Our Thanksgiving Dinner

Homemade Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread

Homemade Pizza

Homemade Apple Crisp

There you have it.  Nothing fancy for us.  The pizza above is a prime rib pizza.  It was amazing!  We also made a chicken club pizza, a pepperoni and ham, a pepperoni and jalapeno, and a cheese.

We also had chips and dip, oreos and sugar wafers to snack on.  I didn't get everything on my menu made, but that's OK.  Christmas is coming ;-)

We stayed home.  

simple yet satisfying and not a lot of work

I'm Thankful For.......

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, I thought I'd post a list of things I am thankful for.  Really I am blessed beyond measure, but thanks to my selfish human nature I tend to think life is just horrible at times.

• I'm thankful that I know Jesus, and am allowed to serve and worship him without being afraid.
• I'm thankful that I have an education and can read (I love to read)
• I'm thankful for my parents who raised me in a christian home
• I'm thankful for my husband and boys and future daughter ;-)
• I'm thankful that I have a variety of clothes and shoes to wear (even though I often wear the same thing over and over)
• I'm thankful that I have a nice warm place to live 
• I'm thankful that I have a car to drive so I don't have to walk or take public transportation
• I am thankful that I have jobs
• I'm thankful that I have a variety of foods to eat
• I'm thankful for so, so, so much more.

Thanksgiving Menu

We are not having a traditional Thanksgiving meal.  We are not going anywhere and only having family (which includes my future daughter in law) over. What I'm making:

• Pull Apart Cinnamon Bread 
• Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Chicken
• Sweet & Spicy Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
• Homemade Apple Crisp
• Hubby said something about steak, so we will probably do that and have mashed taters & gravy and green beans with that.
• Homemade Pizza (ok not totally homemade, we're using a ready to bake crust).  We are making a Chicken Club, Pepperoni, Cheese, and hubby wants to try a Steak and Horseradish combination. 

Happy Homemaker Monday ~~ 11/25/13

You know, even though I'm not a SAHM I'm still a homemaker.  I have a family to take care of and a home that should be kept it neat and clean.  I do also have the responsibility of 2 businesses to keep neat and clean, and a multitude of customers to care for as well.  Wow!  So....I've decided Happy Homemaker Monday,is all about my home AND my businesses.  They are where I spend my time, with my family none the less, 24 hours a day.

The weather.....   Right now it's 34* and feels like 27*. We have a chance for freezing drizzle through 1pm.  When I got up this morning the ground was wet and there were random white spots.  It looks dry now, so I'm thinking we won't get the freezing drizzle.  Unless they change the forecast (like the almost always do) by Thursday we are supposed to be up to the low 40's.

Right now I am.... 

sitting here thinking I really NEED to get busy on some paperwork.  It has gotten way ahead of me and the end of the year is coming way too quickly and I really don't want to have to do it then.  I am also kind of thinking about Thursday.....what I want to cook.  Nothing big and fancy.  My future daughter in law will be coming over for supper.  I told her it was going to be simple.  I'm thinking maybe chips and dips (junk foods) during the day and maybe pizza for supper.  We shall see though.

On my Kindle.... I'm reading Angels Watching Over Me (Shenandoah Sisters Book #1) .  Today, 11/25/13, it is FREE for kindle, it is subject to change back any time.  This is my second time reading this book and I love it!  I'd like to read the rest of the books in the series.

On the Radio.... something is playing.  I don't recognize the song

TV on my Computer..... Probably not much until January when ABC's Switched at Birth comes back on. 

What I found while surfing the net.... The only thing I've "surfed for" lately is chocolate chip cookie recipes  LOL!

On my to do list this week.... [at the lock/incense shop this week:]

1. sweep
2. clean the glass cases
3. paperwork!!!!!!!

