Hootin' Andies: Puff Pancake Cups

This was dinner last night! Don't be jealous! It sure was delicious! The best part is that they were so easy to make!

I found the recipe on the Make and Takes Blog

Find it here

My mother-in-law makes something similar to this, but cooked in a casserole dish.  She calls it Hootin' Annie.  My DH renamed these little cups Hootin' Andies. Whatever you call them, they are yummy!

Bake Sale Fun!!

The summer camp kids at work are having a bake sale this week to earn money towards painting their buses. I volunteered to make a little something!I found a cute idea on the Celebrate CREATIVITY in all its forms blog. She used trains for her cookies.I thought school buses would work because of what the kids are earning money for!

Hope everyone had a great 4th of the July!

Humidity,Buckles, Magazines

Just one minute ago I escaped the 85 degree living room to the beautifully chilly bedroom! It felt as if I was being hit by a blast of Arctic air. The relief! 

It looks like it is back to sweating weather! I've always had a aversion to humidity. Even as a baby I would sweat more than most would think humanly possible for something so small. Alas,it is true. The past five or six days have been outstanding, weather wise. Sunny and in the mid to upper 70s. Back to sweating.I am jealous of those woman who can manage to look effortlessly beautiful and put together in the summer. How is this possible when the weather can be described as feeling like a "wet wool blanket"? Dreaming of sweaters,apple cider,and raking leaves!

The blueberries this time of the year are beautiful and yummy! I made a super simple and totally delicious blueberry buckle this afternoon. A buckle is kinda like a crisp and a cake rolled into one! Yummers!It was good plain,but next time I will serve it with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!

 

In the battle between myself and my junk belongings,I scored a small victory. I purged 40 magazines from my collection today. I am personally doing my part to support the magazine industry. Love magazines. I started with Seventeen and YM magazine and now happily page through Good Housekeeping and Country Living. Those buggers seem to multiply  pile up at an alarming rate.It felt good to get that stack of magazines down to 20 or so articles/recipes that I will store in binders for later. Speaking of those binders,I need to go through those too. Humph! Will this battle over junk ever be won?

This week has been such hell. I don't wish to go into details, but I don't ever want another week like it again! Enough about that!

Tomorrow we have church. In the afternoon I plan to make some cookies for my work bakesale! Made some cutesy tags to decorate the bags with! Yay! Will share those later!

Have a wonderful 4th of July everyone!

How-to Video: Homemade Granola!

I made some fabulous granola this evening! It really came out great!I put together a little how-to video just for you!! Enjoy!

Home, Books, Pictures, and this weeks dinner menu!

We are back in Kentucky after driving most of the afternoon and evening and into the early morning today. Michael did most of the driving and let me sleep!Thank goodness!Riding in the car for so long is just so draining. Sitting on your behind is exhausting.Michael had to work today.He came home and went straight to bed!Bless his heart it has been a rough week for both of us.

Between all the driving and waiting around I was able to read two books, finish one book, and continue another.Sitting down with a good book is so comfortable.Love the way an actual books feels in my hands. I doubt I could ever use a ebook reader. Don't quote me on that one because who know what will happen in the future. So here is what I read.

1. One Simple Act by Debbie Macomber

I read all by the last two chapters in one weekend. It flows very well and leaves  you yearning to read more. She discusses generosity not just in the form of financial giving, but also in terms of giving time. I loved the idea that listening is a gift. A gift that I desperately want to work more on. She also goes into hospitality and giving the gift of prayer.  

2. Free Range Kids

Loved Loved Loved this book! I laughed my way through this one. Very entertaining! I found myself shouting many times,"Thats Exactly Right!" 

Basically her whole idea is to back away from the "helicopter" style of parenting and allow your children to actually do things for themselves. Hallelujah! Glad to finally hear a sane voice amongst all the other parenting books out there that thrive on scaring you to death!

Here is her blog:Free Range Kids

3. The Creative Family

This books was written by Mommy Blogger Amanda Blake Soule. I greatly enjoyed this book and am planning to get a copy of it for keeps(I get most of my stuff from the library). 

This book is full of ways to encourage/cultivate imagination and creativity in your children. Very Waldorf philosophyish Lots of project ideas. I especially enjoy the section about family celebrations. I totally want to make beautiful felt birthday crowns for my nieces and nephews.

Loved the book! Check out the Blog!

Soule Mamma

Finally to finish up this post I thought I'd share a few pics from the last week or so!

