Tipsy Tuesday (#153)

Keep the clothes in your closet from taking over...

Tip #153

by using this simple trick to purge never worn items.

Start each year with all of the hooks on your hangers facing out (towards you). After you wear an item, turn the hanger around, so that the hook faces the back of the closet. At the end of the year, take stock of any item that hasn't been worn (they'll be the ones whose hooks are still facing you) and get rid of the items that you didn't wear. Then, you'll have empty hangers and an excuse to shop...you can thank me later....

**Alright now, I'm talking tips, head over to see what Impulsive and Shawn are talking about on Talk to us Tuesday!**

DCB Recipe #4: Rocky Road Brownies

This week, a sweet treat for you! And again, you guessed it, you can make it in your microwave in the DCB...

Rocky Road Brownies

1 c walnut halves, toasted
3/4 c all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 c butter (1 1/2 sticks)
4 oz unsweetened chocolate
1 1/2 c sugar
3 eggs
16 large marshmallows
20 milk chocolate kisses, unwrapped
Vanilla ice cream (optional)

Coarsely chop walnuts and set aside. Combine flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Cut butter into pieces and chop unsweetened chocolate; place butter and unsweetened chocolate into a microwave safe bowl and microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 1-2 minutes or until mostly melted, stirring every 30 seconds.

Add sugar and eggs to chocolate mixture; whisk until smooth. Fold in flour mixture and 1/2 cup of the walnuts until incorporated. Pour batter into Deep Covered Baker, spreading evenly. Microwave, uncovered on HIGH 5-7 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean and edges are firm. Carefully remove baker from microwave using oven mitts.

Meanwhile, snip marshmallows in half crosswise using. Top brownie with marshmallows, chocolate kisses and remaining 1/2 cup walnuts. Microwave, covered, on HIGH 1-2 minutes or just until marshmallows start to soften. Remove baker from microwave. Let stand, covered, 5 minutes. Spoon onto plates; serve with ice cream, if desired.

Sweet Mother of Pearl...

the Dark Chocolate filled doughnut is back at Krispy Kreme now through March 11th. I am giddy and I need one now. If you were here and I had an extra, I would think about sharing.

Sadly, we have no Krispy Kreme here, so I'm heading into the kitchen to eat a spoonful of frosting out of the can and pretend it is a chocolate filled delight.

That is all.....

Tipsy Tuesday (#152)

Trying to avoid getting sick?

Tip #152

Don't forget to clean your desk!

More than 80% of Americans eat at their desks, but only 36% of them clean the desk once a week. Some experts say that our workspaces harbor more germs than our kitchen counter or the toilet seat! To banish germs, wipe down your desk weekly with a disinfectant and wash your hands before you eat.

**Alright now, I'm talking tips, head over to see what Impulsive and Shawn are talking about on Talk to us Tuesday!**

DCB Recipe #3: Breakfast Hashbrown Casserole

We had breakfast for dinner last night...it took 13 minutes and was all done in the microwave in my Deep Covered Baker (DCB). Here is the recipe, in case you want to try it! (this made plenty for us, with leftovers for the Rev.)

Breakfast Hashbrown Casserole

1/2 bag of thawed frozen hash browns
1/2 lb breakfast sausage (can also use bacon or ham) (I used pre-cooked Bacon bits, from the salad dressing aisle)
1 1/2 cups Colby/jack cheese (or cheese of choice)
diced up veggies (whatever you like best)
8 eggs
salt and pepper to taste

Cook the sausage in a skillet and drain. Crumble the hash browns in the bottom of the Deep Covered Baker. Top with cooked meat and diced veggies, then 1 cup of shredded cheese of choice.

Beat eggs in a small bowl, adding salt & pepper to taste. Pour over cheese, and add additional ½ cup of cheese on top of eggs. Cover and place in microwave.

Cook on high for 13 minutes. Serve with sour cream and salsa if desired.

Tiramisu Cake = Epic Fail

I was never really excited about this month's Cake Slice Baker's selection, a Tiramisu Cake. I'm not a coffee person, so a cake soaked in coffee does nothing to excite me. Add to that the bajillion steps and I was dreading it.

