our drive through night is the night that my son has basketball practice.

7. Drive through Starbucks for your coffee. If you prefer to purchase your morning coffee, drive through your local Starbucks instead of going in. While you wait in the drive through line, you can check your email on your smart phone and kill two birds with one stone.

8. Go for a walk during your lunch hour. If you are having trouble finding time to exercise early in the morning or late in the evening because you have too much to do when you get home, go for a walk during your lunch hour. Bring your lunch to work (if you work outside of the home) and go for a walk afterwards...what else are you going to do?

9. Bring paperwork to your children's sporting practices. If you have a stack of magazines you need to read, a book you have yet to finish or a stack of coupons you need to clip, bring them with you and go through them while you wait for your children as they are having a sporting practice during the week.

10. Cook on Saturday. Prepare and even cook your meals for the week on the weekend. When you are ready to prepare dinner during the week, this will save on prep time. Just pop your frozen meal into he oven and go about your business.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Starbucks blogging program, for a gift card worth $30. For more information on how you can participate, click here.” (make sure you link to http://starbucksmobile.socialmoms.com/about)

In the mood to bake?

2011-06-13T15:39:00.004-04:00

If you are like me, I get in the mood to bake...usually too often! If you have been longing to bake up something sweet, I have some new recipes for you to try!

Weight Watchers pumpkin spice muffins

Pineapple muffins

Bran muffins

No-bake peanut butter pie

Nestle Crunch bar cake

M&M bars

Marshmallow slice

Mexican brownies

Easy brownies with icing

Happy Baking!

Baked goods at the North Raleigh farmers Market!

2011-06-06T11:07:00.003-04:00

Last week was very productive for me. For the first time, I sold my baked goods at a local Farmer's Market! I baked for 2 days straight, in addition to my regular daily tasks. I love to bake! I had my Italian music playing and had a very relaxing 2 days :)

I went to the North Raleigh Farmer's Market. Being my first time there, I did really well! My friend/neighbor, Amanda and I shared a space. We sold about 3/4 of what be brought.

We are planning to be there again this Saturday too!

I am going to bake up what sold the most last weekend, which was: banana breads, crumb cakes, cookies and a variety of shortbreads. From what I was told by the other vendors, it was a slow day at the market. So, I better really gear up for a busy time this week!

If you live in the Raleigh area, please stop out and visit our space! To see what other items are being sold at the market, please click the link: North Raleigh Farmer's Market

Farmer's Market: a place to teach children about eating healthy! (club mum)

2011-06-01T08:07:00.004-04:00

It’s time to reap nature’s bounty: fresh flowers, succulent fruits and a rainbow of bright vegetables! Why not head to your local farmer’s market to pick up the best local, seasonal produce? Want to give your kids a head start on good nutrition and get them to love their veggies? Want to teach them about farmers, growing seasons, and variety? Now's your chance! Make a trip to the farmer's market something to look forward to! Get them involved in picking out the vegetables they want to eat! Where else can you enjoy a day outside while learning about where your food comes from? Find out more at: http://www.themumclub.com/farmers-market/.

How do you teach your kids about local food and produce? Join the conversation at Club Mum, and share your insights! You could be rewarded, just for speaking up and sharing! You’ll discover a community of moms just like you, sharing their own top tricks. Club Mum's resident bloggers all contribute their own unique perspectives on raising kids and making sure kids eat healthy and grow up great!

For lots of great food, fun and family-centered ideas on www.themumclub.com!

Coffee tips and recipes!

2011-05-17T08:40:00.003-04:00

Ever walk into a Starbucks and find yourself momentarily confused as to what to order? It's OK, really! Here are some basic tips to help you out on your next visit:

How to order coffee

If you prefer making coffee at home, here are some recipes for you:

Making coffee (this was the first article I ever wrote for Examiner!)

Vanilla cinnamon coffee

Pumpkin latte

Coconut coffee

For more great coffee recipes, look for additional inks within each article!

Enjoy the flavor of coffee in your food too? Enjoy these:

Coffee Flavored recipes

Children's laptop giveaway!

2011-04-23T08:48:00.007-04:00

Yes, you read it correctly, I will be giving away a child's laptop and a variety pack of Betty Crocker fruit snacks!

Now through May, the “Win & Give” campaign provides as easy way for kids to give back. Kids in the U.S. have an opportunity to instantly win a laptop from specially-marked packages of Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks. For each laptop won, Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks will donate a laptop to a child in Africa. It’s that simple.

I have been chosen to give away the same prize from this blog!

Winners of the giveaway will receive:
-An XO laptop
-A box of assorted Betty Crocker Fruit Flavored Snacks

To learn more about this giveaway:
http://www.winonegiveone.com/

Here is how it works:
Have your child comment (you can type it in) to this blog post how he/she/your family gives back to their community. The most inspirational "give back" story will be chosen as the winner. Also, please include your email address in the post. If it is not included, you will not win. We have to have a way to contact you if you are the winner!

Examiner.com article: Betty Crocker donates laptops to children in Africa (you can win one too)

Club Mum...easy weeknight meal for children

2011-04-21T09:43:00.002-04:00

I have written about this before, but Club Mum is a great place to go to find out new tips and information about children and the way they eat!

To get a recipe for Children's Pita Pizza, you can visit the site this week!

For more great recipes and time-saving tips from Moms who know what it's like, come stop by Club Mum, and discover a community of moms just like you, sharing their own top tricks. Club Mum's resident bloggers all contribute their own unique perspectives on raising kids and making sure they eat healthy and grow up right!

If you're a mom in the know, you can join Club Mum too, and pass on your own secrets and words of wisdom! Not only that, but you could enter to win rewards, just by contributing to the discussions: Just by commenting by “liking” something on the Club Mum site you could win up to $100 instantly! Or if you share your best mom secret in our “Topic of the Week”, you can enter to win a $250 American Express Gift Card! Check out the rules and more details at www.theMumClub.com/official-rules/

Copy Cat Easter Recipes

2011-04-20T10:15:00.002-04:00

Easter is coming! Here are some of my favorite Copy Cat recipes for you to try! Instead of having to go out to eat your favorite foods, you can save money and make them at home!

In the mood for a Maple Nut Blondie from Applebee's? I have that recipe for you!

Copy Cat Easter Recipes

How about a Starbucks Frappuccino? I have that one too!

Take a look at the article and choose from your favorites!

Happy Easter!

Extreme Couponing!

2011-04-12T15:40:00.003-04:00

Have you seen the new show on TLC entitled, "Extreme Couponing"? If you have missed it, here a link where you can get an idea of what it is all about: Extreme Couponing Video

Basically, they taped people who are very extreme in their couponing as they sought out coupons, clipped them and went shopping while using them.

All of those who were on the show, saved an extreme amount of money using coupons. For example, before using the coupons the grocery bill may have been $800 and after coupons they would only pay $6.

It can be done. But, keep in mind that most of these individuals have stock piles of food in their homes. Some turned their garages into mini grocery stores, complete with shelving units and all!

In addition, some would purchase 30 or 40 of all the same items and get them for free or close to it. It was not as if they would take their weekly grocery list and go by that in order to save these large quantities of money.

I have to say that the show did encourage me to do better with my grocery spending. I do not plan to have a mini grocery store taking up my garage space, but I do have a very well stocked pantry, baking pantry, fridge and freezer.

For example, this week I visited Lowe's Food and purchased: 1 tub of sour cream, 4 oranges, 2 large containers of bubble bath, 1 container of shampoo and 1 protein bar. With coupons coupled with sales and clearance items, I spent only $4.32 for everything!

I think I'm doing pretty good!

Rt 1 Capital BBQ...THE place to eat!

2011-03-24T09:09:00.003-04:00

There is a new restaurant that has opened just outside of Raleigh, NC in Wake Forest. US 1 Capital BBQ offers the best BBQ I have ever tasted!

I enjoyed this place so much, I wrote an article all about it!

Rt 1 Capit al BBQ: restaurant review

Check it out as soon as you can!

Potatoes!

2011-03-16T10:43:00.003-04:00

So far this week I have focused on potatoes! They are so versatile! You can use them for any meal: breakfast, lunch or dinner! You can also use them to make snacks such as chips. Sweet potatoes make great fries and casseroles. Here are several articles I have written about potatoes:

Types of potatoes

Cheesy baked potatoes

Easy hash brown casserole

As you look through these recipes, be sure to scroll to the bottom where you will find more potato recipes to click on!

Bang Bang shrimp

2011-03-11T08:45:00.003-05:00

Sometime last year I posted a recipe for the famous, Bone Fish Grill: Bang Bang Shrimp. (If you have no clue what I am talking about, click this recipe: Bang Bang Shrimp)

I made the shrimp along side of balsamic vinegar broccoli... which I got from the Bigger Loser cookbook (I'll post that soon).

I once again got rave reviews from the family. I suggest trying this dish! To lessen the fat, I used low fat mayo and Smart Balance oil. Still, by no means is this shrimp a low fat dish!

Pillsbury Birthday recipes

2011-03-01T10:41:00.003-05:00

Happy March! Yes, today is March 1st and in Raleigh, NC last night, it sure lived up to its name and came in like a LION!

