Tropical Sherbet Cake

This recipe is in the August 26, 2011 All You. All You magazine is one that Wal-Mart sells. My cake is freezing now. We will use orange, lime and pineapple sherbet.

Can click to enlarge and read. (twice)

Easy wrapping and

then you also give a container for future use. I like to pick these boxes up to use for gift giving.

My daughters thank you notes

My daughter was married in May and these were their thank you notes they sent out.
The bottom right is their rings on her bouquet.

Can click to enlarge. (twice)

Taco Crunch Mix

Makes a nice gift for people.

4 cups corn and rice cereal squares
3 cups pretzels
3 cups bite-sized corn tortilla chips
3 cups cheesy fish crackers
3 cups wheat snack crackers
1 cup salted peanuts
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup karo light or dark corn syrup
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 package (about 1.25 ounces) taco seasoning

Mix cereal, pretzels, tortilla chips, crackers and peanuts in a large, greased roasting pan. Melt butter in a medium saucepan. Add corn syrup, brown sugar and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly. Pour over cereal mixture tossing to coat well. Bake at 250 for 1 hour stirring every 15 minutes. Cool, stirring frequently. Store in an airtight container.

Another bazaar find

Santa from plastic canvas.

Picture goes with the post below

Watermelon Coolers

8 cups seeded 1/2" watermelon cubes
2 cups chilled ginger ale
1 6 oz. container frozen limeade concentrate

Arrange watermelon cubes in a flat layer on a baking sheet. Place in freezer for at least 30minutes or until frozen solid. Working in batches blend frozen watermelon, ginger ale, limeade concentrate and 1/4 cup water in a blender until smooth. Serve in chilled glasses.

8 servings

Recycling Christmas Cards

Cut out the circles from old cards. Use silver card stock for the ornament caps-using a 1/2" circle punch for them. Can decorate the cards--ornament shapes--- with gemstones or whatever you would like. Sheet of white paper to fit your frame. Using double sided tape put on ribbon and ornament. Glue bow onto top of the ornament.

From the BHG Holiday Crafts.

Double Chocolate Surprise Cookies

This is a very good cookie

12 oz. package chocolate chips
1/4 cup butter
14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all purpose flour
60 milk chocolate drops unwrapped
1/2 cup white chocolate chips melted

Combine chocolate chips and butter in a saucepan, melt over low heat until smooth. In a mixing bowl stir together milk and vanilla, add chocolate mixture. Stir in flour to form a dough. Wrap a tablespoon of dough around each chocolate drop. Arrange cookies on an ungreased baking sheets and bake at 350 for 6 to 8 minutes. Allow to cool. Drizzle the melted white chocolate chips over each cookie. Makes 5 dozen.

Another swap ornament

Several years ago I was in a snowman swap with the HGTV forum and received this glass snowman. It is so pretty. She purchased the forms and they were painted with the face and star buttons and she added the scarf and shredding inside. It is a favorite of everybody who sees it.

I got this at a hospital bazaar

Going to take it apart and make some,

Pumpkin Torte

A change from pumpkin pie. It is very good.

1 2/3 cups graham cracker crumbs
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter melted

Cream Cheese Filling
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 packages (8 ozs each) cream cheese softened

Pumpkin Filling
2 envelopes unflavored gelatin
1/2 cu cold water
1 can (30 ozs) pumpkin pie filling
1 can (5 1/2 ozs) evaporated milk
2 eggs, lightly beaten

Topping
1 carton (12 ozs) frozen whipped topping thawed

In a small bowl combine the crumbs, sugar and butter. Press onto the bottom of an ungreased 13X9" baking dish set aside. In a large bowl, beat cream cheese and sugar until smooth. Add eggs, beat on low speed just until combined. Pour into crust. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes or until center is almost set.

While that is cooking in a small bowl sprinkle gelatin over the cold water, let stand 1 minute. In a large saucepan, combine pie filling and evaporated milk. Bring to a boil. Add gelatin, stir until dissolved. Whisk a small amount of hot mixture into the remaining eggs. Return all to the pan, whisking constantly. Cook and stir over low heat until mixture is thickened and coats the back of a spoon. Cool for 10 minutes.

Spread the pumpkin mixture over the cream cheese layer. Spread whipped topping over the top. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Refrigerate leftovers. Yield 15 servings

Cheesy Parmesan Popcorn

8 cups popped popcorn
1/4 cup butter melted
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cups miniature pretzel twists
1 cup dry roasted peanuts

Toss popcorn with butter and cheese. Add pretzels and nuts, mix lightly. Store in a tightly covered container at room temperature.

