Crockpot Apple Butter

I know this is late, but I made gifts for Christmas this year...apple butter and fudge. After researching apple butter recipes from all over the web, including Pinterest, I came up with my own version and it was utterly divine.The following is what I used for mine. Tweak it all to your taste buds and enjoy!

Ingredients:
20-40 Apples (I used 21 in the following pics, but you can fill the crock pot all the way to the top)
1/2 Cup Apple Cider
1/2 Stick Butter (of course!)
3 Cups Sugar
2 Tbsp Cinnamon
1/4 Tsp Allspice
1/4 Tsp Nutmeg
1/4 Tsp Ginger
Couple of Dashes Salt

Directions:
I do this around 9pm at night. Peel and cut up all the apples and put in the crock pot. (This takes quite a while so I got my kids involved!) Then add all your ingredients. Put the lid on and set on high for 1 hour. TASTE!!!! Then add what you need to add to get that divine feeling in your taste buds. I used gala apples and red delicious apples and found that the sugar and spices were different. After you've got it tasting like you want, put the lid back on, set to low and go to bed..you've done a good job!

When you wake up, stir and TASTE! Add anything if needed. Around 10 or 11am, take the lid off and set on high for 1 hour. The color of the apples will look like their burnt and carmelized..that's good!

After an hour, you can either eat like it is or like I did, put in a food processor or Magic Bullet and voila! 20 apples makes approximately 2 pints. Also, I found when I smoothed it out, the color lightened up. Hmm...I bought little plastic canning jars from Walmart that held about 8 ounces and gave as gifts. They have ran out and I've been requested to make more..so this time I'll fill the crock pot up!

Beware...It's wonderful and if you give it to a neighbor, they may show up at your house a lot! (It won't allow me to upload pics for some reason! Sorry!)

Another Get In My Belly!!

A New Year and New Endeavors!

I apologize for not having many posts in the last few months! As everyone knows, the holiday season takes much of your time, especially with a toddler. I had a great Holiday season, but I'm sorta glad it's over!
I had started making candies and fudges and designing clothes and accessories last year and this year I had many return customers. It helped with buying Christmas. I'm really hoping that it grows this year.
I started making scarves and found out that Yard Bee's Yarn is by far the softest and best. (You can find it mostly at Hobby Lobby). The Soft Secret is my customers favorite. Here's some pics of the scarves I've been making..and still am!

Now I'm trying hats:



For the lime one, I found bulky yarn at Walmart that is super soft and is perfect for these hats.
I'm having fun and hopefully these will start selling too.
My next endeavor is engraving necklaces!! I'm super excited about that!
Well, my friends..I pray that our Heavenly Father blesses you this new year of 2013.

Christmas Pictures Idea

I really love Pinterest...I mean, addictively so. And, really, who doesn't. This brings me to Christmas pictures. As y'all know, I have 3 kids and every year I always do pictures and I don't want your run-of-the-mill pictures. Even if I mail them way after Christmas...
Pinterest has tons of ideas, as does Google and Bing. Just get your imagination going, and if you don't have an imagination...use everyone else's!
The one I'm loving most right now is babies and Christmas lights. I used my Samsung Galaxy 3 and used a filter app. So, I gave little dude a warm bath and had the house warm so he wouldn't get a chill. I laid belly-down on the floor and had everyone turn off all the lights then immediately turn on a simple 100-light strand and just waited to see what he would do. Thank goodness he cooperated...Here's what I got:

Then my amazing husband brought home a super expensive and super amazing professional camera...OMG..I took 700 pictures in 4 hours..my arm is hurting today, but so worth it. The quality of this camera is simply amazing. Here are some I took just sitting on the floor and letting my other 2 kiddos do their own thing, which it turned out better than I could have done:

Oh, they are so beautiful..I am so blessed! Good luck with all your pictures and have a wonderful Christmas!

How To Make Marbleized Ornaments

My dearest friends..I hate to break the news to you, but Christmas is in 2 months!!! Aaahh! It's that time of year when October, November and December is really just one huge holiday filled with a lot of eating.
It seems every year our children gets older, the more expensive the 'toys' get. The toys for my little dude won't matter, because it's just another day to him. But, for the 2 older ones, it's anything that has a mini computer in it with buttons. My son wants the PSP and the girl is getting a cell phone. (Oh, Lord)
This time of year though, I always start trying to find presents that fill:

• The thought put into the gift
• The price

This year, since I've got my embroidery machine I still don't know how to use..I must find things to embroider. I will also be doing yummy gifts like homemade apple butter and special gifts like handmade marbleized ornaments. These ornaments are actually really easy to do. If you have a Cricut, or just go to Hobby Lobby or even Walmart, you can put initials on them to make them even more special and personalized. So, I thought I would share with you on how to do them so you can give a great gift that looks expensive and that looks like you put a lot of thought into it!
Here are the directions on how to do Marbleized Ornaments:
What you will need:

• Acrylic Paint
• Glass Craft Ornaments
• Vinegar
• Plastic/Styrofoam Cups
• Nail Polish Remover

Directions:

• Choose your acrylic paint colors. The inexpensive ones are fine.
• Choose 2-3 contrasting colors. Get metallic colors to make it luminous.
• Get the large or medium sized glass craft clear ornaments. Avoid the tiny ones, they don't turn out so good.
• Cut ventilation holes into the sides of the plastic cup. They should be large enough to let air through but not where the paint will drip out. I use it to steady the ornament as I add paint.
• Carefully remove the metal top and handle the bulb with care.
• Rinse out the bulb with one part vinegar and three parts water. Rinse again with just water, and let completely dry by placing the bulb open side down in the cup.
• Shake each paint tube well before opening.
• Add your paint slowly so that it streams down the side of the bulb, but just enough so that the paint easily reaches the bottom. You will add 4-6 streams of paint around the ornament.
• Start rotating the bulb around. After the bulb is coated, place the ornament open side down so that the excess paint can drip down into the cup.

Drying Process

• After you have removed the extra paint from the bulb, the drying process begins. Most of the blending and swirling of the colors happens at this time. If you want vertical streaks, let the bulb dry open side down for 48-72 hours.
• For the blended and swirling effect, turn the bulb on its side and allow it to sit for several hours at a time, then rotate again. Continue until you have the desired effect you are looking for.
• Once you have finished, turn the bulb open side down into the cup and let dry the rest of the way for 48-72 hours. If you don't allow it to dry completely, it will settle in the bottom and not look very nice.
• If you had any paint get on the outside of the ornament, just take it off with a little finger nail polish remover.
• Add a ribbon or initials to finish and Voila!!

Tales of the Lost Diaper

Well, my little man is now 18 months old and counting! I can't believe how time has flown and the time I do have doesn't ever seem to be enough. Ever have so much housework to do that it's overwhelming so you just sit down? Yeah...that's been my week so far. However, the toilets are now clean..yah me!
I have also found the joys and addiction of Instagram...OH MY GOODNESS! It's a picture book for adults! Sometimes I wonder if I need to close all my social 'apps' and logoff....
Anyhoo....back to the world of toddlerdom. My crackhead little boy constantly digs in his crack and has now found out he can take his diaper off with or without clothes on. The other day, he wakes up and I notice he feels ... well..lighter and not so wet (let's face it..diapers do NOT work at night!) I lay him down on his changing table, pull his pants off and ... NO DIAPER!! What the crap?! I put on a new diaper, quickly pull his pants up and put him down. Then, I go looking for the diaper. I mean, it couldn't have gone THAT far, could it?! Amazingly enough, he didn't pee anywhere and I found the diaper between the wall and toys.
Then the other day, while I am at my desk, he comes running up to me laughing, then runs off...laughing more. As a mother of a 3rd child can tell you, things don't bother you quite so much anymore and you think, whatever. I continue to play, I mean work.
Then it hits me....did I see a flash of butt? He comes back, laughing harder and I see the peepee. AAHHH! How long has he been running around ... and where is the diaper?
Off a hunting I go. I look...and look...and crap a cow look. I finally found the sucker 30 minutes later underneath the kitchen table! I pick it up and little turds fall everywhere. All while, of course...he's laughing and running around trying to take his peepee off.
You know..sometimes I don't think there's enough Prozac for a day like that one. So, now all of my facebook friends are telling me...It's potty training time. WHAT? How can that be..he's only 18 months old! Doesn't he need to be at least 2 years old? They tell me no..it is time young mommawalker. How the heck do you potty train an 18 month old, stubborn, strong-willed little toddler who speaks in kid-latin?
One of my friends and future teacher of my little pooper, tells me her daughter was like that, so while at that time, she was a stay-at-home mom, she just took her pants and diaper off and let her roam the house. She would follow her with the potty chair and within a week, she was potty trained. Hmm...sounds easy I guess. However, we just got in new carpet!
Please! I need any and all help!

Crockpot Chicken, Zataran's Yellow Rice & Cheese Soup

Found another recipe on Pinterest that I thought I would try. I added black beans.

Ingredients:

4-6 Chicken Breasts

1 Can Cream of Chicken or Cream of Mushroom

Onion

1 Box Zataran's Yellow Rice

1 Can Black Beans

1 Can Corn, Drained

1 Can Black Beans, Drained and Rinsed

Directions:

Put chicken and cream soup into crockpot and put your onions in. Set on low for 3-4 hours or high 7-8 hours.

Close to when it's done or when your going to serve it, cook your rice and add to the pot. Add your can of drained corn and drained and rinsed black beans and your cheese. Stir and let 'marry' for about 5 minutes and enjoy!
I personally used a large can of the cream of chicken and I think if I cook it again, I will use cream of mushroom. It was too cream of chicken-y for my taste. I might even add a can of drained Rotel next time to give it a little kick. Let me know your variations..I would to try them, also!



Crockpot Cheeseburger Soup

I saw this on Pinterest and thought it would be perfect for a gameday dinner and it was Amazing and super simple! Perfect for fall, too.