However, today is a beautiful day filled with sunshine and cool breezes!

In addition, I got an email from Pillsbury today with a link to Birthday recipes they claimed they put together just for me! Even if they didn't it was a thoughtful way of saying Happy Birthday!

So, I would like to share the recipes with all of you, my wonderful blog readers!

I hope you enjoy them too!

Pillsbury Birthday Recipes

If you are a March baby just as I am, here are some Birthday recipes from me to you!

Easy Vanilla Cake Recipe

Pineapple Poke Cake Recipe

Pumpkin Spice Cupcake Recipe

Blueberry Coffee cake recipe

Carrot Cupcakes with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting Recipe

Marble Cake Recipe

I won a scarf!

2011-02-23T13:56:00.002-05:00

I sure did! I entered a contest on my friend NatCraftandPhotos blog and I won!

Natalie made this beautiful scarf herself! I do have to say that all of her work is crafted with excellence.

If you click on the highlighted link above, you can take a look at her work for yourself :)

Thank you, Natalie!

Valentines Day recipes

2011-02-12T07:38:00.004-05:00

Instead of going out and spending too much money this Valentines Day, how about making something sweet for your sweetie? Homemade gifts are always so thoughtful and to me, they mean more than something store bought. Give it a try...you might just start a new Valentines Day tradition!

Try this: One of you make the dinner and the other make the dessert!

Sausage peppers and onions

Fried chicken with roasted peppers

Pasta Fagioli

Sweet desserts!

Easy fudge

Chocolate filled oat bars

Pineapple poke cake

Heavenly pie

Fudge sauce - perfect served over ice cream or brownies

Cheesecakes!

Banana pudding cheesecake

Butterscotch cheesecake

Coffee cheesecake

Caramel cheesecake

White chocolate cheesecake

Apple cinnamon cheesecake

Marscapone cheesecake - award winning!

Chocolate cheesecake

Cookies!

Chocolate chip cookies

Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookies

Oatmeal chocolate chip cookies

Chocolate, white chocolate chip and Oreo cookies - featured in the photo

Chocolate covered raisin cookies

White chocolate heath bar cookies

Have a happy and blessed Valentines Day!

Win a Hotwheels prize pack!

2011-02-10T11:24:00.006-05:00

Are you a fan of Hot Wheels? Do your children need just one more car or race track? Enter my contest and win a Hot Wheels prize pack! The pack includes:

· 3 Hot Wheels Baseball hats
· 3 Hot Wheels T-Shirts
· 5 boxes of the participating Big G cereals
· A complete set of the limited-edition Hot Wheels pullback racers
· A Stunt N’ Dunk Hot Wheels racetrack

General Mills has so graciously provided this prize pack for the winner of this contest! Here is some information about General Mills:

Big G Cereals Ramp Up Breakfast Table Excitement
with Exclusive Hot Wheels® Pull Back Racers
Custom-Designed Hot Wheels Pull Back Racers
Available for a Limited Time in Specially-Marked Packages

MINNEAPOLIS – (Jan. 27, 2011) – Consumers’ need for speed will be met at the breakfast table as Big G cereals announced today that four custom-designed, special edition Hot Wheels® pull back racers are now available in some of America’s favorite breakfast cereals. One racer will be in specially marked boxes of Cinnamon Toast Crunch® (17 oz.), Cookie Crisp® (15.6 oz.), Lucky Charms® (16 oz.), Cheerios® (14 oz.) and Reese’s® Puffs® (18 oz.) cereals.

“Partnering, once again, with an iconic brand like Hot Wheels through this in-pack promotion is a great way to help families spend quality time together,” said Tara Johnson, assistant promotion marketing manager for General Mills. “Many parents have childhood connections to Hot Wheels and we’re excited Big G cereals are bringing together Hot Wheels enthusiasts of all ages for wholesome fun.”

“Exclusivity and customization are very important to today’s highly engaged consumer, which is why we’ve worked with Hot Wheels to create limited edition pull back racers that are only available in select Big G cereal boxes,” said Johnson.

Big G cereals are pleased to support families by providing both entertainment and nutritious breakfast options. Cereal is one of the healthiest breakfast choices parents can make, giving families yet another reason to feel good about choosing Big G cereals. Ready-to-eat cereal has fewer calories than most other common breakfast options, while also being nutrient-dense and many varieties are low in fat.

To learn more about the benefits of Big G cereals, visit http://www.cerealbenefits.com/. The Hot Wheels® racers will be available in specially-marked packages while supplies last.

About General Mills Big G Cereals
General Mills Big G cereals have led many cereal health and nutrition initiatives. In 2005, General Mills guaranteed every Big G cereal contained at least 8 grams of whole grain per serving. Today, Big G cereals, like Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honey Nut Cheerios and Fiber One, comprise America’s number one source of whole grain at breakfast, and more than 20 Big G cereals deliver 16 grams or more of whole grain per serving. General Mills currently delivers almost 37.5 million whole grain servings per day with Big G cereals.

About General Mills
One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in more than 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Häagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Yoplait, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, General Mills had fiscal 2010 global net sales of US$16 billion, including the company’s $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.

To win this Hot Wheel prize pack, just do a recipe search on my blog and leave a comment on THIS POST as to what one of my recipes is your favorite. Do this by: February 17th.

I have chosen several recipes that are my favorites and the first person to choose one of my favorite recipes as their favorite recipe will be the winner!

After the winner is chosen on, Saturday the 19th, they will be contacted for their mailing address so the prize can be sent to them.

So, in order to win, your email address must be posted within your comment.

Have fun!

Club Mum

2011-02-01T19:14:00.005-05:00

If you are a mom, you may enjoy this site: The Mum Club.
Here you can find tips, tricks and how to's from other Moms! You can also share your own tips.

The site was developed to boost our days and help us spend more quality time with our families.
The site is sponsored by: AOL and Chef Boyardee.

Topic of the week... Heart healthy recipe secrets!

Check out this video: Buy in season and save!

Making pizza with my son

2011-02-01T19:06:00.006-05:00

Today was one of those days and tonight one of those nights! As I wondered, "What to make for dinner that is quick, easy and everyone will enjoy", I sifted through the freezer and fridge for ideas. Then, it came to me... Chicken Parmesan Pizza!

I decided to ask my son if he would like to cook with me. We often bake together but I usually take care of cooking our meals. He thought it was a good idea so we got to work.

We had a great time together! He is quite the cook! He spread, cut, poured and sprinkled with such ease and talent!

He showered while the pizza baked and I threw together a sauteed spinach side dish.

It was a great time spent bonding in the kitchen and I do plan to invite him to help more often!

Here are a few other recipes you can make with your children:

1960's chocolate chip cookie recipe

Ziti pasta recipe

Easy brownie recipe

Smoothie gone bad...

2011-01-22T10:52:00.004-05:00

Oh, my goodness, last night I tried a new smoothie recipe and it was not good at all! I drank it because I did not want to waste the fruit, but I will NOT be making this one again!

I had a brilliant idea to make a coffee and cream smoothie. Now, this would not have been such a bad idea if I had used pumpkin puree with the coffee, but I used cherries and a dab of pineapple juice b/c there was no sugar in the coffee.

It would have been good if it did not have the coffee in it. Here is what I did (I do not recommend you try this recipe):

1 cup coffee, prepared with milk

1/4 cup pineapple juice

10 frozen dark cherries

3 frozen strawberries

1 banana

3 ice cubes

I blended everything together.

The coffee left a bitter taste in my mouth. If I had put sugar in the coffee it would have been better, but then I would be drinking all that sugar.

So, after my husband and I drank it anyway, he said: "I know what would be good, use sweetened condensed milk in it!" Oh, yeah and that would defeat the purpose of a healthy smoothie...is what I told him :)

Anyway, just thought I would share with you. We all makes mistakes you know!?

Smoothie recipes that ARE good:

Pina colada smoothie recipe

Basic fruit smoothie recipe

I have several more smoothie recipes coming out this week on my: Raleigh Budget Fitness Examiner channel

My new hair cut

2011-01-19T16:31:00.003-05:00

Every so often I make a sudden decision to get all my hair cut off. Sunday was the big day. So, I left a message for Sheila at A Finishing Touch salon, off Trawick Rd in Raleigh. When she got in on Tuesday (because they are closed on Monday) she called me back and we set up my appointment for today!

She is fabulous! I showed her a picture and she cut it just the same! I did not get it styled so I let it dry by itself. You KNOW you have a great cut when it dries by itself and looks good!

Way to go Sheila!

You can give her a call today: 919.878.5811

New salad recipes

2011-01-17T13:00:00.002-05:00

Salads do not have to be boring you know. Here are some new salad recipes you may want to try:

Taco salad recipe

Chicken and apple salad recipe

Watermelon salad recipe

Corn salad recipe

For more salad recipes try browsing:
http://www.examiner.com/cooking-in-raleigh/deanna-polito-laughinghouse

Applepie.org

2011-01-06T09:43:00.005-05:00

Did you know that there is a website dedicated to only recipes for apple pies? Neither did I until a representative emailed me about it!

You can find just about any kind of apple pie recipe you are looking for.

Go to:
http://www.applepie.org/

From sausage apple pie to blueberry apple pie, you will find a recipe that you like!

