Thursday, September 30, 2010

Robin Redbreast


















Goodbye, goodbye to Summer!
For Summer's nearly done;
The garden smiling faintly,
Cool breezes in the sun;
Our Thrushes now are silent,
Our Swallows flown away-
But Robin's here, in coat of brown,
With ruddy breast-knot gay.
Robin, Robin Redbreast,
O Robin dear!
Robing singing sweetly
In the falling of the year.

Bright yellow, red, and orange,
The leaves come down in hosts;
The trees are Indian Princes,
But soon they'll turn to Ghosts;
The leathery pears and apples
Hang russet on the bough,
It's Autumn, Autumn, Autumn late,
"Twill soon be winter now.
Robin, Robin Redbreast,
O Robin dear!
And what will this poor Robin do?
For pinching days are near.
The fireside for the Cricket,
The wheatsack for the Mouse,
When trembling night-winds whistle
And moan all round the house;
The frosty ways like iron,
The branches plumed with snow-
Alas! in Winter, dead, and dark,
Where can poor Robin go?
Robin, Robin Redbreast,
O Robin dear!
And a crumb of bread for Robin,
His little heart to cheer.

~William Allinghamn

Monday, September 27, 2010

September 27-October 3 Menu Plan













Monday: Spaghetti, Green Beans, Garlic Bread, and Salad

Tuesday: Pork Chops with Cream of Mushroom, Cheesy Mashed Potatoes, and Corn

Wednesday: Hamburgers, Roasted Baby Potatoes with Rosemary, and Green Beans

Thursday: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, and Salad

Friday: Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, and Minestrone Soup

Saturday: Volunteering Free Meal Provided

Sunday: Chili Mac Skillet, and Corn


Submitted to:
Visit I'm an Organizing Junkie to see more menu ideas

Friday, September 24, 2010

Cake Mix Recipes: S’mores Remix

6 (big) graham crackers, divided
2 Tbsp butter, melted
1 stick butter, softened
1 Devil’s food cake mix
1 egg
2-3 tsp water
Miniature marshmallows

Preheat oven to 350. Crush 4 graham crackers and mix with 2 Tbsp melted butter. Press into bottom of 8x8 (or 9x9) pan.

In mixing bowl, combine softened butter and egg. Mix on med speed 3 minutes or until doubled in size and lighter in color. Slowly mix in cake mix, and add water as needed. Batter should be very stiff. Spread onto graham cracker crust with fingers, leaving big dimples in the batter.

Bake 18-20 minutes, just until center is set and toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly. Set oven to low broil. Crumble remaining 2 graham crackers into ½ inch pieces. Sprinkle onto warm chocolate stuff. Dump a bunch of marshmallows on top, enough to nearly cover the entire surface. Broil just a couple of minutes, until marshmallows are to desired doneness. Watch carefully or they will burn! Serve warm and sticky.

Thursday, September 23, 2010

Autumn Fires

























In the other gardens
And all up the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!
Pleasant summer over
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
The grey smoke towers.
Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!
Robert Louis Stevenson

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Cake Mix Recipes: Fudgy Chocolate Ring Cake



































1 package chocolate fudge cake mix
1 cup water
¾ cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
1 package (4-servimg size) chocolate instant pudding and pie filling mix
1 can (14-ounces) sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1- Heat oven to 350°. Generously grease 12-cup bundt cake pan with shortening; lightly flour.

2- Beat cake mix, water, oil, eggs and pudding mix (dry) in large bowl with electric mixer on low speed 1 minute, scraping bowl constantly. Spoon batter into pan: spread evenly. Spoon half of the batter into pan; spread evenly.

3- Heat 1/2 cup of the sweetened condensed milk and 1 cup of the chocolate chips in 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Carefully spoon chocolate mixture in ring over batter (do not touch sides of pan).

4- Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted 1 inch from inside edge of pan comes out clean, top of cake feels firm to the touch and cake pulls away slightly from side of pan. Cool 15 minutes. Turn pan upside down onto heatproof serving plate; remove pan. Cool cake completely, about 1 hour.

5- Heat remaining sweetened condensed milk and 1/2 cup chocolate chips in 1-quart saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Let stand 5 minutes. Pour chocolate mixture over cake, allowing some to drizzle down sides. Store loosely covered at room temperature
Peanut Butter-Chocolate Ring Cake: Substitute peanut butter chips for the semisweet chocolate chips.

Tip: Hidden in the center of this wonderful cake is a layer of dense and fudgy chocolate. Be sure to follow the doneness tests in this recipe, and your cake will turn out moist but not underbaked.

