Did You Know...

...how REALLY easy it is to add what blogs you follow to your Blogger profile if you use Google Reader? It quick! You don't have to enter them one by one. You just go to view your profile, click on "manage blogs I follow", "add", and then "import from Google Reader". It is as easy as checkmarking the ones you want to show.

I never knew this until I actually went to do it. If I had known this, I would have done it sooner! I appreciate knowing that some people are occasionally interested in my blog... so I thought I would pass on the love and let people know that I like to read theirs.

Ok, maybe I am a little slow... Just thought I would share incase some others of you didn't know this either.

Party Time

It's time for party food over at Jenny's Foody Friday and I want to share a recipe with you that is easy to make and has impressive results. Cream Puffs!

Not particularly Halloween related, I know. While these might seem more suited for a brunch, tea, luncheon, or shower, they could work for just about any type of party... Who doesn't like to pop a cream puff in their mouth? These are better than the frozen ones that leave a film on your tongue.

Cream Puffs (from Allrecipes.com)

Ingredients:

2 (3.5 ounce) packages instant vanilla pudding mix
2 cups heavy cream
1 cup milk

1/2 cup butter
1 cup water
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup all-purpose flour
4 eggs

Directions:

Mix together vanilla instant pudding mix, cream and milk. Cover and refrigerate to set.

Note: Sometimes I add Cool Whip to this mixture after it has set to stretch it further for when I am making two batches of shells.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).

In a large pot, bring water and butter to a rolling boil. Stir in flour and salt until the mixture forms a ball. Transfer the dough to a large mixing bowl. Using a wooden spoon or stand mixer, beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well after each. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown. Centers should be dry.

When the shells are cool, either split and fill them with the pudding mixture, or use a pastry bag to pipe the pudding into the shells.

Note: I like to dust with confectioner's sugar before serving. You can also drizzle with melted chocolate.

Notes on the Menu

This week’s menu, while I must say it has been delicious so far, did not look spectacularly healthy at first glance. Just in case you are curious if my pursuit of more natural substitutions has flown out the window, let me share a couple changes and substitutions I’ve made/will make to the recipes along the way.

Mexican Tortilla Skillet...

Processed ingredients called for: flour tortillas, condensed tomato soup

My changes:

There are lots of recipes out there for homemade tortillas, but I just wasn’t up to it. I purchased sprouted wheat tortillas from Whole Foods.

I used frozen tomatoes from the freezer to make homemade tomato soup. Then I added less water to the skillet later to make up for the fact that it wasn’t condensed tomato soup.

Biscuits and Gravy...

Processed ingredients called for: sausage, biscuits

My changes:

It is hard to get around this one, so I made an exception. It is an occasional meal, and it was mainly for my husband and his hunting buddy. I did choose turkey sausage.

I made the biscuits from scratch (though I did use shortening as called for). I used aluminum-free baking powder.

Chili Cheese Dogs...

Processed ingredients called for: hot dogs, buns, chili seasoning

My changes:

AAAH! I can’t believe I bought hot dogs. I want to gag right now. We need to use them up. The homemade chili is the only redeeming factor in this meal.

Chicken Pot Pie...

Processed ingredients called for: chicken bouillion cubes

My changes:

I used homemade chicken broth to replace the bouillion and water in the recipe.

Other notes regarding the menu:
The pasta dishes use whole wheat pasta.

Regarding last week:
I am bummed to learn that my beef bouillion substitute contains an ingredient that contains the same bad stuff as MSG... Is there condensed broth substitute that exists that doesn't???

Ok, take into consideration that I had an extra day and a half at home this week… You can do a lot in a day and a half when you aren't used to it.

Santa Sacks

These Holiday Gift Sacks from Land's End look cute. (Thanks for the tip Thrifty Florida Mama!)

I have thought about sewing our own Santa Sacks for our family.