Great new blog!

2011-01-05T14:15:00.003-05:00

Here is a great blog that is brand new! Spend Less, Shop More

By following this blog, you will stay updated on all kinds of great deals! For instance, the latest post is: Four Free Candy Bars at CVS

Prior to that, a post about: $5 Starbucks gift card for $1 was posted.

The author, San Antonio Budget Grocery Examiner, Jennifer King, consistently publishes, posts and tweets awesome articles and tips to help you save money on your groceries!

Please consider following her today :)

Easy casserole recipes

2011-01-02T17:13:00.002-05:00

Now that the Holidays are over, maybe we can relax a little bit, right? NO! Now it is time to get back into our regular routines with family, work and school...

Here are some easy casserole recipes that you can make for quick weeknight meals or make ahead for a relaxing weekend:

Easy breakfast casserole recipe

Chicken casserole recipe

Vegetable casserole recipe

Broccoli casserole recipe

Hash brown casserole recipe

Great books!

2010-12-26T16:42:00.002-05:00

Hello! I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

As I sat thinking today, I started to think about some of my favorite books. So, I thought I would share them with you!

I enjoy fiction. To narrow it down some more, I really enjoy inspirational fiction. I have read soooo many books in the genre, that I decided to become Raleigh's Christian Book Examiner! I actually signed up for this title a while ago and have written a few articles on the subject so far.

Here are a few of my favorite titles:

The Potluck Club is one of my favorite fiction series. It combines great writing with food and to me that is a perfect combination!

Chateau of Echos is a long one with its 419 pages! This book will keep you guessing as to what is going to happen next!

Homespun Christmas was one of the first inspirational fiction books I ever read!

Stranded in Paradise is a very easy read!

In case you need a place to purchase these books in the Raleigh, NC area...go to: Family Christian Bookstore

My new fuzzy slippers

2010-12-21T17:11:00.002-05:00

How are slippers food related, you may ask...Well, they're not! I have this thing for warm fuzzy socks and slippers. I just like them. I like my feet to be super warm so I pair up socks and slippers to make sure they are toasty!

Here is a picture of my newest pair of fuzzy slippers. Aren't they cute?

I got these for $3.00 on Black Friday. What a deal!

I think electric slippers are a great idea! Have you ever seen them? I haven't...maybe I should patent that idea...too late...I just let my secret out to the world.

Today is the first official day of winter...a great day to buy yourself a new pair of fuzzy slippers!

Stock the kitchen for Christmas (or any time)

2010-12-15T15:49:00.003-05:00

I received an email from Organizational management, who shared with me their blog post about stocking the kitchen...here is a preview:

Spices Cupboard

If you aren’t familiar with go-to spices, you want to get acquainted starting now. Spices can make all the difference in your cooking and can take a cheap cut of meat from drab to fab. Technically, they aren’t all spices, but they’re all used to add a kick to main dishes, soups and stews.

1. Garlic powder. For those evenings when you aren’t in the mood to mince fresh garlic, garlic powders adds the same garlic-y goodness with just a few sprinkles .

2. Sea salt. It’s healthier than regular salt and if you’re a fan of coarse salt, sea salt will knock your socks off.

3. Various types of whole or ground pepper. Fresh ground black pepper is brilliant, but check out white and pink pepper which add an interesting dimension.

4. Sage. Perhaps a vastly underused spice, ground sage is ideal for homemade rubs and marinades and pairs well with chicken.

5. Red chili flakes. A few red chili flakes can make all of the difference when making chicken or beef.

6. Chili powder. Use it for basic chili recipes, but also for fish tacos.

7. Bay leaves. Even a dried bay leaf can add significant warmth to stews or a slow-cooked bolognese.

8. Ground coriander. We’d never choose ground coriander over the real deal, but for some dishes, this spice adds a fresh element that can’t be captured with anything else.

9. Onion powder. If your family is finicky about onions, use onion powder to add the same aroma without getting bits of onion all over the food .

10. Cumin. Ground cumin is one of our favorite spices to work with, especially when making soups or working with pork.

11. Ground mustard. Add serious intensity to your beef with ground mustard.

12. Cayenne pepper. It’s delicious for chicken and can also be used to make Mexican hot chocolate.

13. Paprika. Paprika is a secret ingredient for many for cooking up the perfect burger.

14. Basic steak seasoning. This can be a Montreal steak seasoning or any seasoning meant for beef that your family enjoys.

15. Dried thyme. This is one dried herb that can almost stand up to its fresh counterpart. We love it on pork and in breads.

Fruits and Veggies

Fruits and veggies make a great snack on their own and add some color and nutrition to many dishes.

16. Potatoes. You decide the type (we suggest red potatoes and leaving the skin on), but potatoes are brilliant for roasting in the winter and grilling in the summer.

17. Mushrooms. Portobello mushrooms can be a tad pricey depending on where you live, but they add a hearty punch to many dishes and can beef up quantity when you’re feeding guests.

18. Onions. Onions of every type rank high on our list of veggies to have in the fridge at all times. Shallots, red onions, white onions and chives are some of our favorites (and the most versatile).

19. Leafy green lettuce. Forget about the iceberg. There’s no nutritional value and seldom any flavor. Instead go for romaine or any leafy green lettuce that is rich in color and texture.

20. Bell peppers. No matter what color you choose, bell peppers are delicious fresh or sauteed.

21. Garlic. If you can get used to adding fresh garlic to many meals, you’ll discover that it adds a memorable flavor. If you don’t like mincing, invest in a microplane and grate garlic directly over your saucepan or pot.

22. Apples. A good apple makes a fabulous snack on its own, but it also works well with real honey, plain yogurt and various cheeses.

23. Bananas. A banana works by itself and is brilliant on a slice of toast with Nutella.

24. Lemons and limes. Both are a must for whipping up your own quick marinades or garnishing a drink.

25. Oranges. Throw them in a salad or get your vitamin C by noshing on it straight up.

The post is entitled: Perfect Pantry: 80 Essential Ingredients for a Well-Stocked Kitchen

Click the highlighted link to view the rest of the article.

If you like that article, check out: 23 tips for getting your fridge and freezer organized

Articles about saving money on groceries, by me:

Save money on groceries

Grocery shopping tips

Tips to help you save money at the grocery store

Save money on groceries with Facebook

Save money on food with Twitter

A cheesy snack

2010-12-13T15:25:00.003-05:00

Ever crave something even though you KNOW its not really good for you? You know you have...we all do!

Anyway, that was me at the grocery store the other day. I saw the Velveeta cheese (I know, I know...fake cheese) and wanted to eat it. So, I bought a package and a can of diced tomatoes with chili's along with a bag of tortilla chips and today I went to town!

I just made up a batch of cheese dip by cutting the cheese into chunks and adding them to the crock pot with the can of tomatoes. Then, my son and I scooped some into a bowl (when it was all melted) and we just had a snack.

I have to say, it hit the spot!

Did you ever hear the saying: "If you are craving something it is because your body needs something in it?"

Yeah....wonder what that could have been today?

Cookies...make them, eat them, give them away!

2010-12-07T11:42:00.002-05:00

Aren't cookies great?I love cookies! I wrote an article about The History of Cookies that you might find interesting.

This week, Kraft Delicious Days is sharing great articles and videos about cookies as well.

If you are a novice or a pro baker, chances are you can make cookies! Here are some of my new favorite cookie recipes:

Mint Chocolate chip cookie recipe

Chocolate covered raisin cookie recipe

Peanut butter and M&M cookie recipe

Peanut butter ball recipe

Here are some great tips for freezing your cookies...we all bake way too many!

I like to freeze my cookies in storage bags made for the freezer. I place about 12 cookies down flat in the bag (place the bag flat on the counter to begin with your first layer of cookies), then place a sheet of waxed paper on top of that layer. I then, place another 12 cookies on top of the waxed paper. I put about 3 layers per freezer bag. I have tried to freeze my cookies in store bought containers. To my experience, they tend to crack and break apart.

Generally, if you have cookies that need to be frosted, do not frost them before you freeze them. Freeze the cookies and after you defrost them, apply the frosting. However, I make a family cookie that requires a frosting made from powdered sugar and water, and I frost my cookie before I freeze them, and it always defrosts wonderfully! Just use your judgment.

Cool cookies before placing them in the freezer.
If you are making several different types of cookies to freeze, freeze like cookies together. This way, your different flavors will not mix.
Be sure to write the date you baked the cookies on your bags. You may also want to write what type of cookies is inside each bag.

Cookies make great Christmas gifts. You can wrap them in plastic wrap and tie it with a ribbon or add them into a box, plastic container or tin and adorn it with a ribbon. Everyone loves cookies!

Homemade Christmas gift ideas

2010-12-06T08:47:00.002-05:00

It is that time of year again! Time to make the gifts! Here are some craft ideas to get you started on your Christmas gift crafts this year. All of them are really easy and do not require a lot of funky supplies :)

Candy gift ideas for children

Light switch gift craft

Easy bracelet gift craft

Caramel apple gift idea

Carpet fresh gift craft

Pet lovers gift idea

Gift for the cook

Gift for the gardener

For more ideas: Homemade Christmas gifts by the National Christmas Examiner

Saving money: Learn from chefs and experts!