[ for Cosmic Castle this week:]

1. We are closed on Monday's, and open regular hours the rest of the week
2. Tonight (Monday) we will make the Chicken N Noodles (from scratch to serve Tuesday evening)
3. Truck will come Wednesday if we order anything.
4. Thursday we will be closed

[at home this week:]

1. work on laundry, I have some drying on the drying racks and some towels in the washer waiting on their turn to dry
2. try to do a little each night to keep place clean
3. keep dishes washed
4. put clean/dry laundry away
5. start thinking a little harder about thanksgiving. It's only a few days away now.

In the craft basket.... I still haven't been doing anything, but my husband is still working on a foam cannon to go with his pile of (foam) cannon balls.

Looking forward to this week....  I AM looking forward to tonight and Thursday!

Looking around the house....
Not bad, the kitchen needs work this week.  The bathroom has finally gotten taken care of.  If I get a chance I probably should vacuum before Thursday.

From the camera.......

The water in the sink makes amazing designs sometimes.


On my prayer list.....

• My grandpa (he's 94 years old)
• My sister
• Business decisions
• Tuesday night to happen again without a glitch and be successful

  This post linked to Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Shop at Smelly Good Stuffs for a Large selection of hand dipped incenses.

Read My Blog Archives 

Happy Homemaker Monday ~~ 11/18/13

You know, even though I'm not a SAHM I'm still a homemaker.  I have a family to take care of and a home that should be kept it neat and clean.  I do also have the responsibility of 2 businesses to keep neat and clean, and a multitude of customers to care for as well.  Wow!  So....I've decided Happy Homemaker Monday,is all about my home AND my businesses.  They are where I spend my time, with my family none the less, 24 hours a day.

The weather.....   Right now it's 51 and the sun is shining.  Looking ahead they are hinting maybe snow next Tuesday.

Right now I am.... 

eating bbq chips and drinking hot cocoa.

On my Kindle.... I  finished  reading  Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana last night.  Later today I am downloading How to Open a Financially Successful Coffee, Espresso & Tea Shop , from the KS Library, to at least thumb through, and I will for sure be finding something else to read.

On the Radio.... Sweet Child of Mine by Guns N Roses

TV on my Computer..... Probably not much until January when ABC's Switched at Birth comes back on. 

What I found while surfing the net.... The only thing I've "surfed for" lately is chocolate chip cookie recipes  LOL!

On my to do list this week.... [at the lock/incense shop this week:]

1. sweep
2. clean the glass cases
3. I have a couple incenses that are out and I need to soak more
4. Sales Tax Paid
5. 
   

[ for Cosmic Castle this week:]

1. We are closed on Monday's, and open regular hours the rest of the week
2. Tonight (Monday) we will make the Chicken N Noodles (from scratch to serve Tuesday evening)
3. Tuesday evening after close I do inventory. if it doesn't get done then I do it Wednesday morning.
4. Tuesday night we are serving our chicken n noodle dinner
5. After we close on Tuesday if there is any chicken noodles left we will make it into soup to sell the next couple days.
6. Thursday is truck day
7. Thursday is Hot Beef Dinner night.  Any left over beef and corn will be added to any green beans from Tuesday and homemade Vegetable Beef Soup will be made.

[at home this week:]

1. work on laundry, I have some drying on the drying racks and some towels in the washer waiting on their turn to dry
2. try to do a little each night to keep place clean
3. keep dishes washed
4. put clean/dry laundry away
5. start thinking about thanksgiving.  I've invited my son's finance over.  she is supposed to get back with me on whether she is coming for lunch or supper.

In the craft basket.... I still haven't been doing anything, but my husband is still working on a foam cannon to go with his pile of (foam) cannon balls.

Looking forward to this week....  I AM looking forward to tonight. Since we are closed at Cosmic Castle, it opens up a whole new world in the evenings!  We can actually GO OUT OF TOWN now if we want!  :-D  

Looking around the house....
Not bad, the kitchen is mostly clean this week.  Have a few things to put away and I found some dirty dishes in the sink from those late night teenage snackers.  LOL!  I do need to clean the bathroom, it's on my to do list.

