tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62521476624053425612024-03-14T04:57:04.764-05:00The Crazy ApronEat a little crazy!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger76125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-91530695624456944342012-08-20T12:13:00.000-05:002012-08-20T12:13:51.513-05:00<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Absolute Easiest Way to Clean Your Sink!</b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You've seen the soap, vinegar, salt, lime/lemon technique for cleaning your sink, but I'm here to tell you it's <i><b>so</b></i> much easier than all that! My husband and I own an eco-friendly cleaning business, and the absolute best way to clean your sink is with 2 simple ingredients. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Start with a dirty sink. Okay, I know this isn't *that* bad, but if you look near the bottom left and right, you'll see some gunk in there. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This technique works for MUCH dirtier sinks, but after reading so many silly and involved techniques to clean sinks on pinterest this morning, I ran into the kitchen to clean mine, so that I could share it immediately. I promise this works with the nastiest of sinks!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Like I said, we use this technique for our business, so we see it all!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX83ePYUAydmak3cDeyyhTHKgivu2zbLbhblKaj7HdmTLDN4mByKOXbquryC0iYCKFIotydmZEe_2Fx4VlvGbkoURfKD-fIkZpb56189YhqqsN0X8tpd4yOOgUmUg9U_9a3zXLfavW38/s1600/1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKX83ePYUAydmak3cDeyyhTHKgivu2zbLbhblKaj7HdmTLDN4mByKOXbquryC0iYCKFIotydmZEe_2Fx4VlvGbkoURfKD-fIkZpb56189YhqqsN0X8tpd4yOOgUmUg9U_9a3zXLfavW38/s400/1.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0BkfapfBDN-3NFTAnezoudK3r_3fczozJ8hm4pX4h7QEdwo-QK4uM9pWocoLCUFf4nZFTXQWInTh_hietK1MtTn3ZcgacdHlBMxMmb6aW6qJQQAAkvDh2fd6OfPpZP4nlN1MB7d4AP4/s1600/2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0BkfapfBDN-3NFTAnezoudK3r_3fczozJ8hm4pX4h7QEdwo-QK4uM9pWocoLCUFf4nZFTXQWInTh_hietK1MtTn3ZcgacdHlBMxMmb6aW6qJQQAAkvDh2fd6OfPpZP4nlN1MB7d4AP4/s400/2.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Here's what you'll need: </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Baking soda, a paper towel, and some water</b>. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yep, that's it!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KQAMfQ54v-ZTiMyg0FZIwHuHxVSawcVRJVjZ9uGly8DxtaOT427W9aQrjvnsExAFwDCEZ90mFSVllignrspFoBmdnOY_gcJjvv-jBfeVrxNXLGj3bOlR_NOBCy0-A-m0PeWYi5ZrQaM/s1600/3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KQAMfQ54v-ZTiMyg0FZIwHuHxVSawcVRJVjZ9uGly8DxtaOT427W9aQrjvnsExAFwDCEZ90mFSVllignrspFoBmdnOY_gcJjvv-jBfeVrxNXLGj3bOlR_NOBCy0-A-m0PeWYi5ZrQaM/s400/3.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Sprinkle on some baking soda. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TDzv31dEZAvDArgB2X4NtBhIs3VkSDQaatLGtRbodw5P5UzkgEB-S4fXeTkXUgEmFBabHjzP_uaed8QjIQoIk3EnR-HZNcvfLzwVPrvWeyGg_P6zfeltm1bDciX_SjcFLkuLEoVEh94/s1600/4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_TDzv31dEZAvDArgB2X4NtBhIs3VkSDQaatLGtRbodw5P5UzkgEB-S4fXeTkXUgEmFBabHjzP_uaed8QjIQoIk3EnR-HZNcvfLzwVPrvWeyGg_P6zfeltm1bDciX_SjcFLkuLEoVEh94/s320/4.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Wet a paper towel with water, and start rubbing in circular motions. The granules in the baking soda will start scrubbing, but will break down in just enough time to prevent any scratching.</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you're having any trouble at all, wet the paper town some more. It should be pretty wet, but not so wet that you can't move the baking soda around. Just experiment with it! </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Scrub until the sink feels smooth and you don't see anything else. Wet another paper towel (or rag) and use your sink sprayer to get off the excess soda. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dry with paper towels. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxCjPiqkcy_FKAmpXLBRqScUxlvDmamXhuL0dAwA0-1t_Wi_ZrcDeWYbSnNvNlxs7GggcwGWpyMHSRR6QA15OyMMchhcpDPwQB2ALhC8aQpveK40xX3ezJGTXTLXTxbtkpGPEh2UWflE/s1600/5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSxCjPiqkcy_FKAmpXLBRqScUxlvDmamXhuL0dAwA0-1t_Wi_ZrcDeWYbSnNvNlxs7GggcwGWpyMHSRR6QA15OyMMchhcpDPwQB2ALhC8aQpveK40xX3ezJGTXTLXTxbtkpGPEh2UWflE/s320/5.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Super shiny, super clean!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The tiny scratches in my sink were there when we bought the house. Don't judge! ;) </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7jwdeOhc3BSHqgaov5wExAgLOm0N4AvVFmQzWsw58ca1IfbTE5WEOKSPnaX048oFtZpwoJB83NHM51wyJUlv0OKuAqe90dWbh6HLrGpG-7jlLyqEHsUwsldf3toy4W8IP5htvaMYU4M/s1600/6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK7jwdeOhc3BSHqgaov5wExAgLOm0N4AvVFmQzWsw58ca1IfbTE5WEOKSPnaX048oFtZpwoJB83NHM51wyJUlv0OKuAqe90dWbh6HLrGpG-7jlLyqEHsUwsldf3toy4W8IP5htvaMYU4M/s320/6.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Perfecto!!</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>***If you see ANY cloudy looking residue, it means you've left some baking soda on the surface. Rinse and dry until it's all gone. If you rinse well enough the first time, you won't encounter any residue. If you want to follow with any soap or vinegar you can, but I don't do this at my own home. </i></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-14086713110298664622012-02-25T21:57:00.001-06:002012-02-25T22:01:35.676-06:00Quick Fix Dinners<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Valentine's Day has come and gone, and if you're anything like me, you're still in recovery mode. We don't do the chocolate candy thing, but we do a lot of cooking that involves sticks of butter (you read that right, sticks is plural), chocolate covered strawberries, cookies, calories, fat, and butter. Did I mention butter?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Speaking of butter, the very mention of the stuff made me wonder how many pictures I have on my blog that involve butter. To find out, I just googled, "crazy apron, butter" and here are a few of the things that came up, from my website:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFaGWjifEsAPOP_mZrA_b_37L2Zd_OeKiMI4UyWmrgog-UpbrgnX2OTMu_jKlIQHc3OmoMwLQVp7KOy9RDdRriB4xWX-ZhArRAh38qtJe5DBoCk8Ck7Nirfo_iUZQj0NVRI6cKJE6h6E/s1600/BUTTER1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgFaGWjifEsAPOP_mZrA_b_37L2Zd_OeKiMI4UyWmrgog-UpbrgnX2OTMu_jKlIQHc3OmoMwLQVp7KOy9RDdRriB4xWX-ZhArRAh38qtJe5DBoCk8Ck7Nirfo_iUZQj0NVRI6cKJE6h6E/s320/BUTTER1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Orange Honey Butter (above and below)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29K1MVYCM2u02ibTuung3YyiN61OilWzpQnXVhMoDY_vBdq5UU1UrC9xnrxOtTJPtH8eDq5mGQCVB4PWaZhFDAzsGn9VL9E6vmz2jXhY8BAp-OMTB7xhIdZPJxGYBXLpiqfQy2wF67So/s1600/BUTTER2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh29K1MVYCM2u02ibTuung3YyiN61OilWzpQnXVhMoDY_vBdq5UU1UrC9xnrxOtTJPtH8eDq5mGQCVB4PWaZhFDAzsGn9VL9E6vmz2jXhY8BAp-OMTB7xhIdZPJxGYBXLpiqfQy2wF67So/s320/BUTTER2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhse3-kK5kYfuA7idHwk8duabibKdBhaRV86jRC2YSjMXXEJvk5TWvUr5QRPfVAi9GTWORZCk3NEIH9Zk3bRNH9lYrWojg9vBcD0c4CtNe6_DIpx1lZLJia1RNVgXN4-lBv9InVC041_MU/s1600/BUTTER3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhse3-kK5kYfuA7idHwk8duabibKdBhaRV86jRC2YSjMXXEJvk5TWvUr5QRPfVAi9GTWORZCk3NEIH9Zk3bRNH9lYrWojg9vBcD0c4CtNe6_DIpx1lZLJia1RNVgXN4-lBv9InVC041_MU/s320/BUTTER3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Above: Random picture of butter (I have no idea why I'd take a picture of this.)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKT1PCU9fDbMY2VdRC4HYC_uZW6CU9mDnyWUV-xe4otY5rrfLNkduGGDzZQ3wOZ2TrIX2PdPORxthhir_91EWbrT2ILdsPlRFZ6BrNoYLEEUkFrZ1X6YxVXNd3E5QTyP84n359Du8SQk/s1600/BUTTER4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTKT1PCU9fDbMY2VdRC4HYC_uZW6CU9mDnyWUV-xe4otY5rrfLNkduGGDzZQ3wOZ2TrIX2PdPORxthhir_91EWbrT2ILdsPlRFZ6BrNoYLEEUkFrZ1X6YxVXNd3E5QTyP84n359Du8SQk/s320/BUTTER4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Butter on a muffin. This was obviously not during a Weight Watcher's episode!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ9cOnhbBKQZmb4tOOt3F-rPejmtDjtjDgXrnw9WZYhzbNur4oMLTcNEidQoFp-wjxX34LW8-VmuB_nSiNQ2Hk0m5KCOwG_DEwbV_qEwKozhbq63_yOB86Xw0riERf9kG7doBSvCbv8o/s1600/BUTTER5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZ9cOnhbBKQZmb4tOOt3F-rPejmtDjtjDgXrnw9WZYhzbNur4oMLTcNEidQoFp-wjxX34LW8-VmuB_nSiNQ2Hk0m5KCOwG_DEwbV_qEwKozhbq63_yOB86Xw0riERf9kG7doBSvCbv8o/s320/BUTTER5.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> A MASS amount of butter, melting on a skillet!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdA9LolYAT4UhhoAP3jI1ZwR2N-NfucKOMqMwDsZ2uc3sKaJQGJFK0GPujPHcojqbf9CImdXdDzIEv3S84moULV0_4sIdgIkkuAR2dCE8ozVXtSxYR2C9RmYAFxcFN3K7786_iw6AhOY/s1600/BUTTER6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdA9LolYAT4UhhoAP3jI1ZwR2N-NfucKOMqMwDsZ2uc3sKaJQGJFK0GPujPHcojqbf9CImdXdDzIEv3S84moULV0_4sIdgIkkuAR2dCE8ozVXtSxYR2C9RmYAFxcFN3K7786_iw6AhOY/s1600/BUTTER6.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Cornbread batter. All that butter on the bottom seeped up to the top. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3idokbpfgt2ZA7B16qRr5aA0DImXlVTZ1_TKem0kWzPzy4ifIDxASaYxdAAnIvArCDoCamYtvJxx-gP4cVuMGon1219tkL1QxeBAovgvUf7nZ5VvZL4LNBj2QhfrOymgZHA0AP4H3Lek/s1600/BUTTER7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3idokbpfgt2ZA7B16qRr5aA0DImXlVTZ1_TKem0kWzPzy4ifIDxASaYxdAAnIvArCDoCamYtvJxx-gP4cVuMGon1219tkL1QxeBAovgvUf7nZ5VvZL4LNBj2QhfrOymgZHA0AP4H3Lek/s320/BUTTER7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> More Orange Honey Butter.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOLfZMFwVER-tWbBHYwZ2TkQBTea3DW6hHMZI0aNUQYiX4WQUmt3nKxiM9Ch0UQEWedbGemZIh7jwoq6FDXM3jDymr25uoLdxpb6Obe-NjoaJ5qpQqIxxeG9_Ae903kzH4GdFvWPb0_I/s1600/BUTTER8.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSOLfZMFwVER-tWbBHYwZ2TkQBTea3DW6hHMZI0aNUQYiX4WQUmt3nKxiM9Ch0UQEWedbGemZIh7jwoq6FDXM3jDymr25uoLdxpb6Obe-NjoaJ5qpQqIxxeG9_Ae903kzH4GdFvWPb0_I/s320/BUTTER8.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Butter again. Shocking, isn't it?</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">But here's what I'd like to know. . .how do those of you who have kids manage to SURVIVE? We do not have kiddos yet, and our lives are always crazy busy. One of my favorite things to do is cook a nice meal. It makes me feel good to put food on the table that's healthy, fresh, and typically something I popped up out of thin air. It's a pride thing, and I love doing it. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Even when I'm looking for a quick fix at the grocery store, I'll bypass all the junky stuff because the ingredient list is horrendous. I mean, what do they put in that stuff? I'm pretty sure I'd rather not know, thank ya very much! Even still, there are a few brands (very few, but a few nonetheless) that I buy on occasion and absolutely love. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #cc0000; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">So here's what I'm saying -- Right now I happen to be on a Weight Watchers kick, which means butter is not getting much attention these days. </span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few super fast and healthy dinners that frequent our dinner plates:</span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b>Pizza (several ways). Bake @ 425F for 8-10 minutes. Cook directly on middle rack.</b></u> </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">1. Pita bread, pasta sauce, fresh basil, and mozzarella. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">2. Pita bread, pasta sauce, thin sliced bell peppers, sliced olives, cheese.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">3. Pita bread, basil pesto, rotisserie chicken, cheese.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">4. (My fav) Pita bread, - make wing sauce (made with melted butter and louisiana hot sauce to taste - about equal parts, maybe slightly more butter though. Add rotisserie chicken to wing sauce to coat), add chicken/wing sauce to pita and top with mozzarella cheese (or blue cheese if that's your thing).</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">**All pita bread can be subbed with your favorite tortilla -- even thin tortillas work excellent!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b>Breakfast for Dinner</b></u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Dice up your favorite (or leftover) vegetables (I like bell peppers, onions, and spinach) and cook over medium with a little olive oil or butter. Add a few eggs and stir around. You can add some milk, half and half, or water, but just add a splash. Serve over corn tortillas or with hot sauce.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b>Chicken Nuggets</b></u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My absolute favorite go-to meal these days are these lovies. . .</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSE6dsYQrsYldP8jUU5-Q2FzV0shB6X8cpT2CUGHcT20jaKXZ-YWS7bHzc3b-L9OPwDoKgw-SlDsgHgZVPnqftzOohB0o-sFxv6YQb-URNAZXAyrX_flMYiAqMkZCS5K4AifzIUmmJJw/s1600/Nuggets-Banner.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNSE6dsYQrsYldP8jUU5-Q2FzV0shB6X8cpT2CUGHcT20jaKXZ-YWS7bHzc3b-L9OPwDoKgw-SlDsgHgZVPnqftzOohB0o-sFxv6YQb-URNAZXAyrX_flMYiAqMkZCS5K4AifzIUmmJJw/s320/Nuggets-Banner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I grabbed this picture from their website, since I devoured the nuggets I made. See, since Chris and I don't eat out or buy the typical frozen food anymore, we miss out on some of the stuff we grew up with, like chicken nuggets. Sure, I try to make them from scratch sometimes, but that can be really time consuming, and I was actually giddy when I tried these bad boys! Chris dipped his in honey and it was love at first bite (for both of us, actually). These things are seriously delicious, and the very best part is that they use real, natural ingredients. Oh, and they're gluten free! Chris and I have been through 2 family-sized bags in less than a week. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's the ingredient list: <span style="font-size: small;"><i>"Chicken, Water, Corn Starch, Salt, Extract Of Oregano, Battered And Breaded With, Water, Rice Flour, Tapioca Dextrin, Corn Starch, Salt, Spices, Spice Extractives, Extract Of Paprika, Extractive Of Turmeric, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Ground Celery, Breading Set In Canola Oil."</i></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b><span style="font-size: small;">Nachos</span></b></u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Look, I know this doesn't sound healthy at all. I'm suggesting things like, "hot dogs, pizza, chicken nuggets," and now, "nachos," but bear with me here! These things don't have to be unhealthy! It really depends on the brand. </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>In the case of nachos, you don't need to buy much. Just grab some chips and throw on whatever you want with cheese. Queso is good, but I can't ever find any without rennet, and since I'm usually not up to making it from scratch, I just throw on some shredded cheese (horizon or organic valley offer rennet-free, if you're wondering). </i></span></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><u><b>Hot Dogs</b></u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Okay wait! Come back! I know what you're thinking . . . HOT DOGS? Eww! Okay, maybe that's just what I'm thinking. Let me be clear, hot dogs absolutely disgust me, because we all know what's in them! Or wait, do we? I guess what's the gross part, we really don't know what's in them, and we don't <i>want</i> to know either! We just know it's gross and that's enough. Chris and I stopped eating hot dogs for years because of that very fact, but then we found something. We found a brand that isn't junky and the ingredients are actually very amazing. Can you use the word amazing in reference to a hot dog? You can. I did. They are!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm going to have to race on this brand - Applegate Farms. Heard of them? I hadn't until maybe last year. I ran across their turkey bacon (that's another story for another day) and almost died when I finally found bacon without weird ingredients and phosphates.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway, back to hot dogs. I like the applegate brand since the ingredient list is this: <i><span style="font-size: x-small;">"Organic Grass-fed Beef, Water. Contains Less Than 2% Of The Following: Sea Salt, Organic Paprika, Organic Dehydrated Onion, Organic Spices, Organic Nutmeg Oil, Celery Powder."</span></i> and they are filling, more lean, super tasty and organic! Sweet deal, my friend!! Add a little sour kraut and you've got protein and veggies!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Since we've been lucky to even have a lunch at all these days, fast and easy is what it's all about! <i><br />