2010-12-02T09:53:00.003-05:00

Once again, Kraft Delicious Days has brought us some new information! As I was browsing through the site, I found a link to, "Learn from chefs and experts".

One of my favorite articles is by, Gail Simmons. Her project is called, "The Pantry Project". She teaches how to use items in the pantry to make up meals! This is a great way to save a few dollars each month.

One of my favorite ways to save money on my grocery bill is to make my own spices! Pumpkin pie spice, for instance, can cost $4 or more for a small bottle at the grocery store. If you bought the ingredients seperately and make your own, you can save up to $30! Read how: Pumpkin pie spice recipe While checking out the pumpkin pie spice recipe, take a look at some of the other spice recipes listed at the bottom of the article: such as chai spice and cinnamon sugar!

My Easy banana bread recipe calls for cinnamon sugar as an ingredient.

Online shopping Mall

2010-11-29T09:56:00.003-05:00

Online Shopping Mall website

My friend Kathy send me this link and I added my blog! You can add your blog or website as well :)

They are giving away prizes for the most visited blog!

If you are interested in shopping online and earning money back, check out my friend Kathy's website! I have joined (for free) and have had fun with the online auction! You can get all kinds of items for a fraction of the cost in the stores! Market America

Have fun!

Too full from Thanksgiving!

2010-11-26T20:12:00.004-05:00

I'm sure most of us are eating leftovers from our Thanksgiving meal yesterday! I know we have been today and it looks like we will be for the next day or so. Hey, I'm not complaining though :)

We had so many good things to eat! The new cranberry recipe I shared 2 days ago was a hit! It is definitely a keeper.
My Red Lobster cheese biscuits disappeared very quickly as did the stuffed eggs. I have to say that the pecan pies that I made may have been the best I have EVER made! Just as Marie from "Everybody Loves Raymond" says, I cooked with love :)

Of course there was also the after dinner football game outside and then the men sitting in front of the TV watching football after that... it just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without football, right?

Black Friday shopping went well :) I slept a slim 1.5 hours last night and left the house at 2:10am this morning. I found everything on my array of lists and saved a lot of money :) I thought I would be able to stay awake all day on my measly 1.5 hours of sleep, but I was fooling myself! I came home and fell asleep for 3 hours, then I woke up and at leftovers and then fell back asleep for several more hours to wake up and eat again. I will have my exercise meeting with "Gilad" in the morning :)

That all being said, it has been a wonderful weekend so far :) Enjoy the pictures!

Thanksgiving preparations

2010-11-24T14:35:00.006-05:00

The day before Thanksgiving and all through the house....

I would like to say that my house smells like apple pie and cinnamon. However, according to my son, it smells like eggs :/

Yes, I made stuffed eggs for tomorrow and apparently my son doesn't care for the smell of them. However, as you climb the steps to come upstairs, it does smell like fresh baked pecan pies!

Todays baking and cooking consists of:

2 pecan pies
stuffed eggs

green bean casserole

layered cranberry sauce

I tried something new today:

I took a can of whole cranberry sauce, an 8 ounce block of cream cheese (room temp), 2 tbsp of melted butter and about 1/4 cup powdered sugar and made a layered cranberry sauce!

I took 1/2 the can of sauce and spread it in a small dish.

I mixed the cheese, butter and sugar together ans spread that on top of the cranberry sauce.

Then, I topped it with the remaining craberry sauce and some chopped nuts!

I know is it going to be wonderful tomorrow!!!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Green Bean Casserole

Pecan Pie recipe

Thanksgiving baking

2010-11-23T16:50:00.007-05:00

4 banana chocolate chip breads

4 pumpkin pies
1 sweet potato pie
and

1 NJ coffee cake....and a partidge in a pear treeeeeee...

Sounds like the 12 days of Christmas song, doesn't it???

Yes, I baked today :)

This Thanksgiving I am so thankful for all of the baking orders I have received! Of course there are many other things I am thankful for, but for today that goes with the theme of my blog post :)

More baking and some cooking lined up for tomorrow! In addition to my customers picking up their baking orders.

I love Thanksgiving!

Recipes for the pictures above:

Vanilla pumpkin pie recipe

New Jersey coffee cake recipe

The sweet potato pie is made with the pumpkin pie recipe only with 2 cups of peeled, cooked and mashed sweet potatoes!

Banana chocolate chip bread recipe

No bake pumpkin pie recipe & carving a turkey

2010-11-22T14:14:00.004-05:00

KraftDeliciousDays.com can make your Thanksgiving delicious and easy. Here’s a great T-day recipe even the kids can make – a no bake pumpkin pie! (Double layer pumpkin pie video)

Just in case you want to make your dessert a little more waistline-friendly—the average Thanksgiving dinner plate serves up a whopping 3000 calories!--the recipe also offers reduced calorie and reduced fat alternatives.

Our latest series of videos will also teach you how to make other Thanksgiving desserts like cranberry-glazed cinnamon cheesecake and caramel pumpkin mousse tart with pecan crumble. Even if you don’t cook - you can learn how to carve the turkey flawlessly.

While you’re at Kraft Delicious Days don’t forget to enter our Holiday Sweepstakes for a chance to win $2,500! Click for more about the sweepstakes .

Healthy hair

2010-11-19T20:00:00.003-05:00

I know I usually post about food, recipes or something food related but, today I want to share something different with you!

I'm not sure if you know this, but I have been a cosmetologist for 14 years! Yes, yes, I do hair. I actually, "retired" about 2 years ago and now I just do hair for some family and a few friends.

As you know, now I bake (and once in a while I cook)!

I decided to branch out and try writing about something other than food. So, I submitted a couple of articles for review. One is on How to have healthy, shiny hair and the other is a silly article about 5 rules I like to break.

To my pleasant suprise, they liked them, accepted them, published them and paid me for them :)

Associated content likes for the writers to write in first person and with personality. So, I had fun with these articles :)

Thoughts about Thanksgiving

2010-11-18T08:45:00.003-05:00

No recipes in this post today! I have been thinking about things and I would like to share:

We all know that Thanksgiving is a time of being thankful for all of the good things in our life. However, sometimes it can be hard to be thankful when we do not feel that our lives are all that wonderful.

My mom used to tell me that no matter how bad my problems are, there is someone out there with problems worse than mine. How true!!

If I am going through something hard, I think on that. Then, I make myself think about all of the good things that I do have. Whether it be family, friends, my work, my Church, my health or any other good thing, I just think on those things.

So, this Thanksgiving, after you get stuffed with turkey, stuffing, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes, instead if being irritated by the people or circumstances around you, think on good things. It will instantly give you a pick me up and put a smile on your face :)

Then, finish going through the sale ads and get your Black Friday shopping list together!

Fun, fun, fun!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! :)

Black Friday Sales 2010

2010-11-17T14:17:00.003-05:00

Black Friday is next week! The biggest shopping day of the year!

I have published several articles containing some really good deals for Black Friday shoppers:

Black Friday Website

Walgreens: items less than $5

Sears: items $5 or less

Walmart: doorbusters

Target: deals

Kohls: items $14.99 and less

Michaels Arts and Crafts: items $7.99 and less

Thanksgiving Turkey Tips and recipes

2010-11-16T09:00:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving will be here next week! If you are going to be making Thanksgiving dinner, here are some ways to be sure it turns out great!

Turkey Videos from Kraft Delicious Days

Thanksgiving Cooking and Baking Help - Phone numbers and website to contact with your cooking and baking questions

Here are some Thanksgiving recipes:

Thanksgiving cranberry recipes

Thanksgiving pie recipes

Thanksgiving sweet potato recipes

Jack In The Box Coupon, State Fair Corn Dogs (coupon and video), Kraft Delicious Days (video) and New recipes

2010-11-10T09:18:00.014-05:00

I have chosen to give all of my readers some great inside information that has been sent to me! I hope you enjoy the info and are able to take advantage of it!

1. On Tuesday, November 16th, Jack In the Box will give away 2 FREE tacos to anyone with NO PURCHASE REQUIRED! Just walk into the store and ask for your free tacos. Limit 2 tacos per customer: at participating locations only.

Jack In the Box: Facebook
Jack In the Box: Twitter

2. State Fair Corn Dogs
Here is a funny interactive video for State Fair Corn Dogs! In addition, they are offering a coupon that can be printed from your computer.

Link to COUPON

State Fair website
State Fair on: Facebook

3. Kraft Delicious Days gives great cooking and baking advice along with FREE videos to its readers.

You can also enter a Home Makeover sweepstakes!

Here are some of MY latest recipes: Great for the Holidays!

Better than the Best Cake recipe

Pumpkin latte milkshake recipe

Apple cranberry crisp recipe

Apple cinnamon pie recipe

Get ready for Thanksgiving and Gooseberry Patch Cookie cookbook

2010-11-09T10:12:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving will be here before we know it! I always look forward to all of the FOOD :) Spending a joyful day with family takes first place though :)

I have some special Thanksgiving recipes I would like to share with you today. I know we all have our special "go to" recipes and these are my fave!

