tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73705118439298782982024-03-12T23:05:22.299-04:00Bundts n' BowlsBundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-75141732642871387902013-05-27T00:28:00.000-04:002013-05-27T00:28:10.095-04:00Mary, Mary How Does Your Garden Grow?<span style="font-size: large;">It is that time of year when the weather flip flops and Mother Nature gives you just enough hope that it's going to stay warm. Yesterday was like that. I wore shorts out for the first time in months! No jacket was required and the sun was pleasantly warm on my face. I noticed the family of robins are back and preparing their nest in the hole near the gutter. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">For months, I have been receiving my garden seed catalogs and I have looked through each of them several times. Always planning a garden with new and exciting plants and already thinking of the recipes I would use. Last year didn't go so well, my cucumbers didn't do a thing, they didn't even grow into vines. My bean plants while beautiful produced a mere handful of bean pods. My tomatoes, beets and turnips made a good showing and even the onion bulbs I planted did okay. I planted a lot more in that garden, and was sorely disappointed by the lack of variety that grew. This year we are going to really step up and fertilize the soil. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We expanded the garden to the back fence and it is now 33x13ft. We found a small garden center that had extremely good prices and bought all the plants for the garden. We still have to sow the beet and turnip seeds. I am so excited about the variety we chose this year. We are doing the old standby veggies. Tomatoes, sweet and hot peppers, cucumbers, </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;">and</span> green beans. I bought a few varieties that we have never tried. Cantaloupe, zucchini, eggplant, and strawberries. We also have yellow onions and garlic. I got chives, basil and rosemary. I have successfully already murdered the rosemary. I've no idea what happened.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year was so much easier! We found about a community center that has a tool loan program and we were able to get a tiller. Man that saved some time and a lot of back pain! I've got to get one of those!! I can't believe we have ever prepared a plot without one. All these years just accepting the pain. That explains how so many older people are able to garden in their back yards. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Once I get a few pictures taken I will post them. Now come's the hard part.. waiting!!</span>Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-79848445709983213352013-03-11T17:15:00.002-04:002013-03-11T17:15:50.847-04:00Chicken Breasts with Swiss Cheese Casserole<br />
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Last week one of the ladies at the church brought in a casserole. Now, understand I am not a casserole type of person. Growing up my family never really made casseroles and I don't really give casseroles much thought. I really liked the casserole and asked for the recipe! This is the recipe. My husband who also did not grow up eating casseroles was skeptical. All I can say is that it did go over pretty well. My daughter liked it, and even though my husband said it was "just okay" the entire baking dish was empty by the end of the night. I think they both went back for seconds and thirds. i should I have taken a picture but I didn't have time! </div>
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Chicken Breasts With Swiss Cheese</div>
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8 pieces skinless, boneless chicken breasts</div>
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8 pieces Swiss cheese</div>
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I can ( regular size) cream of chicken soup, undiluted</div>
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1/4 lb. fresh mushrooms (optional)</div>
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2 cups Pepperidge Farm Herb seasoned stuffing mix</div>
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1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted</div>
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1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)</div>
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1. Place chicken k 13’x9”x2” pan.</div>
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2. Place cheese on top of chicken.</div>
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3. Spoon undiluted soup over all.</div>
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4. Melt butter and mix with stuffing mix.</div>
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5. Sprinkle above mixture on top.</div>
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6. Bake, uncovered in 350 degree oven for 40- 45 minutes.</div>
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Serves eight.<br />
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I only had 3 large chicken breasts so I cut them up into chunks, but other than that I made the recipe as written. I'll admit I liked it better with the chicken cut up, made it easier to serve. The only real complaint that I had was it came out a little salty. I used a store brand stuffing and I don't know if that affected the salt content and I will try different brand next time.<br />
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I made a romaine and cabbage salad with cukes, carrots and tomato. Very satisfying meal. </div>
Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-72384106247054805272013-01-29T03:16:00.001-05:002013-03-11T17:16:16.520-04:00Polymer Clay RosesI am pretty new to working with polymer clay. I've made a few little figurines and some beads for jewelry. Tonight I was looking through youtube tutorials and found one on making roses. I watched it and then pulled out the poly clay. It looked pretty easy and I will say it really is.<br />
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Here is the first rose I made.</div>
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Very pretty lavender color that doesn't really show up all that well in the picture. I thought this looked awesome! So I start fooling around some more.<br />
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Two colors. I flattened the petals a little too much I think.</div>
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This is actually quite small. About the size of a dime.</div>
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I made a couple extremely tiny ones. I guess I will need to add a picture of those later. (der)</div>
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I made a beautiful rose out of a very pretty red color I had. The picture of course does not do the color justice, funky phone. The pictures look perfect on the phone. But always so dark when uploaded. Sigh.</div>
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I LOVE this! </div>
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I really wish the pictures could show the true color and how pretty this really is.</div>
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Beautiful!</div>
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I am going to look for other types of flowers to make. I am really digging the idea of making more. </div>
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<br />Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-10851446502332971732012-12-27T19:46:00.000-05:002013-04-09T16:47:37.851-04:00Vinegar! 17 Amazing uses you can't live without!<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">About a year ago I was frustrated and looking for a way to get my plastic storage containers clean. I noticed they had a greasy slimy feel to them, and no matter how many times I washed them, it would not go away. I set out on a mission to save myself some money since these are not cheap to replace, especially all at the same time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I searched ways to get plastic containers clean, and found many websites that suggested using white distilled vinegar. I followed the directions on one site that said wash the container and then wipe down with rag and undiluted white vinegar. It worked! I have since taken to just adding the vinegar to a sink load of dishes and find that it works just as well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Who would have thought that there was more to vinegar than using it in salads and dying Easter eggs! Here are just a few of the ways I have used vinegar around my house. Do a search for uses of vinegar you may be surprised too!</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Add 1/2 c white distilled vinegar to a sink load of dirty dishes and fill with sink with hot water. It really helps to get that oily, greasy film feeling off your dishes and plastic.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Clean counter tops with straight vinegar. I've left a rag soaked with vinegar sitting atop a kool-aid stain and it helped to lighten it. It did not completely get rid of the stain, but it is so light you can barely see it. I have to really look for it.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I add water and vinegar in equal parts to clean the inside of my fridge. Helps with spills, just leave the rag laying on the spill. It also helps freshen the fridge and get rid of some funky smells!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Full strength undiluted vinegar and a sponge with a scrubber helps clean the stove hood and fan. This may take a little time, work in small areas. Mine was quite grubby.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">A cup of undiluted vinegar in a load of laundry that was forgotten in washing machine gets rid of the damp and mildew smell.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I put a cup of vinegar in the pot from the coffee maker and fill the rest of the way up with hot water and let it sit at least a half hour. Empty it, and wipe inside with a cloth and then rinse. This loosens up and helps remove the coffee stains and deposits.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I also add 1 cup of vinegar to the water reservoir and run it through to help with deposits and freshen the machine.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">when you have stickers or labels that won't come off from non porous surfaces you can soak a rag in vinegar and leave it laying on the area if possible. It should come off pretty easily. * This really helps get glue residue off glass and mirrors.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Use a solution of equal parts water and vinegar to wipe down your shower curtain liner. I usually just drop it into the tub with vinegar and hot water, come back, wipe it down and rinse. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Wipe down shower walls and tub with undiluted vinegar to help removed grime and scum. Rinse and repeat if necessary.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I used diluted vinegar to wipe down the faucets in the bathroom and kitchen. It cleans off soap and toothpaste residue, and helps keep them smelling fresh.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">To get rid of mildewy or stale odors wipe down walls and doors with undiluted vinegar and a rag.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Use full strength vinegar to wipe down doorknobs to kill germs.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Add a cup of vinegar to a tub of hot water and add plastic baby toys to disinfect. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">You can add vinegar to boiling water and add baby bottles to disinfect.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">If your scissors have become sticky or gunky you can wipe them down with a rag dipped in vinegar. This is one of my favorites!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Use vinegar on a rag to clean the inside of the windshield in your automobile. </span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">There are literally hundreds of ways to use vinegar. These are the ones I have tried and can verify work. I am sure there are some that I have forgotten and if I remember them I will add them to this post. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">I encourage you to check out websites and books that offer the many uses for vinegar. I buy a gallon jug of vinegar when I go shopping and it usually last a month and half. I use it anytime I need to clean grimy, slimy, sticky or smelly things around the house. I tell anyone and every one I can about vinegar as often as I get a chance! Try it and you will too!</span></div>
