Muffins my Family Loves

I am a huge fan of the Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. Over the years I have purchased many of them for my collection. Needless to say I was thrilled when they used one of my recipes in their most recent cookbook. The new cookbook is Mom Knows Best, this can be ordered on the website gooseberrypatch.com. Last night I made these for the family and added fresh blueberries. I must say adding the blueberries made them even better. Below is the recipe that is in the cookbook but, feel free to add a cup of berries that your family likes.

 

                                                        Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

1 1/2 cup whole-wheat flour                                       1/2 cup milk 

1/2 cup sugar                                                               1/4 cup applesauce

1/4 cup milled flax seed                                              1 ripe banana, mashed

1-1/2 tsp. baking powder                                             1/4 cup carrot, peeled and shredded

1/2 tsp. baking soda                                                     1/2 cup nuts (optional)

1/2 tsp. salt1

1 egg beaten

 

In a bowl, mix flour, sugar, flax seed, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk and applesauce. Add flour mixture to egg mixture, stir well. Fold in banana, carrot and nuts. Fill 12 greased or paper-lined muffin cups 2/3 full bake at 400 degrees for 18 to 20 minutes. Makes 1 dozen.

 

 

 

 

Refinished Dresser

My 15.00 yard sale find.....

Then with some sanding and paint this is what it looks like now...

In Memory of Linda Austin

This is one of those times in life where it is hard to say anything. I lost someone yesterday who was apart of my life for years, my best friend Stephanie's Mom. Its not hard to pay tribute to someone like her. She was kind to everyone and was so much fun to be around. There have been so many memories flood my mind this past 24 hours. Stephanie and I even talked about some of those memories last night laughing through the tears.
 I spent so much time with her when I was in junior and senior high. I had so many fun times with her and her whole family. I loved how she always told it to you straight she would give you her opinion in a nice loving way. I loved how she would make popcorn on the stove and not out of a bag. I loved how she would scratch my back and fix my hair. I loved how she fixed her wonderful cornbread and friend apples. I loved how she loved her husband, children and grandchildren... I am so blessed that she was apart of my life and that will stay with me forever
Even though the past few years I didn't see her much I new she loved me and was there for me. I know her husband Mickey her kids Stephanie and her brother Steven will miss her like crazy, but know she is in a better place. I hold on to the fact that I will see her again. Ecc 3:1

Look what I got in the mail

I won the free coffee Friday from Coffee Mate.  I had all of this in a box that came last night.  I was so excited, it was like Christmas. Now to plan a coffee party. :)

Homemade Granola

I love granola! I have tried several recipes over the years. I found one in my family feasts for 75.00 a week cookbook.  I changed a few things, but I wanted to share.
12 cups quick cooking oats
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
4 cups of goodies (Nuts, raisins, sunflower seeds  coconut,dried fruit
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup honey
Preheat oven to 325. Grease 3 large baking sheets with nonstick cooking spray.
In a large bowl combine oats, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and any add ins. Mix well
Combine oil and honey in a 2 cup glass measuring cup. Microwave on High for 2 to 3 minutes until hot.  Pour over dry ingredients.
Spread over baking sheets; bake until light to medium brown 15-20 minutes. Its best to bake each pan individually on the center rack of the oven.
Let the granola cool. It will break up somewhat as you transfer it to a storage container. Store in airtight container for up to 4 weeks.

Pizza Crust Recipe

I had a request for the pizza crust recipe I make so I wanted to get it on here.  I don't have pictures, but I will post them next time I make it.

1 cup warm water
1 Tablespoon yeast
1 Tablespoon sugar
Let these ingredients set for about 5 minutes until the yeast activates. Then add about 4 1/2 cups of flour.  I add a cup at a time until I get a smooth consistancy.  Let rise for about 10 minutes and flatten out onto a pizza pan or stone. Add your toppings and bake at 450 about 12 minutes or until brown.

M & M's

Just wanted so share a tip with you.  Do you have leftover christmas M & M's?  If you do divide the colors into red and green and use one for Valentines day and the other for St. Patricks day.  I bought this huge bag on clearance at Sam's Club for 4.50. Now I have plenty for decorating.

