Good on anything!

Adams Reserve House All Purpose Rub is good on just about any type of meat you can grill.

We put it on chicken for grilled chicken salads.

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Jazz up a plain white cake

It is easy to jazz up a plain cake

This is what you will need:

• 1 prepared white cake mix.  You can also make it from scratch!
• your favorite jam. I used blueberry
• top with powdered sugar icing or use a syrup that is the same fruit as the jam.  I used blueberry syrup

Directions:

• After you mix the cake, pour half of the batter into a greased and floured Bundt Pan
• spread jam around the center
• pour remaining batter into pan
• follow cake mix directions for baking
• cool in pan for about 15 minutes then turn over onto a cooling rack
• When cooled completely, slice and arrange on a platter
• Drizzle with topping

Something amazing about green onions

I found out this bit of information from a very wise person {my husband :) }!

Green Onions will continue to grow!

If you mostly use the green part of the green onion then this post is for you.

Cut the green tops of of the onion and place the white part with the roots in a container of water.  The green will continue to grow and you can use it over and over.

I like to add the green tops to salad, mashed and baked potatoes, meatloaf, homemade pizza, soups, sauces  and beans, only to name a few!

Banana pudding in a Mason Jar

The next time you make banana pudding for guests, layer it in individual jelly jars.  I love having my own individual dessert made just for me, and so will your guests.  All you need to do is buy 1 jar per guest and follow the banana pudding recipe.  Layer pudding, cookies and banana's into 8 oz jelly jars.  You can even add a layer of whipped cream!

The Ball Quilted Jelly jars come with labels. For a  personal touch, label each jar with the name of your guest.  If you are a crafty gal, go ahead and tie a bow around the top of the jar.  Banana pudding is very easy to make and adding these little touches will make your guests feel welcomed!

You can find the recipe on the back of the Jello brand Banana Cream pudding box.

Kids Mason Jar craft

I have posted this before, and it is so much fun I'm posting it again!

Wishing Jars

Print instructions here

How to make wishing jars

You will need:


·        1 jar per party guest.  I used glass mason jars for canning
·        Glitter
·        Beads
·        Shells
·        Food coloring
·        Ribbons
·        Glue

Have each child decorate their jars and fill them with the items listed above.  Add two – three drops of food coloring into each jar.  Fill jar with water then secure lid tightly.  Shake the jar and make a Wish!

Cookies and ice cream in a Mason Jar

This is an awesome dessert and so Simple and Easy to make.

What you need:

• 1 pkg. ready made break and bake cookies.  I used chocolate chip, but use whatever is your favorite.
• 8 wide mouth 8 oz Mason Jars
• ice cream
• dessert toppings

What you do:

1. place 3 cookie portions in each Mason Jar and mash the cookies so they cover the bottom of the jar evenly. This works better when they are thawed and have been allowed to sit out of the refrigerator a little.
2. place jars on a sheet pan and bake at 375 for 15-20 minutes. Careful! the jars will be hot.
3. When the jars are cool enough to handle, top with your favorite ice cream and dessert topping and serve! These are best when cookies are served warm.

Display your Bath Salts in a Mason Jar

Layer your favorite bath salts in a Mason Jar and set the jar by your tub.  Make your own bath salts and, you can pick your own fragrance and color to match your decor!

Using a funnel makes it easy to layer the different colors.

If you want to try your hand at making bath salts this is how you do it.

What you will need

• Coarse sea salt

• Epsom Salt

• Glass canning jars or any jar of your choice with an air tight lid. 

• Food color of your choice (optional)

• Essential oil fragrance of your choice (optional)
  

What to do:Fill jars ¼ full of sea salt and ¾ full of Epsom salt.  You can use a little more or less of either salt.  Pour the salt from the jar into a bowl.

Now add the color and fragrance of your choice.  I start with 4 drops of color and 2-3 drops of fragrance and add more if needed.  The amount of color and fragrance you add depends on your personal preference.

