Teach them to Cook...

 

 

Good Day!! How is your week treating you?

We are doing good here. Enjoying the warmth of the days

and trying to get outside when the wind isn't blowing.

Which...some days that is a challenge!

The weather is suppose to be in the high 70's 

and then low 80's with wind...oh goody!  I can hardly wait!

(enter sarcasm here)

So, on days that the wind blows you to Kansas,

I try to find things to catch up on in the house

or I like to bake.

I love it when I find my helpers wanting

 to bake or cook along side me.

I find great joy in it!

I'll let them create a special treat for the family to try

and sometimes we judge the meal or treat

 for some good ol' fashion fun!

(like being on Chopped)

We  I watch a lot of cooking shows and of course

 the kids baking shows.

I love that there are kids that love to create through baking.

We've got to get inspired somehow....

Awhile back, I showed the boys how to make crepes.

We did a lot of laughing as we were trying

 to master the flipping of the crepes.

Each one of them tried their hardest to 

flip it without it landing on the floor.

Some, well....never made it back to the pan...

And others were airborne!

After many flips and flops,

we managed to get several made.

I must admit to you, that my oldest son 

is now a pro at making crepes.

When he wants crepes, he makes them. 

I gladly gave up that job,

They are a lot of work!

(Wink inserted here)

And after it's all said and done,

we spent time together creating something yummy

and making special memories!!

I think it's very important to teach our children how to

cook and to clean. We are giving them such a gift

that they can and will use daily!

I couldn't have said it better myself!

I love the time spent with my boys.

I love to see the spark of creativity in them.

And oh boy, have I eaten some interesting food concoctions...

But, I wouldn't change any of it for anything!

Do your children like to cook in the kitchen with you?

I hope you all have a great week!

Thanks so much for stopping by...

HUGS,

Blueberry Lemon Scones & Rain...

I just love a good scone, don't you?

After all I can make just about any favor combo

 when it comes to these delicious treats.

I've made so many over the years,

 that I can make these by heart.

No recipe, just memory....

Now that is amazing really!

(Smiles)

Blueberry Lemon Scones

 2 c. white flour

1/3 c. brown sugar

1 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick butter, cold and cubed

1 egg

1/2 c. lemon flavored yogurt

1/4 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. lemon zest

1/2 c. fresh or frozen blueberries

 Combine the flours, brown sugar, 

baking powder, baking soda and salt. 

Slice the cold butter into flour mixture. 

Using a pastry blender or your hands, 

combine until it forms into pea size crumbs.

 In another bowl, combine the lemon yogurt,

 the egg and the vanilla extract. 

 Add to flour mixture.

Stir until combined.

Now gently fold in the blueberries

 and lemon zest.

 On a lightly floured surface, place your dough.

 Create a mound with the dough 

and then divide into 2 equal portions.  

Place both onto a cookie sheet. 

 Now cut into 8 equal triangles,

 gently separate on the sheet.

(16 total triangles)

  Lightly sprinkle with sugar, if desired.

Bake at 400 for about 13-16 minutes or

 until they look golden brown.

** These can be made into a gluten free version

just omit the regular flour for GF**

Now all you need is a cuppa tea or coffee!

Enjoy!!

***************

Moving right along:

Can you believe it's the last week of March?!

Where oh where did this month go?

FAST, it went FAST I tell ya!

For all of you that prayed for rain

Thank You!!

We got a big storm Thursday night into Friday.

We lost power for 13 hours!!

Thankfully the Lord spared our homes

 from any wind damage.

And we were Blessed with a ton of rain!

Puddles everywhere!

We also received more rain on Sunday!

The weatherman said we should be

 getting more rain this week! 

Yay!  God is Good!

Now, this is what Spring Time 

should be like in Colorado!

My hubby sold his old truck and we were 

able to get another vehicle

without having to take a loan out. Yeah!

He's all excited because we can four-wheel in it,

 plus use it as his daily driver!

He's been in the garage fixing it up 

since we came home Friday afternoon.

Boys and their Toys!

😉😉

My hubby also sold his parents camper...

👍

We are still waiting for our safes to arrive.

The shipping company is yet to be desired....

My hubby has been on the phone everyday 

with these darn people and no body can 

seem to get their stories straight.