No Knead bread

This is such a wonderful recipe that works everytime. I got it from the blog honey & jam . She has such wonderful recipes on her site. Be sure and check it out.





No Knead French Bread


From Artisian Bread in 5 Minutes a Day via The Ivory Hut




3 cups of lukewarm water


1 1/2 tablespoons active dry yeast


1 1/2 tablespoons coarse salt


6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour




Grab a very large mixing bowl, or a large container that you can cover. In it, mix the water, yeast, and salt. You don’t have to heat up the water to a precise optimal temperature for the yeast. I’ve even used just regular tap water, and it’s worked well for me. Just let that sit together for a while (you don’t have to wait for the yeast to dissolve completely), then dump the flour all at once and stir with a wooden spoon. You don’t need to knead this, and you’re not looking to make it come together into a dough ball. You just want everything mixed well, with no streaks of flour left, and you’re done.

Leave it in your container, covered (but not airtight, or it’ll pop), for a few hours. When it has risen and then deflated a bit, your dough is done. It’s ready to be used or stored in the refrigerator.

To bake the bread, just grab a chunk of dough, about the size of a grapefruit. Dust your hands with flour to help prevent sticking, and gently pull the sides of the dough toward the bottom, rotating the dough, until you get a roundish shape with a smooth surface. It should only take you about a minute or less to do this. The dough won’t be entirely in the bottom, where it may look bunched up, but don’t worry about it.


Put it on a cutting board that’s been dusted with cornmeal to prevent sticking, and let it rest for at least 40 minutes. No need to cover it. If the dough has been refrigerated, it helps to let it rest a little more, until it’s no longer chilled.

Twenty minutes before you are ready to bake, put a cast iron skillet (or a pizza stone) in the middle rack of your oven, and put a broiler pan (I used a cookie sheet) in the bottom rack. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Dust some flour on the top of your loaf, and slash the top, about 1/4-inch deep.
After twenty minutes of preheating, it’s time to bake. (You can put the bread in after 20 minutes, even if your oven hasn’t reached 450 degrees yet.) Slide the loaf onto the baking stone, and then quickly pour 1 cup of hot tap water into the broiler pan. Then quickly shut the oven door to keep the steam inside.


Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, until you get a nice brown crust.

Apple Orchard

Today I visited and Apple orchard with my sweet Carson and the entire kindergarten.

We had such a beautiful day to go, the weather was perfect.

All of the kiddos left with a pumpkin and a bag of apples. So now I get to make all kind of apple creations.  There are apples cooking on my stove right now. YUM!

Pumpkin Board

This was a very easy project All I did was pick paper that I liked and used modge podge to glue it on and then put a coat over the top.  It is the same process I used here. http://footballsanddaisies.blogspot.com/2010/05/patriotic-board.html
To help with storage I put it on the back of the Patriotic board.

I feel like I still need something, but it is a work in progress.

Pumpkins

I am not the best seamstress at all, but these pumpkins were so easy to make. Here are the directions.
1. Cut your fabric in whatever shape you want your pumpkin. Place right sides together.

2. Sew all the way around the outside, but leave an opening at the top to put your stem in.

3. Now feed the bottom through your opening at the top to get the fabric to the front side. Then add dried beans to the bottom so that it will stand up.

4. Use pillow stuffing and fill your pumpkin.
5. Make a stem by cutting fabric in a rectangle and sewing all but the bottom part. Flip the right side out by using scissors if you need to.

6. Then hold the stem in place at the top and tuck in the ends so it is smooth and then just sew across to secure it.

Then you have your finished product!

1st day of school

Mommy with her babies!

Daddy and his babies!

Wednesday was a day filled with many emotions. Our baby was starting kindergarten! Where had the time gone.  I had been at home with a child for over 10 years and now in a moment life was changing. Carson was thrilled to be going to school just like Savannah and Connor. Thank goodness my wonderful husband took the day off to spend with me or I think I would have been a huge puddle in the school parking lot.

We are all looking forward to this new stage of life we are starting.

Bruschetta

What to do with all of the tomatoes? I love, love, love tomatoes. I had a friends say on facebook that she was making bruschetta which I love but have never made. She shared the recipe with me yesterday so we made this for dinner tonight.  Let me just say it was fabulous!! My kids could not get enough of this.  So I know now what I will be making a lot of now. I hope she doesn't care that I shared. Thanks Heather!