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-540658861124200542012-12-26T16:10:00.000-05:002012-12-26T17:02:09.910-05:00Children's Party and Crafts at Simpson United Methodist ChurchIn a short 2 and half weeks I planned a Christmas party for church members and neighborhood kids. It was quite an endeavor to take on myself. I've never planned or had a Christmas party before, and honestly I've never even been to one. I was handed the reins and allowed to design what I thought would be an awesome party if I were a kid again. I was fortunate to have a ton of donated toys, gloves, hats, and scarves. There was 2 huge boxes from Toys from Tots, a huge donation from the local firefighters and another church was extremely generous and donated hundreds of pairs of gloves, hats and toys! It was overwhelming. I spent many countless hours wrapping presents and making lists.<br />
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I made a list and checked it twice!</div>
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Many of the presents already wrapped</div>
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Me</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7Efg6CtocY/UNta3inN2xI/AAAAAAAAARY/zXbyNzy3atA/s1600/presents+simpson+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-i7Efg6CtocY/UNta3inN2xI/AAAAAAAAARY/zXbyNzy3atA/s1600/presents+simpson+1.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Toys for Tots.. so generous!</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQwIR8UxkNo/UNta8Z38FTI/AAAAAAAAARo/BPgKzIFOWM4/s1600/simpson+presents3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AQwIR8UxkNo/UNta8Z38FTI/AAAAAAAAARo/BPgKzIFOWM4/s1600/simpson+presents3.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Stored and waiting for the party</div>
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Over the span of 3 separate days I wrapped over 300 toys, hats, gloves and scarves. All together it totaled 23 hours. I enjoyed every minute of it. There was such a peaceful quiet that I do not get at home. My family calls me the present Nazi because I am a little OCD about how the presents are wrapped. Which is ironic since I spent the first half of my despising wrapping presents and was infamous in my family for handing someone a gift still in the bag I brought it home in. </div>
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Friday before the party I set up the tables and decorated the fellowship hall. I separated everything by age and sex and labeled everything.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4s6julk8QSc/UNth-XCzyqI/AAAAAAAAASI/M-U84KIpfsk/s1600/IMG_20121220_192612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4s6julk8QSc/UNth-XCzyqI/AAAAAAAAASI/M-U84KIpfsk/s1600/IMG_20121220_192612.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Boys</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Yo2n0zgpjg/UNtizWg-Z_I/AAAAAAAAASg/JsZdo9uxtmI/s1600/IMG_20121220_192710.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6Yo2n0zgpjg/UNtizWg-Z_I/AAAAAAAAASg/JsZdo9uxtmI/s1600/IMG_20121220_192710.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Nice view of all of the tables</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxO5jUEgMBw/UNtinXom3kI/AAAAAAAAASY/wIYqBgO5T78/s1600/IMG_20121220_192653.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxO5jUEgMBw/UNtinXom3kI/AAAAAAAAASY/wIYqBgO5T78/s1600/IMG_20121220_192653.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Girls</div>
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I had this set up so it would be quick and easy to get the kids through. The table in back is all hats and gloves.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5APvlaKIw9g/UNtlf9kRC9I/AAAAAAAAATI/ms_lbUyhLHc/s1600/IMG_20121222_095633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5APvlaKIw9g/UNtlf9kRC9I/AAAAAAAAATI/ms_lbUyhLHc/s1600/IMG_20121222_095633.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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These are goody bags I put together. They had candy canes, lollipops, pencil, eraser, and a notepad. Yes, I drew and colored each and every one of these! </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypg35FYE1Oc/UNtnEwDwsKI/AAAAAAAAATg/ugE7ol6Dm6o/s1600/IMG_20121222_095746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ypg35FYE1Oc/UNtnEwDwsKI/AAAAAAAAATg/ugE7ol6Dm6o/s1600/IMG_20121222_095746.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Decorated and ready to party!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itbEnw1-3vA/UNtnGNKwV0I/AAAAAAAAATo/G8BUxf9LHJM/s1600/IMG_20121222_095814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-itbEnw1-3vA/UNtnGNKwV0I/AAAAAAAAATo/G8BUxf9LHJM/s1600/IMG_20121222_095814.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Somehow I misplaced all the other pictures of the decorations I had. </div>
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I came up with a couple crafts for the kids to do.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WS5Kw9o6qs/UNtrN-HQb2I/AAAAAAAAAUA/Up8g2AWlUxA/s1600/IMG_20121222_095902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_WS5Kw9o6qs/UNtrN-HQb2I/AAAAAAAAAUA/Up8g2AWlUxA/s1600/IMG_20121222_095902.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Angels made from coffee filter, metallic pipe cleaners, ribbon and lollipops. </div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-whOWRRL2v98/UNtrO-YwN9I/AAAAAAAAAUI/vw_AQrNMBn0/s1600/IMG_20121222_095917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-whOWRRL2v98/UNtrO-YwN9I/AAAAAAAAAUI/vw_AQrNMBn0/s1600/IMG_20121222_095917.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Star Ornaments. Beads, pipe cleaners. Has to be one of the easiest ornaments to make.</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7kmDgDcsq5E/UNtr5asb8II/AAAAAAAAAUo/-3qxvRUer_8/s1600/star+ornament.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7kmDgDcsq5E/UNtr5asb8II/AAAAAAAAAUo/-3qxvRUer_8/s1600/star+ornament.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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I made this one with the metallic pipe cleaner for my Christmas tree.</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vhbd-nIjdUQ/UNtrP5S6W3I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/FtSk0zGi1PM/s1600/IMG_20121222_095942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vhbd-nIjdUQ/UNtrP5S6W3I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/FtSk0zGi1PM/s1600/IMG_20121222_095942.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Reindeer "hat" I spent 3 hours cutting all these antlers out. The kids loved this!</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F47CLH2DSbE/UNtrQxBKWDI/AAAAAAAAAUY/mzCHN2T7StI/s1600/IMG_20121222_095955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-F47CLH2DSbE/UNtrQxBKWDI/AAAAAAAAAUY/mzCHN2T7StI/s1600/IMG_20121222_095955.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Elf Ears "hat". Much easier to cut out, only took about an hour. LOL</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBtCBP41eVs/UNtrRyQZ6mI/AAAAAAAAAUg/r7G7wR03_LI/s1600/IMG_20121222_100102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LBtCBP41eVs/UNtrRyQZ6mI/AAAAAAAAAUg/r7G7wR03_LI/s1600/IMG_20121222_100102.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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Foam bookmarks, and foam stickers. Easy. The parents hung around this table and did this while the kids were running around doing other crafts.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9c9TO_ek-uM/UNttf0wSjbI/AAAAAAAAAVE/qmgyxBXpTFk/s1600/IMG_20121222_100006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9c9TO_ek-uM/UNttf0wSjbI/AAAAAAAAAVE/qmgyxBXpTFk/s1600/IMG_20121222_100006.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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Every one loves guessing games! How many do you think are there? We had only one kid who was close. There were 61 peppermints. </div>
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We had 5 kids come close, but no one got the right count! Luckily had extra prizes. There were 28 candy canes. </div>
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Birthday Card for Jesus. Everyone signed it! The kids and parents loved the idea.</div>
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Lunch line</div>
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First lucky few to get their lunch</div>
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Love the antlers!</div>
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Nom Nom</div>
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I unfortunately forgot to take pictures while the party was happening. I was busy making sure the crafts were going well, the kids were being fair with the guessing games and generally doing the meet and greet. I had a wonderful time and the kids loved every thing! </div>
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I hope to help with parties at the church in the future. </div>
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<br />Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-18115298050609079572012-12-13T23:06:00.000-05:002012-12-13T23:06:11.187-05:00It's all for the kids<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I have wanted to do
something with the kids at the church I am attending. I wanted to a craft or
something interesting for them to take home for Christmas. I was told they were not going to do anything
for the kids; I figured I could make a craft with them and have a little party
at the same time. The very next week I go to church to find they have changed
the date I was supposed to do the craft to an earlier date and now they are
having a party for a the kids the Saturday before Christmas. Darn it, I just
wrote out the invitations the night before. So, I go ahead and do the crafts
with the kids ( which they loved!). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jPdk8MGhTyM/UMpcOexciII/AAAAAAAAAQY/FeUFZABZzj4/s1600/simpson+presents.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jPdk8MGhTyM/UMpcOexciII/AAAAAAAAAQY/FeUFZABZzj4/s1600/simpson+presents.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> That night we have
our monthly community meal and some members from another church are there and I
am introduced to them. (I’ll call my church lady J) J introduces me and is
telling them about the craft I did with the kids. The ladies from the other
church offer to come and help with the party (which at this point I am still
sulking and silently decided I want nothing to do with it). So J is gushing
about how fabulous it is going to be and how I have come up with 5-6 crafts for
the kids for the party. WHAT? Where the heck did that come from? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> There is nothing I
hate more than being volunteered to do something without being told, asked or
at least being warned. I was sitting there with the look of a deer in
headlights, what could I say? I didn’t want to embarrass J, so I’m like, yeah...
