In the groove.....

Schools out for summer and I'm back to blogging! I am using the summer to relax and most of all enjoy time with my little boy.  That also means doing things I enjoy such as blogging, bargain shopping,gardening,crafting and cooking. Look for this blog to evolve into more about that and some baby stuff mixed in such as info on cloth diapering and life in general. Looking forward to making more blog friends as well.

Cooking crazy

Try this for dinner Pancetta and Leeks!

Run don't walk to the store to get these ingredients, you will be so glad that you did and will love Pioneer Woman for it!

Next up the not so winners but still they turned out ok
Devil Dogs
I made this in a sheet cake version only the cake was so so not bad but not what I was expecting and the frosting was ok but since I don't have a whisk attachment on my mixer I don't think the texture turned out right.



I also made Creamy chicken spaghetti casserole this also was an ok recipe the best part was the spaghetti being cooked in chicken broth. The flavor was great it also reheats well but I didn't really see it being creamy.

Another winner was Martha Stewart's  Spinach bacon and onion dip very yummy and made enough to take to a party, but I ended up reheating it the next day.

Longaberger Sales!

Add caption

 

                                      To order these visit http://www.longaberger.com/helenabergman

Checking In

What a summer it has been! After being told for years we could not get pregnant surprise we are! The due date is in February and we will find out later this month what we are having. So that was our main fun of the summer which has left me exhausted and cranky, but things are getting better. I started back to school 2 weeks ago, and I'm in my last 3 semesters of my program which has me technically a senior. I have gotten my fall decor up and hope to put some photo's up soon. Our final rush to finish our house is on with the impending baby, we just have some trim and a bathroom to do.

Longaberger 30% off sale!!!

Throughout the Memorial Day Weekend (May 27-31), SAVE 30% on ALL online purchases!

The perfect opportunity to purchase the Longaberger products you've always wanted – Baskets, Pottery, Wrought Iron and Home Decor...if it's online, it's ON SALE*.

Want to SAVE even more? Join the Longaberger family and save an additional 25% during the sale, plus receive great discounts EVERY DAY. Contact your Home Consultant to join TODAY!

*Excludes Factory Store/Homestead Online, Spring Dollars Coupons, Show orders.

Perfect Pasta Bowls

Wednesday, June 2, from Noon to 11:59 p.m., EDT, stock up and save on our Woven Traditions Pasta Bowls set of 2 – ONLY $25 (save $17).

Attention Spring Dollars Coupons Earners! Buy two sets and save even more...use your $10 savings and pay just $40 for four pasta bowls!

http://www.longaberger.com/helenabergmanhttp://www.longaberger.com/helenabergman

Gather These Savings!

Tuesday, June 1, from Noon to 11:59 p.m., EDT, the Factory Store Online sale includes bargains on the Small Oval Gathering Basket only $29 (save $27) and Medium Oval Gathering Basket just $39 (save $33).
These baskets make great companions for summer picnics, neighborhood potlucks and family get-togethers. Gather your goodies and head to the nearest party.

Class Of 2010 Basket on Sale today only from Longaberger

This would make a great graduation gift that can be cherished for years to come, contact me with any questions or if you would like to host a party or "e-party".

Cornbread Salad

This was one I didn't think I'd like but when one of my Police Department officers brought it in I gobbled it up. Thank you so much Jason for sharing this! It's quick and easy and get's great reviews! And yes in the picture I forgot the bacon, I actually made it accidentally without bacon but it was still great.

1 box jiffy cornbread use the box recipe then cool and crumble
1 can diced tomato's drained
1 bunch green onions diced
1 package bacon cooked, drained and crumbled
Mayonnaise

Mix crumbled cornbread,tomato's,green onions,and green onions together. Then add mayo to it until you get all the cornbread covered. This means about 2 big spoonful's for mine, mix well then chill.

