My soon to be acquired new toy

Convinced hubby that I need a probe thermometer, after I almost blew up our instant read thermometer by accidentally leaving it in the oven, oops, am I bad???


And while I'm at it meet my Christmas present (and birthday!)...

Foccacia Bread

Found this recipe to go with my spaghetti tomorrow. Foccacia Bread, seems like a good sub for pre-made garlic bread!

Menu plan Monday

Since I hve no leftovers... ;-(

Check out other menu plans

Monday
Whole Wheat Flaxseed Bread
Grilled Cheese
Tomato Soup


Tuesday
Spaghetti & Meat balls
Texas Sheet Cake
The Prince's official b-day meal!


Wednesday
Chicken & Rice casserole



Thursday
Deep Fry Night


Friday
Eat out??? Pizza Night most likely!

Black Friday Decadence

Just got back from the stores, at least we didn't get up at 4am. There just wasn't anything I needed THAT bad!!! I managed to get almost everything on hubby's list minus the guitar/amp combo he asked for. Now I need to focus on out of the family gifts & our exchanges. I bet my sons teacher would love Gourmet Chocolate Gifts as much as I would. I am drooling over the dark immersion box now!


I bet the Princess's dance teacher would be ever so grateful to receive some Liquid Chocolate mix. She is pregnant & as soon as she can eat real food again I bet chocolate will be most appreciated!


Then there is hubby's boss lady. He tells me that we are a lot alike, so I bet something from the Christmas Chocolate Gifts page would earn him serious brownie points.

Sour Cream Pumpkin Bundt Cake

I made this for Thanksgiving, it was yummy! I used a creamcheese frosting instead of the glaze called for in the recipe. I didn't get a distinct filling layer but it was so yummy I didn't mind. I also added about 2 T of milled flaxseed, just because I am sneaky like that!

Sour Cream Pumpkin Bundt Cake

A surprise filling of brown sugar streusel makes this pumpkin-flavored cake a special treat. Save a bit of icing for drizzling over each serving of this wonderful cake!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
2 teaspoons butter or margarine
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
4 large eggs
1 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
1 container (8 oz.) sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350° F. Grease and flour 12-cup Bundt pan.

FOR STREUSEL:
COMBINE brown sugar, cinnamon and allspice in small bowl. Cut in butter with pastry blender or two knives until mixture is crumbly.

FOR BATTER:
COMBINE flour, cinnamon, baking soda and salt in medium bowl. Beat granulated sugar and butter in large mixer bowl until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add pumpkin, sour cream and vanilla extract; mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture.

TO ASSEMBLE:
SPOON half of batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle Streusel over batter, not allowing Streusel to touch sides of pan. Top with remaining batter. Make sure batter layer touches edges of pan.

BAKE for 55 to 60 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool for 30 minutes in pan on wire rack. Invert onto wire rack to cool completely. Drizzle with Glaze.

FOR GLAZE:
COMBINE 1 1/2 cups sifted powdered sugar and 2 to 3 tablespoons orange juice or milk in small bowl; stir until smooth.

Rich Chocolate Pound Cake

I made this cake for the kids birthday. I don't have a regular bundt pan I have a pan with 6 small bundts. I had enough left over to do 2 rounds too. I don't know if I over baked this or if I should have used butter not margarine, but I didn't find this "rich" at all. It' wasn't bad but then I frosted it with a cocoa buttercream frosting instead of just melted chocolate chips. Maybe I should put bundt pan on my Christmas list...


Rich Chocolate Pound Cake

Classic pound cake gets a chocolate boost in this rich dessert that's finished with a decorative drizzle of melted chocolate.

Ingredients:

2 cups (12-oz. pkg.) NESTLÉ® TOLL HOUSE® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels, divided
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups packed light brown sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
4 large eggs, room temperature
1/2 cup milk

Directions:
PREHEAT oven to 350º F. Grease 10-inch Bundt pan.

MICROWAVE 1 1/2 cups morsels in medium, uncovered, microwave-safe bowl on HIGH (100%) power for 1 minute; STIR. The morsels may retain some of their original shape. If necessary, microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, stirring just until morsels are melted. Cool to room temperature.

COMBINE flour, baking powder and salt in medium bowl. Beat sugar, butter and vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in melted chocolate. Gradually beat in flour mixture alternately with milk. Spoon into prepared Bundt pan.

BAKE for 55 to 65 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in cake comes out clean. Cool in pan for 30 minutes. Invert cake onto wire rack to cool completely.

MICROWAVE remaining morsels in heavy-duty plastic bag on HIGH (100%) power for 45 seconds; knead bag. Microwave at additional 10- to 15-second intervals, kneading until smooth. Cut a small hole in corner of bag; squeeze to drizzle over cake.

Printer Cartridges

I have often felt like it would be cheaper & easier to replace my printer instead of the ink cartridges! Especially the old Lexmark all in one that we have, the cartridges never worked right after they were refilled. I actually did buy a small printer that came with the ink, put the printer by the curb for some lucky free-cycler!

Now I have an HP Desk-jet D4160. It's a nice printer & the ink has lasted forever, but we are nearing replacement time. And I am left facing the option of going to Wal-mart on Friday & paying $34 for a new & very similar model or going to Cartridge Finder to find replacement cartridges. The Frugal Momma in me is torn, while replacing the cartridge is the "greener" option but with $17.99 - $28 for the color ink & $16 - $22 for the black ink the new printer is the "cheaper" option.

