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Tuesday, August 30, 2011

PRAYER REQUEST TUESDAY


This is the day set aside for prayer for you...
If you have a prayer request, please list it in the comments below. You don't have to give any information you don't feel comfortable with. (A simple "unspoken" comment is sufficient).
If you would like to pray, then please pray for the comment above yours.

Also, if you would like to share a "praise" for a blessing you have received please feel free to leave a comment so we can all rejoice with you!


 

Monday, August 29, 2011

Winner!!!

Did you come hear yesterday (Sunday) trying to find out who won the MixedBag Designs giveaway?   Sorry!  I totally forgot.  

In my defense though, my desktop computer has been out of comission and I've been trying to do everything I used to do on it, on my laptop.  Honestly, it feels like I'm trying to work with one hand tied behind my back.  SO.... I haven't been on line, or on the computer much these days.   I'm still without the desktop for the time being.  (heavy sigh)

So, what we all want to know is who won, right?    Ok, Ok....

1.  Megan from Housewife on A Mission
2.  Stephanie from Mommy of 2 Girls
3.  Lollipops & Pigtails

Congrats ladies!   I wish I could have awarded all of you with the great bags.  I really do!!!   I know that y'all are going to love yours.  For those of you who didn't win, (you're all winners in my heart!), they do have fantastic deals, and if you have already "liked" them on facebook, you'll be able to keep up with specials and events throughout the year. 

Now, to the winners,  please make sure I have your email contact addresses!  Thanks!

Friday, August 26, 2011

In honor of the Pioneer Woman on FoodNetwork !

This weekend a rock star of both the blogosphere and food in general, The Pioneer Woman, will have her own FoodNetwork show! Can I get a Woot! Woot!   Having been a fan of her blog, buying her book, and dreaming of the day I'd actually meet her it's like an old friend (she doesn't know it,  but yeah, she's my friend! )  has finally be recognized by "TV land" ! 
So, in honor of my friend making it to the "big time", I thought I'd revisit a treat I made from her book.  Thanks to Ree (see, I can call her by her first name because we're such good friends...I wish) I faced my fear of....


Yes,   Yeast !
  Now, you must understand... I have a fear of yeast!  LOL   Early in my marriage (about 30 years ago to be semi-exact!) I tried to make yeast rolls.   These were little more than miniature flying saucers!   I have backed away from anything containing yeast since then!  So this was quite an undertaking for me.  Facing my fear of yeast.   Repeating the mantra  "Don't fear the yeast"... "Don't fear the yeast"  ...

Bakerella inspired me.  She even shared her poor spirals on her first try. So game was on!

Here's the recipe...

Pioneer Woman's (famous) Cinnamon Rolls

DOUGH:
1 quart whole milk
1 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
2 packages (4 1/2 tsp) active dry yeast
9 cups all-purpose flour
1 heaping tsp baking powder
1 sant teaspoon baking soda
1 TBSP salt

FILLING
2 cups melted butter, plus more as needed
1/4 cup ground cinnamon for sprinkling
2 cups sugar, plus more as needed

MAPLE ICING
2 pounds powdered sugar
1/2 cup whole milk
6 TBSP butter, melted
1/4 cup strong brewed coffee
Dash of salt
1 TBSP maple flavoring or maple extract

For the dough, heat the milk, vegetable oil, and sugar in a medium sauce pan over medium heat; do not allow the mixture to boil.  Set aside and cool to lukewarm.


Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit on the milk for 1 minute.


Add 8 cups of the flour.  Stir until just combined, cover with a clean kitchen towel (I wonder why she felt the need to specify a "clean" kitchen towel???  LOL) and set aside in a relatively warm place for 1 hour.


(looks like gooey oatmeal to me)
Remove the towel (ahem...the "clean" towel) and add the baking powder, baking soda, salt, and the remaining 1 cup flour.  Stir thoroughly to combine.

Use the dough right away, or place in a mixing bowl and refrigerate for up to 3 days, punching down the dough if it rises to the top of the bowl.

(ok, here's where I stopped taking pictures because my hands were "doughy")

To assemble the rolls, remove half the dough from the pan.  On a floured baking surface, roll the dough into a large rectangle, about 30 x 10 inches.
(My fave rolling pin!!!)