Pros:

• Festive!
• Reusable (year after year)
• Inexpensive to make if you find a good deal on fabric

AND as long as you don't also individually wrap the presents, you:

• Produce less trash than using wrapping paper.
• Save money on wrapping paper in the long run.

To up the thriftyness and greeness of the project you could even re-purpose fabric from an item that you are planning to give away.

Cons:

• I would miss wrapping presents. I like wrapping presents.
• Opening wrapped presents is fun, too.

What do you think? Does anyone out there use anything like these bags?

I doubt I will get around to this project this year... Actually, rather than large Santa Sacks, I am more likely to use fabric to wrap presents individually (and then save the fabric after they are opened and reuse the fabric for another year). Is that possible? I just really like the way individually wrapped boxes look under the Christmas tree!

Hmm... Maybe I'll try to remember to look at Christmas fabric when it is on clearance after the holidays. For next year.

Visit the Green Baby Guide's Thrifty Green Thursday and Crystal's Frugal Fridays for more ideas!

No-Peel Apple Cake

If you like baking with apples, you have to try this!

No-Peel Apple Cake

I saw a link to it last week on modobject at home (thanks mod girl!) and just made it today. Though I do have an apple peeler/corer/slicer device, I didn't even have to use it. I just sliced and chopped the apples, leaving on the skin. It was super quick. Then I mixed all the ingredients minus the apples in my mixer. I added the apples last and folded them in so they would stay chunky. I poured the batter into a greased and floured pan, sprinkled some sugar on top (no nuts for us), and into the oven it went. Since it is dark outside now, I don't have a good picture. The cake comes out dark, too. Never fear, it is not burnt, that's just how it looks. Yum!

The recipe does not specify what type of apple to use. Last week Whole Foods had organic golden delicious apples for 99 cents a pound so I bought 7 pounds :) They seemed to work just fine.

I love how simple and tasty this cake turned out. Works for me!

Photo from stockvault.net

Multipurpose Coffee Filter

Last week, I made some chicken stock in the crockpot. (It looks good, but I haven't tasted it yet, so we'll see.) Afterwards, I did not have a wire mesh strainer to strain the liquid (to get scraps out), so I had to improvise. First I used a collander, but the holes were too big. So then I set a thin, clean cloth in the collander (like the directions said to), but that just didn't seem very sanitary to me, and it took a long time for the liquid to seep through. For the third try, I set a clean coffee filter in the collander and finished pouring in the liquid. Perfect! The scraps stayed in the filter in the collander, and the liquid came through.

This would work with a disposable coffee filter or with a reusable wire mesh coffee filter, like some coffee makers have.

Visit Kitchen Tip Tuesdays, hosted by Tammy's Recipes, for more helpful hints.

Baby Shower Decor - With Photos!

I tweaked my post on Baby Shower Decorations and added new photos (thank you so much, Jess!) It is all published over at Family Bliss today - check it out!

Menu Plan 10/27/08

This week, lunches will be a little different... partly due to the fact that it is the end of the month and I want to use stuff we have instead of making another trip to the store and blowing the budget, and partly due to the fact that we are a little tired of sandwiches and a hot lunch is a nice thing when the weather starts turning colder :)

It will be a little of an experiment to see if it is too much cooking for me or not. Most of the lunches will have to be made in the evenings so we can pack them for the next day. (Then they'll get reheated at lunchtime.)

Breakfast Choices:
Oatmeal

Granola

Bananas

Smoothies
Orange Juice
Milk

Lunches:
Monday: Quick and Easy Alfredo Pasta with Broccoli

Tuesday: Biscuits and Gravy

Thursday-Friday: Chili Cheese Dogs (with Leftover Chili from the freezer)

Saturday-Sunday: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup and Bread

-all served with apples on the side-

Dinners:
Monday - Mexican Tortilla Skillet, Cornbread
Tuesday - Lasagna, Green Beans
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Chicken Pot Pie
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Tomato & Spinach Pasta Toss
Sunday - Leftovers

Dessert:
No-Peel Apple Cake

For more ideas, visit the Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

SNL

Just some weekend entertainment for you...
Has everyone else been enjoying Saturday Night Live lately as much as I have? It seems that the show is experiencing a resurgence from capitalizing on all the political drama this fall. I haven't been staying up late to watch it, but I like to catch up by watching online afterwards (less commercials) when I have some downtime... or when I just feel like procrastinating on what I should be doing :) If you enjoy that kind of humor, it is stinkin' funny!