5 or 6. The other church lady I’ll call
G is so excited, she offers to bring some other members of her church over to
help. Oh my God!! Feeling trapped, I’m looking for any exit to get away from
this table. How did I get roped into 5-6 games for a party I wasn’t planning on
going to because my feelings were hurt. I’ve
always had a problem saying no. Since I
wanted to do something with the kids I guess I’m okay with it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> Last Sunday I had a
meeting with J about the party. The pastor was supposed to be there, but he
doesn’t show up for anything but Sunday service, then he is out! Part time
employee, I guess that’s how he looks at it.. nothing extra. So, anyhow she and I are discussing plans for
the party, the presents, games, and crafts.
She then tells me she is having surgery the next day and will be out of
commission for about a week or more. She
is looking to me to pretty much plan and pull this thing off. I’ll get to the kicker and best part in a
minute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> We received 2 huge
boxes of toys from the Toys for Tots program.
We also received donations for G’s church of toys and 15 huge bags of clothes,
socks, underwear, gloves etc.
Unfortunately there are no clothes for girls, toddlers or infants. There
are also only about 20 toys for girls, again nothing for toddler or infants. J has asked the other church if they can
maybe help out with balancing things out.
I will say it’s a little weird to be in a church that is a charity for
another church. It is a very small
church in a very poor neighborhood and more than half the members are 75+ years
old and have been going to this church 50+years. There is no choir, no Sunday
school, no youth activites. I am trying to do something to help the kids who
attend as well as reach out to the kids in the neighborhood generally. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">Be the change you want to see. In this neighborhood, these
kids have absentee parents, drug and alcohol dependant parents, grandmothers
who are tired and worn out raising them. These kids see everyday what the
weight of being poor does to a person. They see no way out, they have no one to
show them there is good, and there is a way. I am one person, but I firmly believe that if
you lead, they will follow the example set before them. There is one particular girl who is right up
on me, every time I turn around she is there. She just wants to talk, she is
thirsty for attention. She is 11. As my grandmother would say, she is on me
like white on rice! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> On Monday I spent
the whole day at the church alone wrapping presents. I accidently set off the alarm, how
embarrassing! I spent 8 hours and wrapped a total of 127 presents. I assigned each one a number, description,
age and whether boy or girl. On Wednesday I went back and catalogued all the
clothes and wrapped more toys. I spent a few hours wrapping socks, underwear,
hats and gloves. So as right now there is a total of 142 toys and 47 of the
socks etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;"> I now have to come
up with not only crafts, but also games for the kids to play. J said 10 and
younger, although I don’t know how that will work since most of the kids who
come to church are between 11 and 17.
She told me to expect 50+ kids. Wowser!
Games and crafts for 50+ kids. I am not Annie Sullivan!! I am no miracle
worker. I personally had planned to give
the kids little gift bags.. when I thought it was going to be 15-20 kids.
Nothing special really a brown lunch sack I decorated, a small trinket like an
eraser, pencils or small toy, and some homemade cookies and perhaps an apple or
orange. Now I have made approx 70 bags
and I don’t think I will be able to afford the apples or oranges. That’s a lotta cookies! I started making them
yesterday. I have 10 days to make umpty dump dozen cookies, finish with the
presents and clothes, figure out crafts, games and decorations! All while still
attending to my family, cooking meals, baking cookies for home and crocheting
scarves for the homeless shelter. Ugh,
and helping out at the food pantry at the church. On top of it all, I am still foster a mother
cat and her 3 kittens who are needy and need to be fed every 4 hours or so. I
am tired!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-26827267829964517772012-12-08T12:58:00.001-05:002013-03-11T17:19:16.925-04:00C is for CookieThis month is all about the cookies. Chocolate chip, peanut butter, sugar.. the list is endless. I am <b>not</b> a baker. My cookies have a tendency to come out flat, dry and flavorless. I admit I can make a good zucchini bread, but for cookies the only cookie I make good is Kolacky cookies. It's a simple recipe and one my grandmother made every year for the fall and winter holidays. They are time consuming only because the dough makes so many of them. We love them and they don't last long. They are delicious! <br />
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For the Allrecipe Allstar program our tasks this months is to make cookies using Toll House baking chips. I've already made one of the recipes.<br />
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/white-chip-orange-cookies/detail.aspx?lnkid=soc1001" target="_blank">White Chip Orange cookies</a></div>
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They came out looking pretty decent.. not a lot of flavor. I followed the recipe exact! It did have a nice light flavor of orange. Everyone else liked them. So I guess it was successful!</div>
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If you read my previous post you know I am struggling right now. Luckily I have been gathering ingredients for the last 2 months so I could make cookies and bake other goodies this month. I have enough to make all the cookies I can and still have enough ingredients to make bread and dough etc.</div>
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I really liked this, but thought they didn't come out all that pretty. It tastes just like fruitcake. LOL who would have thought? My husband complained they didn't taste right. I made some miniatures in the mini muffin tin. He loved it. I also just took the rest of the dough and just went ahead and made a loaf. </div>
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When I was helping decorate the inside of the church I was given 3 pie pumpkins and I offered to make some pumpkin pies for a potluck. I have to do that today. I found the best crust recipe on Allrecipes. </div>
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/basic-flaky-pie-crust/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=basic%20flaky%20crust&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe" target="_blank">Basic Flaky Crust</a></div>
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I could swear I have a picture of the crust before the filling, knowing me, I didn't download the picture yet. Delicious looking? Yes!</div>
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Yep! </div>
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Some how my cookie sheet became warped. It is not flat anymore. It looks like someone tried to twist it! So I am off to buy another one. Once I get home and make more cookies, I will post more.</div>
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-crinkles-ii/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=chocolate%20crinkle&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page" target="_blank">Chocolate Crinkles II</a></div>
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These are my daughter's favorite cookie! These came out a little more firm and cake like than in the past. There were still delicious! </div>
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/butterscotch-haystacks/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=haystacks&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Recipe" target="_blank">Butterscotch Haystacks</a></div>
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These were part of the December activities. These were really good, I did not use the mini marshmallows, but we did add chocolate chips. I took these to the community meal at the church and they were one of the first desserts to go!</div>
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I am an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position) and I am not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertisers are only used for experienced-based reviews on Bundts n' Bowls. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of T. Graham.</div>
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Thanks for reading!</div>
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-68152916416983025422012-12-08T03:56:00.000-05:002012-12-08T03:56:01.553-05:00Running against the windI find myself a month behind in rent, a shut off notice on the gas bill and <u>no</u> money for groceries. I have food enough to carry us for a month, perhaps a little less. I am frightened and worried. My husband received a $25.00 gift card for doing a focus group. Of course, it is for the most expensive store around. Which means $25.00 isn't going to buy much. There are the three of us. Myself, my daughter and my husband. He is a meat eater, it's not a meal until it contains some kind of meat. <br />
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We have had it hard over the years, but is is about to be the worst than it has been in many years. My daughter and I have lost our insurance. I take several medications, with one of them costing nearly $600. If you add all of them together it totals about $1000. We survive on $1346. a month. I have friends who pay more than that for rent a month. <br />
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I think we have handled this situation pretty well for the most part. Guilt over my daughter not being able to have everything she wants or needs is the hardest part. Deciding what bill to pay and buying food seems to be a true juggling act. We dropped a ball and are faced with $800. worth of shut off notices.<br />
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It is December - a dreaded time of year for me. Filled with embarrassment and sorrow, when my daughter puts on a brave face and pretends everything is okay. Last year a woman that I've known since elementary school bought Christmas for us. She sent clothes, a music CD for my daughter and personal items, not only for my daughter but also for myself and my husband. It was much more than I would have ever expected anyone I haven't seen in over 20 years to do. It was very humbling and a kind act. I did no ask for it, I would never do that. And I still cannot express my deep and complete gratitude to her.<br />
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This year is no different yet very different from past years. My heart is broken along with my spirit. We struggle, like so many others and most of the time do so without complaint. No, this is not how I envisioned my life. But it has and could be worse. I have been homeless, I have eaten at the soup kitchens and I have had to survive through a lot of things of my own making and some not.<br />
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I put up our ugly little Christmas tree, I decorate it with no enthusiasm. I hung the garland in the archways and a wreath hangs on the door. But there is little joy. There will be no excitement on Christmas morning. It will be just another day. I will make as many gifts as I can for my daughter, a scarf, a bracelet and maybe a throw with the yarn I have left. I had bought her a sweater, a pair of pants and a hat last time I had a little money. She told me to wrap them and put it under the tree. I wish I could go back and make different choices. I know each and every one that lead me to this place. Sadly I knew at the time I was making the wrong decisions.<br />
