The Redheaded Princess

Mother's Day Gift

2012-05-15T17:04:00.003-04:00

Okay, so I know it's a little late, but I really wanted to share this mother's day gift idea. I teach 2 year olds part time so I wanted to come up with a gift for their moms that they could have a part in but one that the moms would actually love. I saw some ideas on pinterest of kids holding signs so I came up with these. The frames I bought from the Dollar Tree as well as the mats. I let the kids choose 3 colors and then they painted. We went down the hill next door and took pictures in front of a tree with grass and trees in the background. (I always think nature has the best backgrounds. I don't like when buildings or manmade items get in the shot) Then using Picasa (WHICH IS FREE) I edited them by adjusting the lighting and making them black and white with the focus on the red heart. The signs they are holding are dry erase boards from Target written with black and red dry erase markers. The little girl is my Princess2 (I'm a pretty lucky Momma because she is in my class) and I LOVE these frames even though I helped her make it. Ha! The moms were pretty happy too. And that's all that counts :) What do you think??

My Favs: Gardening Gloves

2012-05-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Okay so I have to post about these gloves. Gardening is one of my hobbies (which I am still learning at) so I have purchased quite a few pairs of work gloves over the past few years. Well, ones I have gotten never seem to live up to my expectations. If I go cheap they are too thin and water goes right through them. I have had the thicker kind but I had difficulty feeling smaller items like weeds and maneuvering my fingers correctly. I also don't want to spend a fortune because they're work gloves and get beat up. Well my DH works in construction and is always using these gloves for work. They're great for moving wood or furniture etc...So I borrowed them once and LOVED them. They have a rubber coating on the bottom part of the hand and the top of the hand is a breathable material. You can feel your fingers well enough to weed but they are tough enough where you wouldn't feel thorns from a pruned rose bush. I use them for cleaning up branches or picking up leaves and a ton of other things.They aren't the most glamorous but for 3.99 at Lowes or The Home Depot you really can't beat them! And if you lose them they are cheap to replace! What do you use? Do you use these?

Iced mocha or Mocha Frap

2012-05-03T07:33:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I don't know about you but I LOVE Starbucks' Mocha Frappuccino. When I get stressed or am having a bad day sometimes I'll go get a tall mocha frap and...*sigh* aahhhhh..... it's like my version of nicotine...lol. No, I'm not a smoker (tried it once when I was 7, inside my friend's dog's house, but that's another story:) ) but it just makes everything feel so much better. ha ha! I'm also not a regular coffee drinker but those frappuccinos are seriously my favorite! However, at 4-5 bucks a pop, it can hurt your wallet. SO I found this recipe on Pinterest and adapted it a little. I keep it in the fridge and have to be careful that I don't get carried away because it is SOO amazing and I really need to keep my eye on the calories. I had a friend over who was skeptical about trying it but she loved it. Tell me what you think if you try this recipe!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Folgers Black Silk Dark Coffee

12 cups water

1/4 cup chocolate syrup

12 oz. can evaporated milk

14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk

I got these cool little pitchers from Sam's Club for way cheap. It's perfect for keeping my iced coffee stash on hand in the fridge. Pour 1/4 cup chocolate syrup, evaporated milk, and sweetened condensed milk in a small pitcher. Mix together and refrigerate.

I have a 12 cup coffee pitcher which I filled to the top line. Carefully place the coffee in the filter so as not to allow any coffee grounds to leak into the coffee. Brew the coffee. Allow to cool. Pour into a pitcher and refrigerate.

Here's what you store in the fridge.

Once, you have the concentrated coffee refrigerated and the sweetener ready then it's time to enjoy! Fill a glass with ice. Add 1/2 cup of coffee and 1/2 cup of sweetener. You can adjust the coffee and sweetener to your liking. If it's too sweet add a little milk too. Top with some whipped cream and enjoy!!

If you have a blender then you can blend it all together and make it into a frappuccino. It's sooo yummy and way cheaper!

Books to Read Before You Die

2012-04-30T19:55:00.003-04:00

Okay, So the BBC created a list of 100 books that everyone should read (from user submissions) They believe that most people will have read only 6 of the 100! What?! Well, I decided to create my own list. I actually read 21 of the BBC list but felt there were some books not listed that should be on it. Here's my comprehensive list I created from google searches and Barnes and Noble's Classics. The list contains books that I have read and think everyone should read OR books that I want to read at some point. If you have any books that you think should be on here, let me know and I may add it.

P.S. This list is mostly fiction and does not include personal growth books or straight non-fiction. I'd have way too many listed here if it did. :) Also, they are in NO PARTICULAR ORDER (from my perspective, if they were, the Bible would be Numero Uno!) Check back periodically for updates :) It'll take me a while to read all of these. If I read 10 a year then it'll take me a DECADE to finish this list! And I don't anticipate 10 a year :) But you never know...

How many have you read?

I read 53!! :)

~~Strikethrough~~- those books I've read in their entirety,

Italics- the ones I started but didn't finish or read an excerpt. (most likely I just read and excerpt, I generally don't start a book and not finish it)

* Asterisk- I have seen the movie

Books I Read in 2012??

Wuthering Heights- Emily Bronte

The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Twilight Series (4 books)
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

What Am I Currently Reading???

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

~~1 Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen~~ *

The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
2       Fellowship of the Ring*
3      The Two Towers*
4      Return of the King*

5 Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte

6 Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone*
7 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets*
8 Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban*
9 Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire*
10 Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix*
11 Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince*
12 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

~~13 To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee~~

~~14 The Bible~~

~~15 Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte~~

~~16 1984 - George Orwel~~

17 His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

~~18 Great Expectations- Charles Dickens~~

~~19 Little Women - Louisa M Alcott~~ *

20 Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy *

21 Catch 22 - Joseph Heller

22 Complete Works of Shakespeare- too many to list although I have read quite a few

23 Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier

24 The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien

25 Birdsong - Sebastian Faulk

26 Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger

27 The Time Traveler’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

28 Middlemarch - George Eliot

29 Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell*

30 The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald*

31 War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy

32 The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams

33Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky

~~34Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck~~*

35Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll*

36The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame

37Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy

38 David Copperfield - Charles Dickens*

Chronicles of Narnia - - CS Lewis
39        Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe*
40         Prince Caspian*
41         The Voyage of the Dawn Treader*
~~42        The Silver Chair~~
~~43         The Horse and His Boy~~
~~44         The Magician's Nephew~~
~~45         The Last Battle~~

