Garden

This is my first summer living on the farm, now "home" to me. With field work underway, everyone is busy-busy. I too have kept busy with work, chores, cake orders and working on the yard. I am lucky to have 5 wonderful fruit bearing rhubard plants, but really wanted a garden as well. So I brought the truck to town, bought some wooden border things, and built one.

Step 1: Shape them how I want them to look.
Step 2: Find some stakes and hammer them in.

Step 3: Use the tiller to break the ground up.
Step 4: Use the payloader get some dirt. Level and work it.
Step 5: Planting & fertilizing






Step 6: Draw a map of the garden so I know what to plant next year!


Step 7: Water and watch it grow.

Our dog Lucy loves playing in the sprinkler but she behaved herself and stayed out of the garden. Please disregard the lawn, my husband is ordering a sprayer to hook on the Gator to get the pesky weeds under control!

Hint to my Momma: If you study the veggies we planted you will find they are all the ingredients to your awesome salsa!

Pepsi Roast

Pepsi Roast
(Sounds funny but tastes awesome!)

1 home-raised/corn-fed beef roast
1 can pepsi
1 can cream mushroom soup
1 envelope onion soup mix
sliced onions optional
potatoes/carrots/celery

Put first 4 ingredients in a crockpot on low for 10 hours. Add cut up veggies about an hour or two before serving. It smells as delicious as it is. Serve, using the juice as gravy!

This is perfect for a summer day when you really don't want to be in the house cooking but still need a hearty supper.

Enjoy!

Baby Shower Cupcakes

I made this cupcakes this past weekend for one of my best friend's and her baby Makenzie. This was my first time using molds. They are so fun, you can create just about anything for any theme party.

Recipe for a Happy Family

1 husband
1 wifechildren
1 Bible for each
1 home
Generous portion of prayer
2 cups love - firmly packed
1 package work
1 package play (together)
1 portion of patience
1 portion of understanding
1 portion of forgiveness
1 small paddle
1 cup kissses

Mix thoroughly and sprinkle with awareness. Bake in moderate oven of everyday life, using as fuel all the grudges and past unpleasantness. Cool. Turn out onto a platter of cheerfulness. Garnish with tears and laughter in large helpings. Serve God, country and community.



I thought it was cute and had to share!

Cream Puff in a Pan

With my mother's permission I am posting one her most requested desserts!

Cream Puff in a pan
1 c. water

1/2 c. butter (real)

1 c. flour
6 eggs

2 small boxes or 1 large box of you favorite pudding

3 1/2 cups milk

8 oz. cream cheese

1 container of cool whip

*Chocolate syrup - optional

*crushed walnuts or pecans - optional


Directions:
In a small kettle bring water and butter to a boil. Once boiling remove from the burner and add flour. Stirring rapidly the mixture will fall away from the sides of your kettle. Beat eggs in, one at a time. Once mixed well spread into a greased jelly roll pan. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes. When removed from the oven you will find a crust with many "hills/bubbles" etc. This is normal. Cool completely.

Mix together pudding, milk, and cream cheese. Spread over top of the cooled crust. Refrigerate until set. Top with a layer of cool whip. To dress them up a bit, we drizzle chocolate syrup on the cool whip and sprinkle with crushed walnuts or pecans.

Store covered in the refrigerator. Enjoy!

Familiar.Easy.Loved

It's Saturday! I love to catch up on house chores and baking on the weekends. We don't have to have 10 ingredients, slave in the kitchen for hours for this traditional, been around forever, smile creating treat! I'm sure each and everyone of you knows this recipe....but I figured why not share it anyway!

Rice Krispie Bars

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows
• 6 cups Kellogg's® Rice Krispies® cereal
  
  
  
  Directions: Melt butter and marshmallows. I use the microwave but the stove top works too. Be sure to stir often. I add a splash of vanilla flavoring to my gooey melted mixture. Stir in 6 cups of rice krispies. Today I used Kellogg's but the generic brands taste just as good.

Pat into a buttered 9x13 pan. Store covered so the bars keep their moisture. These bars can be easily decorated with colored sugars, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and so forth. Today I made the original recipe with no extras.

