Mom's Frugal

Orange Apricot Muffins

2012-02-08T19:31:00.000-02:00

This is an odd combination but very tasty! Orange and apricot blend well and you can barely taste the hint of honey. Great for breakfast or snacks. Can there be too many snacks? ;-)

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1/4 cup melted better (or other fat)
2 eggs
1 1/2 T baking powder
1/2 t salt
2/3 cup cane sugar*
1/3 cup honey*
1 1/2 cups milk
3/4 cup chopped apricots
juice and zest from 1 orange

Mix flour with sugar, salt, and baking powder. Blend in we ingredients.
Fold in zest and chopped apricots. Bake at 400 for 12 minutes.
*Can use all plain sugar.

New Version on our Old Muffins

2012-02-07T20:27:00.000-02:00

We made Chocolate Covered Cherry Muffins the other day, but instead of adding frozen cherries, I dabbed some Cherry Jam in the middle. I put a teaspoon in between two layers of muffin batter, and it still sank mostly to the bottom, but boy are they yummy!

BirdWatching

2012-02-07T01:31:00.000-02:00

We enjoyed listening to the rushing sound of this flock's wings whirling through the yards.

See the Robin?

And this fella- I've been trying to get a reasonable picture of him for years now. He comes every winter, especially if there's snow around, and he sits on that line and watches that field like a ? - yes, like a hawk!

I think a Red-Shouldered Hawk. But he's beautiful! And if we watch him long enough, we can catch him swooping down to pick up a nice tasty meal. His wings and the colors are a sight to behold!

What do you do, when they put them all in glasses but one?

2012-02-06T17:45:00.000-02:00

Last Week: Cow-pup, This Week: School Teacher

2012-02-06T17:31:00.000-02:00

Menu Plan- Feb. 4, 2012

2012-02-06T17:27:00.000-02:00

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday!

My Frugal Tip of the Week: For several months now, we've been having Pizza Night every weekend. I made enough for supper that night and leftovers for lunch the next day. The cost of the pepperoni-under $8, mozzarella $15, pizza sauce $5, and then my dough. My guess is right at $32 and that is for 8 meals of pizza. One meal at any pizzeria would cost my family more than that, but this way, we save gas and time and get 8 meals for cheaper than the price of one- and they think it's a blast! (And I'm always happy to cook once and eat twice!)

SATURDAY:

-oatmeal
-leftover homemade Pizza, Peanut Butter Spelt Cookies
-Hamburgers, tots, leftover cookies
snacks:celery sticks w/ Ranch dip

SUNDAY:

-kids' choice
-hamburgers, pickled okra, leftover cookies
-Hambone Pinto Beans, fried potatoes, cornbread
snacks:chocolate milk, blueberries

MONDAY:

-oatmeal with blueberries
-leftover beans with fried cornbread, Raspberry Crisp
-homemade Fish Sandwiches, romaine salad, strawberries
snacks:carrots and dip, Fried Bananas

TUESDAY:

-fried eggs, toasted Breakfast Bread, jelly
-Fried Chicken Liver, oven fries, Cherry Shakes
-Lamb Stew, Braided Swiss Bread, jam
snacks:strawberries, celery sticks and dip

WEDNESDAY:

-Bug Oats with blueberries
-Leftover Stew, toasted Swiss Bread, jam
-Quick Pan-Fried Tilapia, Layered Salad, Seasoned Brown Rice, Hot Fudge Pudding Cake
snacks:bananas, carrots and dip

THURSDAY:

-Coconut Brown Rice Pudding
-Turkey Bacon Cups, salad, Creamed Asparagus, Orange-Cranberry Muffins
-Chicken Fried Rice, salad, Cherry-Mango Smoothies
snacks:leftover muffins, celery sticks and dip

FRIDAY:

-Maple-Walnut Muffin-cakes
-Mock Tuna Helper, salad, frozen smoothie pops
-Pizza Night!, Pureed Frozen Fruit Cups
snacks: veggies and dip, candy canes

"Do you wanna go outside?"

