oh holy yumminess....

Baked Apple Pie Oatmeal

from this sweet country life

* 4 cups of milk
* 1/2 cup of brown sugar
* 2 Tbsp of butter
* 1 1/2 tsp of cinnamon
* 1/4 tsp of salt
* 2 cups of old fashioned oatmeal ( not the quick cook kind)
* 2 eggs slightly beaten
* 2 cups of chopped apples ( I used Granny Smith)
* chopped pecans

Warm your milk, butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a saucepan or microwave safe bowl until butter is melted and sugar is mostly dissolved.

Then mix in eggs, oats and apples.

Pour into a greased 8x11 casserole dish and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes or until set in the middle.
When you are finished baking, scoop some in a bowl and load with your favorite toppings….a dash of milk, a slice of butter, a sprinkling of brown sugar and chopped pecans on top.

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using extra applesauce...

APPLESAUCE OATMEAL MUFFINS

from Cooks.com

Makes 12 muffins

1 c. old fashioned oatmeal
1 c. applesauce
1 lg. egg, beaten
2 tbsp. plus 1 tsp. vegetable oil
1 tsp. double acting baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. milk, orange or apple juice (or frozen concentrate)
3/4 c. whole wheat flour
1/4 sugar (optional)
1/2 c. cranberries, dried cranberries or raisins (optional)

Spray 12 (3 inch) muffin cups with Pam or use metal muffin liners. Preheat oven to 375°F degrees.
Stir together the oatmeal, applesauce, juice or milk, egg, and oil. Set aside.
Stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon. Make a well in the center, and add the applesauce mixture. Stir until well combined, but do not over beat.
Add raisins or cranberries if desired. Pour into the muffin tin. Each cup should be 2/3 full.
Bake 15-20 minutes, or until a tester comes out clean.
Cool on a rack for 15 minutes before removing muffins.

Variation: Substitute 1/4 teaspoon ginger and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg for the cinnamon.

pantry challenge...

 Life as a Mom's: Pantry Challenge

~Make the Most of What YOU Have This Month~

■For some that might mean digging deep into the cupboards and using up those odds and ends.
■For others that might mean building a frugal pantry, scouting for good sales, and starting to stockpile items that you regularly use.
■Still others might want to give the pantry an overhaul and remove unhealthy items and replace those with more wholesome alternatives.

~Make this challenge fit YOU and YOUR life!~

So...I joined, even though the month has already started. I do what works for my family.

~As for ME, I’m going to attempt the following~

■Spend $100 (or less) a week on groceries. (I currently average $150 per week for a family of 6.)
■Focus on fresh produce and dairy.
■Bake from scratch....like bread!
■Eat up what’s in the freezer.
■Use less meat or use leftover meat to make another meal.
■Use coupons wisely.
■Build a better stockpile (healthier and more plentiful).
■Start Freezer Cooking

Meals this week:

Sunday: Pot Roast w/ carrots and potatoes in the crock- done
Monday: Tuna Noodle Casserole and homemade bread- done
Tuesday:  Pancakes and Bacon
Wednesday: TVP Chili
Thursday: Chili Nachos (using leftover chili)

Friday: Bisquick Chicken Pot Pie
Saturday: Burgers, baked beans, corn

Going to make applesauce muffins to use up some big jars of applesauce too.

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our new spot...

Confetti Caffe and Gelato

233 Market Street, Virginia Beach * Town Center of Virginia Beach

757-227-6682 / vbtowncenter@confetticaffe.com

16-24 hand-dipped flavors / prepacked and hand-dipped pints

OK...so I have been here 2 times already in 1 week and I must say....I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!

Ashley P., Ashley G. and baby Alex, Vickie, Juanita, Beatrice and I all met to knit, have lunch and gelato and gab for hours. It was a blast! Atmosphere worked for us and the food...delish~

updated my Etsy Store....

I'm hosting a RECYCLE PARTY!!!!

Being a Brand New Year, many people find themselves clearing out the old to make way for the new!
So, with that in mind…I am planning on Hosting a:

'RECYCLE PARTY'date: Saturday January 22nd time: 10am until whenever...

This is where you bring anything you don’t want anymore and give it away, and while there, pick up items other’s don’t want. (FreeCycle idea).

Ideas of what you can recycle:
Glass jars, Tupperware, Dishes, Clothes, CD’s, Books, Purses, Jewelry, Containers, Décor, Frames, Craft items, Fabric, Furniture, Pet Supplies, Non-Perishable Food, Garden Supplies, Tools, Games, Appliances….and more. It should be in good enough condition to be re-used…no broken junk.


I’ll provide coffee, cocoa and donuts. You bring bags to carry home your new found good in.
Starting off the new year with a bang!

~ Peg

(email me for my address....if I know you)

thrifting in the new year...

It's a new year tomorrow and that gets me thinking about how to 'do better' financially. One way I do this is by being frugal and thrifting. Here's a great post by mollyirwin :: on thrifting
_____________________________________________________________________
SOME THOUGHTS ON THRIFTING

1. Buy only what you absolutely love. This is my most important rule. I won't just buy something because it's inexpensive; I apply the same standard that I do on any other purchase -- new or not. Admittedly I've made a few mistakes, like the fabric I got home and decided I don't love it after all. Oh well ... little spent; little lost.


2. Be super selective with items that need an update or overhaul. Re-upholstery, re-finishing, painting etc. has an associated cost, whether it be out-of-pocket for hire, or in your own sweat equity. Then there's the TIME factor, so be sure you believe that piece will (when finished) satisfy the love itrule. Lately I've minimized big project purchases like furnishings, with the exception of the little boudoir chair I'm having covered for my closet. It was the perfect scale and proportion for the space.