</i></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-77918761628370400192011-11-01T12:19:00.000-05:002011-11-01T12:19:14.258-05:00Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries Divorce<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You've heard about this right? Apparently Kim Kardashian has filed for divorce against her new husband, Kris Humphries. I'm all for marriage, and I happen to be in one that continues to exceed my expectations in every good way possible, but while I wish this couple all the best, I can't help but to say. . . DUH!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> I don't know anything about their relationship other than what their show displays, but those episodes were almost painful to watch. Did you see them?? Was it the production team and editing that made Kris Humphries look like such a jerk? Did we only see the bad side of their relationship? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQ4rxudm27bzAjP0An10jlXRayFqg9oxCV8QexJ-z2MUF1SeSXOZfGAO34o0yGEqWSgwvK5KV7fBJNLKp_oCkU2alcw_3ObaF9rEtGsIP3ylYDDqxov3DsDwllsieu1QUArmjSkRkzeE/s1600/kim-kardashian-kris-humphries-split.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOQ4rxudm27bzAjP0An10jlXRayFqg9oxCV8QexJ-z2MUF1SeSXOZfGAO34o0yGEqWSgwvK5KV7fBJNLKp_oCkU2alcw_3ObaF9rEtGsIP3ylYDDqxov3DsDwllsieu1QUArmjSkRkzeE/s1600/kim-kardashian-kris-humphries-split.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Look, I didn't know my husband for quite a year when we got married, and we were engaged a lot sooner than that. I know you can meet, fall in love fast, and get married almost immediately and maintain a successful, happy marriage. They said they were in love, I get it. I'm not saying things like this can't happen, but the show gave the impression they barely knew each other at all, and even that her family couldn't stand him, really. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Who knows what the reality of this show really is. The "jerk" side of this guy came off as a reality check to a friend of mine. She felt Kris Humphries wasn't a jerk at all, but a good dose of reality for Kim. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Either way, I really do wish them the best. And who knows that the next issue of People won't be about their reconciliation, or that it will turn out a total hype and they are actually very happy! I tend to believe they didn't do this marriage thing for show, and actually were in love, or thought they were. Marriage take humility, and if you don't have it, you have the opportunity to learn to have it! It's easy to assume you should just give up on marriage if the other party isn't doing their part, but it's difficult to force yourself to focus only on yourself and not what you feel your spouse is doing wrong. Hopefully these 2 will work things out. I wish them all the best!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQm137UPxkpNdnFTbL4Ew9ejjZ3rRs1RKayFGpOY0OVRWskOOww2G4fRLiOhaW6n5nfId4z36E1M5nKBVFXsXad83WAREL7-iAq-RZZDUylLzO2fqT2pHodBujVUctQyLQiYay1QZDX8w/s1600/IFWT-KIM-KRIS.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQm137UPxkpNdnFTbL4Ew9ejjZ3rRs1RKayFGpOY0OVRWskOOww2G4fRLiOhaW6n5nfId4z36E1M5nKBVFXsXad83WAREL7-iAq-RZZDUylLzO2fqT2pHodBujVUctQyLQiYay1QZDX8w/s320/IFWT-KIM-KRIS.png" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-12876269855510473662011-10-30T00:06:00.001-05:002011-10-30T00:10:06.584-05:00Soul Cakes<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">We're all about Halloween in our household, and this recipe is also all about Halloween. Read the history <a href="http://www.talksaboutfood.com/post/1483245205/soul-cakes-garrison-keillor-a-new-halloween">here, </a>and then get busy making these bad boys! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My husband and I saw one of those cool Halloween episodes on Food Network last year and he's been trying to get me to make them ever since. October has been the busiest month for our business (and life in general), so I haven't done much Halloween cooking. In other words, I owe him. I owe him big time.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So tomorrow night, the night before Halloween mind you, I'll be making soul cakes so that he can wake up and eat them for breakfast on Halloween morning. So, with that said, I haven't made this recipe yet, but it looks amazing! I figured I'd share Caroline's recipe with you guys. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Please let me know if you try it and how it turns out! Email me your pictures, or comment and give me a link to your blog about it and I'll share it in a post. Life is all about sharing . . . and chocolate, but that's another post!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here's one of Caroline's gorgeous pictures of her soul cakes, taken straight from her blog at <a href="http://www.talksaboutfood.com/post/1483217098/recipe-soul-cakes">Talks About Food: </a>Check her out!!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-91459098833855334912011-10-02T16:16:00.000-05:002011-10-02T16:16:47.260-05:00Halloween Things to ComeHey Halloween people!! Look, I know you're probably here because you're looking for some really amazing halloween blog, and you came here, and you see a blonde cartoon chick with an apron, and a blog filled with all kinds of light blue, pink, and various flavors of cupcakes. This isn't the blog you thought it was, I get it.<br />
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BUT WAIT!! Please don't go! Let me exceed your expectations. I am obsessed with Halloween food, decorations, clothes, and everything else spooky. Last year, I changed my entire blog to just Halloween things, and this year won't be much different. I may look all girly, but there will be ghosts, pumpkins, food, crafts, and creepy things.<br />
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Here's a list of things to come in the next couple weeks:<br />
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* How-to guideline on making the EXACT pumpkin that is on the Halloween movies. This is an exact replica, and it now sits on our fireplace and haunts me when I play checkers with my husband every night. I hate that stupid thing, and I'll share it so your wife (or husband, or kids, or whoever else) can hate you too!<br />
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* Ghost food. I get that that makes no sense, but we're a little obsessed with ghost related things in my house, and I happen to love to cook. This means I make almost every meal in our house ghostly in the month of October. More to come..<br />
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* Sweet junk that will rot your teeth. Sweet halloween junk that is! Pumpkin desserts I make every year, how-to pumpkin things, peeps marchmallow things, and even healthy junk thrown in the mix (sorry but it's a must.)<br />
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* Random fall crafts. Sorry, but it's not just Halloween time, it's also Fall. Our church has a Fall Festival coming up, and I need to make all kinds of weird things, so get ready because it's coming!<br />
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* Random pictures of Halloween things I find and love. The latest is a peppermint batty.. like a peppermint patty but shaped as a bat. GENIUS. <br />
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* Pictures of junk in our house. Creepy things my husband loves to scare me with, and cute little decorations alike. LOTS of halloween things to come!<br />
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But as for right now, this 29 year old chick needs to get off the computer and do something meaningful with her life, like watch a Berenstain Bears Halloween DVD with her husband.PS: I also own this book:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_n9q2yKRFvPD82eDaPoWqEPX3F929tNmciGQEjx46nZPVFUKA_oBZLcKKV15STU-znfEoT62oRj9dVKdrnKko0LasiYBjM7dHMZtqNKJcv3k2TQdiIKcC73z03jdn50p7q08GAbo1Ys/s1600/Berenstain-Bears-300x299.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht_n9q2yKRFvPD82eDaPoWqEPX3F929tNmciGQEjx46nZPVFUKA_oBZLcKKV15STU-znfEoT62oRj9dVKdrnKko0LasiYBjM7dHMZtqNKJcv3k2TQdiIKcC73z03jdn50p7q08GAbo1Ys/s1600/Berenstain-Bears-300x299.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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In the meantime, I'll leave you with this:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGMVz8a-ZlXX6k_0TKUU9pye_WUVQkpYJEzBuSROuNG7RcUp4kW_j0o7R6smSshAkz0QF_uRcU_oLx_h3iVeuEaQ-ktLpS4KEEJUB5YrdtOhpwYLmksNsq2P3LfIRMVq-yrMP9HJdXlU/s1600/peppermint+batty+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwGMVz8a-ZlXX6k_0TKUU9pye_WUVQkpYJEzBuSROuNG7RcUp4kW_j0o7R6smSshAkz0QF_uRcU_oLx_h3iVeuEaQ-ktLpS4KEEJUB5YrdtOhpwYLmksNsq2P3LfIRMVq-yrMP9HJdXlU/s400/peppermint+batty+2.jpg" width="285" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-84813037231078330732011-09-11T15:30:00.000-05:002011-09-11T15:30:09.818-05:0010 Years Since 9-11<div style="text-align: center;">Has it really been 10 years? Where did the time go? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sept 11, 2001 -- I remember waking up to the phone ringing. My best friend called to tell me about how one of the twin tours has been hit by a plane. I couldn't hardly make her words out, but I knew she wasn't making any sense. We live in Texas, and yet somehow, I could hear the fear in her voice. She's the strong one in our group, and yet she sounded utterly terrified. Her voice was trembling as she mentioned what has just happened. I ran down the stairs of my parents house and turned on the news. Together, we watched in silence. All I heard on her end were sniffles and whimpers every now and then. Together, we watched the 2nd plane hit the other tower. We gasped together in shock. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwaXTHesTWhsKha2-E98LyXx6TzN96nzz1dYzzo3fMMfU5CInBNqhHdOyscNkhu2fVtzfUV_ng80eUfu7NoFtrIwh-iERzIj6PsJrNeGLX9caDGntcgfaFE3dysrIcPVSLNVgWQuv6BU/s1600/american-flag-2a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwaXTHesTWhsKha2-E98LyXx6TzN96nzz1dYzzo3fMMfU5CInBNqhHdOyscNkhu2fVtzfUV_ng80eUfu7NoFtrIwh-iERzIj6PsJrNeGLX9caDGntcgfaFE3dysrIcPVSLNVgWQuv6BU/s320/american-flag-2a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
To know people were dying right there, out of nowhere was more than I knew how to wrap my mind around. To see people jumping from 90 stories and above, because they had to choose between that or burning alive, was just too much for my 19 year old mind to comprehend. The image of people jumping still burns in my mind today, and I have chills as I type this. We continued to watch as the first tower fell, and then the second. We were horrified in knowing another plane crashed into the Pentagon, and then that another plane was in the midst of being hijacked and that it eventually crashed into a field. All we both knew to do was cry. I sat in a fetal position and felt myself shaking. I was home alone, my brother was at school and my parents were both at work. For us, it was just another day, as we were doing our normal routine. For them, it was the worst day of their life. I felt scared for my family's safety and even my own. We weren't anywhere near areas that had been hit, but were were affected. The whole world was affected. I needed to be closer to my family, and I didn't know how to even feel about this situation, other that total fear, disbelief, and extreme sadness. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It shook my world. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">As the days after passed slowly, more news came out. The plane that crashed into the field took down the terrorists. Details emerged that heroes inside the buildings were carrying handicapped and elderly people down 50 flights of stairs. As victims fought to get down the twin tour stairs, they passed fire fighters going up. Firefighters who never made it back down those stairs. Instead, they will forever be remembered as heroes. Stories about 2 men who worked in the 80 something floor came out. They saved people on their floor, and so many people in the floors above them, and yet didn't make it out alive. Instead, they stayed until the end, saving people who would have died otherwise. Spouses, children, mothers and fathers, and siblings all told stories about their loved ones calling them while on board Flight 93. How they vowed to save so many others by taking the terrorists down. Who knows how many lives were saved because of those brave people!? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I lied awake last night, praying for all the people who's lives were changed because of 9-11, and as the saying goes, "I will never forget!" I'll never forget to keep praying for them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rb07UwhkZnRB5r_Cas2ulHQzqAJmMH5byY6pZuwCrqyM0qkqWd3rUufbQV1A443z7ZqbNNaEkDgDFW0rLTlKWkwxK_5xE6zn9w3nGe9ijvhlg6mRVsqgEM1zyRf6J6oa9dwnkEp8sm0/s1600/victims-of-9.11.2001.