Winter Treats

Being the crazy busy family that we are. Did I mention crazy? We have a couple Sunday traditions that I treasure. First of all my cute husband cooks breakfast for the family. I am not sure when this started. We all look forward to Sunday morning. Then we go to church and come home to whatever is in the crock pot. And finally we sit around and watch Amazing Race or some other family show together while eating whatever the kids have convinced me to make.

Lately they have been begging for this chocolaty treat! They are so easy to make it is awesome!

I almost published this without the recipe! That would not have gone over well.

Heat together over medium heat in a large heavy pan:

Large bag of marshmallows

1 cube of butter

1 bag of milk chocolate chips (you can use semi-sweet)

1/4 Cup of light corn syrup

add to this a box of Golden Grahams Cereal. It will be quite stiff.

Spread into a buttered 9x13 pan.

Kicking off the Season

I entered this darling swap today! I love the idea that I can use what I have in my home! Tons of darling fabric and one of my favorite books! The whole thing sounds so fun to me. Go enter, SARAH!

Here are the answers to the questions they asked me to post...

What are your hobbies? Sewing, taking pictures, and reading

What are your favorite colors? Red and Robbins egg blue

Do you collect anything? cookbooks and fabric

Are you allergic to any fibers or animals? cats!

Do you have any pets? 2 dogs a 9 year old yellow lab and a 1 year old golden retriever

Coffee, Tea, or Chocolate? Herbal tea and CHOCOLATE!

What do you like to read? Almost anything. Quilting magazines and photography magazines.

Do you prefer Cookies or Candies as a sweet? Peppermint candies!

What is your favorite holiday treat? hot chocolate in the early morning with a candy cane in it!

Describe your favorite holiday tradition. Reading the Nativity story from 2nd Luke by the lights on our Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

Did you believe in Santa as a child? Oh yes! Until I was at least 10. My mom made it MAGICAL!

When do you open presents? One on Christmas Eve the rest Christmas morning.

Do you put up a tree and when? If not, how do you celebrate? I love to put our tree up the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Does your tree have a theme? Not to the average eye. But I received an ornament every year from both my grandmother and mother. So it is really a tree of my history! I do the same for my children now and so does my mom!

What has been your favorite gift to give? to receive? I like to make handmade gifts. I think the soft quilts are the most fun to give. And to receive I would say I love anything...but I really do like handmade gifts!

Sewing!

My little Missy has been taking sewing lessons @ http://simplestitchesschool.blogspot.com/. She has loved it and learned so much! Like a french seam! I don't even know how to do that.

So when her friend was having a birthday party she decided to make her a gift!
Along with sewing skills comes her confidence. With things like ironing!

And pinning!

The only draw back is that she sews on a Bernina at class so she is all about using mine!

All in all pretty darn cute huh? Her friend loved it!

I love that she is developing a talent that she will use her whole life!

Taquitos

One of our family favorite meals is taquitos. Years ago I learned to make them at the side of a sweet women named Berta! She made the best food ever. I was shocked at just how simple these really are.

Ingredients:

4 chicken breasts

1 tbls kosher salt

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp cumin

canola oil, about a cup

40 small corn tortillas

Boil the chicken breast until cooked through, drain water and let cool. After cooled shred the chicken into small pieces. Add salt and spices mixing to distribute evenly.

Add oil to a large skillet heat over barely medium high.

OK here is where it gets tricky! Take 2 paper towels and place 5-6 corn tortillas on top. Wrap them up and put them in the microwave for 45 seconds. Take them out and open them up, like a cute little present!

Ok so now take a couple pinches of chicken and set them on the on edge of the tortilla and roll VERY tightly. Then you oh so gently set them in the skillet of warmed oil. Being sure to hold the rolled tortilla seam side down so that it will seal shut!

Now do that over and over until you finish them all warmed tortillas. Then you wrap up the next bunch and warm them up. When they are done the ones in the skillet should be ready to roll over.

I always add mine to the right. So that the one on the left is ready soonest. I never switch this routine. Does that make me crazy?!

This should be served with some serious guacamole!

avocados

tomatoes

green onions

a little red onion

cilantro

lime juice

salt and pepper

jalapenos if you are brave!

Rough chop all these and stir together! Real guacamole NEVER has mayo or sour cream in it!

Berta said so!

OH! And by the way, Berta does not soften her tortillas in the microwave. Nope, she holds them over the open flame of the burner. HELLO?

Tour de Cure

Yesterday I went to Tour de Cure I didn't ride but my cousins did.

I still had lots of fun though I hula hooped and, went in the bouncy house.

I also waited at the finish line for all the people who rode (in my family).

For the people that don't know what Tour de Cure its where you go on a bike ride there is the fun run 25 miles 60 miles and 100 miles.