46 Emma -Jane Austen*

47 Persuasion - Jane Austen

~~48 The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini~~

49 Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres

50 Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

~~51Animal Farm - George Orwell~~

52 The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

53 One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

54 A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving

55 The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins

56 Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery*

57 Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy

58 The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood

~~59 Lord of the Flies - William Golding~~*

60 Atonement - Ian McEwan*

61 Life of Pi - Yann Martel

62 Dune - Frank Herbert

63 Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons

~~64 Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen~~*

65 A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth

66 The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon

~~67 A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens~~

68 Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

69 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

70 Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

71 Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

72 Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov

73 The Secret History - Donna Tartt

74 The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

75 Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas

76 On The Road - Jack Kerouac

77 Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy

78 Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding*

79 Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie

80 Moby Dick - Herman Melville

81 Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens

82 Dracula - Bram Stoker

83 The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett*

84 Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson

85 Ulysses - James Joyce

86 The Inferno - Dante

87 Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome

88 Germinal - Emile Zola

89 Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray

90 Possession - AS Byatt

91 A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens*

92 Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell

93 The Color Purple - Alice Walker*

94 The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro

95 Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert

96 A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry

97 Charlotte’s Web - E.B. White*

98 The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom

99 Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

100 The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton

101 Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

102 The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery

103 The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks

104 Watership Down - Richard Adams

105 A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole

106 A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute

107 The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas *

108 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl

~~109 Les Miserables - Victor Hugo~~

~~110 The Odyssey- Homer~~

~~111 The Iliad- Homer~~

112 Common Sense- Thomas Paine

113 Beowulf

114 Uncle Tom's Cabin - Harriet Beecher Stowe

115 Treasure Island- Robert Louis Stevenson

116 Bleak House- Charles Dickens

117 Grimm's Fairy Tales

~~118 Republic - Plato~~

119 The Federalist- Alexander Hamilton

120 The Jungle- Upton Sinclair
~~121 A Thousand and One Arabian Nights- Anonymous~~

122 The Scarlet Letter Nathaniel Hawthorne

123 Farewell to Arms Ernest Hemingway

124 The Old Man and the Sea Ernest Hemingway

~~125 Cyrano de Bergerac - Edmond Rosmon~~d

126 The Simarillion - J.R.R. Tolkein

127 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- Mark Twain

128 The Adventures of Tom Sawyer - Mark Twain

~~129 Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls~~

~~130 The Crucible~~ ~~Arthur Miller~~

~~131 Quo Vadis Henry Seinkewicz~~*

132 Frankensteinby Mary Shelley

133 Crime and Punishment- Fyodor Dostoevsky

134 Thousand Leagues Under the Sea- Jules Verne*

~~135 Don Quixote - Miguel de Cervantes~~

Twilight Series by Stephanie
136 Twilight*

137 New Moon*

138 Eclipse*

139 Breaking Dawn*

The Hunger Games Series:

140 The Hunger Games*

~~141 Catching Fire~~

~~142 Mockingjay~~

143 The Notebook - Nicholas Sparks*

The Left Behind Series: by Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins
~~144 Left Behind~~
~~145 Tribulation Force~~
~~146 Nicolae~~
~~147 Soul Harvest~~
~~148 Appollyon~~
~~149 Assassins~~
~~150 The Indwelling~~
~~151The Mark~~
~~152 Desecration~~
~~153 The Remnant~~
~~154 Armageddon~~
~~155 Glorious Appearing~~

~~156 Rachel Did It - By E.L. Bailey~~

157 Tin Walls - By E.L. Bailey

158 Reunion: Ties of Blood- by Fianna Leighton

Books that Changed Me: Personality Plus

2012-04-11T21:14:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I have been thinking...(as my dad would say...'careful...don't hurt yourself'...'get it?' lol) but as I was saying...I have been thinking...if any of you have read my bio in Meet the Princess you'll have noticed that I said I went through a few years of personal growth before coming to understand WHO I am as well as WHOSE I am (Daughter of (God) the King of Kings aka a Princess ;-) ) So, what I decided to do is to start a series of posts with great books that have changed me in some way. Let me tell ya, there are a lot of them. So drum roll please......here is the first book....

Taken from the Barnes and Noble website:
"Each of the following statements relates to one of the four basic personality types:
Melancholy, Phlegmatic, Sanguine, and Choleric.

Which of these statements do you relate to most?
- Whether at home or work, I am well organized and keep everything in its proper place.
- It's difficult for me to express excitement, even about something that's really important to me.
- When shopping at the mall, it's not unusual for me to forget where I parked the car.
- I get annoyed when my employees don't follow my instructions to the letter.

In Personality Plus, Florence Littauer gives you valuable insight for appreciating your one-of-a-kind, God-given personality. She includes a Personality Profile test that reveals how your unique blend of traits affects your emotions, work performance, and relationships. Through humorous anecdotes and straightforward counsel, Personality Plus guides you to improve upon your strengths and correct your weaknesses.

This engaging book also provides keys to understanding those around you. You'll learn how to accept-and even enjoy-the traits that make each of us so different. Personality Plus is the tool you need to change your life, and the lives of those you care about, for the better."

Concerning WHO I am, I must say that there is one particular book that was a life changer for me and DH. One that started it all for us.... SO I thought I would share. This amazing book is called
Personality Plus written by Florence Littauer. It's a book that I would definitely recommend to EVERYONE to read! Littauer categorizes everyone in the world into to four basic personalities. However, keep in mind that everyone is not made from a cookie cutter so many people have a mixture of personalities. I cannot stress enough, though, how much this book influences/has influenced my life...on a day to day basis! It helps me to understand my children's personalities and not be annoyed. It helps me to be understanding and more patient. With other relationships it has given me understanding and patience as well. I am sure y'all all know first hand how people can ~~DRIVE YOU CRAZY~~ be frustrating. Sometimes understanding what makes a person tick can be really enlightening. Let me just say that if I could pick a book that was required reading for every high school this would be it. Seriously. So what am I saying? READ THE DAG ON BOOK!Just sayin...Just check the comments on the Barnes and Noble website and you'll see that I'm not the only one to agree. Please tell me if you've read it or if you do read it after reading my post. Love to hear from you!