To make the filling, pour 1 cup of the melted butter over the surface of the dough.  Use your fingers to spread the butter evenly.
(awwwww yeah!)

Generously sprinkle 1/2 the cinnamon and 1 cup sugar on top of the buttered dough.
Beginning at the end farthest from you, roll the rectangle tightly toward you.  Use both hands and work slowly, being careful to keep the roll tight.

When you reach the end, pinch the seam together. 

Transfer to cutting board and with a sharp knife, make 1 1/2 inch slices.  One log with produce 20-25 rolls.

Pour a couple tablespoons of melted butter into the desired pie pans or baking dishes and swirl to coat.
Place the sliced rolls in the pans, being careful not to overcrowd.
Repeat the rolling/sugar/butter process with the other half of the dough and more pans.



While the rolls are baking, make the maple icing...
In a large bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, butter, coffee and salt.
Splash in the maple flavoring.
Whisk until very smooth.  Taste and add in more maple, sugar, butter, or other ingredients as needed until the icing reaches the desired consistency.  The icing should be thick, but still pourable.

I didn't think about taking a pic until I had already iced THREE pans!! LOL

Ree is right, when those rolls come out of the oven, my kitchen is the best smelling place on earth!

While the rolls are still warm, generously drizzle icing over the top.  Be sure to get it all around the edges and over the top.

Ok, I missed the part about a pouring consistency,  my icing was thicker...more like a "spreading" consistency.
She said it would make between 40-50,  Mine came out to 45.  Quite a batch I'd say.  

 
Let's see... I took one pan to the RealWomenEat Cook-N-Critique, sent a pan to work with hubby, put two pans in the freezer (one I'll take this Sunday to Sunday School class), one is sitting on the counter for hubby, and ...


Every good southern girl knows you don't send out anything without first trying it to see if it's worth sharing!   ROFL!!!

So there you have it.  Thanks to my good friend, The Pioneer Woman,  I faced my fear of yeast, fed some souls, and have some in the freezer and...wait for it... going to have my own personal Pioneer Woman party to watch her show!!!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Mixed Bag Give-Away!

Fall 2010 Mixed Bag Designs Black and Green Avant Garde Logo
I love re-usable!  Whether I’m repurposing items and making them new again in my crafting or lessening my carbon footprint on this earth by cutting down on disposable bags, there’s just a sense of pride in that. 
I’m not the kind of girl who just uses those “store” reusable shopping bags either.  I like using “pretty” things. (I’m known at my grocery store as “the lady with the cool bags”.   LOL)
Eco-Fabulous-8_5-x-11-Sign-600    8_5-x-11-Sign-our-fashion-totes-600px
That’s why I was so elated when Mixed Bag Designs offered 3 of my USA followers a fantastic giveaway!


Trust me, these are not just your ordinary grocery store re-usable shopping bags.  Uh-uh, nope. The bags are made from woven polypropylene  and will hold up to 50 lbs! They vary from, yes, the grocery store type, to box-store size, snack size, even weekenders, and…wait for it… laptop sleeves! 
Not only will three followers receive a set of their bags, but Mixed Bag Designs is also sending a neoprene laptop sleeve (13 or 15 inch) or ipad sleeve of the winner’s choice!  This is a very generous company and wonderful to work with.
big-damask-13-laptop 
(this it the one I picked for me!)

Ok, so I’m guessing you’d like to see just what it is they’re actually going to give away!  Three people could win one set (plus laptop sleeve) from these examples:
around-town
at-home
downtown
on-the-town
out-of-town

Ok, now for the details of how…
Visit Mixed Bag Designs and come back telling me which set you’d choose.
For extra entries:
Tweet about this using @aunt_nette and @MixedBagDesigns in the message.
You can even join their facebook page and be up to date on specials!

School Fundraising! they also offer School Fund Raising programs.  I’m not sure about you, but I don’t need expensive cookie dough or gift wrap.  But reusable bags?  Absolutely!  
Deadline is Sunday, August 28th.  Good luck, I know you’ll love ‘em!
Note:  I received a set of reusuable bags to review from Mixed Bag Designs.  No monies were exchanged. The opinions were entirely my own.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Refreshing Watermelon Drink


I'm guessing where you are it still feels oppressive, right?  In Florida, we go from a few days of winter, directly into summer...or at least that's the way it feels.  And, being August, let me just say "ugh" !
So, how about I just share a refreshing summery drink?  I love watermelon.  So summery, right? 
This is (embarrassingly) easy to fix so you have no excuse not to try it.  That is, unless you can't get your hands on any watermelon.

