11/30/2011

Makeover Rum Cake...


Mmmm.... Rum Cake 
I have to admit that I never really was a fan of this cake until DH brought one home from work.
Whoa! It was absolutely outstanding.
Nate had a slice and this instantly became his favorite type of cake. 
He found a recipe for a makeover cake in one of my many cookbooks and asked to make it.
No complaints from me.
He has made this item twice and it is oh.so.good. 
Perfect for the holiday season or anytime of the year really.
Thinking in the summer - topped with fresh strawberries ...mmmm... 


                     
* Exported from MasterCook *

                            Makeover Rum Cake

Recipe By: Catharine Seman
Serving Size: 16    Preparation Time :0:15
Categories: Desserts

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
     1/2           cup  pecans -- toasted
  18 1/4         ounces  yellow cake mix
     1/2           cup  skim milk
     1/4           cup  dark rum
     1/4           cup  canola oil
     1/4           cup  unsweetened applesauce
      2             large  eggs
Topping:

     1/2           cup  sugar
     1/4           cup  butter -- cubed
       2            tablespoons  water
       2             tablespoons  dark rum

1. Coat a 10 inch fluted tube pan with cooking spray and sprinkle with flour; add pecans. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, milk, rum oil, applesauce and eggs; beat on low speed for 30 seconds. Beat on medium 2 minutes.

2. Pour into prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.

3. In a small saucepan, combine glaze ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat;cook and stir for 4-5 minutes or until thickened. Drizzle over cake.

Source:
  "Taste of Home 2011 Healthy Cooking Annual Recipes"
Copyright:
  "2011"
Yield:
  "16 "
                                    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

NOTES : Pecans are optional - tastes wonderful without the nuts, too.


11/28/2011

Scottish Shortbread Rounds...


Nate was in the mood to bake last night and he wanted to try his hand at making some shortbread. 
I stumbled upon this recipe a few weeks ago and pulled it out for him to try. 

Just from watching him it was very easy to prepare and they baked up in no time at all. 
Well all except for the bakers issue of using wax paper instead of parchment. 
That was a bit nerve wracking  but we caught it in time and saved the cookies. :)
They are a wonderful shortbread cookie that will be made again in this household.

                   
* Exported from MasterCook *

                        Scottish Shortbread Rounds

Serving Size: 26    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories: Desserts

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
 1/2     pound  unsalted butter
  1       cup  confectioner's sugar
1/2      teaspoon  salt
  1       teaspoon  vanilla
  2       cups  all-purpose flour

  • Mix the first four ingredients together.
  • Cream well
  • Add in the flour, mix well and forms a stiff dough.
  • Spoon dough out onto a length of wax paper, about 18 inches long or so.
  • Form dough into a log, roll up in the wax paper and chill until firm, about an hour.
  • Once your dough is firm, slice log into slices a little thinner than half an inch.
  • Place slices onto an ungreased cookie sheet, about an inch or so apart.
  • Bake at 350* until the edges are slightly golden.
Let the cookies sit on the sheet for a few minutes before removing them or they may crumble on you.

Source:
  "Noshings.Blogspot.com"
Copyright:
  "Nov. 2011"
Yield:
  "26 "
                                    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Serving Ideas : nice cold glass of milk

11/26/2011

Jalapeno Chedder Tortilla Combos

O.M.G.  these are so good. Needless to say they did not last long.


11/25/2011

Fizzing Bath Salts....





I created this earlier this year - early fall to be specific and am finally getting a chance to post.



Really quite easy to make.

I found the jar at Wal-Mart, chalk and then the chalkboard sticker I purchased over the summer through GroopDealz. (I adore GroopDealz!) You can find the chalkboard stickers on Etsy.




Wash out container & dry well.
Use chalk to write what the jar contains and then carefully peel off the backing.
Place the prepared chalkboard on the jar.

Fizzing Bath Salt Recipe....

I had so many of the supplies left over that I figured why not make some fizzing salts.
2 cups of Sea Salt -I prefer the fine grain
1/2 cup citric acid
1/3 cup of Epsom Salts (good for aches and pains but can be omitted)
2-3 tablespoons of fragrance oil (must be body safe)

I like to mix the sea salt, epsom salt and fragrance oil first then add in the citric acid. 
Mix well and let air dry for a day. 
You can loosely place a piece of wax paper over top the salts to keep the dust out.


I made more than what is listed above as you can see in the pictures below. 


This is what I started to make my bath salts in (way too small) and
below you see what I ended up putting them in.


I know there are those who would yell at me for placing my salts in an 
aluminum pan because the fragrance oil could have a reaction.
 I have made them for 11 year and never once had an issue (knocking on wood). 