CLICK HERE FOR TO PURCHASE THE BOOK THROUGH BN.COM http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/personality-plus-florence-littauer/1100190556

Chicken Enchiladas

2012-04-02T11:57:00.000-04:00

Okay, so I found this recipe on Pinterest...I know...I'm a total addict. I tweaked it a bit to my liking and absolutely LOVE it! I hope you enjoy it as well!

Ingredients:

1/2 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. cumin

1/4 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. onion powder

salt to taste

pepper to taste

2 T. vegetable oil

1 lb. chicken breast tenders or chicken breast cut into strips for quicker cooking

1 small onion, diced

8 medium/large flour tortillas, softened

2 cups Mexican blend cheese

4 T. butter

1/4 cup flour

1-1/2 cups chicken stock

1 cup sour cream

1 (4 oz.) can green chilies

First, preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and then combine the spices in a small bowl.

Sprinkle chicken with the seasoning mix. In a large skillet add oil and saute onions over medium high heat for a couple minutes.

Next, add the seasoned chicken and cook until center is no longer pink.

Using two forks, shred the chicken if desired. You may chop with a large knife if you prefer,but I prefer shredded chicken.

Warm the tortillas for 20 seconds in the microwave to make them more pliable. Add chicken and cheese to the center and roll. Place seam side down in a 9x13 baking dish.

In a saucepan melt the butter ove medium to medium high heat and then whisk in the flour.

Continue to stir and cook for a few minutes. Then add the chicken broth.

Stir until thickened and add sour cream. Mix. Then stir in green chilies.

Pour sauce over the rolled tortillas.

Top with remaining cheese next. (I don't ever measure this part. You can never have enough cheese! :) )

Bake in preheated oven for 20-30 minutes.

Serve and enjoy! I usually cook up some Knorr Spanish Rice to go along with it. Delicious!

Here's my picky picky Princess5 enjoying her enchiladas making a silly face.

Enjoy!

Click Here to Print the RECIPE ONLY

"White" Washed Shabby Chic End Table

2012-03-18T21:58:00.002-04:00

Okay, so I just "white" washed my first piece of furniture! I have been looking for one of these electrical spools for awhile and then it dawned on me, my DMIL works for an electrical company! SO, they have oodles of them and I was lucky enough to get an old one from their mountain. I am trying to create a beachy/country style in my home so I wanted something a little rustic. Well, here's my attempt at white washing...Enjoy!

Here's the original product. I had to wipe it down and get some paper out, which was stuck in the center.

The bolts were pretty rusty, so I saw a trick online to use the shiny side of aluminum foil dipped in water to scrub off the rust. It worked pretty well. Got the crusty stuff off. Then I used the electric sander to get the rest. It worked great!

Next, I used my new electric sander which is perfect for my small hands and is great for furniture because it has a point for hard to reach areas. It's called The Mouse and was recommended by an interior designer friend. :) It also came with a few attachments. Can't beat that for thirty bucks! There was some red spray paint on the top of the wheel so I sanded it off as best I could. Then I sanded down the entire piece. Used coarse grit sand paper. I didn't make it perfect because I was going for the rustic-ness. I just made sure to sand the edges because I don't want my princesses to get splinters when I'm finished.

Next I wiped down the entire spool with a damp rag to removed the sawdust and debris. I had to let it dry before I painted.

So I say that I "white" washed the table because actually I found this super light green paint (not white) in the clearance section at the Home Depot. It was $7 for the can so now I have a whole gallon. I am sure I will find another use for it some day. It was actually cheaper than buying a quart of white. This particular paint is a semi-gloss although in the directions I found for white washing on some sites they recommended using flat paint. But a couple sites said it didn't matter since it is going to be mixed with water. So what I did was mix 1 part water in an old coffee can and two parts paint and stirred it up.

Next I painted the entire thing and wiped off the paint with an old towel as I went along. The recommended directions I found was to paint the entire piece and THEN wipe it off before it was dry but...NOTE TO SELF...do NOT paint things in direct sunlight if you don't want it to dry fast! What's good about white washing, though, is that it doesn't have to be perfect. When it's dry you can sand it down if you didn't get enough paint off with the towel until you get your desired look.

The sun was awfully bright that day so I don't know if you can tell but the wood at the center of the spool was in pretty good shape unlike the ends. It was fairly yellow (looked like newer wood) and I didn't like how much it showed through the paint so I went over the center a second time wiping with an old towel as I went to have better coverage.

Finally, I applied 2 coats of semi-gloss polyurethane to the entire piece sanding with ultra fine grit paper and wiping down in between coats. I applied a third coat to the top only because it's the place that will get the most use. You can use a satin polyurethane if you prefer it to be less shiny. The semi-gloss, for me, turned out very nice.

So here's the final piece in my living room. I am in need of finding some better accessories but in the meantime these'll do. Hope you like it!

My love: My record player...oh, and Frank too!

2012-03-06T22:12:00.005-05:00

Okay, okay so I know...I'm a big dork. BUT I don't care! "Why?" you say?... well, let me explain. I am now a thirty something female who after I first got married discovered the amazing voice of Frank Sinatra. (It's a shame because he died the month before I graduated high school and I didn't even know who he was other than he was Harry's favorite singer from the sitcom Night Court.) Anyway...I became, for awhile, obsessed with Frank's music and movies, and yes...his blue eyes. Isn't he gorgeous!? (Sometimes he and DH remind me of each other...but DH has softer features than Frank... ) LOL....SEE...Dork! C'mon! How could you not just love his music? It's so romantic and his voice just makes everything seem better.

Me and Frank! Move over Debbie Reynolds! ha ha! I love Faceinhole.com

My DH tells me that I was born in the wrong era. I love to watch TCM and love vintage things. Well, years ago when I discovered ebay I won a lot of 13 Sinatra records which I then had to find a record player to play them on. [When I was a kid, I used to have a Winnie the Pooh one that had Read-A-Long books. Well, of course, I had that no longer] So somehow I came across an old record player like the ones we used in schools. No, I'm not that old, but I was an eighties kids so it was right on the cusp of cassette tapes and CDs. But to me there is just something about the nostalgia of old school type items. So anyway, I enjoyed these records on my small record player for years until, God bless Craigslist, someone gave this beauty away...for FREE! What were they thinking? I just had to convince DH to pick it up for me which, mind you, was not an easy task...it's still a thorn in his side whenever we move because he hates to lift it, but that's another story.