2012-02-02T22:19:00.000-02:00

"I dunno, do you?"

Cherry-Mango Smoothie

2012-02-02T20:50:00.000-02:00

I love smoothies and so do my kids. They're so easy and good!

You don't really have to measure, you can use any type of fruit that you have on hand (canned, fresh, or frozen) and any combination, you can use any liquid of your choosing (from milk to kefir to juice or even water), you can sweeten to taste, and you can make them thin enough to drink or thick enough to scoop like ice cream!

I buy frozen fruit in bulk at our local Cash-n-Carry and sometimes at Sam's. I also freeze or can anything that I'm given or can grow from my own yard. We were blessed with blackberries this year from our bushes and were given some delicious blueberries. Someone else later gave us some frozen apples from their freezer. We were blessed!

For this tasty combination;

3 cups frozen sour cherries

1 1/2 cups frozen mango

1/2 to 3/4 cup cane sugar (or white)

2 1/2 cups kefir (or other)

Whirl in your blender!

Pardon me while I slurp!

Mexi Chicken Dish

2012-02-01T20:23:00.000-02:00

This dish is so easy and really frugal when made from leftovers!

1 1/2 cups leftover shredded chicken

4 cups drained, rinsed black beans

1 1/2 cups corn

1 pkg or homemade equivalent of taco seasoning

3/4 cup water

Heat water to a simmer in large pot. Add remaining ingredients and toss gently. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes.

If any of your ingredients are frozen, add them 2 to 3 minutes ahead of the other ingredients.

Top with cheese, hot sauce, tomatoes, parsley, cilantro, etc

We like this for lunch with butter-grilled, quartered tortillas, used as 'scoops'.

It's also good in wraps and taco shells.

White Chip and Walnut Muffins

2012-01-31T02:03:00.000-02:00

I decided to change these up a bit and add some nuts. Too yummy!

2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 t salt

3/4 t baking soda

1 cup cane sugar (or white)

1 cup white chips

1/2 cup walnut pieces (or more)

1 t vanilla

1 3/4 cup buttermilk

2 eggs

Mix flour, salt, soda, sugar, chips, and nuts. Make a well in the center for vanilla, buttermilk, and eggs. Beat the wet ingredients lightly, then stir into flour until flour is well moistened.

Bake at 375 for 12 to 14 minutes.

Creamy Chicken, Cheddar, and Broccoli Soup

2012-01-30T20:45:00.000-02:00

2 1/2 quarts chicken broth or water

1 1/2 t chicken bouillon powder (double if using water)

2 cups cooked, cubed chicken

12 oz frozen chopped broccoli or fresh

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

3/4 cup milk

1/2 cup flour

salt and pepper to taste

Bring broth and bouillon to a boil. Add broccoli and salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 20 minutes. Add cooked chicken. (Can use raw, diced chicken and add with broccoli.) Simmer 5 to 10 more minutes.Mix milk and flour in a lidded container and shake until well blended. Add cheddar to soup. Stir until melted.

Slowly pour in milk and flour mixture and stir. Remove from heat and continue to stir until thickened and blended.

Menu- Jan. 29, 2012

2012-01-30T05:40:00.001-02:00

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday!

My Frugal Tip of the Week: Plan ahead for doctor's appointments and other outings. Schedule your meal plan in such a way that you can cook extra the night before, make a meal ahead and refrigerate, or make sure you have foods on hand that you can take along.