Our new niece Little Ms.NJ! We were so excited to finally meet her! She liked Michael so much that she fell asleep in his arms! I also got to hold her quite a bit. I'm a little hesitant while holding infants. I'm so worried about their little heads bobbing about. Miss NJ is a real doll!

 

Here is my little ray of sunshine, Lexi! She is so 3 years old. She asks tons of questions! She is super duper active but also loves to cuddle! Its really very funny how much she looks like my brother!

The world's longest candy counter! I love this place! Michael and I filled up a bag full of treats! We ate some of them and then we tossed them in the back seat. While cleaning out the car today,I found them in the back all melty! What a waste! Serves me right! Never put off eating candy till tomorrow! 

A star from my parent's front porch. I took a ton of photos of my childhood home. My parents are in the process of selling the house. I'm a tad bit upset,it has been their home for over 40 years. I understand that they need a house that is easier for my Dad to get around it, but it still hurts a little. 

 My Mom and Lexi! Lexi has my mother wrapped around her little fingers! My Mom is physically unable to go into THE CHILDREN'S PLACE without buying an outfit for her! My Mom lets Lexi play in her makeup and drink as much chocolate milk as her little heart desires. Lucky!

We went to Franklin Roosevelt's House. It was on the way back to PA from Vermont.

 Bitty pig tails!

 Another niece is giving me back a taste of my medicine by sticking the camera in my face! 

One more thing!
Here is my dinner menu for the week!

Sunday: Pesto Chicken on Angel Hair Pasta  

Peach Crisp for Dessert

Monday: Grandma R's Pancakes and Sweet Sausage

Tuesday: Coke Crock Pot Roast

Wednesday: Bubble Pizza Casserole

Thursday: Sausage and Peppers Hoagies


Goodnight everyone!!!

Birthday-In-a-Box and Stuffed Shells

Watching the news lately has made me feel pretty helpless. Why does the news always have to be so negative? Why do they always leave the happy human interest stories until the end. Why can't they mix them in with the rest of the "news".

While reading through my quote journals recently I was reminded of a quote by Mother Teresa, “We can do no great things; only small things with great love.”

Small things. I need to remember the small things. The smile from a stranger. Someone opening the door for you when you have your hands full. The warmth of a sweater. The smell of fresh brewed coffee. The flower or tiny gift given just because. 

Trying to be more mindful and remember to do those little things that make other people's day!


Being busy is no longer going to be an excuse for being lazy. If everyone would take steps to "small things with great love" think of what the world could be life!


Have had the desire to plan a kids birthday party lately. Don't know why, I don't have children. Ok...I do spend a LARGE chunk of my waking hours with children. So anyway,I was on Volunteer Match looking for volunteer opportunities in my area. I came across an opportunity to create themed birthday-in-a-box for the Ronald McDonald House of Greater Cincinnati. It's the most perfect volunteer opportunity. I get to use my desire to make a difference and my love for creating and planning thing. Perfect. So the theme for the box is Butterflies. Going for the 5 to 6 year  old age range. I'm so excited to get started. Hoping to make a couple of things this weekend. Maybe a cool butterfly banner!! Stay tuned for pictures of the project as it comes together. 


Made the most delicious stuffed shells for dinner on Saturday! Yummy! I used ricotta instead of cottage cheese. I enjoy the texture of ricotta a lot more. 

  

I will leave you with a funny kid conversation

                
        Little E: Ms. Emily are you a mommy?
        Me: Not yet!
        Little E: Are you a sister?
        Me: Yup! I have a brother!
        Little E: My brother is old enough to be a 
        daddy!
        Me: How old is he?
        Little E: Seven!

I love 4 year olds!

Have a lovely evening!

Emily

April Menu

Germ-a-phobe freak out class!

Yesterday I attended a communicable disease class for work! Before taking this class I was not a germ-a-phobe. Now maybe a little bit. That class was horrible enough to make you want to go out and buy  your own personal plastic bubble. I joke with my co-workers that I really should wear a surgical mask when I go into the classrooms! I see over 500 students a week. Ewwww that is a lot of germs. Gross! Deep breath! Ok...better now!

One interesting fact that I picked up was that specialized teachers such as the music, art,and gym teachers get sick far more often than classroom teachers who are with the same kids everyday! That is so the truth. In the winter I seem to get every bug that comes around the corner!

  Michal was in the mood for some bar cookies.Found this recipe and gave it a try! This horrible cellphone picture does this bar no justice! This is a rich gooey wonder! You can find the recipe here!