Sweet Potato Pineapple Bake

I made 2 of these for our Thanksgiving dinners, I haven't snapped pics yet because I only did the first baking step. Marshmallows will go on Thursday morning.

Sweet Potato Pineapple Bake

Pineapple Sweet Potato Bread

I made my sweet potato casseroles early and found I had plenty of sweet potatoes & pineapple left so I made 5 loaves of this bread.

Pineapple Sweet Potato Bread

I made 4 as the recipe states, except using pecans instead of walnuts. Then I made a loaf without nuts & used chocolate chips instead.

House Plans

The more work I do on my house the more "envious" I am of my sis, who cheated & bought a modular frame house. It may have taken 6 months start to finish to get into it & their yard was a mess for a year after, but she has a nice, clean, fresh house! I have an icky basement, need a new roof & don't get me started on the electrical. Makes me wish for a clean slate, start over & build our own house!

If we do decide to move our biggest issue after finances will be where to build. It's not like there are tons of 10 acre plots out there just waiting for me to come put a house on (ok maybe there are, but I'm not gonna have the $ left to put a house up!)

We found a nice plot of land, or so you could say, but the house currently on it would have to go! Then our problem becomes the lot is a tiny beach community lot. There was maybe 1/4 of an acre I believe, so tons of room considering the usual beach cottage lots! The solution could be Narrow Lot House Plans. This website has plans for everyone! There seem to be lots of narrow lot plans in all sizes! I know our basic requirements are 3-4 bedrooms (depending on if there is a basement or not) & 2 1/2 baths. Mostly because I want my own bathroom in the master suite & a 1st floor half bath is great for everyday use.

Of course when I typed in my "dream home" requirements I ended up getting try again!!! Of course I'm sure that my idea of a "dream home" wouldn't fit on a narrow lot either. I know that everything I want in a house isn't going to be found in a 1100 square foot bungalow. But keep in mind we are spread out over about 3000 square feet now, so losing 2000 square feet would seriously cramp our way of life!!!

Whole Wheat Flaxseed bread - 2 loaves

My Whole wheat Flaxseed bread

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups bread flour, more or less,
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup milled flax seed
1 tablespoon sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon yeast (I use the active bread machine kind)
2 cups very warm water, about 120°
2 tablespoons softened butter

PREPARATION:
I would do this in my Kitchen Aid, if I had one. Instead I mixed it by hand. Put flours, flax, sugar & salt in a large mixing bowl. Dissolve the yeast in 1/2 c of the warm water. Add yeast mixture & rest of the warm water to the bowl of flour. Mix with a spoon until you can't then knead by hand until forms a smooth ball. Then spray the bowl with cooking spray & the dough. Place in a preheated oven (175 then off) let sit until doubled, about an hour.

Cut dough in half roll each half into a 12x9-inch rectangle. Starting with the narrow edge, roll up, turning ends under to make loaves to fit pans. Place rolls seam side down in greased loaf pans, 9x5x3-inches. Brush egg wash on for shine, if desired. Cover pans with clean towel and let rise in warm place until double, about 45 minutes. Bake loaves at 400° for 25 to 30 minutes, or until loaves sound hollow when tapped with fingers. Remove from pans to racks; brush with butter for a soft, more flavorful crust.

Makes 2 loaves of bread.

I used a commercial "egg wash" spray that isn't used until it comes out of the oven. It was worth every penny!!!

Cookies...yum

I must have missed this Rachel Ray show but I guess she was talking about a Cookies Keepsake Crate, from the San Francisco Cookie Company. The website says their cookies are made with whole grains, organic dairy and loaded with chocolate! They almost sound too good to be true!!! Would they count as my morning fiber serving??? But then for $320 for 1 dozen cookies a month (shipping included thankfully) they'd better be REALLY yummy too!

Holiday Cookies are not something I usually order, but when I worked in the corporate arena we'd get cookies like these all the time! Our favorites were the big chocolate chip cookies. For some reason mine just don't turn out like that!

If I am out & in a buying cookies mood I usually go for the oatmeal raisin variety. Mostly because I am the only one who likes raisins in my oatmeal cookies. Everyone else prefers chocolate. Don't get me wrong chocolate raisin date cookies are the BOMB, but not too many others appreciate my eclectic tastes!!!

All I really want to know is the secret to baking "boutique style" cookies. Mine are always super yummy but never have that "fake" picture quality appearance! Next mystery to solve, I guess I'd better start baking!

Food gifts are my fav!

I am plugging away at my lists for the upcoming holidays. I always keep my eyes open for online coupons.

I love giving things that I know will be used, so what better than food or drink??? Anything consumable is the stuff I focus on, consumable our useful (one year I made a bunch of fleece scarves & rice warmers).

When I was first married I used Figi's a bit. Not only did they have good food they had an easy payment plan, which for a newly married couple was the most important. I bought for the men on our list & some chocolate for stocking stuffers. They were well received gifts!

Of course you can't go wrong with a good wine (well I guess you can, my beer drinking sister would not appreciate a good Merlot!). My Wines Direct is a good source of a variety of wines. In fact they offer variety packs if you aren't sure where to start!