SATURDAY:

-grits
-leftover Homemade Pizza
-Spaghetti and Meatballs
snacks-Brown and White Muffins
SUNDAY:
-Fried Eggs and Buttermilk Biscuits
-leftover Spaghetti, limeade
-Breaded Ranch Chicken, salad, pickled okra
snacks-Biscuits and homemade jam, Homemade Tootsie Rolls

MONDAY:

-Kefir Smoothies,Rugelach
-Ham, Biscuits, fried apples, scrambled eggs
-Beef Stew, Easy Apple Dumpling Rolls
snacks-celery sticks with dip, Orange-Cranberry Whole Wheat Muffins

TUESDAY:

-Kamut English Muffins, Cherry Jam
-Split Pea Soup, Caraway Rye Biscuits
-Lemon Pepper Salmon, romaine salad, cauliflower with mock cheese sauce
snacks-Orange-Almond Apple Crumble,German Chocolate Cake

WEDNESDAY:

-Soaked Oatmeal
-White Beans, Cornbread, Turnips, Corn
-Ham, Baked Beans from leftover white beans, Creamed Asparagus
snacks-Orange Date Muffins, celery sticks and dip

THURSDAY:

-Peanut Butter Pancakes
-Cream of Sunshine Soup, 3Grain Cookies
-Leftover Ham, Baked Beans, Whole Wheat Rolls
snacks-leftover pancakes rolled with jelly, celery sticks and dip

FRIDAY:

-Coconut-Pecan Pancakes
-Cranberry-Almond Chicken Salad on Pita Bread, pickled okra,
-Homemade Pizza Night
snacks-Homemade Orange Sherbet

Breaded Ranch Chicken

2012-01-30T02:00:00.000-02:00

This is fast and easy!

Especially if you already have stored bread crumbs.

When I make fresh bread, I grind up leftovers and toss them in the freezer. Why buy- when you can frugally make your own? :-)

(And, by the way, this goes for many types of bread that I make; from pita to buns to loaf bread.)

I used 8 good-sized chicken breasts. If they are too thick, you may want to fillet them.

The thickness of your chicken will influence your bake time.

8 boneless, skinless chicken breast pieces

4 1/2 cups bread crumbs

1 1/2 cups buttermilk

3 T powdered Ranch mix (bulk at Sam's)

Preheat oven to 400. Butter baking dish(es).

Mix bread crumbs with the Ranch seasoning.

Dip chicken in buttermilk then in breading and place in baking dishes. Bake uncovered for 35 to 45 minutes, depending on thickness of chicken.

Served with a salad and pickled okra here.

Buttermilk Biscuits

2012-01-29T14:23:00.003-02:00

I've been asked several times about homemade biscuits and do I make them with wheat. I must confess, that biscuits are one place where I can't find room for my wheat :-)

I have made them- but there's nothing like a fluffy Southern - white- biscuit!

Here's how I make them:

2 cups self-rising flour

1/3 cup lard or butter*

approx. 3/4 cup of buttermilk**

Preheat oven to 550. Cut your fat into the flour until you get a nice 'crumb', a little more coarse than cornmeal. Slowly blend in your buttermilk being careful not to add too much or too little.

Once you have your dough barely moistened, dump out onto lightly floured counter.

Knead just until dough holds together- no more than about 10 times.

Pat out dough to about 1/2 inch thick and cut into circles. Place on light-colored baking pan.

Allow your biscuits to rest and rise for about 5 minutes or more before baking.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Butter the tops as soon as you remove them from the oven.

*You may use other fats. My dh sometimes will use oil when he makes biscuits for himself. I prefer lard and/or butter. I think they taste better ;-)

Tips:
Brandy made these using: **In place of buttermilk: 1 cup milk minus 1 Tbsp; replace with 1 Tbsp vinegar
(and using reconstituted powdered milk)

Don't knead biscuit dough roughly as you would a yeast dough.

Don't over knead or your dough will be touch.

To get layers, fold dough over and over rather than knead.

If at first you don't succeed, do it again! Make them several days in a row and you will get a feel and eye for the right consistency of the dough. Then- it will 'come back to you' every time you make them!

Brown and White Muffins

2012-01-28T02:37:00.000-02:00

Muffins solve a whole lot of problems for me! They're quick, they're sweet, and I can make quite a few in a short amount of time :-)

They are very good for breakfast but I LOVE to have them around for snacks. I can pack them with all sorts of things, like fruit and nuts, or just make them fun- like these!