This has been going on a month now

and we were supposed to get them 3 1/2 weeks ago.

So, he will be calling again today!!

I think good Customer Service is extinct!!

I don't think they will be 

getting a good review!!

********

I've still been cleaning and organizing.

I deep cleaned my kitchen after the dirt storm

 (before the rain)

I moved some things off my counter 

that weren't used or useful.

More like it was a catch all space.

I put my Kitchen Aid out, 

since I'm baking all the time.

Makes more sense, right?

The good wife that I am, 

will be heading to the court house to 

get plates for hubby's vehicle today!

And well...I think that's all for now....

What have you all been up to?

********

I hope you all have a delightful week!

Thanks for stopping by...

HUGS & BLESSINGS,

Something New To Try...

Hello there!  How are you today?

Doing well here, just trying to get my week organized and planned.

I only have a few things planned and I'm so thankful

I won't be out of the house non-stop this week.

After all I'm a homemaker and I love to be at home!

Do you gals like to purchase cream soups from the store?

I always have them in my pantry for my easy go to recipes.

But, have you ever tried making your 

own cream soup mix ins before?

I found this handy dandy recipe several years ago

and I love that it's a dry mixture.

Plus, it's fun to experiment, right??

So what you need to make your own dry cream soups is...

2 cups dry milk

3/4 cup cornstarch

1 tsp onion powder

1/2 tsp dried thyme

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried parsley

1/4 tsp black pepper

Mix all together and store in a mason jar.

Now for the soups...

Combine 1/3 cup of the mixture with 1 1/4 cups water into a saucepan.

Whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil, cook for about 2 minutes, stir.

Remove from heat. Cool.

For Cream of Chicken: use 1 1/4 cups chicken broth

 instead of the water in above recipe.

For Cream of Mushroom: use 1 1/4 cups water, 

add in 1/4 cup diced cooked mushrooms to the soup base.

For Cream of Celery: use 1 1/4 cup water,

 add in 1/4 cup diced cooked celery to soup base.

I double the dry soup mix, since I have a larger family.

And the bonus to this mix is, it eliminates all the 

other soup cans from your pantry!

Easy Peasy! 

I made up some of the cream of chicken soup...

It tastes just like the canned soup, but much better for you!

Win...Win... if you ask me!!

I hope you all have a wonderful week...

Thanks for stopping in!

Hugs & Blessings,

Recipes and Such...

Hello Sweet Friends!!!

How are you?  How is February treating you?

So far, so good here!

It's a busy month for us as we celebrate my birthday

(I'm a Valentine's baby)

And we are celebrating my son's 16th birthday on the 16th!!

Whew....So as my mom in law puts it

we party all month long!!

😊

And we do!!

Do you ever get in a rut when you cook?

I do and for some reason it takes awhile to get out of it.

I get tired of making all the same 

meals over and over again.

So, I've been digging into my cookbooks 

and looking online

for something new to try.

I want something quick to make 

but I want it to taste good too.

Yes, I might be asking a lot here, but hey...

that's why I cook! Ha!

So, I came across this recipe 

somewhere in outer space

and gave it a try... it was easy, 

didn't require a lot of ingredients

and it tasted delicious! 

*Score!!

If you are in a cooking rut, 

then give this a try...

One Pot Kielbasa Pasta

1 Tbsp. Olive Oil

1 pound Kielbasa Sausage

1 onion, chopped 

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 cups chicken broth

1 can diced tomatoes

8 oz. dry pasta (I used elbow)

1/2 cup milk

1/2 tsp. salt and pepper

1 cup shredded cheese of choice

green onion to garnish

Add oil, sausage and onions to a large skillet. Cook till tender.

Stir in garlic and cook for 3 more minutes.

Stir in broth, tomatoes, milk, pasta, salt and pepper.

Simmer for 15 minutes or until pasta is tender.

Remove skillet from heat and stir 

in 1/2 cup of the shredded cheese.

Top with the remaining shredded cheese 

and cover till melted.

Sprinkle with green onion and serve!

Enjoy!!

Have a great week! 

Thanks for stopping by....

Christmas Baking...

Tis the Season to be baking...

fa.. la.. la.. la.. la.. la!

I have all ready had one baking day with friends

and I'll be doing another baking day 

with my mom this week.

Whew...that's a  lot of cookies!

