Recipe: Rocky Road Cookie Pizza

Today we are having our second annual Harvest Party for our church-SVBC. The festivities will be held at Crystal Peak Park in Verdi, NV. There will be games for the children and games/pumpkin carving for the teens. We will also have hayrides for everyone. The children will receive a treat bag with snacks. The teens have collected canned food from local neighborhoods and we will be having our famous "hobo stew" for the meal along with water and hot cocoa. We are asking every family to bring a dessert for the meal to share. We will end the evening with a bonfire, singing and testimonies. The temperature will be 70 for a daytime high but will drop quickly when the sun goes down - so please bring warm clothing. Also bring your lawn chair for seating for the day.

Here is the recipe that I am making for my dessert for the Harvest Party:

Rocky Road Cookie Pizza

1 tube (16 1/2 oz.) refrigerated sugar cookie dough

1 cup miniature marshmallows

1 cup (6oz.) semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped salted peanuts

1/3 cup hot caramel ice cream topping, warmed

Let dough stand at room temperature for 5-10 minutes to soften. Press dough onto a greased 12-inch pizza pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes or until deep golden brown.

Sprinkle with marshmallows, chips and peanuts. Bake 5-10 min. longer or until marshmallows are puffed. Drizzle with the caramel topping. Cool on a wire rack.

Recipe: Green Tomato-Raspberry Jam

Today, I tried a new homemaking adventure for me...canning! Now I grew up in rural Ohio among farmland and cows. Our family grew a large garden every year and I did help my mom can various fruits and vegetables. So I am not new to canning...however, I have never attempted it on my own.

We recently had our first hard freeze and I picked off my green tomatoes so they wouldn't be spoiled. What to do with them all? My dad had recently mentioned that he made a green tomato jam with some green tomatoes he had.

So here is my first canning adventure - Green Tomato-Raspberry Jam! And I had so much fun doing it. :) (I did a little happy dance in my kitchen when my first batch came out of the canner - my daughter thought I was nuts. LOL!)

Recipe: Green Tomato-Raspberry Jam

6 cups of chopped green tomatoes

4 cups of sugar

6 oz. of raspberry gelatin

Notes: It is very sweet so I think you could cut back the sugar on this recipe. But I didn't want to try it on my first time.

You can also try different flavors of gelatin for different jam. :)

I started by chunking up the tomatoes - cutting off any bad spots and putting it in my blender.

When my blender was full, I would use the CHOP setting to blend up the tomatoes. I then poured it in a mixing bowl and would cut up another batch for the blender.

I always thought you had to have a lot of special equipment for canning but it is pretty simple. I got this small kit at Wal-Mart for around $10. It came with the basket and three pint jars along with coupons. It worked perfectly for this type of recipe!

While I cut up the tomatoes, I had 3 pint jars sterilizing in my small stock pot.

This is the tomatoes in the blender.

Pour the mixture into a large pot and add the sugar. Heat to a boil and cook on a medium boil for 20 minutes-stirring often.

When the 20 minutes is up, remove from the heat and add 6 oz. of raspberry gelatin.

You will then pour the jam mixture into your canning jars. This recipe will make 3 pints of jam. Wipe the rims of the jars and put on the lids. (You will want to read canning instructions thoroughly if you have never canned before. There are more things to know than perhaps I may tell you.)

You will then place the jars in your container and place in your stock pot. I use my large stock pot for this and it was a perfect size. I had filled it with water and heated the water to just almost boiling while I made the jelly. After placing the jars in the stock pot, put on the lid and boil for 15 minutes. After the 15 minutes are up, turn off the heat and let stand for 5 more minutes.

After the 5 minutes are up, remove the jars from the pot and place on a counter or such. You will not want to touch or move them for 12 hours. Check to see that the lids have sealed properly.

That was my canning adventure! I am thinking of trying out two more recipes in my canning booklet - Sweet Apple Cider Butter and Zesty Salsa. :)

For now, I want to make some biscuits for my yummy jam. (The girls already tried it on their PB sandwich. :)

What Book Are You Reading?