From the camera.......

Love, love, love my new boots!

On my prayer list.....

• My grandpa (he's 94 years old)
• My sister
• Business decisions
• Tuesday night to happen again without a glitch and be successful

  This post linked to Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Shop at Smelly Good Stuffs for a Large selection of hand dipped incenses. Read My Blog Archives 

Skillet Fried Corn

I will never steam, boil, or microwave frozen corn again.  We have been making this skillet fried corn for about 4 weeks now and it is AMAZING!   We make 2.5# bag at a time.  All measurements, except the whole stick of butter, I give are approximate.  Season it to your tastes, try other seasonings.  We have tried cilantro, and it is good too.  The seasonings I added this time are the standard ones we add each time we make it.

Over medium heat melt a stick of butter in a skillet. 

(I'd already made a pan full so that's why my skillet looks "dirty")

Add the frozen corn and mix to coat corn with butter.

Add parsley.  I don't measure but I'm guessing this would be a slightly rounded tablespoon.

Add sugar. I'm guessing this is about 2 teaspoons.

Probably about a slightly  rounded  teaspoon salt

About a rounded teaspoon pepper

Mix together and cook until hot. I think mine takes about 5 minutes.

Serve. Mmmm good.  Best corn I think I've ever had!

This post linked to The Fun in Functional Link Party #72

Instant Cappuccino Review

Everything said about the following products is my own personal opinion. I have not been contacted by these companies and am not receiving anything in exchange for my opinion.

First and foremost none of these compare to the lattes and cappuccino's I get from Cosmic Castle, the "local coffee shop" (it's locally owned, and for the record I don't like Starbucks coffees).  I don't always have $3 to go get me a cup (even though we own the place we still pay for what we eat/drink) so I resort to my own homemade mixes most often.

 

I think that my Homemade Cappuccino mix exceeds any of the store bought ones I've had.  Store bought kind is what got me started, and I do still buy them, but only because I'm short on time and haven't had a chance to whip up a homemade batch.  What I like best is I can play with flavors and adjust the ingredients.  If I want more coffee flavor I can add more coffee.  If I want it more pepperminty, can add more peppermint candies.  Homemade is always best in my book.  Here are some of my recipes (links open in new window to my old blog): Butterscotch Cappuccino Mix, Mocha Mint Cappuccino, Cinnamon Cappuccino, Homemade Cappuccino.

   

Folgers Cappuccino Mocha Chocolate has to be my next favorite, followed by the Folgers Cappuccino French Vanilla .  It's a little cheaper than the Hills Brothers and Caffe D'Vita.  At first I didn't like it.  It had too much coffee flavor to it.  Now I prefer it and sometimes add a little more instant coffee to my cup.

I just recently tried this Caffe D'Vita Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino Mix.  it's pretty good. not much of a coffee flavor but it has a good peppermint flavor.

 
  Hills Bros Cappuccino Double Mocha and Hills Bros Cappuccino French Vanilla is what I originally preferred, but now is more like hot chocolate mix to me.  I defiantly have to add instant coffee to this stuff now. 

       

The Iced coffee that I got from Save-A-Lot.....I decided to try it on a whim one day when I made an early morning run to the store, and, um no thank you. TOO sweet! At least this brand was too sweet.  

     

Happy Homemaker Monday ~~ 11/11/13

You know, even though I'm not a SAHM I'm still a homemaker.  I have a family to take care of and a home that should be kept it neat and clean.  I do also have the responsibility of 2 businesses to keep neat and clean, and a multitude of customers to care for as well.  Wow!  So....I've decided Happy Homemaker Monday,is all about my home AND my businesses.  They are where I spend my time, with my family none the less, 24 hours a day.

The weather.....  I posted this picture about 11pm last night.  Since then the temps have changed: It's now 9am, and here is the new temps:  Mon 62/28, Tues 39/21, Wed 48/30, Thurs 51/36, Fri 54/39.  It's crazy how fast the weather changes here. 