Pioneer Woman's Cinnamon Rolls

I should first say I've heard rave reviews on these, but apparently I did something wrong. Mine were too sweet and coming from me that's saying something. But I'll post it and if anyone can give feedback would be appreciated, the dough tasted great!. Recipe courtesy of Pioneer Woman

Ingredients

• 1 quart Whole Milk
• 1 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1 cup Sugar
• 2 packages Active Dry Yeast
• 8 cups (Plus 1 Cup Extra, Separated) All-purpose Flour
• 1 teaspoon (heaping) Baking Powder
• 1 teaspoon (scant) Baking Soda
• 1 Tablespoon (heaping) Salt
• Plenty Of Melted Butter
• 2 cups Sugar
• Generous Sprinkling Of Cinnamon
• _____
• MAPLE FROSTING:
• 1 bag Powdered Sugar
• 2 teaspoons Maple Flavoring
• ½ cups Milk
• ¼ cups Melted Butter
• ¼ cups Brewed Coffee
• ⅛ teaspoons Salt

Preparation Instructions

Mix the milk, vegetable oil and sugar in a pan. “Scald” the mixture (heat until just before the boiling point). Turn off heat and leave to cool 45 minutes to 1 hour. When the mixture is lukewarm to warm, but NOT hot, sprinkle in both packages of Active Dry Yeast. Let this sit for a minute. Then add 8 cups of all-purpose flour. Stir mixture together. Cover and let rise for at least an hour.
After rising for at least an hour, add 1 more cup of flour, the baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir mixture together. (At this point, you could cover the dough and put it in the fridge until you need it – overnight or even a day or two, if necessary. Just keep your eye on it and if it starts to overflow out of the pan, just punch it down).
When ready to prepare rolls: Sprinkle rolling surface generously with flour. Take half the dough and form a rough rectangle. Then roll the dough thin, maintaining a general rectangular shape. Drizzle 1/2 to 1 cup melted butter over the dough. Now sprinkle 1 cup of sugar over the butter followed by a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.
Now, starting at the opposite end, begin rolling the dough in a neat line toward you. Keep the roll relatively tight as you go. Next, pinch the seam of the roll to seal it.
Spread 1 tablespoon of melted butter in a seven inch round foil cake or pie pan. Then begin cutting the rolls approximately ¾ to 1 inch thick and laying them in the buttered pans.
Repeat this process with the other half of the dough. Let the rolls rise for 20 to 30 minutes, then bake at 400 degrees (see note below) until light golden brown, about 15 to 18 minutes.
For the frosting, mix together all ingredients listed and stir well until smooth. It should be thick but pourable. Taste and adjust as needed. Generously drizzle over the warm rolls. Go crazy and don’t skimp on the frosting.
Note: My rolls don’t work for me at 400 degrees anymore. I now bake them at 375 degrees.

Spinach Artichoke Mushroom and Chicken Pasta

This is a fun recipe to make, because you can adjust it to your likings. If you want to change it up or add more or less of something it still turns out great


Chicken Tenders-Frozen or Not
Chicken Broth
Canned or Fresh Mushrooms
Canned Artichokes
Bag of fresh spinach
Capers-optional
Cooking Wine or Oil
Parmesan Cheese
Prosciutto
Pasta of choice-I use bowties
Garlic
Lemon Juice
Salt

Using cooking wine brown and cook the tenders I use about 4-5 depending on how hungry we are.Add prosciutto that you have cut into thin strips and then cut into chunks,cook till done. Then add spinach and garlic cook till wilted. Then add chicken broth, mushrooms,capers, and artichokes. I add enough chicken broth to cover my mix and a few shakes of the lemon juice bottle. Simmer for a bit, cook pasta then add together. Then add Parmesan cheese till you get a consistency you like. This takes me about 20 minutes to make from start to finish.

No Bake Cookies

This comes from an old fundraiser cookbook I had rediscovered, I had forgotten how much I love these things. But mine never end up stiff enough, but they all disappeared quickly!

2 c Sugar
1/4 c cocoa
1/2 c milk
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 tsp vanilla
1 pinch salt
1/2 c peanut butter
3 cups quick cooking oats

Mix in saucepan-sugar,cocoa,butter and milk. Cook on medium heat till mixture begins to boil, remove from heat. Cool 1 minute then add vanilla,salt,peanut butter, and oatmeal. Stir well, drop by teaspoon on wax paper and allow to cool.

Derby Cupcakes

In Kentucky we get excited about anything horse related, and since the Derby is right around the corner I got to thinking. I'm planning on trying to make these cupcakes below and try them out. Plus alcohol is always a plus in cooking. What do you think?