Although I have this recipe in my memory you can also find it on the cereal box! :-)

This is one of my favorite kitchen gadgets. It is the nylon knife sold by Pampered Chef. At first I thought a plastic knife what good is this....I've realized it has done a lot of good. Not to mention it main purpose which protects all our new pans we got as wedding gifts from getting knife marks that eventually rust. If you don't already have one, I highly recommend it!

Hamburger Crescent Rolls

I had hamburger thawing at home, not sure what to make for supper! Thanks to my friends on Facebook I got some great ideas- tacos, lasanga, goulash, tator tot hotdish, chili, etc All these wonderful ideas helped me make my menu for the week. Aside from these ideas I had two rolls of Crescent Rolls in the fridge that needed to be used up. I like a good housewife I whipped up a new idea!

Hamburger Crescent Rolls

1 1/2 pounds hamburger
1 Onion - chopped

1/2 cups shredded cabbage
1/2 cup shredded cheese

2 rolls Crescent Rolls

Brown hamburger with chopped onion. Add shredded cabbage cook until soft. Sprinkle with cheese and stir well. Unroll the crescent rolls triangles, I stretched them a little to hold more of the meat mixture. Place the desired amount of filling near the bottom edge of the triangle and roll them up! I baked mine on a baking sheet *sprayed with Pam* for about 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

The guys ate them with ketchup, I however mixed a little horseradish with a fat free mayo and a couple drops of vinegar for a nice creamy dipping sauce.

The nice thing about this kind of recipe is that it's more of an "idea" than recipe. Use your imagination mix ingredients together you like wrap them up and bake em. It's a win-win idea!

Enjoy!

"Favorite" Pork Chops

When I ask my brother what he would like for supper, he always replies one of two things...crab legs or "favorite" pork chops with the lemons! My family absolutely loves these chops, my husband on the other hand....not so much! I'm going to share the recipe anyway, I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

Lemon ChopsPork Chops
Onion - slices

Lemon - slices
Ketchup

Mustard

Brown Sugar

Worcestershire sauce

Lay desired number of pork chops in a baking dish. Add a little water to the pan similiar to the amount used in a roast...just a very shallow amount. Next layer one solid slice of an onion then a slice of lemon on top of each chop. Top with a homemade sauce made of mainly ketchup, squirt of mustard, a few drops of Worcestershire sauce, and enough brown sugar to sweeten the mixture. (This sauce is similiar to what I use to make bbq's.)

Bake at 350 for about 45 minutes or until chops are done!

*Note: We actually eat the lemon and onion with the chop, they are super yummy!

Enjoy!

Happy-Hoppy Easter!

Happy Easter

We hosted our very first holiday- Easter this past Sunday. The host(s) gennerally take care of the main course of the meal and our guests bring dishes to pass. Our menu was: baked ham, scalloped potatoes, green beans, lettuce/apple salad, veggie tray, cupcakes galore, deviled eggs, easter candy etc.

I whipped up two different flavors of cupcakes chocolate and vanilla. Each decorated as an easter basket or a bunny.

We had one "hunter" and a good hunter he was! Grady who is 19 months old absolutely loved hunting for eggs! Here are a few pictures of him in action. *It was so windy out, we had our hunt in the house.

Grady is our Godson so we gave him a special gift: Johnny Tractor place setting with a talking Scooby-Doo card. He absolutely love it!

 

I hope you all had a wonderful Easter, and that you all remembered the reason for the season.



Happy Birthday Luke!

Sunday, March 4th was my brother's 26th birthday! He is the best brother a girl can have. Even if he is younger than his sisters, he is always looking out for us. He would do anything for anyone, and has a heart of gold.  I sent a cake down for the celebration......

Luke's shared his cake with his BFF, our nephew Grady!

We finally got a some snow.....who else would taking a 18 month out to build a snowman...Uncle Luke. Grady just loves his to pieces!

Grady's daddy might still be looking for his beanie.... lol!

Happy March Everyone!

Our Wedding



We got married December 2nd at Maui :-) finding a dress for a destination wedding, to fly across the US and over the ocean seemed challenging until my sister pulled this one out for me to try on. It was love at first sight.

It's not a wedding without a bouquet! Since we had a destination wedding and a reception later, I found a lady on Etsy that made custom broach bouquets, it was perfect. My bouquet was filled with vintage broaches symbolizing Justin and I, our begininng, as well some in memory of my Grandparents and Aunt who were with us in spirit.