Thanksgiving Oatmeal Cookies

Thanksgiving dinner recipes

Thanksgiving pie recipes

Pumpkin recipes

Have fun with those recipes!

Now, some news... My "Italian Love Knot" cookie recipe has been chosen to be published in the latest Gooseberry Patch cookbook! It will be featured in the next Best Cookie Cookbook! Yey! I am very happy that they liked it enough to include it into the book :)

This recipe has been in my family for many years! It is one of our "Must Makes" for Christmas! Sometimes I add cream cheese to the batter for an extra zip :)

New recipes from Kraft

2010-11-04T10:43:00.004-04:00

Hello! Happy Thursday! I was sent an email about Kraft Decicious Days and in it was an interesting recipe I thought I would share!

To watch a video about making Bacon Cheeseburger Roll Ups: Click Here

To learn more about Kraft Delicious Days, you can read my article: Kraft Delicious Days

In addition, by visiting the Kraft site, you can read about:

What to do with squash

How to slice an onion

and

The Thanksgiving center

New Taste of Home Holiday magazine

2010-10-29T15:24:00.002-04:00

I got my new Taste of Home Holiday magazine in the mail a couple of days ago and looked through it last night. There are some fabulous recipes in there! There are 78 cookie and bar recipes!

I found MANY that I am interested in making. I think I will try the nutmeg cookies first!

Thinking about going to make them now :)

Here are some of MY favorite cookie and bar recipes:

Italian spice Cookie recipe

No bake honey peanut butter ball recipe

Happy Baking!

Oh, if you would like to get a head start on your cookie baking this year, join the Christmas Cookie Club on Facebook! We make at least 1 recipe each week starting now and finishing in December :)

Christmas Cookie Club

Apple pie

2010-10-22T13:41:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I was watching, Everybody Loves Raymond and Frank was eating a large piece of apple pie. It looked soooo good! So, I decided to make one for myself.

I used my basic Apple Pie Recipe and added cinnamon to the apple filling and to the crumble topping. In addition I used 6 apples, added an extra tablespoon of four to my filling and sprinkled the top with an extra pat of margarine before baking.

Let me tell you, it was awesome! That was one of the best apple pies I have tasted and the texture was just perfect.

I also made my crust from scratch! Here is the recipe I used: Easy Pie Crust Recipe

Lesson learned: Do not watch TV with an empty stomach :)

Free Diamond Stud Earrings!

2010-10-14T16:10:00.008-04:00

I received a pair of diamond stud earrings from diamondearrings.org. They came in a pretty red velvet box in the shape of a heart (awwww, how cute, right?)

The earrings are a square shape and they just sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!

If you are interested in learning more about these earrings, just click on the brown colored link above!

I have taken a couple of pictures so you can see how pretty they are and how cute the little box really is.

If you are interested in getting a free pair, let me know and I will contact them again for another free pair to give away! I can have a giveaway right here on my blog :)

Pumpkins!

2010-10-11T15:47:00.002-04:00

Yesterday we went pumpkin picking! I always have fun picking pumpkins :) My son picked one for himself and then I picked one to cook up for pumpkin pies this Thanksgiving.

On the way to have our pumpkins weighed, I saw this ity bity little pumpkin. It was the size of an onion! I just had to have it, so I picked it and took it home :) It was so light, they didn't even charge me for it!

If you have never used fresh pumpkin in your pumpkin pie, I highly recommend you give it a try. Here is how you do it: Cooking a pumpkin

Cook up something pumpkin:

Pumpkin pie recipe

Double vanilla pumpkin pie recipe (my favorite pumpkin pie recipe)

Pumpkin recipes

What to do with pumpkin

Rice Pudding

2010-10-06T16:01:00.003-04:00

I decided to make my moms recipe for rice pudding today. I have to say it is the best rice pudding I have ever had! It is perfect in its sweetness and the touch of cinnamon is just right!

Several years ago I tried making rice pudding (more than once) and I failed both times. So, it has been many years since I have tried to make it again.

So, not only did I succeed in making a great dish today, I managed to overcome my "fear" (so to speak) of making rice pudding.

Click here for the recipe: Rice pudding recipe

Lesson learned: Never give up! It is OK to set something aside, but be sure to try it again :)

Cold cut ring

2010-10-05T13:29:00.002-04:00

This is a really neat recipe! Kathy calls it a cold cut ring. All you do is take a canned pizza crust and your favorite deli meats and cheese to make this dish.

Kathy's Cold Cut Ring Recipe

I am so thankful to have met Kathy. Not just for her recipes, but because I enjoy her funny spirit and willingness to be a good friend.

This recipe is great for the Holidays :)

Ribbon Fudge

2010-10-04T08:25:00.005-04:00

My new friend Kathy, who lives in Florida gave me this exceptional recipe! I made it for my sons Birthday party and I MAY have had 2 or 3 pieces left (out of 2 full plates that I served)!

I had never made a double layer fudge before, so this was a first for me. I have to say, it really was easy and the taste was superb!

Here is the recipe: Kathy's Ribbon Fudge Recipe

The recipe calls for marshmallow fluff. Now, you KNOW I always have a pantry full of baking supplies right? Well, I have to say, I did not have enough fluff in my jar for the recipe. So, I used mini marshmallows and they worked beautifully!

I did take pictures of the fudge as I made it to help you see how easy it really is to make :)

Learn about self-canning

2010-09-27T09:49:00.003-04:00

Hello! Sorry to have been gone for so long! I had a lot going on...from my sons Birthday party to family visiting from NJ.

I am going to share with you a link about self-canning today. It is that time of the year! We can buy up all kinds of fresh produce and can them to enjoy over the winter months.

Here is a link for the Top 50 websites for learning self-canning
The sites will teach you a variety of things from canning terms to the basics of home canning. Have fun with it!

Here are a few make your own recipes from me and some cooking and baking tips:

Strawberry banana freezer jam

Parmesan herb bread crumbs

Easy cheese bread recipe

Cooking and baking tips 2

Cooking and baking tips 1

Fried dough

2010-09-15T11:57:00.004-04:00

Last week, I was craving donuts, but I was too lazy to drive to the nearest Dunkin' to get some. So, I fried up some canned biscuits, rolled them in powdered sugar and then filled them with chocolate cake icing.

They did not last long and tasted great!

What I did:

I ripped each buscuit into 2 pieces and then rolled each piece into a ball.

Then, I fried them in oil, until lightly browned on all sides.

Before they cooled, I rolled them in powdered sugar.

After they were all cooked, I opened each one up with my fingers and filled them with the icing.

To pipe the icing easliy, I spooned it into a plasic zip top bag and then cut off one corner. (Instant pastry bag)

A few days later, I made them again. Only this time, I left out the filling. I have to say, I like them both ways :)

More easy dessert recipes:

Chocolate pretzel candy recipe

Chocolate bon bon recipe

Crescent tart recipe

Cream cheese and cherry danish recipe

Sopapilla recipe

Smores

2010-09-07T13:33:00.005-04:00

I saw some recipes for S'mores in the Food Network magazine and I thought I would share them with all of my blog friends :)

You know, a S'more generally consists of graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate...the marshmallows and chocolate being sandwiched between 2 graham crackers. It makes a decadent treat!

Check out these S'mores with a twist:

The Elvis S'more

Add sliced bananas and peanut butter....taking away the chocolate.

Cinnamon Toast S'more

Use cinnamon grahams and add butterscotch chips and white chocolate in place of the milk chocolate.

Mint Chocolate S'more

Use chocolate grahams and add a peppermint patty to the mini chocolate chips and marshmallow.

Caramel Apple S'more

Uses cinnamon grahams, apple slices and a (Rolo) chocolate covered caramel candy with the marshmallow.

If I HAD to choose the one I like best, I would say.... Cinnamon toast S'mores...with the Mint chocolate chip coming in a close second :)

Happy S'moring :)

Here are more snack recipes using graham crackers:

Graham cracker after school snack recipe

PB&J graham snack recipe

Fall baking!

2010-09-02T08:35:00.003-04:00

Once September gets here, my mind considers it to be the start of the fall season. For me, that means.... BAKING!

I have been baking this week. I even went as far as to call myself a possible, "bakaholic" on Facebook! Sadly, several agreed with me :/ Well, truly it is not a sad thing. I truly enjoy baking and giving away the goods :)

So far I have made: Italian Spice Cookies, Mint patties and today jumbo chocolate chip cookies. I will have the recipe for the mint patties and jumbo cookies coming soon.

To hold you over until then, here are some fall inspired recipes for you to try:

Chocolate Latte Cookie recipe

Easy Banana Bread recipe

Applesauce recipe

Coffee Flavored recipes

Coffee recipes (scroll to the bottom of this article for more links to coffee recipes)

Pumpkin recipes (one of my favorites is the pumpkin turnover recipe! There is a link for it towards the end of this article)

Enjoy the recipes :)

New blog!

2010-08-31T10:24:00.002-04:00

Hello, friends! As you can see, I gave my blog a new look :) I like it! Fall is my favorite season, with winter following a CLOSE second.

In addition to the new look, if you look to the right, you will now see a list of recipe catagories! I am so excited about this! If you are looking for something specific, you now have two search options on my blog. You can go to the search box and type in what you are looking for (located to the left) or click on one of the catagories (to the right).