What good books have you been reading lately?

My daughter, Addie, started reading the American Girl books - the Addy series. She wants to collect all the older American girl books/series. I told her we can start looking at thrift stores and garage sales and she can also ask for them for Christmas, etc. I am always excited to see my girls wanting to read.

I recently read a book by a Christian lady - Jeannine Baldwin. The name of the book is Learning Not To Be Weary. It was so interesting and encouraging that I read it in about in hour early one morning with my coffee. :) And I will be teaching some of her thoughts in my ladies Bible study this coming Tuesday.

I also picked up the autobiography - Laura Bush - The Intimate Portrait of the First Lady by Ronald Kessler. I began reading it before I went to bed last night and have already enjoyed this book. I love reading inspiring books on amazing women - and Mrs. Laura Bush is definitely an amazing woman.

Even my 4 yr. old-Sierra has started reading her little books for K-4. Mainly blends, short words and a short sentence. It is so exciting though to pass a love of reading on to your children. It is nearly a lost art in this day of media.

Pick up a good book today!

Pumpkin Patch 2011

Last Friday, we took a field trip to the Andelin Farm-Pumpkin Patch. This is our second year and we really enjoy it. The kids have a ball!

Taking a wagon ride around the pumpkin patch.

Summer loves the animals!!

Walking back to the pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins.

Summer and her lil' punkin. She held it the entire way home. LOL!

Her faces are so funny. :)

Sunday and Couponing...

So CVS ran a special on Sunday...bring in your child dressed in a costume and with a purchase...the children's picture would be taken for a free 5x7. They also received 2 goody bags with candy, toys, coupons (for Mommy).

So I took an Indian, a bumblebee and a ballerina. :)

Here are a few goodies that the girls received - glow sticks, candies, coupons, stickers, little toys. I also bought a pack of diapers for $4.99 and a bag of candy corn for FREE!

I also got these Skittles for the girls' Disneyland treat bags for $.25 each. And this pumpkin carving tool for FREE!

This was a FREE collage I made for my husband for his office at work. :) Walgreens special.

Sewing Day...

Today, I spent the morning with my friend, Mrs. Sharon Cruz. I had mentioned about making my own napkins...and she invited me over for a sewing lesson. :) And this was our finished product! An apron for Addie.

This is the material up close...purple - her favorite color.

Mrs. Cruz's cozy little sewing nook. :)

So many memories came flooding in my head today...probably only a few people would relate. Two being my sisters - Rachel and Rhoda. My grandma taught all 3 of us girls to sew - mainly culottes and things like that. I can see us sitting at her kitchen table cutting and pinning material...then taking turns at her sewing machine. I never completely enjoyed the art of sewing back then as a teen girl...but I am thankful for the lessons that were taught me. And I cherish the memories of the time spent with my grandma. And I appreciate seeing the finished product.

So today, lots of memories popped back in my head. I couldn't figure out at first why my hand would instinctively go to the wheel on the side of the machine after I finished a seam...until I remembered that my grandma always taught us to bring the needle back up. Even though I had forgotten that...it was ingrained in my mind and it came back to the surface after all these years.

I was excited. I decided to step out of my comfort zone and just go for it. And I felt such a sense of accomplishment to give my daughter a gift that I had made for her. We can't say that much these days, can we? We have lost many of the skills that our mothers and grandmothers had. I decided today to jump into things like this. Yes, my sister will laugh...she knows my sewing and crafting skills. LOL! I don't want to use the excuse that "I don't have time". That is such a lousy excuse. I have decided to make time. :) And it feels so good.

So I hope to share more projects with you all in the future. :) Wish me luck! LOL!

Holiday Activity: Carving Pumpkins

Jack-o'-lanterns glowing in a darkened room are a natural choice when decorating for Halloween. But instead of carving pumpkins in the same old way, use cookie cutters!

For an evening effect, we used an assortment of star and moon cookie cutters. You could also use cutters with a fall theme, like leaves and pumpkins.