I however, LOVE this thing!

When the record player is closed up it looks just like a plain piece of furniture. Then, the doors open up to ugly orange speakers and the greatest sound protrudes from it with all it's crackles and pops (no, I'm not eating Rice Krispies). If you've ever listened to a record player, you know what I mean. Now, it could use some work, the radio needle is no longer connected, so to change the tuner I have to go in behind it and manually move it from underneath. Oh, and it came with an 8 track player and a couple 8 track tapes (which doesn't work). But the best thing is, the record player is great! One of the speakers goes in and out occasionally yet, I just don't care. I have collected quite a few records over the years from my multitude of Frank to Dean, Aretha, Alvin and the Chipmunk, Stevie Wonder, Grease...etc. Ever since Princess8 was a little thing, I'd put on some Frank and we'd just jam...well, as much as you can to a crooner..ha! But we do get down to some Aretha. My Princesses just love it! We dance and sing and twirl and they have a blast making memories with Mommy (and Daddy sometimes). Here's a pic of them a couple weeks ago using the coffee table as a stage. We have so much fun and they get a piece of history at the same time! Win win! So, I hope you enjoyed getting a glimpse into my dorkiness. I am just glad the my girls are gonna grow up appreciating when music was good before there was bumping and grinding..LOL...I crack myself up! Anyway...if you have never listened to Frank, I encourage you to go ahead and try something new. You'll then realize how much you really have heard him, because he is in everything, from movies to tv to commercials...his songs are everywhere! Add a little cultrue to your life and Enjoy!

Do you love Frank as much as I do??

Hamburger Steak

2012-02-28T22:41:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this recipe is surprisingly delicious. I mean, who'd have ever thought that making a hamburger like a steak would be good? Well, it is and my kids even love it. The meal takes probably about 30-45 minutes with prep and everything. It's a fairly common southern dish and is another one that just spells comfort. You can find this on the menu at Cracker Barrel, actually you can find a lot of my dishes on their menu. I make a lot of down home comfort food. BUT let me just say...Cracker Barrel's hamburger steak doesn't hold a candle to this recipe! Not to brag or anything, but it's absolutely delicious! I wish I could take all the credit but I can't since I found the recipe years ago on Allrecipes. Sometimes, it's one of my go to meals when I don't have anything to cook. I usually have all the ingredients on hand with some ground beef in the freezer. Hope you enjoy it!

Hamburger Steak

a.k.a. Poor Man's Steak

from Allrecipes

Ingredients:

salt and pepper to taste

1 T. Worcestershire sauce

1 pound ground beef

1 egg

1/4 cup bread crumbs

1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

1/2 teaspoon onion powder

1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 cup thinly sliced onion

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 cup beef broth

1 tablespoon cooking sherry

1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt

In a large bowl, mix together the ground beef, egg, bread crumbs, pepper, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and Worcestershire sauce.

Form into 8 balls, and flatten into patties.

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry the patties and onion in the oil until patties are nicely browned, about 4 minutes per side.

Remove the beef patties to a plate, and keep warm. I then like to keep the onions in a little bit longer so they can caramelize a little more. (I love the onions but DH and my Princesses don't so when they are done, I remove most of them to the plate with the meat and just hoard them all to myself when it's dinner time.)

Sprinkle flour over the onions and drippings in the skillet. Stir in flour with a fork, scraping bits of beef off of the bottom as you stir.

Gradually mix in the beef broth and sherry. (Make sure to measure the sherry with a measuring spoon. I don't always measure things exactly unless I am baking. The last time I made this I didn't measure it and the sherry was a bit too strong. The tablespoon called for is just the right amount.) Season with seasoned salt. Simmer and stir over medium-low heat for about 5 minutes, until the gravy thickens.

Turn heat to low, return patties to the gravy, cover, and simmer for another 15 minutes.

For the recipe on Allrecipes.com CLICK HERE

Princess2 Was Potty Trained in "Less" than a Day!!

2012-02-21T22:13:00.000-05:00

Okay, well...sorta...but I am NOT joking! She really is potty trained! Let me just answer, because I know what you're all thinking..."No I'm not "Super Mom"" lol...I wish... Actually, I can take no claim for success other than I know how to follow a recipe. So, how, might you ask, was I able to do this? Sit back and I'll tell ya!

Here's what happened. A long time ago I was directed to an excellent book called Toilet Training in Less Than a Day by Nathan H. Azrin and Richard M. Foxx. Apparently it's been around since before I was born and a friend's husband's mother (ha ha) used it on him (he's my age). Well, I don't know about you but when I saw it, I ~~didn't believe it~~ was a bit skeptical. Could this really work? Seriously? In one day? (note the sarcasm) Even with all the questions, I soo wanted to believe the hype so I went out and bought the book. I read it through and figured it's worth a shot. Well, when I read it, I figured out that it was a little outdated so I decided that there were some parts I would choose to ignore or adapt...Well, low and behold, the method really worked! I first used this on Princess8 and Princess5. Don't get me wrong now...every child is different. So things may not work exactly perfect. There are certain readiness signs and if you rush your little one, then it won't work. I tried to rush Princess8 so when it didn't work, I just went back to normal diapers until I was ready to try again. Then when I did it again when she was ready, she never had an accident after Day 1 until a year or so later when she was sick. When I tried with my Princess5...she was not as easy peasy (but she never is..it's in her personality). She had a quite few accidents afterwards and especially when her baby sister was born. BUT for the most part it worked pretty well.
SO, over this past weekend...actually Sunday afternoon I decide to begin the process. If you want to try it out yourself, then you'll need a few supplies. What you'll need is a potty chair, a doll that pees (got this from Toys R Us), the book, a bunch of treats (sweet and salty), and plenty of juices or drinks. Basically, you are using bribery. Actually, they are rewards. You begin by training the doll and showing the child how the doll pees in the potty. You have several "pants inspections" praising for dry pants and chastising (no punishment) for wet ones. Show the doll how to pull their underwear down, sit on the potty, pee, pull its pants up and wash their hands. Meanwhile, you are actually teaching the child at the same time...sneaky sneaky... Then you move on...checking pants every 5 minutes at first, gradually increasing. You also have them sit on the potty every 15 minutes for 10 minutes at a time decreasing as they progress. There are accident "fire drills" for when accidents occur as well. It is pretty well laid out in the book. I don't want to give all the details because I didn't create this method. But pretty much you have a Potty Training Boot camp weekend when using this method...however I must say...I never had to buy pull-ups this go-round. We went from diapers straight to panties for Princess2. And for the other two, I bought one pack each and never went through the whole package for either if that tells you anything.
So the gist of it is, the child will be potty trained in less than a day. Yes. But that doesn't mean that accidents won't occur, because the full learning process may take longer for some. Typically, they've learned the fundamentals on Day 1 but they just need more practice with bladder control. I still put a diaper on her at sleeping times. The first night she woke up completely dry! I thought I had another little prodigy on my hands!...ha ha...but the next day at nap time the diaper was wet and the 3rd day she woke up wet. BUT nap time Day3 she stayed dry. SO, what does this mean? It is just a case by case thing. Like I mentioned previously...every child is different. Have patience. Princess2 had two wet accidents and two poopy accidents, but she's poopied on the potty 4 times in 3 days which is the most challenging aspect of the process...I should know, I teach 2 year olds for a living :)...

