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

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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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National Corn Dog Day!!!!

Wednesdays' What-not

I never would have guessed that there was a National Corn Dog Day, but there is.  National Corn Dog day will share March 17th with St. Patrick's Day.

Load up on Corn Dogs or make your own, with the help of Alton Brown, and have a party.

For more on National Corn Dog Day and party ideas, go to National Corn Dog Day.

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Green menu for St. Patrick's Day

Tuesday, time for family

Make St. Patrick's Day fun!

Go green all day

Here is a full days menu of green meals you can serve your family this St. Patrick's day.

Breakfast

Add green food coloring to the following and serve with kiwi fruit, honeydew melon or granny smith apples.

• milk for cereal (Lucky Charms of course!)
• scrambled eggs
• homemade biscuits 

Lunch

• Add green food coloring to white cheddar Mac and Cheese.  
• Serve it with green beans, peas or broccoli.

Dinner

• salad with green leaf lettuce, green onions, celery, and green bell pepper.  Don't forget the green salad dressing!
• spinach fettuccine pasta with pesto sauce

Dessert

Luck O the Irish Cupcakes

• add green food coloring to white cake mix and a jar of white icing.  
• Draw a clover on the top with green gel icing

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5 tips to save money today

Monday's Money Matters
No Money Tree in my backyard.  How about you?

I am always looking for ways to keep more of the money we make.  With today's economy, you probably are too.  Here are five simple ways we save money each day.

1. Everyone in my family brings a lunch to work or school everyday.  When I added up the amount of money we were spending on lunches each day, I was SHOCKED to say the least. Lunch for my husband and I cost about 10 dollars each.  Lunch for my children (and I have three) is about 5 dollars each.  Both of those costs are per day.  Add them all up and we were spending around 35 dollars a day for lunch!  I though that was just crazy!
2. Make your favorite coffee drink at home instead of going to the local coffee house and paying around 5 dollars for one coffee.  Your local grocery store chain should carry all the coffee flavorings and the whipped cream, so you can make your own at home.  Need it to go?  Buy a travel coffee Mug  . You say there is no time in the morning to make it?  Get the coffee pot ready to go the night before, and set out all of the ingredients for your coffee. If you spend at least 5 dollars a day on coffee house coffee, then making your own will be a 35 dollar a week savings!
3. Stop going to the dry cleaner.  Purchase a good iron and ironing board and do your own. I have the Shark Professional Iron and it works great!  I also buy the concentrated starch instead of the spray starch in the can.  I found that the spray starch would only last about 2 weeks and they were about 3 dollars a piece.   Sta-Flo Liquid Starch - 1/2 gallon doesn't cost much and it lasts for months because it is concentrated.  You will need to purchase a 32 oz spray bottle to mix the starch and water.  I add 1 cup of starch and fill the rest of the bottle with water. We spent about 25 dollars a week on my husbands dry cleaning.  By doing it myself, I am now saving that 25 dollars a week! See video below on how to iron a shirt
4. Instead of buying bottled water each week from the store, buy a re-usable water bottle for everyone in the family.  To be honest with you, it has been so long since I bought bottled water I would not be able to tell you how much they cost now. Add up how much you spend on bottled water and see how much of your money you can keep by buying a re-usable water bottle .
5. PAY CASH for as much as you can.  It hurts more to part with your cash in hand then it does to give someone a credit or debit card to pay.  These are the things we pay cash for; clothing, food, gas, car maintenance, pet supplies, haircuts, cosmetics, and gifts.

Try these tips out and see how much you can save

Here is the video

How to iron a shirt

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