Peanut Butter & Chocolate Themed Day

A glimpse into my kitchen yesterday...

Starting to work at getting some baking done for the sample goodie trays that I make for gifts for my neighbors and for dessert at the family dinner on Christmas day.

Here is two of my boys(12yo, 8yo) working at making some fudgy buttons. This recipe is soooo kid friendly! I let my 12 yo work the stovetop part of the directions and the 8yo did the rest of the stirring and then they both worked at putting them on the wax paper. The boys had fun mixing it together and shaping the "buttons".

Here is close up of their finished product. After tasting his work, my 8yo ds said, that they taste like melted Reese's cups!

While they worked on the fudgy buttons, I did up some haystacks! These were easy to make as well!

Haystacks

1 can chow mein noodles
1 bag(12oz) butterscotch chips
2/3 cup creamy or crunchy peanut butter
2 cups salted peanuts(optional)

In a bowl, mix peanuts and noodles together, set aside. In a double boiler pan, melt chips and peanut butter together until smooth. Remove from the heat, and pour over peanuts and noodles, stir til combined. Drop by the teaspoonful on wax paper. Cool til hardened. To speed up the cooling process you can put them on wax paper on a cookie sheet and put in the freezer for 15 minutes.

The last thing that came out of my kitchen yesterday was Amy's recipe for Reeses Peanut Butter Cup Cookies!! Yummy!! These were easy to make as well. The kids loved helping to unwrap the peanut butter cups and putting them in the cookies.

Stay tuned...there is more goodness that is going to be coming out of my kitchen this week!!!

Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread

I love pumpkin roll however, I don't always want to take the time to make one up! Well, I found a solution that is just as good! I call it Pumpkin Cheesecake Bread! I have taken the original recipe and added a cheesecake "filling" to it!

Here is the recipe...

3 1/3 cups flour(I usually do half white & half whole wheat)
2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground cloves
3/4 tsp salt
2 2/3 cups sugar
2/3 cup canola oil
1 can(15oz) unsweetened pumpkin
2 egg

For cheesecake:
1-8oz cream cheese, softened
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/3 cup sugar


Preheat oven to 350°. Grease and flour a loaf pans. Sift together first 5 ingredients; stir in salt.

Combine sugar, oil, and pumpkin in a large bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. Add egg, beating until well blended. Gradually add dry ingredients, beating at a low speed until blended. Transfer batter to prepared pans.

In a separate bowl, mix up the ingredients for the cheesecake until creamy.

The bread batter is thick enough to create a channel down the center to pour in the cream cheese mixture.

Bake at 350° for 55 minutes or until loaf is golden brown and a wooden pick comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack 15 minutes; remove from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes 2 loaves

You can do this without the cheesecake filling and then use it in some pumpkin spice bread pudding!!

For other tempting tummy recipes and more; head over to Blessed with Grace!

For other kitchen tips, recipes and more; head over to Tammy's Recipes!!

Recovering from the Flu Diet

After reading about my bloggy friend, Amy's un-menu plan due to sickness in their house. I thought I would take the time to share with you what I shared with her! NO! I didn't share my "bugs" with her family! Actually I and my family are pretty healthy at the moment! *knocks on wood!*

She asked her readers to share recipes that would go over well with weak stomachs.

Here is what I shared with her...

Homemade Pedialyte

1 liter drinkable water
1 tablespoon salt
2-3 tablespoons sugar
1/2 packet kool-aid or jello

Mix altogether!

Notes: I keep some of the clear kool-aid packets around just for this purpose so I can flavor it without the coloring so cleaning up the mess isn't so difficult.

The other things that I do to help keep my kids hydrated is keep other clear fluids or pop(like 7-up or Sprite) to give them something different other than the Pedialyte. When I give them pop I will stir some of the fizzies out of it so it is easier on their stomachs(less air/gas).

Once my kids are able to handle more solid foods they get toasted homemade bread, saltines, applesauce, rice cooked in chicken broth and homemade chicken noodle soup. If they are able to handle these items then they are able to "graduate" to other easy on the stomach foods. Foods like bananas, mashed potatoes, and plain noodles.

