Archive for the ‘Food’ Category

Today is the day!  Are you cooking?  Aren’t you getting excited?  My belly is waiting!

Not a big post today, there is much to do.  I just wanted to pop in, say happy Tg and post some pics of what we have been doing in this house since 5 yesterday.  COOKING!  Do you know how hard it is to make cookies and pies with no hot water?  I’m having to boil water just to have hot water to be able to wash the beaters and bowls so we can move on to the next thing!  Its really blowing chunks!

On the TO DO for today:
Pecan Pie
Chocolate Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Deviled eggs

*sigh*
a mommy’s work is NEVER done!

Some Pecan Shortbread Sandies to get you in the mood….
I saw this recipe in a magazine and wanted to try it.  Its different then my Pecan Sandie recipe.   I think I like mine better but what the hay.  These are pretty good.  Just mine are a little sweeter.

Pecan Shortbread Sandies

Mix 2 cups butter with 1 cup powdered sugar and 1 tsp vanilla

Sift together 3.5 cups flour and .5 cups cornstartch and a pinch of salt.

Mix it in slowly, adding a little – mix, add a little – mix.

It will get really thick.  My 14 year old mixer can barely handle it…

Clean off beaters

SPOON in 1.5 cups of chopped pecans.
 

Make sure to get them really incorporated.  Nothing blows harder then getting a cookie with only one nut in it and the next one having a quadmillion…

Roll into balls and place on cookie sheet. 

{side note:  I couldn’t find my GOOD cookie sheet, it was a HUGE “air bake” pan.  Took up the whole shelf.  Anyway, I ended up going and buying a new one.  This one is by WILSON, and its AWESOME!  The sides dip DOWN so the cookies literally just slide off!}

So you have all your balls, then you moosh them down.  They wont deflate or settle ANY in the oven.  So how they look at this stage is how they will come out.  If you are a perfectionist and want perfect cookies, smoosh with the bottom of a glass or coffee mug.  If you are like me, and don’t care how they look – then just moosh em down with your hands and move on. 

I always cover the dough that has to wait its turn.  I don’t know why.  I guess I feel like since its not time to “take the stage”  it should get to remain hidden until time for the show.  hehehe…

*DO NOT REFRIDGERATE!  It will make it too hard, and you will have to wait for it to get back to room temp to be able to ball it!

Bake in the over at 350 for 12-13 minutes.  They should come out hard firm – and toothpick clean, but not crunchy.  Crunchy means you cooked em too long!

While they are baking, get yourself out a big freezer bag and put in about 3/4 cups powdered sugar in there. (Recipe books will say put it in a bowl.  Trust me, freezer bag is easier and way less MESS!)

See, I told ya they wouldn’t deflate any. 

While the cookies are still pretty warm, dump them about 2 at a time in your freezer bag.  Gently shake them around in there and then give them just a tiny squeeze.  Not so much to crack the cookie, but enough to get some sugar to stick!

Then just set um on some wire racks to cool.

*Clean up tip – I always put a sheet of wax paper UNDER my cooling rack, right on the table.  It will catch any droppings and when you are ready to clean up there is NO SCRUBBING!  Just put your cookies in your cookie tin,  pick up the wax paper and shake loose powder sugar in there too 

and wah-lah!

Oh, just  a warning.  REALLY use BUTTER.  Don’t use butter substitute, or butter flavor crisco.  It wont work.

Ok, I’m out! 

Have a happy ThanksGiving!

Hey gang,

As most of you, my faithful readers {yay – I have fans? no!  I have FRIENDS!} anyway, most of ya have noticed Im not around too much lately.  I’ve not been to good at answering emails, or catching pm’s, or blog posting.  I get 2 or 3 emails a day asking me if “Are you mad at me?”.  NOPE!   Im not mad at anybody!  I am just not feeling well.  I wont go into details on here, but lets just say Im not too good atm.  In fact, I am so sick/dizzy that Im barely functioning.  I get up, get the kids off to school, then nap off and on in the recliner all day.  I did get into the DR yesterday, finally.  And they took a ton of blood, and I go back in a few days for an ultrasound and a few other tests.     Should know something soon though.  I hope! 

