Texas Cobbler

It's been a while since I've been on here!!! I'm so sorry..kids, kids and kids' schedules! Ha. I just had to post this though, it turned out so delish!
I actually came across this on facebook and typed it up and put it away in my recipe's. I came across it this week and decided to try it and I'm so glad I did. It truly is the best I've ever had or made. Please try this recipe...you won't be disappointed!

Texas Cobbler

Ingredients

4 tbsp. unsalted butter cut into 4 pieces, and 8 tbsp. butter melted and cooled
1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 1/2 Tsp. Grated Lemon Zest
15 Ounces or 3 Cups Fruit
1 1/2 Cups All-Purpose Flour
2 1/2 Tsp. Baking Powder
3/4 Tsp. Salt
1 1/2 Cups Milk

Directions

1. Adjust your oven rack to the upper-middle position and preheat to 350 degrees. Place 4 tbsp. cut-up butter in 13 x 9 baking dish and put in oven. Heat until butter is melted, about 8-10 minutes...DO NOT LET IT BURN!
2. If you use fresh fruit do the following:
1. Pulse 1/4 cup sugar and lemon zest in food processor until combined, about 5 pulses. Mash fruit and 1 tbsp. lemon sugar together in bowl until berries are coarsely mashed.
3. I didn't feel like doing all that, so I used a 15 oz can of blueberries  and put the lemon sugar on top when I put the berries in the baking dish.
4. Combine flour, remaining 1 1/4 cups sugar, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. Whisk in milk and 8 tbsp. melted, cooled butter until smooth. Remove baking dish from oven and pour batter into it.
5. Dollop the fruit mixture evenly over the batter, sprinkle with remaining lemon sugar and bake until golden brown and the edges are crisp, about 40-50 minutes. Let cobbler cool so you won't burn your tongue off (ha) and I added ice cream.

Listen...I'm telling you, it's awesome. You may want to not do the whole lemon zest thing, but trust me...DO IT!!! It just gives it this zing a ling. I mean....dude. Yeah, I said it..dude!



Get In My Dang Belly!!!

Mother's Day Questionnaire Printables

I am getting ready for Mother's Day at church and found some really cute printables for Mother's Day. Click on the links to download them for your own personal use.

UCreateWithKids
All About Mom Questionnaire

 

One Happy Momma

Mom Questionnaire

 

The Crafting Chicks

Mom Questionnaire





Texas Sheet Cake (The Pioneer Woman's Recipe)

If you don't know who Ree Drummond, aka..The Pioneer Woman, you need to!!! You will be addicted to her! She's amazing!
I came across her Texas Sheet Cake and thought I'd give it a try. It turned out moist, very chocolaty and rich and a smooth, delicious layer of icing. It's called a Texas Sheet Cake because it's B I G! I cooked mine on a 13 x 18" sheet pan and the cake and icing filled it up perfectly. If you use a smaller pan, you won't need all of it. The frosting will start setting about a half hour after you pour it on the cake, but if you want it to set firmly, give it a couple of hours.

Heads Up!!! Before you even start making this cake...Read the directions! I, of course, didn't and put all my dry ingredients together and had to dump it all out! That is also why I am putting the directions first!

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, and salt.

Melt butter in a saucepan and add cocoa. Stir together. Add boiling water, allow mixture to boil for 30 seconds, then turn off heat. Pour over flour mixture, and stir lightly to cool.

In a small bowl, pour the buttermilk and add beaten eggs, baking soda, and vanilla. Stir buttermilk mixture into butter/chocolate mixture.
Pour into 13 x 18″ sheet cake pan and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes (if using a 10 x 15″ jelly roll pan, you may need to bake 22 to 23 minutes). NOTE: I greased my pan, but the Pioneer Woman’s recipe doesn’t say to do that, so I guess that’s optional.

While cake is baking, make the icing. If using nuts, chop them finely. Melt butter in a saucepan. Add cocoa, stir to combine, then turn off heat.
Add the milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir together until nice and smooth. Add the nuts, stir together, and pour over warm cake..You could also leave the nuts out of the frosting mixture and sprinkle them on top of the icing instead.
If you made your cake in a 13 x 18″ pan, pour on all the frosting–you may need to spread it a little so it covers the entire cake; if your cake is in a 10 x 15″ pan, just pour enough frosting on to cover the surface of the cake without going over the edges of the pan. You’ll probably have about 1/2 to 2/3 cup of frosting left over.

You can let the frosting cool and set before cutting into squares if you want, or cut into squares while it’s still warm and dig in! The frosting will start setting in about a half hour, but it needs between 1 and 2 hours to set more firmly; at 2 hours, it should be nice and firm.

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 4 heaping Tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
• 2 sticks butter
• 1 cup boiling water
• ½ cup buttermilk (Or use this tip to make a buttermilk substitute: Place 1/2 Tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup. Add enough regular milk to bring the liquid up to the 1/2 cup line. Let stand for 5 minutes, then use in the recipe.)
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

FROSTING:

• 1 3/4 sticks butter
• 4 heaping Tablespoons unsweetened baking cocoa
• 6 Tablespoons milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 pound (minus 1/2 cup) powdered sugar (about 3 to 3 1/4 cups)
• 1/2 cup finely chopped pecans or walnuts, optional (Jane did not use nuts in her frosting and it was great…so if you don’t like nuts, leave them out!)

Now..Get In My Belly!!!

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.