(And shhh- if you'll notice- there's no oil! Nice chewy texture as a result.)

2 cups whole wheat flour

1/3 cup cocoa powder

1/2 t salt

1/2 t baking soda

1 cup cane sugar (or white)

1 t vanilla

2 eggs

2 cups kefir, buttermilk, or yogurt

1 cup white baking chips

Preheat oven to 400. Spray muffin tins with non-stick.

Mix flour, salt, baking soda, cocoa, and sugar. Blend in vanilla, eggs, and kefir (or other).

Fold in the chips right before pouring into muffin tins.

Bake 12 to 15 minutes being careful no to over bake.

Whole Wheat Triple Chocolate Braided Bread

2012-01-25T02:41:00.009-02:00

Chocolate and wheat- these are two of my favorite things!

This bread is a little dense and will require some patience. But- good things come to those who wait!

For the dough:
3 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/2 t instant yeast
1 cup warm water
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 t salt
1/4 cup melted butter
1 large egg
1/8 cup plain flour for kneading and rolling

For the filling:
1 8oz pkg cream cheese
1/3 cup melted semi sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup plain flour
1/3 cup cane sugar (or white)
1 egg yolk
1 t vanilla

For the glaze:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 t vanilla
1/4 cup heavy cream (or milk)
several T warm water (about 3 or 4)

Directions for the dough:
Dissolve yeast in warm water. Add salt, sugar, and cocoa. Blend in half the flour and melted butter. Stir in the egg. Add remaining flour slowly. You will want to leave this dough on the slightly sticky side. Allow to rise for about 40 minutes.

For the filling:
Allow cream cheese to come to room temp and whip until fluffy. Blend in melted chocolate chips and vanilla. Mix in the egg yolk and sugar. Add flour and scrape the bowl to make sure everything is incorporated.

Assemble dough and filling:
Divide dough into equal thirds. Roll each piece out into a rectangle; about 6X15.
Spread one third of the filling in each rectangle, keeping it within one inch of the edges. Roll each rectangle up and pinch closed. Lay the three rolls on baking sheet and braid. Pinch and tuck under both ends. Allow to rise 1 hour. Bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes on light colored baking sheet.

For the glaze:
Mix powdered sugar, vanilla, and cream. Add warm water, one tablespoon at a time until you have the glaze thin enough to drizzle. Tuck a sandwich baggie into a cup with the top open and pulled over the edges of the cup. Spoon the glaze into the baggie, pull the baggie out and twist, forcing the glaze down into the corner. Snip the corner with a pair of scissors and drizzle over your loaf once it has cooled for 15 to 20 minutes. Slice and serve! (For best slicing, use an electric knife or one with a jagged edge.)

***This post is linked to:

Raising Homemakers
HandyManCraftyWoman
Lil' Luna
SavvySouthernStyle
TheThrifyHome
WeAreThatFamily
Grocery Cart Challenge
While He Was Napping
Fingerprints On the Fridge

Ride 'em CowPup!

2012-01-24T20:50:00.000-02:00

When Abby grows up, she wants to be a Cow-Pup and that's why she barks at the horses and cows that try to live in peace across the street.

You know, if I didn't keep an eye out on these kids, it's un-telling what they'd do to this little pup!

...today a gun belt, tomorrow a pogo stick...

Menu- Jan. 21, 2012

2012-01-23T17:34:00.000-02:00

Welcome to Menu Plan Monday!

Projects this weekend: Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Waffles and Strawberry Jam from using a free sample of pectin!
Frugal Tip of the Week: If at first you don't succeed try try again! Trying frugal and healthy meals on your family is a big job. For a long time, I couldn't get everyone to eat liver and be content about it, but I kept trying until I got them 'used to it'. Chicken liver can often be found for .99 per pound. It is also loaded with vitamin D and A, which makes it a great frugal choice for your family's health. For the last month, I've worked in fried liver with tater tots once a week! Liver can be hidden by chopping in your food processor and mixing with ground meats too. It freezes well in its container and thaws overnight in the refrigerator.