Egg-o-rama

Eggs! What do I make with them?

Spinach Egg Casserole comes to mind. People who really like spinach and cheese usually request the recipe when I take it to my moms' group for breakfast. (My husband is not a fan of it, though, I've learned.)

At home, when eating eggs as the star of the meal, we mostly just make plain old scrambled eggs with lots of cheddar cheese melted over top, and paired with some of P.W.'s Basic Breakfast Potatoes.

I'd like to someday attempt P.W.'s Breakfast Burritos To Go. I am just usually too lazy and end up going with the option listed above.

What do you like to do with your eggs?

Visit Foody Friday, hosted by Jenny from A Latte Talk.

Photo from stockvault.net

7 Things About Me

Michele of Frugal Granola shared 7 Things a week or so ago, and tagged me to do the same... By the way, I really enjoy her blog.

Here goes...

1. I am not an overachiever at all, except when it comes to Christmas shopping. Yes, I am almost finished. Please don't hate me.

2. I got an American Girl catalogue in the mail this week for some reason. I looked through it just as carefully as I did when I was 8 years old. No, it's not like I am going to order anything :) But I hope my daughter likes dolls so I can pass mine on to her.

3. I wish I had a good singing voice!

4. If the real estate market was good, I think it would be fun to have a job "staging" homes.

5. I really like using cloth diapers and have gotten 3 friends into it, and am working on a 4th.

6. My windows are dirty, especially the ones my daughter and our dog always look out of. I have no plans to clean them anytime soon :) I'm doing good if I just keep up with the dusting, vaccuming, and bathrooms. Oh, and no clutter allowed. Clutter makes me feel stressed. Unless it is someone else's.

7. I really like make-up, but don't wear it as much as I used to. I guess because my job now doesn't require it as much. It makes it last a lot longer this way!

If you want to see the rules to play along, you can go here, but I won't force you to. Leave a comment if you decide to participate so that we can come visit you and learn something new!

Simple Roasted Chicken and Stock

Today I am roasting a whole chicken in the crockpot. I'm also throwing in a bag of frozen stew vegetables from the supermarket.

Tonight I plan to use my crock-pot some more by making chicken stock from the carcass. This will be the first time I have attempted using the crock-pot to do this. We will use the stock next week for a chicken pot pie or chicken noodle soup.

This should end up being pretty thrifty and green. I am trying to make the most of the chicken (79 cents/lb. at Aldi) and utilize my crock-pot (which I am guessing uses less energy than the conventional oven.)

Now, if someone can tell me what to do with the giblets that came inside the chicken...

For more frugal and eco-conscious ideas ideas, check out Thrifty Green Thursday!

Soft Sole Baby Shoes

I received a pair of the Bobux Ministar soft sole baby shoes from Target as a gift for my daughter when she was born and have adored them. Thanks, Jess! :) So much, in fact, that last winter I bought another pair in the exact same style for the next size up.

Here's why I like them:

• They are economical, especially when compared to other new soft sole baby shoes.
• They are cute.
• They wear well.
• They are easy to clean. (Do not wash, just wipe with a damp cloth.)
• They help keep socks on little babies in the winter.

Notes:

I would recommend staying away from really light colors for older babies so they won't appear dirty as quickly. Also, my daughter wore the 3-6 month size until she was nearly 12 months old, and now wears the 6-12 month size as a nearly 16 month old. So, they run big. These are a great gift.

