TV Dinner Cupcakes

Posted by Lori:

A couple of nights ago during a basketball tournament, one of our school's academic clubs had a silent auction as a fund raiser.  Parents were asked to bring baked items for the fundraiser.  This TV Dinner was absolutely adorable!  I had never seen it before!

Below is a link about the cupcake book this TV Dinner "recipe" came from.  It isn't a Martha Stewart recipe, but Martha hosted the author of the cookbook.
http://www.marthastewart.com/260350/tv-dinner-cupcakes

The lady who made these recently moved to our small town.  I'm so thankful that she did!  Now we are being blessed by her talents and support for our school, and we appreciate it very much!
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Fried Bologna Sandwiches

Yesterday our three boys were busy working in one bedroom, helping move two of them into their new bedrooms.  The youngest, Tyler, (aka Biscuit from The Chronicles of Biscuit in my other blog) wasn't working very hard and the two older ones were getting a little aggravated at him.  Finally, after hearing too many "discussions" coming from the bedroom, I hollered (yes, that's how we do it around here :) for Tyler to come to the kitchen.

When he got to the kitchen, I said, "Tyler, if you don't start helping your brothers, you're not going to get the special treat your daddy is bringing you home from the store!"  He asked what it was.  I said, "Bologna!"  His eyes got big and he was soooooo excited!  So were the other boys when they found out!  It was so funny just how excited they got about something so simple as a package of lunch meat!  

Typically we don't buy bologna.  The kids eat it from time to time at church finger-food-type fellowship meals or VBS or their grandparents' house.  It was also neat for them because we also had another rare "treat" in their eyes:  white bread!  And it was Wonder, my childhood favorite.  We usually eat only 100% whole wheat!

So, since the boys were so excited, I told them that after worship Sunday night, I would make them fried bologna sandwiches.  I made a big deal about it.  I told them my dad would make them when I was little and how it was cooked a special way and all.....really played it up to be big.  One of the boys even asked if I would be breading it....like chicken fried steak!!! (Wishful thinking on his part :).

I got a huge kick out of showing the kids how to slit the bologna, so it wouldn't puff up too much in the middle.  

I nicknamed the bologna PacMan, since it looked like the PacMan on the video game.  

PacMan grew.....

....and grew.....

.....and grew!  He got a little puffed up, but not too much! :)

I made the boys, plus my daughter and husband their fried bologna sandwiches, then called my dad to tell him the good news about his grandkids enjoying one of his still-to-this-day favorite treats!  

He mentioned when he used to get huge cuts of bologna and grill it on the grill!  I do remember that, but don't think I'll be doing it!

Dad said to tell the boys and our daughter that they were enjoying a delicacy! 

Who knew a fried bologna sandwich was a delicacy???!

What a simple thing that the boys were excited about!  What a fun (and funny!) memory!

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Quick Fudge

Posted by Donna:

My aunt shared this recipe with me over the Christmas holiday. She said it's not as good as the marshmallow fudge that everyone fixes; but, when you're really craving fudge this is a quick fix. I've heard her mention making this several times during the year.


Quick Fudge

1 can Eagle Brand
12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips

Microwave for about 4 1/2 minutes, stirring every minute. Once melted, add the pecans.


Simple, isn't it?

I haven't made this yet, but every recipe she's ever shared with me has been very good. I'm sure I would like this as well. I'm trying to "lay low" on sweets for a while. Pin It Now!

Heirloom Pillow

Posted by Donna:

I wanted to share one of the home-made gifts I made my girls this Christmas. I had seen a similar pillow at one of my very favorite stores in Oklahoma City. This gave me the idea to do this one, but use pictures of their grandparents and great-grandparents.

A couple of years ago, I decided I wanted pictures of all the grandparents when they were very young and first married. It took me a while and several letters to relatives to come up with two or three of the pictures.

To do the pillow, I had Larry scan and print each picture onto a wallet size photo.

The doilies on the two corners were hard to find. I knew what kind of doilie I wanted, but finding each one was hard. The first I found here locally, but the second one I found in an Antique Store in Wichita Falls, Texas.

I also wanted vintage brooches above the pictures. I really wanted to use some of my mother's, but she only had one that would work and I wasn't going to choose who should have it. After searching several stores, I finally located the two vintage butterflies at Hobby Lobby.

I used a pillow form for the pillow. The ribbons were tacked on, then tied to each picture.