(Smiles)

Every year I make cookie platters

 for my hubby's work

my Father in Law's crew, my Aunt's office 

and a few of our friends.

I love to bake and give!!

Believe it or not, I really don't 

eat a lot of what I bake.

I might eat my fair share at times 

but I don't eat a lot of my goodies!

Sugar cookie cut outs are our most favorite!!

So I have have to make a double 

batch when I bake!

What are your most favorite 

cookies you bake this time of year?

I do a huge variety...

Almond Blossoms

Scotcharoo's

Cocoa Drops

Butter Brickle Bars

Snickerdoodles

Peppermint Shortbread

Cranberry Orange Shortbread

Ranger Cookies

Sugar Cookies

Fudge

Cashew Brittle

More Fudge

Just to name a few... HaHa!

I made chocolate covered cherries 

last year for the first time

and they were really yummy!

These are my father in laws favorite!

Click on the link below if you'd like 

to give them a try.

Chocolate Covered Cherries Recipe

And by the end of the holiday baking season

you will feel like this...

Thanks so much for stopping by...

May you all be blessed with Christmas Cheer!!

Hugs & Blessings To You,

Cooking Up Some Love...

Hello Dear Friends!

Thank you for stopping by for a quick visit.

This Summer has been flying by, hasn't it?

I can't believe tomorrow is all ready July 1st!!

Seriously?!  Summer...feel free to slow down a bit, please!

It's been so hot here, so I haven't really 

felt like cooking a lot of hot meals. 

I did manage to bake some cupcakes this morning, 

but I baked before it got hot out!

I made homemade Stromboli awhile back

 and thought I would inspire you

or well even myself  to make it (again in my case) soon.

I didn't take a before shot,

 for I tend to get in the baking mode

and don't think to grab my camera until all the mess is gone!

Any who...here's what I did:

2 batches of pizza dough made or

 you can use frozen bread dough thawed

1 jar of your favorite kind of spaghetti sauce

your choice of meat, cooked

(I used Italian sausage and ground hamburger)

2 cups cheese, shredded

any kind of sauteed veggies you like

(I used mushrooms, bell peppers, onion and garlic)

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

On a flour dusted counter, roll out your dough into a large rectangle.

Spread your sauce, meat, veggies and cheese into the edge of your dough.

Roll the dough like a jelly roll.

Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.

If you'd like, brush some melted butter and an 

Italian herb over the top of the hot bread.

Serve with additional sauce for dipping.

I hope you all have a great week!

Oh... and have a Safe and Fun Independence Day!

Hugs,

Doughnut Jewels...

Breakfast time is fun around our home.

Some days, I'll let the boys decide what they want for breakfast!

Now, that my oldest son is learning how to cook,

he helps me out quite a bit in the kitchen.

I made these yummy doughnut jewels a while back

and thought I would share my recipe with you all.

There's just something about a warm doughnut 

I just can't resist!

Here's What you'll need:

Drop Doughnut Jewels

2 cups flour

1/4 cup sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder

1 tsp. salt

1 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 cup veg. oil

3/4 cup milk

1 egg

1 tsp.  vanilla

Oil (for frying)

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and nutmeg until well blended.

Add oil, milk and egg and mix well.

Drop by spoonfuls into hot oil.

Fry until light brown on both sides, turning once.

Drain well on paper towel.

Roll your doughnuts into powdered sugar or a cinnamon sugar mixture.

Now, pour yourself a cup of hot coffee, 

hot cocoa or a glass of milk

and ENJOY!

Where is that SMELL Button...

Tis the season for lots and lots of treats!

What did you make for Breakfast?

Hugs & Blessings,

Sleeping in the Kitchen...

I don't know why I find this funny, but I do.

I don't think I have ever had breakfast in bed, 

nor have I ever fed a meal to any one in bed before.

I can't even imagine the crumbs on my sheets!!

Really!?!

There are times I feel like I might as well sleep in the kitchen, 

because I am in there so much through out the days.

With the holidays coming, 

this is a busy time of year.

I do a lot of the holiday baking for my hubby's work 

and for my mom and auntie's work too.

I also make up platters of goodies 

for my father in law's work crew.

And of course you can't forget all those homemade gifts 

you like to create for your sweet girlfriends.

Oh and there's the meals that you make to help

 a family out when they need it most.