I wanted to share about these because they work for me!

Better Than Bouillion?

I bought a little jar of this Better Than Bouillion today while I was picking up a few things at Wal-Mart. I need beef bouillion for the Plaza III Steak Soup that I plan to make later this week, but I am trying to avoid MSG. I don't know if this stuff is really any better for the body, but we will give it a shot!

Anyone have any other good suggestions for what to use in recipes that call for bouillion?

To find more kitchen tips, visit Tammy's Recipes!

Menu Plan 10/20/08

Notes regarding the previous week: We didn't get to the cheesecake yet. My mom visited and brought some amazing apple bars with a brown sugar and butter crust - I need that recipe! So we had those for dessert in the middle of the week. Sunday, we opted for some Easy Taco Dip (recipe below) with tortilla chips instead of frozen pizza for dinner. We were really healthy this week, huh?

Breakfasts:

Homemade Granola, Milk, Orange Juice (Hubs & I)

Oatmeal, Milk, Banana (daughter)

Smoothies

Lunches:

PB& J or Chicken Sandwiches

Carrots

Apples or Pears

Dessert

Dinners:

Monday - Chili and Cornbread (from the freezer)

Tuesday - Crockpot Roasted Chicken & Vegetables with Rice

Wednesday - leftovers

Thursday - Plaza III Steak Soup & Homemade Bread

Friday - leftovers

Saturday - Bonfire (hotdogs, chips, s'mores)

Sunday - Leftovers or Pizza

Dessert:

Chocolate Royale Cheesecake Squares

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

*Easy Taco Dip from J Mom:

Mix a half of package of taco seasoning with a can of refried beans and layer on a plate or 9 in. pie plate. Then spread on a layer of sour cream and add any topping you like such as lettuce, tomato, cheese, black olives, etc. It scoops up onto tortilla chips super easy and goes down oh so yummy! (We used pureed black beans and Lindsay's Taco Seasoning for the base. -Emily)

Find more menu's over at the Organizing Junkie's Menu Plan Monday!

Take a Look!

I added two more affiliate merchants to my sidebar:
Craftsbury Kids and Tiny Prints. Check them out when you have time. The biggest shopping season of the year is just about here, after all.

I don't want you to spend money that you shouldn't, but if you plan to purchase something that these merchants offer, I'd definitely appreciate you going through the links on my sidebar. I have not yet shopped from these new merchants myself, but they are places that I would like to shop! -or at least window shop :)

Note: I am not an affiliate for Nicki's Diapers (they don't currently have an affiliate program). I just keep their button on there because I really like them.

Mom's Lasagna

This week for Foody Friday, we are supposed to share our go-to meal, one we make often due to its ease and goodness. Well, lately, I have been trying quite a few new recipes lately, so you may have not seen this on the menu yet, but here it is now. Mom's Lasagna. The one I grew up with. It is a comfort food to me. Bonus: it is quick and easy. It is the first casserole I ever learned to make. I admit, I am kind of afraid to share it, because it is not a very pretty dish for company or anything. But my sisters and I all love it.

Disclaimer: If you are lasagna connoisseur, this is not for you. Don't say I didn't warn you.

You need:

• 1 jar spaghetti sauce (Mom always used Ragu original.)
• Lasagna noodles
• Large carton cottage cheese
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Parmesan (optional)
• Italian seasoning (optional)

Directions:

1. Boil and cool the lasagna noodles.

2. Spoon a little sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 glass baking dish.

3. Layer as many times as you wish (I usually do 3 or 4 layers):

• Noodles
• Cottage Cheese
• Mozzarella
• Spaghetti sauce

4. Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and Italian seasoning over the top.

5. Bake @ 350 until heated through and bubbly, 45 minutes to an hour.

This lasagna is really runny (soupy) and cheesy. That is what I like about it.

You could add meat or spinach if desired, of course. You can also use other types of noodles and it turns into a flexible baked pasta dish.