 

Maui was absolutely beautiful, a true paradise!



 Our custom"Knotty Blocks" that sat with our guest book, everyone loved them:



WEDDING CAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!! We chose a beach theme to fit our wedding. It was oh so yummy. We saved the top layer for our 1st anniversary.

If I can offer any advice to bride-to-be's it would be this:

2. People never remember the decorations, simple is great with lights of course!

3. Skip the free booze and favors, your guests will buy their own drinks and favors get left laying around!

4. Make a list of pictures for your photographers this way you will not "forget" anyone.

5. Whether a band or dj have them play music that people can actually dance too, consider your grandparents that might want a couple polka, waltz and so on, "jig-a-boo" music is okay but not all night!

6. It's not the size of your diamond, it's the meaning that never ending ring represents!

7. Toasting glasses, cake knifes, personalized napkins are nice but not really necessary, save your $.

8. Smile the whole day, people are snapping pictures all the time! My face felt numb about 3 hours into it-haha!

9. Don't get worked up over the people who don't send the RSVP's back, order for the number you have for sure, some of the people that tell you they are coming...won't show up. Sad but true you do find out how important you really are in some people's life. 

11. Let your family and friends throw you a shower/party it's a lot of fun and a great way to show you just how much you mean to them.

12. Always, always send thank you cards out for shower gifts, and again for wedding gifts.

13. It's your day, everything will be just beautiful and exactly how you want it!

 


John Michael Montgomery says it best:
Life's a dance you learn as you go
Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don't worry about what you don't know
Life's a dance you learn as you go

Easter Goodies

Valentines Day is here and gone. Ash Wednesday is next week. It's time to start thinking about Easter. Last year I made the cutest cupcakes! Okay I might sound a bit bias, you can decide for youself! I made my normal chocolate cupcakes topped with buttercream frosting, licorice, and jelly beans.

 

My husband carried these around by the basket handle (licorice). We found the Starburst Licorice works wonderfully as they actually hold the weight of the cupcake once the frosting dried.

I hope to post more Easter goodies soon!
Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Tan

My mother's friend turned 48 on February 10th! I made him a cake that reflects is character.



OXO Steel Pop Storage Containers

Pinterest has given me wonderful ideas for the home, garden, crafts, cakes, etc. and is helping me get our home organized. I absolutely love these OXO Steel Pop Containers. These were purchased from Herberger's-  Target also has them but with white plastic tops. Living in the country, 45 minutes from a grocery store, our pantry is always well stocked. It's so much easier to be organized!

Chocolate Mocha Cupcakes

I am completely hooked on foodnetwork shows like Cupcake Wars...Kid in a Candy Store, Unwrapped etc....they all have such creative, tasty ideas! Inspired by Cupcake Wars I have created my very first mocha cupcake with a coffee buttercream frosting.

Chocolate Mocha Cupcake

1 1/2 c. cake flour

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c. sugar

2/3 c. cocoa

1/2 c. butter - melted

2/3 c. buttermilk
2 whole eggs

2 egg whites

4 tsp vanilla

6 tbsp strong coffee (I used 6 Tbsp hot water mixed with 2 Tbsp instant mocha coffee)

Whisk the first 6 ingredients listed in a bowl. In stand mixer (I love my KitchenAid stand mixer!) beat egg and egg whites, stir in buttermilk, vanilla, melted butter and coffee. Slowing add dry ingredients until mixed well.

In a "Mini Muffin Pan" fill each cupcake 3/4 full of batter and bake at 350 for 10 minutes. Cool completely.

Coffee Buttercream Frosting
1 stick of butter - softened

4 tbsp warm water

2 tbsp instant coffee

2 tsp vanilla

6 c powdered sugar

Dissolve the coffee in warm water and set aside. In stand mixer whip butter until it is fluffy. Add vanilla and coffee water. Slowing add powdered sugar and mix well. Add a couple drops of milk if needed to make the frosting spreadable.

Lastly, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes. I kept the decorations very simple but a chocolate covered coffee bean or a plain coffee bean on the top of the piped frosting looks and tastes great!

This recipe makes 96 mini cupcakes!
Enjoy!