Right now I am.... sitting on the hard stool that makes my back and neck hurt, typing up this post and drinking a cup of Caffe D'Vita Peppermint Mocha Cappuccino.  I plan to do a review about it later this week.  Hubby has some kind of heavy metal music playing.  It's not too bad, but nothing I remember from the 80's.  It has a good beat and I can understand the words, so it can't be all bad, right?

On my Kindle.... I  finished  reading Escape To Sanctuary (Truly Yours Digital Editions), I read a cute little kids book Fairies and their Friends, and am currently reading Love Finds You in Hope, Kansas.  After I started reading I realized that I've read this one before, but it's been a long time. I think I remember what happens in the book.  LOL!  My only complaint about this one is the download is very small print and the formatting for the book doesn't allow any text size changes.  I got it from the Kansas Library Card online e-books.  The best part is it's a "story about home"  Hope, Kansas is a real place, and I've been there quite a bit for ball games for school.

TV on my Computer..... oh who knows  LOL!  I think I'd rather read a book instead right now.  Come January that will be a different story because ABC's Switched at Birth comes back on.  Of course it takes place in Kansas, so I HAVE to watch it.  LOL!

What I found while surfing the net.... I've been trying to find a good homemade tomato soup recipe.  All I've ever eaten is the canned campbells soup.  I made some using this recipe last week.  It was really good, but it didn't taste like what I was used to eating.  I almost bet that most people associate tomato soup with campbells, so that is the taste/texture I'm looking for. This recipe is the one that I'm trying next.  Tomato soup will be the next homemade soup we offer at Cosmic Castle.  It will go perfect with our grilled cheese sandwiches, and it will be a cheap meal, under $5 for soup, sandwich and drink.  Can't beat that!  I also found this Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread that doesn't require rising time so I would like to try it sometime soon too.

On my to do list this week.... [at the lock/incense shop this week:]

1. sweep
2. clean the glass cases
3. I have a couple incenses that are out and I need to soak more
4. I'm sure there is more.....I just don't want to think about it  LOL!

[ for Cosmic Castle this week:]

1. order cream
2. order ice cream
3. Beginning today (Monday) we will be closed on Monday's, and open regular hours the rest of the week
4. Tonight (Monday) we will make the Chicken N Noodles (from scratch to serve Tuesday evening)
5. Tuesday evening after close I do inventory
6. Tuesday night we are serving our chicken n noodle dinner
7. After we close on Tuesday if there is any chicken noodles left we will make it into soup to sell the next couple days.
8. Thursday is truck day
9. Thursday night we are serving Hot Beef dinner.
10. If there is any beef left from Thursday night we will either offer the Hot Beef again on Friday and/or make vegetable beef soup to sell.
11. We are hosting a birthday party on Saturday YEA!
12. we have changed things around a little and our help is coming in after lunch now, and working the afternoons.  Hubby and I will be taking turns  working the lunch hour.

[at home this week:]

1. Make 2 loaves of homemade banana bread to sell at Cosmic Castle  (no sense is wasting over ripe bananas)
2. work on laundry, I have some drying on the drying racks and some towels in the washer waiting on their turn to dry
3. try to do a little each night to keep place clean
4. keep dishes washed
5. put clean/dry laundry away
6. start thinking about thanksgiving.  I've invited my son's finance over.  she is supposed to get back with me on whether she is coming for lunch or supper.

In the craft basket.... I still haven't been doing anything, but my husband has been working with foam lately.  He is still working on a cannon to go with his pile of (foam) cannon balls.

Looking forward to this week.... definitely not the cold weather!  I AM looking forward to tonight though. Since we are closed at Cosmic Castle, it opens up a whole new world in the evenings!  We can actually GO OUT OF TOWN now if we want!  :-D  Also looking forward to Tuesday and Thursday nights.