You may want to purchase an inexpensive pumpkin carving kit, which can be found at craft, hardware and variety stores during the Halloween season. Instead of a kitchen knife, we used the small serrated saw from the kit to cut out the cookie cutter image. The kit's plastic drill comes in handy to create small circles on some of the pumpkins.

To make your pumpkins look their best for your party, cut them the day before. Rub a little petroleum jelly on the edges of the cutouts and refrigerate. The day of the party, place a tea light candle in each pumpkin.

Set the jack-o'-lanterns on the table along with your other decorations. We used a felt witch's hat, dried leaves, Indian corn and tree branches. Just before guests arrive, dim the lights, light the candles in the pumpkins and have a festive Halloween!

Cookie-Cutter Pumpkin Carving

Before you begin, carefully cut a circle around the pumpkin stem, lift off the lid and remove the seeds from the lid and inside the pumpkin.

1. Place a cookie cutter on the pumpkin and tap firmly with a rubber mallet until at least half of the cutter has pierced the pumpkin's shell. (If the pumpkin shell is thin, the cutter may be pounded all the way through the shell.)
2. Remove the cookie cutter, using a needle-nose pliers if needed.
3. With a small serrated knife (or the serrated saw from a pumpkin carving kit), follow the pattern made from the cookie cutter to cut out the image, making sure to cut all the way through the shell.
4. With one hand inside the pumpkin, push out cookie cutter image from the pumpkin and discard.

Halloween Candy Craft: Vase

Here is a cute and easy Halloween candy craft idea that you could do with children.

Gumball/Candy Vase

What you need: Gumballs (especially the Halloween colored ones - browns, oranges, yellows), large vase, smaller vase, flowers

Instructions: Insert the small vase into the large vase. Drop the gumballs or candy into the space between the vases creating your desired pattern. Add fresh or dried flowers to the smaller vase.

Friday and Fall Activities

Friday. The next two weeks will be busy ones for me.

...Our second grading period ends the first week in November. Time to send our grades again!

...We have our TLC (Touching Ladies for Christ) Bible study. Our theme for this meeting is "Soup for the Soul". Everyone is to bring a crock pot of their favorite soup for the meeting. We will feed your soul with a great study from the Word of God!

...We have our church Harvest Party. It is a fun time of games, hayrides, hobo stew and hot cocoa for the church family. Join us on this Saturday!

...I am meeting a friend for a sewing lesson at her home. She is going to teach me how to make my own napkins for my home. :)

...More appts...dentist, doctor, etc.

...Squeeze in gym time with the hubby. I have enjoyed this so much. :)

...Pack and prepare for our Disneyland family vacation in two weeks! I am very much a preparation person...so I will have many lists and begin packing now for the six individuals of our family. Can't wait! We watched our Disney DVD about the parks last night and that just fueled the excitement.

...Today we have a field trip to the pumpkin patch today for home school.

And so the whirlwind begins! :) Have a great weekend!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I love October. It is the most wonderful month of the year. :)

...the weather is cooler.

...the leaves are changing into beautiful reds, yellows, oranges.

...the sun streams into my living room every afternoon.

...harvest decorations are out.

...there is a fat pumpkin on my front step from our neighbor's garden.

...sweatshirts in the morning and short sleeves in the afternoon.

...baking fall goodies...breads, cobblers and crisps.

...taking a field trip to the pumpkin patch with friends.

...autumn scented candles burning in the evenings.

...crunchy leaves underfoot.

...hot apple cider, hot cocoa or coffee on a cool evening.

...a bowl of hot soup for dinner...comfort food.

...church harvest parties.

Yes, it is the most wonderful time of the year. :)

College Football Day!

Today, we had a couples activity to the UNR/New Mexico football game. UNR is the University of Nevada-Reno. Of course, we are big fans! It has been years since my husband and I have gone to a game and it was a lot of fun!

It was also white-out game day so that is why we are all wearing our white Wolf Pack shirts. My shirt was a special gift from my hubby this week. :)

Danyelle and David

The stadium - a beautiful day around 80 degrees.