Try mixed nuts in place of the peanuts.

My cousin made this

for me years ago. She was several, several years older than me so I never got the pattern.

BBQ Chicken Roll-Ups

This was in the Kraft Food & Family Summer 11 Book.

6 cups coleslaw blend (cabbage slaw mix)
1/2 cup Kraft Light Ranch Dressing
1 small each green pepper and red pepper cut into strips
1 onion thinly sliced
1 1/2 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
1/2 cup Kraft Original Barbecue Sauce
6 flour tortillas (12") warmed

Toss coleslaw blend with dressing and set aside. Cook and stir vegetables in large nonstick skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium-high heat 3 minutes. Add chicken, cook and stir 3 minutes or until no longer pink. Stir in barbecue sauce, simmer 3 minutes or until chicken is done, stirring occasionally.
Spoon chicken mixture down centers of tortillas. top with coleslaw mixture; roll up. Cut diagonally in half to serve.

My daughter made this several

years ago. It is just the glass ball with a snowman sponged on both sides and alittle snow put inside.

Milky Way Crispy Bars

6 cups Rice Krispies
1 cup chopped pecans
6 Milky Way candy bars (2.05 ounces each) chopped
3/4 cup butter cubed
1/2 cup white baking chips
1/2 teaspoon shortening

In a large bowl combine cereal and pecans set aside. In a large microwave-safe bowl, combine candy bars and butter. Microwave uncovered on high for 1 1/2-2 minutes or until smooth, stirring once. Stir into cereal mixture.

Transfer to a greased 9X13" pan, press down firmly. In a microwave, melt chips and shortening stir until smooth. Drizzle over the top. Cool, Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container. Yield 2 dozen

Make your own

non slip booties. Using a pair of white soxs and then make your designs using the puff paints all alomg the soles.

Have an old colander

Use it for decorating. Put a battery operated candle under it or turn it over and put and arrangement in the top. Use candles, tea lights etc.

Deviled Eggs

Another recipe I would like to try after just seeing. Think I would do dill relish tho.

12 hard cooked eggs
1/3 cup mayonnaise
3 bacon strips cooked and crumbled
3 tablespoons finely chopped red onion
3 tablespoons sweet pickle relish
1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika

Cut eggs in half lengthwise. Remove yolks set whites aside. In a small bowl smash yolks. Add the mayonnaise, bacon, onion and relish mixing well. Stuff into egg whites. Refrigerate until serving. Sprinkle with paprika. Yield 2 dozen

Cranberry Pine Nut Shortbread

I just recently ran across this recipe but thinking I will try it with pecans.

1/2 cup butter melted
1/2 cup powder sugar
1/4 cup pine nuts toasted
1/4 cup dried cranberries chopped
1 cup all purpose flour

In a small bowl, combine butter, powder sugar, pine nuts and cranberries. Gradually add flour, mix well--dough will be stiff.

Press dough into an ungreased 9" sqare baking pan. Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes or until edges begin to brown. cool for 5 minutes cut into squares. Continue to cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container. Yield 16 cookies

Doilies

New ideal from the Country Woman Christmas 2011 I received yesterday.

Using 6" doilies and leaving several together to be alittle sturdier, put a sticker letter onto them. Thread a silver ribbon through the holes and hang.

A shirt to wear all winter

I didn't make this one but have did ones before. Easy to do with little pieces of scraps of material. Old blankets that are falling apart etc.

Pecan Tarts

3-oz package cream cheese softened
1 stick margarine
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 egg
3/4 cup brown sugar packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup pecans chopped

Prepare dough by mixing cream cheese, margarine and flour together and chill for 1 hour.
In a large bowl, mix egg, brown sugar and salt mix well. Blend in vanilla and pecans. Roll dough into 24 balls. Press into tart shells and form into cups. Fill with pecan mixture and bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees. Cool slightly and remove from pans.

Pinapple-Nut Cookies

1/2 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup brown sugar, packed
1 egg
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
3/4 cups crushed pineapple
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Mix all ingredients together and drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10-12 minutes.

winner in my CIJ 2nd giveaway IS.....

Congrats to you Lisa!

German Star from fabric

Received this in a swap a few years back.
Would love to make some this year.

Leftovers throw together

Whenever I have egg noodles left over or salsa in fridge that needs used up I will open a can of whole kernel corn and drain it, then mix in the salsa and cooked egg noodles and warm it all up together.