Have fun with the new layout! Poke around and see what you can find :)

Thank you for all of your support! If it was not for you guys who read my blog, I would not have a reason to make all of these fun changes to it :)

Italian spice cookies

2010-08-30T15:34:00.017-04:00

Several weeks ago, I joined the Successful Womans Network, online. I met a great lady there named Kathy. As it turns out she is Italian like me! She asked me if I had a recipe for Italian spice cookies because her dad used to make them at Christmas every year. She also mentioned that the recipe she had was for a large quantitiy of cookies and when she tried to make it smaller, the cookies just did not turn out right.

So, long story short, I told her to send me the recipe she had and I would revamp it to get them to come out right. That is what I did today!

Here is the recipe for the Italian Spice Cokies (Toto's, pronounced: tu-taws)

Italian Spice Cookie Recipe

Rolled cookies prior to baking:

The finished cookies:

Recipe Review

2010-08-26T09:23:00.007-04:00

Every so often I post all of the most recent recipes I have published. This is another one of my "recipe review" posts!

Pesto pasta salad recipe

Pimiento cheese burger ideas

Free Recipe brochures and downloads

Creamy Italian pasta salad recipe

Brownie cake recipe

Sweet tea recipe

No bake apple pie recipe

Banana pudding cheesecake recipe

Jason's Deli review

Easy lemonade recipe

Cookies: the history behind them

Greek Fiesta review

Ground beef steaks recipe

Healthy: lemon poppyseed cake recipe

Imperial lemon bar recipe

Tomato dip recipe

Spinners Grill review

Paula Deen: chocolate cobbler recipe

Caramel fruit dip recipe

Salsa recipe for chips, tacos and rice

Jumbo cookie recipe

Chorizo with red beans and rice recipe

No bake cocoa puff cookie recipe

4th of July recipes 2010

4th of July recipes: no bake desserts

Cake truffles recipe

How to order coffee

White chocolate and heath bar cookie recipe

Coffee bean facts and coffee brewing tips

Woman's Day: no cook recipes

Coffee flavored recipes

Tips to help save money on groceries

No bake honey ball recipe

Tips to help you save money at the grocery store

Woman's Day: regional menus

Woman's Day: flank steak

Recipe for a JOYFUL life

Now that fall is upon us, we can crank up our oven and cook! Enjoy all of the recipes :)

Cute, little muffins...

2010-08-26T08:42:00.005-04:00

Last week, my husband requested muffins. I did not have time to make them from scratch, so I used a package mix...shhhh don't tell anybody :)

However, I purchased a silicone muffin pan a while back and decided to use it. The pan makes muffins in the shape of pumpkins. But, I think they look more like mini bunt pan shaped muffins. Either way, they are so cute!

Silicone pans are the way to go! No spray required and no sticking to the pan! Great stuff!

My blog has been featured!

2010-08-23T09:36:00.002-04:00

Happy Monday! I am excited to share that my Blueberry Dessert Pizza has been featured on the blog of: Charles Mattocks, The Poor Chef's blog...The Healthy Dish Show

Charles has his own line of sauces, has written and published cookbooks and has starred on many shows, teaching people how to cook for less that $7 for two!

If you would like to check out his sauce line, click here.

To see his website, click here and be sure to download the FREE magazine!

Thank you, Charles for this opportunity!

Recipes for Fall...

2010-08-14T09:23:00.002-04:00

I get so excited when it is time for Fall to arrive! I already have a stack of recipes I will be making to celebrate!

Today, I would like to share some Fall inspired recipes with you...to help get you into the mood for crisp breezes and falling leaves :)

Banana bread French toast recipe

Easy banana bread recipe

Cake truffles recipe

Easy cinnamon applesauce recipe

Double vanilla pumpkin pie recipe

Chocolate latte cookie recipe

Don't forget the coffee! Here are flavored coffee recipes to get you going this Fall:

Flavored Coffee Recipes

Hand written recipes...found in the FREE book bin!

2010-08-12T12:48:00.006-04:00

I shared with you my 1979, Woman's Day, Christmas magazine find but, I have one that is even better!

Last week, when I went to Stevens Book Shop to trade in my books, I was about to drive out of the parking lot to head home and a large bin of FREE books caught my eye. It was outside of the store. So, my son and I unbuckled our seat belts and went to take a look.

It was hot outside, so I did not spend too much time sifting. However, I did find a 1960 Kitchen Aid hand mixer book full of sweet recipes! I noticed that many of the pages were stuck together, but after carefully pulling a couple apart I knew it would be OK...they were not ripping at all. (The book is located in the bottom right corner of the picture above.)

We got back into the vehicle and drove home. After we got home, it was like Christmas in August! We even popped in a Christmas movie as I went through all of my new finds.

As we sipped on our Icee treats (from Burger King) and watched our movie, I found the find of finds sitting right inside of that 1960 Kitchen Aid hand mixer recipe book! I found 14 hand written cookie recipes on index cards that were sitting between the stuck pages!

That made me so happy! I plan to publish all of the scrumptious recipes very soon!

It is the simple things in life that can bring us such joy if we will allow them to :)

Here are some unique cookie recipes:

White chocolate and heath bar cookies

Eggnog cookies

Pumpkin chocolate chunk cookies

Chocolate covered raisin cookies

Butter vs. Margarine

2010-08-11T08:52:00.003-04:00

Well, well, well, a question for the ages! Which one do I use? Why is one better than the other? Is one better than the other?

I wrote an article that may answer some of your questions pertaining to butter and margarine.

Substituting butter and margarine in baking

Woman's Day magazine: what a find!

2010-08-10T10:31:00.004-04:00

Fall is on the way! I am so excited!

Last week I got a hankering to trade in some of my old books (that I did not really care for) and a few of my sons old school books, for new cookbooks or cooking magazines!

I found so many treasures! We have a store called, Stevens Book Shop where you can trade in your books. I found an old Woman's Day Christmas magazine from 1979, in addition to other great finds I will tell you about later.

I find it enjoyable to go through old books and magazines to see the recipes and read the stories from back then. Mr. Rogers (remember him from the TV show, "Mr Rogers Neighborhood"?) wrote an article about Family at Christmas, in which I read to my son. It was 5 pages long for goodness sake! To my shock, my son sat for the entire thing! :)

You never know when you will stumble upon such a good find...keep your eyes open at all times!

Christmas coupon organizing

The Christmas Pantry

Gifts From the Kitchen: Packaging Pretty

Cheesecake Classes!

2010-08-06T15:05:00.003-04:00

I am venturing into something new! I am going to teach a Cheesecake Baking Class! A freind of mine asked me to go over to her house and show her how to make a cheesecake. So, I did. After we got it into the oven, she encouraged me to teach others how to do it. So.... I am!

I am very excited about it! I think it will be a lot of fun!

In the mean time, here are some cheesecake recipes for you as well as an article that includes tips and tricks for making the best cheesecake!

Here are a few of my newest cheesecake creations:

Banana Pudding Cheesecake Recipe

Sopapilla Cream Cheese Bar Recipe

Cheesecake tips and tricks

This one I did not make up, but it looked good!

Vanilla Mousse Cheesecake Recipe

Whole Foods Market, Raleigh NC

2010-08-03T15:00:00.005-04:00

Currently, we have a Whole Foods Market that is located at: 3540 Wade Ave.

Last week, I tried a sip of the organic Ginger Ale that they offer. Today, I took a ride out there with a friend of mine and found that they had Root Beer as well! So, per my son Anthony's request, we brought home the organic Root Beer :)

In addition to the soda, I purchased a box of Echinacea tea bags and a mint chocolate brownie slice. Whole Foods is one of the few places I can find my Echinacea tea bags!

Thankfully, we will be getting a Whole Foods Market closer to where I live! The new store will be located at: 8511 Colonnade Center Drive, Raleigh nC 27615! I'm thinking it is off of Six Forks Road! Yey! That is about 5 miles closer than the store on Wade Ave.!

Whole Foods Market review & sweet pototo apple cake recipe

Blueberry dessert pizza recipe!

2010-08-03T09:33:00.003-04:00

Over the weekend, I came up with a blueberry dessert pizza recipe! Every time I got to a pizza buffet, I always make sure to save room for a piece (or 3) of the dessert pizza's! Now, I can make my own, any time! This can be a scary thing in my house!

Here is the: blueberry dessert pizza recipe

As always, feel free to change out the fruit in this recipe. You can make an apple cinnamon dessert pizza or even a pineapple one! Get creative with it :)

Lesson learned: When craving something, try and make it yourself. It can save you a lot of time and money in the long run!

Christmas in July: Tea basket from ProFlowers.com

2010-07-24T09:29:00.005-04:00

Christmas in July is here! And I am here to help you celebrate!

Ready to do some Christmas shopping this weekend? You can easily tune into QVC, QVC.com or download the QVC FREE application to your cell phone to join in on the Christmas fun!

ProFlower.com offers a lovely selection of gift baskets! I chose the Tealicious basket and am very pleased with the quality of the prodocts within. One of my favorite extra items included in the basket are the honey sticks! I had never seen them before but I have to say that having the honey packaged this way, makes less of a sticky mess!