Mix thoroughly to evenly distribute the color and fragrance.  Return to the jar.  Close tightly.

Embellish the jars however you like.  I like to use simple ribbon around the lid.

Don’t forget to label your jars.  You can go to Avery labels to design and print your own labels online.
Here is an example of the one I used

Bath Salts

Ingredients: Epsom salt, Sea

salt, food color and fragrance.

Dissolve three rounded

tablespoons of bath salt in bath

water.

Relax and Enjoy!

Brownie mix in a Jar

This is great for a teacher gift or a "Thank You" gift for a friend.

What you will need:

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

1 cup flour

1 cup baking chips of your choice.  I used chocolate chips

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 quart size wide mouth Mason Jar

Mix the flour, salt and baking powder together, set aside.  Using a wide mouth funnel, add the ingredients to the jar in this order: Sugar, cocoa powder, flour mixture and baking chips.  Close the lid tightly.  On a note card write the following, then attach the card to the Mason Jar with a ribbon.

Additional ingredients:

1 stick of butter melted

2 eggs beaten

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions for baking:

Preheat oven to 350.  Pour contents of Mason Jar into a mixing bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix together melted butter, beaten eggs and vanilla extract. Add to dry mixture and mix well.  Pour into foil lined pan sprayed with non-stick cooking spray.  Bake for 25-30 minutes. Test with a toothpick to make sure it is done.  Cool completely in the pan before slicing.  To slice the brownies, remove the foil and brownies from the pan and slice into squares. The brownies will slice evenly with little mess.  See pictures below.

Cupcakes baked in a mason jar

Great for a Birthday Party!!!!

Great for Easter!!!!

Make your favorite cupcake recipe. Instead of pouring the batter into paper cupcake wrappers, pour the batter into 24 - 4 oz Quilted Jelly Canning Jars.  Place the jars on a baking pan.  Bake the cupcakes the same amount of time specified in the recipe or package. Allow the jars to cool before touching.  They will be hot

Mess free tip for getting the batter into the jars:  Using a gallon size ziploc bag, Fill it with the batter and cut the tip off the corner.  Pipe batter into the jars.

Easy way to fill the bag with batter: Place the Ziploc bag into a plastic container, I use a 2 quart pitcher, spoon batter into bag then close.

Dump Cake in a Jar!

DUMP CAKE IN A JAR

What could be better than your own little cake in a jar? Here is what you will need to make this easy, simple, delicious cake.

4 - 8oz Mason Jar

1 cup cherry pie filling

1 cup crushed pineapple

1/2 cup flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 tsp salt

4 tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

mix well the flour, sugar, and salt in a bowl.  Place 1/4 cup each of the pie filling and and crushed pineapple in to each jar.  pour 1/4 cup of the dry ingredients into each jar.  Top each jar with 1 tbsp butter

Place jars in a pan and bake at 350 for 1 hour. The jars will be very hot!!! When cooled, top with whipped cream and serve.  If you don't eat all of them don't worry.  Put the lid on the jar and store it in the refrigerator for up to a week.

You can also substitute the pie filling and pineapple with fresh fruit.

Cake in a mug?

Chocolate cake in a mug

Ok, I had heard a lot about a cake in a mug, so I tried it. I had my doubts, because it is cooked in the microwave.  What I found was that it was easy to make and didn't taste bad.  This would be a great thing to do with kids, If you don't mind the mess!  Print the recipe and try it!

Here are some things you can add to it:

1. 3 tblsp of your favorite baking chips before you cook it
2. mini marshmallows on top after it is done
3. whipped cream and sprinkles
4. a peppermint stick

Make sure you watch it while it is cooking so you don't over cook it!

Great Mothers day gift

I love this bag!
One base bag with many different styles of shells that can be changed as often as you like.  There are 3 easy steps to picking the style that is right for you.

1. Pick the base bag that you like.  There are 4 sizes to choose from.
2. Pick your favorite shell that fits your base bag.
3. Slip the shell onto your base bag and you are ready to go.