Angel Ping Pong Balls

My grandma brought these at a craft show years ago for several of us.

Butter Pecan Ice Cream

Years ago we made this very often. Hard to find the Butter Pecan Instant Pudding around here.

4 eggs
1cups sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 8 oz. cool whip thawed
1 small box package butter pecan instant pudding
1 small box vanilla instant pudding
1/2 gallon milk
Pecans (we use a food processer to break them up alittle)

Mix together and pour into freezer to make.

Lace Angel

Purchased at a craft show a few years ago.

Hot Spiced Fruit

2 cups canned peach halves
2 cups canned pear halves
2 cups canned pineaplle spears
1/2 cup orange marmalade
2 tablespoons butter
1 cinnamon stick
1/8 tablespoon ground nutmeg
1/8 tablespoon ground cloves

Drain fruit, rexerving 1 1/2 cups juice. combine marmalade, spices and reserved sryrup. Bring to a boil, cooking 20-30 minutes. Remove spices before serving. Serves 8.
I put my spices in a bag and remove when it is cooked.

Good with ham.

Received in an HGTV Snowman Swap

A few years ago I received this in a swap of for snowmen that was held one year. Tammy did a great job of painting it.

As with my last several pictures they are right when posted and turned when they publish. Don't know the reason but sorry.

My 2nd CIJ give away goes out the 20th so...

Please post a comment of my July 10th posting with the picture.

Old Fashioned Eggnog

This is the real thing

6 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon nutmeg, divided
1 cup whipping cream

Beat eggs, sugar and salt together in a saucepan, stir in milk. Cook over medium heat, stirring about 15 minutes or until mixture coats spoon. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, chill overnight. Just before serving, whip cream to soft peaks, whisk into egg mixture in a gentle folding motion. Serve sprinkled with remaining nutmeg. Makes 10 servings.

Giant Heart Cookie

Mix up a batch of your favorite chocolate chip cookie dough. Spread the dough into an 8" or 9" heart-shaped baking pan (dough should cover the bottom of the pan and be about 1/4" thick). Bake as usual, until golden brown. Allow to cool slightly and turn your giant cookie out of the pan onto a cooling rack. When completely cooled, pipe colorful icing around the edge and write a special message inside.

This ornament is purchased but.....

I think it could be made pretty easy.

Vanilla Coffee

I do drink coffe but this is very popular with a few of my friends so thought I would share it.

1 1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
3 cups hot, strong, brewed coffee
1 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Garnish: frozen whipped topping, thawed, and ground cinnamon

Combine milk, sugar and cinnamon in a saucepan and stir well. Cook over medium heat 2 minutes, or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat, stir in coffee and vanilla. Pour into mugs and garnish with whipped topping. Sprinkle with cinnamon. Serves 4.

Angel ornament

I purchased this at a craft show a few years ago. Made from a round clothespin and an old piece of a quilt. A metal star on it.

My mom came bearing......

presents. Who doesn't love them?!? But I also love giving them.
The 2 purses are for my daughter Jaymee. She gave mom the material and mom got them done. My purse is the snowman. The 2 pillows are my birthday gifts. (slittle over a month 1/2 early) One is made from a quilt of my great grandmas and the other from a grandma. One from each side of the family. Love them.

I would rotate them but after trying 3 times after published it kept them to the side.

This ornament is 20 yrs. old

My son will be 27 and he made this ornament in either 1st or 2nd grade. It is made with 2 mayonnaise lids (back to back) with eyelet glued inbetween and the yarn (ribbon) to hang it with and then inside each lid is the same picture with alittle batting glued to it to look like snow.

Candy Balls

2 lbs. powder sugar
1 can condensed milk
1 tsp. vanilla
1 to 2 pts. pecans chopped
1/2 cup margarine
2 cans coconut
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate
3 oz paraffin

Mix sugar, milk, vanilla, pecans, margarine and coconut until well blended. Chill mixture. Roll into small balls and chill hard. Melt chocolate and paraffin in double boiler. Dip chilled balls in chocolate mixture and place on waxed paper to dry and cool.

I have just ran across this recipe so haven't tried it yet but sounds like an additon to the cookie trays we do. Will see.

We are lucky again this year

Last summer was a slow year for us with hummingbird and then fall came and we were getting like over a 100 daily and going thru alot of water. Now this summer with the 5 feeders we have up we have counted over 35 at a time. We love watching them. These pictues were taken thru the front room windows so aren't really clear. We make 24 cups of water daily and some days have did 48 cups.