Serves: 16
1 Serving: Calories 460

September 20-26 Menu Plan
















Monday: Mushroom & Swiss Chicken Breast, Baked Potatoes, and Corn

Tuesday: Pork Chops with Cream of Mushroom, Salad, and Garlic Bread

Wednesday: Mexican Pot Roast, Rice, and Peas

Thursday: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, and Salad

Friday: Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, and Beef Barley Soup

Saturday: Potatoes and Chicken Italian-Style, and Green Beans

Sunday: Chili Mac Skillet, Corn, and Salad

Submitted to:

Visit I'm an Organizing Junkie to see more menu ideas

Monday, September 20, 2010

Yogurt-Berry Parfait

1/2 cup granola
1/2 yogurt
1/2 cup berries (sliced if using strawberries; thawed, if using frozen)

In a glass dish, sprinkle 1/4 granola. Top with 1/4 cup yogurt. Layer 1/4 cup berries over the yogurt. Continue layers two more times until all ingredients are used. Enjoy!

Raisin Peanut Clusters


















12 ounce package of chocolate chips
1/2 cup of raisins
1/2 cup of peanuts

Melt chocolate in saucepan over medium heat. Stir constantly until smooth. Remove from heat and stir in raisins and nuts. Drop on wax paper covered cookie sheet and refrigerate until firm.

Friday, September 17, 2010

Cake Mix Recipes: Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake




















1 box yellow cake mix
1 small box instant chocolate pudding
8 oz. sour cream
1 cup oil
1/4 cup water
4 eggs
1 tbsp. vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees; grease and flour a Bundt pan. Combine the cake and pudding mixes, along with the sour cream, oil and water. Add the eggs one at a time, stirring until combined. Mix in the vanilla and chips. Pour into the bundt pan and bake for 55-60 minutes or until knife inserted in the cake comes out clean. Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a cake plate. Cool completely and slice.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Flowery Yellow & Brown Tablescape

Most of the things in my tablescape I have used before except:


Yellow Flower Dessert Plates $3.00 set of 7
Yellow Stripped Plates $7.50 set of 6
Yellow Flower Glasses $3.00 set of 6
Milk Glass Spice Containers $2.00 for 8


Submitted to:
Tablescape Thursday

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

August 2010 Reading List


















English Garden Series by Lori Wick














The Proposal

William Jennings is not interested in having a wife or family until he inherits 3 children from a distant cousin. He doesn’t know how to parents but eventually he learns as the cares for the children. He also comes to Christ as he spends time with the children and his sister’s family. He asks Marianne Walker his sister best friend to marry him. Marianne refuses thinking that he only wants her to mother the children and that it would be a loveless marriage but by the third time he asks she is convinced he loves her and says yes.














The Rescue

Anne Gardiner falls into the arms of a stranger and her father is has a head injury thinks they are having a relationship and forces them to marry. Anne goes home with Robert but he puts her to work cleaning his house because he believes that it was a trick. He eventually realizes the truth and feels sorry for her and wants to protect her. They both can’t stop thinking of each other and enjoying each other’s company and eventually fall in love.














The Visitor

Alexander Tate take is thrown from a horse and is left blind although he is praying for healing. His Aunt has Cassandra come and read to him and they enjoy visiting each other frequently. Cassie does not think that he would want her if he could see her because she is a red head and has freckles. They fall in love but Cassie runs to her sister’s home and Tate follows after he and she is convinced of his love and they marry.














The Pursuit

Edward Steele is on his way home from Africa when he meets two men on his boat. The one is a servant to the other becomes ill and Edward helps them to get off the boat and find a place to stay. He discovers the other man is really a woman who is running from her mother in law who she fears is trying to kidnap he twin sons. He helps them for several weeks until the servant is well and then they go their separate ways. Eventually she moves to his area unknown to her and they meet again and he can’t believe how unmanly and pretty she is. He helps her to get her mother in law off of her back and they marry.


Submitted to:
Life As Mom I’m Booking It in 2010!

September 13-19 Menu Plan























Monday: Mushroom & Swiss Chicken Breast, All Day Macaroni and Cheese, and Peas

Tuesday: Crockpot Lasagna, Salad, and Garlic Bread

Wednesday: Stroganoff-Topped Potatoes, Winter Mix Vegetables, and Green Beans

Thursday: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, and Salad

Friday: Hot Ham & Cheese Sandwiches, and Beef Barley Soup

Saturday: Out to Dinner

Sunday: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, and Green Beans


Submitted to:
Visit I'm an Organizing Junkie to see more menu ideas

Monday, September 13, 2010

Potatoes and Chicken Italian-Style

1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 cup nonfat Italian salad dressing
2 tsp. dried Italian seasoning
1 cup nonfat Parmesan cheese
4 baking potatoes, cut into wedges

Spray inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Place chicken breasts in bottom of slow cooker. Sprinkle half the salad dressing, Italian seasoning, and cheese on top of chicken: top with potatoes and repeat ith remaining ingredients. Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours or high heat for 3-4 hours.

Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 355

Beef Barley Soup

1 lb. beef stew meat, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
3/4 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1 1/2 cups chopped carrots
3/4 cup barley
1 bay leaf
6 cups nonfat beef broth
pepper to taste

Spray inside of slow cooker with cooking spray. Combine all ingredients in slow cooker and mix well. Cover and cook on low heat for 6-8 hours, stirring occasionally. Remove bay leaf before serving.

Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 357

Gelatin Fizzy Fruit Minis

1 small (4-serving) package sugar free raspberry gelatin
1 1/4 cups diet orange soda, cold
1/2 cup chopped apples
1/2 cup choped peaches or nectarines
Optional topping: fat free whipped topping

Place gelatin mix a medium mixing bowl. Cover with 3/4 cup boiling water. Stir constantly for at least 2 minutes, until gelatin is dissolved completely. Stir soda into gelatin mixture. Refrigerate for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until thickened but not set.

Stir apples and peaches or nectarines into the gelatin. Evenly distibute mixture among three dessert bowls or small glasses. Return to the fridge until set, about 3 hours longer. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. If you like, top each mini mold with whipped topping.

Serves:3
Calories Per Serving: 36

Friday, September 10, 2010

Cake Mix Recipes: White-Chocolate Fudge Bars



































1 chocolate fudge cake mix
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
3/4 white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mix together cake mix, eggs, and oil. Stir in white chocolate chips. Mixture will be stiff. Press dough into a greased 9x13-inch pan. Bake 14-16 minutes. Serve warm or at room temperature. Can be topped with favorite frosting, if desired.

Vanilla Chai Coffee Cooler
















4 tsp. Instant Coffee
2 Tbsp. No Calorie Sweetener
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 tsp. Ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. Ground allspice
1/4 cup warm water
2 cups Fat-free milk

Stir all ingredients except milk in pitcher until instant coffee is dissolved. Add milk; stir and serve over ice.

Makes: 4 servings, 1 cup each
Calories 50

Cake Mix Recipes Series


I have a stockpile of cake mixes that I have picked up on sale for $1.00 each. I try to stock a variety of flavors such a chocolate, yellow, lemon, strawberry, and spice so I have lots of options. Since fall is here and I know it is going to be busy and I love to bake just for fun it will be a good time to use them. I checked my libraries website and I found several cake mix recipe books to use so I put a hold on them and picked them up. I am on the hunt to make one of the recipes each week and post them throughout the season. I am enjoying pouring over the cookbooks as I drink a nice hot cup of coffee and I will especially feel pampered as I enjoy my dessert curled up with a good book and a cup of tea on cool nights this fall.


Thursday, September 9, 2010

Horse'n Around Tablescape

I borrowed the horse figurines and mini plaque from my daughter since she collects horse stuff. The mini plaque my sister painted a couple years ago as a christmas gift. I used wood shaving from a tree we had cut down a couple weeks ago. I used a tablecloth, cloth napkins, plates, and a candle holder I have had for awhile. The cups I got for free a couple months ago and hadn’t used them yet.

Submitted to:

Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Game Day 5K Run/Walk



















My husband and I are participating in Union County's Largest 5K this Saturday, September 11th. The theme is OSU and although we are not sports fans we are supporting our local United Way. We are very excited that we will be jogging most of our 2nd 5K since we walked our 1st 5K.

Game Day 5K Run/Walk
Location: Glacier Ridge Metro Park
9801 Hyland-Croy Rd. Plain City, OH 43064
Registration: 8:00 a.m. Race: 9:00 a.m.

If you are local and would like to join us visit the website for details.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

September 6-12 Menu Plan



















Monday: Hotdogs, Baked Beans, Fruit, and Salad

Tuesday: Hamburgers, Rice, and Corn

Wednesday: Stroganoff-Topped Potatoes, Winter Mix Vegetables, and Green Beans

Thursday: Homemade Pepperoni Pizza, and Salad

Friday: Tuna Noodle Casserole, and Spinach

Saturday: Leftovers

Sunday: Ham, Scalloped Potatoes, Green Beans, and Steamed Yellow Squash


Submitted to:
Visit I'm an Organizing Junkie to see more menu ideas

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

100 Calorie Snacks: Cherry Tomatoes with Crackers and Cheese


















10 Cherry Tomatoes 31Calories
9 Special K Savory Herb Crackers 45 Calories
1/2 Slice Swiss Cheese 30 Calories
Total Snack 106 Calories

Submitted to:
Good Cheap Eats
Works For Me Wednesday
Ultimate Recipe Swap