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SO, back to the reason for writing this post. I have went through every cupboard and I have written down every box and can of food I have. I now have the task of figuring out how to feed us for as long as possible. I have no idea when I can buy more groceries.<br />
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There are two thinks in this world I think area more important that most anything. Having a roof over your head and food in your belly. I know there are people who have even less than me and they are happy to have it. And believe me when I say, I am truly happy for all I do have. As I work to make a filling menu with what i have available, I am going to post any recipes I use. Maybe I can help someone else out there who have a similar situation.<br />
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Tonight I made Dirty Rice. Not really a recipe, I've made a few times and always different. Tonight was very simple.<br />
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Dirty Rice<br />
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1lb ground beef<br />
1 onion, diced<br />
1/2 Green pepper, diced<br />
2 beef bouillon cubes<br />
1/2 tsp onion powder<br />
1/2 tsp garlic powder<br />
1/2 tsp chili powder<br />
2 green onions, sliced in rings<br />
couple dashes cayenne (optional to taste)<br />
1 cup water<br />
3 cups cooked rice<br />
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Browned the meat, drained any fat off, added onion and bell pepper, all the spices, green onion and cup of water. Add cooked rice, mix well and add salt and pepper to taste. I didn't not put an amount for the salt, I don't cook with it. We just add salt after we get our servings.<br />
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Really easy. Pretty tasty.Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-48154467280693775862012-11-18T01:55:00.000-05:002013-04-09T16:51:31.893-04:00Rocky Mountain Oysters... Dinner Danglers!Rocky Mountain Oysters, Swinging Beef, Montana Tendergroins, Dinner Danglers, Moo Marbles (this one made my daughter giggle) These are just a few of the nicknames I found when searching the web for recipes.<br />
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On a quest to try as many new things as possible, I checked off one more on the list. Today I bought a pair of Rocky Mountain Oysters from the butcher. I was there to pick up my beef heart and kidneys and it was only the second time I have ever seen them there, so I figured why not. My daughter immediately wrinkled her nose and said she wouldn't be trying that. My husband (who's like Mikey.. he'll try anything) Said with a shrug "sure why not". <br />
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When I was standing there at the counter waiting for my order to be wrapped an elderly woman came up and was picking up an order for the same thing. I asked her how she prepared the "oysters". She said to boil them first then fry and make a gravy. Everything I had read was saying to fry them, but I had not read anywhere to boil them. She and I talked a while longer while we waited and I decided I would try the method she told me about and go ahead and boil them.<br />
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OK. So I sometimes forget to take pictures until it's too late for that step. I do the best I can.. my memory isn't always so good. Here's what I did..<br />
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This is what the "oysters" look like when you get them from the butcher. </div>
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He had already made small cuts in the membrane that needs to be peeled off. I did not peel this until after I boiled it. I read that there are really easy to peel if they are frozen and you peel as it thaws. I will try that next time. </div>
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I just filled a pot with water to cover the oysters and set it to boil.</div>
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After I took them out and was able to peel them. Peeling was not so easy and I ended up having to cut off some of the membrane. I sliced them up, I will say that they were considerably smaller after they are boiled which was a surprise. </div>
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I seasoned flour with salt, pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. </div>
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Yes, we are Buttertons. I cook with butter whenever I can. It is probably the most unhealthy thing I do. I added some olive oil to make it healthy =) (I had too much butter and ended up not using this at all, but just a tiny smidge out of this pan.)</div>
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Dirtied another pan to keep from using too much butter. </div>
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This is with the gravy I made. Sorry the picture is so sloppy it was hard to keep the hubby's fingers out of it long enough to take a picture. </div>
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I didn't use a recipe, didn't measure anything. It came out pretty good for a first time. Honestly it tastes like a cross between liver and beef kidney (which has a texture of chicken gizzards) if you've ever had that. I wouldn't say there is anything special about it other than it being Moo Marbles. LOL.</div>
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For the price and the amount of meat it turned out to not be cost efficient and I probably won't make it again. But hey! I got to check off one more thing off the list of stuff to try. </div>
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<br />Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-66370769807956596132012-11-11T03:28:00.001-05:002012-11-11T03:28:22.823-05:00No Kidney punches here!<br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: large; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 16.799999237060547px;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="line-height: 16.78333282470703px;"> My family is constantly on the look out for new recipes using meats and/or ingredients we have never eaten before. I have to say it has turned out pretty well so far. I know that some of the dishes we try are standard dishes in other parts of the country or around the world in other countries. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.78333282470703px;"> Being one half of an inter-racial relationship has always been interesting in the kitchen. My husband grew up in a household that regularly ate pigs feet and chittlins', souse (head cheese), pigs ears and hog maws. I have since tried all of these things since we've been married. Some I like, others not so much! My husband had never tried what his mother called "white people" food. Rice-a-roni, green bean casserole, stove top stuffing, cabbage with ham and noodles and Corned beef and cabbage and many many more! He has tried these and likes or loves some of them. There are somethings I know I will never get him to eat. Tuna casserole..well any dish that contains the word casserole (other than green bean casserole), anything containing tater tots, fish sticks, cheese wiz, or marshmallow fluff. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.78333282470703px;"> OK, so back to kidneys. I am blessed to live 5 minutes from the West side Market here in Cleveland, Ohio. It has been standing for 100 years, they just celebrated the anniversary. There is a butcher there that sells beef. The market is only open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday. Vince, my butcher takes off Mondays so he can cut his meat. He gets his big sides of beef and will even take special orders in advance. If you ever get to Cleveland, be sure to look him up. His stand is named after him. Any how.. When I visited him last he had a Beef Kidney sitting in his display case. I bought it and began looking for recipes to use it in. Every recipe I found was for steak and kidney pie (which I do plan on trying). Recipe after recipe was pretty much the same. I asked on the Buzz for suggestions and got some good answers. Don had a couple ideas that I really liked since it wasn't a pie.</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 16.78333282470703px;"> I love reading his answers to posts, and I was hoping he would answer mine. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16.78333282470703px;"> I soaked the kidney in milk over night to draw out any not so pleasant taste. I am going to be adding the recipe to my recipe box and when I do I will post it. I cut up the kidney and had some really tender thin steaks I cut in strips. I sauteed them in butter and olive oil, added some sliced onions and then made a gravy. I served this over rice and it was delicious!! I was worried about the texture of the kidneys since I sometimes have problems with different textures. It was perfect. Firm, not mushy or tough. It truly is something everyone should try. The taste is pleasant and the steak goes very well with it. Next time I will try the Kidney and Steak pie.</span></span><br />
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Cleaning and prepping the kidney for its milk bath.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doesn't that look good!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It sure did taste good!</span></div>
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-14454934236207329682012-11-09T22:06:00.002-05:002012-11-09T22:06:51.851-05:00Our Pre-Thanksgiving FeastMy husband and daughter agreed that we should do something other than the "traditional" Thanksgiving meal. The suggested Mexican/Hispanic food. We've been talking about it for a couple days and have decided on Chicken and cheese enchiladas, a taco bar, Spanish rice, corn, 7 layer dip and chips and churros for dessert. I guess that sounds pretty good. Although I am still trying to deal with not having the regulars.<br />
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I had already bought all the ingredients for dinner. I made our not Thanksgiving dinner tonight. It was good! I made green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing and chicken (we never buy turkeys). I have a ham still in the freezer, and I will use that sometime this month or even keep if for Christmas. If they aren't going to try and take that holiday away from me too!<br />
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I had a lot going on this evening so I forgot to take pictures as I was preparing the food. I did get some pictures after it was served.<br />
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/swanson-ultra-creamy-mashed-potatoes/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Swanson Ultra Creamy Mashed Potatoes</a></div>
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/campbells-green-bean-casserole/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Campbell's Green Bean Casserole</a></div>
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/moist-and-savory-stuffing/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Moist and Savory Stuffing</a></div>