3. Second-hand items add instant history. The Patina of an old mirror, or the classic graphics on your 1970s board games bring a familiar warmth of a well-loved, inhabited space. Details like this add character and charm, especially to new drywalled spaces like apartments.


4. You will find truly unique things.I love Ikea, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel etc. for certain foundational basics, but a few funky or special items can lend instant personal style and fresh life to an otherwise basic decor.


5. The hunt + bargain high. The satisfaction of shopping on 25% off day, on top of what are already super cheap prices is nothing short of thrilling to me.


6. For those with crafty ingenuity thrift shops are a great source for materials. Consider alternative uses for things. This patchwork quilt made entirely of blue pinstriped dress shirts, at Inchmark Journal, is a great example of reconfiguring something in a fresh way.


7. It's very much hit or miss. Sometimes I come away thinking why would I ever buy new again? while other times I'm deflated and kind of grossed out by the whole thing. You just never know what you're going to find, which is what keeps me going back again and again.

charged....

I really NEED this! it's the iGo Green Charger

Here’s how it works:
(Info from Kevin and Amanda: five things)

If I’m traveling and using my cell phone a lot during the day, and don’t have access to a charger, usually my battery gets pretty low by mid-afternoon. If I’m going somewhere that night? It’s completely dead. But with the iGo Green charger in my purse, I just plug in my phone for charging on the go. I can use my phone and charge it at the same time, all while it’s in my purse. When it’s done charging, I unplug my phone and continue using it for the rest of the day. That night, I plug in the iGo green, plug in my phone to the iGo green and they are both fully charged by morning.

simple...

my word for 2011

my flair...

Grover’s Cheeseburger Soup...

photo: Food Network

2 lbs. 96% lean ground beef
Hamburger seasoning or salt/pepper
butter
1 large onion, diced
1 box (32 oz) Reduced Sodium Chicken Broth
1 lb. Velveeta Cheese, cubed
1 pint Half & Half
1/4 c flour and cold water to make a 'slurry'
3 medium tomatoes, diced
1/2 head of lettuce, shredded

Use ground beef to grill burgers, season. Drain and set aside. In a large soup pot, add butter and diced onion. Allow the onions to sweat over medium heat. When the onions become translucent, you are ready to continue. Add the chicken broth (either a chicken base–like bouillon + water–or broth), the diced Velveeta and the half & half. Allow the Velveeta to melt into the mixture. Don't boil...just simmer.

In a small bowl or ramekin, mix the flour and water to make slurry. Once mixed well, add to the cheese mixture. Stir to combine, and bring to a boil, stirring constantly (the cheese likes to stick). Add the ground beef (break up) to the soup pot, turn down to medium low heat. Dice tomatoes and shred lettuce and then add to the mixture. Stir to combine and turn to low heat until ready to serve. Top w/ grated cheddar.

blog spotlight...

love this blog: 52 Flea...so I'm spotlighting it tonight. go check 'em out. those of you, like myself, who adore vintage/flea market decor...go there now!!!!

think snow...

not all snowmen melt...

have you seen this adorable yarn creation?
 source: spidatter

making a list...

my 2011 list of things to do...

1. Learn to sew (fix sewing machine or buy a new one)!

2. Dye more yarn for my Yarn Tattoo Etsy store

3. Design knitting patterns

4. Knit more socks!

5. Take photography classes to improve

6. Sell my photos

7. Paint the inside of our house

8. Sell my unwanted rubber stamps on Ebay

9. Garden and Can vegetables

10. Do Once a Month Cooking/Freezing Meals

11. Start a fun Exercise routine

12. Read a Book a week

and more................
 

snow cute.......

Mochimochi Snowmen by Anna Hrachovec

Cupcakes in a Jar...

I think I'll make some of these as extra gifts...

Make 24 chocolate fudge cupcakes. Spray each 8 oz. canning jar with Pam and let the cakes cook and cool.
Once cupcakes cool, place one cupcake in the bottom of each jar upside down.

You can use any frosting. Try one of these:

1st- Chocolate butter cream frosting

2nd- Oreo fluff with Oreo pudding mix and whipped cream.

Pipe a gracious amount of frosting on top of each cupcake in each jar.
Get another cupcake, slice the top off and place the cake (sliced side) on top of the frosting. Top w/ your favorite butter cream frosting and add chocolate shavings.

Place the lid on and screw it shut. Decorate jar. Tuck a plastic spoon in with ribbon. You can freeze to use at a later date.

Try other varieties of cupcakes, frostings and toppings.




Photos from: lostateminor and thecupcakeblog

cookie baking...

Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

 Here's Paula Deen's Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies

- 1 (8-ounce) brick cream cheese, room temperature
- 1 stick butter, at room temperature
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 (18-ounce) box moist chocolate cake mix
- Powdered sugar, for dusting


Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large bowl with an electric mixer, cream the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Beat in the egg. Then beat in the vanilla extract. Beat in the cake mix. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours to firm up so that you can roll the batter into balls. Roll the chilled batter into tablespoon sized balls and then roll them in confectioner's sugar. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake 12 minutes. The cookies will remain soft and "gooey." Cool completely and sprinkle with more confectioners' sugar, if desired.

Porter Jack in a Box...

Porter had so much fun playing in the Amazon boxes yesterday. So Brig got an idea to make arm holes, so Porter could actually wear the box....GENIOUS! Porter wore the box and loved it!!!

Vistaprints rocks!

James, Peg, Lauren, Brigham, Cameron, Carson and Porter

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I ordered FREE address labels and
bought 2 pens with our characters on them!