Happy (Belated) Birthday!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful, awesome, rockin' hubby!!  You're the absolute best sweetheart!



National Chocolate Day

I found out this morning that it is National Chocolate Day today...and this "holiday" is repeated again on December 28 and 29.  I say you can never have too much chocolate! Now if you think chocolate is bad for you, read this and think again :)

* Cacao, the source of chocolate, contains antibacterial agents that fight tooth decay. Of course, this is counteracted by the high sugar content of milk chocolate.
* The smell of chocolate may increase theta brain waves, resulting in relaxation.
* Chocolate contains phenyl ethylamine, a mild mood elevator.
* The cocoa butter in chocolate contains oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated fat which may raise good cholesterol.
* Drinking a cup of hot chocolate before meals may actually diminish appetite.
* Men who eat chocolate live a year longer than those who don't.
* The flavanoids in chocolate may help keep blood vessels elastic.
* Chocolate increases antioxidant levels in the blood.
* Mexican healers use chocolate to treat bronchitis and insect bites.
* The carbohydrates in chocolate raise serotonin levels in the brain, resulting in a sense of well-being.

To celebrate this absolutely delicious wonderful day, I would like to share this recipe that Rochella shared with me this morning and this will definitely be on the menu this weekend.  What is your favorite chocolate recipe?

Cherry-Raspberry Chocolate Cobbler

 Recipe courtesy of Betty Crocker

Cherry-Raspberry Chocolate Cobbler

1 can (21 oz) cherry pie filling

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

2 cups fresh raspberries

3/4 cup chocolate ice cream

1/2 cup bittersweet chocolate chips

1 cup Original Bisquick® mix

3 tablespoons sliced almonds

Heat oven to 375°F. In mediumbowl, mix pie filling and extract; fold in raspberries. 

Spread in ungreased8-inch square pan. Bake 15 minutes.

Meanwhile, in mediummicrowavable bowl, microwave ice cream and 

chocolate chips on High about 1minute 30 seconds, stirring every 30 seconds, until smooth. 

Add Bisquick mix;mix well. Let stand until fruit is done baking.

Drop dough into 8 mounds(about 3 tablespoons each) on hot fruit. 

Sprinkle each mound with almonds. Bake15 to 18 minutes longer or until chocolate 

topping is just set. Serve warm.

Love it...Hate it

I've never posted about this before and it seems rather silly at my age to even be complaining about this, but my hair drives me crazy.....with a capital C.  It is a major source of frustration for me at times.  Here are just some little factoids about my life experience with my hair:

• I have naturally curly hair.  Even though I have lots of hair, it's fine and frizzes easily depending on the humidity, products I use, and how I style it.  Sometimes I have (semi-seriously) thought about shaving my head a wearing a wig.  
• When I was younger, I would ALWAYS choose a straight-hair hairstyle.  ALWAYS.  Why is it that people with straight hair want curly hair, and people with curly hair want straight hair?  I know there are people out there that would like to have curly hair, but right now I would like to have straight hair.  Here's my other issue....I have straightened my hair and it just doesn't look right on me.  I really think I was born to have curly hair.  
• I have tried several products and don't like to "mess" with my hair....but I think that's what I'm going to have to do.
• I wanted to be a beautician, hairdresser, hair stylist, whatever they are called and I went to school for business instead.  Maybe if I went to beauty school, I would have a better grip on this little problem in my life.  
• I was born with straight hair and I don't think it started getting curly until I was around 18 months old.  

So, this is just a little vent of mine.  I feel better now.  All done...until the next humid, hot, rainy day in Indiana.

Ironman Excitement and Pumpkin Recipe

You can feel the excitement in our house this week and it's building every day. There are only 2 more days until the boys race in the GNCC Ironman in Crawfordsville. This will be Ryan's second year racing and he is starting to get a little wound up. I really think he's more excited than what he's sharing with us, and that's ok - we just want him to have a good time this weekend. Carl is also racing after being pit crew leader last year and I can't wait to watch both of them! There's alot more excitement about this race because its local, we know some other people that are racing, everybody in town talks about it, and its a 3 day event full of fun. Here are some pictures from practice this week.

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I received this recipe from the food service manager at work and is delicious.  One of my co-workers made it and she did add another 1/2 brick of cream cheese and a little more pumpkin spice - yummmy!!  Don't be fooled by the picture - it's the only one I had.

Recipe courtesy of Farm Bureau Magazine

Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip with Apples andPears

1 package (8 ounces) NeufchateI1/3-less-fat cream cheese

1 can (15 ounces) pure pumpkin

½ cup firmly packed brown sugar

11/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Apples, pears and Asian pears, cut intothick slices

Combine creamcheese, pumpkin, brown sugarand pumpkin pie spice in a food processor untilthoroughly blended.Chill at least one hour before serving. Serve with slices of fresh pears, apples and Asian pears.  

Makes about 2% cups dip (11 servings of ;4-cup each)

My version of the LA Cookie

Can I just say that I love my muffin top pan?  I seriously think it is one of the best kitcheny things that I own.  Carl was asking for muffin top cookies again so I went back to Picky Palate to see what recipes she has for the muffin top pan - this is what I decided on...with a couple of changes. 