Looking around the house.... I decided to clean the kitchen last night so I didn't have to rush to do it right before making noodles.  I had everything washed and wiped down and clean, but this morning there was 1 dish in the sink again....someone must have had something to eat after I closed down the kitchen for the night.  Kids gotta love their late night snacking.  Of course it was blamed on the cats, who seem to LOVE coco crispies cereal.  LOL!  There are a several bags of trash to go out, which I will need help to get them out to the dumpster. (that's what happen when I clean)  Floors need vacuumed and the clean laundry put away.

On my prayer list.....

• My grandpa (he's 94 years old)
• My sister
• Business decisions
• Hubby is a little under the weather.  he CAN'T get sick though
• Tuesday night to happen again without a glitch and be successful
• Thursday night to happen without a glitch and be successful

  This post linked to Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom    

Mississippi Mud Brownies

Oh my these are SO GOOD!  I made up a pan the other night and it's about half gone.  It's hard to eat just one, but once I start eating a second one I know it's too much.  I know what I'm taking to the next carry-in dinner at church.

Mississippi Mud Brownie:

• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped pecans
• 1 (4-oz.) unsweetened chocolate baking bar, chopped  (I used semi-sweet chocolate chips because my grocery store didn't have baking bars)
• 3/4 cup butter
• 2 cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1. Preheat oven to 350°. Bake pecans in a single layer in a shallow pan 6 to 8 minutes or until lightly toasted and fragrant.
• 2. Microwave chocolate and butter in a large microwave-safe bowl at HIGH 1 to 1 1/2 minutes or until melted and smooth, stirring at 30-second intervals. Whisk in sugar and eggs until well blended. Stir in flour. Spread batter into a greased 13- x 9-inch pan.
• 3. Bake at 350° for 25 to 30 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Sprinkle warm brownies with toasted pecans and marshmallows.
• 4. Prepare Chocolate Frosting. Pour over pecans and marshmallows; spread to edges. Let cool 1 hour on a wire rack. Cut into squares.
• Chocolate Frosting:
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/3 cup milk
• 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
• 1 (16-oz.) package powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Cook first 3 ingredients over medium heat in a large saucepan, stirring constantly, 4 to 5 minutes or until butter melts. Remove from heat, and beat in powdered sugar and vanilla at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth.

I'm linking up with Diary of a Stay at Home Mom for Cooking Thursday

I'm linking up with Practically Functional Link Party #71

I'm linking up with Living Proverbs 31 link up #62

Corn Sack

Corn Sacks are one of my favorite things in the winter time.  They help me keep warm.

These are made from recycled jeans.  They are electric free and 100% reusable.  When heated in the microwave, they relieve pain, relieve the cold, and they help relax tight muscles.  They can also be put in the freezer to make a mess free ice pack.
I sell these at Smelly Good Stuffs.  If you'd like to buy one please contact me.  I have a few in stock and would make more.  I haven't added them to the web store, so contact he here.

Rainbow Sugar Cookies

Rainbow Sugar Cookies

(No refrigeration required, these are drop cookies)

2 cups sugar

1 cup shortening

3 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup buttermilk (or 1 TBSP white vinegar and fill the rest of the cup with milk and let it sit a few minutes)

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

6 cups flour

Cream the shortening, sugar, eggs, and vanilla.  Add buttermilk.  Stir well and add dry ingredients.  Mix until smooth

Roll into balls and drop about 3 inches apart on greased cookie sheet.  Dip the bottom of a glass in a little sugar and press cookie flat.

Add sprinkles and lightly press into tops of cookies.

Bake at 350* for 5-10 minutes.  Makes about 4 dozen

Linking up with The Fun in Functional Link Party #74

From This Day Forward by Margaret Daley ~~ Book Review

It's been a while since I've written a book review (May 11, 2013). Don't think I've not been reading. I completed my Good Reads reading challenge, of 24 books, and am still going strong. :-)  I've actually read 29 books this year and am currently reading #30.    I recently got a Kansas Library Card, and it has opened a whole new world of books for me.  It's like going to the library and checking out books, instead of waiting for one I want to read or scrolling through the mountainous collection of free books I've gotten from Amazon in the past year and a half.  With the KSLC  I can check out books and download them to mu kindle for 14 days with "tokens" that are replenished weekly.  It kind of makes it a challenge to get them read in 2 weeks.  So far I haven't had any problem reading them.  Recently I downloaded From This Day Forward  by Margaret Daley.  I Loved it!


