Cake Batter Blondies

Have I mentioned my love for Pinterest? These are awesome! If  you are like me and can not resist licking the spoon while making a cake...even though you know you aren't supposed to, then these are for you!! They are so good...in moderation, much like the Toffee Bars they are very sweet.

 Here is what you will need:

1 box yellow cake mix
1/4 cup canola oil
1 egg, beaten
1/4 – 1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup rainbow sprinkles
1/2 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Combine the cake mix and sprinkles in a large bowl, then mix in the oil and egg.
Add the milk slowly just until the batter is combined.
Place better in a greased 8×8 pan or 8-inch cake pan.
Bake for 25-30 minutes or just until the edges turn golden.
Let cool for 20 minutes before cutting because the gooey center needs to set.

 As far as I can tell this recipe came from here, hard to tell with Pinterest!

Easter Present and New Menu

Had a great Easter with family yesterday! Lots of food, Egg Hunt and...

...the kids Easter present....

...lots of games, music, and...

...teaching!  :o)

We are finding lots of new games, listening to music, watching Hop etc...Sissy is on Spring Break and we have lots planned to do... can't talk much.  :-) 

Here is the menu for this week...

Monday:
Lipton Chicken w/Broccoli and Brussels

Tuesday:
Cereal w/Fruit
Turkey Hot Dogs w/Chili, Raw Veggies and Fresh Fruit
Taco Salad

Wednesday:
Bacon,Egg,Toast Cups w/Fresh Fruit
L.O.
Lasagna Subs w/Salad

Thursday:
Oatmeal w/Fresh Fruit
Homemade Chicken Nuggets w/Annie's Mac and Cheese and Raw Veggies
Pancakes,Turkey Bacon,Eggs and Fresh Fruit

Friday:
    ?
Sandwiches w/Fresh Fruit and Raw Veggies
Ham and Veggie Saute

Saturday:
Eggs,Toast and Ham
HM Pizza w/Salad(Carry-Over)
   ?

Sunday:
Jelly Biscuit w/Eggs and Sausage
   ?
Schnitzel w/Taters and Peas

"Fire Crackers"

YAY! Another Pinterest Score! These are called "Fire Crackers" and they live up to their name. But they are Oh so good!

Here is how you make them:

 1 lb. crackers: 1/3 each of Cheese It's, Mini Club & Mini Saltines
 1 1/2 cup canola oil
1 pk Ranch salad dressing mix
 2-3 Tablespoon crushed red peppers

 Mix together oil, Ranch and crushed red peppers.

Pour over crackers in a big airtight container, toss several times over a 1 hr period.

Best if made the day before. Will keep for a extended period of time in a airtight container.

 Do not refrigerate.

                   

Bento- Here and There in March

This day she had:
Apple Juice
Fresh Pear
Popcorn
Ham and Cheese Heart Sandwich

This day she made her own lunch, she had:
Sesame Sticks( She did not like these so they came home with a nibble out of one)
Grape Fruit Sauce
Carrots
Minnie Mouse Cookies-Brought home from Disney by a friend :o)
Ham and Cheese Sandwich
She took water to drink

This day she had an Easter-ish lunch:
Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
Tootsie Roll
Granola Bar(for snack time,she didn't eat it)
Cantaloupe and Strawberry
Popcorn
She took water to drink

This week she had:
Tuberz Yogurt
Water to drink
Roll from dinner night before
Carrots
String Cheese
Salami
Chocolate Toffee Bar

Menu 4-2/4-8-12

Monday:
Cereal , Egg Whites and Fresh Fruit
Bento/Fresh Fruit
Crispy Chicken  w/Corn, Broccoli and Tomato,Onion and Cucumber Salad

Tuesday:
Waffle,Egg White and Fresh Fruit
Bento/Salad w/Fresh Fruit
Baked Spaghetti w/Green Beans and Toast

Wednesday:
Scrambled Eggs,Pepper and Onions and Fresh Fruit
Bento/L.O.
Hamburgers  w/Sweet Potatoes Fries and Mixed Veggies

Thursday:
Mexican Egg Bake(Carry Over) Toast and Fresh Fruit
Bento/Salad w/Fresh Fruit
Southwestern Chicken and Rice w/Avocado and Salsa

Friday:
Muffin,Egg Whites and Fresh Fruit
*Birthday Party*
HM Pizza w/Salad and Fresh Fruit

Saturday:
Breakfast Burritos(Carry Over)
      ?
CLEAN OUT FRIDGE

Sunday:
Breakfast Casserole(Carry Over)
*EASTER LUNCH/YaYas BIRTHDAY*  Low Country Grill
       ?