Can enlarge twice for a better picture.

FYI

I do read all the comments posted on my blog and I always try to go back and comment or look at yours, BUT it seems that several of the blogs that I use to post on I cannot get one to take. So if anybody knows a solution to it please share. Just know I appreciate you looking at my blog and I do enjoy yours!

Cranberry Waldorf Salad

1/2 cup green grapes seedless
2 cups raw cranberries
2 cups unpeeled diced appples
3 cups small marshmallows
1 cup whipped cream
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup pecans (can use walnuts)

Place cranberries in a blender of food processor and lightly chop. Put the cranberries, marshmallows and sugar into a bowl to chill overnight. Fold in other ingredients and serve chilled.

Easy cover Up

I have my great grandparents china cabinet in my dining room and when Christmas comes I take my hummingbird collection of stuff off the top of it and put it in the cabinet and other stuff we take down goes in there. It has a glass door on it so to hide the items inside we always tape up wrapping paper of some sort inside the door to cover the clutter. Looks festive and nobody is the wiser.

A Christmas card from a few years back

I have it hanging on my wall in the craft room.

Click to read if need be.

Dill Pickle Dip

8 oz cream cheese softened
2 cups sour cream
5=6 whole dill pickles chopped
1 1/4 teaspoon garlic salt or to taste
pickle juice (optional)

Mix together all ingredients. Stir in pickle juice to get the consistency you want. Cover and chill 24 hours. Gets better sitting.

Serve with chips or veggies.

I got from E-Bay

I might try some of this for gifts for my 2 nieces and great niece for Christmas. Not sure yet. But wouldn't little girls like it?

No Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 cup powdered sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup milk
2 cups quick cooking oats, uncooked
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Line cookie sheets with wax paper.

Stir together the peanut butter, powered sugar, milk and vanilla in a large bowl with a wooden spoon, mixing until well blended. Stir in the oats and chocolate chips.

Drop by teaspoonfuls onto wax paper lined sheets. Store tightly covered in an airtight container between layers of was paper.

Makes about 42 cookies.

CIJ Give Away #2 July 11th~July 20th

This give away includes a Christmas book marker that you can insert a picture in, an oversize Gooseberry Patch mug, a small recipe book to put your holiday recipes in and a santa that hangs over a door handle.

Just leave a comment.

I will be drawing for this give away on Wed. July 20th.

You can enlarge twice to see it better.

The winner of the Gooseberry Patch Christmas Cookbook is

Had Ryan do the drawing. I wrote the names out and cut them to all the same size. Even tho the winner left 2 comments (which is quite alright) her name was just in once! Wish I could each of you one!!!!!

Shannon is the winner! Congratulations!

I will draw tonight for CIJ give away #1

Please post on my July 1st posting to be entered.

Hair Scrunchie

This is my first scrunchie and I hope to get several done up for my 2 nieces and a great niece for Christmas.

Can be a name tag, card or package trim

Using a 8 or 10" square paper doily that has solid square area at center, fold all four corners of square doily along solid area, envelope style. If using for a card glue a piece of stock paper in solid area for your message. Close with a sticker, scrapbook embellishments, old Christmas cards or even pictures from wrapping paper. Can weave small ribbons in the lace of doily if desired.

Wafer Cookie Presents

1/4 lb. white candy coating
1 (10 oz.) package cream filled wafer cookies
food color paste
24 silver balls

Line a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside. Melt candy coating and then spoon a small amount onto 24 cookies. Top each cookie with another cookie, pressing gently to sandwich together.

Tint remaining coating with color paste. Spoon coating into a resealable bag and squeeze into one corner, then seal bag. Snip corner off. Pipe coating across cookie to make a ribbon and bow, placing silver bow in middle. Let stand or chill until set. Store in cool dry place.

Hot Pepper Summer Squash

1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 1/2 cups sliced yellow squash
1 1/2 cups sliced zucchini squash
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano leaves
1/4 teapoon salt
1/2 cup shredded hot pepper Monterey Jack cheese

In a 2 quart casserole microwave butter at high for 45 seconds to 1 minute or until melted. Stir in squashes, oregano and salt. Mircowave on high for 4 to 6 minutes or until squashes asre tender crisp stirring once.

Stir in cheese, recover. Let stand 1 to 2 minutes until cheese is melted. Before serving toss gently.

