Category: MISC

Watchin' What We Eat Wednesday ~ Meatloaf Muffins

MEATLOAF MUFFINS
1 pound lean hamburger
1 box onion and mushroom stove top
1 teaspoon minced garlic, Jar
2 eggs
1 cup water

  • Mix all together and then divide amongst 12 muffin cups.
  • Bake at 350 degrees 40 minutes.

2 weight watchers points each

I do the memes: Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie, Favorite Ingredient Friday hosted by Kathryn at Overwhelmed with Joy, Freezer Food Friday hosted by MJ at mjpuzzlemom, Scrumptious Sunday hosted by Meredith at Mercedes Rocks and Slow Cooking Thursday hosted by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Doing them all make great additions to help keeping me on track and finding so new recipes!
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QUILT CAMP CONTINUES

We stayed up late last night reading, chatting and watching an old movie so Am is getting a bit of a late start today on her quilt. It makes me smile though. We have her all set up at the kitchen table with my old sewing machine, all her cut squares, her instructions, the ironing board nearby and she is singing away to her iPod as she creates her squares. She is making great progress.

Her first finished square ever.

Underground Mine Tour in Vulcan but we didn’t see MR. Spock

We took advantage of the wonderful weather and decided to trek to Vulcan (unfortunately Mr. Spock didn’t join us) for the Underground Iron Mine tour here in the U.P. The first time we tried to do this, we hadn’t brought jackets and even in July they are a necessary evil. As you progress down the mine (400 feet deep and 1/2 mile underground) the temperature drops to 42 degrees almost immediately! So this time we brought jackets and stayed toasty for the tour.


The mining began as exploratory in 1837 when Michigan became the 26th state and took MANY years to produce a profit.


The mine was closed after WWII in 1945 when the prices for iron took a drastic drop and the mine could no longer make a profit.

Am was so chilled she even covered her ears!

P.S. Note to those who actually care about common courtesy and respect for others: If you are taking your children on a tour that requires others to pay for their tickets, then please curtail your small children’s activities and speech. No one spends their hard earned money to go on a tour to NOT hear it or see what is going on because of your inability to discipline your children and keep them respectful of others.

Quilt Camp Update – Makes me Smile

We stayed up late last night reading, chatting and watching an old movie so Am is getting a bit of a late start today on her quilt. It makes me smile though. We have her all set up at the kitchen table with my old sewing machine, all her cut squares, her instructions, the ironing board nearby and she is singing away to her iPod as she creates her squares. She is making great progress.

Her first finished square ever.

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Underground Mine Tour in Vulcan but we didn't see MR. Spock

We took advantage of the wonderful weather and decided to trek to Vulcan (unfortunately Mr. Spock didn’t join us) for the Underground Iron Mine tour here in the U.P. The first time we tried to do this, we hadn’t brought jackets and even in July they are a necessary evil. As you progress down the mine (400 feet deep and 1/2 mile underground) the temperature drops to 42 degrees almost immediately! So this time we brought jackets and stayed toasty for the tour.


The mining began as exploratory in 1837 when Michigan became the 26th state and took MANY years to produce a profit.


The mine was closed after WWII in 1945 when the prices for iron took a drastic drop and the mine could no longer make a profit.

Am was so chilled she even covered her ears!

P.S. Note to those who actually care about common courtesy and respect for others: If you are taking your children on a tour that requires others to pay for their tickets, then please curtail your small children’s activities and speech. No one spends their hard earned money to go on a tour to NOT hear it or see what is going on because of your inability to discipline your children and keep them respectful of others.

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The Revival of a Family Sunday ~ Breakfast through Dinner

We’re changing up the menu plan a bit! The catch to dinner: My recipes, but the teenager has done all the menu planning (which she hated making choices – said it was hard work), shopping, prep work, cooking and clean-up. On the Menu: Toasted French Toast for breakfast and for dinner, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Garlic Smashers, Home Made Carrot Cake she made a gourmet meal that was quickly devoured! We used multi-grain and sourdough for the French toast and it was truly scrumptious.