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Rb07UwhkZnRB5r_Cas2ulHQzqAJmMH5byY6pZuwCrqyM0qkqWd3rUufbQV1A443z7ZqbNNaEkDgDFW0rLTlKWkwxK_5xE6zn9w3nGe9ijvhlg6mRVsqgEM1zyRf6J6oa9dwnkEp8sm0/s320/victims-of-9.11.2001.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> I'll never forget that there were so, so many heroes who's stories didn't make the headlines. There were so many victims who didn't live to tell about the hero that died trying to save them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I'll never forget to keep thanking God for our ability to come together in the midst of something to awful.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcm12CCjH3tmSHRvXOKxQAI1phXpIgyAyprNO9CyEUxalHbQk-t6RjsLV5fwcpMTrNnJ46VJNdptMjYC8TLahxxDhdAYYcxFFSRi1IpwnVGB1FkKUub7jvU5-ReFVEdWjgPveUg3RxxA/s1600/iwo-9-11-final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvcm12CCjH3tmSHRvXOKxQAI1phXpIgyAyprNO9CyEUxalHbQk-t6RjsLV5fwcpMTrNnJ46VJNdptMjYC8TLahxxDhdAYYcxFFSRi1IpwnVGB1FkKUub7jvU5-ReFVEdWjgPveUg3RxxA/s320/iwo-9-11-final.jpg" width="275" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"> I'll never forget each and every story of those who lost a hero, so that we could gain one. </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-17627189178529190252011-08-18T12:06:00.000-05:002011-08-18T12:06:20.871-05:00Popcorn Chicken w/ Honey Mustard Sauce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2b6UekVCP25mWPPrAAosVdZHK3H0dXLHOBV7A-_lhxJJDUzSC2veh15cMgc6Es2jDYNfIW8EKHk0oinQ6jbTfbZNvmfY7kf-ssUSylHFJYbdClwn8nQisxMCFQ4DCec6fRqrpDtXvTo/s1600-h/IMG_7422.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh2b6UekVCP25mWPPrAAosVdZHK3H0dXLHOBV7A-_lhxJJDUzSC2veh15cMgc6Es2jDYNfIW8EKHk0oinQ6jbTfbZNvmfY7kf-ssUSylHFJYbdClwn8nQisxMCFQ4DCec6fRqrpDtXvTo/s400/IMG_7422.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I normally like to take pictures of each step, or at least a few pictures of some steps, but this recipe is just way too easy. </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><u><b>For the chicken</b></u>, all you need to do is grab a couple boneless, skinless, chicken breasts and cut them into bite sized chunks. Crack an egg into a bowl and whisk with a fork. Grab some flour (I use whole wheat) and put it in a separate bowl. Meanwhile, grab a skillet and add enough oil (I like walnut or canola oil, but olive oil works fine too) and heat to medium. You'll know the oil is hot enough when you drop a little flour in and it sizzles. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">To begin making these little pieces of amazingness, just dunk the chicken into flour, then egg, the flour again. Place the coated chicken on a plate until they are all coated. Add them into the oil all at the same time, so they will be ready all at once. If you're making a lot, you may need to do this in 2 batches. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4Kq7WLVcyNKtcJvpTRo1w790gHhMRbj9v5OWtnKb8luFRqMTPM4OOUlxuTCYdJsEi6b4r9de4NtwuBu2CL6WerMQqfxWUG7Gr707m2KnLLhRVAoQNtleP-6l99RGhh0Y5HkHG-1d0zY/s1600-h/IMG_7420.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" mt="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN4Kq7WLVcyNKtcJvpTRo1w790gHhMRbj9v5OWtnKb8luFRqMTPM4OOUlxuTCYdJsEi6b4r9de4NtwuBu2CL6WerMQqfxWUG7Gr707m2KnLLhRVAoQNtleP-6l99RGhh0Y5HkHG-1d0zY/s400/IMG_7420.JPG" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Honey Mustard Dressing</b> -- Literally just combine honey with ground mustard. I usually do 2 parts mustard and 1 part honey. Agave nectar works fine, and yellow mustard can be subbed for ground, although the texture of ground mustard is my favorite. :) </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-53833019590700540422011-08-11T15:14:00.000-05:002011-08-11T15:14:34.039-05:00Iced Coffee to the Rescue!So I'm doing this crazy, "eat healthy" thing... Let's just call it what it is, DIET... and I am starving. I know better than to get myself into this situation, but I'm actually barely eating until dinner. The reason I feel this makes sense, is because staying more full during the day hasn't been working for me. I'm eating the right stuff, but I end up hungry later and out of calories. I'm tired of being hungry during dinner, and not having enough calories to fill up.<br />
<br />
So I had 1/2 piece of salmon with some veggies for lunch. I would have had a full piece but I was running out the door. For breakfast I had 1 egg and 2 pieces of turkey sausage with coffee.<br />
<br />
Lots of calories left for tonight, but I'm hungry and don't have many low calorie things... and then I realized I could have an iced coffee. YUM. Satisfies the sweet tooth I have, and also hypes me up for some work later in the day today. Here's the super shortcut to ice coffee. It's the 'cheaters" way, NOT the official way, but it tastes exactly the same to me!<br />
<br />
Iced Coffee - Serves 1:<br />
* 1 TBS instant coffee<br />
* 1 large mug hot water (about 1-1.5 cups) <br />
* Sugar (to taste) <br />
* Lots of ice<br />
* Tall glass <br />
* Milk<br />
<br />
Heat water and add instant coffee. Grab a tall glass and fill it with ice. Add about 1/4 C milk to the ice, and then add enough of the coffee/water mixture to fill the glass about half way. Add more milk, and then top off with more of the coffee mixture. Add sugar to taste. ENJOY! Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-9992029955292773402011-08-11T12:11:00.000-05:002011-08-11T12:11:36.435-05:00Reality CheckIt's when you're trying desperately to lose weight that you need a reality check. Not a subtle something either, like a cute bikini you wish you could fit into, but convince yourself the one piece blue thing w/ a skirt, type swim suit, is just as cute. I mean a real reality check. Like that I experienced today.<br />
<br />
You see, I grew up with one of the best people I've ever know, Katy. Katy lived right across the street most of my life, and she was my lifeline. She was (and is) one of the sweetest people I know, and she's just amazing all around. Anyway, as I'm trying to lose weight before I turn 30, certain obstacles have gotten in my way. I've gone out of town, you see, and I have eaten everything but people. I mean, really, I've eaten soooo much and I feel disgusting. I'm trying to get back into the swing of things (or so I think I am), but then it happens. Katy (who I still keep up with) gets tagged in some professional photos she had made. She looks UH-MAZING! I mean, she's always been beautiful, smart (she's practically a doctor, no joke), and in shape, but now she's also a personal trainer.<br />
<br />
I have memories of working out with Katy when we were kids, and seeing these pictures of how beautiful and in shape this chick is makes me realize that all the pies I ate, calories I've consumed, and work outs I've neglected, have not paid off. For her, on the other hand, the healthy food she's eaten, work outs she's gotten up at 5am to do before medical school, jogs she's fit into busy schedules, and junk food she's given up have totally been worth it. Who's happier with their body? I'm pretty sure she is. And here's the thing, she's really worked for it! HARD! I've seen it first hand, and she never, ever, brags about it or makes anyone feel guilty for their bad lifestyles. She just lives right and looks amazing in the process.<br />
<br />
Now, look around my blog. I dare you. There's a reason you'll find things like, "Muffins that taste like donuts," "Crispy chicken fingers," and "Fried pies." Yikes. Reality check.<br />
<br />
So today, as I was telling myself (yet again) that I will somehow magically lose weight before I"m 30, but that today I will be lax because "I deserve it," I am changing my mind. It's a daily decision I will have to make, but I know it gets easier. And as is the norm with this lady, just seeing Katy motivates me to eat healthier. Not only because she looks great, but because I know we started off at the same place, and now we are in different places. Just seeing how amazing she looks and how much all her hard work has paid off motivates me!!<br />
<br />
Now, off to eat a huge bowl of veggies w/ a side of salmon. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-68654482468034439612011-07-29T20:32:00.002-05:002011-07-30T17:20:30.051-05:00Day 3So today I've pretty much stayed hungry, and I'm not sure why. I mean, I did have a good breakfast or an egg, turkey sausage patty, small cup of coffee w/ a little half & half and sugar, and some whole wheat toast with butter. I also downed a big glass of water. We had a job to work this morning, and maybe I just worked some of it off (our job is pretty physically exhausting most of the time.)<br />
<br />
I'm too lazy to separate all the food I ate today into categories, so I'll just list everything. Be warned, it was a lot! I'm still not over my calories today, which is convenient because I made Chris some homemade raspberry ice cream (yikessss!)<br />
<br />
FOOD:<br />
<br />
1 egg<br />
1 turkey sausage patty<br />
1 piece whole wheat bread<br />
salted butter<br />
coffee<br />
half & half<br />
sugar<br />
sandwich (folded over, made w/ 1 piece whole wheat bread, 1 piece deli turkey, i slice cheese, 1 TBS organic mayo)<br />
salad (made with baby sweet leaf lettuce, olive oil, balsamic vinegar, agave nectar, and a punch of salt.)<br />
string cheese<br />
organic ice cream sandwich<br />
taco (taco shell, ground turkey, taco seasoning, grated cheese, baby sweet leaf lettuce)<br />
fritos (1.5 servings)<br />
frito bean dip<br />
<br />
<br />
2 lbs down.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-4334383248834552292011-07-18T17:40:00.000-05:002011-07-18T17:40:36.421-05:00Cooking 101Cooking is my passion, which is why I surround this entire blog around it. In my sometimes non-existent spare time, I like to make myself useful in the kitchen because it makes me feel . . . well, useful. It's something my husband really appreciates, and it's something that makes me feel good on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
Chopping up fresh mushrooms, pulling basil and lemony thyme out of my garden, and making homemade sauces out of basic ingredients somehow makes me feel like I'm doing something right. It also gives me control.<br />
<br />
When other things in my life are chaotic, I can come home and enjoy every single dice of every single vegetable. I can toss them around in a skillet, mash some potatoes, and bake all kinds of fish, knowing my husband will smile when I put it on the table.<br />
<br />
I don't even like to plan it out. I've tried, but I never stick to the plan if I try to think it through even 2 days in advance. It's that desire in me to be productive in an area I can have absolute control of. In that moment, I can make whatever I want. <br />
<br />
So I wonder... why don't people like to cook? Do they think they don't know how? That's not true. No one is born to know how to cook and anyone can follow a recipe. Do they not desire to cook? Cooking is so underrated. Who doesn't feel great about themselves when the pull out a homemade pie, or even casserole, out of the oven? Does their audience not appreciate their homemade meals? We all need to feel our effort was not in vain. Are they too busy? This is the best excuse to knock out. We are all busy; well I mean, most of us anyway. But cooking can be such a wonderful stress relief.<br />
<br />
Try it out! Grab a Paula Dean cookbook (some of my favorites are in her books) and try out a few easier recipes. If you're not sure what to cook, just ask yourself what you would order in a restaurant, and look up a recipe for it. Let me know how it turns out! :)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-72839808026759046762011-05-05T22:06:00.001-05:002011-05-05T22:08:25.549-05:00McDonalds Egg McMuffin Breakfast SandwichWe're big on breakfast around here, and this is one of my husbands favorites. It's super easy, and includes only common ingredients. It's fool proof!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtEF3H12-QydVuPh4wPNEB4n6lmuwnVqMDwkU4d_f1EttCh6HJl0Ayfbie69iqFkzrya7aS1E8lnbbPW7dWC_VRq0z69JvtREiWZqMuuiUgGnFOHXHvYU1SYCqHS-NhyNydGBS95VheI/s1600/IMG_1705.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtEF3H12-QydVuPh4wPNEB4n6lmuwnVqMDwkU4d_f1EttCh6HJl0Ayfbie69iqFkzrya7aS1E8lnbbPW7dWC_VRq0z69JvtREiWZqMuuiUgGnFOHXHvYU1SYCqHS-NhyNydGBS95VheI/s320/IMG_1705.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Of course you can pick your favorite bread, but if you want to go all "McDonalds style," an english muffin is a must! To get the round shape to your eggs, you can use a biscuit cutter or something round that's about the size of the english muffin.<br />
<br />
You'll need:<br />
* 1 english muffin<br />
* 1 slice of cheddar cheese (I used Kraft deli cheese slices)<br />
* 1 egg<br />
* dash of salt (totally optional)<br />
* butter (optional) <br />
<br />
To make:<br />
Spread butter on each slice of the english muffin and throw in the toaster. Cook 1-2 slices of bacon between 2 paper towels on a plate in the microwave for about 2 minutes (assuming this is turkey bacon, if not, you're on your own with the cooking times.) Meanwhile, add a tiny bit off butter (or non-stick cooking spray) to a skillet over medium heat. If you're using a biscuit cutter to shape the eggs, spray it well or rub butter all over it, and place it in the hot skillet. Lightly beat an egg and pour it into the biscuit cutter. Let it cook a few minutes, or until the bottom of the egg is cooked (you can lift the biscuit cutter up to see the cooked bottom.) Once the bottom looks light brown, run a knife along the inside edges of the biscuit cutter to remove it from the eggs.<br />
<br />
Once the biscuit cutter is removed, flip the egg (which should be cooked enough to keep it's shape pretty well.) The other side of the egg should only take a minute or so to cook completely. Grab your toasted english muffin, top it with the egg, 2 slices of cooked bacon, and come cheese. If the cheese doesn't melt right away, you can place the entire sandwich back on the skillet, or just put the whole thing in the microwave for a few seconds.<br />
<br />
** Make sure your biscuit cutter is not plastic! No one likes plastic in their eggs -- not even Mickey-D's!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjBdQVKVo02l4XwqTgr-1ariQpAPlGqfhd5ZZhFfvTOhi9_-EQDOXmFsaKgsRIoQDekzq2Lg7TtkouC_CnECn4665lkiOdRuANotbMn2_TFCfKTkcqnqkJwMueEE0gakJzcoJij0HabQ/s1600/IMG_1706.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjBdQVKVo02l4XwqTgr-1ariQpAPlGqfhd5ZZhFfvTOhi9_-EQDOXmFsaKgsRIoQDekzq2Lg7TtkouC_CnECn4665lkiOdRuANotbMn2_TFCfKTkcqnqkJwMueEE0gakJzcoJij0HabQ/s320/IMG_1706.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-50215934940024437942011-05-03T08:15:00.000-05:002011-05-03T08:15:03.199-05:00Mother's Day Summer Blueberry PieThis is a classic recipe for a Weight Watcher's Key Lime Pie, which I altered to make blueberry. I can tell ya right now, I'll <i>never</i> be sorry!! The key lime pie version is good stuff, but this is <i>really</i> good stuff. The only way I know to describe this, is that it tastes just like a jellybelly jelly bean.<br />
<br />