Watermelon Spritzer

You're going to need:
4 cups (about) of watermelon chunks
3/4 cup thawed frozen limeade concentrate (that's not quite a can - but I used the whole thing because that's how I roll)
and some carbonated beverage (I happened to have diet 7-Up on hand. Works for me)


Dump the chunks into a blender and whirl away

I've got to tell you, my Ninja is still my go-to best friend!

Pour into a strainer.  See those seeds?  I don't mind not picking 'em out, because I'm straining it all.

I wonder what I could do with that pulp... hmmmm....

Add the limeade.
When you're ready to guzzle it down, add your carbonated beverage to taste.

Ahhhhh.....

Enjoy!

Monday, August 8, 2011

Prayer Request Tuesday

This is the day set aside for prayer for you...
If you have a prayer request, please list it in the comments below. You don't have to give any information you don't feel comfortable with. (A simple "unspoken" comment is sufficient).
If you would like to pray, then please pray for the comment above yours.

Also, if you would like to share a "praise" for a blessing you have received please feel free to leave a comment so we can all rejoice with you!


Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

PRAYER REQUEST TUESDAY

This is the day set aside for prayer for you...

If you have a prayer request, please list it in the comments below. You don't have to give any information you don't feel comfortable with. (A simple "unspoken" comment is sufficient).
If you would like to pray, then please pray for the comment above yours.

Also, if you would like to share a "praise" for a blessing you have received please feel free to leave a comment so we can all rejoice with you!
I would like to tell you all what a blessing you have been and how my heart melts when I hear from you, both privately and in the comments of how you are praying for the comments left here. That is what I hoped would happen. We're feeling a real sense of community, and sharing one another's burdens and rejoicing with our fellow sisters! Thank you so much for your feedback!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Sunday School Breakfast Casserole

This recipe has been through so many “owners” since I first received it y-e-a-r-s ago.  (Remember when Taste of Home’s yearly cookbooks used to be spiral bound?   That’s how long ago.)
First, I got it from the cookbook, then Lisa asked if she could contribute it to for our Christmas Happening recipes – put her name on it,  Then Linda did a cooking demonstration and used it – now it had her name on it.  Then, my husband decided he wanted to contribute to the men’s annual “stuff-yer-gut” Christmas breakfast in our old Sunday School class so I gladly handed the reigns to him.   I didn’t mind at all because, you see, as I said I didn’t originate it.  I just tweaked it.  Besides that, if a recipe isn’t shared…it dies. 
This past Sunday, we put ourselves down to bring snacks.  My Man-of-the-house decided he was going to make the Breakfast Casserole (now called “his” casserole LOL).  Gladly I “let him”, with the condition that I get to take pictures of him doing it and then share with all of you.
SweetJeanette (2)  (his chef’s cap?)
Sunday School Breakfast Casserole   (A.K.A.  Overnight Breakfast Casserole)
8 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1/2 tsp dry mustard powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 hashbrown patties, frozen
* 2 cups ham, chopped or cubed
4 cups shredded cheddar cheese
SweetJeanette (3)  SweetJeanette (4) 
Spray bottom of 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray, line with the hashbrown patties. 
SweetJeanette (7)
Mix together  the milk, eggs, mustard powder and salt. 
SweetJeanette (6)SweetJeanette (8)
SweetJeanette (9)  SweetJeanette (10)
Top with the ham and cheese.
SweetJeanette (14)
Pour milk- egg mixture over all.

Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
Bake at 350 for one hour, covered.  Then uncover and bake another 15 minutes.
SweetJeanette (11)

* Instead of ham, this time, we used bacon. (about a pound)
And I just realized, I totally forgot to take a picture of the end result!!!
Sorry, but it if helps – it was all gone by the end of Sunday School class!
Enjoy!
C27B603B40E9652D064A404F939FADED
and a special thanks to my wonderful husband for letting me take all the pics of him!