Rhubarb...what to do!?!

So I am in the grocery store and I buy some rhubarb...i don't know why - it just looked good =) I don't know what to do with rhubarb...I know it is pretty tart which is probably why it is always in desserts...but I need a good recipe - a good rhubarb recipe...do you have one? What should I make tonight...help me!! =)

Girls in my circle!

This came from my friend Julie. We have been friends since the first day of freshman year of college and she has played a huge part in my life...I am blessed to know her. I don't normally read forwards but I am glad I opened this one - some of the drawings are a little silly =)

When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend, And then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.
	One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man. Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom. Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities. Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be. One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,' Another , 'Let's fight together,' Another , 'Let's walk away together.'
	One friend will meet your spiritual need, Another your shoe fetish, Another your love for movies, Another will be with you in your season of confusion, Another will be your clarifier, Another the wind beneath your wings.
	But whatever their assignment in your life, On whatever the occasion, On whatever the day, Or wherever you need them to meet you with theirgym shoes on and hair pulled back, Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself . Those are your best friends.
	It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several.. One from 7th grade, One from high school, Several from the college years, A couple from old jobs, On some days your mother, On some days your neighbor, On others, your sisters, And on some days, your daughters.

20 Lazy Ways to Save Money

I was talking about this on the air and thought you might like the complete list...I know that some of them seem simple but it is also a good feeling to know that you ARE saving money by completing things on this list....I by no means have all 20 taken care of yet but we are working on it slowly but surely!

Happy Saving!

20 Lazy Ways to Save Money!!

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Homemade Puff Paint Project

Found this craft project and you know how I love the easy craft projects...anything that seems catastrophe free is good for me!

All you need to make the paint is:

1 Tablespoon Self Rising Flour

1 Tablespoon Salt

Couple of Drops of Food Coloring

Mix the ingredients with some water to create a paste and you are ready to paint!! Now a reminder, you don't have to have paint brushes you can use q-tips to paint and make sure it is on heavy paper or cardboard....when finished - microwave on high for about 30 seconds or less and project done!

I found the "how-to" at this website One Crafty Momma - great website if you are looking for cool craft projects!

Strawberry Jam Oatmeal Bars

"Grandma" brought these over for us...a favorite neighbor of ours...and I thought it was a passed down speciality recipe - turns out she found it online and e-mailed it over for me =)

This takes about 10 minutes to put together and they taste really good...if you are looking for a last of summer treat - this is a good one!

Strawberry Jam Oatmeal Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/3 cup brown sugar firmly packed
• 1/4 t baking powder
• 1/8 t salt
• 3/4 cup strawberry jam

Directions:

1. Preheat oven 375 degrees, and in a large bowl mix everything together but the jam.
2. Measure two cups of the mixture and press into the bottom of an 8 inch square baking dish coated with cooking spray. Using a large spoon, distribute jam evenly over the mixture in the dish.
3. Take remaining mixture and sprinkle on top of the jam and press down lightly.
4. Bake 25 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool in dish for at least 20 minutes before serving. These are delicious warm.

Tomato Pie and Gingerbread Cupcakes

I wrote this up last week but I closed the computer before it saved so I must have lost it...time to repost!!

I loved this dinner last week...it was one of our favorites and is going in our regular rotation for meals...and the cupcakes - spectacular!!
For the Tomato Pie - I used sharp cheddar, mozzarella and gruyere and I added a bit of hot italian turkey sausage - so GOOD!!
For the Gingerbread Cupcakes - I used real ginger but you don't have to - you can use either but let me tell you it was the first time I used real ginger and it was so good!!

Any questions - let me know! It comes from one of my favorite blogs - Simply Recipes...Enjoy!

Tomato Pie Recipe

Gingerbread Cupcake Recipe

Megan's Response to the Zucchini...Blueberry Buckle Baby!

So I posted a muffin recipe that is perfect for this time of year not too long ago. Megan has now offered her own muffin which is also perfect for this season because blueberries are all the rage...Megan knows my oldest Jack is a blueberry muffin crazy so she sent this as the BEST blueberry recipe she has EVER made...I will let you decide -
I have been on a baking kick lately and I like that I get to control the ingredients so I know exactly what is in them when I am eating them and that makes me feel better about my choices...so let me know if you like it - they are Megan's favorites and by the looks of them -I am guessing I will like them too! =)

Blueberry Buckle Muffins...yum

Ingredients:

Batter -

1/4 cup butter, room temperature
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 t vanilla extract
2 cups flour
2 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
2 cups blueberries, stemmed and rinsed
Topping-

1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
1 1/2 t cinnamon
1/4 cup butter, room temperature
Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and line a 12 cup muffin tin with baking cups. In a large bowl, use an electric mixer to cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs, then the milk and vanilla.
Whisk the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium sized bowl. Pour the dry ingredients over the wet ingredients and stir well, being careful not to overmix. Use a spatula to fold in the berries. Spoon the batter into the muffin tin filling each cup about three quarters full.
Make the crumb topping by stirring together the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a small bowl. Using your fingers, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture is crumbly.
Bake for 20-25 minutes (or 15 minutes for mini muffins) or until they are lightly brown and a knife inserted in the middle of one comes out clean. Cool in tin for 15 to 30 minutes before serving. If you don’t, you risk some of the delicious buckle topping coming off. Then simply pretend it’s breakfast time, despite the hour, and enjoy with coffee.

Zucchini...in muffin form

If you have time this weekend for a delicious muffin recipe - this would be good for breakfast...snack time - whatever. It is filled with a vegetable too...BONUS!!! I have attached the recipe - I used 1/2 whole wheat flour, and i used 1/2 oil and half applesauce and that helped a bit with the fat count....like many others - I doubled the chocolate chips...which did not help the fat count - but I used dark chocolate and that is good for the heart =)
Let me know if you like them...I didn't think I would but they are Fabulous darling!
Enjoy!!

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe!!

Comfortable Me...

Hi there!
I saw this video today and I have to say it has totally challenged me. I feel very comfortable and this has challenged me to be "on fire" for God...to not be content with contentment. You may not feel the challenge the way I did...and that is ok - but I wanted to put it up here because of the impact it had on me

The Cartoon Me...

I have always wanted to turn myself into a cartoon...mostly because you can get rid of the little flaws...amp up the good qualities and still say "hey that looks like me" =). Someone passed this site onto me and so I tried it...not bad huh?? I couldn't find a nose that fit mine but this is kind of close - plus if you know me, you know I always talk with my eyes closed...it helps me to think...I like the cartoon me I just wish they had a diet pepsi I could hold in my hand =) but I do dig the dress and the eyeshadow - it's my new profile pic... =)

Playtime Menus for Kids

I had talked about this last week and forgot to put it online...if your kids want to play make believe (my kids are really into playing "town" - but with two kids kind of hard to pull off a whole town) here is an idea to make menus for their restaurant...easy to do and a fun craft project -- from one of my favorite blogs "make and takes"

Make a homemade restaurant menu

As close as you can get!

I am in love with Starbucks Lemon Cake - it's a lemon pound cake that is absolutely delicious. Last night my husband and I decided to make the homemade version and we got incredible results. I tried this recipe I found online and it was fabulous! I added a little extra lemon extract because we like the punch of lemon and I baked it in a 10 1/2 x 6 baking pan which made it a little more "cake-y" and less "poundy" as my husband says...we actually like it better that way...enjoy!

Starbucks Lemon Loaf

1-1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
1/2 Teaspoon baking soda
1/2 Teaspoon baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1 Cup granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons butter, softened
1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Teaspoon lemon extract
1/3 Cup lemon juice
1/2 Cup vegetable oil

Lemon Icing
1 Cup plus 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
2 Tablespoons whole milk
1/2 Teaspoon lemon extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Combine flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl.
Blend together eggs, sugar, butter, vanilla, lemon extract, and lemon juice in a medium bowl with electric mixer.
Pour wet ingredient into dry ingredients and blend until smooth. Add oil
and mix well.
Pour into prepared 9x5-inch loaf pan. Bake for 45 minutes or until cake tests done.

Lemon icing:
Combine ingredients in a small bowl with electric mixer on low speed. After loaf has cooled, remove from pan and frost the top with the lemon icing.

Makes 8 slices.