Yummy!

I found a great site called Chef in Training. I made a version of the Chicken Tortilla Soup that can be found here. I added green peppers, tomatoes that I canned this past summer, used turkey stock, instead of the spices I used fajita seasoning and doubled the recipe. It was very good.

But I also found Peanut Butter Fruit Dip

And I can’t forget to share Cake Batter Pudding Cookies

Then I found Baked Oatmeal at Smile Monsters

Yart

Poor is a state of mind,

but broke is a temporary situation!

This is something I think we all deal with at some point in time. The bills are paid, there is food in the house, but you don’t have a dime to your name…. Or you are willingly being frugal… Same difference.

At that point do you look around and see all that you have or do you see all that is lacking? Do you feel poor or do you know that your just broke? Do you grab your boot straps or do you whine?

Sometimes I do wish that there was more…. But then I realize that I have enough. I have enough to feed my family in the broke weeks after Christmas. I realize that we have heat because the bill was paid. I have enough yarn that I have already started on gifts for 2012 Christmas. My needs are met…. For that I am deeply thankful! Now if I could just get me wants to shut up, that would grand! LOL!

I’m not sure why I wrote all that but apparently it needed to be said!

Now for something really good. I was browsing Jamie cooks it up! She has an amazing recipe for Ham and Bean soup. Before I go any further here let me say that for years I have saved the ham bone to only later toss it because I thought ham and bean soup was one of those mystery foods that only grandmas and nasa could make. So when I found this recipe I had two ham bone sitting in the freezer just waiting. All I can say is OMG! All the monsters ate it and I have plenty leftover to freeze. Oh so GOOD!

Band monster got a sewing machine for Christmas and a gift card to Joanne’s. With the gift card she was able to take the beginner sewing class. 2 1/2 hours, and she will be putting together a little pouch with a zipper. So excited to have her teach me…. LOL! I know nothing about zippers.

Oh, and I have to share Picky made a cake from scratch. Right out of the Betty Crocker Cookbook! I’ll let you know how it tastes later. She is turning into quite the little baker.

Yart

Sharing Links

I’m still here… Grim has been home the last few days and we have been running to get stuff done. But I always have time to look for new things and when I find them they need to be shared… LOL!

Apricot Rosemary Jam

Watermelon Smoothie

Tzatziki Sauce

Whoopie Pie

Mushroom Barley Soup (can’t wait to make in the winter)

CIDER BREAD

3-1/2 c. flour

2 tsp. baking soda

3 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ginger

3 c. sugar

1 tsp. salt

Stir together. Make a well in center and add, in order:

1 c. vegetable oil

4 whole eggs

1 1/2 c. canned pumpkin

2/3 c. apple cider

1/2 c. thick applesauce

Mix everything until smooth. Pour into greased and flour pan. Makes

two 8 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/2 loaves. Can also be baked in one-pound

coffee cans. If baked in can, fill 2/3 full. Makes 3

Bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Recipe Source: A Bakers Delight yahoo group, submitted by *name has been omitted for security reasons*

We are going out of town next week so there has been a lot that has needed to be done. Bills to pay, shopping to be done and of course during all this…. The county fair started today. You know where we were all day. I have pictures to share later.

Yart