NO high fat or greasy or or citrus or tomato based foods for a few days while the stomach recovers from their sickness.

Get Well Soon!

This is what works for me during those periods of sickness!

For other works for me head over to Works for Me Wednesday at Shannon's!

Menu Plan Monday 12/7-12/13

**Another week is upon us so that means it is time for another menu plan! This is just a plan and it could change on the cook’s whim! And since I am using the last of my meat stockpile this week, the meals could get interesting as the week progresses!

Last week's menu plan went off without many troubles. I have been working out of my pantry and freezer stockpiles so that we are able to set aside money for Christmas presents and the “surprise” truck repairs and hubby deciding to pay off credit card debt.

This week's shopping trip was just to get the essentials needed to finish some meals for the week! I thought I would be able to get to Sam’s for my monthly run but I have decided to wait until next payday (which is next Monday!). So in the meantime, I am continuing to work out of my stockpile and hitting up the corner grocery stores. I have a Save A Lot on one corner and a block away is an Aldi on that corner!

If you are looking for some inspiration on meals you can find links to my menu suggestion lists over in my right side bar down by Organizing Junkie's button.

A special thanks to Laura-Organizing Junkie for hosting Menu Plan Monday! Need help with your menus; go check other delicious meal plans that have been linked at Laura-Organizing Junkie's site! **

Sunday (12-7)
Breakfast: eggs, bacon, hash browns, and cinnamon rolls
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: McDonalds
Snack: Church Christmas Party (appetizers & desserts)

Monday (12-8)
Breakfast: cereal and muffins
Lunch: leftovers
Dinner: skillet chicken n’ gravy, rice, and green beans
Snack: snack basket

Tuesday (12-9)
Breakfast: Pancakes & sausage
Lunch: sandwich and chips
Dinner: Meatballs(from the freezer), mashed potatoes & gravy, and peas and/or salad
Snack: cookies & milk

Wednesday (12-10)
Breakfast: bagels, and cereal
Lunch: chicken nuggets & tater tots
Dinner: sloppy joes, fries, & carrots
Snack: snack basket

Thursday (12-11)
Breakfast: cereal and poptarts
Lunch: pizza
Dinner: Chicken Club Sandwiches, pan fries, and corn
Snack: snack basket

Friday (12-12)
Breakfast: eggs, cereal and toast
Lunch: sandwiches & chips
Dinner: homemade pizza & breadsticks
Snack: ice cream night

Saturday (12-13)
Breakfast: “Cook’s Choice”
Lunch: ??? probably leftovers!
Dinner: “Long John Silver’s night”—fish, shrimp & chicken, fries, and corn
Snack: snack basket or popcorn

Singing Sunday

All Over the World
by Matt Redman

Even as the world began the stars they sang and all the angels shouted for joy,
Shouted for joy.

Looking back through history the people they had always had a song they must sing,
A song they must sing.

We are the people of God.
We'll sing a song, here on the earth.

All over the world,
Your song will resound.
All over the world,
Your praises ring out.
We're living to say Your name and renoun,
All over the world.

Young and old, near and far, there's a place for every heart to join in Your song,
Join in Your song.

Every nation join our tune, come together as one, give glory to God,
Oh,
Glory to God.

We are the people of God.
We'll sing a song, here on the earth.

All over the world,
Your song will resound.
All over the world,
Your praises ring out.
We're living to say Your name and renoun,
All over the world.

All over the world,
Your song will resound.
All over the world,
Your praises ring out.
We're living to say Your name and renoun,
All over the world.

Great is Your name, and great will be Your song.
Great is Your name, and great will be Your song. (so great)

We lift up our hands and pray.
We lift up our hands and pray.
For holy is Your name!
You will have Your praise!

Give You glory in the north and the south.
They'll give You glory in the eat and the west.
Your name will be known, every tribe, every time.
And Your song will be sung,

All over the world,
Your song will resound.
All over the world,
Your praises ring out.
Savior, we're living to say Your name and renoun,
All over the world.

All over the world,
Your song will resound.
All over the world,
Your praises ring out.
We're living to say Your name and renoun,
All over the world.