The very cool thing is that you can easily alter this recipe to make it raspberry, cherry, strawberry, or any other flavor jello offers. You can even mix the fruit flavors up and do like a "strawberry banana" or a "cherry cheesecake."<br />
<br />
As for me and my household, we will serve the blueberries (and the Lord, of course.)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSRAY0gFIYL8x0Ma6SRm3co-EchyBmEuSyZ-s_knHGP91vjsHzlY1PVVwVYEOh9tvF-BxUsFfU6psXSRf5y5UE2La4znNCN_1CeARgkeYI0OtLgPYc43HIwD28W6UMl1-SvMD9o7pth4/s1600/IMG_2001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsSRAY0gFIYL8x0Ma6SRm3co-EchyBmEuSyZ-s_knHGP91vjsHzlY1PVVwVYEOh9tvF-BxUsFfU6psXSRf5y5UE2La4znNCN_1CeARgkeYI0OtLgPYc43HIwD28W6UMl1-SvMD9o7pth4/s320/IMG_2001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><u><b>RECIPE: </b></u><br />
(1) graham cracker pie crust (or similar, see below)<br />
(1) 1/16 ounce package berry blue jello<br />
1/4 C boiling water<br />
(1) - 8 ounce containter whipped topping, thawed<br />
(2) 6 ounce contain<br />
<br />
<u><b>DIRECTIONS:</b></u><br />
<span class="instructions"> <ol><li><span>In a large bowl, dissolve gelatin in boiling water. </span></li>
<li><em></em><span>Stir in yogurt with wire whisk. </span></li>
<li><em></em><span>Fold in whipped topping with wooden spoon. </span></li>
<li><em></em><span>Spread in crust. </span></li>
<li><em></em><span>Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.</span></li>
</ol></span><br />
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">Let me just say that my husband was so in love with this pie, he went straight to zazzle and made a magnet out of it. When he kept going on and on about how good it was, I jokingly said, "Maybe you should make a button out of it." -- JOKING of course. His reply? "Heck yeah, I will!!" But he took it further. A button did not give this pie justice.. we now have a magnet on our fridge! </div><br />
I'm not big on graham cracker crusts (not big on white flour or that extra ingredients I don't recognize in the ingredients of the pie crust), and Cool Whip is one of those ingredients I avoid like the plague, since they too add a bunch of unnecessary ingredients. Jello is another item I refuse to keep in stock. So this recipe could be titled, "The Anti-Piper Pie" But here's the deal, I had limited time (since I put it off) to put something together for an Easter dessert, and this pie was super easy, so I made adjustments; albeit, not as many as I could have. Here are some ways to make this a tab bit healthier:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbu2PD5I7_UtAeYmEgXbPyxb9GjTAGH-FwIquighxDYsWr0gCy6rBnRPfxnMUiNQLaqbL3pHFRqpkrq1tGP3oX7VDKcnMz3Bk3SQsaQ3lSAWVyO_IUkutxJMfjbHENAPhiNLujcSPDKDE/s1600/truwhip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbu2PD5I7_UtAeYmEgXbPyxb9GjTAGH-FwIquighxDYsWr0gCy6rBnRPfxnMUiNQLaqbL3pHFRqpkrq1tGP3oX7VDKcnMz3Bk3SQsaQ3lSAWVyO_IUkutxJMfjbHENAPhiNLujcSPDKDE/s1600/truwhip.jpg" /></a></div>Add TruWhip instead of Cool Whip. I like to use fresh whipped cream when I can, but it gets watery too quickly for a pie, so this is the stuff I get on rare occasions when I can find it. It tastes great and has much better ingredients!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P7fn_7Ywu8x5hjgZ9JkqZTjEU6aSTMflvw-r9kv6bblp_4Vy5Vm_G3SZ5BU5tzZedb1cttfngtZhGyMKtrlKnKdH5GsK4OADTKJKbSNidz0vlAVnP3vx6muYLRy4mZwCBEgtnp9GxVA/s1600/PieCrustGroup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0P7fn_7Ywu8x5hjgZ9JkqZTjEU6aSTMflvw-r9kv6bblp_4Vy5Vm_G3SZ5BU5tzZedb1cttfngtZhGyMKtrlKnKdH5GsK4OADTKJKbSNidz0vlAVnP3vx6muYLRy4mZwCBEgtnp9GxVA/s320/PieCrustGroup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Instead of a graham cracker crust, try a granola crust. This brand is delicious, and they even offer a graham cracker crust.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-59410660721767287882011-03-17T08:07:00.000-05:002011-03-17T08:07:19.686-05:00Irish Soda Bread Muffins<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">These things were surprisingly delicious!! In fact, this will be the basis for all my future muffin recipes. It's incredibly light and fluffy, but also cakey enough to be a hearty muffin. Transform this into any other kind of muffin by omitting the caraway seeds and raisins, for a very easy and absurdly yummy breakfast! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfVIsuZUM7HXEWLkcHHIrqk2QG-YUXTZ_dp7R_C3EQg6nYH1qpTkswynyhu5XVYTin7JGsGumuBK2UC3os_jVUdqiuI5L35LOxBPpBQK-4bmqdVepHKQ0dtWNkyyDBcKc7oT8m9qBlV4/s1600/IMG_1766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfVIsuZUM7HXEWLkcHHIrqk2QG-YUXTZ_dp7R_C3EQg6nYH1qpTkswynyhu5XVYTin7JGsGumuBK2UC3os_jVUdqiuI5L35LOxBPpBQK-4bmqdVepHKQ0dtWNkyyDBcKc7oT8m9qBlV4/s320/IMG_1766.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs4-LHcn2eACQ-whl6xnu2dAuPDY8fMFSKC7TsWYKJtKJ1OwHaCvmXMfucQlQL0NO93TDtflepp4ZEUrRBzgDfGLhx8dtjBP_05HeetGJRwB6Ojg7phcOKc5UcgtppAYRqhwAXvwvJMY/s1600/muffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXs4-LHcn2eACQ-whl6xnu2dAuPDY8fMFSKC7TsWYKJtKJ1OwHaCvmXMfucQlQL0NO93TDtflepp4ZEUrRBzgDfGLhx8dtjBP_05HeetGJRwB6Ojg7phcOKc5UcgtppAYRqhwAXvwvJMY/s320/muffins.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Preheat oven to 400 degrees. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">In a large bowl, combine the flour, 1/2 C sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda and caraway seeds. If you have a sifter, this is the time to use it. In another bowl, beat the egg, buttermilk, butter, and oil. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in your raisins or currants. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Either grease muffin tins or fill them with cupcake liners (I opted for the cupcake liners since I'm lazy). Fill about 3/4 full (an ice cream scooper makes this job super easy!) Bake for about 15-17 minutes, or until the top is a very light golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from the muffin tin (unless you use cupcake liners, then devour them immediately). </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">**NOTE: I didn't have caraway seeds, so I skipped over them. The Irish still know their stuff because these things came out perfectly! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmWrrO7eoU1lBP_I79vx-obF6WX8-2d0lyBvuimSeVULAzRigyoSfKwmFTiMftOAhPeFsHjwGw5q_gaizCzgHyfpArRDRdl2HVgARaSltyAHZ3Y4qyKbZpY_8a8W8B8OJ1-HH_MDwo4s/s1600/IMG_1764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmWrrO7eoU1lBP_I79vx-obF6WX8-2d0lyBvuimSeVULAzRigyoSfKwmFTiMftOAhPeFsHjwGw5q_gaizCzgHyfpArRDRdl2HVgARaSltyAHZ3Y4qyKbZpY_8a8W8B8OJ1-HH_MDwo4s/s320/IMG_1764.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-36838220424128873712011-03-16T22:18:00.002-05:002011-07-18T17:47:13.459-05:00Swedish Pancakes (IHOP Copycat Recipe)<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b style="color: #0b5394;">IHOP Swedish Pancakes (aka: Crepes) - Copycat Recipe </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">So, have you ever had IHOP's Swedish pancakes? If not, then please leave my blog and never talk to me again. *Wait* Come back! I didn't mean it; really I didn't! But for those of you who have had Swedish pancakes at IHOP, you know where I'm coming from.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">WARNING:: These aren't like typical copycat recipes that only slightly look or taste like the original, these truly taste exactly like IHOP's Swedish pancakes!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtJ4JsTTEENvCMWm_IY5FwLZOS8m0F_9uFGX2g4CyGf9EB2heuYOUbE-yI2wg4qJh196zAUCBaP0uqzcZ6w3tEImrdHr-eW8UmtWGzSU67elUdyuCsVuugCzF6m97aeUUaPosnZQRfQI/s1600/IMG_1741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLtJ4JsTTEENvCMWm_IY5FwLZOS8m0F_9uFGX2g4CyGf9EB2heuYOUbE-yI2wg4qJh196zAUCBaP0uqzcZ6w3tEImrdHr-eW8UmtWGzSU67elUdyuCsVuugCzF6m97aeUUaPosnZQRfQI/s320/IMG_1741.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And they are super easy, too! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">To start, pour everything except butter and flour together in a mixing bowl and whisk with a wire whisk. It works best if your eggs are room temp (let them sit out for a few hours, or place them in warm water for about 5 minutes). </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">In a cup or small bowl, mix melted butter with flour. This will help prevent lumps in your batter. Now, pour the flour/butter mixture into your egg mixture, and whisk until combined. Meanwhile, heat a small skillet over medium. You'll know it's hot enough when you drop a few drops of water and they sort of dance around the skillet. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pour in just enough batter to cover the bottom (rotate it around to cover the bottom of the skillet if you need to). Let it sit still and cook for about 1-2 minutes, or until it's no longer shiny. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWlAQvkPsd08nLPlXKwkk3kaVFp8MBjHCMgLMASQoeax8CkL_pBhoB2_EQ_uEhdPyVFCebd7rbCE4ASO-wgAtadXgmHMEZz1Aruj17ctPyUicmn46pjTcF2De1OzmBkvoUxWQf2rh6qs/s1600/IMG_1735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWWlAQvkPsd08nLPlXKwkk3kaVFp8MBjHCMgLMASQoeax8CkL_pBhoB2_EQ_uEhdPyVFCebd7rbCE4ASO-wgAtadXgmHMEZz1Aruj17ctPyUicmn46pjTcF2De1OzmBkvoUxWQf2rh6qs/s320/IMG_1735.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Above: Here's the batter shiny (uncooked)</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Below: The batter is no longer shiny and flips pretty easily.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdoRwCPCSBlx4QdxfXeGKoXcVVn0b1-qHJPwRvqbcKsPf2V__aGdIOtdjgd1Z52a1DNLQ5MIY8Gv1QtuMQXVqaCfFBuFUlSAzZ68v4t8lsat2P0WfhZDHxGSgDbEbfrC0mQr4AN9nNHI/s1600/IMG_1737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDdoRwCPCSBlx4QdxfXeGKoXcVVn0b1-qHJPwRvqbcKsPf2V__aGdIOtdjgd1Z52a1DNLQ5MIY8Gv1QtuMQXVqaCfFBuFUlSAzZ68v4t8lsat2P0WfhZDHxGSgDbEbfrC0mQr4AN9nNHI/s320/IMG_1737.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Try not to use a metal spatula to flip them, since it might break your crepes. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">And don't cry over a few messed up crepes! They taste just as good, and just learn from them! If your crepes break apart, just make the next crepe a little thicker (add a tiny bit more batter). </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Let the other side cook for about 30 seconds, if that. It tends to cook faster. Here's what it looks like when it's done. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqBwxICUFJl6rOriEim00L39-WmQ5xDV1Cyq6FYeFxuEr4kXucgpaYiE-7Ia1EF8sQddBIecaJoMyN3CJdALghv-e0arHnQeWFs8sJ9qzCJdrcDLFs7GPkCxb1dXPYUmo3KWlMOTPgxY/s1600/IMG_1739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqBwxICUFJl6rOriEim00L39-WmQ5xDV1Cyq6FYeFxuEr4kXucgpaYiE-7Ia1EF8sQddBIecaJoMyN3CJdALghv-e0arHnQeWFs8sJ9qzCJdrcDLFs7GPkCxb1dXPYUmo3KWlMOTPgxY/s320/IMG_1739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Now, just roll it up and top with the sweet sauce!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">For the (amazing) sauce, you'll need linginberries (found at H-E-B in a jar already mixed with sugar). Mix 3 TBS of the berries with 1 pat of butter in a microwave safe bowl. Mix together and pour on your crepes. You can also just throw some warm lingonberries on your crepes for more of a tart kick. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uYEk38koJ1N5h8F05ap6Np4tO0owxKiRsge86KaG85Ug7hqhe6ruEqwUAcN1jzVf44AHSUHfl0TWNCC0An3WV5xT3oS77PNFrIV0g1mhm4S8g_L5PPndaQ_6o5ZIzpkMJn58RJqpm8M/s1600/IMG_1746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3uYEk38koJ1N5h8F05ap6Np4tO0owxKiRsge86KaG85Ug7hqhe6ruEqwUAcN1jzVf44AHSUHfl0TWNCC0An3WV5xT3oS77PNFrIV0g1mhm4S8g_L5PPndaQ_6o5ZIzpkMJn58RJqpm8M/s320/IMG_1746.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Enjoy!</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MSQEakhgLNV1qPiw1dr9uf8w7cz0U0B1XYblb2zLYsd4x3qh5ANXQVpHOVMz0KDfMnt3i08c615rla3-4AQs-PSC727RTBZQzDbOhcEVl4z-ZCiXk61bf1cjzXxi0r5h47iugYZJHV8/s1600/pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MSQEakhgLNV1qPiw1dr9uf8w7cz0U0B1XYblb2zLYsd4x3qh5ANXQVpHOVMz0KDfMnt3i08c615rla3-4AQs-PSC727RTBZQzDbOhcEVl4z-ZCiXk61bf1cjzXxi0r5h47iugYZJHV8/s320/pancakes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>1. In a large bowl, beat eggs with a wire whisk. Mix in milk, flour, sugar, salt, vanilla extract, and melted butter.<br />
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2. Preheat a small skillet to medium heat. Pour a thin layer of batter, about 2-3 tablespoonfuls, on the center of the pan. Quickly pick up the pan and tilt it as needed so that the batter forms a thin circle.<br />
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3. Cook until batter turns opaque and the shininess of the wet batter disappears. Flip and cook the other side until it is lightly browned.</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Lingonberry sauce:</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">1. Place about 2-3 TBS lingonberries in a microwave safe dish. Add a pat of butter and heat until melted (about 20 seconds). Stir and pour over warm Swedish pancakes. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-5905901686384611722011-02-21T13:45:00.001-06:002011-07-18T17:41:18.173-05:00Southern Cornbread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsuX8baNAZFY5Z3ZkJka1g6i7g4MQnmMaAlgr_DJsadKxYbZyl_cWXquCgGtfCiHtPtbrhMcT73yXuhK0jGnSMj_WC_WB4ZvV82eLUK629yEuA_jISIPn88Jq9FS7Se1NvjOgamKPOlM/s1600/southern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsuX8baNAZFY5Z3ZkJka1g6i7g4MQnmMaAlgr_DJsadKxYbZyl_cWXquCgGtfCiHtPtbrhMcT73yXuhK0jGnSMj_WC_WB4ZvV82eLUK629yEuA_jISIPn88Jq9FS7Se1NvjOgamKPOlM/s400/southern.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Cornbread is one of those things that is a <i>must</i> when you're making chili... at least in our household, anyway! Cornbread is simple to make and typically a guaranteed crowd pleaser for the young and old. It can even be relatively healthy! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">If I'm going to allot calories on cornbread, I want it to fit into one of 2 categories:</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><u><br />
</u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><u>A. It needs to be super fluffy, and preferably white-ish. </u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Or..</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