Writing this recipe out makes me hungry for some of my mom's lasagna. I have a some cottage cheese. Maybe it will show up on the menu next week.

Visit Foody Friday for more favorite dishes!

Invitations

Does anyone else like Evites as much as I do?

1. They are free!

2. They save paper.

3. They are quick to put together.

4. There's no postage!

5. RSVPing is easier.

6. They are fun and customizable to create.

7. It is easy to send a quick evite thank-you to the attendees from your guestlist.

8. What else?

Evites work for me.

Neglected Paper Napkins

Do you ever notice how you can get used to not having something? I think that is what happened with us and paper napkins.

We switched to cloth napkins over the past year. However, there is a package of paper napkins in the cupboard that we purchased in July for my daughter's birthday party. They are lasting a long time. We hardly ever reach for them because we tend to forget that they are available! I guess for us, using paper napkins was an old habit that was fairly easy to end.

If you are thinking of making a change to live healthier or more frugally, give it a try. Whatever your goal is, you might be surprised how quickly you get used to it!

Visit Kitchen Tip Tuesdays hosted by Tammy's Recipes.

Menu Plan 10/13/08

We made it back home with time to spare! Here is what we plan to eat this week...

Breakfasts:
Homemade Granola, Milk, Juice (us)
Oatmeal, Milk, Fruit (daughter)

Lunches:
PB&J sandwiches
Carrots
Tortilla Chips & Salsa
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - Cheese Ravioli, Salad
Tuesday - Sloppy Joes* on Buns, Peas, Homemade Applesauce
Wednesday - Leftovers
Thursday - Pineapple-Pepperjack Chicken, Green Beans
Friday - Leftovers
Saturday - Grilled Chicken Wraps, Carrots & Ranch
Sunday - Frozen Pizza

Dessert: Chocolate Royale Cheesecake Squares (I love these.)

*I was happy to find this homemade sloppy joe recipe (Thanks, Amy!) because it doesn't require any weird ingredients. I can adapt it and just use stuff I already have on hand.

Visit the Organizing Junkie to find more menu plans!

Monogram Wall Art

My second project using my no-sew applique technique was a birthday gift for my husband's mom.

I used a stretched canvas frame from the art store, wrapped my fabric around it, and hot glued the edges of the fabric to the back of the frame.

Then I took my letter that I had prepared using these steps and hot glued it on top of the fabric.

(The "B" pattern and fabric drying after being coated in Mod Podge glue - prior to being cut out and hot glued onto the final product.)

With the ribbon, I attached it with hot glue on the back side as well. (Originally, I was just going to run ribbon down one side, but then I thought it looked off balance and added a second piece.)

Soup's On!

This Friday is going to be an extra busy day...

Anyways, here are two of my favorite soups.

1. Cheesy Potato Soup

A couple reasons exist as to why I like it better than all the other cheesy potato soup recipes out there.

One, it doesn't require chicken broth. I never seem to have any broth already made, and I don't like buying it (or boullion). I don't like buying it because that seems to defeat the purspose of making homemade soup. I might as well just buy a can of soup already made. Also, most of the broths out there (but not all) contain MSG.

Two, it uses real, not processed cheese. (Last time I used colby/jack, not the four-cheese blend it calls for, and it still turned out great.)

Some other notes: I don't peel the potatoes. I have used some celery salt and no real celery. And when it calls for steak seasoning, I used our McCormick Grill Mates Montreal Steak seasoning.

2. Plaza III Steak Soup

If your man doesn't like soup, this is the one for you.

On yet another note, we have an event-filled weekend, so next week's menu plan might not actually get planned until Monday.

Find more soup recipes on Foody Friday! I'm hoping to snag some good new ones... because it is just about soup season 'round here. Maybe one will make it onto the menu next week.

Have a fabulous Friday, everyone!

