I am doing this...tonight...just to have around for "springs work"

http://eatingonadime.com/2012/03/27/my-freezer-cooking-session-16-meals-done-recipes-instructions-included/


I will let you know how it goes! ;)

The easiest Banana Muffins EVER

I made these yesterday morning by putting a white cake mix and 3 ripe bananas in my stand mixer with the paddle attachment and then spooning them into my muffin cups.  This batter is thick, but they are so good!  Once they were done and cooled a little I melted half of a stick of butter and dipped the tops in butter and then sugar, cause what butter doesn't fix, sugar does!  ;)  I hope you try these, they are so tasty!  Makes 12 muffins.

Trying to make up for lost time!

Just thought I would post quick and let you know that I plan on posting quite a few post daily to get "caught" up.  I was a little overwhelmed with the whole "blogging" idea, so I went in spurts, but I am hoping this time that I can just keep up with it and lean the "tricks" as I go!  I was confused about linking and all the categories and all the "blogs" I visit are so organized!  I was simply thinking "I don't know how to do that and don't have time to learn...but I will!  So if you can bear with the "monthly archives" for now, I PROMISE, I will post more regularly, and it will be RANDOM...that I can always promise you...but in time, I will try to organize it in to a few categories.  Like for example "recipes" "tips and tricks" "gardening" "things I LOVE""Weekly menus" and maybe "random tings no one wants to read about"...I am guessing a lot will fall into that last category!  ;)

"CUP"cakes

Quick and easy "cup" cakes! 

You will need:

Cake mix

water

cup

Measure out 1/4 cup of cake mix and add 1T of water in a microwave safe mug.  Micro for 30-45 seconds.  That's it!  if you wish to make a larger portion in a bowl, simply double and micro for a minute and a half!  :)  I had a bottle of pre-made glaze, but you could use anything really.  Some ideas would be chocolate chips,  powder sugar glaze (powder sugar and milk), or any ice cream topping...or actual ice cream...you get my point!  We tried this tonight and it will be a favorite here!  Wade is a dessert eater, and I can have this ready in 3 minutes, honestly!  And the kids got it for a bed time snack!  How easy is that? 

Crock Pot Sausage and Potato Soup

I threw this in the crocko before I left for work this mornin...it was super good...4 out of 5 approved! (And middle kid never approves)! It's easy, it's stuff I had on hand, and used stuff from my freezer so that was good too!  It goes like this...add the following to a crock (I used my 7 qt.)
1lb. of ground meat, browned and drained.  (I don't care what it is, beef, turkey, deer, anything!)  (I used sausage, hence the name)
about 4-6 medium potatoes cubed
shredded carrots( I bet I used a cup, I had them frozen from the garden in 2 cup packages and used half)
4 c. of chicken stock
1 chopped onion (I keep onion chopped in the freezer)
4T. of butter
1/4c flour
and whatever seasonings you please, we are plain eaters so I used celery salt (you could use celery), and salt and pepper, and some parsley
I turned my slow cooker to "warm" and left it all day.  I think 6 hours on low would be good. When you get home or 30 minutes before serving add:
8 oz. of shredded cheese (I used velveeta, cause that makes everything better)
11/2c. of milk or cream. 
and simmer until the cheese is melted!  It sounds like a lot but with all the stuff from the garden, I didn't buy a thing for this...and it was REALLY good! 

PS: Photo was before I left for work...pre cheese and milk!

Things I LOVE!

I think  will start posting randomly about a few things I love...like silicone bakng cups!  They are awesome!  NON-stick, come right off our muffins, and I am never out of paper liners!  Love 'em!  ;)

PS: These are just muffin mixes (just add water) that I made this morning, a quick and easy breakfast and the kids can grab one or two for snack to take to school!  ;) 

Home Made Flour Tortillas

I made my beloved breakfast burritos this weekend and made a double batch of the "guts" only to find out I only had one package of tortillas.  I couldn't believe it, but once I got over the shock, I hopped online to read about making my own, the recipe I found was here.  And much to my amazement, mine turned out exactly like hers!  They are a little thicker than store bought ones, but much tastier and of course, cheaper and more readily available with a little menu planning!  I think in the future I will make a double batch, and of course TRY to roll them thinner.  On a side note:  I used my stand mixer to mix my dough and it worked awesome!  

Banana Cake

Here is a great "quick" dessert.  It is so simple!  You will need:

1 box cake mix (white or yellow will do, I used french vanilla)

1/2c. brown sugar

1t. cinnamon

1c. mashed banana

and the egg/oil suggested on the cake box

mix all ingredients and bake as directed!  This cake is so yummy(and so gone)!  I frosted it with basic cream cheese frosting and it only lasted 2 days here!  Hope you get a chance to try this, it's a nice "addition" to your basic cake mix. 

Spring...sort of!

I was so excited last week when the weather was nice, I thought to myself, I need to get everything in this house done so I can be out and enjoying the spring weather next week!  Apparently mother nature knows I didn't get it done so she turned the heat down!  It was "freezing" at 50degrees today!  We had a great day, I hung some clothes out on the line(I know but I really like hanging my clothes out), went with Wade to tag calves, and last but not least, looked at 3 options FOR MY CHICKEN COOP!  I am so excited...2 of them are old "pump houses" and the third is a calf shelter.  Pros of the "pump house" is that both of them already have water and electricity,and are close to the house.  Cons are that they are permanent, and need work!  The calf shelter can be moved around and would be ready to go, but no water or electricity...so, I will keep you posted as to what happens!