<u>B. I want it very yellow, mealy, and not sweet at all. </u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">There's no in between because cornbread is <b>very </b>serious business!! But really, my momma makes the best cornbread I've ever had, but I can't seem to make it like her. She also makes the best spaghetti I've ever had, and my husband says the same thing. Oh, and add chili to that list, too. She makes the best chili I've ever had, although my husband's is a very close second. </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">*Ahem** </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Anyway, here's the "B" version of the best cornbread I know how to make, and by far one of my top 2 favorites I've ever had. Try it, there will be no regrets!! </div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Here's what you'll need: </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-rppfi-4fT8ISNXVD6saCo9jGT1_dwz6bL_vaPw1ccG9T54Sg5P0_BY1GE23DcwOom72IgYgb7AoGiwrUCMlqv3d_fsZU4RllG65O04jFZ7aBXBsKYcjEX_FKRIp0iuoSIPVXNcVt2A/s1600/IMG_1468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-rppfi-4fT8ISNXVD6saCo9jGT1_dwz6bL_vaPw1ccG9T54Sg5P0_BY1GE23DcwOom72IgYgb7AoGiwrUCMlqv3d_fsZU4RllG65O04jFZ7aBXBsKYcjEX_FKRIp0iuoSIPVXNcVt2A/s400/IMG_1468.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> Cornmeal, baking powder, flour, a tiny bit of sugar, salt, milk, eggs, and oil (or melted butter). </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2xsh3OwDYgS2DSOWEz0AWFu3JexyKsmpG1fxPnaTpVpnsPhyphenhyphen24nAlOVc5ee0rdSZSIknHKB4pFlfF8bcujJG0nZelIDWhPRwPuCIniXSG8HL8Fi5w_5T9XI5CFPK_od9_SdHlI9gv9g/s1600/IMG_1471.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR2xsh3OwDYgS2DSOWEz0AWFu3JexyKsmpG1fxPnaTpVpnsPhyphenhyphen24nAlOVc5ee0rdSZSIknHKB4pFlfF8bcujJG0nZelIDWhPRwPuCIniXSG8HL8Fi5w_5T9XI5CFPK_od9_SdHlI9gv9g/s400/IMG_1471.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Now just dump it all together. Yes, you read that right. Throw everything into the bowl at once. You don't need to mix the dry ingredients first, make a well and pour in the wet. There's no need to even scramble the eggs first. Just truly throw it all into a bowl in whatever order, and stir!</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL72B2eeLA8f871yPjYGm_L9QHKmcTHIum5cYYW5Bj3FiGKzFO1HmjtgDqYlz-2EuxQwbr5vQCkM07zn-6UPmTGRh8XugxB7v0LmBBb8Ap5zRYKgqzoTCu0XvrAxdhVnHHiU9eITiTG2g/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL72B2eeLA8f871yPjYGm_L9QHKmcTHIum5cYYW5Bj3FiGKzFO1HmjtgDqYlz-2EuxQwbr5vQCkM07zn-6UPmTGRh8XugxB7v0LmBBb8Ap5zRYKgqzoTCu0XvrAxdhVnHHiU9eITiTG2g/s400/IMG_1472.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>See, all mixed up! Now it's time to get your hot skillet ready. If you happen to have an iron skillet, you are in luck because it will kick this recipe up several notches! If not, don't fret, this will still taste wonderful and you'll still cry happy tears! </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><i style="color: #444444;">But,</i><span style="color: #444444;"><i> if you do</i> have an iron skillet, throw it on medium heat and melt about 1 TBS of butter (or enough to cover the bottom) and rub up the sides a little. Once the butter is melted, pour the batter into the skillet and keep the temp on medium. Let it cook for about 3-5 minutes, and then put the batter filled pan into the oven. The whole purpose of this is to give the cornbread a nice crust, and continuing to cook it int he same skillet in the oven will only helps things along! </span></b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQtUtjgP_zcgDvhEiDktTjbj6yNUlDP4oXubiM4hOisTjtKupAKp-IaRQoZmz5XSyhioqv-S4NZj9gVm-d-YI80gH8J24BQ7s1YOKk_lY_Lsd96sQKichXxX_RP-WBRgpIT0uix7yykQ/s1600/IMG_1473.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitQtUtjgP_zcgDvhEiDktTjbj6yNUlDP4oXubiM4hOisTjtKupAKp-IaRQoZmz5XSyhioqv-S4NZj9gVm-d-YI80gH8J24BQ7s1YOKk_lY_Lsd96sQKichXxX_RP-WBRgpIT0uix7yykQ/s400/IMG_1473.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: #444444;"></span></b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><i>If you don't</i> have an iron skillet, just butter an oven safe dish and pour your batter in and place it directly in the oven. You may not get that crispy crust, but you'll still get delicious cornbread! </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdEqCYClsXcwb864hwov-nTdauSbUxqyAgQaQ8SwpCPn4urZH_X8Pr4lDc73KEdN9dNXzd8zaMm6OQMJWARE8DiTE1okVjgdGpDZ1JrDyC7Zrcjcnqx0ZDZYmaO1UNEr8OfsxpPOUVrw/s1600/IMG_1481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdEqCYClsXcwb864hwov-nTdauSbUxqyAgQaQ8SwpCPn4urZH_X8Pr4lDc73KEdN9dNXzd8zaMm6OQMJWARE8DiTE1okVjgdGpDZ1JrDyC7Zrcjcnqx0ZDZYmaO1UNEr8OfsxpPOUVrw/s400/IMG_1481.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>And this is what it looks like coming out of the oven!</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Serve it up as a nice snack or along side some husband or momma chili!</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXoRfWU-rmWAo9lizXkAsTKKRRy_Q_Gr2Nghyxb1VmKbVBZpFJOV4jOsn5dHdsDVGM73gxAzt_vUqPZNnJip7ZxVzTedkWPwOiK8zZODMdozG6xtF0cKDuou4Qxn90zxGFVllrrmbRfQ/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXoRfWU-rmWAo9lizXkAsTKKRRy_Q_Gr2Nghyxb1VmKbVBZpFJOV4jOsn5dHdsDVGM73gxAzt_vUqPZNnJip7ZxVzTedkWPwOiK8zZODMdozG6xtF0cKDuou4Qxn90zxGFVllrrmbRfQ/s400/IMG_1514.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><u><b>RECIPE:</b></u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>1 C Cornmeal</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>1 C Flour</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>1 tsp Salt</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b> 2 Eggs</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>1/2 C Oil (Canola, Vegetable, or melted Butter)</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>2 tsp Baking powder</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>2 TBS sugar </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>1 C Milk</b><b> </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>** (1-2 TBS butter for skillet) </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><u><b>DIRECTIONS:</b></u></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>Preheat oven to 400. Heat an iron skillet (or oven proof skillet) over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Add about 1 TBS butter (or enough to cover bottom of skillet). Meanwhile, mix all ingredients together (stir about 50 times, or until well incorporated). Once the butter is melted in the skillet, pour in the batter. If you don't have an iron skillet, just butter a baking dish (like an 8x8 glass dish) and pour your batter directly in. Place in oven for 30-35 minutes. The top will be slightly brown. Butter and serve warm!! </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b><u>Tips:</u> </b></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><b>*</b><i>Instead of sugar, you can sub in honey or agave nectar, or other sweeteners. You can also leave the sweetener out, although I highly suggest adding a tiny bit.</i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>* Use stone ground cornmeal if you can find it. The mealy/grainy texture is exactly what makes this cornbread so delicious. It gives it texture and makes it less cake-like. It also tastes a lot better and is much healthier!</i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>* Leave your eggs out for a little bit to help the batter mix up better. I often forget and it won't make a difference in the results, but it will mean you have to stir less. </i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i>Enjoy!!</i></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXoRfWU-rmWAo9lizXkAsTKKRRy_Q_Gr2Nghyxb1VmKbVBZpFJOV4jOsn5dHdsDVGM73gxAzt_vUqPZNnJip7ZxVzTedkWPwOiK8zZODMdozG6xtF0cKDuou4Qxn90zxGFVllrrmbRfQ/s1600/IMG_1514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVXoRfWU-rmWAo9lizXkAsTKKRRy_Q_Gr2Nghyxb1VmKbVBZpFJOV4jOsn5dHdsDVGM73gxAzt_vUqPZNnJip7ZxVzTedkWPwOiK8zZODMdozG6xtF0cKDuou4Qxn90zxGFVllrrmbRfQ/s400/IMG_1514.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzm1owl0Op4JcTS5UjR1NIAxKoJ0TPS84xmHVzzw7sHqePcN0ovjl1mWjPutOQOLWNBOO26lizii0k5PEuT8PEMVA8c-4JRy9Cj6wFA9nGn0YX2JvPGGEd0IJriyLQBsBryqcUMly-oJo/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzm1owl0Op4JcTS5UjR1NIAxKoJ0TPS84xmHVzzw7sHqePcN0ovjl1mWjPutOQOLWNBOO26lizii0k5PEuT8PEMVA8c-4JRy9Cj6wFA9nGn0YX2JvPGGEd0IJriyLQBsBryqcUMly-oJo/s320/IMG_1515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-30973564293195460752010-10-31T10:47:00.003-05:002010-10-31T10:54:12.222-05:00BOO!<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b>Did I scare you?</b></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdRM-SEoh2RQXWB4Y148bx5mAHhd2SBFhOfrWnaVNlLwrXuCXor6mLU-vMKQgQA-big2OaRrqBiW-k7Eq6oXTkGgi_njXXj0BHS7TrMO7-rdEkZKcZ6y8IQWhNEbVUaZ0J61REq4TP-o/s1600/Happy+Halloween+Animated.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwdRM-SEoh2RQXWB4Y148bx5mAHhd2SBFhOfrWnaVNlLwrXuCXor6mLU-vMKQgQA-big2OaRrqBiW-k7Eq6oXTkGgi_njXXj0BHS7TrMO7-rdEkZKcZ6y8IQWhNEbVUaZ0J61REq4TP-o/s320/Happy+Halloween+Animated.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Happy Halloween!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">You know what's missing from this picture? My husband. I mean Linus. I mean my husband. Let me explain: my husband is going to be Linus for Halloween tonight, and I have been busy making his shirt. Last night we painted a red shirt with black paint, and today we'll be finishing up the back. I still can't decide what to be. I wanted to be Lucy, but my hair is too long and doesn't flip out like hers (at least not that I'm willing to admit, that is). Plus, I don't have a dress like she does. So maybe I'll be a 50's chick. Or an 80's chick. Or a nerd. Or ...or...or, Lucy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: small;">I HAVE NO IDEA! Suggestions welcome! </span><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">Anyway, here are some of the things we've been cooking up in our household lately. I left my camera cord at home, and since I'm not currently at home, these are just a select few ideas you can make today. I'll be posting more throughout the day, so check back!! The next set will be at lunch time today!<br />
<br />
<b>(Click on each title to take you to the step by step directions)</b><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://thecrazyapron.blogspot.com/2010/10/caramel-apple-cider-spider-stew.html">Caramel Apple Spider Cider</a></b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLxI1oFJYtXy5ks8AKFjshX-Z70OLb69b_-UpDXmx_DlDCjnDJy0zYm6eAgA104ltK38a6Xizt4kvwOWjYNFSd84ruN0AWjJWk4qNyx7BP3oUnJ-iRsRrq2Tzyl4qX2apGDUvwob4szk/s1600/cider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiLxI1oFJYtXy5ks8AKFjshX-Z70OLb69b_-UpDXmx_DlDCjnDJy0zYm6eAgA104ltK38a6Xizt4kvwOWjYNFSd84ruN0AWjJWk4qNyx7BP3oUnJ-iRsRrq2Tzyl4qX2apGDUvwob4szk/s1600/cider.jpg" /></a></div></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">Think apple juice, ice cream, apple pie spices, and YUM. Plus, it looks cool!</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://thecrazyapron.blogspot.com/2010/10/ghostly-hot-chocolate-uh-mazing.html">"Ghostly" Hot chocolate</a></span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhsqETqar9yhZ0uzlV-lo2-I7Umk8rDMINGMJzV8tiezAR-93q5T2IAPKWGqv3dlI93ujQODcMtwM_VafvraD3i88isUnXsrUkjVRKi3_2OGhrznvfj1rnjUgUJWi2-uKLzUOBovut0A/s1600/chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnhsqETqar9yhZ0uzlV-lo2-I7Umk8rDMINGMJzV8tiezAR-93q5T2IAPKWGqv3dlI93ujQODcMtwM_VafvraD3i88isUnXsrUkjVRKi3_2OGhrznvfj1rnjUgUJWi2-uKLzUOBovut0A/s1600/chocolate.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Think dark chocolate, white chocolate, and even some kind of creative mix. Add your favcorite chocolate for a super easy, super fast, and super delicious drink! Decorate some marshmallows with some edible markers (by Wilton or any other brand, found at Michael's and maybe Hobby Lobby), and let them float on top, or put them on a craft stick for easier dunking.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://thecrazyapron.blogspot.com/2010/10/vampires-blood.html">Vampire's Blood</a></b></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1P_JXhadUYfM-QK1VqWvx-rWxkWEs4A8mIxt3P_7nsK7v-LtrHqvkzNz8lIQj6MY95Np90HAMVFcR2VEXLT84v7kmgGEpo-q9OPeCPGY-2MaExyGyYC6znBIhy6khGLHMkqy7v0J7xo/s1600/vampire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1P_JXhadUYfM-QK1VqWvx-rWxkWEs4A8mIxt3P_7nsK7v-LtrHqvkzNz8lIQj6MY95Np90HAMVFcR2VEXLT84v7kmgGEpo-q9OPeCPGY-2MaExyGyYC6znBIhy6khGLHMkqy7v0J7xo/s1600/vampire.jpg" /></a></div>Look, I'm really not into all the "gory" aspects of Halloween, but this is super easy and not all that gory. Other than the fact that it is, in fact, vampire's blood. Yeah, other than that.<br />
<br />
<br />
And later....I'll be sharing ...<br />
<div><br />
</div><div><b>Halloween Chili</b></div><div><b>Spider Dip</b></div><div><b>Caramel Apple Dip</b></div><div><b>Halloween Cake Balls </b><br />
<b>Ghostly Strawberries </b></div><b><i>and more that I can't remember right now.</i></b><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Stay Tuned!!</b></span><br />
<br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-9269538942261429532010-10-19T10:51:00.001-05:002010-10-19T10:59:31.848-05:00Caramel Apple Cider Spider Stew<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Caramel Apple Cider Spider Stew </b></span></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Guess what. This is <i>not</i> what you expected with a title involving "Stew," am I right? Good! </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">But let me tell you.. this stuff is so good and so addicting! The addicting factor is triggered by the ease of this recipe. It's embarrassing to even call it a recipe, since it involves so few steps, but I'm all about ease. I'm also all about ice cream, which is just another reason I love this recipe!</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOtm-qsbeWjeGteUG3_jvgDvzlzYPb_akMLy2V9yQZjRFRnTesRwSiCCzeY2NhJu5FLL7v5rLPPbzSRLI9ZuWl-v87smgAGW3agf4cwJndaBPtUnOpiNgzAVQU-ILHeUXpEW1o8gFIeDo/s320/Picture+078.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ice cream. Apple juice. Apple pie spice. Perfection. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCnHOETmFumsPl53zfACLm0NB_B1uStpvfl5ivd-oAccwwOHdxJDvmK6BUR4N8rN8x2ZnkkzDwAqm4NDjagq7xG7Kg8X07eG6e82y1MUGSO5pnf0l6MJVCBTfWcBWdWd6CFQG1C8OHFj8/s320/Picture+077.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Told ya.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIVafIpBBEqwhji_dCKkj1Fq65-zWQuQM4WXQuQuwraDrSCSeStITp-PV8awR7SmFrasyLLAXtSsA3hlutd7my8bO-xtZFOps1ogQKl8giaji3nsocr4Aa4D2CW-9ABkd9c7ASRmtOH3Q/s320/Picture+079.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Good luck having just one. Good luck having just 2. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwt32RbO9Y-PapwpeMXj9UJwyxYehsckN42Ujokc8NA0rZVXRZGgr3JiMUAzOCKAuA0npU-SOd0DBLyRa3TjPc0hvwRhLV-hdEShRWd_dgkaxw_vYqhSw_5E8illCph7MegxqtNWRAKDM/s320/Picture+080.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You'll think to yourself, "Why didn't <i>I</i> think of this?"</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Here's how to make it:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Ingredients: </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Apple Juice</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Caramel (or vanilla) Ice Cream</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Apple Pie Spice (found at my local walmart)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Directions:</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Place one scoop of ice cream in a clear dish or glass. Sprinkle on a generous sprinkling of apple pie spice, and pour in enough apple juice to barely cover the ice cream. Eat with a spoon and enjoy this creepy looking concoction! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The very cool thing about this recipe is that you can get creative with it! </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-71131861746189710582010-10-15T17:02:00.002-05:002010-10-15T17:28:50.768-05:00"Ghostly" Hot Chocolate (Uh-Mazing!)<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmragbpRV_Dv3E6MtcWyl3fMr7YfNeTvMICYX4vTTY2OfLdrCuhoVhb26GiQqcyot2s43grKuv-SL7I0tGk4GZNNKtvzbdgVk4i38TngiRIt5V7yaVPVFlYKsId40sF5_VxlCRTfx0oc/s1600/Picture+074.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10epkE9Uhw6f7HkcX2WnMSPitpDqJP0WxS08nBl4yxYp_fcuiBu2_rwC_Z9iMCGicUYirMKux2gqJNbDb2A3hJk6id7vBXmbyKOOVIDa8Nw_dNqWjKkyE4U0_A2N-XPcPqUWeFoBG-c0/s1600/Picture+071.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNaZrjleQGa5WTW1_OKZrhZ5oT7KToE9uV02slqSBE9OP-Weo6BKW5BudFdyl53TOt200SHLjnnsAUbDwlGOlw3pD8C9ed4KDFG7SwBtukoYGO8e82BqcnlB1AGQ_nFVOw-ix6aWXzwg/s320/Picture+073.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Or dark. Or caramel. You can really be creative with this recipe! Just grab your favorite type of chocolate..be it baker's or chocolate chips, and get ready to make some YUM. And make it tonight. TONIGHT. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">It's Friday night and we're headed off to a high school football game. It's tradition for my husband to have hot chocolate after watching a high school football game, and since I'm all about tradition (and uh, chocolate), we'll be having this tonight! Besides, my husband says this is the best hot chocolate he's ever had. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">MAKE. IT. TONIGHT. Trust me on this.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5BKa_j0bLjDixBZHPSqnYwy7EnZhTwQKmdAagLfV2pLjy3IY6jIC-OJ59ut7paxf54npxDxNKCMP3pwlyF19YDPZn7lGqiuVOaHFjuXRxSST3kqJD_mLX8Hd7CLNv2DFO0jZAH8MULk/s400/Picture+068.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You'll need milk, chocolate and cinnamon (which I forgot to picture). Yeah, that's really all you need. Now, you can spruce this up by adding a splash of heavy cream near the end. Or even vanilla, or another type of flavored extract. This is so universal, get creative with it!</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4LKbm6HQ0-eEB7B1gzdA9fwJlIkLjae2Nkbwc_LYFnIzExCmHOeEr0WtKCod874NauQDFeu9ES2McG4Dpj5hRtNgxhagLcpCA2ipGD1vnNjBzv6ZSN4WkzV-mAN0AjiCJEv8Uskv8WE/s320/Picture+070.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Plop the chocolate and cinnamon into a saucepan over medium low and get ready to stir. If it's not melting fast enough, you can turn it up to medium, just watch it closely. You don't want it to boil. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10epkE9Uhw6f7HkcX2WnMSPitpDqJP0WxS08nBl4yxYp_fcuiBu2_rwC_Z9iMCGicUYirMKux2gqJNbDb2A3hJk6id7vBXmbyKOOVIDa8Nw_dNqWjKkyE4U0_A2N-XPcPqUWeFoBG-c0/s320/Picture+071.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, so I didn't use white chocolate when I took these pictures. I was trying something different. While I love the semi-sweet bakers chocolate in my hot chocolate, my husband swears by white hot chocolate. Use what you and your peeps love!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja7nrkjaoRSrdIBNNEiZ1od2mHinMCUjGi7zVYVvWRLIWJ4VfnUYcDKUQ3pVz6qu3EsHJqQFiBWzzDZFnnFzM_ks5m9SFOL1AZVkoVHW1h-tN_DrnUqUl_AE25BeoYZkNSBmh35EF4B28/s320/Picture+072.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Melted! Now you're ready to get your marshmallow on!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrplSMU7PqKZ7fcb27PUAcYvDPfHs3ooc7Co6L6lyJS-CAnVilfrEEF85Mez_O0_HW4GKuaQ1wpTPzq1aeb2Tnyo2brPbckc32s_9OW3HtmBvTxgdak94luqmcuCsKcgDhbMJ0azfMouc/s400/Picture+075.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like my picture says, if you'd like to add some spook to your heavenly, or um ghostly, hot chocolate just add some melted chocolate into a bag and pipe on some eyes. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJmragbpRV_Dv3E6MtcWyl3fMr7YfNeTvMICYX4vTTY2OfLdrCuhoVhb26GiQqcyot2s43grKuv-SL7I0tGk4GZNNKtvzbdgVk4i38TngiRIt5V7yaVPVFlYKsId40sF5_VxlCRTfx0oc/s400/Picture+074.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Like zis! Here's the recipe...</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">* 4 squares of Bakers chocolate </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">(or about 1/4C chocolate chips, more/less to taste)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">* 2C Milk </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">* 1 TBS cinnamon </span></div><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Add to a saucepan over medium heat until chocolate is melted. Poor in your favorite mug and top with a marshmallow. My husband loves for me to put the marshmallow on a stick (like a lollipop stick) so that he can dip it in his hot chocolate. </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Optional Additions for Added Yum:</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">* Vanilla (or other flavor) extract</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">* Different flavored chips (caramel, etc)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">* Peppermint stick to serve in mug</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">* Cinnamon stick to serve in mug</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: small;">* A splash of heavy cream or half and half, added near the end for added creaminess. </span></div></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-52274387881274965132010-10-13T14:46:00.002-05:002010-10-13T14:57:35.506-05:00Spider Pumpkin Craft<span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm49XPVgUsgViUEduzes9PDjIHY1gq09u3cWY4Cc-kDVkEdpCexfpVPHBx8SKCM9yO5JwzAzMydR40HUPXHsSVKqnGn71N6qMsKeHnS3VMC5wPC7KyJ5E2a_wcF9f8rRu8sEKqriphbOE/s320/Picture+037.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This is the little guy my poor husband woke up to, a week ago Saturday. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm49XPVgUsgViUEduzes9PDjIHY1gq09u3cWY4Cc-kDVkEdpCexfpVPHBx8SKCM9yO5JwzAzMydR40HUPXHsSVKqnGn71N6qMsKeHnS3VMC5wPC7KyJ5E2a_wcF9f8rRu8sEKqriphbOE/s1600/Picture+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGeZTSH0RznIWeQVbtdZBOT9mPrMEuahZn7pVnIMUmwXk5BDX2OoospgeAPSxuekHjXOFI9NR5bU4Wzg_ZUPbH4UORmsPgWtdylXzyM2Axk9VtWFFWZMJj1KHo80yrYwgRIGZsmnAFDA/s320/Picture+036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Poor husband!! Here's how to make it! </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiGL3DHV65TcrovpWcuF6jhfbp_z1hfZbSUMpSPB5RsKVFbzHEa6M9dXb4XKuf-jnVxmyxh1wNVnDYZNUANd1FuPh0MBogBTZpa2459Ydak_HdEbZIba_M86hFauor6h-dO8XQPrpNKic/s320/Picture+018.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Step 1</u>: Paint a small pumpkin black.</b> Acrylic paint works great. I used black nail polish since that's what I had and it was spur of the moment. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjksdchFdXe70OJtyCLYtogSt8cgJE4EkO9DhOliKooabBOn6BfrDTWgYnj1NoN539Vde-JAIty_-REzx8nb5zGMV99HuQsOR5-US3kW0hyyCVlh7Fug51IC7VAY6zF0T9ioH9aQKObvw8/s320/Picture+019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Give it a second coat if it needs it. Mine did. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9dRuWqL2EN7DlrrXdL_FLmhw_tX_ueSUMzualOWIao4ngsWVo7qkL8j8bhySGp7DYlElohKiOmspGbqeC3lcLnNJoa2vHVDp3PmQtxS9l_t1x-Zf_eWXkvM8-6CqxVLPkVM40oE6tMis/s320/Picture+020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Step 2:</u> Grab something red and glue it on for eyes.</b> I used a red pipe cleaner, since that's all I had, but if you have dots of some kind that would be ideal. You could even cut red (or white) dots out of paper. If you use a pipe cleaner like I did, cut off an end and glue it on as eyes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7_bcKyopIAUJySBX5k1d1evSOJn78udp7Z_DoVJ_sy-YkhFd0KqCe3mJ4wtYckxLdH-01QnwKRRBqzkbG7wqLd6V4DmV9BhCdhLV5pUpv6ObR2gWJhmhvZkYOTNSGa6LtH0UvINGeJs4/s320/Picture+021.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><u>Step 3:</u> Go outside while wearing orange halloween boxer shorts with owls on them, a pink valentines day t-shirt, and overs sized pink slippers, along with a crooked ponytail from the night before, and snap off at least 8 twigs that are about the same size.</b> Wave to the neighbors as you go back inside, and remind yourself that they've seen you in worse conditions. Shiver at that thought, and pretend it never happened. Now, if the twigs aren't the same size, that's ok. Either cut them down to just about the same, or be crafty and leave them be! Now you can just break them in half, or about 1/3 of the way down. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyopah-DX_I-jDIUQ-6ID_conTxQTgvrZJm0tpBAFKBi-CKHkwxb2a2UhoBt5d0QUWqAA2mn0puVKCvVxB3oUH7pp1hrVr_zTie27iGTnsde8Bx8acQ1syPndouISdP5Y_Ltfjicz3wOk/s320/Picture+036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When I say "break" the legs, I just mean to break them enough where they don't snap in half. (and if they do, because one of mine did, you can be lazy and tape them back together...like the poor little leg in the back right). Now just tape them onto the spider pumpkin guy, and that's it! You're done! You may pass out from the paint fumes, but at least you'll have made a cute little spider pumpkin!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyopah-DX_I-jDIUQ-6ID_conTxQTgvrZJm0tpBAFKBi-CKHkwxb2a2UhoBt5d0QUWqAA2mn0puVKCvVxB3oUH7pp1hrVr_zTie27iGTnsde8Bx8acQ1syPndouISdP5Y_Ltfjicz3wOk/s1600/Picture+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lots of fun to make! Let me know if you have questions.</b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-size: small;">.. </span></b></div><div style="background-color: white; color: #999999; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: black; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Questions like,<b> <i>"Who in their right mind would want to get up early on a Saturday morning to make a spider pumpkin with stick legs?"</i> </b>To which I would answer, <b><i>"I never claimed to be in my right mind."</i></b></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-35142234718177050362010-10-08T15:26:00.001-05:002010-10-08T15:33:19.443-05:00The Vampire Bat<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_rUe4W0d8u8IJ7Df7PDgU4rHy-oYUl3ZWVr-5CeU5XMO5qeI-atGZBpyQpoqW7OzR53umzyZdIVhxAXSKZaTXEnsSAqut7cWUbSs-wA3YASHq3gptbv1FV7_Abivsamz9esIWZsXvGQ/s320/hi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Hi.</b></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU_rUe4W0d8u8IJ7Df7PDgU4rHy-oYUl3ZWVr-5CeU5XMO5qeI-atGZBpyQpoqW7OzR53umzyZdIVhxAXSKZaTXEnsSAqut7cWUbSs-wA3YASHq3gptbv1FV7_Abivsamz9esIWZsXvGQ/s1600/hi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"> I'm not batty...I really did want to say hi.........so, hi. Ok, fine, here's the truth: I saw something yesterday that's haunting my dreams. I saw a bat. A real, live, <b>BAT</b>. Not just any bat. A <i>vampire bat!</i>! A real, live, <b>vampire bat</b>....in October!</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">I drove to see my parents last night for my mom's birthday -- happy birthday mama!!! -- and on the way, I was casually talking to my dad, when he casually mentioned that he casually found a FREAKING BAT IN THERE FRONT YARD.<br />
<br />
My parents live in a nice neighborhood, surrounded by other homes and normalcy. "What the heck was a bat doing in your front yard?" I asked, to which he replied, "It doesn't make much sense." I was horrified and intrieged at the same time.."Keep it for now! I wanna see it when I get there!" to which he replied, "Yeah I know, I wanna spook your brother out with it later." -- to which he did spook my 16 year old brother who thinks he's a guido but is afraid of anything with an exoskeleton and legs (think crickets..) </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">Why I didn't take a picture is beyond me..to someone who has a blog, finding a real live dead vampire bat is like gold. It's a rare commodity ...almost like gaga wearing an evening gown to the MTV Movie Awards. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">But you know what I realized...? I have a weird fascination with bats....and owls, but I'll focus on bats for now. I think they are the coolest halloween decoration there is...other than owls of course, and spiders may be a close second. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">But I'm a little batty myself. Not ditsy. I didn't say ditsy....just............ batty. I have bat pajamas and shirts, and I've even made bats to hang all over our house during the month of October every year. But here's what I realized....the very sight of a real vampire bat was enough to keep me up at night. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">**shiver**</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">So instead of being a normal person and just trying to get the dang thing out of my mind, I googled bats. And how FREAKING cool is this??? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYmS4evWMaW7H0eIoMpbZ2B3RxjrfcAX7Qu8Jf8m1-w8nvXJa9-L1I5xjEFsD2gdVgVf9S_CQvP9Ae58mXZ2uKkMxQGgLaVqpzvGgauzZ4QEsNHXQ1ZWSrtl35_7iBumQcuDMLvBU3Zw/s1600/peppbatty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqYmS4evWMaW7H0eIoMpbZ2B3RxjrfcAX7Qu8Jf8m1-w8nvXJa9-L1I5xjEFsD2gdVgVf9S_CQvP9Ae58mXZ2uKkMxQGgLaVqpzvGgauzZ4QEsNHXQ1ZWSrtl35_7iBumQcuDMLvBU3Zw/s320/peppbatty.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">Where has this been all my life? Get it? Not "peppermint patty", but "peppermint BATTY." I don't even care for this candy much, but I'd buy this just because it's flippin' sweet.</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">But it gets worse....then google pulled up this image...</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fgZEV71o36MSlTXx0wk7jWjGqzh7xOJFP8xKBGLs8_se-BaFL0c-A0_is2_CotEOmfNdh6wcBGvGGfy1QHVW4ZKc0d1tANhaqH9oSEs4eHoBGLrX4J304jVZX8pjUIJ2mz3D9GVPKS8/s1600/assault-and-battery-t-shirt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1fgZEV71o36MSlTXx0wk7jWjGqzh7xOJFP8xKBGLs8_se-BaFL0c-A0_is2_CotEOmfNdh6wcBGvGGfy1QHVW4ZKc0d1tANhaqH9oSEs4eHoBGLrX4J304jVZX8pjUIJ2mz3D9GVPKS8/s320/assault-and-battery-t-shirt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">If there were salt and pepper shakers, I'd buy them. Is this a t-shirt? I want it. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">And then this happened:.....</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_wcX0QvLCpdgVCV2wjEdJjmcipKUTf3i4rwg6NoMIIxasaiobd52ayCgOdQSoo6FFGrEv2jk5lH6tqAvEkMIyZ6oEVdHdctuSlI4hRuivA7kckc63zEQiIFb5R7nHO5QtzUeUo2h71c/s1600/Batty+about+daddy-+gothic+black+baby+grow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_wcX0QvLCpdgVCV2wjEdJjmcipKUTf3i4rwg6NoMIIxasaiobd52ayCgOdQSoo6FFGrEv2jk5lH6tqAvEkMIyZ6oEVdHdctuSlI4hRuivA7kckc63zEQiIFb5R7nHO5QtzUeUo2h71c/s320/Batty+about+daddy-+gothic+black+baby+grow.jpg" width="308" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">I don't even have kids. I don't even really want kids quite yet. But I almost fainted. I WANT this..like, NOW. Just in case I forget it exists in 14 years when I finally feel comfortable having a kid, you know, when I'm 42 and probably infertile. I NEED this. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