I have one base bag and 4 different shells to change the look.  I love that I don't have to take everything out of my bag when I want a new look. The shell is easy to put on and remove. The inside has several pockets so it is easy to keep everything organized.

There is FREE shipping for Mothers Day, so click the picture above and start shopping!

Simple and Easy Salad, FREE recipe!

Need a salad in a pinch?

I always seem to forget about washing the lettuce until right before I'm about to make a salad.  So when there is no time to wash the lettuce and wait for it to drain, I make this  easy cucumber tomato salad with homemade Italian dressing.  This salad also makes good leftovers.  The longer the vegetables sit in the dressing the better it is.

For the salad
3 cucumbers peeled and cut into chunks
4 roma  tomatoes cut into chunks

For the dressing
2 oz. red wine vinegar
4 oz extra virgin olive oil
1 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp dried parsley
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp dried oregano
salt and pepper to taste

combine all ingredients in a Salad Dressing Mixer.   Pour desired amount on salad and store the rest in the refrigerator.
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Save time and money with this tip! Free printable

Mondays' Money Matters

Last minute cooking emergencies

Have you ever had to host something at the last minute or had a bunch of your childs' friends show up hungry?  Have you ever wanted to bake a dessert or make an entree and realize you were out of something?
I have and most of the time I ended up going out to the store unprepared to pick something up.  When I go to the grocery store unprepared, I usually end up spending way too much money.
These last minute cooking emergencies are going to happen to all of us, so lets make certain that we are prepared! We can do this by having a well stocked pantry.

How will having a well stocked pantry save you money?
A well stocked pantry keeps you from unplanned trips to the grocery store.  Most often these unplanned trips cause you to spend more.  I found that I impulse buy more if I am unprepared and feel rushed.  I would not have time to check prices and usually end up buying prepared meals that cost more.  Let's not forget about the cost of the gas you use going to the store over and over.  When I need just one thing from the grocery store, I never come back with just that one thing!  A well stocked pantry will keep your grocery store trips to a minimum and save you time and money.

Print the pantry list and start stocking those items!

Tips for stocking your pantry

• check the store sales and stock up of your pantry items when they go on sale
• if there is something your family likes to eat, make sure you always have it on hand.
• stock your pantry over time.  You don't need to buy everything at once.
• each week, buy a few items from the list
• start with buying the items your family uses often

more money saving tips

Fluffy Pancakes FREE recipe

Sundays' Sustenance

Buttermilk Pancakes

My family loves pancakes and bacon for breakfast.  The best part about it is, you can double the batch an freeze the leftovers.  Leftover pancakes are perfect for a fast breakfast before school and its not loaded with sugar like some of the cereals.  My favorite pancake recipe comes from the ultimate southern living cookbook.
They are the most fluffy delicious pancakes I have ever tasted.

Tips for making pancakes

• Going to have a busy morning?  Mix all the dry ingredients together the night before and store in an air tight container. All you need to do the next morning is add the wet ingredients.
• Cook the pancakes on and Electric Griddle.  You can make more at one time and the temperature is consistent through the end of the batch.  I use to make these in a pan one by one.  By the time I got to the end of the batch, the pan had gotten so hot that they burned!
• They freeze well and are just as good after you thaw and heat them.  To freeze the pancakes, lay them out on a cooling rake and place in the freezer.  After they have frozen, store them in a freezer Ziplock bag.  They will keep for about a month, but I doubt they will last that long.!!! Your family will eat them up before then.
• sometimes I add a little cinnamon or vanilla to the batter before I cook them.
• to serve, dust with powdered sugar and pour on your favorite syrup.  I like Smucker's Blueberry Syrup the best!

