Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Halloween Food: Mummy Meatloaf

I have been so ready for fall and Halloween to get here. We actually had our first cool morning this morning (58 degrees).

I have been looking for really cute Halloween foods to make in October and this meatloaf from Gourmet Mom on-the-go is just too cute.





Not Your Mummy's Meatloaf

Meatloaf Ingredients:
2 lbs. lean ground beef or turkey
3/4 c. crushed Wheaties Cereal
1/4 c. ketchup
2 T. Mustard
2 eggs
1 T. grape jelly (weird, but it's awesome, I promise!)
1 C. finely shredded carrots
Garlic salt, to taste
Salt and pepper, to taste
Garnish Ingredients:
6-8 lasagna noodles, cooked
ketchup (optional)2 slices cheese, any kind2 green or black olives
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook lasagna noodles according to package directions. Mix all meatloaf ingredients well in a large bowl. Press into a glass bowl (make sure it's ok for the oven) and bake for 60 minutes or until center is done.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Christmas Gift Idea

Dr Seuss

My kids love books! I am always looking for new books for them to keep them interested and at Christmas time I give books to other kids too.

So when I ran across this deal to get 2 free books I thought that I would check it out and share it with you too. When I was at their website I also realized that you get a FREE tote with your order too.

It says that you are also under no obligation to continue receiving any other books. So you can just call and cancel after you receive your shipment and you are good to go. You get two free books and a free tote.

Just click on the picture and it will take you to the website.

I just love free stuff!!

Have a great day!





Thursday, September 17, 2009

Halloween Recipe: Crescent Mummy Dogs



Crescent Mummy Dogs

Hot dogs are all wrapped up in a classic recipe for Halloween...or anytime a chuckle is in order.
Prep Time: 30 Min
Total Time: 50 Min
Makes: 10 sandwiches
User Rating:

INGREDIENTS:

1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet
2 1/2 slices American cheese, quartered (2.5 oz)
10 large hot dogs
Cooking spray
Mustard or ketchup, if desired

DIRECTIONS:

1. Heat oven to 375°F.
2. If using crescent rolls: Unroll dough; separate at perforations, creating 4 rectangles. Press perforations to seal. If using dough sheet: Unroll dough; cut into 4 rectangles.
3. With knife or kitchen scissors, cut each rectangle lengthwise into 10 pieces, making a total of 40 pieces of dough. Slice cheese slices into quarters (1/2 slice cheese, cut in half).
4. Wrap 4 pieces of dough around each hot dog and 1/4 slice of cheese to look like "bandages," stretching dough slightly to completely cover hot dog. About 1/2 inch from one end of each hot dog, separate "bandages" so hot dog shows through for "face." On ungreased large cookie sheet, place wrapped hot dogs (cheese side down); spray dough lightly with cooking spray.
5. Bake 13 to 17 minutes or until dough is light golden brown and hot dogs are hot. With mustard, draw features on "face."
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Bake 15 to 19 minutes.

NUTRITION INFORMATION:
1 Sandwich: Calories 330 (Calories from Fat 240); Total Fat 27g (Saturated Fat 11g, Trans Fat 1 1/2g); Cholesterol 50mg; Sodium 1110mg; Total Carbohydrate 11g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 4g); Protein 11g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 0%; Calcium 10%; Iron 6% Exchanges: 1/2 Starch; 0 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1 1/2 High-Fat Meat; 3 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.


Variation
Try a mini version with cocktail sausages.

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Halloween Food: Jello Worms

Halloween is just around the corner and I am always looking for some new ideas. I found this today and it sounds great.

Plan to make these at least a day ahead of time.

Ingredients:

100 flexible plastic straws (The straws with a bendable neck make the most realistic worms by adding ridges to the worm. Place bendable necks of straws at the bottom of the container).

an empty, cleaned 1-quart milk or orange juice carton to hold straws. (The straws will fill up to the height of the container, the taller the better.)

1 package (6 ounces) raspberry or grape flavor gelatin 3 envelopes unflavored gelatin

3 cups boiling water

3/4 cup whipping cream

12 to 15 drops green food coloring waxed paper

Instructions:
Combine gelatin in a bowl and add boiling water;
stir until gelatin completely dissolve. Chill until lukewarm, about 20 min.
Meanwhile, gently pull straws to extend to full length; place in tall container.
Wrap together with a loose rubber band to hold straws together.
Blend cream and food coloring with the lukewarm gelatin mixture.
Carefully pour into container, filling straws.

Chill until gelatin is firm, at least 8 hours, or cover and chill up to 2 days.

Pull straws from container or, if you're using a carton, simply tear the carton away from the filled straws. Pull straws apart.
Run hot tap water for about 2 seconds over 3 to 4 straws at a time.
Starting at the empty ends, push worms from straws with rolling pin, or use your fingers.
Lay worms on waxed paper-lined baking sheets.
Cover and chill until ready to use, at least 1 hour or up to 2 days.
Worms will hold at room temperature for about 2 hours
If you want to see them or know more check out The Idea Room, Amy did a great job on hers.




Sunday, September 06, 2009

Quote of the Day

Here is a nice quote for the day

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak,
but their echoes are truly endless."

Mother Teresa



Friday, September 04, 2009

Building a House

We are about to start on a new journey. We are going to build a house. Well this will be our 3rd house to build in 6 years. We built one in 2003 and lived in it until 2006 and then built another one. We live in them for a few years then sell it and build another. Since I have started blogging now I am going to make a point to keep you posted on our progress and accept any tips on building and money saving or decorating advise. So feel free to comment and help me out.




Here are a few pictures of the lot.