Another beautiful day!

Another beautiful day today.  Last two days were very busy.  Made cupcakes, brownies, hot spiced cider, and white choc/almond/cranberry bars for Awanas.  Had enough left over to share with Alexis' teachers today...and a few left for me:) Love making food and sharing with friends:) Will be trying my BFF Dee's Chicken Enchiladas and will post if I like them. (Really no doubt as to not liking them, as her food is always delish!) Want to start a TOPS meeting. Only need 4 people to start a chapter.  See what I can do to make it happen...until next time

Saturday Night

Wow, what a beautiful day today.  The leaves are amazing.  Constantly reminding myself to stop and really LOOK at them:) Am trying a crockpot recipe for potato soup.  Sounds easy, hope it is delicious. Alexis had good time w/ Andy @ Lowes today making a bat.  Well, my son does NOT like to shop.  Oh how I wish one of my children shared my passion:)

Girls Night Out

Who knew painting pottery could be so fun, and relaxing.  Didn't believe I had a creative bone, but maybe I discovered one or two:) No new recipes lately.  Hope you had a chance to try some of the ones I've posted. Hate it when I buy something, only to discover when I get home that it didn't make it home with me-UGH. And this was item I went into store for.  Is this a conspiracy to get me back in the store??? HMMMM.. till next time.

Wacky Wednesday

Wow, did you think I forgot about you? Sorry, very busy weekend and early week.  Had fun time Friday with friend and kiddos downtown Chatt.  Saturday was Yard Sale. Did good, but nobody wants to pay you anything.  I am all about getting a bargain, but I am not going to give it to you! Made about $65 for 5 hours, which is good, except when you consider it was 2 people (Andy helped).  Sunday was church (great service) and then to L and B house for great lunch and fellowship.  Monday was hair appt. (Thanks K for a great job) and yesterday was Dr appt in Chatt.  WHEW! Need a day to recover.   Hope you had a chance to try some of my recipes.  Love to cook and have people enjoy. Am trying beef tips in crock pot today, tweaked old recipe a little.  Will let you know how it turns out.  Having Portrait Party on Friday and then Murder Mystery play/dinner that night.  Very excited about both! Will try to go to Apple Festival Sat.  Another busy couple days.  Will try and catch my breath....

Fun Friday

Enjoyed a great day in Chatt today with good friend and our kiddos.  So beautiful today. John Tesh says that if we give up our cell phones...we can save $1,000 a year.  What did we do before we had them? We were $1000 richer if nothing else:) Big yard sale tomorrow.  Hope everyone shows up and takes home something.  Do not want to bring anything home.  Wish me luck....

More Info

See below for meatloaf recipe.  Sorry, I saw after last post that Bi-Lo has 5 lb white potatoes B1G1 this week.  These are great side dish for meatloaf..see below.  I know this is a lot of potatoes for most people, but I have a good Potato soup recipe if anyone interested....Also saw Bi-Lo has Pillsbury cake mix (10/$10)and frosting on sale (2/$3)  No, I don't want you to buy 10 cakes.  But I have a good recipe for German Chocalate Pound Cake with the icing in the cake...it is soo moist and very easy.

German Chocalate Pound Cake

1 German choc cake mix
1 15 oz coconut pecan frosting
4 eggs
1/2 cup oil ( Bi-Lo sale: Southern Home oil $1.99)
1 cup water

Preheat oven 350* and grease and flour 12 cup tube or Bundt pan.

Mix all ingredients (including the icing) in bowl at medium speed 2 min.  Pour into prepared pan and bake 55-60 min. Remove from oven to wire rack to cool for 10 min.  Invert onto serving plate and dust with powdered sugar.

Makes a large cake, so be sure to use large 12 cup pan...I use normal Bundt pan and it works fine.

Compliments of thehappycooker.com. 

You will find I have some good dessert recipes because I have a bad sweet tooth:):)

P.S. I will give you recipes I have tried myself and know are good.  If I ever use one that I haven't made, I will let you know:)

Easy Pleasing Meatloaf

This is the easiest and best meatloaf recipe I have found...and Bi-Lo has sirlion tip roast on sale for $2.99 lb.  This roast is great to have ground up for hamburger meat.  Bi-Lo also has chicken fryers for .99 lb to use for the Crockpot Chicken. 

Easy Pleasing Meatloaf
Makes 8 servings

2 eggs (Cooke's sale .49 doz this week)
2 lb lean beef (I use 1 lb and keep amts on all other ingredients)
1 6oz package Stove Top stuffing mix for chicken
1 cup water
1/2 cup BBQ Sauce (Bi-Lo Sale: Sweet Baby Ray's BBQ sauce B1G1 this week)
Ketchup for top

Preheat oven 375*.  In small bowl, beat eggs lightly with fork.  Place beef, stuffing mix, water, eggs, and BBQ sauce in large bowl.  Mix all with wooden spoon until blended.  Shape mixture in oval loaf in 13x9 baking dish.  Top with ketchup (I cover it as we love the flavor). Bake 1 hr or until cooked thru...sometimes I will go a little longer just to be sure it is done, but don't go too long or it will be dry.   Or use meat thermometer and make sure it reaches 160*.

I can't have meatloaf without mashed potatoes.  If you haven't tried boiling your potatoes in chicken broth, you must try this.  The additional flavor is wonderful:) 

Hope you enjoy!

Compliments of Kraft Food and Family Fall 2006 magazine (I tweaked this recipe slightly from the original)

Random Wednesday

Good day today.  Love, love, love the $10 Kohls bucks you earn w/ purchases.  When I redeem them, I feel like I am getting something free! Read somewhere that you should put mascara on top of your eyelases and on the bottom.  Have tried this, and it really works! Love the Target brand of many items, best one yet is Target brand of Olay Quench.  Better than brand name, and cheaper. D had good check-up today.  Going to bed now...

Crock Pot Chicken

Thanks to you that are visiting today, possibly for the Chicken recipe.  Remember this site is work in process.

Crock Pot Chicken

2 carrots, sliced
1 onion, sliced
2 celery stalks, cleaned
3 lb broiler/fryer chicken
1 tsp salt
1/2 coarse black pepper
1/2 cup water, chicken broth, or white wine ( I used broth, and the amount is correct)
1/2 tsp basil ( I didn't have any, so I used dried Rosemary)

Puts carrots, onion, and celery in bottom of crock pot.  Add whole chicken.  Top with salt, pepper, and liquid. Sprinkle basil over top.  Cover, and cook on low 8-10 hrs or high for 3.5 -5 hrs and increase liquid to 1 cup. Remove chicken and vegetables with spatula. Makes 4 servings.

Let me know how you like it....Enjoy!
Compliments of Rival Crock-Pot cooker pamphlet.

Another Day

Yikes, where did Fall go? Had to turn on heat today, for first time.  Not quite ready for that yet.  Made the best Crock Pot chicken..found the recipe in the crockpot brochure. Family loved it.  I love cooking and having my family enjoy it:) Need to get to bed, D has dr appt tomorrow