Kentucky Derby Cupcakes
More Derby Cupcakes

Photo courtesy Cupcake Project

Spinach Artichoke and Mushroom Quiche

Another adaption from Recipezaar that I did my own reworking's on, this got rave reviews from my co-worker who begged for it. Easy to make and tastes like something from a fancy restaurant.

Ingredients- Makes 2 Quiche's

• 4 garlic cloves, chopped
• 2 green onions chopped
• 1 bag spinach
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 7 ounces canned artichoke hearts, chopped
• 1/4 cup pine nuts, toasted
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 6 eggs
• 3 cups milk
• 2 cups asiago cheese, grated - I use whatever I have on hand usually mozzarella or a mix
• 2 pie shell 
• 2 small can's cut mushroom's

Directions

1. 
   
   
   
   

   Preheat oven to 375°F.

2. Sauté garlic and shallots in butter until softened, 1-2 minutes. 
3. Add spinach and sauté until wilted.
4. Add chopped artichokes, pine nuts, seasonings and remove from heat.
5. Pour into a large bowl to cool.
6. Add eggs, milk and cheeses, stirring to mix everything well.
7. Add to pie shell.
8. Bake 45 minutes to 1 hour or until set.

Olive Garden Style Minestrone Soup

This is an easy and tasty dish plus it's great if you are dieting. The recipe came from Recipiezaar and I adapted it to fit my needs.  I add a bit of Parmesan cheese to the top of mine and it reheats nicely as well.

 

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons olive oil or I use cooking wine/sherry
• 1 cup minced white onion (about 1 small onion)
• 1/2 cup chopped zucchini
• 1/2 cup frozen cut Italian green beans
• 1/4 cup minced celery (about 1/2 stalk)
• 4 teaspoons minced garlic (about 4 cloves)
• 4 cups vegetable broth (Do not use chicken broth! I was unable to find this at Walmart but my Kroger's had it)
• 2 (15 ounce) cans red kidney beans, drained
• 2 (15 ounce) cans garbanzo and white kidney beans drained- I do one of each
• 1 (14 ounce) can diced tomato
• 1/2 cup carrot shredded
• 2 tablespoons minced parsley- or you can do dried according to taste I just start shaking it in!
• 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper-I just use my grinder and do  a few turns since I'm not a pepper lover
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon  dried thyme
• 3 cups hot water
• 4 cups fresh baby spinach-I use a normal size bag
• 1/2 cup small shell pasta- I get the salad shell size

 

                                            

Directions

1. 
   
   
   

   Heat three tablespoons of olive oil/wine or sherry over medium heat in a large soup pot.

2. 
   
   
   
   

   Saute onion, celery, garlic, green beans, and zucchini in the oil for 5 minutes or until onions begin to turn translucent.

   

    

3. 
   
   
   
   

   Add vegetable broth to pot, plus drained tomatoes, beans, carrot, hot water, and spices.

4. Bring soup to a boil, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
5. Add spinach leaves and pasta and cook for an additional 20 minutes or until desired consistency.
6. Makes about eight 1 1/2 cup servings.

New Moon!

Tonight at midnight I'll be headed to Walmart with my goddaughter to pick up the New Moon dvd! Can you say yummy! At least the guys are now all legal so I don't have to feel so bad about looking at them. We did the midnight release of the last one and had a blast staying up and watching it. Tonight's plans include picking up the 13 year old, head to Walmart, return home and make pizza and cookies(her request) Followed by fawning and squealing over the guys and following by playing with the horses in the morning.Are you headed out tonight? Who's your favorite character? I'm an Alice fan but love looking at the guys!

Life and times

Well yesterday I got my official layoff notice, in two weeks I will be jobless. I'm looking at it as a good thing because after this semester there are 3 more left to graduation. So it will allow me to concentrate only on school which I've been neglecting due to work drama. But it does mean I'll have to work to get our monthly budget down, so look for this blog to start posting deals on groceries. I'll also try to show thrifty decorating tips and meals as I find them. Another goal is to have a garden this summer as well as learn to finally use my sewing machine. Hopefully this blog will finally get un-neglected!

A cookie recipe for you

Thought you might enjoy a copy of my favorite Christmas cookie recipe:

1 cup of water

1 tsp. baking soda

1 cup of sugar

1 tsp. salt

1 cup of brown sugar

lemon juice

4 large eggs

1 cup nuts

2 cups of dried fruit

1 bottle Jose Cuervo Tequila

Sample the Cuervo to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Cuervo again, to be sure it is of the highest quality. Pour one level cup and drink.

Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again.

At this point it's best to make sure the Cuervo is still OK. Try another cup...just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy.

Break 2 leggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the frigging fruit off floor. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver.

Sample the Cuervo to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt, or something. Who giveshz a sheet. Check the Jose Cuervo. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table.

Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner.

Finally, throw the bowl through the window, finish the Cose Juervo and make sure to put the stove in the dishwasher. CHERRY MISTMAS

Chicken Chicken

Since I'm in an apparent cooking bug/blogging mode today I'll share what I'm making for dinner tomorrow. This is one that can be made the night before and takes an hour to bake. It's easy and tasted divine! I got this from Christy over at Southern Plate. She has the best recipies and they are easy,cheap,and taste great! I highly suggest checking her out. Plus I love how "southern" she is and so enjoy reading her posts. Oh and this ranks good on the "husband scale" by that I mean my husband doesn't get excited over much but this got a "pretty good make it again ranking" that doesn't sound like much I know but from him it's high praise.

Chicken Poulet

• 2 chicken breasts, cooked and shredded
• 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
• 1/2 C Mayo
• 1/4 C Green Onions
• 4 eggs
• 1 stick margarine
• 2 Cups Chicken Broth (a )) ounce can
• 16 ounce pkg Peppridge Farm corn bread stuffing mix
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup water
• 1 can cream of mushroom soup
• Sprinkling of salt

Melt stick of margarine in cup of water by heating in the microwave. Place stuffing mix in bowl. Pour water and margarine over and stir. Add 2 eggs and chicken broth, stir.
In separate bowl, combine shredded chicken, mayo, and onions. Stir well.
Place 1/2 of stuffing mix in bottom of a 9×13 pan. Top with all of chicken mixture. Dash salt over chicken. Top with remaining stuffing mix. Beat together remaining two eggs and milk. Pour over mixture in pan. Cover and place in refrigerator for at least eight hours.
Before baking, remove cover and spread cream of mushroom soup over top. Place in 350 oven, uncovered, and bake for 45 minutes. Remove from oven and top with shredded cheese. Return for another five minutes, or until cheese is melted.

Beyond Awesome Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes

I got this recipie from Keeper Worthy Recipes and apparently it is from Martha Strewart's cupcakes(which I will be adding to my Christmas wish list. Really these things are better than well you get the idea. At least that was how my coworker rated them. Make sure that you inform your family though that the Oreo's are off limits. As my husband ate several and messed up my ratio he has hopefully since learned his lesson. I then what I had left in an 8x8 pan and baked but it was not as great as the cupcakes.

Cookies and Cream Cheescake Cupcakes


42 Oreos, 30 left whole, 12 coarsely chopped
2 lbs cream cheese, room temperature ( yes, 2 lbs)
1 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla
4 large eggs, room temperature,lightly beaten
1 cup sour cream
pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 275.

Line cupcake pan with paper liners,put I whole cookie in each cup.

With an electric mixer on medium-high speed, beat cream cheese until smooth, scraping down sides of bowl as needed. Gradually add sugar, and beat until combined. Beat in vanilla. Add eggs, a bit at a time, beating to combine and scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Beat in sour cream and salt . Stir in chopped cookies, by hand.

Divide batter evenly among cookie-filled cups, filling each almost to the top. Bake, rotating tins halfway through, until filling is set, about 22 minutes.

Transfer tins to wire racks to cool completely. Refrigerate (in tins) at least 4 hours or up to overnight. Remove from tins just before serving.


These will disappear quickly and are very easy to make. I'll add photos when I make them again which won't be long!

The View from My porch and Pumpkin Bread

Pumpkin Bread Recipie from Country Woman and Taste Of Home
This is my second batch and man are these yummy! Not too overpoweing and very moist!

Ingredients

• 3 cups sugar
• 1 can (15 ounces) solid-pack pumpkin
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 4 eggs
• 2/3 cup cold water
• 3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1-1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

• In a bowl, beat the sugar, pumpkin, oil, eggs and water until well mixed. Combine remaining ingredients; gradually add to pumpkin mixture and mix well. Pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. loaf pans. Bake at 325° for 75-80 minutes or until bread tests done. Cool in pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack. Yield: 2 loaves.