Currently we are on Day3 and she remained dry ALL day and asked to go potty numerous times and actually went. She even poopied today on the potty too! (btw I must mention, we did the potty chair just for the first day. The second day we put the seat on the big toilet so she can at least get used to the height because they need to learn to use the bigger potties for the times when you are out of the house.If they don't it's a whole other learning process, and honestly..what's the point of training at home if they won't go and you have to put pull-ups on when you're out. Plus, as far as I know, most daycares don't like potty chairs for sanitary reasons. I've worked at two and neither had them.

Addendum**Now it is Day4 and she has not had an accident for two days and she stops what she's doing to ask to go potty...even in our basement playroom! (Oh and now she is using the regular toilet seat without crying...baby steps...but these are quick baby steps!) Seriously one proud Momma here!

So, my advice to all you moms out there. GET THIS BOOK! You won't regret it (I hope). If anything else it gives you a starting point so you don't feel like you're going at this blind. My Dad always said "You girls didn't come with instruction manuals!" Well, I beg to differ...here's one instruction manual that we DO have! I believe it's less than 10 bucks. A deal if you think of the diapers and pull-ups you'll not have to buy. Good Luck!!

DIY Valentines Cards for Classmates

2012-02-13T22:31:00.000-05:00

Okay, SO I am addicted to the site Pinterest! Are any of you?? I found THIS adorable idea for making Valentine's Cards for classmates and showed it to my Princess8 and she liked the idea. Ours aren't as fancy as the original, but I wanted her to do most of it herself. I got a fancy paper punch from A.C. Moore and she did a simple braided friendship bracelet.

Chicken (Noodle) Soup

2012-02-06T12:14:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this is a recipe I've made for a few years now. It's just one of those things I think everyone should have in their freezer because you never know when you're gonna need some chicken soup. Think about it, what if YOU get sick. Are you really gonna feel like cooking up some? And for me, those canned soups just don't hit the spot the way this does. Nothing spells comfort like a good hearty bowl of chicken (noodle) soup, especially when you're under the weather.

Ingredients

1 (3lb) whole chicken

6 stalks celery, halved

1 large onion halved

6 carrots, peeled and halved

water to cover

salt and pepper to taste

1 tsp. chicken bouillon granules

1/2 tsp dried rosemary

2 bay leaves

1/2 tsp. dried thyme

1/2 tsp. dried basil

1 tsp. parsley

3 cloves garlic peeled, whole

2 potatoes peeled and cubed (optional)

2 cups egg noodles cooked according to package directions (optional)

1. So first you want to prep the veggies and rinse the chicken. Remove the innards if there are any inside.

2. Place chicken in a large stock pot with all carrots, celery, onion, thyme, rosemary, parsley, bay leaves, garlic and salt and pepper. (Be generous with the salt, because the broth is bland without seasoning. Fill with water.

3. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a low simmer. Cover but leave the lid cracked to vent a little.

5.Cook for 1 to 1 1/2 hours (Chicken will fall off the bone.)

6. Remove chicken and let cool enough to handle.

7. Spoon out all the veggies. Chop celery and carrots and half of the onion (unless you love that much onion, you can keep all of it.)

8. Put the veggies back into the broth and bring to a boil again. (If you are using potatoes then add them with the veggies. I don't normally do potatoes AND noodles, too much starchy foods, but you can decide if you want both.)

9. Remove chicken from the bone and shred or break apart by hand. You may also chop with a knife if you prefer.

10. Add chicken back to broth (cook until potatoes are done). Taste the broth and adjust seasonings. (If it needs more salt and pepper, now's the time...one common mistake is not tasting the food to make sure it's seasoned right.) Add noodles into each bowl before you ladle in the soup. If you add the noodle to the soup, then they will absorb a lot of the liquid and will become mushy and the soup will be a little more dry.

Enjoy!!

CLICK HERE TO PRINT RECIPE ONLY

**Storage Tip**

Place a handful of cooked egg noodles in the bottom of plastic cups (if desired). Ladle the cooled soup into the plastic cups. Freeze immediately. Once frozen, cut the cup away from the soup and store in gallon freezer bags.

http://www.topmommyblogs.com

My Mother in Law's Amazing Spaghetti

2012-02-01T19:13:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this recipe just makes me smile! I mean, what spells comfort food like a nice big bowl of spaghetti and meatballs? When I first moved up to Philly with my DH, (over a decade ago...which is crazy) his mother made this for one my first meals with his family. And let me tell ya, I was in love...with the spaghetti. For me, growing up down south, we got our spaghetti sauce from a jar. Yeah, it tasted fine, but seriously, spaghetti from a jar? It doesn't hold a candle to sauce slow simmered on the stove with large homemade meatballs and hot italian sausage. SO, needless to say, if my dear mother in law ever invites us for spaghetti, we don't have to think twice :) She was so gracious as to share her recipe with me (not like Marie on Everybody Loves Raymond, she's a sweetheart) so I make it somewhat often for my family. DH says it tastes just like hers, but for some reason mine isn't as dark, but it's sure delicious! You can portion it out and freeze for later if you'd like also. Still tastes amazing!