The bike ride is to raise money to find a cure for diabetes.

There where only port- a- potys and they were gross.

Apple Muffins with Praline Glaze

These muffins are incredible! They are not very sweet at all without the glaze and so very moist. So if you are looking for a simple muffin that works for a breakfast this is it! With the glaze it is decadent! Try them!!

First of all I toasted the nuts. You can use either walnuts of pecans but let's be real pecans are better! I toast them at 350 for about 10 minutes, just scattered on a cookies sheet.

For the muffins

1 Cup sour cream

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tbl vanilla

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp cinnamon

1 1/2 cup chopped apple

1 cup chopped nuts

Mix sour cream and sugar together. Add eggs and vanilla. In a separate bowl mix together the dry ingredients then add them to the sour cream mixture. Fold in apples and nuts. Make sure to spray you muffin tins well. Bake at 350 for 22 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then transfer to baking rack that has been placed over a large cookie sheet. (like the picture)

Glaze

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup dark brown sugar

heat butter and sugar together in a small pan over medium heat. Bring to boil and continue cooking for about a minute, stirring constantly. Drizzle over muffins. Let muffins completely cool then enjoy!

Simple Sunday

Hebrews 13:15

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifie of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Help!

OK friends I need some help! There is the contest on Facebook at my favorite Realtors office!

Tiger Ladies Real Estate

So truth be told this is my cute Mother in law and my even cuter sister in law! Yep I went there! They recently opened a brand new office! They truly rock. If you need any buying or selling your house call them! I promise they are incredible!

The contest is for a gift certificate to Ruth's Chris! I entered it the very first day I could. Not so much because I wanted to win but rather I wanted them to win. Each person who "likes" their page is a potential client. BUT the contest ends the day before my husbands 40th birthday! What a great way to celebrate!

As it gets closer to the end of this competition I am suddenly having some stiff competition. I could really use some help. If you are on facebook will you go through the steps to "like"

Tiger Ladies Real Estate?

Which is located about halfway down the page on the left hand side of the page. It is in that facebook script you know? THEN you need to look to the RIGHT and you will see a post saying it's contest time, about two comments down. Then you click on view comments....THEN you click "like" on my comment!

Phew!!! I know that this is a lot! But pretty please help me out??

And here is where you can find

The Tiger Ladies Real Estate Blog

Spare Some Time to Sew?

Happy Chemo Sew-In Charity Event!



This service project is being offered at my favorite quilt shop! I adore Quilters Haven!

I know that this is something that women will truly appreciate. My dear sister battled breast cancer for 13 years before passing away. I did not live near her when she had her last relapse. I wanted to do something for her. I made her a simple flannel tie quilt. She loved it! She took it to treatment with her every time.

If you have a sewing machine and can sew a straight stitch come sew.

If you have fabric you would like to donate call me and I will come get it.

I hope some of my crazy family and friends can make it!

Simple Sunday

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me

It's a New Year

Some years I would set goals knowing I would never attain them.

Some years I set goals believing this was the year to attain them.

Some years I set no goals.

This year I decided to set only attainable goals. Things that were very important to me. Things I knew that were significant enough that I would think of them often.

Basically I have 3 goals for the year.

First, and in very important order!

To become closer to and live a more Christ centered life. To focus on things that will bring me closer to Him. Thngs that will bring my family closer to Him. Actions that will share with others without question my testimony of Him.

Second,

To become more disciplined in my life. I am not going to break this down into tiny goals. Rather the goal is to not procrastinate so much. To finish what I start. To organize the closets more often. To spend more time with my family. To not put off the things I don't want to do. Then I will have more time to do the things I do want to do!

Third,

To make my health a priority. This past year I was blessed beyond imagination. I was relieved to find that I do not have the BRCA gene mutation that my dear sister had. That my other sister has. That my darling niece has. I was in a car accident that could have been so much worse. I feel like I have a strong healthy body and I need to take better care of it. That my whole family is stong and healthy. But that if we don not make our health a priortiy it may not always be that way.

I plan to move more. Eat more healthy food and less junk. Sorry kids that means less cookies for you!

A dear friend who is amazingly strong (actually in all the areas I have set goals for myself) recommended this book to me. Yep Martha I mean you!

http://www.amazon.com/Younger-Next-Year-Women-Strong/dp/0761147748/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1293928822&sr=1-2

It is one of those books that makes you really stop and think. I am not 50 yet and have really been enjoying it. Do not wait until you are 50 to read it. The information in it are things you can and should be doing today.

So that's it for me.

Be more Christlike

Be more self disciplined

Eat better and move more

Good luck to you in any goals you may have set!

I think 2011 is going to be a great year!