So I've created a dessert recipe that is still technically under construction. It is a Reese's Cheesecake. Crust is crushed Reese's Puffs cereal, bottom layer of peanut butter, then topped with chocolatey cheesecake goodness. The idea is good (REAL GOOD), but I just think it's missing something... any ideas are welcome.
Recipe thus far:
About a cup & a half of Reese's Puffs cereal in a gallon sized bag, smashed into crumbs. Mix crumbs with about 3 tbls of melted butter and press firmly into pie pan. May need more or less depending.
1 box of cream cheese, softened. 2 boxes of Jell-o instant chocolate pudding mix (I used 1 Devil's Food & 1 Chocolate Fudge). About 1/2 cup of granulated sugar. Mix cream cheese & sugar together until smooth, then add the pudding mix and about a cup & a half of milk, continue mixing until smooth. Now, this alone would be a delicious dip, with or without the pudding mix, but I decided to make it a pie.
Heat about a cup or so of creamy peanut butter mixed with a few tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat, whisking until thinnish & smooth. It will look like a sauce.
Pour peanut butter sauce over the crumb crust & spread evenly. Next, pour the cheesecake mixture over the peanut butter sauce, spreading evenly. Place in fridge for about 30 minutes or until set.
I suppose you could top with cool whip, or add peanuts to it. It's still a work in progress and I fully intend on making this several times to perfect it! Regardless, it is delicious as is... not very pretty, but very delicious!
Pictures to come soon!!
:)
6.24.2012
... Frugal Living?
It's been too long since I've last posted. Oh well, life tends to get in the way of our plans.
Moving forward...
I've recently been researching topics on frugal living and how to feed and raise a family on a cheap budget. We are undergoing an interesting transformation into a full on budget focused family. Never before have we fully attempted to focus all of our energy and resources on saving, but at this point, it's absolutely necessary. I'm pretty sure that once we are in a safer financial place, we will definitely continue to live on a budget. It just seems better. With that being said, I will begin posting items on frugal living at it's best, noting the wonderful people I've gotten my ideas from.
I'm hoping to keep our grocery budget under $200/ month. That's really just an estimate of what I'm expecting. So, today starts my meal planning. I've tried it before in the past, but was never disciplined enough to actually follow through with it. I sat down with a pen & paper and listed the dinners that my family enjoys... I thought of 8 off the top of my head. I also made a list of the readily available items in my pantry & fridge. Based off of what I have today, we will be able to eat very well for about a week or so after pay day! When meal planning, it's important to account for leftovers. Maybe there's a specific night of the week you want to do leftovers, like "Smorgasbord Night" as my future mother-in-law calls it, which is the night she pulls every leftover out and everyone just helps themselves. Or, you could plan a meal for every other day and eat leftovers the following night. Regardless, use up your leftovers because unless you're awesome at portion control (which I am not), then you'll have leftovers. So far, I'm pretty pumped up about my meal planning... I'll let you know how it works out in about a week or so.
Also, we have cut out luxury items such as eating out, Starbucks, Smoothie King, random junk food & beverages, high dollar/ excessive household items, etc. I have found some awesomely reviewed recipes for home-made sandwich bread, muffins, laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dog biscuits... I'll give a review of each one once I've made them, we need to use up what we've got first. I can say, I found a HM make-up brush cleaner on Pinterest which will be taking away lots of money from MAC. You can find that recipe here.
Until next time...
God never gives you more than you can handle! :)
Moving forward...
I've recently been researching topics on frugal living and how to feed and raise a family on a cheap budget. We are undergoing an interesting transformation into a full on budget focused family. Never before have we fully attempted to focus all of our energy and resources on saving, but at this point, it's absolutely necessary. I'm pretty sure that once we are in a safer financial place, we will definitely continue to live on a budget. It just seems better. With that being said, I will begin posting items on frugal living at it's best, noting the wonderful people I've gotten my ideas from.
I'm hoping to keep our grocery budget under $200/ month. That's really just an estimate of what I'm expecting. So, today starts my meal planning. I've tried it before in the past, but was never disciplined enough to actually follow through with it. I sat down with a pen & paper and listed the dinners that my family enjoys... I thought of 8 off the top of my head. I also made a list of the readily available items in my pantry & fridge. Based off of what I have today, we will be able to eat very well for about a week or so after pay day! When meal planning, it's important to account for leftovers. Maybe there's a specific night of the week you want to do leftovers, like "Smorgasbord Night" as my future mother-in-law calls it, which is the night she pulls every leftover out and everyone just helps themselves. Or, you could plan a meal for every other day and eat leftovers the following night. Regardless, use up your leftovers because unless you're awesome at portion control (which I am not), then you'll have leftovers. So far, I'm pretty pumped up about my meal planning... I'll let you know how it works out in about a week or so.
Also, we have cut out luxury items such as eating out, Starbucks, Smoothie King, random junk food & beverages, high dollar/ excessive household items, etc. I have found some awesomely reviewed recipes for home-made sandwich bread, muffins, laundry detergent, fabric softener, and dog biscuits... I'll give a review of each one once I've made them, we need to use up what we've got first. I can say, I found a HM make-up brush cleaner on Pinterest which will be taking away lots of money from MAC. You can find that recipe here.
Until next time...
God never gives you more than you can handle! :)
5.01.2012
Thoughts running rampid...
WOW. It's been quite a while since I've updated...
My Mamaw has been in the hospital with pneumonia and kidney failure. She's 88 and quite feeble. And by feeble, I'm not just talking about physically, she's rather mentally feeble now, too. Dementia is the sneaky culprit behind my Mamaw's wild comments. My older family members aren't too surprised that dementia has officially shown it's ugly face, the majority of Mamaw's siblings and her parents all suffered from it. Mamaw is now in a nursing home in Pascagoula, MS for physical therapy and I'm not sure that she'll ever return to her 1 bedroom home blocks from the Gulf. I visited her while she was still in ICU at the hospital, and she knew me... Sadly, she is off & on in recognizing my mom.
I am so sad for my mom... I can't begin to imagine the heartache she is feeling knowing that her mother may not see another year, yet alone maybe another day. Mom is strong... she always has been & probably always will be. She knows that Mamaw is ready to go, is right with God, and doesn't want her to suffer anymore, but where mom's strength becomes a little shakey is when Mamaw looks at her and has no clue who she is or when she forces herself to realize that once Mamaw is gone, both of her parents will be gone. I wish there was something I could do to help... but what do you say? I'm sorry? That just feels like such a pathetic phrase at this point.
I've prayed and pleaded with God to make sure that Mamaw's not in pain, knowing that He has a specific time for her. I asked God to just let me be able to see her one more time. I have seen her, and wil ocntinue to pray for her to not be in pain. I am confident that I will be able to be the "strong one" for my mom. She's the strongest woman I know, but even the strong need to lean on someone sometimes... I just want her to know that she can lean on me during this time.
My Mamaw has been in the hospital with pneumonia and kidney failure. She's 88 and quite feeble. And by feeble, I'm not just talking about physically, she's rather mentally feeble now, too. Dementia is the sneaky culprit behind my Mamaw's wild comments. My older family members aren't too surprised that dementia has officially shown it's ugly face, the majority of Mamaw's siblings and her parents all suffered from it. Mamaw is now in a nursing home in Pascagoula, MS for physical therapy and I'm not sure that she'll ever return to her 1 bedroom home blocks from the Gulf. I visited her while she was still in ICU at the hospital, and she knew me... Sadly, she is off & on in recognizing my mom.
I am so sad for my mom... I can't begin to imagine the heartache she is feeling knowing that her mother may not see another year, yet alone maybe another day. Mom is strong... she always has been & probably always will be. She knows that Mamaw is ready to go, is right with God, and doesn't want her to suffer anymore, but where mom's strength becomes a little shakey is when Mamaw looks at her and has no clue who she is or when she forces herself to realize that once Mamaw is gone, both of her parents will be gone. I wish there was something I could do to help... but what do you say? I'm sorry? That just feels like such a pathetic phrase at this point.
I've prayed and pleaded with God to make sure that Mamaw's not in pain, knowing that He has a specific time for her. I asked God to just let me be able to see her one more time. I have seen her, and wil ocntinue to pray for her to not be in pain. I am confident that I will be able to be the "strong one" for my mom. She's the strongest woman I know, but even the strong need to lean on someone sometimes... I just want her to know that she can lean on me during this time.
4.11.2012
just another day in paradise...
So much for waking up at 6am... more like 6:45am. Ha. Oh well. I got to work in plenty of time to get started on my super busy admin day [I encourage myself to be there no later than 7am on Wednesday's bc I'm swamped with admin junk]. I wasn't exactly welcomed back to The Chicken Shack in the warm manner I'd imagined on the ride to work. Instead, I was promptly tossed in the middle of a storm of vulgarity mixed with broken equipment. Awesome.
Enough of that greasy nonsense...
Considering I have a 25 minute ride home from work, I have started a new routine [as of today] of listening to Pandora's Acoustic New Age radio station to wind down & clear my mind before I get home. I'd say it worked out pretty nicely. I will continue to try it over the next week or so [if I remember] and update accordingly. ha.
FINALLY... my favorite part of the night: dinnertime! Dinnertime is my favorite for several reasons. First, I get to cook for my family which makes me feel happy. It's MY responsibility to make sure these people eat dinner & darn it, I'm gonna make sure it tastes good! Also, being busy in the kitchen relaxes me... it's my domain, I have total control [even when it appears that I don't] and I can make something I can be proud of. Aside from the food part, we [David & I] are firm believers that a family should sit down at the dinner table, eat together, and talk.
Now that you know why I love dinner time so much... I'd planned to fix tater tot casserole for dinner... Don't judge- Michelle Duggar has fed this to 19 kids + her husband for 2 decades & they are all just fine! However, I wasn't feeling the taters tonight & opted for a new recipe that I put my own spin on. Let's call it "L's Cheesy Tex-Mac Skillet!" YUMM. Let's just say that David had seconds & Cami cleaned her plate! [find the my version & the original recipes + pics below!] After Cami set the table, we said grace, it was time for the fun. "Fun?" you ask. Yes, fun. We have learned that in order to get Cami to eat her dinner without a fight, tears, daydreaming, etc., we must make it a game. And, oh, what a game it was tonight! I'll spare you all the fun details, but just know, we were doing the wave at our table tonight. Jealous?... I thought so.
So now that Cami's in dreamland & David's studying, I think it's time for bed... g'night y'all!
L's Cheesy Tex-Mac Skillet
[recipe altered from here]
Preparation:
Almost step by step pics...
Enough of that greasy nonsense...
Considering I have a 25 minute ride home from work, I have started a new routine [as of today] of listening to Pandora's Acoustic New Age radio station to wind down & clear my mind before I get home. I'd say it worked out pretty nicely. I will continue to try it over the next week or so [if I remember] and update accordingly. ha.
FINALLY... my favorite part of the night: dinnertime! Dinnertime is my favorite for several reasons. First, I get to cook for my family which makes me feel happy. It's MY responsibility to make sure these people eat dinner & darn it, I'm gonna make sure it tastes good! Also, being busy in the kitchen relaxes me... it's my domain, I have total control [even when it appears that I don't] and I can make something I can be proud of. Aside from the food part, we [David & I] are firm believers that a family should sit down at the dinner table, eat together, and talk.
Now that you know why I love dinner time so much... I'd planned to fix tater tot casserole for dinner... Don't judge- Michelle Duggar has fed this to 19 kids + her husband for 2 decades & they are all just fine! However, I wasn't feeling the taters tonight & opted for a new recipe that I put my own spin on. Let's call it "L's Cheesy Tex-Mac Skillet!" YUMM. Let's just say that David had seconds & Cami cleaned her plate! [find the my version & the original recipes + pics below!] After Cami set the table, we said grace, it was time for the fun. "Fun?" you ask. Yes, fun. We have learned that in order to get Cami to eat her dinner without a fight, tears, daydreaming, etc., we must make it a game. And, oh, what a game it was tonight! I'll spare you all the fun details, but just know, we were doing the wave at our table tonight. Jealous?... I thought so.
So now that Cami's in dreamland & David's studying, I think it's time for bed... g'night y'all!
L's Cheesy Tex-Mac Skillet
[recipe altered from here]
Ingredients:
- 1 pound ground beef
- salt, pepper, onion powder, & chili powder
- 3 chopped green onions [thanks slice of heaven farms]
- 1 can original Ro*tel
- 1 can tomato paste
- 1 can whole kernel corn, drained
- 1 package Kraft Homestyle baked macaroni & cheese, prepare as directed
- 5 slices Kraft Big Slice cheddar cheese
- about 1/2 cup of water
Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brown ground beef with salt & pepper in a large skillet. Add onion, corn, Ro*tel, and tomato paste; heat through. Sprinkle onion powder & chili powder to taste & mix in. Stir in prepared macaroni and cheese & top with cheese slices. Place in oven until cheese is melted. Plate & serve to your hungry family!
Serves about 6, or 2 1/2 + leftovers!
Almost step by step pics...
Wedding Wednesday!
YAY! Today marks the 1st of many "Wedding Wednesday" posts. To say that I'm "excited" really doesn't cut it. I've pretty much been thinking about this post since I signed off last night.
Ok... I have 339 days left to plan the details of our wedding, and so far I have gotten my dress [thanks momma & daddy] and picked out the bridesmaids dresses & their shoes. In fact, I didn't even find the shoes, Nichole [matron of honor] did.
Yes, I have decided on certain details: colors/theme & ideas for centerpieces & flowers.
And... that pretty much sums it up.
I don't even have my venue booked yet. However, yesterday, I did go check out Vintage Court in Covington... And fell in love with the tree. This tree pretty much sets the tone for my entire vision of "Simple Country Elegance". This tree is also a historical monument, and rightfully so... it looks like something straight out of a faery tale or from the many dreams I've had of my wedding day since birth. There were a few cons on the list [size of reception area, # of tables, $ a little higher than I wanted] but I really just can't get past how perfect the ceremony would be under that tree...
And then there's a fancy little club called Money Hill in Abita Springs that may be promising. Momma & I will be checking it out on Friday. I only know of one bride to be married there... her pictures are gorgeous, but she doesn't really give good report. Guess we'll see on Friday.
Aside from needing to book the venue asap... I need to find a photographer that won't charge me my 1st born child just for pictures of my beloved day [I'm rather partial to Cami]. The thought has crossed my mind to solicit amateur photographers from the local university to help build their portfolio. Not completely sold on my idea, though.
Until next Wednesday, my friends!
Ok... I have 339 days left to plan the details of our wedding, and so far I have gotten my dress [thanks momma & daddy] and picked out the bridesmaids dresses & their shoes. In fact, I didn't even find the shoes, Nichole [matron of honor] did.
Yes, I have decided on certain details: colors/theme & ideas for centerpieces & flowers.
And... that pretty much sums it up.
I don't even have my venue booked yet. However, yesterday, I did go check out Vintage Court in Covington... And fell in love with the tree. This tree pretty much sets the tone for my entire vision of "Simple Country Elegance". This tree is also a historical monument, and rightfully so... it looks like something straight out of a faery tale or from the many dreams I've had of my wedding day since birth. There were a few cons on the list [size of reception area, # of tables, $ a little higher than I wanted] but I really just can't get past how perfect the ceremony would be under that tree...
And then there's a fancy little club called Money Hill in Abita Springs that may be promising. Momma & I will be checking it out on Friday. I only know of one bride to be married there... her pictures are gorgeous, but she doesn't really give good report. Guess we'll see on Friday.
Aside from needing to book the venue asap... I need to find a photographer that won't charge me my 1st born child just for pictures of my beloved day [I'm rather partial to Cami]. The thought has crossed my mind to solicit amateur photographers from the local university to help build their portfolio. Not completely sold on my idea, though.
Until next Wednesday, my friends!
Thanks Nichole!
I'm officially on blogger...
Haha... after fiddling with it & becoming frustrated [at 2:30am], I turned to my tech savvy friend, Nichole, for help on designing my blog. Thankfully, she has some extra time on her hands while at work! I think she did a pretty good job & I am looking forward to getting back on the blogging bandwagon. Considering that it's been quite a while since I've last blogged, I am excited to say that I won't be using this as an outlet for sticky situations.
Since I wound up starting life a little backwards from most people, you'll be able to read how I balance life while raising my 3 year old daughter [Cami], planning my wedding to my wonderful fiance' [David], and working as the Operation's Manager at a semi-widely known restaurant [we'll just call it The Chicken Shack].
Let the fun times begin... Tomorrow, when I have to wake up at 6am to be at work for 7am.
g'night y'all...
Haha... after fiddling with it & becoming frustrated [at 2:30am], I turned to my tech savvy friend, Nichole, for help on designing my blog. Thankfully, she has some extra time on her hands while at work! I think she did a pretty good job & I am looking forward to getting back on the blogging bandwagon. Considering that it's been quite a while since I've last blogged, I am excited to say that I won't be using this as an outlet for sticky situations.
Since I wound up starting life a little backwards from most people, you'll be able to read how I balance life while raising my 3 year old daughter [Cami], planning my wedding to my wonderful fiance' [David], and working as the Operation's Manager at a semi-widely known restaurant [we'll just call it The Chicken Shack].
Let the fun times begin... Tomorrow, when I have to wake up at 6am to be at work for 7am.
g'night y'all...
4.10.2012
TEST post
This is just a test post so that Nichole can see what things will look like. You can delete it if you'd like.
Or you can leave it here as a reminder that she loves youuuu.
:)
Or you can leave it here as a reminder that she loves youuuu.
:)
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