Ingredients:

1 lb. Hot Italian Sausage

For Meatballs:

1 lb. ground beef

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup Parmesan cheese

1 tsp. minced onion (I use the dehydrated in the spice aisle)

1 T. fresh chopped parsley or 1 tsp. dried

1/2 cup bread crumbs
1/2 milk

For Sauce

1 large can crushed tomatoes

1 large can tomato sauce

2 - 6 oz. cans tomato paste

1 T. dried oregano

1 T. dried basil

1 bay leaf
1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

2 cloves garlic, minced

1. Mix ground beef, bread crumbs milk, minced onion, egg, parsley, and Parmesan together in a bowl. Use your hands to mix together, they are your best tool. Try not to over mix. You want the meat to sort of be the consistency of play-doh. Add a little more milk if it's too dry, or breadcrumbs if it's too wet. (A tip I got from one of my Italian friends:) when my meatballs were turning out dry sometimes.) Sometimes you can make more meatballs if you prefer, but just adjust ingredients accordingly.

2. Roll out the meatballs between 1 and 2 inches in diameter with your hands.

3. This step isn't a must, but I've found it really makes a difference. Place the meatballs on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper and freeze. This can be done the night before, or even the week before. Or you can make a large batch of meatballs to use multiple times and just pull them out when you're ready to make sauce. For this instance, I just froze them at lunch time (I was home that day) and put them in the sauce when I was ready. I've found that the frozen meatballs stay together and don't fall apart in the sauce as much as the fresh ones. A few times I ended up with a meat sauce. :(.

4. When you are ready to start cooking, put the tomato sauce, crushed tomatoes, and tomato paste in a large pot. Add the oregano, basil, bay leaf and garlic. Stir to combine. Cook over medium to medium high heat until in begins to boil. be careful, because boiling tomato sauce is brutal. It makes big pops and if you're not careful it'll the bubbles will pop right in your face. Ouch! I know from experience...

5. While you're waiting for the sauce to boil, cut the sausage link in 1 1/2 inch sections and brown in a skillet. You are not trying to cook them through, just brown the casings.

6. Remove to a paper towel to drain. Use another paper towel to pat them dry. Just trying to get rid of the excess oil.

7. Once the tomato sauce begins to boil, carefully put in the meatballs and then the sausage. Remember, the boiling sauce bubbles and pops so don't get hurt :)!

Put a lid on but leave a crack to vent. Cook on low for 3 hours. Stirring occasionally to keep the sauce from burning on the bottom. (Every 15 minutes or so) Be sure to stir gently so the meatballs don't break apart, just lightly scraping the bottom.

Serve over your favorite pasta and enjoy the best sauce recipe ever!

To Print the RECIPE ONLY Click HERE!

Vote for Me!

2012-01-30T17:03:00.000-05:00

If you like my blog, then help me out by clicking the banner below to vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs.

Also, if you click the next banner, you can rate my blog and comment. :)

Thanks for the votes!!

My New Love: Once Upon A Time

2012-01-29T18:29:00.000-05:00

Okay, so last Sunday I discovered my new favorite show! Maybe you are already watching this, but I must share it! Especially for girls who love new twists on fairy tales. Apparently, the show started this past October and has ten episodes thus far, but I didn't notice until now. Once Upon a Time is a new series on ABC on Sunday nights at 8 pm. The show is centered around Snow White and her Prince Charming, but all the story book characters we know make appearances. Basically, the Evil Queen (her step-mother, you all know the story) cast a spell on the enchanted forest (which includes every storybook character) to send them all to our world, frozen in time, without knowing it, they live in Storybrooke, Maine where there are no happy endings for anyone except the Queen. After getting sucked into the episode last week, I decided I had to go back to the beginning. SO, I got a hulu account so I could catch up. (You can get a free 2 week trial if you google hulu promo code, or something like that.) Without gushing too much, let's just say that I LOVE this show! :) I love fantasy type shows like this and since my fav, Smallville, is no longer around, this will be a great replacement. SOO, do YOU watch Once Upon a Time? If not, I'd definitely recommend it!

To watch the Pilot Episode CLICK HERE

Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Snow White and Prince Charming

*The opinions expressed above are my own. I was not contacted by ABC or any other entity to promote this program. I just wanted to share its awesomeness so more people watch and it gets picked up for season 2...purely selfish motives on my part ;-) *

My Momma's Nachos

2012-01-27T09:48:00.000-05:00

Okay, so here's one of my FAVORITE recipes! It's another one of my Momma's recipes from her days working at Famous Taco with my Dad before they were married. It's not your typical nacho where you pile a bunch of chips and all the toppings all on top. Each chip is individually piled with beans, meat, guacamole and sour cream. I can only eat four but my DH can eat like 12. They are so amazing! Try them!

Ingredients

1 lb. ground beef

1 small onion diced

2 cloves garlic minced

2 T. chili powder

1 tsp. cumin

salt and pepper, to taste

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1 can refried beans

Mexican blend shredded cheese

sliced, pickled jalapenos

Homemade Tortilla Chips

Guacamole

Brown ground beef in a large skillet along with the onion and garlic. When it's almost done, drain the fat.

Add the spices and continue browning until the beef is cooked through.

Next, heat up the refried beans just to make them easy to spread. Spread the beans onto each chip. It acts like the glue to hold the meat on it.

Add the beef to each chip.

Next, top the chips with cheese.

Add a slice of jalapeno to each nacho.

Bake in a preheated 350 degrees Fahrenheit oven just long enough to melt the cheese.

Top with Guacamole and sour cream. Enjoy!

Click HERE to Print the RECIPE ONLY

To view my homemade guacamole CLICK HERE

To view my homemade tortilla chips CLICK HERE

Quilted Advent Calendar

2012-01-26T10:23:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this is the advent calendar that I made a couple of years ago. It's quilted, sorta...I don't really know how to do the final quilting after sewing all the pieces together. Maybe one day I'll finish it. I really wanted to find an advent calendar that had meaning behind it but I also wanted it to be homemade so that it'd have that little bit more special quality to it.