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef (I used 2 lbs)

6 Slices of Bacon

Frozen Hashbrowns

1 Block Velvetta

1 Box Chicken Broth Stock

Onion

Optional (Block of Cream Cheese)

Directions:

Cook beef and drain well so you don't get all the grease. Cut up Velvetta in cubes and place in crockpot along with all the other ingredients. If you want it creamier, you can add a block of cream cheese, but I didn't this day. The onion gives it a wonderful taste, but since me and the boy don't like the texture, I shredded about 1/2 a small onion in it. Pour the entire chicken broth in. I cooked my bacon in the microwave and let it cook, then just broke off pieces. Cook on high for at least 2 hours and voila! You could also put some tortilla chips in the bottom of your bowl, then pour your soup on top (didn't think about this!)

Get in my belly!!!

The Day the World Stopped Turning 9/11

I'm getting coffee for my boss, David. The TV is on in the break room and I hear and feel something is wrong. A plane went into one of the Trade Center buildings. Brandon comes into the breakroom and at that time another plane goes into the 2nd building and he says, "Oh, no" very quietly because we both know that something is terribly wrong and I feel sick to my stomach. I go tell David. I am shaking and scared. The world around me stops. Brandon puts his arm around me. I still feel what I felt that day and will never forget. I still cry uncontrollably when I watch. I watch because I don't want to forget. Remember with me.

Chicken & Black Bean Rice Casserole

A couple of weeks ago on Pinterest, I saw a dish similar to this and can't find it now. So, I tried to remember everything I saw and do my own! It turned out pretty good, but I will definetly put maybe a can of corn in it next time. It needed something else. Little dude liked it!

Ingredients:

4 Chicken Breasts, chopped

1 Can Black Beans

1 Large Can Cream of Chicken or Mushroom

1 Can Corn

2 Cups Cooked Rice

2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese or your favorite

Seasonings

Directions:

Cook rice according to directions.

Heat up some olive oil and about 2 pats of butter in a skillet and cook chicken. Add salt, pepper and garlic.

Add beans and cream of chicken to chicken and bring to a boil while stirring. Cook for about 3-4 minutes.

Stir in cheese

Add to rice in a casserole dish.

(I was running out of time for foosball practice, so I didn't do the next step)

Add more cheese (yes!) on top and cook for about 10-15 in a 350 oven.



Baked Apple Pies

You ever notice how when you are on a diet all you want are carbs and sweets?! Ugh. The other day I wanted a Rally's fried apple pie and I remembered a post that was along that line on Pinterest, but couldn't find it. So my willey little brain decided it was experimentation time with food. Turned out unbelievable yummy and all were eaten quickly. So here is my take on the baked apple pie.

Ingredients:
1 Can 24 oz Large Apple Pie Filling
Sugar
Cinnamon
Butter
Dough or Crescent Rolls

Directions:
Preheat oven according to the doughs instructions. Mine was 350.
Mix sugar and cinnamon to your taste

 Melt 2 tbsp butter in microwave

Cut dough to accomadate a helping of your filling. I cut 3 sections.

Place about 3-4 of the apples on one side

Fold over and press sides down with a fork

Brush the melted butter over the top of the pie and sprinkle a generous helping of the sugar/cinnamon mixture on a greased pan.

Cook for about 15 minutes or until done.

Holy cow..this will be a new addiction and it's deserving of Get In My Belly!!!

Homemade Lasagna...The Easier Way

I love lasagna and homemade is best. This is a homemade version that doesn't take hours. It takes about 20 minutes to prepare and the cook time is 1 hour. Make ahead and give yourself an awesome dinner!

Ingredients:

1 Large Container Ricotta Cheese (you can use low fat or skim)

3 Cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, divided

1 Cup Grated Parmesan Cheese

1 Egg, lightly beaten

1 Large Jar of Your Favorite Spaghetti Sauce

1 1/2-2 Lb Ground Beef or Turkey, browned and drained

1-2 Cups Water

12 Lasagna Noodles, Uncooked

2 Tsp Italian Seasoning or Parsley

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350. Mix ricotta cheese, 2 cups of the mozzarella cheese, 1/2 of the parmesan cheese, italian seasoning or parsley, and egg until well blended; set aside. 

After cooking and draining meat, pour the entire jar of spaghetti sauce into skillet. Pour your water into the jar, shake and pour into skillet. (Adding water to the meat and sauce helps cook the traditional noodles during baking, so you don't have to cook them beforehand. Saves you about 15-20 minutes of prep time!)

Mix well and let simmer for just a few minutes. Place 1 cup of the meat sauce on the bottom of your 13x9 baking dish, this way the noodles won't stick to the pan. (I obviously didn't read my instructions!)



Depending on the size of your baking dish, place 3-4 of the noodles on the bottom and put a layer of the ricotta cheese mixture on top. Add 1 cup or so of the meat mixture and repeat until you've used all your ingredients.

After you've finished, sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheeses on top. I'll be honest...I used 4 cups of the mozzarella cheese on top! Yummy!

Cover the baking dish tightly with aluminum foil that you have sprayed with Pam so it won't stick to the cheese. Bake 45 minutes.

Remove foil and bake an additional 15 minutes. Let stand about 15 minutes if you can stand it to make cutting into it easier...this NEVER happens. My family is already at the table ready to dig in.

Get In My Belly!!! Yummy!!!!