Anyway, needless to say, Im not able to be downstairs on the desktop too much.  That is where all my email goes.  So, I only peek at those on the way to bed.  I have the laptop I play on upstairs.  But pretty much all I can do on there is blog and surf, and really what is there to blog about when all your doing is laying around feeling like your going to pass out?!  LOL…

I do like to tweet during my fav tv shows though!  cuz who doesn’t like watching tv with their friends!  So be sure to add me on twitter dang it!  Im not that hard to find.  Im BunnyCates on there.  Yeah, original I know.  LOL!!!

so on to todays post…

$$$ is certainly on my mind lately, and I imagine on most of yours too, so… for today a recipe that is not expensive.  Under $15 and feeds a family of 4 for 2 days+. 

Frugal Feeding: Chili

My shopping list:
I shopped at Sureway.
{If I was downstairs I would just scan my receipt, but Im in the recliner so – no scan for you!}

Hot Dogs x 2 $2.00
Buns $.99
Crackers $1.60
Ground Beef $1.74
Sharp Cheddar $1.50
Diced Tomatoes .99
Tomato Juice $1.69
Chili Beans $.83
Dark Red Kidney Beans $.83
Kidney Beans $.83
Field Chili Roll $1.89
Onion $.46

the goal:
Night 1 = Chili
Night 2= Chili Dogs

PREP:
Dice Onion, and toss about 2/3rds in a skillet coated in olive oil.  As onions start to go clear, toss in the hamburger meat to brown.  

Meanwhile, in a large pot, place the chili roll, all cans of beans {all drained except the chili beans.  Just dump them in juice and all}, diced tomatos, and fill one of the bean cans with water and add that.  Then add about half the can of tomato juice.  When the meat is browned, drain grease {I like to rinse mine too, bluck!} and dump meat mix into the chili cocktail.  Cook over low low heat for about 2 hours.  For added flavor, you can add salt, garlic powder, chili powder, and/or cumin but it will be just fine without!  Serve in a bowl sprinkled with shredded cheddar, and sided with crackers.  Refrigerate or freeze left overs. Baggie and refrigerate left over onion jibbles.   {Even if everyone has seconds (we do)  you will still have enough left for another meal.}

For night 2.

Prepare hotdogs as stated on package.  Serve on bun topped with chili.  Set out the left over onions in a dish and some shred cheddar in a dish and let kids add their own addons!

There ya have it.  One cooking night, 2 meals.  {+ you will still have some chili left even after the second night, or we do.  Great for a quick lunch for the hubs at work!}

><

Not much to say today, got lots to do and the day is already half gone!

First: Some Food

RECIPE:  Bunny’s Lowfat Pancake Breakfast

Serves: 3 adults

1 cup Heartsmart Bisquick
2/3 cup Fat Free Milk
Egg substitute = to 1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 banana
4-5 Strawberries
1/2 cup Low Fat Vanilla Yogurt (I LOVE Light & Fit or Activia)
2 Tblsp Fat Free Whipped Topping

Prep:

Preheat Griddle or skillet.

In mixing bowl mix Bisquick, Milk, egg sub, and vanilla.  When griddle is hot, start cooking.  I use a 1/8 cup measuring cup to scoop and poor batter.  This gives me 6 good sized pancakes!  While the pancakes are cooking slice bananas and dice strawberries.  In another bowl combine yogurt and whipped topping.

To serve:
Place a pancake on your plate, layer a few banana slices, place another pancake, sprinkle some banana slices, strawberries, and a few tbsp of the topping mix.  So each plate gets too pancakes and some of everything else.

To my best guess (mathin’ is no  longer my forte) This is ABOUT 300 calories.  Of course it all depends on  how much fruit and how much topping you add.

second: new schtuff!

Paper Edgers 1

$5.00 $3.75
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Inked Edge Overlays for that hint of grungy – play with layer styles and hue tones for unlimited possibilities. Perfect for creating papers and elements, or adding interesting photo effects to your pictures!

This product is Commercial Use friendly!

This purchase contains:

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ok, Im outtie, gotta clean the house for Girls Night Out!  You coming???  6-9pm  bring your stuff and lets stamp!!  Cost is FREE and you are invited! 

until next time~