Brownie Dessert Pizza

     We love pizza, fruit pizza, vegatable pizza! Although our usual fruit pizza has a homemade flour and butter crust and is delightful, I saw another idea using a brownie for the crust. I hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

Brownie Dessert Pizza

1 box brownie mix - family sized

Water-Oil-Egg as called for on box

1 8oz package cream cheese

1/3 cup sugar

2 tsp vanilla

your favorite fruit - sliced

Direction: Mix brownie mix according to box. Spread on a 12 inch pizza pan, bake as directed on the box. Cool completely. Mix cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together until smooth. Spread on brownie crust. Top with your favorite fruits. Optional: drizzle melted chocolates to pretty it up a bit!

I was so excited to try something new, I was slightly limited different types of fruits, but you get the concepts! This is such a pretty dish. I recommend serving them in small pieces as it tends to be quite rich!

Enjoy!

Cheeseburger Hotdish

I generally get home around six o'clock from work and begin preparing supper. I try to choose something easy during the week as I do not like eating anything after seven. Last night I tried a new recipe out of the Braddock Centennial Cookbook compliments of one of our neighbor ladies.

Cheeseburger Hotdish
1.5 pounds hamburger 
1 small onion chopped
salt and pepper to taste
1 can cheddar cheese soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 bag french fries
shredded cheese

Directions: Brown hamburger and onion, season with salt and pepper. Add soups. Top with french fries. Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours. Sprinkle with shredded cheese and bake for another 5 minutes until the cheese is melted.

*I modified the directions to fit my time limit. I baked the fries in the oven while browning the hamburger/onion. After adding the soups I let the mixture simmer over medium heat for about 20 minutes before adding the already baked french fries. I sprinkled the cheese on and covered it for a couple minutes to melt. Ta-da supper was served.

Next time I will be adding some sort of a vegatable and possibly topping with hashbrowns!

Enjoy!

Mexican Meat Cups

I love trying new recipes. When my sister and mother hosted a bridal shower in my honor, she requested guests to bring recipes to share. This recipe was shared by our photographer Corrina  from www.corrinabeck.com!

Mexican Meat Cups

• Refrigerator biscuits
• 1 lb. hamburger
• Taco Seasoning
• 1 sm. can tomato paste
• 1 c. water
• Shredded cheese
• Salsa
• Diced tomatoes
• Shredded Lettuce
• Sour Cream

Roll out fridge biscuits as far as you can without tearing them; flip over a muffin pan and spray with non-stick spray. Form the biscuits over the muffin mounds; bake according to the biscuit package or until slightly brown. In the meantime, brown hamburger; add taco seasoning, tomato paste and water and cook on medium heat until thoroughly mixed. Once the biscuits are done, remove from pan and flip it over, place the biscuits in the muffin holder and put a large spoonful of the hamburger mixture in each biscuits. Top with shredded cheese and stick back in the over for a minute to melt cheese. Remove and add salsa, diced tomatoes, lettuce and sour cream.

* I copied the photo from the recipe as it was prettier than the one I took! I served ours with chips. Thank you Corrina, we loved them!!!

Happy Birthday Mom!

Today is my Mom's 46th birthday! Oops did I just release the actual age of my beautiful mother, yep! Although I didn't get to spend the day with her I baked her something special for her "surprise" birthday party tomorrow...which will take place over my lunch hour while my sister and nephew are at her place! I think it's safe to post this tonight as she is out celebrating! So here's to my momma!

Chili

There is nothing better than a cup of Mom's Chili on a cold snowy day in North Dakota!

Mom's Chili
2 Pkgs dry chili mix *We always use the Schilling brand
3 Lbs. hamburger
1 Small onion - chopped
1 Green pepper - chopped
2 Cans kidney beans - don't drain
2 Cans Tomato Soup + 2 cans water
1 Tsp chili powder
1/2 Tsp red pepper powder
2 Cans diced tomatoes - don't drain


Directions: In a large soup kettle, brown hamburger along with onions and green pepper. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil then turn heat down and let simmer until all is cooked through. Garnish with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, and crackers as wanted. We normally serve our chili with a slice of garlic texas toast!

*This recipe has been doubled to feed our family of six. If you are cooking for less just cut the recipe in half.

Enjoy!