Jake and Megan

Casey and Lisa

Getting ready for kickoff!

Painted my nails blue for the game. :)

Afterward, we went to Fuddrucker's for a bite to eat. I love our SVBC couples!

SVBC Teen Activity at Pastor's Home

Last night, my husband and I hosted a teen activity for our church teens. We began with steaming bowls of chili (compliments of the pastor's wife :) topped with sour cream, shredded cheddar cheese and multi-grain crackers. Washed down with plenty of soda. LOL!

Then the teens played each other in Nintendo64...the living room was so loud you could hardly hear yourself talk. Ha ha!

We ended the night with everyone gathered around the fire pit in the backyard. S'mores for everyone...and lastly, a challenge from Bro. Shaun, our youth director.

A fun evening...we have a great group of teens here at SVBC. :)

PS. My camera is broke so this is a picture from my phone.

"I would be OK..."

I was doing some pondering about people that go through major life events.

Cancer

Losing a loved one

Miscarriage

Losing a job

Financial problems

And I thought...People often say when they are going through these life events..."I want to be able to help people who will go through the same thing that I have had to."

I believe perhaps that is one of the purposes that God allows these events to happen to us. To be better able to help those that we come in contact with down the road of our lives.

It makes sense. I will better be able to help someone with their marriage problems since I have successfully been married for 10 years. I have experience.

My sister will be able to help another lady who has a miscarriage because she herself has had a miscarriage.

My mom and dad will be able to help those in their ministry who lose a parent because they both have lost both of their parents to Heaven.

And as I pondered this subject...I thought this thought...

You will know you are successful in helping another...

if that person looks at you and says...

"I know if that circumstance happens to me in my life...I will be able to handle it. I will be OK."

I look at Mrs. Julie Fink - a pastor's wife friend from Bloomington, IL. She recently was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had surgery and will now be going through chemo and radiation. She has already helped other ladies through her herself having cancer. Why?

Because I can look at her and I think..."If I were to ever have breast cancer, I know I could handle it. I know I would be OK."

I have seen her handle cancer, stare it in the face and beat it! And with a positive and amazing spirit!!

What have you had to go through in your life? Cancer...loss of a baby...loss of a loved one...loss of a job...financial troubles?

Have the people around you looked at you and said..."If that ever happens to me, I want to handle it like her."? Do they know that they could handle it too?

Or do they see a crying...depressed...sad person? Do they see a scared or frightened person?

Take the challenge. Let it be said of you...

"If I were to ever _____________________, I know I could handle it.

I know I would be OK."

Keeping At It!

I made myself go out and do a little couponing. It is hard to keep up sometimes with everything else going one...so I just went to CVS and Walgreens one evening and did a couple deals.

CVS

Garnier Fructis Shampoo and Conditioner - It is on sale for $4.99 (It is the big bottles!). I used 2 MFR coupons for $1 off each. They have a deal this week - Buy $10 of the Garnier products and receive $5 Extra Bucks. That is half off! And...a little inside tip - You buy 2 bottles which total only $9.98 - The Extra Bucks will still print off for you! So I got the two big bottles for $1.50 each! That is sweet. :)

I also got the Garnier Hair Color. I used 2 MFR coupons for $2 off each box. They are on sale and I got each box for $2.50 each. Great price for this brand with the avocado oil, etc.

Walgreens

I did two transactions. The first:

Biore Scrub (This stuff is great and last a long time!) They are on sale for $5.99 each. I used 2 MFR coupons for $2 off each. The deal this week is buy 2 products of the Biore products and receive $5 in Register Rewards. So I got 2 scrubs for $1.50 each! Yay!!

Then I did a second transaction:

Leggs Hosiery is on sale BOGO Free this week. With fall coming, I needed a few pairs to stay warm for church. :) I bought 2 pair - $4.59 for both. $2.29 a pair. I used my $5 Register Reward from the first transaction (I had to add in a couple $.39 candy fillers to reach $5 since the hose was only $4.59) and I only paid the tax out of pocket. :)

I heard there was a Cottonelle deal as well and maybe a few other deals I might go back and do.