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I took the opportunity to make three of the recipes I needed for the November activities for Allrecipes Allstars. I am sure I will be making some sweets and I will add them and their recipes when I make them. I am glad I was able to have my "feast" even though it wasn't on Thanksgiving day. The day really isn't important, I got to sit down to a wonderful meal with my husband and daughter and enjoy talking about our day. For that I am Thankful! </div>
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I am an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position) and I am not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertisers are only used for experienced-based reviews on Bundts n' Bowls. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of T. Graham.</div>
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<br />Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-84113008620209409892012-11-06T00:59:00.002-05:002013-04-09T16:51:59.385-04:00She had me at "Meep!"<span style="font-size: large;">Two years ago this month my daughter talked us into being foster parents at the local APL (animal protective league). We figured she would lose interest pretty quickly so we agreed. The day we went in for orientation was the day we brought home our first foster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">She was all white, a tiny matted kitten.. She'd been found in a basement and was severely underweight and had a bad case of diarrhea which did not help. She was less than half a pound. They needed someone to take her for a couple of weeks to "fatten" her up. (that made me giggle and think of Hansel and Gretel) </span><br />
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Looked pretty fluffy huh? Not so much!</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When we got her home we wanted to give her a bath to clean off the feces and try to get some of the knots out. Her fur was speckled with dried blood from being infested with fleas. The APL had given something that killed all the fleas. We got the sink ready and the water the right temperature, but none of us were ready for what we would see. I felt sick to my stomach and my eyes burned with tears. This cat was nothing but bones. Her hip bones stuck out and all you could see was every bone in her rib cage and the skin almost seemed to sink in between them. She was shivering so hard and nothing seemed to be helping to get her warm. I eventually put her against my skin and kept my hand over the towel that was covering her. It took for what seemed like forever for her to stop shivering.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We found she was too weak to hold her head up by herself. She was unable to walk and if she tried she just fell over and laid there not able to get up. I hand fed this kitten and had to give her water from a syringe. She started to improve almost immediately. She started getting stronger and by the second day she was able to lift her head. I would sit for hours with her laying on my chest, her nuzzled up under my chin. She even tried to take a few steps, wobbly but she was able to do it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately, on the third day the diarrhea was so bad it took her right back to being too weak to lift her own head. We took her back to the APL to have her checked out. They hooked her up to an IV because she was dehydrated. They asked if I could try again and take her home with me. They explained that sometimes no matter what we try some of the animals don't make it. Some are just too weak to survive. My heart squeezed in my chest. This kitten I called Meeper, because that was the only sound she could make... a meep, might not make it. It was at that moment I wondered if I would be strong enough to do this. Could I?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We took her home. But unfortunately I was unable to give her the care she needed. I had to return her to the APL, and they sent her to an experienced foster parent. They assured me that it was nothing I had done wrong. It was not a good situation for our first foster. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I found out two months later she was healthy and ready for adoption. They also discovered she was much older than they had thought at first. She was about 7-8 months old!! She was so small because she was starving to death. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I go to see her, my "meeper" and hold her one last time before she was adopted. </span><span style="font-size: large;">She knew me, and she snuggled up under my chin and started to purr.</span><br />
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-3000669495177334862012-10-31T18:02:00.001-04:002012-10-31T18:02:40.765-04:00Halloween Hosting<span style="font-size: large;">I love Halloween parties! My birthday is in October and my parents liked to throw Halloween birthday parties. Now that I am older I still love a good Halloween party. I get most of my decorations from the Dollar Tree. I loved doing different types of crafts and painted quite a few wooden plaques and signs a few years ago. I always put fake spider webs up across the porch and I have some headstones I put out. I usually rake up some leaves and shape them into graves in front of the headstones. This year because of Sandy my graves were blown away. I also have two blow up ghosts that I hang on either side of the front steps. I try to make it "gently" scary for the kids in the neighborhood. We have little kids next door and they still freak out a little over some of the decorations.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This year one we had some fun activities for the Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador program. I made caramel corn which everyone loved! Pizza pockets and chocolate filled crescents. As part of our party we carved pumpkins. Some of our friends brought "witches fingers" it was the orange peanuts with a half of jellybean "glued" on the end. Another did the witches hats made using a cookie and hersheys kiss. We replaced bobbing for apples with making candle apples. Boy were those good!!! It's been years since I've eaten one and I had never made them before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are so many ideas I have seen from other AR-ers and I can't wait to use some of the ideas or the recipes they have shared!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The hurricane disrupted some of the plans we had for Halloween. Our city postponed trick or treating until next week! Boo! It will give me time to get some discount candy!! lol. We were without electricity for a few days, and my church postponed the food pantry scheduled for Oct 31 until Friday Nov. 2. I am thinking I would like to make some treats for the people who come. Maybe more of that caramel popcorn, but also I am thinking some granola bars. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Everyone had a pretty good time this year. I enjoyed making all these things, and I got the bonus of getting to buy new cups with spiders and webs on them to add to the Halloween supplies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I am an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position) and I am not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertisers are only used for experienced-based reviews on Bundts n' Bowls. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of T. Graham.</span><br />
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-48240237428240258032012-10-31T12:47:00.000-04:002012-10-31T12:48:16.667-04:00Pumpkin Carving FirstEvery year we buy pumpkins to carve. We live in an area that for whatever reasons kids do not trick or treat. We have tried over the years to sit out there with our bowl of candy expectantly waiting for all the little cowboys and princesses.. and nothing! Although we did have a woman about 50 years old try to get some candy. She had a bag and everything, no kids or grand kids When my husband told her to "get outta here" she just shrugged and said, I had to try. <br />
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This year we were able to find pumpkins for less than $3. My daughter is usually pretty picky. She really likes the Mini pumpkins, which she is unusually good at carving. I can hardly see to do something so small. They come out looking so cool! I'm not sure if anyone else even carves these mini pumpkins but if not, you should give it a try. My hubby has to find the biggest, roundest pumpkin he can. I prefer tall, thin, smooth skinned pumpkins. It also has to have a nice long stem. Ooh.. that sounds like a personal ad for a picking up a pumpkin! This year C (daughter) and I had to settle on pumpkins that weren't our typical choices. E (hubby) of course was able to find one that fit his definition of a perfect carving pumpkin.<br />
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We put off carving the pumpkins for a couple weeks. It has rained what seems like every day this month! I'd guesstimate out of the 31 days, it has rained 22 of them. We did have one 80 degree day, that broke records! Anyhow, I was not feeling well on the day we decided to carve the pumpkins, so I decided I would take pictures of them carving. It's been a couple of years since we had a camera, so E's new phone has become my new camera. It is so cool! I can take a picture and immediately email it to myself. I can even take video on it, although I haven't figured out how to send that yet. I'm no techno nerd, so this is the coolest thing I have ever seen.<br />
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C turned 16 this year - so she's all independent (sometimes) and she wanted to carve her pumpkin "herself" ( I usually cute the lid and help clean out the middle. )<br />
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We stopped buying those pumpkin carving kits a couple years ago, they are always so flimsy and the knife always bends or breaks. So we use the weapons of destruction found in my kitchen.<br />
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This stopped my heart, and I held my breathe the entire time she was cutting. I couldn't say anything or it would have sent her into a teenage hissy fit. So I just took pictures and worked out the fasted route to the hospital in my head.</div>
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Love the face! Sure am I glad I got out of this slimy duty this year!</div>
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More heart palpitations for mom. Why do they have to grow up? There is still a lump in my throat! </div>
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Her finished product! It's a Cat!! She added whisker holes after the pic was taken.</div>
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Let me tell you about my husband. He is an over achiever when it comes to carving pumpkins. He grew up in a household that did not celebrate Halloween and he had never carved a pumpkin until he was with me. The first few pumpkins sported the traditional jack o' lantern face but over the years he has started to design his own faces.</div>
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I don't have a lot of pictures of him carving his pumpkin. I took quite a few of him sketching out the design and carving. But his camera is racist! I can't get a good picture of him for anything. We have black cats and can't get a picture of them either!</div>
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This is after he sketched and traced the design onto the pumpkin. Cheesey grin. </div>
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This is the last picture I could get that was good enough to see him doing the pumpkin. Looking pretty cool.</div>
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Had to get C to hold the pumpkin for a pic.</div>