2012 Goal Update

Three months down, thought I would update my goals for this year, and tell y'all how I have been doing. Going pretty good so far! :o)

House:

• Basement Clean/Organized- This happened in 2011, however, my Father-In-Law gave Big Daddy about 2 truck loads of Nascar items so they are taking up his side of the basement. My side got bombarded with toys and other "crap" after Christmas! This will be done soon b/c I can not get to my stockpile, and that my friends is VERY frustrating!

*We have worked hard down there and about have it cleaned back up, about 60% done 

• Garden- I have been talking about this for a few years now but I really want to buckle down and do this! When I was younger we had a huge garden every year and I hated working in it...but loved the food! We live on a hill and its very rocky so we may have to do some raised beds.
• Clean Windows- Obviously I don't do this enough for it to make the big goal list HA HA

Finances:

• Maintain $1,000.00 Emergency Fund-This isn't savings, this is the "Oh crap I need new tires,washer,glasses,etc... money."

*Done so far

• Add to "Family $"

*Done

• Pay down 50% of our debt- We do not have any credit cards, but we do have a few things here and there that we need to work on.

*We paid a big chunk of this with tax return...YAY!

Marriage:

• Date Night once a month...at least. Movies,Dinner,etc...

*We have got to go out together a few times with no kids...

• SHOW Hubby I love him more often- After 10 years together he knows I love him but I need to make more of an effort to show him I do, and to let him know how much I appreciate him working so hard, so I can stay home with Brother!

*Trying my best :o)

• 1 Weekend Get-away

Family: 

• Family Vacation
• Take kids to the park and play/picnics
• Sissy 2nd Swimming Lesson

*Done, 3rd lesson starts next weekend.

• Sissy Bowling

*Done, Birthday Party at the Bowling Alley! FUN!

• Visit the Titanic Museum
• Family Pictures
• Brother potty trained
• 2 weeks no processed foods

*We ARE eating A LOT less processed foods but we still have some things...

• Craft Projects
• Spend focused time with each kid every day doing what they want to do
• More crafty with Sissy's Bento/Including notes

*Been doing good with this, averaging 3-4 days a week!

• Pumpkin Patch/Corn Maze
• Christmas 2012- Buy through out the year
• Shadaracks Light Show
• Opryland Christmas

Personal:

• Sleep Schedule- I have to get more sleep so I can have productive days!!

*Some days are better than others...

• Start my day by getting dressed- Seems simple enough right? But no, there are many days where Brother and I do not get dressed until it is time to go get Sissy from school.
• Make a "To Do" list every day- At east 5 things...Laundry,Change Beds,Blinds,etc...

*Been doing good with this!

• Exercise/Lose Weight- Hope I can still do this with a bum knee :-(

* Late start but, Treadmill/Exercises for 1 hour most nights for 2 weeks! Have lost 5lbs so far...

• Read 12 books- Want more but at least 12!

*3 months in and I have not finished 1 book! BOOO!!

• Contact with Friends more- Need to put more effort into this as well!
• Girls Night- Hopefully a couple!!
• Cut TV/Computer time in half

*Been doing well with this the past 3 weeks! HaHa!

• 5 Pinterest projects

*I have done 3-4 so far(will post)

• Be positive/No yelling- I yell...a lot...I come by it honest but still need to tone it down...
• 2010/2011 photos printed and put in books
• Blog More/Make Blog schedule

*Trying  :-)

• Get Blog Button

*Anyone wanna help me??

• Make at least 3 recipes from the Ball Canning Cookbook- Strawberry Jam(with YaYa), Salsa, and Can Tomatoes
• Take more Pictures of my kids while they are kids....

*Doing good with this! :o)

• Have more Fun/Laugh more/Smile more- These things are very important!

Chocolate Toffee Bars

These are so good! Very rich, I could only eat half of a square at one time...

1/2 C butter, melted
2 C graham cracker crumbs (32 squares)
1 8 oz. bag toffee bits
1 roll refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
1 12oz. bag chocolate chips
1 14oz. can sweetened condensed milk
1 T butter
1 tsp vanilla extract

Grease 13x9 baking dish and heat oven to 350.

Have the roll of cookie dough sitting out for around 10 minutes to soften up.

In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the 1/2 cup of melted butter, 1 1/2 cups of graham cracker crumbs and 1/2 bag of toffee bits. Pour mixture into the greased pan and press evenly until mixture covers bottom of pan. Refrigerate for around 15 minutes.