  Description on Amazon: Penniless, pregnant, and newly widowed immigrant Rachel Gordon doesn't believe her situation could get any worse...until she meets her new neighbors. Shortly after the War of 1812, Rachel and her husband set out from England for a plantation in South Carolina, which he had purchased sight unseen. However, while en route, Tom Gordon fell overboard and drowned, leaving Rachel, frightened and alone, to make a home for her and her newborn. Can a battle-scarred American physician who comes to her rescue also heal her wounded heart?


My thoughts on this book.  like I said I LOVED it!  I can't say that for all books, most I really like.  What I liked about this book is Rachel had a kind heart.  She is determined to try things even though she has never experienced them before.  She is determined.  She is willing to forgive and take in strangers when she herself has little.  I also liked the bad guys and the alligator fights and the snakes.  Hard to put down, and kept me wanting to keep reading because something kept happening.  

Happy Homemaker Monday ~~ 11/4/2013

You know, even though I'm not a SAHM I'm still a homemaker.  I have a family to take care of and a home that should be kept it neat and clean.  I do also have the responsibility of 2 businesses to keep neat and clean, and a multitude of customers to care for as well.  Wow!  So....I've decided it's going to be Happy Homemaker Monday, because my home AND my businesses are my home.  They are where I spend my time, with my family none the less, 24 hours a day.

The weather.....  We're a little warmer today highs in the low 60's lows in the low 50's.  Rain is supposed to come in Tuesday and Wednesday and cool things off.  Mostly sunny the rest of the week with upper 50's and mid 30's.

Right now I am.... listening to the police scanner

On my Kindle.... I  finished Annie's Truth (Touch of Grace, Book 1) I also read From This Day Forward, and am currently reading Escape To Sanctuary (Truly Yours Digital Editions)

TV on my Computer..... Maybe some cross.tv or youtube videos if I get a chance.

What I found while surfing the net.... not much surfing recently.

On my to do list this week.... [at the lock/incense shop this week:]

1. sweep
2. clean the glass cases
3. paperwork caught up

[ for Cosmic Castle this week:]

1. Tonight we will make the Chicken N Noodles (from scratch to serve Tuesday evening)
2. Tuesday evening after close I do inventory
3. Tuesday night we are serving our chicken n noodle dinner
4. Thursday is truck day
5. Thursday night we are serving Hot Beef dinner.
6. we have changed things around a little and our help is coming in after lunch now, and working the afternoons.  Hubby and I will be taking turns  working the lunch hour.

[at home this week:]

1. work on laundry
2. do a little each night to keep place clean
3. keep dishes washed
4. put clean/dry laundry away
5. start thinking about thanksgiving.  I've invited my son's finance over.  she is supposed to get back with me on whether she is coming for lunch or supper.

In the craft basket.... I still haven't been doing anything, but my husband has been working with foam lately.  He is working on a cannon to go with his pile of (foam) cannon balls.

Looking forward to this week.... rain!  i know sounds silly.  LOL!

Looking around the house.... I've been doing pretty good at keeping things picked up here lately.  There is 1 dish in the sink....someone must have had something to eat after i got the dishes washed up.  There are a few bags of trash to go out.  Floors need swept and the clean laundry put away.

From the camera.... Nothing this week worth sharing :-(

On my prayer list.....

• My grandpa (he's 94 years old)
• My sister
• Business decisions
• Tuesday night to happen again without a glitch and be successful
• Thursday night to happen without a glitch and be successful

  This post linked to Happy Homemaker Monday over at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom