Pretzel Bites

These were seriously some of the best pretzels ever!  They tasted just like the pretzels at the mall.  My family and I both thought that they were amazing.  My brother ate most of them.  The pretzels are so addicting!!!  You could start by eating one.... than another, then a couple more... oops, they're gone!  Enjoy!

Pretzel Bites  from here

• 1 1/8 cups water (70 to 80 degrees F)
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
• 2 quarts water
• 1/2 cup baking soda
• coarse salt
• melted butter – not in the original recipe, but a must for mall food pretzel like experience

1. In bread machine pan, place the first four ingredients in order suggested by manufacturer. Select dough setting (check dough after 5 minutes of mixing; add 1 to 2 tablespoons water or flour if needed).
2. When cycle is completed, turn dough onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough into eight balls. Roll each into a 20-in. rope; form into pretzel shape. (I tried forming the dough into pretzels, but when I put it in the bowling water it lost its shape and looked awful, so I just cut the 20 in. ropes into small pieces and it worked perfect!) In a saucepan, bring water and baking soda to a boil. Drop pretzel bites into boiling water, two at a time; boil for 10-15 seconds. Remove with a slotted spoon; drain on paper towels.
3. Place pretzels on greased baking sheets. Bake at 425 degrees F for 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Brush with melted butter. Sprinkle with salt.

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Diy Gift Guide and trees

Here is a list that I found of 101 diy Christmas gifts.  Some great ideas!  There are so many that I want to make...

I love these diy Christmas tree decorations that I found.  I think the candy trees are my favorite.

How to for candy Christmas trees from Better Homes and Gardens.

How to  for jut Christmas trees

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Rain...

Yesterday and today has been cold, windy, and rainy.  It makes me just want to curl up next to a fire, drink hot chocolate, and watch a movie.

If you have to go somewhere in this awful weather you should have at least the right apparel, right?  You need this adorable coat (Don't look at the price.)

You have to prepared for all the rain with these rain boots.

Or these...

Here is a must, an umbrella. I've always wanted one of these!

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Puppy!

Wow, its been over a week since I last posted!  Sorry!

Last Wednesday we got a puppy!!!  My family and I drove an hour an a half to see 10 puppies for sale.  Right when we got out of the car 10 muddy puppies ran to us.  They were crazy, they tackled each other, pulled grass from the yard, and ran around with their mom.  It was hard to find the ones that we had liked on the internet, because they would be in one spot one moment then another spot the next moment.  We slowly narrowed it down to three puppies, we took some out, added some in and finally ended up with Lucy!!!

Lucy is an adorable 9 week old black and white English Sheperd.  Our cats and cows aren't that thrilled with her.  We still enjoy her on the farm!

I hope you had a good Thanksgiving!  I ate so much that I thought I was about to burst.  You know how it is though, all that food that you only get once a year, you just have to eat it!

What do you think of the collar that my mom got from Target? Pin It

Head boards, Diy

A stenciled headboard=genius!

Wood shelf over bed=beautifully rustic.

Metal panels over bed=creative and contemporary.

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P.S.  I love the beams and the stucco walls in the second picture, it gives it a cottage feel.

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Tuna Noodle Casserole

I made this for supper a couple of days ago and it was amazing!  It was a fast, easy, and great meal.  Sorry, I forgot to take a picture. SO good!  Enjoy!

Tuna Noodle Casserole      (My mom got the recipe out of a magazine.)

2 cans (10 3/4 oz. each) Cream of Mushroom Soup
1 c. milk
2 c. frozen peas  (I didn't put this in because I don't really care for peas, it was still really good.)
2 cans (about 12 oz. each) tuna, drained
4 c. hot, cooked medium egg noodles
2 tbsp. dry bread crumbs
1 tbsp. butter, melted

1.  Stir soup, milk, peas, tuna and noodles in a 3-qt. casserole.
2. Bake at 400 degrees F. for 30 min. or until hot.  Stir.
3.  Mix bread crumbs with butter and sprinkle over tuna mixture.  bake for 5 min. more.
Makes 6 servings

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Purple Rooms...

all of the rooms and more purple rooms

For some reason, right now I am in love with purple rooms.  I'm not the biggest fan of the color purple, but I love the purple in these rooms.  

P.S.  The last picture is my favorite. :) Pin It

Pom Pom Necklace

I really want to try to make this.  It looks so awesome and pretty easy.  Would you wear it?

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Fondant Recipe

I tried this fondant recipe because I was aching to make fondant and really wanted to try this recipe that I have had for a while.  I was so happy with how it turned out!  It was really fast and easy to work with.  It was not hard or dry like the fondants that I've made before, it was delish! I used a biscuit cutter to cut out the circles to cover my cupcakes.

 Note: Make sure that you have PLENTY of powdered sugar on your work surface when you are rolling your fondant out.  I divided my batch of fondant so I could make different colors and the first section I didn't have enough powdered sugar on the work surface so I had to lift the fondant with a spatially and it just rippled.

I didn't realize that the same page where the fondant recipe was, there was a cake recipe and frosting recipe, until I had already made my cupcakes and frosting.

You should really try this fondant recipe for yourself.  I'm so happy that I have actually found a fondant recipe that I like!   Enjoy!

                                                                What do you think???

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Ice Cream!

Yesterday my dad, sister and I sat in our living room and ate english toffee carmel ice cream (that is what I want to talk about) and listened to my brother's high school football game on the radio.
We stayed home because my dad fell off a ladder and sprained his ankle and messed up one of his arms on Friday.  My mom and one of my other sisters went to the football game.

Now back to the ice cream... English toffee carmel ice cream is my new favorite.  My mom got it at Kroger.  It has toffee nuts and carmel and ah.... it was just amazing!  My dad and I both agreed that it was really good.  If you don't want to eat a really rich ice cream, I would not suggest eating this but oh how amazing it was! :)

I found a chart about the calories... prepare yourself!  (Just workout for about a day then  eat the ice cream and I bet it wouldn't have any impact on you!) :)

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size 1 serving ( g)

Amount Per Serving

Calories 230 Calories from Fat 108

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 12.0g 18%

Saturated Fat 8.0g 40%

Trans Fat 0.0g

Cholesterol 40mg 13%

Sodium 70mg 3%

Total Carbohydrates 26.0g 9%

Sugars 22.0g

Protein 4.0g

Vitamin A 8% • Vitamin C 2% Calcium 10% • Iron 0%

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Half Moon

I thought this was so cool!  I really want to try it.
You can find where I got it at here. Pin It

Awesome Gadgets

Here are some gadgets that I think are really cool.  The herb cutter isn't the most useful gadget but the batter dispenser is genius.  What do you think?

Here are some more gadgets.

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Nail Polish!

I really like all of these nail polishes from Essie.


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A Small Orange With BIG Flavor

My mom got some oranges from Aldi and they were so amazing!  They were some of the best oranges ever.  I have to say that they had a hint of sourness (which I love) to them but they are still really sweet... and they are kind of addicting.  Happy Tuesday! :) Pin It

Yummy Honey Rolls

I made these honey rolls (from here) on friday and loved them!  The hint of honey gave the rolls a wonderful flavor.   Overall they were really good! Enjoy.

Honey Rolls

Yields 12 rolls (I doubled this.)

2 tsp. active dry yeast
1 c. barely warm water
1/4 c. honey + 1 tbsp
1 tsp. salt
1 egg
3 c. all-purpose flour, plus extra if necessary
1 tbsp. butter, melted

In a large mixing bowl, sprinkle the yeast over the warm water and let sit for 5 minutes.

Add the honey, salt and egg.  Stir until blended.  Add 3 c. of flour and mix until the dough comes together.  It will be sticky.  On a lightly floured surface knead the dough until soft and elastic (about 8 minutes), adding more flour to keep the dough from sticking if necessary.  Do not add too much flour!  The dough will become more workable the longer you knead.  Or, if you have a standing mixer, knead the dough with the dough attachment for 5-7 minutes, or until elastic.

Transfer the kneaded dough  to a lightly oiled bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel.  Let the dough rise in a warm area until it doubles in size, about 2 hours.

Before first rise.

Punch dough down, divide into 12 equal portions, and shape each portion into a round ball.  (I have to  say that is was pretty fun to punch down the dough!)

Punching the dough down.

Place in a pan (or on baking sheets) coated lightly with cooking spray.  Cover with a kitchen towel and let it rise for another 20 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

In a small bowl, combine the melted butter and 1 tbsp honey.  Brush over the rolls.  Bake for 10-13 minutes or until lightly browned.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

FInished product!

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How to Frost a Cake

Here are picture step by step directions that I found to get your cake to look like this.

I really want to try it because I can never get my frosting to look that smooth.
Is it wrong of me to just stare at this picture? Pin It

Poblano Pepper

Poblano                                                               

Appearance:                                                        

Large, triangular; green to red-brown               

Flavor:                                                               

Crisp, vegetal                                                 

Heat:                                                             

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Substitutions:                                      

Anaheim, bell pepper

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The Perfect Meal, Part lll

For desert I made pumpkin pie!  Before, I have never really been a pumpkin pie fan but this was amazing!  I got this recipe from an old County Fair Cookbook.  You have probably figured out by now that all of our cookbooks are old.  Enjoy!

Pumpkin Pie:

Makes 1 pie

1 1/2 c canned or cooked pumpkin
1 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
3 eggs, beaten
1 c. evaporated milk
1 unbaked 9" pie shell

Directions:

Combine pumpkin, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice in a mixer bowl.

 Add eggs; mix well.  Gradually add evaporated milk; blend thoroughly.  Pour into pie shell.

 Bake in 425 degree F oven for 15 minutes.  Reduce heat to 350 degrees F and bake 35 to 45 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool on rack. makes 6 to 8 servings.

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Rain Or Not?

This was the weirdest thing ever.  It looks like rain but as you can see it doesn't continue the whole way. It was really strange seeing this dark rain looking cloud in a nice sunny sky.  Then I looked at the sky ten minutes later and it was clear again... Happy Wednesday! Pin It

Moist Pie Crust Mix!

This is the recipe that we use for all of our pies.  It's easy and so good!  This recipe came from a Make A Mix cookbook from, I'm guessing, the 80's.

Moist pie crust Mix:

5 Ibs. All-purpose flour
2 Tbsp salt
1 (3-Ib) can vegetable shortening (I used 2 1/2 Ibs of lard.)
3 c cold water

Combine flour and salt in a very large bowl.  Mix well.  With pastry blender, cut in small amounts of shortening until evenly distributed.

Mixture will resemble cornmeal in texture.

 Add cold water all at once and mix lightly until the flour absorbs all the water texture resembles putty.  It might look like you need more water, but just keep mixing it and it will moisten.  If dough is too sticky, sprinkle a little flour over the top and mix until the dough barely clings together in the bowl.

Divide dough into 10 oblong rolls.

Wrap each roll well with plastic wrap and heavy foil.  Freeze.  Use within 12 months.  Makes 10 rolls of moist pie crust mix, enough for 10 double-crust pies or 20 single-crust pies.

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Awesome Bag

 I think this bag looks so cool, and it closes by itself!  I really want to make it.  Here is the pattern. Pin It

Feather Extensions

I found a diy for feather extensions and I REALLY want to try it!  It actually looks pretty easy to do.  Have you tried it?

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The Perfect Meal, Part II

I made baked french fries that were amazing!  That was the first time that I ever tried french fries like that and they came out just like I wanted them to.  I couldn't stop eating them, I wished I had made more. :(  Enjoy!

Parmesan French Fries:

2 tbsp Olive oil
3 tbsp grated Parmesan
2 tbsp oregano
1 tbsp seasoned salt
1 tsp pepper
1/2 tsp salt

7 medium sized Red Potatoes

1 tbsp Olive oil
salt
pepper

Spread the Olive oil all over a large baking sheet with your hands.  Sprinkle Parmesan, oregano, seasoned salt, pepper, and salt over the oil.

Directions for cutting the potatoes:

Cut in half, long ways.

Then cut each half into three equal strips long ways.

  After that, flip each section of potato on its side then cut in half again.

Place the fries on the baking sheet then sprinkle the Olive oil, salt, and pepper on top.

Place sheet pan in 350 degree F oven for 30 to 40 minutes.  Half way through the baking, turn the fries over.

They should be golden brown all over when they are done.

Finished product!

P.S.  I didn't even have to use ketchup, they were so good! :) Pin It