I found this great pattern on ebay CLICK HERE which I purchased from a sweet lady e-seller. I say "sweet" because I lost the ornament meanings sheet two years later and she sent them to me. How great is that?? Anyway... the pattern is pretty cool because she sends you the felt pieces and the patterns for all the ornaments, complete with about a paragraph and a bible verse to go along with each ornament.
However, I really wanted to have my manger and tree as part of the permanent part so I changed the pattern up a little. I also couldn't quite grasp the directions for the pockets (which I'm sure were clear if you know how to read a pattern correctly, but I'm a novice and was quite confused so I came up with my own way. I used pinking sheers to cut the red squares which I hot glued as well as the numbers. Also, I made the border one solid color to match the numbers instead of multiple pieces. Finally, I used blue/silver fabric for the sky, green w/ vines fabric for the tree, and a two dimensional white for the snow. I absolutely LOVE this calendar and so do my children, especially my Princess8 who loves to read now and is understanding more advanced concepts. I don't want to create a pattern on here because it's not mine completely SO if you want to purchase it check out the item on ebay (it's only 7 bucks, so pretty reasonable), or have any questions on my changes, let me know. If the link doesn't pop up then type "quilted advent calendar" and her item should come up. Thanks!

Here's the calendar with all the ornaments on it.

Guacamole...the best I ever ate!!;)

2012-01-25T22:53:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this recipe is so delicious! I know, I know, I say that about all of them. But seriously....it is. There's nothin like some fresh guacamole served with homemade tortilla chips. May not be super healthy, but definitely yummy! This is pretty much my Momma's recipe which I've been eating/making for the past 20 years or so. I hope you enjoy it! I know I do :)

Ingredients

2 ripe avocados

1 tsp minced onion

1 T. finely diced tomato

1/2 tsp chili powder

dash cumin powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1 T. lemon juice

So first you need to find some good avocados. This can sometimes be hit or miss at the grocery store if you want guacamole on a whim. You don't want the ones that are the nice pretty green because they are hard as rocks and you won't be mashing those babies any time soon. You want them to be dark like these. However, if that's all they have and you know you'll be making it in a couple days (not right away) then go ahead and buy them. When you get home, put them in a paper bag and they should be ready in a couple days.

So anyway, you need to get the avocados that make a dent when you gently press their skin with your thumb. You don't want it so mushy that your finger pokes right through, but you definitely do not want them to be firm either.

When you're ready to make the guacamole, slice the avocados in half length wise. Twist apart.

Use your knife to remove the pit and scoop the flesh into a bowl.

Add the spices and lemon juice. Be careful with the spices, especially the cumin. They are not meant to overpower the avocado, just add a hint of flavor. (Lemon juice is to help prevent browning from oxidation.)

Add the onion and tomato. I usually use a box grater on the finest side to grate my onions. Mash the avocados. Make sure it is completely mixed. I usually press a piece of plastic wrap all along the top to help prevent the guacamole turning brown until I am ready to use it.

That's it! Pretty easy right? Do you have any great tips for guacamole? Enjoy!

Click HERE to print the RECIPE ONLY

(NOT SO) Wordless Wednesday: Lady Liberty

2012-01-25T10:27:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I was browsing through my photo albums and came across this picture. It's my Princess8 and Nephew. We travelled to NYC in November and spent some time with our Lady Liberty. The image of this woman and what she represents just gets to me every time. I just stand in awe when I look at her. Without getting too political, I have a LOVE/HATE relationship with my country... I am Patriotic to the core, BUT saddened by the way things are (have been for a long time) going...anyway...no need for political responses. The Redheaded Princess is a politics free zone...it's happier that way :) Enjoy your Wednesday....Let Freedom Ring!! God Bless America!!!

Old-Fashioned Popcorn and Memories

2012-01-19T23:53:00.000-05:00

Okay, so have you ever had old-fashioned popcorn on the stove? I'm an eighties kid and remember when it was 'before microwave popcorn'. Mom used to have, what was it? Jiffy Pop? Which had foil that expanded on the top? No. That's not what I'm talking about here. I mean, just some oil, kernels, salt and butter cooked on the stove-top. For me, it brings back some fond memories of sitting in front of the tv with my family (yes, my family only had one back then so we had to share, and heaven forbid we all spend time together) and watching Star Trek: The Next Generation...HA! My dad is a total Sci-Fi dork...Love ya, Daddy ;-) Actually, I liked it too, had no choice really but I honestly did like it. I can quote the opening segment to this day... Anyway...I'm getting off on a tangent...What was I talking about? Oh yeah, family memories. SO, this is something we love to do with our girls. We pick a movie and I pop some old-fashioned popcorn and we spend time with the lights off like we are at the theater. They LOVE it! and so do I. My mom taught me this method which she learned from my Gramps (who still pops it this way every night, as far as I know). What's great too is you don't get any of the garbage that comes in a bag with all the preservatives and processed butter flavoring. Just some salt is actually quite nice, so feel free to skip the butter if you prefer. It tastes so fresh and YAY! It's not a lot of calories! SOo without further adieu...here goes nothin!

(By the way, you are a part of the Redheaded Princess's first ever video tutorial...aren't y'all lucky? ;-))

A view of my 3 Princesses on movie night at "The Castle" American Girl dolls a set up ready to watch! Had to share, they're so sweet, but then again I AM partial...

Ingredients

Vegetable Oil

popcorn kernels

butter

salt

So all you need are some popcorn kernels found where popcorn is sold in your grocery store. I get it cheap at Walmart for less than two bucks for a big bag. Which, by the way, can last at least 6 months if not longer since you don't use many kernels at a time.

First, pour maybe a tablespoon of oil in a pot just to coat the bottom. This makes enough for my family to each have a serving. Use a bigger pot if you want more. (Note: Use a bigger pot, don't just add more kernels, it'll overflow the pot and lift the lid. I've found that if you fill the bottom with kernels, usually whatever pot you use will be full of popcorn when finished) Turn the heat to medium high.

Next, sprinkle handfuls of kernels so that they are one kernel deep in the oil. Put a lid on and wait. Don't go too far! You'll forget...trust me. When the popcorn begins to pop. Shake the pot back and forth until the kernels stop popping. Pour in a large bowl and sprinkle with some salt. Toss some butter in the hot pot and remove from the burner so the butter doesn't burn. Pour melted butter on the popped corn and go make some family memories!

Check out my video below for a short video demonstrating the process.