I tried the lemon and lime black tea and it had a very delicate flavor. I could taste the lemon and lime in a subtle way and the flavor of the black tea did not over power the flavor of the lemon and lime. I enjoyed it very much!

The little white, glass tea bag holder brought back a good memory of my Grandma from my childhood! She used to have one like it!

ProFlowers is a great way to order a gift for someone who lives far away...you can have it delivered striaght to their front door!

For more Christmas in July ideas: click here

Click for great Christmas craft ideas!

Christmas in July, 2010!

2010-07-23T09:15:00.003-04:00

Yes, it is here! The second most wonderful time of the year...Christmas in July! To help us celebrate, I am going to post some of my favorite Christmas links for you!

I will include websites, recipes, craft ideas, book reviews and more! Stay tuned to my blog, Fabebook fan pages and Twitter all weekend for a wonderful Christmas celebration!

To get us started, take a look at some craft ideas you can start today to help you get ahead:

Cross stitch projects

Sprinkle Christmas ornaments

Make a blanket

Making pillows

For Christmas all year websites, you can visit:

Christmas Examiner

CHRISTmas all year: Google group

Christmas All Year

A list of Christmas websites

An extra treat: White hot cocoa recipe (to sip on as you get into the Christmas spirit)

Frozen cookie dough?

2010-07-20T10:00:00.003-04:00

The last time I made my: Double chocolate chip Oreo cookies, I had more dough than I needed. So, I decided to freeze the remainder of the dough and bake it another time.

Yesterday, was my, "another time". I removed the dough from the freezer and took it out of the plastic zip top bag. I placed it on a cutting board and proceeded to slice off chunks with a knife. I squeezed the small chunks together to make one cookie. In all, I baked up about 20 cookies.

I have to say, I think they tasted better than when I made them the last time. Something about freezing the dough and baking the cookies from the dough that came straight out of the freezer made a difference!

The cookies were lumpier (making them look more like homemade), richer and more moist.

I WILL be freezing more cookie dough to make my cookies :)

The photo above is from the first time I made the cookies (prior to freezing the dough).

Great recipes!

2010-07-17T10:57:00.003-04:00

This is post #445! Thank you to all wo follow and/or read this blog :) Without you, I would have noone to write for!

I thought I would share with you today, some of my favorite recipes! I like recipes that taste good, are easy to make and that do not cost a small fortune to prepare. Here are some of my favorites:

Chicken salad braid recipe

Sausage dip recipe (crockpot)

Pimiento cheese recipe

Spinach pie recipe

Bruschetta recipe

Sausage ball recipe

Sopapilla cream cheese bar recipe

Banana bread recipe

Chocolate latte cookie recipe

Skore bar recipe

These are just a few of my favorite recipes. If you know me, you know that I enjoy baking over cooking. I could bake all day long! Actually, I have baked all day long! At Christmastime, I set aside one day to bake cookies. I will bake from morning to evening, stopping only for lunch and a bathroom break! :)

That has to be one of the happiest days of the year for me.

Have a wonderful weekend and let me know if you decide to try out one of these recipes :)

I won 2 movie tickets!

2010-07-15T15:42:00.002-04:00

Last week I got an email from Examiner.com that said I had won 2 free movie tickets! I am so excited! I got them in the mail several days ago. I was automatically entered into the contest for the tickets because I was posting at least 2 articles per day :)

My hard work has begun to pay off. I enjoy writing for Examiner.com and the monthly pay check is so nice to look forward to.

They are hiring Examiners accross the counrty, so if you would like to apply, just go to: Apply to Examiner

Please put in my name on your application: Deanna Polito Laughinghouse, this way I will get credit ($50) for you signing up. Thanks~

Let me know if you apply!

New work station...

2010-07-13T08:59:00.003-04:00

Happy Tuesday!

As I went through the Sunday paper yesterday (yes, I was a day late viewing the paper), I saw that Walmart had a sale on glass topped desks with matching chairs. I brought the flier to my husband to show him and asked if we could get one for my work station. (Keep in mind, I was currently using a fold away table and folding chair, which worked fine.)

So, yesterday we took a ride over to Walmart and I got the red set! I figured red was good because it reminded me of Christmas! Otherwise, red is my least favorite color. I tried to find a red rolling storage (you know the plasic ones with 3 drawers?) but they only had dark pink left. So, that is what I brought home :)

I put the chair and desk together while my hubby was at work and had it all set up by the time he got home! As I sit here and type to you, I realize that my new chair is much more comfortable than the old one and my new work station is so much neater now that I have my rolling storage cart!

It's the little things in life that make me the most happy :)

A new snack...

2010-07-10T09:11:00.003-04:00

I was visiting with my friend Peggy yesterday for lunch. Once a month we get together for lunch and a lot of talking!

For dessert, she made what she called "honey balls". What a delicious treat!

There are only 4 ingredients in this recipe and one is peanut butter! I WILL be posting the recipe on Examiner soon :)

A couple of weeks ago, I wrote about making jumbo cookies. Well, I did post the recipe for them but I never told you what it was! Silly me :P

Here is a link to the Jumbo cookie recipe

Have a wonderful weekend!

Christmas in July!

2010-07-08T09:16:00.003-04:00

As many know, Christmas is my absolute FAVORITE time of the year! This is why I am the National Christmas Examiner :) I can write about Christmas all year long and get paid to do it! The best of both worlds, right?

Well, Christmas in July is coming up soon. I plan on writing several articles on the topic. In addition to my articles, QVC also has their version of Christmas in July! They start Christmas programming at midnight on July 23rd! Happy, happy =D (I'm doing a happy dance!)
So, we will have 2 full days of Christmas programs on QVC...July 24th and 25th! Here is a link to the program guide:
http://www.qvc.com/ProgramGuide/ProgramGuideDailyView.aspx?TimeZoneSelect=2&Navigate=20100724

I have received several items from Vistaprint that I will be reviewing as part of my Christmas in July! Above is a sneak peek at the products I will review. I purposefully kept them in a cluster so you could not tell exactly what I have :) hee hee :)

I have been featured in Midtown magazine!

2010-07-07T14:55:00.002-04:00

Thanks to my freelance writer friend, Kristy Stevenson, I have been featured in Midtowm Magazine! Anyone who knows me well, knows I am the queen of coupons and that is just what the article is about...saving money using coupons!

Here is the link to view the article.
http://issuu.com/midtown/docs/midtown_ja2010/54

After the page opens, to go directly to my segment, click the arrow to the right to turn the page twice.

Kristy did a WONDERFUL job writing the article! Thank you, Kristy for featuring me!

My favorite dish

2010-07-06T15:48:00.005-04:00

For July 4th weekend, we went to NJ to visit my dad. My dad is a chef! He makes some of the best food you will ever taste. I tell him all the time he should be on the Food Network, but he is not overly interested in my idea :/

He made my my favorite dish. Cavatelli and broccoli. We call it: gov u deel. I keyed the recipe into my iphone and will publish it soon :)

In the mean time, enjoy these pictures I took...

Big cookies!

2010-06-25T15:13:00.002-04:00

Yesterday morning I was watching Emeril Live on The Food Network...or maybe it was the Cooking channel...now that there are 2 cooking channels I tend to get them confused! Anyway, he made these huge cookies and filled them with ice cream to make ice cream sandwiches.

I never made jumbo cookies before so I ran to the computer to print off the recipe before the show ended. I had like 30 seconds to get there and I made it...whew!

My son and I made the cookies and I added a special treat...maple extract! Wow! They came out tasty. Above is a picture of our cookies. The recipe will be published soon :)

Strawberries!

2010-06-12T11:51:00.003-04:00

Each year we go strawberry picking and each year I try something different with the strawberries we pick. Last year I made jam. I had enough strawberries to make 2 batches! I made one with bananas and one with lemon. Both tasted really good!

This year, I did not get as creative with my strawberries. I cleaned them and then froze them. I did leave some out for us to eat...and eat them we did! I have used some of the frozen berries to make smoothies. In addition to the strawberries, I cut cup a pineapple and froze that as well. Have you ever tried a strawberry, pineapple, banana and coconut smoothie? OH...it is SO good!

If you would like to make strawberry freezer jam, here is a recipe for you: Strawberry Banana Jam recipe

If you wouldlike a recipe for a basic smoothie recipe, click here.

Paula Deen at the Durham Performing Arts Center

2010-06-07T14:46:00.005-04:00

Saturday afternoon I went and saw Paula Deen's show at the DPAC. What a great speaker she is! She made the crowd laugh and laugh! Her husband Michael was there with her. They are too funny together! Paula actually announced that he is going to start a new career as a stand up comedian.

At the show she had a local chef/restaurant owner make her dishes for her. They made a cherry glazed fried pork chop recipe and a chocolate cobbler recipe, which she called out the recipe for. So, I whipped out my i phone and keyed it in as fast as my little fingers would allow me to. Needless to say...I got the recipe!!! I will be posting it in an Examiner article very soon!

Paula told us that her housekeeper stole all of her jewelry! How sad! Thankfully she never takes off her rings so she still had those. Her agent allowed her to borrow his watch for the show so she could keep up with the time.