SATURDAY:
-Whole Wheat Johnny Cakes, blueberries
-leftover pizza on my fave crust, 3 Grain Cookies
-Fried Chicken Legs, romaine salad, biscuits and Pomegranate Jelly
snacks-Hot Chocolate, Fried Bananas
SUNDAY:
-Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Waffles
-Homemade Sesame Seed Focaccia Bread with Cranberry Chicken Salad, flatbread strips with roasted red pepper Bruschetta, romaine and tomato salad
-Fried Chicken Livers, tater tots, Pureed Frozen Fruit Cups
snacks-Banana-Avocado-Mango Smoothies
MONDAY:
-Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Waffles
-Bologna Cups, leftover flatbread strips with red pepper Bruschetta, romaine salad
-Soft Tacos, refried beans, salsa and chips
snacks- Homemade Orange Sherbet, leftover Focaccia with homemade pear jelly
TUESDAY:
-Sausage-Gravy and Biscuits
-Haystacks, Cherry Cream Shakes
-Oven-Fried Chicken Thighs, black-eyed peas, sweet potatoes
snacks-leftover Biscuits with homemade strawberry jam, leftover rice with butter and honey
WEDNESDAY:
-fried eggs and applesauce
-Simple Spaghetti, Twisted Garlic Bread Sticks
-Roast Beef with Gravy, mashed potatoes, lima beans
snacks-celery sticks with Kefir-Ranch Dressing, Blueberry Crisp
THURSDAY:
-Cinnamon Raisin Muffins
-Cheese-n-Onion Strata, romaine salad, Cinnamon Applesauce Salad, home-pickled okra
-Easy Dump Chicken, asparagus, tomato salad
snacks-leftover muffins, celery with Buttermilk-Cheese Spread
FRIDAY:
-Banana Crepes
-Cheesy Tuna Noodles, broccoli normandy, speckled butter beans
-Homemade Pizza
snacks-Triple Berry Muffins, Gooey-Pie Cookie Bars

Vegetable-Tomato Fettuccine Soup

2012-01-22T19:13:00.000-02:00

This soup is super frugal, but so delicious!

I estimate the cost to be around $1 to $1.25 for the entire pot.

You can adjust the seasonings according to your family's preference but I like them a little on the heavy side :-)

2 quarts of chicken bone broth

2 T butter, lard, or other fat

1 large onion, finely chopped

1 cup finely chopped celery with leaves

2 t minced garlic

2 bay leaves

1/2 t paprika

1 1/2 t oregano

1 1/2 t basil

1/2 t thyme

1/2 t rosemary

1 T dried parley

1 t chicken bouillon powder

salt and pepper to taste

1 can Italian flavored Tomato Paste

3/4 of 12oz box Vegetable Fettuccine (buy up when they are .50 a box!)

Saute onions, celery, and garlic in fat for about 5 minutes. Add broth and seasonings. Stir in paste until well-blended. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes. Add broken fettuccine noodles and cook for about 12 minutes until Al dente.

Serve hot with a sprinkling of mozzarella or Parmesan.

Make this soup frugally in the summer with your own herbs, garlic, celery, and onions.

Also, make your own bone broth! And render your own fat/lard from free tallow at your local grocery store.

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Waffles

2012-01-22T18:42:00.001-02:00

I don't know whether these should be breakfast, dessert, or a snack- they're just so yummy!

But they would certainly be good for any of those categories and since they are all whole wheat, you wouldn't even have to feel bad about grabbing one on the way out the door for a 'quick fix'.

I cooked some of these up to have for breakfast this week but they will also be handy if we need a 'quick fix'!

This is a big batch, so you can feed a big family, and/or have some for the freezer!

4 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

3 cups milk

1 stick of melted butter

6 eggs

3 T baking powder

1/2 T salt

2 1/2 T cane sugar (or white or honey)

1 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Mix flour, salt, sugar, and baking powder in large mixing bowl. Stir in milk, eggs, and melted butter.