In a 2 qt saucepan, heat the milk, chocolate chips and the tablespoon of butter over medium heat. Stir frequently until the chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Spread the mixture over the graham cracker crumb mixture.

In another medium mixing bowl, break up the cookie dough and stir in the remaining 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs until blended. Crumble the mixture evenly over the chocolate layer and the sprinkle the remaining 1/2 bag toffee bits on top.

Bake for about 20-22 minutes or until it's golden brown. Cool completely before cutting, probably around 2 or more hours.


From: Pillsbury

Menu 3-26/4-1-12

Hello! Hope everyone is enjoying this LAZY Sunday as much as us! :o) 

I am working on my coupons and trying to match them up to some sales. Then meeting a friend to pick up Sissy's birthday pictures(excited!) I think we may work on some outside Easter decorations after that if the rain holds off.

On to the menu..I have lots of ? this week because I am really hoping for some good weather to get out and about and not be home as much, of course if this doesn't happen I always have things in the freezer that can be whipped up pretty fast  :o)   So here is what we are having...

Monday:
Cereal, Egg Whites and Fresh Fruit
Bento/Sandwich w/Raw Veggies and Pickles
Balsamic Chicken and Roasted Veggies w/Sweet Potato

Tuesday:
Waffle,Yogurt,Egg Whites and Fresh Fruit
Bento/  ?
Stuffed Peppers w/Corn and Cauliflower

Wednesday:
Breakfast Egg and Veggie Burritos w/Fresh Fruit
Bento/BLT w/Fresh Fruit
Healthy Loose Meat Sandwich w/Brussels,Zucchini and Squash

Thursday:
Mexican Egg Bake,Toast and Fresh Fruit
Bento/ L.O.
Queso Chicken Pasta w/Broccoli

Friday:
Oatmeal,Egg Whites and Fresh Fruit
School/ L.O.
     ?

Saturday:
Breakfast Casserole
     ?
     ?

Sunday:
Biscuits and Gravy w/Eggs and Sausage
     ?
     ?

Menu 3-19/3-25-12

This little girl turned 7 Thursday and then we had a bowling party on Sunday! We had a blast! So glad we got to see our friends and family!

When we came home we stayed outside because the weather has been awesome here lately!

Now that y'all know why I didn't get my menu done yesterday and only just finished it about 5 minutes ago, I hope you will all forgive me for getting this up late! :-)  Ha Ha!

We don't really have a lot going on here this week but, here is the plan...

Monday:
Sausage and Veggie Saute w/Roasted Broccoli and Cauliflower
 *(Turkey smoked sausage)
Tuesday:
Banana,Egg Whites,Peanut Butter and Toast
Tuna Salad, Crackers,Tomato and Cantaloupe
Taco Salad w/Corn

Wednesday:
Yogurt,Strawberries and Waffle
L.O.s
Philly Cheese Steak Sloppy Joe's(Carry Over) w/Mixed Veggies

Thursday:
Oatmeal and Fruit
L.O.s
BBQ Chicken, Sweet Potatoes and Broccoli

Friday:
Cereal w/Fruit
L.O.s
Italian Sausage Rigatoni(New) w/Green Beans

Saturday:
Egg Muffin Omelet(New) w/Toast and Fruit
Quesadilla
      ?

Sunday:
     ?
YOYO
Meatloaf w/Taters,Peas

Menu 3-12/3-18-12

This week is my Beautiful Girls Birthday! 7 years old!! Time REALLY flys by! :-(
We have a few things going on this week for that and the rest of the week Brother and I are hiding at the house and not going anywhere unless we HAVE to!!  :o)

It is a BEAUTIFUL day here in East Tennessee so I want to hurry up and get back outside, so here is what we are having this week...

Monday:
Oatmeal w/Fresh Fruit
Bento/Salad
Tuna Casserole w/Peas

Tuesday:
Cereal w/Fruit
Bento/Sandwiches
Mixed Up Rice Dish w/ Broccoli

Wednesday:
BLT w/Fresh Fruit
Bento/YOYO
Turkey Pizza Burgers w/ Sweet Potato Fries and Brussel Sprouts

Thursday:
Peanut Butter Honey Toast w/Banana
Bento/Rainbow Pasta Salad
**Birthday Dinner**

Friday:
Smoothie w/Muffin
Bento/Beef and Bean Taco Salad
Roasted Chicken w/Roasted Mixed Veggies

Saturday:
Giant Breakfast Cookies w/Applesauce
YOYO
YOYO

Sunday:
Biscuits,Gravy,Eggs and Sausage
YOYO
**Birthday Party**