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As I said, I wasn't feeling so hot. I thought it would be quick and easy to put some big ol' alien eyes and a tiny nose. It came out really blah.. so I ended up adding a mouth to it. Now everyone tells me it looks like Jack from "Nightmare before Christmas". I had to look it up, I have never seen the movie before.</div>
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This is my finished Jack O' Lantern.</div>
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Hubbys finished Jack O Lantern</div>
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C's finished Jack O Lantern</div>
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All three (taken before I added my mouth)</div>
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We always have fun carving the pumpkins together. Even though I did not feel well this years was good too. My pumpkin smelled funky when I opened it, but I decided to carve it anyway. It's going outside so it didn't really matter. Well... Hurricane Sandy decided to make a little visit to Cleveland and it was crazy windy and rainy. They sat on my dining room table until I had to take them out last night. My pumpkin was already "dying" and had attracted fruit flies. Where they hell do they hang out? and how do they show up so quickly? My poor pumpkin has made it to Halloween day. Glad it got here before his complete demise. Now he looks like a monster zombie pumpkin!</div>
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<br />Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-28492751810215964432012-10-24T15:25:00.001-04:002012-10-24T15:25:17.016-04:00He's a deadman!... meatloaf.<span style="font-size: large;">Really trying to get into the Halloween spirit I have been looking and making recipes that I think represent the day. Of course, I had originally planned to make everything for Halloween. but I become impatient and need something for dinner so I make it. This was a fun recipe to make.</span><br />
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/dead-man-meatloaf/detail.aspx" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">Dead man Meatloaf</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6mZvq5RoPL8/UIg7-UxSzeI/AAAAAAAAAJA/hI5WpIseYPg/s1600/IMG_20121023_202336.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6mZvq5RoPL8/UIg7-UxSzeI/AAAAAAAAAJA/hI5WpIseYPg/s1600/IMG_20121023_202336.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">His legs became dismembered somehow and I have joked that it was a mob hit and they took out his knees. This was really good meatloaf, but I will admit I didn't really use the recipe. I made it as I always make it. It was delicious, of course! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">There's really not much I can say about this, other than just want to show off the pics. I forgot to take pics of the ingredients before I started mixing them.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I used ground sirloin from my favorite butcher. I added garlic powder, onion powder, salt and pepper. I also added some Worcestershire sauce to it and some Italian breadcrumbs. Because the meat is so lean I don't have to use an egg or anything to hold it together. I use the breadcrumbs out of habit really and it has Italian herbs in it that I don't have to measure out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Pretty and it smelled good! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Starting to take shape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My daughter insisted that we take pics of each step of making him. I think it was her Frankenstein moment. Here is his head.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">His body.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYYdBBGDT-8/UIg-xOUeXDI/AAAAAAAAAJw/p04-fPGRkNw/s1600/IMG_20121023_191326.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WYYdBBGDT-8/UIg-xOUeXDI/AAAAAAAAAJw/p04-fPGRkNw/s1600/IMG_20121023_191326.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">First Leg</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yep, second leg.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">She actually made me take pictures of putting each arm on, but I will skip ahead for you. It was already later than usual when I was making dinner, and I wanted to get this sucker in the oven.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here he is. Officially a deadman! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">If you are looking for something fun for Halloween dinner or even something a little different when you have dinner guests. I think this would be it. Make it with the kiddos, they'll have a blast. My daughter's 16 and she had fun!!</span></div>
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-3984416436127548242012-10-23T12:44:00.000-04:002012-10-23T12:48:12.912-04:00Angry Cookin' ~ Yucky Cookin'<span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes, I just am not in the mood to cook. I resent the fact that everyone in the house looks to me for dinner. I have a 16 year old daughter. I'd be more than happy for her to try her hand at cooking. I have probably 75 cookbooks. Have at it! Honestly sometimes I just don't know what to make, or I have no taste for anything. When I ask them what they might want they never have an opinion, I give them 3 or 4 choices to chose from (unless it's something I like and they don't) I make a lot of dishes I don't like, or even eat because the hubby and daughter love them. Sometimes I am on the go ALL day and I just want a break. Sometimes, there just doesn't seem to be enough time in the day. Sometimes, I just want a break. Why am I the keeper of the fork? Who designated me the Queen of the pots and pans? I know that I am not feeling any different that anyone else. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">What ends up happening is what the hubby calls Angry Cookin'. I can make a recipe that I always make and it tastes bad according to him. Apparently my frustration seeps into the ingredients and taints the dish. Now, my husband doesn't normally make comments on any of the dishes I make. (he knows where his next meal is coming from) but I can tell by the way he pushes the food around on his plate, and always seems to be "not as hungry as he thought" that he didn't like it. Which just seems to be one more thing that makes me and upset, fed up cook! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We don't eat fast food or take out. I don't understand what's wrong with a bowl of cereal! Or a night of breakfast for dinner! Or fend for yourself! Then with those sad puppy dog eyes on me, I feel guilty. Grrr. Pots and pans.. some days I am tired of looking at them! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me say this, my husband will cook. He will offer to cook. The problem here is that there is NOT one dish he makes that I WANT to eat. I don't care for garlic, he uses enormous amounts of it. I don't like ginger, he has to put it in EVERYTHING. I find Chinese 5 spice absolutely disgusting. I have a delicate nose, and ever more delicate stomach. I do not like things that have strong smelling spices, I don't like the tastes. And I definitely do NOT like anything that will eventually work its way out of your system through the pores in your skin. He is one of those people that will smell like garlic (strongly) for days, sometimes a week. I even looked it up. Garlic is one of those things that really does come through the pores of the skin and even after you brush your teeth you will still smell like it. YUCK!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I understand many ethnic dishes of other countries depend on their spices. I understand. It is personal choice to not eat these things. and I abhor when he blatantly disregards my feelings and my taste buds and makes a dish he knows I will not eat. I have to retreat to the basement so the smells don't make me gag. I can't be around him for days until the smells work its way out of his skin. He thinks its funny. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />There are a lot of dishes I love that I do not make because neither he nor my daughter will eat. I've decided I am not going to cheat myself any longer. I'm not going to be the one eating a bowl of cereal for dinner because he cooked. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I defend my right to be an Angry Cook! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">* I read a posting on the Allrecipes Recipe Buzz from someone calling themselves an angry cook. (my blog has nothing to do what that post is about but I thought it was funny) I immediately thought of myself and my angry cooking. So this post is my vent and admission that I cook while angry. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Do you cook while angry? Can you taste a difference? Do others complain?</span>Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-77275211651461866242012-10-22T12:34:00.001-04:002012-10-22T12:34:21.808-04:00Bacon and Provolone YUM<span style="font-size: large;">While shopping last month I spotted a new spaghetti sauce on the shelf. Bacon and provolone Prego. Oh my goodness!! This is so freaking good. My family loves this. Which means just like everything else, it will soon be pulled off shelves. Seems like every time we find something we really like, the manufacturer discontinues it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I don't know if I am allowed to put that picture on here, and I really hope I don't get in trouble. If you see this in the store, buy it! Try it! You'll love it! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I'm going to tell you people, this is good! I make homemade pizzas usually once a month, this is going to be the sauce we use this month. I am thinking of dishes to use it in. Meatball subs, baked pasta dishes, pizza.. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My mouth is watering, I am hungry and it is lunchtime. Guess what I'm making! If you're lucky I will save some to take a picture! </span></div>
<br />Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-73978699298721380852012-10-22T02:42:00.001-04:002012-10-22T02:42:05.799-04:00The case of the Iron Clad Stomach<br />
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*This is a copy of the blog I wrote on Allrecipes and wanted to post here on my personal blog as well.<br />
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I had 2 butternut squash that I've had a couple of weeks. They've been sitting on the kitchen counter staring me down. Daring me to do something with them. I've never cooked or eaten butternut squash. Clueless I searched AR. Recipe after recipe I read, and finally I decided on making a soup. I love soup! Give me a nice crusty bread and a bowl of soup and I am in heaven! It doesn't get much better than that. The only problem was that I didn't quite like any of the recipes. So I wrote down a general list of ingredients and decided I would try my hand at an original soup. <br />
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I followed some suggestions I read on some of the recipes and cut the squash in big pieces and coated them in olive oil and salt and pepper and crushed garlic and put them in the oven for 30 minutes. It smelled so good! So afterwards I melted some butter and added some onion then added some peeled cubed sweet potato and chicken stock. I boiled that til the sweet potatoes were soft. I added the squash and adjusted the salt and pepper. I added some garlic powder and some onion powder (which I add to EVERYTHING). I added some thyme and allspice.<br />