I think I'm just batty in general. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">Like when I made a spider out of a pumpkin. Did I tell you that? My poor husband woke up last Saturday morning to a strong smell of paint, all the windows open, newspaper everywhere, sticks on the window seal, and a black pumpkin. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">Why? Because I literally woke up Saturday morning to a weird idea that was super easy and too cute. I'll post a how-to this week!</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiH3k1IKpt0E2FWEjdriuM720i0ZR3md-_xHzew8qrinLTlpz9nM_xNrsWOSTB3kA1Q-6nVlEc2vsKkf5X5WMhtWqpWBE7mMK-2GCo3xwYZ2RQtM1VcN7KkJjVze3Qy7XiQXgoWkMhCY/s1600/vampire+bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiH3k1IKpt0E2FWEjdriuM720i0ZR3md-_xHzew8qrinLTlpz9nM_xNrsWOSTB3kA1Q-6nVlEc2vsKkf5X5WMhtWqpWBE7mMK-2GCo3xwYZ2RQtM1VcN7KkJjVze3Qy7XiQXgoWkMhCY/s320/vampire+bat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-82981690093700546272010-10-04T09:29:00.001-05:002010-10-04T09:37:06.074-05:00Manic Monday<div class="header" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><h2 class="me">man·ic</h2><span class="pronset"><span id="nonfav"></span><span class="show_ipapr" style="display: none;"><span class="prondelim">/</span><span class="pron">ˈmæn<img alt="" border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/dictionary/graphics/luna/thinsp.png" />ɪk</span><span class="prondelim">/</span> <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/help/luna/IPA_pron_key.html" target="_blank"><img border="0" class="luna-Img" src="http://sp.dictionary.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif" /></a> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"><a alt="Toggle for Spelled" class="pronlink" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6252147662405342561&postID=8298169009370054627" title="Click to show spelled">Show Spelled</a></span></span><span class="show_spellpr" style="display: block; margin-top: 8px;"><span class="prondelim"></span><span class="prondelim"></span> <span class="pron_toggle" style="display: inline;"></span></span></span> </div><div></div><div class="body" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><div class="pbk"><span class="pg"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">–adjective</span> </span></span><br />
<div class="luna-Ent"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">"pertaining</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">affected</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">by</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">mania."</span> </span></div></div></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><i> <span class="sectionLabel"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">—Synonyms</span> </span></span></i><br />
<span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword">frenzied,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">agitated,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">frantic.</span> </span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="sep_top shd_hdr pb7" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><div class="KonaBody"><div class="lunatext results_content"><div class="luna-Ent"><div class="luna-Ent"><h2 class="me">-mania</h2><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">a</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">combining</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">form</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">of</span> </span><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mania" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;">mania</a> <span id="hotword"> ( </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">megalomania</span> </span></span><span id="hotword">); <span id="hotword" name="hotword">extended</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">mean</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">“enthusiasm,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">often</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">extreme</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">and</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">transient</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">nature,”</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">for</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">that</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">specified</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">by</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">initial</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">element</span> ( </span><span class="ital-inline"><span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">bibliomania</span> </span></span><span id="hotword">). </span></div><div class="body"><div class="pbk"></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaeQ2Rfj1vIZHUItrqCoB882no6_8N21djfLD5QP8PItwrejTC4na05Y-kvESSCTGo6XTZRibbMQi7ImYV9GckIgdLVwjoQi12PDm-x9fApraORyFCKNBqpLQ0PfgD0dKA0ho1vEE3FY/s1600/t-30oct10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQaeQ2Rfj1vIZHUItrqCoB882no6_8N21djfLD5QP8PItwrejTC4na05Y-kvESSCTGo6XTZRibbMQi7ImYV9GckIgdLVwjoQi12PDm-x9fApraORyFCKNBqpLQ0PfgD0dKA0ho1vEE3FY/s1600/t-30oct10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">It is, in fact, just another Manic Monday!! Happy Monday, folks. If you're in the job realm, you may not be too happy it's Monday, but rest assured, you've come to the right place! I'm kicking off my blog's ....wait for it, wait for it.....*cue Sisqo's thong song* Halloweenathon, thon, thon, thon, thon. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><i> /bad rap song cue. </i></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><b>Every Monday in October</b> will be a random blog post by none other than... yours truly! It'll be whatever I want it to be, but it will always stay consistent with the theme of "manic". So there. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">--------------</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Have you met Sport yet? You know...my child. My baby. My husband's first love. Other than God of course, and (hopefully) me, I think. C'mon, you know Sport. My husband's mascot to his book, </span><a href="http://mybriefs.com/" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Sports Briefs</a><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">?</span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">We take him <i>everywhere</i>..</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">We feed and clothe him..</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWu90-ScmVN8JaEtyytaXS23T4GXKY0GyFZzoBxcimSAw_vMLo6ZSBthDMCUWIumFbh_1fJlWAVrSalgWTc_382JAjU59PtwGsRGEuDRBj6RON1CB-myCzPsgo9EmIqOiu2pw6JlrQVyI/s1600/s2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWu90-ScmVN8JaEtyytaXS23T4GXKY0GyFZzoBxcimSAw_vMLo6ZSBthDMCUWIumFbh_1fJlWAVrSalgWTc_382JAjU59PtwGsRGEuDRBj6RON1CB-myCzPsgo9EmIqOiu2pw6JlrQVyI/s1600/s2.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">We even watch football with him (although he prefers Futbol, since he likes when they say "gooooooooooooal"). </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">Sometimes he even follows us to work..</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBW8kIglQ3oizNMYpmjg7tLpKPhOREhWOd3DZf2pqJbeyjEReBv5tlawBNv1tWav409cBrAg_bPQUkDwR1l2CNteRbSJWubbljnyNkX0jYa92fu-t1-J8YcrORqBPAPyQ4BLLct7ZmZdM/s1600/s3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBW8kIglQ3oizNMYpmjg7tLpKPhOREhWOd3DZf2pqJbeyjEReBv5tlawBNv1tWav409cBrAg_bPQUkDwR1l2CNteRbSJWubbljnyNkX0jYa92fu-t1-J8YcrORqBPAPyQ4BLLct7ZmZdM/s1600/s3.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"> But here's the best part about Sport. He loves halloween more than that rapper guy likes to dis Taylor Swift. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytl8U-R7SkRNl9Y_bHfBTzxbkB2vuE_4cEDTCUtbXecLMiwxiOKcuWiKUBfeLVPJbDgTzPjVP-Y8oEqtbNomqKEmYlLRKWKlxhd18emDhbjeFVsRnJ4_W27QI0kKgOrI4dsOqHO7Uo6U/s1600/s5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjytl8U-R7SkRNl9Y_bHfBTzxbkB2vuE_4cEDTCUtbXecLMiwxiOKcuWiKUBfeLVPJbDgTzPjVP-Y8oEqtbNomqKEmYlLRKWKlxhd18emDhbjeFVsRnJ4_W27QI0kKgOrI4dsOqHO7Uo6U/s1600/s5.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">I think he has a little fetish for October actually. He loves Target, but we try to leave him at home when we can. Not that he doesn't behave himself, but seriously, his presence alone kinda freaks people out, but when he puts on a skeleton costume, it makes him look like a creeper. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_7O_w7Jg6qw_ImK7BOH9I77eVL1pt0bt7JKw_Xc8bLywgjxiez5JWABMg8gZl7XKTFZ2zDOUktbDoEJdUlQ3E6byRmi7EjIkXacGKAqz0wmxjFf8njihKgAWVrJuUkNIcSpSSotdN0Q/s1600/s6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1_7O_w7Jg6qw_ImK7BOH9I77eVL1pt0bt7JKw_Xc8bLywgjxiez5JWABMg8gZl7XKTFZ2zDOUktbDoEJdUlQ3E6byRmi7EjIkXacGKAqz0wmxjFf8njihKgAWVrJuUkNIcSpSSotdN0Q/s1600/s6.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">And something about that costume makes him lose his britches. As soon as we look away, he takes off, and is nowhere to be found. We usually find him chillin' with the other skeletons, but he doesn't seem to understand that he doesn't really....uh, fit in. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFBknhczj1GvQ4vBynbNqvcb98cKJBNcbvrqmDMGkKzdJrpA77uEO-nvl0OeZSNfbcw27P87R7WYp-sy_bPS1C1o8OQ4qYLFrZKG2_jg_tkOsqN3JInbniiLd3BJ3rqFryrwr-7LMwJ8/s1600/s10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEFBknhczj1GvQ4vBynbNqvcb98cKJBNcbvrqmDMGkKzdJrpA77uEO-nvl0OeZSNfbcw27P87R7WYp-sy_bPS1C1o8OQ4qYLFrZKG2_jg_tkOsqN3JInbniiLd3BJ3rqFryrwr-7LMwJ8/s1600/s10.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">Especially when we see him creeping around the corner to peek at people. He thinks it's funny. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">We complain, we joke, we make fun of him on a constant basis, but Sport knows we love him. I can't explain it, but we just *get* him like no one else does. He's our baby after all. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;">But here's something we've yet to figure out. His girlfriend. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionFu-2bCL9ro3y4yvopOmPKtC85vcPdjFwZSDDEbPUNxKyfQe11bYVWeQm7YyOOXxhGuXBtSu9ZOYmigdH8EU2hDojVm-_D054hqC9ljDXFe5QTYt-UcOmg-L6asbGyN6_UBkeJlbWwg/s1600/s8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEionFu-2bCL9ro3y4yvopOmPKtC85vcPdjFwZSDDEbPUNxKyfQe11bYVWeQm7YyOOXxhGuXBtSu9ZOYmigdH8EU2hDojVm-_D054hqC9ljDXFe5QTYt-UcOmg-L6asbGyN6_UBkeJlbWwg/s1600/s8.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"> Gives new meaning to the phrase, "Don't settle for second best." </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW9JHrNnJOpOKey_k3Xd1oXbNi1XSw_hhWAmyNro1xjx3IreZFrsEc_u2sjovsDrq8OyxfCQlorx_fsfB9atPBNerCxYQCR5fV8Dqd7vPTCZe2sHbP2IagsVcIvfhSiWS35r12qWWwMU/s1600/s9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW9JHrNnJOpOKey_k3Xd1oXbNi1XSw_hhWAmyNro1xjx3IreZFrsEc_u2sjovsDrq8OyxfCQlorx_fsfB9atPBNerCxYQCR5fV8Dqd7vPTCZe2sHbP2IagsVcIvfhSiWS35r12qWWwMU/s1600/s9.jpg" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"> But that's his undertaking. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-27118132300912155062010-10-01T11:44:00.003-05:002010-10-01T12:04:13.565-05:00Vampire's Blood<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYgy0qRpSFruM7zlZhZnf00c2T5AM-e5-16cnClUe1zxXdYD4bOnYKNCGMXKkBRQ0RiDWj59YjNgMKrUgwFmBz5o7Gzi8TEnsIAgvaICzip_8JwdNcxIq5T-yb9b3IIr-32uXAtPhp4I/s320/make_it_a_double_143875.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="309" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYgy0qRpSFruM7zlZhZnf00c2T5AM-e5-16cnClUe1zxXdYD4bOnYKNCGMXKkBRQ0RiDWj59YjNgMKrUgwFmBz5o7Gzi8TEnsIAgvaICzip_8JwdNcxIq5T-yb9b3IIr-32uXAtPhp4I/s1600/make_it_a_double_143875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1Rt2JTyXaLglijdfmh-4J-C0PESNaqLltVSBhIy31MVh9Ggr3KaNCmwzkTPxwRyRju-mLiVQFViTV2goW-ToPQY8u5eKk2HOX4oc9eGTrjV4TCtRdUDaBSY5hOpY6SBSBrQSRZdQnsA/s320/Picture+024.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Vampire's blood. Yum. Wanna make some??! Good. You're in the right place!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR1Rt2JTyXaLglijdfmh-4J-C0PESNaqLltVSBhIy31MVh9Ggr3KaNCmwzkTPxwRyRju-mLiVQFViTV2goW-ToPQY8u5eKk2HOX4oc9eGTrjV4TCtRdUDaBSY5hOpY6SBSBrQSRZdQnsA/s1600/Picture+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSbCDjX1lcjsB4EEvnpAqDe5E3mfT5h5756ws7eqBGSZvzumgoN52XpVntYiD5dm84Hf7VgEElHcOhYG0B9WsnlDjIHHsXpnGM3T4IBPRcGYLHiXH2CoJW6KFGc75bl3R5Oabg4tXkjk/s320/Picture+028.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">You've had this right? Wrong. You may have had something similar, but it wasn't actual blood. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlSbCDjX1lcjsB4EEvnpAqDe5E3mfT5h5756ws7eqBGSZvzumgoN52XpVntYiD5dm84Hf7VgEElHcOhYG0B9WsnlDjIHHsXpnGM3T4IBPRcGYLHiXH2CoJW6KFGc75bl3R5Oabg4tXkjk/s1600/Picture+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fYaBewL_uhC2QPwSRrGHU0bQl2YKBmSTptdVNXTMNqlIFrVKiWcTzjsbctLF-Bq1Ce1JiFuJ9thM64LIEpoxw4wuFWD-WXdP4zNMdvxspl8K6vc-qhfCPqOqfB_mvnQ9zVqLWucT6Bo/s320/Picture+029.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">No, really. And I don't mean "blood" as in, the redemptive blood of Christ. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_fYaBewL_uhC2QPwSRrGHU0bQl2YKBmSTptdVNXTMNqlIFrVKiWcTzjsbctLF-Bq1Ce1JiFuJ9thM64LIEpoxw4wuFWD-WXdP4zNMdvxspl8K6vc-qhfCPqOqfB_mvnQ9zVqLWucT6Bo/s1600/Picture+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlhGrdWf_cDKv_WleSGARUycRN3ec2pSTT2WzfmAjZI-SLKQcMsL_rLD0jZSdx98gy1qU5ZY91gkCBCPfKTKC-4MqRK9ofwrpLajTO1W4Id9W4CxDOcWbHLM8ge4-RCHPJP07YdvUGsk/s320/Picture+031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This blood won't wash away your sins. We'll, I mean, sure it will, if you so choose. You could truly ask God for forgiveness and let this represent the blood of Christ. Wouldn't that be a cool testimony?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPlhGrdWf_cDKv_WleSGARUycRN3ec2pSTT2WzfmAjZI-SLKQcMsL_rLD0jZSdx98gy1qU5ZY91gkCBCPfKTKC-4MqRK9ofwrpLajTO1W4Id9W4CxDOcWbHLM8ge4-RCHPJP07YdvUGsk/s1600/Picture+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2NYOtTfQXkFSnr0WzNjKhqkC2f6u0raDQjSV6vZ8szYzwYqclDHDmW_wCrOCT7WtsqpF-Id6RhoohiwHUqpGPc_uMUfi72vuRZq56XQUNTYRWoTGwbnGPsrTmwyznY-THX1aTJ6lhZ4/s320/Picture+032.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ok, enough talkin'. Wanna know how to spook your peeps?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2NYOtTfQXkFSnr0WzNjKhqkC2f6u0raDQjSV6vZ8szYzwYqclDHDmW_wCrOCT7WtsqpF-Id6RhoohiwHUqpGPc_uMUfi72vuRZq56XQUNTYRWoTGwbnGPsrTmwyznY-THX1aTJ6lhZ4/s1600/Picture+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFeeniWJk7RnAKZ4eZeGVmKXLDYnZ-MVY1ZY2gIScSHaKzAjwesAC85NgZ_vOgkF1RgwEFLVZRIpOv6Fdh3zks5uLf5pb6XtKJTN-k8NbIcoW9bwPq2K11gJzvgzh6ufY6rYNxDYwUpo/s320/Picture+038.