Fun in the Kitchen with Emily

The whole cooking thing has been going very well. This past week I've made some totally yummy dishes. 

Monday we had breakfast quesadillas. They had sausage, scrambled eggs,and tomatoes. Topped with a little bit of salsa and sour cream!! Delizioso!!

 Tuesday I made Crock-Pot Chicken BBQ! So easy! Soooo yummy! Michael ate about 5 sandwiches! Guess those will have to be added into the dinner rotation!

I had seen on some cooking website to mix canned pasta sauce with cream cheese! Sounds easy enough to me! 

My hand mixer has only one speed,SUPER SONIC FAST! The little mixer says that there are more speeds,but it's just not true. Knowing that combining the pasta sauce and cream cheese using the hand mixer could be a messy process, I knew I needed to find my apron.Where was my apron? I checked all over the kitchen and in the bathroom. No luck! Grabbed my bathrobe and headed back to the kitchen. Michael,after seeing me head to the kitchen followed me in.

Entering the kitchen he saw me wearing the bathrobe "Snuggie" style and about to turn on the hand mixer.I turned it on and sauce splattered everywhere. Michael laughed and asked me what I was doing. Making dinner of course. He told me that he wasn't going to clean up that mess. Here are some pictures to help you visualize things a little bit better!

The mess!

My bathrobe!

The sauce actually ended up tasting great! I asked Michael if he liked it. He said, "It's Ok!" Perhaps he would have liked it better if he didn't see the "PROCESS" of making the sauce! Ha! Ha! Fun in the kitchen

Michael and I have started a little family tradition of going to fish frys on Friday nights. We are not catholic, we just like fish! Last weekend we went to Mary Queen of Heaven for their fish fry. Its suppose to be the best in Northern Kentucky. We went through the drive-through to pick up our fish! Yes,they have a drive through. Fish Fryss are BIG in this area! Yesterday we went back and actually ate in the school gym. The place was packed! The food was fast and good! Mmmmmm!!! They had guys walking around dressed up like the "GOD FATHER." They had gold chains and everything. The sign above explains it all! Some good campy fun in Northern Kentucky!

Next weekend I am going to a baby shower for a co-worker. That means a stop by Babies R Us! For those of you who don't have such a store you are missing something. A SUPER GIANT emporium for all things baby and toddler. Its fun to look at all the cute little babies clothes and bedding. I picked a few things from the registry. Those monkey receiving blankets are très adorable! Of course I had to get the Butt Paste! Its a tradition!I've been giving it to Mommy-to-be for years. It gives everyone a good laugh and apparently its actually good stuff!

Just found out that two more ladies at work are expecting. It must be in the water. Remind me to fill the old water bottle at work!

Have a good Sunday everyone!

Whoopie Pies: Where did I go wrong?

 

They may look delicious but they taste horrible! So bad actually!

Note to Self: Don't use Country Crock to make frosting. YUCKY! YUCKY!

A fine morning out!

Michael and I went out to Findley Market for breakfast. We had the most delicious waffles from Taste of Belgium They have the most unique taste, almost slightly spicy.  Very good! They melt in your mouth.I had chocolate on mine. Michael had strawberries and cream on his! Yummy! Yummy!

We also got a multi berry bar and a chocolate eclair!

An interesting sign in one of the shop windows!

After breakfast we headed over to the Know Theatre to see "Stories of the Brother's Grimm". One of Michael's co-workers was in the show and invited us to check it out! What a great morning!

Raspberry and Red Velvet Trifle!

 

I am loving all the beautiful Valentine ideas that I've been seeing on Blogs lately. I can't believe its the middle of January. Where has the time gone? I've been itching to make some fun projects. So here is a recipe that would be perfect for your Sweetheart!

Raspberry Red Velvet Trifle

1 box of Red Velvet Cake(Egg and Oil for cake)

1 pkg. Cream cheese softened

1 cup of Vanilla Yogurt

1 pkg. of Vanilla Pudding

Milk

1/2 cup of Confectioners Sugar

1 small package of raspberries

1 tub of whip topping

1. Bake Red Velvet cake according to package directions. I chose to bake the cake in a rectangular pan. You could also use a muffin pan or round pan depending on what you have on hand. Allow cake to cool for 30 to 40 minutes.