Paula felt so bad about us having to wait 4 months to see her (since the original show was cancelled and then rescheduled) that she gave us 30 minutes extra of her time! What a sweet hearted lady!

Enjoy the pictures I got to take. I was so upset because on the DPAC website it specifically said, "NO CAMERA'S ALLOWED". So, I left mine home. Then, everyone started taking pictures!!!! I was so upset! I wanted to take my digital camera to get some close up shots, but thankfully I had my i phone and got a few pictures. I went into http://www.picnik.com/ and tried to enhance them a bit to allow for better photos. I hope you can see them OK :/

I will post the link to my Examiner article about the show as soon as I get it published. I wanted to give you guys the heads up!

No-Bake apple pie!

2010-06-02T15:07:00.002-04:00

Over the Memorial Day weekend, I tried a new recipe. It was a no-bake apple pie. I found the recipe in an old Taste of Home magazine. I cut it out a long time ago because the recipe sounded interesting. Finally, this weekend I had an opportunity to try it!

I have to say it was one of the best apple pies I have ever made and eaten. It was easy to make and I allowed it to sit in the refrigerator overnight. I noticed that after about 4 hours, it was still a little watery.

This recipe is definitely a keeper and will be made again. I will post the recipe very soon!

Recipe review!

2010-05-29T13:57:00.004-04:00

It is that time again! Time to review my latest recipes. In case you do not know why I do this every month or so, I do it so that when people search my blog, they can easily find the recipes they are looking for :)

Resurrection Rolls

Bobby Flay's Ricotta pancakes

Easter recipes, Lent recipes, Passover recipes

Shortcakes recipe

Peanut butter cup bars

Banana bread French toast

Southern potato salad

Chocolate Eclair cake

Corned beef spread

Imperial chicken wings

Brownie pizza

Easy chicken risotto

Green bean salad

Save money on food with Twitter

Applebees maple butter blondie

Spice cake recipe

Baked potatoes

Neiman Marcus chocolate chip cookie recipe

Save money on groceries with Facebook

Lemon raspberry mousse squares

Mothers Day ideas

Food Network: Chef vs City review

Paula Deen rescheduled in Durham, NC

Creamy garlic salad dressing

3 layer cake recipe

Jewish coffee cake

Easy coq au vin recipe

Cakes and Kids website: cheesecake cupcake recipe

Chicken divan

Raspberry mocha brownies

Baked ziti

Simple milk shake

Carrot cake

Cream cheese frosting

Chocolate bon bon candy recipe

Snickerdoodle pie

Vanilla mousse cheesecake

Pumpkin pie spice coffee creamer

Parmesan herb bread crumbs

Spring Fling: Raleigh farmers market

Taco's in a bag recipe

Chocolate mocha cake in a mug

Holiday meat and cracker snack

With all of these recipes listed, you HAVE to be able to find something to make! Happy cooking!

PS- the picture is of a grilled corned beef sandwich! Check out the link to the corned beef spread to make yourself one of these :)

Greek Chicken recipe (the verdict), Chocolate microwave cake recipe and caramel apple recipe!

2010-05-27T08:26:00.005-04:00

Last night, we ate the "Greek Chicken" I made in the crockpot. I have to say it was good! My husband and son say the same thing! Second helpings did go around. Next time, I think I will add just a bit more olive oil over the top to add more fluid to the mix. It will help bring a bit more moisture to the dish.

So, all in all, we give it a thumbs up and the title of, "A keeper"!

Today, I have a special recipe to share with you! Remember about a week ago when I posted that I made a chocolate cake in a mug in the microwave? The post was entitled,"Chocolate Cake now!"

Well, today I have the recipe to share with you! Yey!

Chocolate Mocha Cake in a Mug recipe

I'm talkin' cake in about 5 minutes here! This is a perfect dessert recipe to try out this Memorial Day weekend! No oven required (that will heat up the house).

In addition to these great recipes, I have one more I would like to share! Do you enjoy caramel apples? If so, you no longer need to wait until the fall to have some. You can make your own! Here it is: Caramel Apple recipe

If you like the red candy apples...that recipe is coming soon!!!!

Greek chicken recipe!

2010-05-26T10:37:00.004-04:00

I woke up this morning and decided to go searching through my, "Fix it and Forget it" Crockpot cookbook for a new recipe to try.

I decided first that I wanted to use chicken, so I then went searching...

I found a recipe entitled, "Greek Chicken" and decided it was easy enough and sounded good enough to try. Above is a picture of what it looked like after I got it layered into the crockpot! Yum! I have to say that it does smell good as it cooks.

Here is the recipe if you would like to try it too:

Greek Chicken

4-6 potatoes quartered (I cut mine in chunks)

2-3 pounds chicken pieces (I used 2 ponds of boneless, thin chicken breasts)

2 large onions, quartered (I cut mine a little smaller)

1 whole bulb of garlic, minced (I used minced garlic in a jar, 2 tsp)

3 tsp dried oregano

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

1 tbsp olive oil

Place potaotes into the bottom of the slow cooker.

Add chicken, onions and garlic.

Sprinkle with seasonings.

Top with olive oil.

Cover. Cook on high 5-6 hours, or on low 9-10 hours.

I will have to let you know how this turns out!

Cocoa taost?

2010-05-24T18:54:00.003-04:00

When I was a little girl, I was a very picky eater. When I was not feeling well or when I would not eat anything else, my mom used to make me cinnamon toast. It was simple really...she would make toast, butter it and then add cinnamon sugar over the top.

To this day, I still make cinnamon toast! I make it for myself and for my son. Sometimes we eat it when we want a sweet snack.

Tonight, my son was wanting something sweet and he asked for the cinnamon toast. I remembered I came up with a cocoa sugar recipe several months ago and offered him to try it on his toast in the place of the cinnamon sugar.

He tried it and said he liked it just as much if not better than the cinnamon sugar toast!

So, tonight, we came up with a new creation...cocoa sugar toast!

For the cinnamon sugar and cocoa sugar recipes, just click on the highlighted links above :)

Christmas ornaments!

2010-05-19T15:11:00.003-04:00

I know, you may be thinking, "It's too early to think about Christmas". But, truly, it's not! If you are like me and enjoy making gifts to give for Christmas, now is a GREAT time to get started with those projects.

You can use the 40% off coupons that Michaels Arts and Crafts, AC Moore and Joann Fabrics put out in the Sunday or mid-week paper each week and get your supplies at a discount. If you do not get the paper, you can go online to their websites and print off the coupons as well.

Then, by time November rolls around, you will have all of your projects complete and you can really enjoy the Christmas season.

For tons of gift craft ideas, you can visit: National Christmas Examiner

Like the picture on this post? Check out how to make your own: Making Christmas Ornaments

Picture Christmas Ornaments - great to make with children!

Chocolate cake now!

2010-05-16T19:09:00.005-04:00

A good friend of mine mailed me some recipes she thought I would like. Wasn't that so sweet and thoughful of her??? :)

One of the recipes was for making one serving of chocolate cake in a mug, in the microwave. The claim was that you can have chocolate cake, ready to eat, in 5 minutes. A little sceptical, I decided to try it out.

I did doctor up the recipe just a little bit and I have to say, it was pretty good! It was moist and the recipe made just enough to make my sweet tooth happy!

Here are 2 pictures of this cake. One is a picture of the batter before cooking and the other is of the finished cake (before I topped it with hot fudge).

I do plan to post the recipe soon :)

Reeses peanut butter lovers candy!

2010-05-12T16:18:00.004-04:00

I am a lover of peanut butter! So, today my son and I saw that Reese's has out a new version of the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup.

In the past, we tried the White Chocolate version, the Dark Chocolate Version and even the inside out version. But, this new version is the best by far! (To us anyway)

I even took a couple of pictures of this sweet goodness to share with you! I have also thought about writing an article about it for Examiner.com...that is how much of an impact it has made on me :)

So, if you are out and about and you see this New Peanut Butter Lovers Reese's Candy bar, I suggest you give it a try!

Let me know what you think :)

If you would like to make your own peanut butter and chocolate candy, try these recipes:

Peanut butter cup bar recipe

Peanut butter delight recipe

Peanut butter ball recipe

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-08T07:49:00.005-04:00

Happy Mother's Day, moms! Isn't it great how we get to be celebrated this weekend? I have to say, I am enjoying it a lot!

My son made me a special card (I always enjoy those) and my hubby took me shopping for new shirts. Tommorrow, Sunday, after Church I will choose where we go out to eat too! Ahhhh...basking in the fun :)

I have another wonderful surprise...this very blog has been featured in an article on Woman's Day.com!!! I am so excited! (If I use one more exclamation point in this post, I am going to scream...haha)

Here is the link to the article: Desperation Dinners

Scroll through to the 2nd recipe for chili and THAT IS ME! =D

I would like to thank Mrs. Majors and Woman's Day for this opportunity. I am so thankful, I can not express it in words.

I would also like to thank Mr. Parikh. Thank you for always thinking to send me Woman's Day links to add to my articles. You are always so thoughtful :)

Have a wonderful Mother's Day, everyone. Thank you bunches for following my blog and leaving your thoughtful comments for me :) May God bless you all for being such a blessing to me :)