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grab a bottle of sparkling water. Water, not juice. Even the walmarts have sparkling water.. You'll know you have the right stuff when it says, "Sparkling water" on the bottle. Sorry for the sarcasm.......the ingredients will be "water and CO2."You'll also need some sweet juice....something red is fine, but dark purplish red is better. Oh, and orange juice - that's a must! You'll need the OJ for a cool effect...just trust me on this. </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivFeeniWJk7RnAKZ4eZeGVmKXLDYnZ-MVY1ZY2gIScSHaKzAjwesAC85NgZ_vOgkF1RgwEFLVZRIpOv6Fdh3zks5uLf5pb6XtKJTN-k8NbIcoW9bwPq2K11gJzvgzh6ufY6rYNxDYwUpo/s1600/Picture+038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAV15sOe0_PhznY0xQXVSkAC6Jkf-TQWD2UHPbeXhchJS2v3TXRKA7O6ieJsniRv8SZugARo61m6t0UvxUdpHyF-YGZe32rYQWhN6uQtfkzP_ng4ICaA7jC6bkDWOFsrXu-VqepYZHh_Y/s320/Picture+033.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Look, I realize I didn't take pictures of the steps..but it's not hard, so I'll just explain it!</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAV15sOe0_PhznY0xQXVSkAC6Jkf-TQWD2UHPbeXhchJS2v3TXRKA7O6ieJsniRv8SZugARo61m6t0UvxUdpHyF-YGZe32rYQWhN6uQtfkzP_ng4ICaA7jC6bkDWOFsrXu-VqepYZHh_Y/s1600/Picture+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhIhbwR_aUXzAbnmz1viiiMxHPj3NHbvsbDH6WtmRF7IJ__VWozGevXvEdtXQMkUaF7GbUPBbjZ90cLyQIlzviHvewpd5C4rLnHJpwPuQ2UXsTntt42gnIZF-BlpbJGGlZufTgzpHWEQ/s320/Picture+034.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Grab a pretty wine glass, or even better, some kind of goblet (that would be cool), or even a punch glass, and pour in some sparkling water (fill about 1/4 of the glass with it). Now, pour in the red/purple juice (filling the glass about 1/2 full now). And then add some more sparkling water (just a splash for sizzle), and NOW top it off with some OJ! Add as much or little as you want, but the cool thing about this is the smokey effect it gives the "blood". </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhIhbwR_aUXzAbnmz1viiiMxHPj3NHbvsbDH6WtmRF7IJ__VWozGevXvEdtXQMkUaF7GbUPBbjZ90cLyQIlzviHvewpd5C4rLnHJpwPuQ2UXsTntt42gnIZF-BlpbJGGlZufTgzpHWEQ/s1600/Picture+034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRmWOGB-Ga0OyppUoJICgoLoaPDyoReCyQsyt5cjuGdB4h0TObSNLmSPvoAM-MMy5F5bah_w3umfUTBSKmOoepfqYThMLR7tOYgn3hRRTRJqfalQDiYMOHgIYel6IQSOlrkinySLfCEI/s320/Picture+036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I didn't take a picture of the slightly smokey effect, because I didn't realize it until after I took these pictures...but it's kinda cool. It changes the dark liquid into something more odd looking. It makes you look at it and go, "ew, weird! it's cloudy."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRmWOGB-Ga0OyppUoJICgoLoaPDyoReCyQsyt5cjuGdB4h0TObSNLmSPvoAM-MMy5F5bah_w3umfUTBSKmOoepfqYThMLR7tOYgn3hRRTRJqfalQDiYMOHgIYel6IQSOlrkinySLfCEI/s1600/Picture+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVNe7vyGL9yaDK4jteOxOJY2pH5Y9jF1zT7rZ-kgdbluJQDe9t-_xJpvNO3Bz7QER9u1SbFVLcWBZbuvbEQBlyvuTYuawamezyWsWExYsuQV3Z5VdZKVo-5K5kjJhU4LFO6LrVbdcg7E/s320/Picture+037.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Keep in mind, this isn't blood from a vampire, it's what drips from his mouth when he's done. ;)</span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkVNe7vyGL9yaDK4jteOxOJY2pH5Y9jF1zT7rZ-kgdbluJQDe9t-_xJpvNO3Bz7QER9u1SbFVLcWBZbuvbEQBlyvuTYuawamezyWsWExYsuQV3Z5VdZKVo-5K5kjJhU4LFO6LrVbdcg7E/s1600/Picture+037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Ingredients:</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">+ 1 Bottle sparkling water</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">+ Dark red/red-purple juice (pic below of what I used)</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">+ Orange juice</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Directions: </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Fill pretty goblin or wine glass (or punch bowl) 1/4 of the way with sparkling water, then 1/4 more (1/2 total) with dark red juice, then a little more sparkling water, and then with a splash of OJ. If it's not sweet enough, add more juice (or even sugar, depending on how sweet your juice is). </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i><b>*** </b>You could also substitute a dark red/purplish sparkling juice for the one above. It's going to be a lot sweeter (and I'm not responsible for hyper kids!!) but it'll taste great! Don't forget to add the OJ for the creepy, smokey effect that only vampires can give. </i><br />
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<i> </i></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-15118285269617113872010-09-30T10:50:00.002-05:002011-07-18T17:42:09.531-05:00Eggplant Parmesan<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispR6IRPVpJ6utQwDUI3wPHA0Rqc7zzIC4iRFj0D4rAHri-8NM5f0-zk1M7wGXq-r4F89NdBlbdwEWcN5Xxkt2-Ya-KAUze8cO0nkCBk6RvZ4bcdbis06WrdVvZWp0qYsxvdGRGghv0ac/s320/Picture+030.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Yum! </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEispR6IRPVpJ6utQwDUI3wPHA0Rqc7zzIC4iRFj0D4rAHri-8NM5f0-zk1M7wGXq-r4F89NdBlbdwEWcN5Xxkt2-Ya-KAUze8cO0nkCBk6RvZ4bcdbis06WrdVvZWp0qYsxvdGRGghv0ac/s1600/Picture+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjaB59FkGUrH5pKcd3bp9vgLuyvE3GdM3yRZAbQvKtyFhNLQcqFOavGumTxkGAJZujJspWanweR7hzJov9XHtiaEflNAtmbBC51HTFnapqE6squ_8Bz_RpHQE6-Svik9oef4_hZR9ZnA/s1600/Picture+007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfjaB59FkGUrH5pKcd3bp9vgLuyvE3GdM3yRZAbQvKtyFhNLQcqFOavGumTxkGAJZujJspWanweR7hzJov9XHtiaEflNAtmbBC51HTFnapqE6squ_8Bz_RpHQE6-Svik9oef4_hZR9ZnA/s320/Picture+007.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grab an eggplant and slice it vertically. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGHiNQ7aDgKydVLu9Q0dnBIbnDg-P5fQrBeXNeeIKsfkuidRk8dE0FC_tMNDyTP7rUp16is1CN4ZEQh9hr4gZD02xyg1c2iYRpg1RQWlC1aGBFMwRauAgiIQBcaF3H2AL07Mp_FZfKxs/s1600/Picture+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUGHiNQ7aDgKydVLu9Q0dnBIbnDg-P5fQrBeXNeeIKsfkuidRk8dE0FC_tMNDyTP7rUp16is1CN4ZEQh9hr4gZD02xyg1c2iYRpg1RQWlC1aGBFMwRauAgiIQBcaF3H2AL07Mp_FZfKxs/s320/Picture+008.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You'll also need 2 eggs and some flour (I used whole wheat). </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKlTidN-hvLQbx26KoIGwsjqRM8cqI37bR_dlixtvmw183VBfUgdaJi0OjdmaXBL6mZkdJGHsX7CtsJxiUqkEUP1zOZc0yNZPGiTFfKRdBVlAKkgmjl-kk95rQWz5z6zAEu4tXppKqrY/s320/Picture+009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dip the eggplant into the flour. This gives the eggs (in the next step) something to hold on to!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKlTidN-hvLQbx26KoIGwsjqRM8cqI37bR_dlixtvmw183VBfUgdaJi0OjdmaXBL6mZkdJGHsX7CtsJxiUqkEUP1zOZc0yNZPGiTFfKRdBVlAKkgmjl-kk95rQWz5z6zAEu4tXppKqrY/s1600/Picture+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMWvzEMRatst7cXVzmQgex0potUbo0YlKIPW5m79rzWpl4uGUI0aevkeCsHkTHODcyMQOCy77ca-IHm93plHb8-nzFHPjWgntYog8B-oleK2KExYrqmEBU_ngTpzIMJHEqBmp9q3AIEM/s320/Picture+010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And then dip coated eggplant into the eggs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbMWvzEMRatst7cXVzmQgex0potUbo0YlKIPW5m79rzWpl4uGUI0aevkeCsHkTHODcyMQOCy77ca-IHm93plHb8-nzFHPjWgntYog8B-oleK2KExYrqmEBU_ngTpzIMJHEqBmp9q3AIEM/s1600/Picture+010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNjs1JAK3Xw6id2oWe7kv0pRdpJmagrMIqgkWLBFgVO3cMGaH8m_O_Z7wolxacGYBdZ51xt5hfwnXh788YgWriv7t7wF08bdQK9TskzLiXEpwy8QeuUII7Oc_QGKXdg3vve-GhXj0j1A/s320/Picture+011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And once more in the flour. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzNjs1JAK3Xw6id2oWe7kv0pRdpJmagrMIqgkWLBFgVO3cMGaH8m_O_Z7wolxacGYBdZ51xt5hfwnXh788YgWriv7t7wF08bdQK9TskzLiXEpwy8QeuUII7Oc_QGKXdg3vve-GhXj0j1A/s1600/Picture+011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZF7mQU7XNKvpGfFnf_PPyeECugP1IQNe7uXTD_UDb9c_Ih3AXvp_I2zEYnCyrk4rJeTEmkXRHGZlAx1t383zBUCYB2pzZnliUn3c237fr6mfRBzaREjkd5Z8wLwHurpLYcJgFccoyq7c/s320/Picture+014.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So basically what we've done so far is just sliced the eggplant, dipped into flour, eggs, then flour once more. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZF7mQU7XNKvpGfFnf_PPyeECugP1IQNe7uXTD_UDb9c_Ih3AXvp_I2zEYnCyrk4rJeTEmkXRHGZlAx1t383zBUCYB2pzZnliUn3c237fr6mfRBzaREjkd5Z8wLwHurpLYcJgFccoyq7c/s1600/Picture+014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiDS7jO2g6ADrXHeCwr8qDr-iXwPSXQQDXb6hcCgEJr9EiVWNvRfxVaqhaNyo7vcfxEZZ6uBeB1oIWQU9BrABilTsMPH-cHLkShU59qQ7XRc62osW2eXXKaLTXiUJyeG4lCsmQejhgX8/s320/Picture+015.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now add coated eggplant into your hot skillet of oil. (Pretend this is a picture of just that)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtiDS7jO2g6ADrXHeCwr8qDr-iXwPSXQQDXb6hcCgEJr9EiVWNvRfxVaqhaNyo7vcfxEZZ6uBeB1oIWQU9BrABilTsMPH-cHLkShU59qQ7XRc62osW2eXXKaLTXiUJyeG4lCsmQejhgX8/s1600/Picture+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAvWx017mXYuvrWmU1Zt4R4kbwemOCFbULubnACBgb1MTrrGKK4-0DlFx1vOavOHHEuDSQeEx1paOuX8WLqrsLxt4hnhlODwRAZE8u1Iz1fIlb_xO47Ljbt69Zcl0y8pCv1mp6n1unx3k/s320/Picture+016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown on both sides for a few minutes each, then place on paper towels. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTzoq1bhAmx7MN6OjbbBR6lGZn6eTT6lEQ9LcTXww6H5s2aCqotBVcpET0zTgv0ql0lclK_IcHpaX0pdrhZvqOewrzQmJZFu_1Uq934f5w5_KO1wcgnHjG_hRiKgPhaXZMaGZ_SGNAsQ/s320/Picture+022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="240" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cook your favorite pasta and add it to the hot (oven proof) skillet (or just an oven proof dish). Top with marinara sauce, then eggplant, and then slices of mozzarella!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBTzoq1bhAmx7MN6OjbbBR6lGZn6eTT6lEQ9LcTXww6H5s2aCqotBVcpET0zTgv0ql0lclK_IcHpaX0pdrhZvqOewrzQmJZFu_1Uq934f5w5_KO1wcgnHjG_hRiKgPhaXZMaGZ_SGNAsQ/s1600/Picture+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGq4iTLyoCfhzwQS_f271ZNbT9WC77TX_zhvtUmSMZatPa4239SFteN6xn8bwelvZs2FvTXDw2c3_VFRCkzyanrUkRcJ9Kw5AywlYWJBHBL_H-_XIYFBLSQW6NwxbRDnJTwVXhFyvTIM/s320/Picture+026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set the oven to broil and cook for about 3 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Add fresh cilantro (MY FAVORITE) and grated parmesan if you're naughty!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGq4iTLyoCfhzwQS_f271ZNbT9WC77TX_zhvtUmSMZatPa4239SFteN6xn8bwelvZs2FvTXDw2c3_VFRCkzyanrUkRcJ9Kw5AywlYWJBHBL_H-_XIYFBLSQW6NwxbRDnJTwVXhFyvTIM/s1600/Picture+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Recipe: </b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">1 Jar Marinara </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">1 lb Pasta (your fav, whatever that may be)</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Mozzarella cheese slices</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">1 Eggplant</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">2 eggs</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">1 C whole wheat flour<br />
1 lb whole wheat pasta </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Directions:</b></span></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Slice eggplant vertically into 1/4inch slices. Pour flour into a bowl, and add eggs to another bowl. Instead of bowls, you can use ziploc bags for easy cleanup. I rotate. :) Heat olive oil in a skillet (enough to coat the bottom) over medium high. Meanwhile, dip eggplant into flour, then eggs, then flour once more. If oil starts smoking, turn it down a little. Add coated eggplant to skillet and cook for about 3 minutes on each side (or until slightly brown.) While eggplant is cooking, cook your pasta. Remove eggplant from skillet, and add pasta to oven proof skillet (or dish, but I'm just in love with my iron skillet). Top pasta w/ eggplant, then marinara, then cheese. Let cook in the oven on a high broil setting for 2-3 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly. Top with cilantro and (if you dare), grated parmesan cheese!</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3ceWW6a94Dsbrcm0AprFbs1zLOcxuNXHn-cFu_lBLlpcPjdd3-8AUdCX9W5lOaUNvOO2V5TSXa-92MD-sHfL3gdvlVxBEXXWTJT1lzhBf9LtMuAaD_d0BOKRvipM6rB8ezRNUbYIvF8/s1600/Picture+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6252147662405342561.post-56974515496747438032010-09-27T16:09:00.001-05:002010-09-27T16:12:12.393-05:00Here's What's Lurking Around the Corner....<div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">Do you like it? You know.............the new look? </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">If you don't already know this about me, I sort of turn into a 3rd grader around halloween time. And Christmas time. And my birthday. And Easter. I also get frisky when the weather starts cooling off, but that's another topic for another blog post. Let's face it, acting like a 3rd grader isn't all that crazy, since on an average day, I act more like a 5th grader than the 28 year old that I am.<br />
<br />
I can't help it, I like to celebrate everything kid-style, and halloween really brings it out in me! It doesn't help that my husband is about 121x worse than I am, so he brings out the worst in my immature side. It's his fault. I'm just sayin'...</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">I digress. </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">So what's that lurking around the corner? Lots of random (and I do mean <i>random</i>) halloween stuff. Starting October 1, I'll be posting halloween themed things most days (sometimes a few times per day). Here's a sampler: </div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>* Lots of halloween recipes (cupcakes, cookies, dinners, lunches, and even some halloween breakfasts)</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>* Crafts (kid stuff to creepy stuff for the guys...)</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>* Pics of halloween stuff at our casa. </i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>* links to my fav halloween spots</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>* Halloween stuff we do (past and present, haunted houses, pumpkin mazes, one of which will be this Saturday!)</i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>* Top 10 lists galore. </i><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><i>* Whatever jokes or other junk I feel like posting about. </i></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">It's be spooky. It'll be tasty. It'll be gross, silly, and <strike>corny</strike> funny.<br />
<br />
<div style="color: lime; text-align: center;"><i>It'll be the halloweeeeeeeeeeen edition of the crazy apron!! </i></div></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace; text-align: center;"><u><b>Stay tuned!</b></u></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></div><div style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1