2-3 seeded & chopped tomatoes


3 TBSP chopped fresh basil


1 TBSP balsamic vinegar


2 TBSP olive oil


Finely chopped clove of garlic


Salt & pepper to taste


~Mix all of these ingredients and refrigerate for a few hours


~Slice a French baguette and butter slices (you could use a garlic spread instead of butter); broil until golden brown


~Top with the tomato mixture and sprinkle with fresh Parmesan (I like to stick it back under the broiler for another minute)

Couponing 101

                                                                   My coupon book

This is my second coupon book.  A few weeks ago I must have left mine in a cart at a store, when I realized it was gone I started checking stores I go to and there was no sign of it.  Somebody must have hit the jackpot because it was FULL of coupons! I keep trying to remind myself not to get mad about losing it, someone may have needed it more than me. A very sweet friend surprised me and made me a new one. She even decorated it for me with my family pictures. This time I put my business card at the top and taped it in so it is easier to see. I carry this book everywhere that I shop.  You may know this but you can combine a store coupon with a manufactures coupon at most places.  Take advantage of this. Go through your adds such as Walgreens on Sunday and see what coupons you can stack. This can really save lots!
I use a plain notebook and baseball card holders. I have each section divided into categories such as pantry, dairy, freezer, cereal, toiletries, cleaners,produce.

I put each coupon in one of the card slots so I can see each one of them.  I think this makes it easier to see what I have coupons for when I am shopping.

 I know you are thinking this is a lot of work.  I promise you it is worth it for the money that you can save just by taking the time to sort your coupons.
Here are a few websites I use a lot to help me.
Hip2save.com
couponingtodisney.com
southernsavers.com
shesaved.com
Saveathomemommy.com
If you have any questions about any of this please let me know. 

Waiting...

I cannot wait to cut a tomato up from my garden. Hopefully not too much longer!

DC Trip

Last week our family headed up to DC for a few days.  My husband's brother and his family live near there so it was a time to visit family.  We decided to go into downtown DC for a tour.  We went on the DC Duck tour. This is an amphibious vehicle that tour you around all over DC then turns into a boat and you float down the Potomac River.

We were able to see all the sights in DC. With a total of 6 children this is the way to go.  Our next visit we will go to a museum, but this was a good way to break them in to all there was to see.

                                                                      Union Station

                                                                          Capital

                                                                      White House

                                                                        Lincoln Memorial 

                                                              Washington Monument 

The yellow things in the boys mouths they called "quackers" These make duck sounds that will drive you up a wall but the kids loved them!

                                              The kids had a wonderful time with their cousins! 

Homemade Ice Cream

4th of July would not be complete without homemade ice cream! Here is a wonderful recipe a friend shared with me.
2 cans evaporated milk
1 pint whipping cream
2 1/4 cups sugar
dash salt
3 tsp vanilla
4 eggs
Combine all ingredients and cook on medium heat on the stove.  I cook it until it is warm about 10 minutes.  Pour through a stainer into a large bowl to make sure there are no cooked eggs floating around in it. Refrigerate overnight.( If you want fruit in your ice cream add 1 cup of chopped fruit before putting in your ice cream freezer.) Add the mixture to your ice cream freezer and fill will whole milk about 1 inch from the top. (Usually there is a fill line in the freezer) Follow the manufactures directions for your freezer and then enjoy your homemade ice cream!

Howdy Wreath

M

My week has been consumed this week with Vacation Bible School at our church.  The theme this year was a western theme.  This was one of the wreaths I made for decoration for the week. It was very simple to do.  I had a grapevine wreath from the goodwill store.  I tied strips of burlap and red material around the vines. Then I cut the letters HOWDY out with my cricut machine, put them on a scrap piece of wood and tied it on with twine.  So simple and very cheap to make.  I plan on using this on my door when VBS is over with.

Family Pictures

I have to thank my friend Jessica for all of these wonderful pictures she took to our family.  She is a fabulous with photography and I know she will go far!  Here is her blog link. These are just a few of the pictures that she took for us.