These pillows can be used in so many ways. anniversary gifts, wedding, birthdays, etc. So many possiblities---

Just to let you know--- The pillow that I saw had a price tag over $100.00. I was shocked. Believe me, it only took about $12.00 of materials to make; but since I'm not a great seamtress, I told Larry I might charge that much to make one for someone else!!!!!! It was a very trying project to figure out exactly how I wanted it to look. After it was finished, though, I couldn't wait to give it to the girls---regardless of all the mess ups on each one. I love making keepsakes for them.

I'll share another project I made for them in a day or so.

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Nutella Brownies

Posted by Lori:

Do you like Nutella??  Here is a great recipe using Nutella!  I look forward to trying this soon.  Thanks for the recipe, Renee!

Nutella Brownies

1 1/4 cup sugar

1 cup Nutella

1 cup flour

1 - 2 eggs (Mix one and if too dry, add another one)

Mix ingredients together in medium sized bowl.  Spoon batter into 9 x 13 (I assume greased) pan. Bake in preheated 350 degree oven for 12 minutes or until center is done (like regular brownies.)

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Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip

**Note from Lori:  Mom and I posted at the same time yesterday, so if you didn't see this one of hers before, we're sending it out again!  Sorry about that!

Posted by Donna:

A couple of years ago, we were visiting some friends from church. Their daughter had made a very good hot dip that we really liked. I asked for the recipe, but her mother wasn't for sure which one her daughter had made. I found this recipe on allrecipes that sounded pretty much like what her mother was suggesting it could have been. Whether it was the same thing or not, most of the adults and the older grandchildren really liked it.

Hot Buffalo Chicken Dip

2 (10 oz.) cans chunk chicken, drained
2 ( 8oz.) pkg. cream cheese, room temperature
1 cup Ranch dressing
3/4 cup pepper sauce, or to your liking
1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Heat the chicken and hot sauce until heated through. Stir in the cream cheese and ranch dressing. Stir and cook until the cheese is melted. Mix in the half the cheddar cheese. Once the cheese is blended and melted somewhat, put into a crock pot. Sprinkle the rest of the cheese over the top. Cover and cook on low until ready to serve. Serve with chips, crackers or vegetables of your choice.

When I made this, I only had 15 oz. of chicken; so, I had to adjust all the ingredients, but you really can't go wrong. I think I added a little more hot sauce than called for just because I know how "men" like the stronger flavor. I liked it even better when it was heated up later for leftovers after it had been sitting in the fridge for a few hours.

One thing for sure, it is definitely a keeper for my "sandwich" meals. Pin It Now!

Christmas at Mom and Dad's 2011

Posted by Lori:

I always enjoy visiting Mom and Dad's house, but Christmas Day and this weekend I noticed just how pretty and "homey" it really was. 

She has lots of antique things that have been passed down from my grandparents and even great-grandparents, but also lots of things that have been give to her through the years.

I decided to share some of the sweet and sentimental pictures with you...just to brag on her....because I know she never would!  

I'll give Dad some credit, because I have heard that he's pretty good at helping her straighten up and even clean some!  I don't think he would get any of the decorating credit, though :).

These little snowmen were gifts from one of her piano students a few years ago.  They've got a vintage style.  So unique!

When my sister was born, it was at a time when children couldn't visit in the hospital.  I bought her a sock money and sent it up with my grandma.  Since then, I've always liked sock monkeys!  Mom's sock monkey is so sweet!

So thankful mom and dad have these pictures of my grandparents and great-grandparents!

This gingerbread tree has pretty much been the way my mom's tree has looked for almost all of my life!  There have been a few ornament additions, but not too many.  I remember mom sewing the little felt gingerbread men when I was little.  This year she made Kimberly (sister) and I a set of our very own!  She didn't want us to fight over hers some day (hee hee!).

This light-up snowman reminds me of the Snoopy we had when I was little.  

Light up reindeer....

Our family's stockings at my parent's house.

Kimberly and I made mom and dad these stockings several years ago.  Search "stockings" on our homepage to find out how we made them. (She gets most of the credit.  Sewing's not my thing :).

More of the stockings....

More displays of Christmas.

So cute and simple!

Mom found this little metal red truck at Hobby Lobby.  For Christmas, it held metal cookie cutters.  The bell lights were my grandma's (I'm pretty sure).

Glowing....

More of the sock monkey tree.

Mom's handmade felt gingerbread men.

Thanks for the special Christmas memories of 2011, Mom and Dad!  

We love you and appreciate you both!

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