2. Prepare pudding according to package directions and chill.Let set

3. Blend Confectioner's sugar, cream cheese, and yogurt using a hand mixture.

4. Fold cream cheese and yogurt mixture into the vanilla pudding and set aside to chill

5. Once cake is cool, cut cake in square pieces. Line the bottom of your trifle dish with the pieces of cake.

6. Add a layer of the pudding, yogurt, and cream cheese mixture on top of the cake pieces.

7. Add a layer of whip topping. Repeat layers again!

8. Garnish top of trifle with raspberries!

9. Chill for 1 hour!

Enjoy! Have a lovely evening!

Emily

A Chilly Day and a Give-away

Taking an extra day off of work to just relax and unwind from the Christmas holiday! Feels great to do nothing. I did throw in a load or two of laundry.

It's snowing right now! In Kentucky! (Insert a happy little dance). Enjoying a cup of hot vanilla in my favorite mug. Yummy

Hot Vanilla

• 1 cup Milk
• 2 teaspoons white sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons Cool Whip
• 1 tablespoon chocolate syrup plus a little more to drizzle

1. Pour milk in mug

2. Add sugar and vanilla. Heat for 1 ½ minutes

3. In a separate small dish combine cool whip and chocolate syrup.

4. Take warmed milk out of microwave. Top with the chocolate cool whip mixture

5. Drizzle with chocolate syrup

In honor of my new blog. I have put together a little giveaway. Just leave a comment below with your name and a favorite winter tradition. On January 1st at 10:00am Eastern time I will draw a name and send out the goodies!

On my New Year's To-Do list is to add to my collection of childrens books. This is one of my favorites!

Have a lovely day!

Emily

Thanksgiving

Sorry about the late update on Thanksgiving. Michael and I have been pretty much sick since Friday :( We are on the mend. Enough about that.

We went to our friends the Feldkamp's for dinner. Michael made a cherry pie and a blackberry pie. Yes, I have a husband that bakes pies. I'm lucky I know! I finally used the Trifle dish, that I just had to have from my wedding registry. Ha! Ha! So for my 1st attempt at trifle, I chose a raspberry chocolate. So very easy! I suppose you could make it with homemade stuff, but I just wanted quick and easy!

Raspberry Chocolate Trifle

2 Boxes of Instant Chocolate Pudding

1 Frozen Pound Cake

1 Tub of Cool-Whip

1 cup of Raspberry preserves

2 pints of Fresh Raspberries

1. Dethaw pound cake and cut into cubes

2. Prepare pudding according to package directions

3. Mix raspberry preserves with Cool-Whip

4. Place pound cake cubes in bottom of the trifle bowl

5. Spoon pudding on top of pound cake cubes.

6. Layer Cool-Whip/preserve combination next

7. Follow up with with a layer of fresh raspberries.

8. Repeat layers again!

The Feldcamps invited a couple of other families from church over to their house. Michael played football with the guys before and after lunch. The ladies stayed inside and looked at the blackfriday ads! Ha! Ha! The food was pretty good, I did notice that the food was all similar in color. The stuffing, turkey, potatoes, and corn bake were all in the same color category. Ha! Ha! Reminder for next year, bring a tossed salad!! We ended the evening with a guys against girls game of Pictionary. The girls beat the guys 18 to 10!

I printed out our Christmas cards last week. Yay!! Here is a sneak peek. There is going to be a surprise sent with the Christmas cards this year. I'm not going to share that part yet. :D Here is the card!

Happy 100th Post This Year!

This is my 100th post this year! Yahoooooooooo!!!!!!! How about some banana bread?

I am working on a project for work. I'm making a book for the 1st week of storytime called, "Hannah Olivia Monkey Makes Banana Bread". So thats just what we did! Here are some pics! Hannah Olivia is our new Storytime puppet! The kids love her already! (PS: I got the recipe from here )

Hannah loves Bananas

Hannah spraying the pans!

Grabbing the egg!

Just before putting it in the oven!

We forget to put in the flours! Silly monkey! We don't put flowers in banana bread!

Hannah enjoying a snack!

The bread came out really well. I think the sour cream made the difference!

It even looks beautiful!

With just a bit of butter!

I made some wrappers for the mini-loaves to give to some families at church tomorrow!

Treated myself to some mini sunflowers! Lovely! Lovely!

I'm on this cooking and cleaning phase. I'm rather enjoying it and so is Michael. Tonight I made stuffed peppers! They have ground beef, rice, stewed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, onions, jalapenos and cilantro! Ate them with a dab of sour cream! Yummers!
Look at all the lovely colors!

Off to go read this magazine! Is it too early to be thinking about Christmas cards?

Have a great night!!