(*Tip: always beat pancake or waffle batter with a mixer to ensure no dry lumps!)

You may stir in chocolate chips but I prefer to sprinkle them on the batter before closing the waffle iron. This way I can ensure that each waffle gets about even, rather than have the chips sink to the bottom of the batter between each batch.

Brush melted butter on your waffle iron between each batch and cook according to your iron's instructions.

(One of my irons has a green light that goes on when it's ready while the other one I have has a red light that goes off when it's ready!)

Cool on wire rack if you are going to store in the fridge or freezer.

I tied these up in a large double, bread-bag :-)

Top with maple syrup, fruit and powdered sugar, honey, or you might even like Peanut Butter Honey Syrup!
***
This post is linked to:
Skip to My Lou

...and the winner is.....

2012-01-21T17:12:00.000-02:00

JOY- you're the winner!

There were 4 entries and I punched them in the widget above, from Random.Org, and it picked the number one, which is the first poster.

Thank you girls for entering!

Joy- I'll ship this right out to you and hopefully you should have it by the middle of the week.

***

Special thanks to Blade Buddy for allowing me and one of you to try out their product.... my razor is still going strong, thanks to this product!

***

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Our Current Reading List- lots of goodies from our local library or online free

2012-01-19T17:12:00.001-02:00

3rd grader-Kyler: Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Pinocchio, McGuffey’s Fourth Reader, The Swiss Family Robinson, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Treasure Island, Christopher Columbus and the Discovery of the New World, Rascal, Lentil, The Bears: Hemlock Mountain, The Sign of the Beaver, A Lion to Guard Us, The Family Under the Bridge, Yonie Wondernose, The Book of Dragons, The Enchanted Castle, Make Way for Ducklings, Allan Fowler- Pine Trees, Maple Trees, It Could Still Be a Tree, Simple Machines, Can You See the Wind?, -One Morning In Maine, A Tree Is Still A Plant, The Apple and the Arrow, Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving, The Story of Valentine’s Day, Blueberries for Sal, Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel, Daniel’s Duck, Hatchet

4th grader-Kayanna: The Long Winter, Little Town on the Prairie, These Happy Golden Years, The First Four Years, Little Men, Rascal, Secrets on 26^th Street, The Family Under the Bridge, Thee Hannah!, Twig, Watcher in the Piney Woods, Listen to the Nightingale, The Enchanted Castle, The Railway Children,

6th grader- Kellan: The Silver Chair, The Last Battle, David Crockett-Scout, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Pathfinder, Robinson Crusoe , Elements of Civil Government, Not Yours to Give, The Story of David Livingstone (http://www.mainlesson.com/display.php?author=golding&book=livingstone&story=_contents), Rascal, The Yearling. The Sign of the Beaver, The Family Under the Bridge, The Door in the Wall, The Enchanted Castle,The Wanderings of Odysseus, Abraham’s Family by John Morris, Black Ships Before Troy, Minn of the Mississippi, Rip Van Winkle by Washington Irving, My Side of the Mountain, Hatchet, Call it Courage

8th grader- Kemuel: On That Day Began Lies, Don Quixote, Life on the Mississippi, The Soldier in Our Civil War Volume 2, Rascal, Lord Peter: the complete Lord Peter Wimsey stories, Our Town: A Play in 3 Acts,- Cry: The Beloved Country-, The Family Under the Bridge, The Bronze Bow, The Enchanted Castle, Exploring the History of Medicine, Mosque by Macaulay, Cathedral by Macaulay

10th grader- Krestan: Roughing It (semi-auto Twain)My Utmost for His Highest, Elements of Civil Government, My African Journey, Luther and the Reformation (G), Beacon Lights of History Vol V -?(G), Why Won’t They Listen? http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/wwtl, Rascal, An American Plague, Silas Marner, The Nine Tailors, Crime and Punishment, What’s So Amazing About Grace?, The Family Under the Bridge, The Enchanted Castle,

Exploring the History of Medicine, Mosque by Macaulay, Cathedral by Macaulay, The Kingfisher History Encyclopedia, The Screwtape Letters

3-Grain Cookies

2012-01-18T02:31:00.003-02:00

These puff up into a nice big cookie, but there's so much good stuff in them, you won't mind at all!

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 t sea salt (or plain)
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 cup barley flakes
1 cup quick oats
1 stick butter, melted
3/4 cup cane sugar (white will work)
1/4 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 t vanilla
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Stir in baking soda, salt, and baking powder. Stir in wheat flour, barley flakes, and oats. Toss in chocolate chips and nuts. Scoop out slightly less than 1/4 cup at a time. Bake at 375 for 12-14 minutes.

Tips: These would make a great "breakfast cookie". You could cut your sugar bag 1/3 to 1/2 and add fruits instead of chocolate chips if you like too.

You can also make these in advance and freeze for a "quick fix" morning when you least expect it!

**This post is linked to:
Raising Homemakers
The Thrifty Home
HandyManCraftyWoman

Scavenger Hunt- for all of YOU!!!

2012-01-17T20:45:00.001-02:00

How about a freebie for all of you?
Wanna Have Some Fun?

Remember the My Memories Suite Giveaway back in September?

(And don't forget my special promo offer (code: STMMMS61766) on the side bar if any of you are interested in purchasing the entire suite!)

Well boy- I mean girls, ladies- do I have a fun surprise for YOU! -All of you!

See these below?

Those 3 packs are YOURS and all of you can have them!!!

If you're up to a little fun ;-)

First let me say that this will be a link to the MyMemories site and you will simply download these special png files. They are special, in that, you can use them COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of the MyMemoriesSuite!

That means you can use them on ANY program on your computer! Which also means that ALL OF YOU can get them!

Now for THE BIG FUN- you have to find them! ;-)

Told you it would be fun!

I'm going to hide the links to the downloads in some old posts. I'll give you a clue to find each of them and you simply find the post and the link will be at the bottom and it will say: "Here's your first (second or third) special My Memories Link." Click on the link, it will take you to the special My Memories page and simply click the "click here to download" button.

Woo hoo! Let the fun begin!

Oh I just love to play games!

1st clue to first download: I posted about a book in 2008 on Gutenberg that I thought was really neat. It was called Science In the Kitchen. Hint: type in MRS. E.E. KELLOGG in my blog's search bar.

2nd clue to second download: Your second download is on the post of my family's favorite dessert. Hint: Look on the side bar.

3rd clue to third download: I posted a while back about an oddly-named Scripture memory activity that I was using with my kids. Hint: Type "zombie" in the search bar on my blog.

Lemon Shortbread Cookies

2012-01-17T14:43:00.008-02:00

Shortbread=butter+lemon=yummy!

This isn't a big batch of cookies, so they don't last long...which is a blessing to those of us who can't stop "at just one"! ;-)

1 1/2 sticks of butter (3/4 cup)

1/2 cup sugar (plus 2 to 3T additional for dipping)

1/2 t vanilla

1 t lemon extract

1/2 t lemon zest

2 cups plain flour

Cream butter with sugar. Add vanilla and lemon extract. Add zest.* Gradually add flour.

Scrape the bowl several times to make sure all butter is incorporated.

Roll out in 1 inch balls. Dip in the extra sugar.

Place on ungreased cookie sheet and flatten.

Bake at 350 approx 15 minutes. Cool on rack.

Makes approx. 2 dozen cookies.

*If you don't have lemon zest, you can use 1/2 t more lemon extract.

If you don't have the extract, but have a lemon, add 2 to 3 t fresh lemon juice and zest.

*****************************************************************************
Be sure to enter the Blade Buddy Giveaway while you're here!
*************************************************************

This post is linked to:

A Bowl Full of Lemons
Chef In Training
HomeStories AtoZ
Tip Junkie's Tip Me Tuesday
Between Naps on the Porch