I'd like to tell you that I was surprised by how easy and delicious the cake was, but it was neither. The cakes turned out rubbery and I thought the mascarpone cheese mixture had a very strong, unpleasant flavor.

The only thing that made me feel better was many others who made it saying they thought it was gross, too. Better luck next month!

Tipsy Tuesday (#151)

Just in case you are still cleaning and organizing for the new year...

Tip #151

and you might have missed this spot--don't forget to wipe down your dishwasher!

A recent study showed that 62% of dishwashers harbor mold, yeast, and other types of fungus. Twice a week you should clean the seal around the door with a disinfectant wipe--this area is where fungi are less likely to be killed by detergents and high temps.

**Alright now, I'm talking tips, head over to see what Impulsive and Shawn are talking about on Talk to us Tuesday!**

DCB Recipe #2: Ravioli "Lasagna"

Here's another super quick and easy recipe that I came up with for the Deep Covered Baker (DCB)! Again, you could easily adapt this by cooking in a casserole dish in the oven, if you don't have a DCB.


Ravioli "Lasagna"

1lb. ground beef
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. Italian seasoning
1 Tbsp. minced dried onion
1 large jar spaghetti sauce
1 bag (24oz.) frozen cheese ravioli
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Place ground beef in the DCB and sprinkle with seasonings. Cover with lid and brown in the microwave for 7 minutes, stopping midway to crumble beef and stir. Remove from DCB, drain, and set aside.

Spread 1 cup of spaghetti sauce in the bottom of the DCB, top with 1 cup of the browned ground beef, and 1/2 of the ravioli.

Repeat layers once. Top with an additional 1-1 1/2 cups spaghetti sauce.

Cover and microwave for 14 minutes. Remove from microwave, top with cheese, cover and let stand for 2-3 minutes, until the cheese melts.

Enjoy!

Gardening 101

I feel sort of bad giving him a hard time because he is super sick with pneumonia right now, but this one is too good to pass up.....

So, you all know that the Rev is, well, a reverend, you know a pastor. He preaches about 50 sermons and teaches about the same number of Bible studies each year. Now, put somebody in charge of speaking publicly that many times in a year and a slip up is bound to occur every now and then....

This past Sunday's sermon involved an illustration about gardening. The Rev was trying to point out to our rural congregation that he was not a city boy and had in fact been raised in the country, farming and gardening. I know what he was trying to say, I know the point he was trying to make....but right in the middle of his story, he said "I've spent plenty of time with a ho(e)".......I immediately had to look at the floor because I was getting tickled, and several others were as well. He paused and I cringed hoping he wasn't going to acknowledge it, just keep going like it didn't happen, thankfully he let it pass, but we weren't even finished with service for a full minute before I busted out laughing and I wasn't alone. He has taken his fair share of ribbing about it this week, but he's a pretty good sport.

It was almost as funny as the time he was preaching about Lot, got tongue-tied and the phrase "pitching a tent" came out as pinching something that you don't want to even think about pinching in church.....I'll give you a minute on that one....

And people think church is boring......

Tipsy Tuesday (#150)

If you are like me and you clean out and purge at the beginning of the new year....

Tip #150

don't forget to clean out your beauty products.

Remember that all of your makeup has a shelf life, just like other products. Here is a general rule of thumb:

• Mascara: shortest shelf life of all of your cosmetics, since the wand carries bacteria back into the tube each time you use it; replace every 3 months.


• Creams (including, shadows, blushes, concealers, foundations, and glosses): most of these products contain a lot of water, which also makes them a magnet for germs; replace every 6 months.
  
• Powders and sealed, unopened makeup: Low moisture in powder and unopened products (which should be stored in a cool, dry place) means that they are good to go for 2 years.


• Lipstick: Unless it begins to dry out, you are good to go for up to a year

**Alright now, I'm talking tips, head over to see what Impulsive and Shawn are talking about on Talk to us Tuesday!**

TAG! Sort Of.....

So, my favorite Canadian, Jill over at Jill's World tagged me in a game of tag. I'm feeling lazy, so I'm not following all of the rules, but I am at least answering the set of questions that Jill came up with.