Crocheted Blanket with Variegated Yarn

2012-01-19T09:15:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this post will be short and sweet :) So this is a pattern I LOVE to make for my friends who are having babies. Initially when I made this blanket, I didn't realize how big it was. BUT, I am so glad it is. It takes a little longer to make than a baby size blanket, but what is nice is that it's a blanket that can grow with them. This particular blanket in the picture is one I made for my parents to match the quilt I made them a couple years ago. I love to use the 100% cotton yarn Sugar n' Cream. It has a heavier weight to it, which I love. I discovered that Walmart has larger skeins of this type of yarn whereas your typical craft stores usually have smaller ones. Another thing which is great is that it has the same stitch all the way through, so it kinda becomes 'mindless' so that you can watch TV without really being able to mess it up too much. You don't have to be super focused. Yay :) Hope you enjoy the pattern!

Just follow this link to the original pattern.

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork BBQ

2012-01-17T13:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I LOVE this recipe for pulled pork. I can't remember where exactly I got the rub recipe, but it's so delicious. And, of course, I use my own Jack Daniels BBQ Sauce (though you can use your favorite) with this. It's super simple. You just make the rub and put it in the slow cooker before bed, and then 'pull' the pork in the AM and let it cook on low. Hope you love this as much as I do.

Ingredients:

2 T. chili powder

1 T. onion powder

1-1/2 tsp. garlic powder

2 tsp. kosher salt

1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

5 lb boneless pork butt, shoulder, or picnic

2 cups BBQ sauce

Directions:

1. Mix together all of the spices and rub all over the pork.

Place in a larger slow cooker, add 1/2 cup water and put the lid on. Cook on low for 10 hours. I usually will put it in at 9pm and the next morning at 7am I will pull the pork.

Remove pork from the slow cooker and set aside to cool.

There will be a lot of juices left. Strain (if desired) or pour liquid into a large mixing bowl. Set aside.

Using two forks while the pork is hot (and switching to your fingers once it's cool enough to handle) 'pull' or shred the pork. Discard the skin and any fat. They always say that the best tools for the kitchen are the ones God gave ya, your hands. I completely agree. When you use your fingers to pull the pork, you can feel the fat much better because of the texture. Just pull all the meat off the bone and discard the waste. Place the pulled pork back in the slow cooker.

Skim the fat off the top of the juices. My mother in law told me that a trick her mother in law used was to put the juices in the freezer as your are working on other parts of the meal. The fat will harden on the top making it easier to scoop out. I haven't tried this yet, mainly because I forget about it till I'm already skimming the fat :-/, but one day I'll let you know how it turns out.

Mix in the two cups of BBQ sauce with the juices.

Pour mixture over pork and toss to coat. Replace the lid and cook on low for 2 hours. (I've let mine cook longer and it's done fine)

Next, serve it on a plate with a side of coleslaw OR make sandwiches with coleslaw on top. Let me tell ya, these are AMAZING! Just try it...and don't forget to put the slaw ON the sandwich. Enjoy!

To Print the RECIPE ONLY Click HERE

**A Storage Tip**

I use this method for SO many things. It works so great! Just portion the pork into individual servings in plastic disposable cups. Place into freezer until frozen. Cut three slits in the cup with some kitchen shears and pull the cup away. Toss into your plastic recycling. Place the frozen individual blocks into a large gallon freezer bag. To heat, just put on a microwave safe dish and microwave for 2-3.5 minutes, stopping halfway to break it up and stir.

Cole Slaw

2012-01-17T11:04:00.000-05:00

Okay, so this recipe is one of my favorites (although, most recipes I post on here are in that same category). I got the recipe from Paula Deen but tweaked it a bit to suit my tastes. Actually the only thing I did was use her dressing and a bag of coleslaw mix rather than use her version with cabbage, carrots, onions and green peppers. Paula's version is pretty good if you can't find the bags of slaw mix but I prefer this version. PLUS, it's a whole lot easier too! And what busy mom (or dad) couldn't use 'quick'?? Well, let me know if you like it!

Coleslaw

adapted from Paula Deen's Recipe

1 bag coleslaw mix

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

2 tablespoons sugar

1/4 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning

1 tablespoon white vinegar

Directions:

In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, seasoning salt, black pepper, sugar, lemon-pepper seasoning and vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes.

Pour slaw mix in a large bowl and pour dressing over the slaw. Toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. I love this recipe even better the next day! Eat as a side dish or on a pulled pork BBQ sandwich! Enjoy!

To Print the RECIPE ONLY Click Here

My Princess5 Singing When She Was Two

2012-01-11T19:08:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I forgot that I had this on my youtube channel and it's just so stinkin cute I thought I'd share. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Thanks!

How to Make a Princess Cake

2012-01-09T17:17:00.001-05:00

Okay, so living in a house filled with girls, princess cakes are a MUST! If you have girls, then you know what I mean. I have now made these 4 times and the girls just love them. (Although this year my Princess8 is growing out of the super girliness and didn't want one for her birthday. :( )So, here's my tutorial on making a princess cake. It's super easy and the girls LOVE it!

So anyway, there are two options to making this cake (that I use). The glass bowl on the left is the large batter bowl from Pampered Chef (LOVE my PC stuff!) and the metal bowl on the right is a kit my DMIL (dear mother in law) found at a yard sale for a couple bucks. I usually used the kit but was missing the nut this time which held the foot on it. (I ended up replacing it later at Home Depot).

Liberally grease and flour the pan/bowl. I usually use a sandwich bag. So much cleaner.

Mix cake according to package directions. Easy right?!

Pour batter into prepared dish. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 40-50 minutes. But really, just keep an eye on it. Every oven is different so you have to go by how your cooks.

This was actually missing in the original kit but I found it for only $5 bucks at Michaels and if you use the coupon in the Sunday paper you get 40% off!

Turn upside down on the final cake plate.

If you don't like the uneven bottom, you can level it off with a knife or a piece of kitchen twine. I didn't bother because I knew it was going to be covered up with frosting.

Separate frosting to make desired colors. I made Cinderella so I only used blue and white.

Using a cake spreader, spread your initial layer of frosting.

Next, use the spreader to fancy the frosting up. I like uniform lines so it kind of looks like pleats in a dress. I'm no professional chef/baker so this is as good as mine gets.

Now insert your naked doll :)

Use the spreader and fingers, if necessary, to apply frosting to her.

Using a pastry bag (or large ziploc bag) and cake decorator tips (you can buy a simple set for cheap at Walmart or Michaels) Decorate the bottom of the dress to fill in the gaps from the unevenness.

Next change tips and color of frosting and add the white. I tied her hair up and used a barbie tiara. Voila! Cinderella Cake! So easy anyone can do it!