TOASTED FRENCH TOAST ~ We hate soggy French Toast and this recipe conquers that.
8 slices thick white bread
1 1/4 cup milk
5 egg yolks
1/8 cup flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

  • Toast bread, but not browned.
  • Preheat griddle and coat with a small amount of butter.
  • Whisk together the egg yolks, milk, salt, vanilla, butter and cinnamon.
  • Whisk in flour until smooth.
  • Pour milk mixture into a baking dish.
  • Soak bread pieces for a few seconds on each side.
  • Grill for several minutes on each side until golden brown.
  • Serve with warm maple syrup.

SMASHERS
6-8 small YUKON potatoes, skin on
1 tablespoon sea salt
1 teaspoon white pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 stick butter, melted
2 teaspoons minced garlic
olive oil

  • Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees
  • Scrub potatoes
  • Boil potatoes until tender
  • Generously spread olive oil on cookie sheet
  • Space potatoes a couple of inches apart
  • With a potato masher, SMASH each potato
  • Sprinkle with salt, pepper and paprika
  • Melt butter and mix butter and garlic together
  • Pour a tablespoon of butter mixture over each potato
  • Bake 30 minutes or until tops are crispy
CHICKEN CORDON BLEU
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts*
2 tablespoons butter, softened
4 thin slices cooked ham
4 thin slices swiss cheese***
1/2 pound bacon (8 slices)
2 jumbo eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup flour
3/4 cup bread crumbs
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon minced garlic, jar
1 teaspoon oregano

  • Flatten chicken breasts.
  • Spread butter evenly on the tops.
  • Smooth garlic evenly amongst the 4 breasts.
  • Sprinkle the thyme evenly between the four breasts.
  • Top with a slice of ham and then a slice of cheese.
  • Roll up tightly.
  • Wrap 2 slices of bacon around each one and secure with toothpicks.
  • Whisk together the eggs and milk in a shallow bowl. Place flour in another shallow bowl. Combine the bread crumbs, oregano and cheese in a 3rd shallow bowl.
  • Dip each chicken breast in the egg mixture first, then the flour, then the egg mixture again and the crumb mixture last.
  • Place on a greased cookie sheet.
  • Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
  • Don’t forget to remove the toothpicks before serving.
*For really easy servings, I lay the bacon on the cookie sheet and cut the flattened breasts in half. On top of 1/2 of the bacon strip lay a chicken piece, top as directed and then lay the other chicken breast. Bring the other 1/2 of the bacon slice over the top and bake as directed. NO ROLLING AND NO TOOTHPICKS!

***I also use Muenster or Gruyere if that is what I have on hand.

SCRUMPTIOUS CARROT CAKE with CREAM CHEESE FROSTING
CAKE
2 1/2 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1 cup packed golden brown sugar
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 cup butter, softened
3 Jumbo eggs
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup golden rum*
3 cups grated carrots
8 ounce can crushed pineapple, drained well
1 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

  • Pour rum over raisins and set aside for at least an hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  • Grease and flour 2-9 inch cake pans.
  • In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and sugars.
  • In another bowl cream together the butter, brown sugar, vanilla and 1 egg. Add additional eggs and beat until well creamed.
  • Add dry ingredients gradually until well blended.
  • Add carrots, pineapple and walnuts until well blended.
  • Drain raisins and fold in last.
  • Pour batter into prepared pans.
  • Bake 1 hour or until toothpick comes out clean.
  • Cool 10 minutes.
  • Invert cakes onto rack and cool completely.

*As an option you could soak the raisins in orange juice instead and then substitute 1 teaspoon maple flavoring for the rum.

FROSTING
16 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
juice of 1 lemon
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
3 cups powdered sugar

  • In a medium bowl beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
  • Add lemon juice and vanilla. Beat until blended.
  • Add powdered sugar gradually until well blended and smooth.
  • Ice first layer and then add 2nd cake top and ice again including sides of cake.
  • Refrigerate 1 hour to set icing before serving.

Hash Brown Casserole – A Sunday Brunch favorite

1 bag Oreida potato shreds hash browns
2 cups diced ham
1 medium onion, chopped or diced
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup whole milk
6 eggs
4 tablespoons butter, cut into small chunks
2 cups grated cheddar cheese

  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees
  • Toss together the potatoes, onion and ham.
  • Whisk together the soup, milk, eggs and 1/2 of the cheese.
  • Coat a 9″ x 13″ baking dish.
  • Spread mixture into dish.
  • Top with butter chunks.
  • Bake for 1 hour.
  • Top with remaining cheese and bake until cheese starts to brown.