Oh yes, CVS has 24 packs of Nestle bottled water for $2.98 this week. My husband and I do lots of water so I grabbed 2 packs. And they were the breast cancer ones. (For my friend-Mrs. Fink) :)

Go out and try a deal or two today!

Vacation Tips...

So...in 25 days...we leave for our family vacation to Disneyland!!! We have been planning our first trip to Disneyland for about 3 years now. We wanted to wait until the girls were all old enough to remember the trip and to enjoy it. So the plan was to go after the girls turned 4, 6 and 8 yrs. old. Well, Summer came along but we are still doing our trip as planned and she gets to stay with friends. It will be less stress and we will be able to thoroughly enjoy a Disneyland trip without a 1 yr. old. Even though she is a cutie pie. :)

I like to do my research when I go on a vacation...you know, get the most bang for your buck! And these days, you need to get all the bang you can for those precious bucks. I asked people who went there...talked to people who actually live there currently...read books from friends and from the library...Googled and Googled again!...and made lists and lists!

Here are a few things that I learned and are great things to remember when planning a trip:

1. Book a package deal.

I considered buying a package deal that included our hotel and our tickets to Disneyland. I asked around and found a company called getawaytoday.com. I was able to book six nights at our hotel (the one that you see in these pictures :) and 5 day ticket passes to Disneyland/California Adventure for 5 people for one price. Through booking through this company, I saved $600 that I would not have if I would have booked through disneyland.com.

2. Check for hotels that offer free kids meals or a free hot breakfast daily.

This hotel offers a free hot breakfast buffet - you know, the kind with eggs, omelets, and more! My husband and kids need more than a cup of coffee and a stale donut to give them a good start to their day. :) This will save us buying one meal a day for 5 people! Woo hoo!

3. Free parking and free shuttle service.

This might seem odd but some hotels in the city charge you daily for parking. Yes, when you are paying to stay at their hotel. When I was booking a hotel, I looked for free parking and free shuttle service from our hotel to Disneyland.

This will save us money daily for parking at the hotel, parking at Disneyland, gas to travel back and forth daily and even transportation fees to use the ART transportation that the Anaheim city uses. Cha ching!

4. Find a deal that offers a free night or more.

I believe ours was the 4th and 6th nights. Any thing in your deal for FREE...is awesome! Use your AAA membership for discounts. Look for deals!

You know that some hotels even charge for WIFI...not mine! Find the deal that offers all the things you want, and get that deal.

5. Find a motel room that includes a fridge and/or microwave or even a kitchenette.

Having a place to keep or prepare food will save you money. At a sale at Office Depot recently, I found these cute pink backpacks and lunch totes for $1.61 each. I bought 3 packs-one for each of the girls for our trip. How fun is it to have new things when you go on a vacation?! I am planning on purchasing healthy lunch food, snacks and drinks to take with us on our vacation before we leave. Then every day, I will pack their lunch totes with water bottles, juice boxes, healthy snacks such as granola bars and fruit and a lunch for the day. More money saved each day! The girls will have all the snacks, food and drinks they need and we will not go broke on lunch at Disneyland. :) They can also hold their sweater or jacket, sunscreen, etc. in their backpack as well as anything else they need for a fun day at Disneyland! Each girl can carry their backpack on their back while traveling on the shuttle and we can store the packs in a locker when we get there each day.

6. Consider spending your vacation at one place instead of visiting several places.

I say this point for several reasons...

-It was much cheaper to buy 5 day passes to Disneyland/California Adventure than to buy 3 day passes to Disneyland...one day pass to Knotts-Berry Farm...one day pass to somewhere else.

-With younger children, a slower pace is much more enjoyable for a vacation. We will not be rushed to do everything in 3 days...we can take our time...come back to the hotel for a nap or a swim in the pool and still enjoy everything.

-Make your vacation - a vacation. :) Some people have a hard time slowing down. That's me. It is nice to stay in one place...and unwind...and to really have a vacation.

Just a few thoughts to help in planning your next vacation. :)