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Do you ever think to yourself that you should "stop while you're ahead" as my grandmother would put it? I had that feeling, deep in my gut. She was telling me and I wouldn't listen. I tried the soup and it was delicious!! I pulled out my favorite french bread and tore a chunk off and didn't even sit down. I enjoyed a bowl of my butternut squash soup creation standing there at the counter.<br />
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Enter husband... "Hey what's that?" So I give him a taste. He scrunches his nose and says that its missing something. No, it's perfect I say. Do I listen to myself? No! Do I come back to AR and look at the recipes again? yes.... and I see that one of the recipes has cumin. Hmm, I like cumin, my husband loves cumin. Let me try that. Now here is the mistake I made. I thought to only add some to a bowl and try it, but at the last minute I just tossed some into the pot. I put that spoon to my lips and I knew right away I had ruined my yummy pot of soup!! UGH I hate that!!<br />
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Now, understand I like cumin, in spanish/mexican/latin food. I personally think it has a pretty strong flavor. I did not add much. But it is all I can taste. The taste of squash is gone. And would you believe the hubby LOVES the soup now! He can't stop going on about how awesome this is and how he will eat the whole pot!! Well have at it bub. It's all yours!!!<br />
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Here is the moral to my sad tale. If your tongue and your tummy tell you one thing... don't listen to someone else. My tummy and I have been together for a long time. We are pretty close she and I. I try not to do her wrong and she in turn doesn't get too upset with me. I should have known not to listen to someone who eats a concoction of ramen noodles, ketchup, vinegar, boiled eggs, and a couple other ingredients that combined create a putrid smelling bowl of bleh! He'll tell you that he has an Iron Clad Stomach and he can eat anything. And believe me when I say... I have never been that hungry!!<br />
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-90632525602004801932012-10-19T14:10:00.001-04:002012-10-19T14:10:10.993-04:00Missin' Fishin'<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I moved to Cleveland, Ohio from Virginia Beach, Va. 9 years ago. Everyone who learns this asks me why the heck I would do something like that. I just explain that I lived on the beach (well not like a beach bum).. but actually across the street from the beach. Walk over the dune and you were staring at the water! There was a hurricane named Isabel in 2003 that wasn't so nice to Virginia Beach and the Tidewater area. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">The area I lived in was flooded, the fishing pier ended up a few blocks inland. We came up to Cleveland before the storm hit, at that time it was predicted to make landfall being a </span><span style="background-color: white;">category</span><span style="background-color: white;"> 5. Now, I'm sure some of you have experience a hurricane or 2 so you might know what I'm saying. I definitely wasn't waiting around to see it. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My family was originally from Cleveland, and I still had a few relatives in the area. So we came here, ended up being here for 3 weeks. My husband decided to look for a job here, and took a job making a considerable less money. We've never regretted moving. I think it was the right time in our life to get out of Virginia. We had been discussing it for a year or so at the time and I believe if we hadn't had the push from the hurricane we would still be in Virginia Beach, miserable and wanting out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I miss the beach, fishing from the shore, eating fresh caught croaker, puppy drum and going crabbing. Nothing like eating some crab you just pulled out of the sea! I actually caught a shark one night. Yep, I was standing there with my feet in the water and the bell on my pole just started jingling like crazy. It was a fight! At first I thought it was an eel, til I got it almost right up to me. It was just a baby, but about 2 1/2 - 3 feet long ( that's no fish tale!). That was some good eating!! I'll have to tell the funny story of my husband trying to get that shark off the hook one day. It still cracks us up to think about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I miss the smell of the ocean and the roar of the surf. I laugh when people here in Cleveland say they are going to the beach. The itty bitty tiny stretch of sand they've laid down next to the lake. They have no idea what a beach is! I tried freshwater fishing. There is nothing exciting about it, and I doubt I would ever try it again. No dinner that night! </span></div>
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-5817530648323059492012-10-19T09:43:00.000-04:002012-10-19T09:43:10.950-04:00Chocolate filled crescents<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/chocolate-filled-crescents/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Chocolate Filled Crescents by Pillsbury</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is another recipe for the October requirements. If you are looking for a super fast, super easy recipe this is it! I honestly think it takes more time to gather the 2 ingredients than it does to put them together!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had a bag of Heath baking "bits" I have had for a while and decided to make half the recipe using them and half using milk chocolate chips. I personally liked the Heath ones better then the chocolate, but they are both pretty good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is one of those recipes that you can make with the children. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Note: I wish I would have put more chocolate chips in. The pastry puffs up and the chocolate kind of gets lost.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Heath was a crumbly mess to work with. (sure was tasty though!) Again, I wish I would have used more.</span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time to roll them up! Start with the wide end and work your way down to the point. I pressed it down a little to keep it tight.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I added a little of the Heath on top. (mainly cuz it was already everywhere) </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Goes in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 15- 20 minutes.</span></div>
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Y<span style="font-size: large;">ou can serve them plain, or with powdered sugar. I've seen where some people have drizzled melted chocolate over the tops.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">Yum!</span></div>
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I am an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position) and I am not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertisers are only used for experienced-based reviews on Bundts n' Bowls. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of T. Graham.</div>
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-76332522977546559362012-10-19T02:56:00.000-04:002012-10-19T02:56:39.860-04:00Caramel Corn <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: x-large;"><b>Caramel Corn</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/caramel-corn-treat-bags/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Caramel Corn Treat Bags</a></div>
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I made this recipe as part of the activities for October. I have never thought to attempt to make caramel or caramel corn. Let me tell you, if you like caramel corn you have to try this!! It is better than anything you could ever buy from a store. And very easy to make. I guess that's something that surprises me the most at times, how easy things are to make. Here, let me show you...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">First you pop your popcorn. You will need 4 quarts of popped corn. This was 1 cup of the unpopped kernels, and it measured perfectly to 4 Qts. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your ingredients:</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 cup brown sugar</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 c Karo Syrup (I used dark)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 c Butter or Margarine</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 tsp salt</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1/2 tsp baking soda</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">1 tsp Vanilla extract</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For the picture I had put the salt and the baking soda in the same bowl. Do NOT do this. You will need to add them at different times. Luckily I reread the recipe before I started adding ingredients to the pan.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7Qd2vNqBh8/UIDw6wecyyI/AAAAAAAAAGs/FNZ7xOQDGxM/s1600/IMG_20121018_225919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z7Qd2vNqBh8/UIDw6wecyyI/AAAAAAAAAGs/FNZ7xOQDGxM/s1600/IMG_20121018_225919.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Make sure you stir constantly like the instructions tell you. It took a few minutes for the butter to melt completely.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You get to relax and let it boil 5 minutes without stirring! </span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-fVQqPxnvI/UIDy-Qx8VuI/AAAAAAAAAHM/BwmzDW9sFKs/s1600/IMG_20121018_231551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-I-fVQqPxnvI/UIDy-Qx8VuI/AAAAAAAAAHM/BwmzDW9sFKs/s1600/IMG_20121018_231551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now you add the baking soda and the vanilla extract!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is what it looks like after you add the last 2 ingredients.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now it's time to pour over the popcorn and stir to coat.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTaQ7dLfRb4/UIDz4TdFEOI/AAAAAAAAAHc/M-py1y_lM9A/s1600/IMG_20121018_231913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZTaQ7dLfRb4/UIDz4TdFEOI/AAAAAAAAAHc/M-py1y_lM9A/s1600/IMG_20121018_231913.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking good! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Bake in the oven at 250 degrees for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYpiw07aBSQ/UID0cm7wJ9I/AAAAAAAAAHk/AOtTwXk65VA/s1600/IMG_20121018_231925.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uYpiw07aBSQ/UID0cm7wJ9I/AAAAAAAAAHk/AOtTwXk65VA/s1600/IMG_20121018_231925.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">You will note that I used a disposable aluminum pan. I followed the suggestions from some of the other reviewers on Allrecipes.com I am glad I did! The directions say to use a shallow baking pan. I just don't see how that would have worked out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When it the time is up. Take it out of the oven. You are supposed to spread it out on foil sprayed with cooking spray. I left it in the pan, Added some dry roasted peanuts. As it cools it starts to harden up. You will end up having to break it up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is a pretty easy recipe to make. It tastes great. I am really looking forward to making this again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b> Happy Eating!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I am an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador (a voluntary position) and I am not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertisers are only used for experienced-based reviews on <b>Bundts n' Bowls</b>. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of <b>T. Graham</b>.</i></span></div>