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Have and Have Nots

I saw this a while back over at Mercedes World.

Everything that I have done is in purple. 120 haves and 80 have nots!

It’s long but I hope you enjoy it.

1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
4. Changed a baby’s diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain up a trail
9. Held a tarantula
10. Said “I love you” and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game
17. Walked the stairs to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Bet on a winning horse
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath does a shower after the 1994 earthquake?
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
42. Visited Ireland
43. Ever bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Done something you should regret, but don’t
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Accidentally bounced a check & then bought a calculator
68. Read – and understood – your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden GateBridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon I have been to the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
< /span>86. Changed someones mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair highlighted
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all four
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
108. Brought out the worst in people
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where four people asked for the recipe
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway (or equivalent to your country) play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
120. Gone to an arboretum
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden on a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn’t need
126. Ridden a giraffe or elephant
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
131. Asked for a raise
132. Made a hole-in-one
133. Gone deep sea fishing
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf does body surfing count?
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury

suite
140

. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo’s David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
157. Found an arrowhead or a gold nugget
158. Written a poem
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
160. Gotten food poisoning
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Hiked the Grand Canyon – been to the Grand Canyon
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
166. Worn knickers
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books
171. Been stuck in an elevator I would freak out
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone’s life
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to tat, smock or do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a c
ashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood or plasma
188. Built a campfire
189. Kept a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter’s Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik’s cube
196. Know CPR
197. Ridden in or owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Responded to a NJP newsletter

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Hachette Books Giveaway at Bookshipper

Attention all readers you NEED to check out this giveaway contest at Bookshipper sponsored by Hatchette Books.
Hachette Book Group was generous enough to offer to send to the winners of this contest a total of 14 books (yes! all fourteen of them) to EACH winner. Here is a list of the great books you could win:

Hachette Book Group USA Summer Reads Giveaway:

Fact over Fiction:
The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston, $25.99
(ISBN: 0446581194 Read an Excerpt Listen to an Excerpt
View the Video Author Website * Audio Book Available)

The Preacher and the Presidents by Nancy Gibbs , Michael Duffy, $14.99
(ISBN: 1599951045 Read an Excerpt * Audio Book Available)

Fiction:
Swine Not? by Jimmy Buffett , Helen Bransford, $21.99
(ISBN: 0316035599 Author Website Listen to an Excerpt)

Historical Fiction:
Miscarriage of Justice by “Kip” Gayden, $22.99
(ISBN: 159995687X Chapter Excerpt)

Memoirs:
Trespassers Will Be Baptized by Elizabeth Hancock, $21.99
(ISBN: 1599957086 Author Website Reading Group Guide)

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not by Trish Ryan, $19.99
(ISBN: 1599957132 Author Website Reading Group Guide )

Reading Group Recommendations:
A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand, $24.99
(ISBN: 0316018600 * Audio Book Available)

Barefoot by Elin Hilderbrand, $13.99
(ISBN: 0316018597 Chapter Excerpt Reading Guide 1 * Audio Book Available)

Made in the U.S.A. by Billie Letts, $24.99
(ISBN: 044652901X Read an Excerpt * Audio Book Available)

Off Season by Anne Siddons, $24.99
(ISBN: 0446527874 Listen to an Excerpt * Audio Book Available)

Romance:
A Rose by the Door by Deborah Bedford, $6.99
(ISBN: 0446677892 Chapter Excerpt)

Remember Me by Deborah Bedford, $6.99
(ISBN: 0446690430 Chapter Excerpt Reading Guide 1)

Thriller/Mystery:
Child 44 by Tom Smith, $16.00
(ISBN: 0446402389 Child44book.com Chapter Excerpt
* Audio Book Available)

Close by Martina Cole, $24.99
(ISBN: 0446179965 * Audio Book Available)

Here is how you can enter! Simply leave a comment on this post about ANY of her previous book reviews. She will automatically give you one entry. If you post this contest on your blog page, you will get two entries and if you put my blog name on your permanent blog roll, she will give you an additional 5 entries. They will be picking 5 winners, using Random.org, and each winner will receive all 14 books – free of charge, of course. Hachette Book Group will mail them directly to the winners.

This contest closes on July 31, 2008 at noon Eastern time. Please note that this contest is open to both Canadian and US residents. So check back on the 31st of July.

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