Shipping Fudge

One year I shipped some fudge to some family and friends out of state. I had purchased the plastic cookie molds that come like 3 in a pack after the holidays and we cut from cardboard the shape of the cookie cutter alittle bit bigger than the acWtual shape Wrapped the cardboard in foil and then made the fudge poured it in and after it was completely cooled and set we put the other side on. Tied it up in a smaller plastic bag and they said it arrived fine.

CIJ Giveaway

On my July 1st post I am hosting a giveaway and I will draw for it on Sunday July 10th in the evening cut off at 6:00 PM. Please leave a comment on the July 1st post to enter.

Game Time

The last couple of years when the family comes on Christmas Eve we have been playing Dirty Bingo. Everybody brings a wrapped gift that is between $1-2 for each person in their family. Last year I moved some of the home made goodies we had here so we wouldn't have to eat them.

Ideal for bathroom decorating

It has been several years ago once my kids and nephews were older and before my younger sister (by 17 yrs.) started with kids in my main bathroom I put about 4" of water in the tub and then I got some of those flat red and green glass stones and put them in the bottom and had a few snowflake floating candles on the top. My family all loved it when they went in there.

Please checkout the

blog that is in my side bar "Happybird's Crafting Haven" and watch the tutorial for the surprise balls. I will definitely be doing that for the few youngesters that I have to do presents for.

Small Gift Ideal

At different stores you can see the little glass mini loaf pan that sell normally for $1. Buy some and for little gifts to mailman, teachers etc.. Mix up a batch of bread banana, zucchini, chocolate, or whatever your specialty is and bake up the loaves and can be taken out and wrapped seperately and you can put butters or candies in the pan or present the bread in the pan. Alittle over $2 you have a nice gift. Or for like a $1 you can get 4 (sometimes 5) foil pans that are mini loaves and can use them for even a cheaper route if you give several miscellaneous gifts.

Cinnamon Crunch Bars

12 cinnamon graham crackers
2 cups walnuts or pecans chopped
1 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In the bottom of a greased 15X10" jelly roll pan arrange graham crackers in a single layer with sides touching. aprinkle nuts evenly over crackers. In a small heavy saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stirring constantly cook over medium heat until sugar dissolves and mixture begins to boil. Continue to boil syrup for 3 minutes longer withour stirring, pour over crackers. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until bubbly and slightly darker around the edges. Cool completely in the pan. Break into pieces. Store in an airtight container. Yields about 1 1/2 pounds of candy.

Noel Ice Cream Cups

These go over really good. Kind of a change from all the baked goodies.

1 quart vanilla ice cram softened
1/4 cup pecans toasted and chopped
2 tablespoons red and green maraschino cherries
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract
1/2 cup candy coated chocolates chopped

In a medium bowl combine the ice cream, pecans, cherries and extracts, mixing well. fold in the candy coated chooolates, reserving some for garnish. Spoon into paper-lined muffin cups and freeze for 30 minutes. Before serving sprinkle with the reserved chopped candy coated chocolates. Makes 8 to 10 servings.

Hot Pepper Dip

16 oz. jar processed cheese spread
4 1/2 oz. can green chilis, chopped
10 3/4 oz. can golden mushroom soup
16 oz. Monterey jack cheese with peppers
Gently heat all ingredients together. Serve with chips or crackers. keep cheese dip warm by serving it in a crock pot or fondue pot.

July 4th

I have had such promblems this week with tech stuff. Desktop quit~new laptop not working like I am use to and then my camera messing up. Was taking pictures of teh fireworks and kept saying it is like on delay or something and on the couple that was shot off I realized somehow the camera was on 10 second timer besides teh 2 that I keep it on. So didn't really get neat shots

I met another MHHer

Back on July 3rd, my husband and I went to DuQuoin, IL about 35-40 minutes south of us and met Debbie and Belle. I met them on line thru MHH and they are from New York so with them being that close I had to go meet them. Only visisted maybe an hour but was so nice to meet them. We missed seeing her husband tho.

Grandma made years ago

From old Christmas cards and crocheted around them after punching holes.

O'Henry Bars

My family love this recipe
4 cups quick oats
1 cup light brown sugar packed
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup Karo light corn syrup
3/4 cup butter, melted
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter

Heat oven to 350

Mix all of the above ingredients together and then press into a buttered 9X13" baking dish.

Topping:
2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
Combine chips and peanut butter in saucepan, stir on low heat until melted and then spread over bars. Cool to room temperature before cutting into bars. I let them cool to warm before frosting and then at times I put them in the fridge to set.