Bumkins Superbib

My daughter's Bumkins Superbib is an absolute all-star. I can't believe I didn't have one for her until she was one year old!

Why I like it:

• Waterproof
• Thin, comfortable
• Large, good coverage, protects well
• Hasn't stained
• Does not retain odors
• Simple, easy to clean
• Dries quickly (I rinse it thoroughly and wring it out after each meal. I hang it up to dry, and it is dry and ready to use by the next mealtime!)
• I like the company's principles.

A great buy. Definitely works for me!

Sharing is Frugal

Today's kitchen tip:

Share odd and rarely used kitchen gadgets or appliances with a good friend.

My friend Staci and I share ownership of an apple peeler/corer/slicer. Granted, it was only $7, but let me explain.

A few years ago, prior to kids, we both took a trip to the apple orchard together. Driving home with more apples than we expected (we happened to hit the orchard when the were having a special - 20 cents/lb. for Jonathan apples, so we loaded up) we decided that we "needed" one of those apple peeler/corer/slicer gadgets to make the work ahead of us much easier.

So we swung by Target and found one on the end of the aisle on clearance for $7. There was only one. "That's okay," we decided. "We'll only really use it once or twice a fall, when we stock up on apples that are a good deal. We can just take turns. We only live like 1 an 1/2 miles apart." So we split the cost and that's what we did.

I have more storage room at my house, so I usually store the peeler/corer/slicer in my cabinets. But Staci can come over and get it whenever she wants. Less cost, less clutter, less stuff all around. Now this tip wouldn't work well regarding a mixer or blender, but it might work well for things like ice cream makers, dehydrators, gear associated with canning, etc. Anything that is used for projects that you can plan ahead of time.

While it might not be as convenient as owning everything yourself, you can save money and space by sharing, and perhaps you will strenghen a sense of community by doing it.

Visit Tammy's Recipes for more kitchen tips!

Dump Truck Tote Bag

Our little neighbor had his 3 year old birthday party on Sunday. For his present, I had found him a magnetic board that was a construction site and came with magnets of all the trucks and apparatuses so that you could create your own scene. I thought it might be good for quiet playtime? Anyways, I wanted something else related to go with it that wasn't just another plastic toy.

I knew that we were going to be decorating tote bags at my moms' group last week. I planned ahead and decided I would make a bag for our little neighbor boy with a dump truck on one side and his initial on the other. I followed the steps for no-sew appliques and prepared my materials at home.

At the moms' meeting, I just put the pieces together like a puzzle (see top photo) and used the iron-on tape that was provided to adhere them to the bag. However, when I got home, I reinforced most of the edges with hot glue.

I hope he likes his personalized tote bag. I think his mom will, at least. I figure little kids can never have too much storage.

No-Sew Appliques

I completed two projects in the last two weeks that I will be giving as gifts. I am going to list part of the directions now, so they will be listed here as a reference point. Then over the next week, I will show and share the specific projects after I've given them, just in case they are reading this :)

Objective: to cut shapes out of fabric that will later be attached to another surface without involving any sewing, and without the edges fraying. (I want them to look nice and crisp.)

Materials: paper, drawing supplies, scissors, fabric, Mod Podge glue, sponge brush

Procedure: (this is sounding like a middle school science experiment)

1. Draw and cut patterns out of typing paper for the shapes you want. Letters, pictures, etc. You need a separate pattern for each different piece of fabric that you plan to use. For example, I made a dump truck. The cab was to be red, the bed was to be blue, and the tires were to be black. I drew the entire truck, and then cut out each of those parts separately since they were each going to be attached to different pieces of fabric. *Hint: the less different pieces of fabric you plan to use, the simpler your project will be.*

2. Iron and starch the fabric.

3. Using the sponge brush, apply Mod Podge glue to the front side of a piece of pattern. Apply the pattern face-down onto the back side of the corresponding fabric.