With and without the M&Ms

Salted Caramel Dark Chocolate Chunk Cookies…The LA Cookie (my version)

Recipe courtesy of Picky Palate

2 sticks softened butter

3/4 Cup granulated sugar

1 Cup packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 Tablespoons pure vanilla

1/4 Cup burnt caramel sauce (you can use any caramel sauce here) *I used Nutella*

3 3/4 Cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

12 oz bag mini chocolate chips *I used peanut butter chocolate chips*

1 1/2 Cups chopped good quality chocolate *I used M&Ms*

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a stand or electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars until well combined. Beat in the eggs and vanilla following the caramel sauce until well combined.

2. Place the flour, salt and baking soda into a large bowl; mix. Slowly add to wet ingredients then the chocolate chips. Save chunks for later.

3. Place 1/4 Cup of cookie dough and place into muffin top cups. Press down then sprinkle with a pinch or two of sea salt then press chocolate chunks over top. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until just golden around edges. Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Serve with milk!!

18 Large cookies

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Fall break is over and that means the Ironman is next on the calendar.  Carl and Ryan will be racing this year and I will be there cheering them on and taking pictures (of course). 

This weekend I did a little bit of fall cleaning inside and outside.  Getting ready for winter and hoping that we get some snow to make up for the lack of rain this year.

Gearing up for basketball season.  Ryan wants to play on two teams this year and Kyle will be trying out for the freshman team.

Has anyone else been thinking about their Thanksgiving menu yet?  I've really been thinking about making something new and different this year.  I've even been thinking about our Christmas gift list.  The older the boys get, the harder it is to figure out what to buy. 

I've stumpled upon some great craft blogs this weekend - Saw Dust and Paper Scraps and Pretty Handy Girl.  Their projects are amazing!

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If you are like me, you've probably been thinking about pumpkin pie, the smell of bread baking in the oven, candles glowing at night, the smell of leaves burning, fall festivals, cornbread.....ok, I could go on and on but I'm sure you get my drift.  I love this time of the year and will be sad when its gone.  What are some of the things that you are thinking about?  Possibly spring or summer?  Whatever it is, I hope it puts a smile on your face.

Blogspot vs Wordpress

After becoming frustrated with some things on blogspot, I decided I was going to buy my own domain name and switch to wordpress.  I tried it, and while I received much encouragement from Carl and Janna, I have decided to make the switch back to blogspot.  I feel like I missed so many great posts while I was trying to figure this out and I'm glad to be back.

Cake plates

Lately I have had this fascination with cake plates or cake stands.  In my possession I currently have a cake plate, a cake stand, and two tidbit trays. Let me show you what I have and what I've been *dreaming* about.

This is my favorite cake plate.  It's a milk glass plate in the hobnail design.

 

 Photo courtesy of Replacements.com

Upside down view....isn't it pretty?

Photo courtesy of OnlineAuction.com

This is a tidbit tray and (unfortunately) I only have the bottom plate.

Photo courtesy of ebay.com

My mother gave me this one.  I think she received it as a wedding gift and has passed it down.

Photo courtesy of Replacements.com

These are cake stands that I  think are just way too cute and some I would dearly love to own and use :)

Isn't this one cute for Christmas???

Photo courtesy of adozeneggs.com

I really would like a black cake stand this these.

 

Photo courtesy of allthingscupcake.com

Or like one of these.....

Photo courtesy of noblepig.com

 Of course I would have to have a pink one since it's my favorite color...

Photo courtesy of simplydecorated.blogspot.com

Another fun one...

 Photo courtesy of blommafinds.com

More Christmas inspired display options....

Sorry....I can't remember where I found this picture.

Maybe one day I'll add another one or two to my collection, but for now these are fun to dream about.

Celebrating Wives

Ok ladies, please feel free to share this with your husbands because it's their turn now. I found this on the same website where I found 3 Things Women Must Know About Men and this new article is 5 Things Men Must Know About Women. I totally agree with this article and while I really identify with number 2 (multi-tasking!), all 5 *things* apply to me. The Bible says we are to be a helper suitable to our husbands - I don't expect (anymore) my husband to "make" me happy, but if he does any of these 5 things, he will. Why is that? Because when he does any of these things, he's filling my "love tank". By putting my husbands needs before mine, I am putting into practice the 3 things that women must know about men and this makes me want to do things for him and our boys. Anyway, back to husbands.....please take a moment to read the 5 Things article. If you're not doing these things already, I challenge you to try this for one week. I promise this too will be worth your time and effort.

Celebrating My Husband

Ok everyone, I know in today’s society it’s considered more normal to “slam” your spouse, disrespect them, complain about them, etc. but I just can’t do that. I’m not saying that I haven’t done it in the past, but the more I show my husband love and respect, the happier he is, the happier I am, and the happier we are as a family. It’s really a win-win situation. Now I’m not saying that there are times when I am not frustrated or angry with my him, but overall he is my husband and should be respected in that role and also as the head of our house. Which brings me to this article I found yesterday and I feel so strongly about this that I have to share it with you. It’s titled 3 Things Women Must Know About Men. This is just the tip of the iceberg ladies. There are so many things you can do to show respect to your husband – sometimes actions speak just as loud as words do. Make him his favorite meal a little more often, iron his shirts the way he likes them (not the way you like them), don’t respond with an angry word when you feel that he’s mistreated you, treat him the same way you would like to be treated…..and better. Believe me, it will be worth it in the end.

Homemade soap update

Just a quick update….I tried the new homemade soap and I really like it. If you’re not familiar with the soap post, click here to read it. I used the Duggar family recipe plus I added 1 cup of color-safe bleach. This recipe is definitely a keeper. Thanks Janna for sharing!