*UPDATE – See this post about our new eating habits.(7/10/11)
If you stockpile, you MIGHT find yourself with an overabundance of pancake mix. Yes, it’s true. Sometimes you cannot eat enough pancakes to keep your stock from running over. And let me tell ya, we eat a LOT of pancakes. So, I was thinking……what can I do with all this pancake mix? Well, surely to goodness if I can make pancakes from muffin mix I can make muffins from pancake mix…….right? Yes! I am here to offer tons of options for you. I am Mommy – hear me ROAR! Wow, that sounded a little scary. Ignore that part. Let’s make muffin tops – in a GOOD way! And you might want to put your sweatpants on. [Read more…] |
Archives for March 2011
Muffin Mix Pancakes
*UPDATE – See this post about our new eating habits.(7/10/11) Have you made pancakes from muffin mix before? If not, you’ve really been missing out…..if so, pretend you haven’t and be amazed anyway. Pancakes made from muffin mix are really quick and easy. And the flavor possibilities – oh my!!!! You could have Strawberry Pancakes, Chocolate Chip Pancakes, Honey Bran Pancakes, or Lemon Poppy Seed Pancakes, and on and on and on. Or, you could make this version – Blueberry Cheesecake Pancakes. I’m not lying when I tell you that Barry made “yum yum” noises all the way through his plate….and Annie cried when hers were gone. Yes, they are THAT good. They can make a grown man weep. Let’s make some flap jacks! [Read more…] |
Laundry Detergent Notes
You’ve probably read this post about making homemade powder laundry detergent and this one about making your own liquid version but I’ve got a few more things to add. I’ve been making my own now for several months and I’ve come to a few conclusions. 1. I love it!!!! 2. I’ve changed it a bit. So, today let’s chat a little about laundry detergent and see if you would like to make some changes too. I’ve only been using the powder version because I like that it takes up so little space. I don’t really have much space to spare here……Annie takes up most of it and what’s left is Dottie’s. Sometimes I think Barry and I should just move out on the porch. [Read more…] |
Pantry Salsa
It’s no big surprise to anyone that I’m in love with Trigger’s Salsa. Seriously, it’s the best salsa I’ve ever put in my mouth……but here’s the kicker – I don’t like to share. Take your hands off my salsa or I might bite you. So, sometimes I need salsa for a recipe or to serve to someone other than myself. I sure ain’t gonna give them my Trigger’s. They can get their own at Walgreens or Food City. When that’s the case, I make this – Pantry Salsa. It’s a Taste of Home recipe and I’ve been making it for years. It’s Barry’s favorite salsa…..tastes just like what they serve at restaurants – and it’s CHEAP! So, let’s make some and make our families happy…..while we hide our Trigger’s behind the pickled pigs feet so no one can find it. [Read more…] |
How to Write a Thank You Note
Most people don’t write thank you notes anymore….most younger people anyway. And frankly, I think it’s bleeding over into the older generation as well. It’s very sad…….and lazy. Man, oh man is it lazy. Do you mean to tell me that you’re so busy that you can’t spend 5 minutes writing a thank you note to someone who took the time to send you a gift? Oh please. If that offended you, you probably aren’t writing thank you notes. Yes, I know most people now send thank you emails. That’s great……but it’s not your best work. Just think about how wonderful someone feels to go to the mailbox and get a note from you that says “Thanks for the gift!” Isn’t that worth your time? I think so. Most people don’t know how to write a thank you note, so I did some research and came up with the general guidelines for writing a good one. You can use any type of card that you have – well, almost any type. I wouldn’t send a thank you note on a sympathy or get well card. Use something that’s blank inside…..and it should be sorta small. If you have a big card or big piece of paper you’re going to have to write in really big letters to fill it up so it doesn’t look silly – and then it will still look silly because they’ll wonder why you’re writing in kindergarten script. [Read more…] |
Grape Salad
***UPDATE – See this post about our new eating habits. (7/10/11) Barry loves Grape Salad……loves it. Annie loves grapes in general. Mommy doesn’t love grapes. Nope. I think I’ll pass. Thank you anyway. I make this for Barry though because I love the man – he fixes my mess-ups (like accidentally dropping a whole potato in the garbage disposal) and he deals with my mood swings. He deserves a medal of honor…..and Grape Salad galore. Let’s make it! [Read more…] |
Spicy Crunchy Chickpeas
I saw this recipe in All You magazine and it reminded me that I really liked these. It had been a long while since I had made them, so I decided to try again. I thought it would make a good tutorial because they’re quick and easy. I’m always looking for good, nutritious snacks for Annie so I thought this might be good – and boy, was I right! Good grief. I couldn’t feed them to her fast enough……and when I finally cut her off, she sat in her chair and cried like it was the end of the world. So, if you need a good snack for your kids, this might fit the bill. They are a little bit messy because of the spices, but I just consider it a little extra character to add to Annie’s face and my kitchen floor. [Read more…] |
Black Bean Burgers – Take Two
I have a Black Bean Burger recipe on this site already…and I almost deleted it. Why? A Facebook friend posted this lovely recipe and I had to try it. Now, Barry and I don’t eat veggie burgers because they’re good for you. Yes, they are good for you….but we just like them. We are not vegetarians. We love pigs. So, I tried this new recipe and it was DIVINE! I told Barry I was going to delete my old one because it was inferior to this masterpiece. He said no. So, I didn’t. This new burger is full of cilantro, so if you don’t care for that (weirdo!) then you’ll want to stick with my other recipe. Let’s get healthy…..or get gas…..or maybe both, who knows. [Read more…] |
Homemade Foam Hand Soap
This idea comes straight from Tia at Sweet T – It’s a Way of Life. Really, I don’t know why it never occurred to me to make my own foam soap refills. She says she does it all the time! And now I’ve jumped on that same train…….you can make your own foam soap for pennies – or in my case FREE! Sit back and prepare to be amazed my friends! Let’s lather up and get CLEAN! |
This is the type of bottle you need – one that already has had foam soap in it. This one is from Bath and Body Works. Normally, I don’t buy foam soap. I always feel like I’m paying for watered down soap – turns out I WAS! See, I’m a total genius. But anyway, I bought this one because it was a Christmas scent and I like having Christmas soap in the kitchen…..it’s very festive. Who doesn’t want to smell like Festive Vanilla Fig? I mean, come on. Lots of soap makers have jumped on the foam train, so it won’t be hard for you to find one of these…..and if you don’t have one, ask someone else. I called my mom immediately and told her to NEVER throw these away again! I’m seeing a gift giving possibility in my future. My wheels are always turning – my husband is rolling his eyes right now. [Read more…] |
Fruit on the Bottom Baked Oatmeal
******We’ve adapted this recipe to fit our Whole Food’s lifestyle by using rolled oats, sucanat, and leaving out the chocolate chips.********* One of the most popular recipes on this site is my Baked Oatmeal. It’s a glorious recipe all on its own……but I got to thinking. Strange things happen when I think. I lay in bed at night and think about cooking while I’m falling asleep. Sometimes that ends badly…..especially if I dream about candy all night long because then I wake up sick as a dog. True story. But sometimes it ends happily, which is what happened here. You know how much I love apples, hence the recipes for Apple Crowns and Apple Pie Muffins and several others which shall remain nameless at this time. So, I wanted to pair apples and Baked Oatmeal together. You’re gonna love me. [Read more…] |