  

Here are some other toppings you can try out:

Marshmallows – that have been warmed up              
Lemon Icing
Raspberry jam
Strawberry jam
Orange marmalade
Toffee sauce
Caramel
White Chocolate Sauce
Flavored Butters
Sausage Gravy
Goat Cheese and Strawberry Jam
 Fresh Strawberries                                                 
Mashed Banana and Brown Sugar                    
Ice Cream and Chocolate Sauce
Apricot jam
Flaked coconut                                                                               
Fresh mint
Fruit compote
Lemon curd
Hot fudge sauce
Chopped peaches
Blackberry sauce
Apples and Cranberries
Peanut butter and jelly
Applesauce
Cocoa powder
Marshmallow Fluff
Cinnamon
Apricot Preserves
Ice Cream
Nutella
Bananas and walnuts
Banana and Honey
Rosehip Jam
Bluberry Jam
Butter and Nutella
Apple Sauce and Cinnamon                                       
Jelly
Bacon
Tofu
Peanut Butter and honey
Honey Butter
Pineapple Syrup
Blueberry Syrup
Yogurt
Cream Cheese
Sour Cream
Chocolate Chips


Buttermilk Pancake recipe

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Fast and simple ways to clean a Bathroom

Saturday, so I have to do these!

Cleaning the Bathroom

We all have them and they all need to be cleaned.  If you have children, the bathrooms can get down right yucky.  Cleaning the bathroom is my least favorite chore.  I take shortcuts wherever possible so I won't spend  a lot of time doing it.  Here are a few things that could speed up your cleaning time, so you can get back to doing the things you enjoy.

• keep a toilet brush next to the toilet in each bathroom
• Pick one day of the week to clean your bathrooms. In between those days, be sure to wipe down the sinks and counters to keep the dried toothpaste to a minimum.  This will make cleaning your sinks and counters faster.
• Keep your cleaning supplies together in a bucket or tube.  I keep a set of cleaning supplies upstairs and one downstairs.  

Here are the things I use to clean the bathroom.

•  multipurpose cleaner- for sinks, counters and toilets
•  glass cleaner- for mirrors and shower doors
•  soft scrub- for the tub or shower
•  roll of paper towels and cleaning rags
•  old toothbrush- for scrubbing tough spots

Now for the cleaning!

1. Pour a little multipurpose cleaner in the toilet bowl, let sit while you clean the rest of the bathroom.
2. Clean the bathroom from top to bottom
3. Start with the mirror.  I use cleaning rags for the mirrors, counters, sinks and tubs.  That way, I can reuse them in the other bathrooms. This helps cut down on my laundry.
4. Clean the sinks and counters next with the multi purpose cleaner.
5. Clean the tub and shower next. use a plastic juice pitcher to rinse the tub and shower walls
6. Clean the outside and the rim of the toilet with the multi purpose spray. Work your way from the outside of the toilet to the inside.  I use paper towels to clean the outside and rim of the toilet, then toss them in the trash when I am done.
7. Grab the toilet brush and clean the bowl.  When you are done, let the brush drain into the toilet by placing the handle between the seat and the bowl.  This will keep the water from collecting in the brush holder.

You are done!!!!!  

Wasn't that fast?

You are probably wondering.... Why didn't she say anything about the floors?  That is because.....

I have another day that is devoted to cleaning just the floors.

Remember:  Cleaning up everyday messes, like toothpaste in the sink, when they happen will make your cleaning day a lot easier.

Happy Cleaning!!!!

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6 ways to use a Ziplock brand bag plus FREE RECIPES

Friday's Favorite Thing

Ziplock Brand bags

I love these bags!  They can be used for so many things.  My pantry is stocked with a variety of different sized Ziploc bags.   I find that I am always reaching for a Ziploc bag, every time my children need to store something.  Did you know that Ziploc Bags can be recycled!  That's right, but don't put them in your curbside recycling.  Take them to your local grocery store that recycles plastic bags.  I love things that can be recycled.  Sometimes I even wash and re-use the bags that have had dry goods in them.  I never re-use the ones that have stored meats or been in the freezer.  I bring those to my local grocery store to be recycled.

