Holiday Cooking, Blogger Style

Overwhelmed With Joy will be hosting her 2nd Annual Holiday Cooking, Blogger Style this Friday, October 5. Last year, over 200 recipes were shared and they all sounded delicious.So, get those holiday recipes ready and head over to Overwhelmed With Joy this Friday.

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September 30, 2007 | Filed Under Holidays & Celebrations, Recipes | Leave a Comment 

Favorite Ingredient Friday - Caramel Apple Bars

I made these bars to take to a preschool cookout this week. They were very yummy and I came home with an empty pan.

Base and Topping

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups quick cooking oats
  • 1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 1/4 cups butter, melted

Heat oven to 350. Grease a 15×10 x 1 inch pan. In large bowl with electric mixer, beat base and topping ingredients on low speed until crumbly. Press half of mixture in pan to form base; reserve remaining mixture for topping. Bake 8 minutes.

Filling

  • 1 1/2 cups caramel ice cream topping
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups coarsely chopped peeled apples
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, optional

In a 1 quart saucepan, mix caramel topping and flour until well blended. Heat to boiling over medium heat, stirring constantly. Boil 3-5 minutes, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens slightly. Remove partially baked base from oven. Sprinkle with apples and walnuts. Pour caramel mixture evenly over top. Sprinkle with reserved topping mixture. Return to oven; bake 20-25 minutes longer or until golden brown. Cool on wire rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate until set, about 30 minutes.

Head over to Overwhelmed With Joy to check out other recipes.

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September 28, 2007 | Filed Under Recipes | 5 Comments 

Eat at Chili’s and Support St. Jude

Don’t know what to fix for dinner tonight…head to Chili’s.

On September 24, Chili’s Grill & Bar is offering a great way to fight childhood cancer, by taking your family out for dinner. Participating Chili’s restaurants will donate 100% of their profits that day to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Check out Create-a-Pepper for additional ways to support a great cause.

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September 24, 2007 | Filed Under Food & Eating | 1 Comment 

Menu Plan Monday - September 24

We have a pretty busy week ahead of us. Our usual, preschool, bible study, Wednesday night church. On Monday we have a preschool cookout and program and on Saturday my husband and I are going to a wedding that will take up most of the afternoon and evening. I even went and bought a new dress to wear.

Monday – Preschool Cookout, I am taking Caramel Apple Brownies

Tuesday – Biscuits & Gravy, scrambled eggs, fruit

Wednesday – Wild Rice & Chicken, vegetable, maple wheat rolls

Thursday – Ham & Cheese Crescents, sweet potato fries, fruit

Friday – Deep Dish Pizza Casserole, salad

Check out Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for more menu plans every Monday.

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September 24, 2007 | Filed Under Menu Plan Monday | 2 Comments 

Fall Into Reading 2007

Callapidder Days is hosting her 2nd Annual Fall into Reading challenge. Here is my list of books that I am going to be reading over the next 3 months.

Non-Fiction

Fiction

Bible Studies

Read-Aloud with Caleb, Camden & Emma

Chapter Book reading with Caleb

Check out Callapidder Days to view other Fall into Reading lists.

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September 23, 2007 | Filed Under Books & Reading | 8 Comments 

Our Morning on the Dairy Farm

Caleb had his first class field trip today. They went to the local cheese farm. The kids got to feed the calves, milk a cow, play in the haybales, take a hayrack ride in the cornfields and watch cheese being made. One of the favorites for the kids was Tom the turkey. He roams around the farm and is gentle enough that they were able to pet him. We also were able to go into the store to buy cheese and sample a fresh cheese curd.

One of the highlights from the class that went on Monday is they were able to name the new calf, who is 3 days old. They named her Promise.

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September 19, 2007 | Filed Under Education, Our Children, Photos | Leave a Comment 

Menu Plan Monday - September 17

We have a very light week this week – preschool, women’s bible study and Wednesday night church.

On Friday our boys are spending the night with their grandparents and cousins. So my husband and I are having a dinner I have been wanting to try for awhile (from Everyday Italian) before going to our small group that night.

Monday – Crockpot Cheesy Penne, green beans, maple wheat rolls

Tuesday – Diet Coke Chicken over rice, salad

Wednesday – Corn Dog Muffins, barbecued potato wedges, banana nut salad

Thursday – Scrambled eggs, cider glazed sausage, toast, fruit

Friday – Pork Chops alla Pizzaiola, baked mashed potatoes with parmesan cheese and bread crumbs, italian chopped salad

Check out Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas every Monday.

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September 17, 2007 | Filed Under Menu Plan Monday | 3 Comments 

Banana Nut Muffins with Oatmeal Streusel

We tried these muffins this weekend for breakfast and they were really good. The family loved them.

Muffin Batter

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
  • 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup mashed ripe banana, about 2 bananas
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted

Streusel Topping

  • 6 tablespoons regular oats
  • 5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons butter, softened
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375. To prepare the muffins, lightly spoon cups all-purpose flour and whole wheat flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flours and next 4 ingredients, through salt, in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine banana and next 4 ingredients, through egg, in a bowl; stir well. Add to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened; fold in walnuts. Place 12 muffin cup liners in muffin cups. Spoon batter into 12 muffin cups. To prepare the streusel, combine oats and remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Blend with a pastry blender or 2 knives until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle streusel over batter. Bake for 22 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean.

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September 17, 2007 | Filed Under Recipes | Leave a Comment 

Fall Into Reading Challenge

Be sure and check out Callapidder Days and the Fall Into Reading challenge that she is hosting. The challenge is starting on September 23.

I participated in the reading challenge last fall and it really motivated me to begin reading again. I am looking forward to participating this fall and have already started my list of books that I want to read by myself and with my children.

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September 11, 2007 | Filed Under Books & Reading | Leave a Comment 

Menu Plan Monday - September 10

Since having our third child 7 weeks ago, my menu planning has been non-existent. I am hoping this helps me get back on track. This is going to be a simple week to get back into the swing of things.

Monday – Spaghetti, caesar salad, garlic bread

Tuesday – No Peek Tips, buttered noodles, peas, dinner rolls

Wednesday – Grilled cheese, tomato soup, chips

Thursday – Aloha Chicken, rice, frozen vegetable

Friday – Homemade pizza, salad

Visit Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie for more menu planning ideas every Monday.

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September 10, 2007 | Filed Under Menu Plan Monday | 2 Comments 

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