There you go- simple, easy and fun. 
















11/24/2011

Happy Thanksgiving...


Happy Thanksgiving.
Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday. 
Enjoy that turkey!

11/22/2011

Pumpkin Nut Bread Recipe....



          With it being fall and all it was time to pull out my pumpkin recipes. 
I love pumpkin bread.
 I can remember coming home from school and my mom would have a slice of pumpkin bread and a glass of milk ready for me. 
Yummy!   
This recipe is still as good as I remember and it has been quite some time since I made it.
This time I subbed in natural apple sauce instead of using all the oil. 
Really easy. 
It is a 1 to 1 replacement and then just 1/2 tsp (if you want) of oil. 
The bread turned out wonderful.
I was also able to use some very finely ground nuts from Oh! Nuts  which
added such a nice flavor. 

A slice makes a very nice snack or breakfast.



  
* Exported from MasterCook *

                            Pumpkin Nut Bread

Recipe By: Mom
Categories: Bread

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  1        cup  flour -- sifted
  2        teaspoons  baking powder
 1/2      teaspoon  salt
 1/4      teaspoon  baking soda
 1/2      teaspoon  cinnamon
 1/4      teaspoon  ginger
 1/4      teaspoon  cloves
  1        cup  brown sugar -- firmly packed
  1        cup  quick-cooking oats
 1/3      cup  nuts -- chopped
  1        large  egg -- beaten
 1/4      cup  oil*
 1/3      cup  milk
  1        cup  pumpkin
  • Heat oven to moderate 350 degrees. 
  • Sift flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda and spices together.
  • Stir in sugar, oats and nuts.
  • Add egg and oil, milk stir until dry ingredients are moist.
  • Blend in pumpkin.
  • Pour batter into greased loaf pan.
  • Bake in preheated oven 55 to 60 minutes.
  • Loosen edges, cool on wire rack about 10 minutes.


Yield:
  "1 loaf"
                                    - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Serving Ideas : Nice cold glass of milk

NOTES : Sub in natural apple sauce for the oil 1 for 1 - then add in 1/2 tsp of oil.


11/21/2011

A Mazing Fun

In October the boys and I took a trip to Pennsylvania.
We ended up doing a corn maze with my in-laws.
 I had always wanted to do a maze so I was pumped and ready to go. 


Looking up at the tower deep in the center of the maze.


Heading into the maze


Planning out which way to go with Grandpa.

Wagon in the field with the leaves starting to change.

Pumpkins!


Lots of apple gourds for sale.

The maze we went to was called Mazezilla - click me
It was excellent and had so many wonderful gourds, pumpkins, mums and corn for sale.
It was a perfect way to spend a fall day.

11/20/2011

ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas Schedule - 2011


ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas Schedule for 2011.
A wonderful way to spend some time with your family.
There are movies starting Nov. 20th and continue up until Christmas Day.
Check out the ABC website here.


11/19/2011

Personalized Plate




I have had a wee bit of time on my hands and have been a tiny bit crafty. 
Personalized plates seem to be all over currently and I jumped on the band wagon.
There was an offer back in September from GroopDealz for a custom letter Monogram.
How could I resist?!?
About two weeks ago I had some time and was finally able to put it together.
I think it took me all of oh... 2 minutes to put together. 
Fun, easy and I love how it turned out.
Vinyl logo was $2.00 with shipping $5.50.
White Plate from Dollar Tree $1. 49 (tax included)
Plate Stand - Hobby Lobby  $2.99 ($40% off coupon used) $1.92
Grand Total: $8.91 <----- *squee*

I have to admit that I simply adore GroopDealz. 
Wonderful items at budget friendly prices. 
Check them out for yourself.

11/15/2011

View from Above....

This is our view from our season seats to watch our much loved Road Warriors. :D


11/12/2011

Proud to be a Penn Stater & RAINN Partnership




This is an outstanding grassroots program that has taken off in the past two day.
Helping to raise money to prevent and help those of sexual abuse.
It is something that I totally believe in, have donated and want to share.  

Check out
 Proud to be a Penn Stater for RAINN

11/11/2011

Thank you, Veterans



We have beloved freedoms b
ecause of you. 
Thank you for your service and sacrifices. 



An Open Letter to the World from a Penn State Alum: Dear World...

I could not have said it any better.
Excellent Post and Thank you, Sir.

An Open Letter to the World from a Penn State Alum: Dear World...: First, let me apologize in advance. There have been enough talking heads in all of this that reading one more may cause a nosebleed, I under...
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