So, yes I think I'll be sleeping in the kitchen for the next few months.

(inserting smiles here)

Do you ever feel this way too?

What have you all been up too lately?

I hope you have a wonderful day!

Homemade Spaghetti Sauce...

I love PASTA!

And what goes with Pasta?  Homemade Spaghetti Sauce!

Earlier this summer, I got the thought in my head

 to can some homemade Spaghetti Sauce.

So, I pulled out all the frozen tomatoes

 I had and gave it a try.

My house smelled so good while cooking the sauce down.

All I could think about was fresh sauce 

on a great big bowl of pasta!

I wonder if I have any Italian in me?!

I only got 6 quarts, 

but I will be making more this fall.

Here is the recipe I used:

60-65 tomatoes

2 onions, chopped

2 green or red bell peppers

4 cloves of garlic

2 (12oz.) cans of tomato paste

2 Tbsp. Oregano

2 Tbsp. Basil

1 Tbsp. Rosemary

1 Tbsp. Thyme

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire

Lemon Juice

Prepare your water canner and get the water boiling.  

Sterilize your canning jars and

 have them warming in the oven.

Begin by adding your tomatoes

 to a pot with about a 1/2 c. water. 

Boil over low heat, reduce and simmer

 for about 20 minutes.

Add in the tomato paste. Stirring well.

Strain sauce to remove all the tomato peels. 

 Add back to pot and add in the onion, bell peppers and garlic.

Simmer for 30 minutes.  Stir constantly.

Now add in the oregano, rosemary, thyme, 

basil and Worcestershire. 

Still until combined.

Simmer for about 10 minutes.

Grab your quart jars and add in 

2 Tbsp. lemon juice to each jar.

Using your canning funnel,

 fill each warm jar with the sauce. 

Wipe jars and place on the lids.

Place your jars into the water bath canner 

and boil for 45 minutes.

Remove from canner and let rest overnight

 to ensure proper sealing.

I guarantee you won't want 

store bought spaghetti sauce again!

Happy Canning!

Homemade Flour Tortillas...

 There's just something about

 the aroma of homemade tortillas!

It gets your tummy's rumbling!

The whole kitchen just comes to life 

when a mama is creating and exploring new recipes.

I love homemade flour tortillas!

It's one of those recipes that I have had for years

and when I have the time, I make up a whole

 bunch and store them in the freezer

for future meals and snacks!

I hope you give them a try

(You might even never buy store bought one's again)

Homemade Flour Tortillas

2 cups Flour

1 Tbsp. Baking Powder

1 tsp. Salt

2 Tbsp. Lard or Shortening

1 cup Water

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. 

 Cut in the lard or shortening, until pea size crumbles form.

 Add in the water about a 1/4 cup at a time.

 Stir well, until moistened.  

Knead the dough until a firm dough is formed.  

Now form into small balls and flatten 

into a circle with a rolling pin.

Grill on an non-greased frying pan

 or cast iron skillet until browned.

This recipe will make about 10 small tortillas.

These taste wonderful with melted butter 

and sprinkled with some cinnamon sugar!

Yummy-licious!!!

Have a wonderful day! 

Hugs,

Macadamia Nut & White Chocolate Chip Cookies...

Have you ever just had one of those

 cookies that makes your mouth water?

I have been on a cookie kick for quite some time,

but I also love to bake me, myself and I a cookie!

And, these are my F-A-V-O-R-I-T-E 

of all time kind of cookie!

I'm sure most of you have this recipe,

 but I am gonna share it with you anyways!

I have changed the recipe a wee bit to my liking,

so feel free to do the same when making yours!

Macadamia White Chocolate Cookies

1 c. butter

1 1/2 c. sugar

1/2 c. brown sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp. vanilla

2 c. flour ( I use 1 c. white, 1 c. wheat)

1/2 tsp. b soda

1 tsp. salt

2 c. white chocolate chips

1 c. chopped macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 350.  

Cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.  

Add in eggs and vanilla.  

Stir in dry ingredients and bake for 10-12 minutes.

Don't they look inviting?

Maybe too inviting?

Yep... and this is why I don't bake them very often,

cause I can eat way more than I should in one setting!

Yummy!

Have a great day Friends!

Thanks for stopping By.

Hugs,