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-41575122370810704392012-10-18T01:46:00.000-04:002012-10-18T01:46:26.339-04:00Crescent Pizza Pockets I decided to make 2 recipes this evening for my October activities. I chose Crescent Pizza Pockets and Chocolate filled crescents. Both recipes are simple and pretty quick to put together. <br />
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<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/crescent-pizza-pockets/detail.aspx" target="_blank">Crescent Pizza Pockets</a></div>
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This is my first time getting to post pictures using the new camera. Fingers crossed that they look good!<br />
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These are the ingredients. Simple, 4 ingredients.<br />
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Be sure to press the seam together well. Mine separated when I baked it.</div>
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I used one of my favorite pasta sauces.</div>
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Some shredded mozzarella cheese!</div>
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Gotta have the pepperoni. Thinking you could add some onion and bell pepper.</div>
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Fold it over and seal the edges. Top with some parmesan cheese.</div>
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Bake em. They smell good!</div>
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Be sure to let them rest for a minute before you bite into it! YUM!! Enjoy.</div>
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Okay. My husband, of course, refused to try this. I've pretty much given up on asking. My daughter like it. It tastes just like the biscuit pizzas I make, without the pepperoni getting crispy. </div>
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If you are looking for a quick and easy snack the kids will love. This is definitely a keeper. </div>
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<em id="yui_3_7_2_1_1350538903598_251" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">I am an </em><a href="http://allrecipes.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cf860de88e1ca8dd07c8e5523&id=bdceb21ce7&e=c1e19951cb" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; outline: 0px;" target="_blank">Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador</a><em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">(a voluntary position) and I’m not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertiser are only used for experienced-based reviews on <b>Bundts n' Bowls</b></em><em id="yui_3_7_2_1_1350538903598_252" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of <b>T. Graham</b></em><em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px;">.</em></div>
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<br />Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-58363059836870415922012-10-16T14:38:00.001-04:002012-10-16T14:38:17.127-04:00Planning a Halloween Party!<br />
A couple of weeks ago I mentioned to my husband that I would like to have a "Halloween party". Since, we don't really know anyone in the area it would be for just the three of us. I wanted to find some "spooky" foods and decorate, dress up and just have some fun!<br />
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Then I got the newsletter from Allrecipes Allstars about Octobers activities. And guess what! They want us to plan a Halloween Party! How awesome is that?<br />
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I'm excited that I get to plan a Halloween party. I haven't been to one in 20 years, at least. My daughter never really was one for dressing up or even wanting to go trick or treating. (that was the trick on me.. no candy for mommy to steal) BOO! Now she's 16 and too old, but we buy a bag of candy just for the fun off it. Love those little pumpkins. Pure sugar and I shouldn't be eating it this year. I was diagnosed Diabetic earlier this year. Another BOO!<br />
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Since it is October the activities all have something to do with Halloween. Our brands this month are Karo and Pillsbury Crescents. I'm still trying to decide which recipes to make, and I will post them and the pictures soon.<br />
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We are all planning on dressing up with handmade costumes. I will include pics of that too! I've yet to decide what I want to do, but I have an idea that makes me giggle every time I think about it. My daughter wants to be a cat, with a super long tail to mimic one of our cats. The husband.. who knows. He always the competitive one, will go over the top with whatever he chooses.<br />
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To be continued . . .<br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; line-height: 20px;">I am an </em><a href="http://allrecipes.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cf860de88e1ca8dd07c8e5523&id=bdceb21ce7&e=c1e19951cb" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #336699; font-family: Arial; line-height: 20px; outline: 0px;" target="_blank">Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador</a><em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; line-height: 20px;">(a voluntary position) and I’m not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertiser are only used for experienced-based reviews on <b>Bundts n' Bowls</b></em><em id="yui_3_7_2_1_1350335968035_340" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; line-height: 20px;">. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of <b>T. Graham</b></em><em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; line-height: 20px;">.</em><br />
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-14986329412296598542012-10-16T13:57:00.000-04:002012-10-16T13:57:01.068-04:00al Fresco Roasted Pepper and Asiago Chicken Sausage Fritatta<a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/al-fresco-roasted-pepper-and-asiago-chicken-sausage-frittata/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=al%20fresco&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page" target="_blank">Al Fresco Roaster Pepper and Asiago Chicken Sausage Frittat</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> I'd like to say that I really do enjoy being an Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador. It has opened up a lot of recipes that I would never think to make. Of course, my family is resistant as I have said before. It's like pulling teeth to get them to try something new. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The husband and the daughter did not like the texture of the chicken sausage. Luckily they ate enough to give me their opinions. I do not eat eggs. yuck! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">This recipe is very easy to make, my teenager could make it and it's pretty quick. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I realize my posts always seem so negative. I really don't mean them to be. It's not always easy to find a recipe that is new and using products that I normally don't or would use. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e4e4f; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">"This was okay. The family ate it but wouldn't care to have it again. Neither the husband or daughter cared for the texture of the chicken sausage. I don't eat eggs so I can't give a personal opinion. " - opinion posted on Allrecipes.com</span><br />
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<em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">I am an </em><a href="http://allrecipes.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cf860de88e1ca8dd07c8e5523&id=bdceb21ce7&e=c1e19951cb" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #336699; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; outline: 0px; text-align: left;" target="_blank">Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador</a><em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">(a voluntary position) and I’m not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertiser are only used for experienced-based reviews on <b>Bundts n' Bowls</b></em><em id="yui_3_7_2_1_1350410046509_264" style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of <b>T Graham</b></em><em style="background-color: white; color: #505050; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.63636302947998px; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">.</em></div>
<br />Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7370511843929878298.post-65669149283690268902012-10-12T13:29:00.000-04:002012-10-12T13:29:33.082-04:00Baked Ziti Casserole<b style="background-color: #66bb33; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Utopia, 'Palatino Linotype', Palatino, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">I am an </em><a href="http://allrecipes.us2.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cf860de88e1ca8dd07c8e5523&id=bdceb21ce7&e=c1e19951cb" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white; color: #993322; font-size: 15px; outline: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Allrecipes Allstar Brand Ambassador</a><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">(a voluntary position) and I’m not compensated for my work with Allrecipes.com. Products received from advertiser are only used for experienced-based reviews on Bundts n' Bowls</em><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">. The reviews, content and opinions expressed in this blog are purely the sole opinions of T. Graham</em><em style="background-color: white; font-size: 15px;">.</em></span></b><br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: none; background-color: white; color: #5e5b51; font-family: ClarendonTL-Roman, Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 21px; text-align: left;">"I will say the only thing I was surprised about when it came to any of the recipe starters was how thin they are. While they have good flavor, it is very light. I over cooked the pasta, I had never made a baked anything pasta, so the ziti didn't hold its shape and turned to mush. I did not have sausage so I skipped it. My family was not impressed but I believe it have been my alterations and not the recipe itself. I had to open a jar of pasta sauce to try to salvage the dish and it was still a flop. BUT... like I said the flavor of the recipe starter was good! I would definitely try this again, make sure I have all the ingredients and cook the past appropriately!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">What can I say about this dish. I have never cooked ziti in my life. I have since tried to make it again, and still had the same results of over cooking it. I feel like I can't really give a review based on my inability. Flavor was good, very light as I have said before. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">I think I might try this again, just using a different type of pasta. I need something not so delicate, maybe some of those tri colored spirals my daughter likes. </span></div>
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Bundts n Bowlshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14302012409725833551noreply@blogger.com0