Here are 6 ways I use a Ziploc bag:
mixing ingredients for meat loaf, meatballs or hamburgers
     Here is my recipe for meat loaf
   

3 pounds ground beef

1 cup grated Romano cheese

1 1/2-tablespoon onion flakes

2 tablespoons parsley flakes

1 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/4 teaspoon sage +a pinch

5 eggs

1-cup bread crumbs

1-cup celery chopped fine

3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

1/4 teaspoon oregano-crushed

1 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon pepper

Mix all ingredients in a 2 gallon Ziploc bag.  Make sure to remove the air from the bag before you zip it up.  Divide into two 1 ½ lb loaves.  Bake at 350 degrees until  it reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees on an instant read Thermometer  according to the USDA. I cook mine to 17o degrees, then I usually let my meat loaf rest covered for about 10-15 minutes.

If you don’t want to eat them right away, you can either freeze the loaves raw or freeze them after you cook them. Be sure and freeze them in a Ziploc freezer bag..

Extra Extra!!! This recipe also makes awesome meatballs for pasta.


Use a Ziploc bag to pipe frosting onto cupcakes or cakes
Fill the Ziploc bag with frosting, remove the air and zip up.  Move all the frosting to the corner of the bag.  Snip the tip off of the corner with scissors and pipe the frosting in a circular motion from the outside of the cupcake to the center.


Here is my favorite chocolate cake recipe from Swans Down Cake Flour

America's Favorite Chocolate Cake Cook Time: 1 hour and 25 minutes

The Ingredients:  1/2 cup and 3 tablespoons unsweetened Dutch-processed cocoa  1 cup boiling water  3 eggs  2 teaspoons vanilla  2-1/4 cups and 2 tablespoons Swans Down Cake Flour  1-1/2 cups sugar  1 tablespoon baking powder  3/4 teaspoon salt  3/4 cup (1-1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened

Baking Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Whisk together cocoa and water; cool. Set aside. Combine eggs, 1/4 of the cocoa mixture and vanilla. In separate bowl, combine dry ingredients; add butter and remaining cocoa mixture. Mix on low speed to moisten. Beat on medium speed 1-1/2 minutes. Gradually add egg mixture in thirds mixing well after each addition. Spread batter into 2 prepared 9-inch layer pans. Bake until tester inserted comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes. Cool cakes in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool. Frost with favorite frosting.

Use a Ziploc bag to hold small toy pieces 
 They are great for holding the pieces that come with toy sets like LEGO  and Polly Pocket.   We all know those small pieces will end up all over the house if not contained.  If everything is keep together, your child will be able to play with the set more often.  With the lego toys, keep the instruction booklet inside the Ziploc bag.  Everything will be in one place when they want to build the set again.


Break up crackers or cookies into crumbs 
Place crackers or cookies into a gallon Ziploc bag..  Remove the air and seal.  Using a Bakers Rolling Pin, roll over the crumbs until they are the crushed the way you like them.  Use them right away or store them in the freezer for later use. If you store them in the freezer, be sure to use a Freezer Ziploc bag,

Organize craft supplies

• paints and brushes
• crayons, markers, and pencils
• ribbons, yarn and string
• Scissors and tape
• Craft Glitter and glue

Make homemade ice cream!
Here is the recipe from family fun

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup half and half
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup salt (The bigger the granules, the better. Kosher or rock salt works best, but table salt is fine.)

• Ice cubes (enough to fill each gallon-size bag about half full)
• 1 pint-size ziplock bag
• 1 gallon-size ziplock bag

Instructions

1.     Combine the sugar, half and half, and vanilla extract in the pint-size bag and seal it tightly.

2.     Place the salt and ice in the gallon-size bag, then place the sealed smaller bag inside as well. Seal the larger bag. Now shake the bags until the mixture hardens (about 5 minutes). Feel the small bag to determine when it's done.

3.     Take the smaller bag out of the larger one, add mix-ins, and eat the ice cream right out of the bag. Easy cleanup too! Serves 1.

How-to video


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