4. Turn the pattern/fabric over so you are looking at the right side of the fabric. Apply glue liberally (but with smooth strokes) onto the front of the fabric, covering all the areas where the pattern is behind, and extending a little bit outwards.

5. Turn the entire piece over again so that you can see the pattern again. (I put a cloth underneath now so it didn't stick to the counter.) Apply glue to this side now, covering the pattern and surrounding areas. Basically, you are coating everything with the glue.

6. Hang the entire piece up to dry.

7. Repeat steps 3-6 for each little pattern piece.

8. When dry, the pieces should feel crisp. Quickly iron the frontsides if necessary (it might have curled a little while drying if the fabric is lightweight). Be careful not to remelt the glue.

9. Carefully cut out your letters, pictures, shapes, etc. The patterns will stay attached to the backsides. That's ok, you do not need to remove them. Since all of the pieces were coated with the Mod Podge glue and it has now dried clear, nothing should fray.

Ok, good job. Now gather everything together, you are ready for the next step...

(You could also use fusible webbing such as Wonder Under for a project like this, and the fabric should stay soft and washable. I'd like to try that sometime. In this case, though, I just wanted to use what I already had on hand...)

Menu Plan 10/6/08

A note regarding last week's menu: we really liked the chili recipe! I wanted to try it because I liked that it used a homemade seasoning mixture (no MSG). My husband approved! It was a little too spicy for my daughter, but she did eat some. Next time, I'll remember to remove some for her before adding all the spices.

Breakfasts:
Vanilla Scented Granola with Milk, Orange Juice (us)
Oatmeal with Fruit, Milk (daughter)

Lunches:
PB&J Sandwiches
Cottage Cheese/Yogurt
Carrots
Fruit

Dinners:
Monday - leftover burritos
Tuesday - Crockpot BBQ Chicken on Buns, Green Beans, Homemade Applesauce*
Wednesday - leftovers
Thursday - Pineapple & BBQ Chicken Pizza (I am going to try Amy's Favorite Pizza Dough.)
Friday - out to eat
Saturday - In-laws' anniversary dinner**
Sunday - undecided

* For homemade applesauce, I just peel, core, and slice the apples, spray them with lime (or lemon) juice and put them in the crock-pot with a little water. I cook them on low for a few hours until soft. Then I use my Braun handblender and puree them. I let the applesauce cool, put it in the fridge, and we eat it in less than a week! (I've also frozen some before.) You can also sprinkle cinnamon on the apples while cooking, or add a little sugar if desired.

**I will be making Black Bean & Corn Salsa to snack on throughout the weekend with tortilla chips. For dinner we are having steaks, salad, baked potatoes, Red-Hot Applesauce Jello, garlic bread, and dessert.

Thoughts on Food

If you are reading this, you know I like to try to cook with wholesome, zero-to-minimally-processed ingredients. I have realized (mostly through blogging) how many people there are out there who are way further along with this than I am. I’ve learned that there is a lot more that others are doing. For example, there are many more products that I could be making myself (yogurt, kefir, condiments, bread, canned goods, etc.), buying directly from the producer (dairy, meat, etc.), or buying a more natural version of (rapadura, honey, etc.) I hope to make changes in some of these areas in the future. But, you know that I occasionally buy convenience foods... like the other week I bought bologna and Kraft cheese slices for my husband because they were on sale. I don’t want to think about what is in them. I ate them too. Anyways, all this is to say that I am pretty satisfied with the progress I have made so far. I try to keep in mind that sometimes some things have just got to give, for my sanity’s sake. So overall, in my own eyes, I have a long way to go before I could be considered health freak. Just so you know.

But, I have a dilemma sometimes when I have to cook for other people. (Like when we get together with friends.) They usually don’t have the same viewpoint on food as I do. To them, I am a health freak and they are normal. So, I usually make what I think they would like to eat, not necessarily what I think we should eat. But then I have issues with feeding them something that I consider inferior or less nutritious. But I know that they don’t feel that way. They would prefer coffee cake over whole-wheat muffins, for example. All they care about is how the food tastes to them. I admit, that is a nice change for me, because it is easier than cooking from scratch, and I don’t want to go to extra trouble when they would not appreciate it. I guess it is just the principle of it. I don’t like lowering my standards.

Oh well. There are way bigger issues in the world.

Amy's Coffee Cake

We had an overnight guest last night, so I made this Jewish Coffee Cake recipe for the first time. It is really good! It reminds me of the Butter Brickle Coffe Cake my mom used to make when we were little. (I don't feel so good about using the prepackged ingredients... but more on that later.)

Apple Crisp

Adapted from the Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book

Ingredients:
5 cups sliced, peeled apples
2-4 T. white sugar
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 t. cinnamon
1/4 cup butter

1. Thaw fruit, if frozen. Do not drain. Place fuit in a 2 qt. square baking dish. Sprinkle granulated sugar over top.

2. For topping, in a medium bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle topping over filling.

3. Bake crisp in a 375 degree oven for 30-35 minutes (40 minutes for thawed fruit) or till fruit is tender and topping is golden. Makes 6 servings.

We had this for dessert tonight! :)

Simple Baby Shower Decorations

When I have hosted baby showers for friends, I always use the same decoration: a onesie banner! Here's how you do it:

1. Find 4 solid colored onesies. I like to use white.

2. Find cute fabric that goes along with the color scheme of the shower or the nursery. I like the looks of gingham, especially red gingham.

3. Cut the letters B A B Y out of the fabric using pinking shears (for easy cutting with a cute edge). I like to make the letters about 8 inches tall.

4. Pin each letter to the front of a onesie. I used straight pins, but safety pins or diaper pins would also work.

5. Using mini or regular clothespins, hang the onesies along a ribbon like on a clothesline.

6.Hang in a prominent place like over the refreshment table or across the fireplace mantle.

Try to use your imagination to picture what it would look like. Here is my terrible photograph that I am embarrassed to show, but it gives the idea somewhat. (I used light green gingham and you can't see it very well.)

This decoration can be considered thrifty & green by a) removing the letters and giving the onesies to the mom-to-be as a gift and therefore wasting very little, b) using organic cotton onesies, c) using your own child's onesies or ones purchased secondhand, or d) keeping the materials and using them over again for another baby shower. Or any combination of those!

Another variation is to spell out the child's name, if known.

Another thrifty & green decoration is to make a diaper cake as a refreshment table centerpiece... I like to do this, too. It is fun, easy, and not taxing on the wallet. You can make one out of disposable or cloth prefold diapers. The new mom will appreciate it when you present it to her at the end as a gift. Who doesn't love free diapers?

Thanks to both of my sisters-in-law for these ideas a few years back. Visit The Green Baby Guide to find more thrifty & green tips.

Minimizing the Baking Mess

This week's WFMW edition has a theme: kitchen organization. Unfortunately, I don't have any stunning photos to share with you. Right now, I really like our kitchen. It is just the right size and everything is pretty easily accessible. But that's just luck with the layout, not rocket science. So anyways, I am going to share about something I do to stay organized when I am working in the kitchen.

You need to know that by nature, I am a very messy baker and cook. Not a messy person, just messy when I am concocting in the kitchen. Stuff gets everywhere, and I don't know how. Especially flour. So, here's what I do: (It might seem like more work, but it really helps me stay focused and keep things under control.)

1. First, I set out all the ingredients.

2. Then, after I add each ingredient to the recipe, I put it away. Considering the pantry and fridge are 3-5 steps away, it is not an inconvenience.

This may not seem like a big deal, but it helps me remember what I've added. And, it keeps the workspace clearer, which in turn, motivates me to keep it cleaner. It also helps the post cooking clean-up be much less daunting by only having dishes to do and a counter to wipe. Might be silly, but it works for me!