1. What is your one promise to yourself, or resolution for 2012?

I'm promising not to make any resolutions. I have succeeded already, it was good for my self-esteem....

If you could be anybody in the world – celebrity, rock star, author, ANYONE – who would you be?

Bill Gates or Donald Trump, for obvious reasons...

What is your favourite recipe to make? (Please share how to make it, or link it up if it’s somewhere on the Internet!)

This Mongolian Beef is AMAZING! Many steps, but it is sooooooo good!

Do you have a sport that you love to watch? If so, what is it and what’s your favourite team?

College football for sure. The Rev converted me into a South Carolina Gamecocks fan about 10 years ago, and I have been in love ever since...with the sport and the Rev...

If you could have the ability to expertly play any instrument in the world, what would you choose to play?

Piano, for sure. I am going to learn before I am 40, that's just over 2 years away. Think I can do it?

Why did you start blogging?

To chronicle our life away from the city and our friends and family when we moved. And to make new friends.

If you knew you could only have one last meal, what would you choose to eat? Your last supper, so to speak?

P.F. Chang's, I love it and since we don't live near one, I don't get to eat there often.

Who is your hero, and why?

I don't know if I really have one, outside of God. As much as I love my family and friends, He is really the only one who loves me just because and in spite of myself.

If you could bring back any old TV show that no longer airs, which one would you bring back?

This is hard, there are so many to choose from--Facts of Life, Silver Spoons, Saved by the Bell, the original 90210 and Melrose Place...

You’re a superhero. What’s your power?

Invisibility...so you better watch what you say, I might be around and you won't even know it....

Team Edward, Team Jacob, or screw that silly vampire crap?

Duh, Edward.....wait, are there really people besides The Rev on Team Jacob ???

If you have a minute, pick one or more of these questions and answer in the comments section! Happy Monday!

DCB Recipe #1: Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

I love Pampered Chef and have accumulated quite a few of their kitchen cooking tools. Their Deep Covered Baker (DCB) is amazing! It is a stoneware piece that can help you whip up dinner in minutes in the microwave or traditional oven. I'm challenging myself to cook in mine at least once a week in 2012, so I'll be sharing 52 recipes with you! Don't have a DCB? Don't worry, you could easily adapt any of these recipes for traditional cooking methods...or you could always host a Pampered Chef party and earn one, that's how I got mine!

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili

1 can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 can corn, undrained
1 can Rotel, undrained
1 package ranch dressing mix
1 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 8 oz package light cream cheese, cut into cubes
1lb. chicken breasts or tenders

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Place in DCB, cover, and microwave for 6-8 minutes, until fully cooked. Remove from microwave and shred chicken, leaving it in the bottom of the DCB.

Pour can of corn (undrained), rotel (undrained), and black beans on top of chicken. Top with seasonings and ranch mix. Stir together. Place cream cheese on top. Cover with lid and microwave for an additional 8 minutes.

Stir to combine cream cheese into chili. Serve with baked Scoops and garnish with cheese and sour cream, if desired.

Rather make this in a crockpot? A crockpot version, its the recipe that I adapted this from, can be found here.

Blingin' It Out - Part 2

I haven't updated you on the progress with my Pinewood Derby car in a while, but I've been working hard to get her ready. As you can see, I have completed Step 4 since I last posted about it. What do you think? Only 2 more steps to go and 1 week until the big race!

Step 1 - Select model of car

Step 2 - Sand

Step 3 - Drill holes in car and add weight for maximum speed

Step 4 - Paint

Step 5 - Bling!

Step 6 - Race to win!

Tipsy Tuesday (#149)

Just in case you resolved to exercise more....

Tip #149

and you need that extra little push...peppermint to the rescue.

The smell of peppermint, researchers say, boosts mood and motivation during physical exertion and improves athletic performance. They suggest that sniffing the scent during workout sessions may give you the extra push that you need to excel.

But, sorry, ladies and gents, I don't think this means that you can exercise while eating a York peppermint patty...

**Alright now, I'm talking tips, head over to see what Impulsive and Shawn are talking about on Talk to us Tuesday!**