Zesty Horseradish Carrots

Recipe is taken for: Dinner$ on a Dime = Gooseberry Patch  page 82

An easy make-ahead dish. Assemble it the night before and refrigerate, then pop it in the oven just before serving.

6-8 carrots, peeled and cut into matchsticks
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 T. onion, grated
2 T. creamy horseradish sauce
1/2 t. salt
1/4 t. pepper

Cover carrots with water in a saucepan; cook for 6-8 minutes over medium heat. Drain, reserving 1/4 cup cooking liquid. Combine carrots, reserved cooking liquid and remaining ingredients. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 9"x9" baking pan; sprinkle with topping. Bake, uncovered, at 375 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Make 6 servings

Topping:
1/4 cup bread crumbs
1 T. butter, softened
1/8 t. paprika

Combine ingredients; mix until crumbly

This was excellent. The horseradish wasn't "too" much. Great side dish that I would make again!!

Our House - it's a very fine house!

#13 ON THE BUCKET LIST!!!!

A few months ago we decided to put our house on the market. It's a great house and we love our house! But it just doesn't seem to fit our needs anymore! We have neighbors here even though we are considered to be in the "town of Bainbridge" or the country as some might describe it. Most of you know that I have 3 smaller, very loud and energetic children. Not to mention a dog that like to bark....a lot! I always feel like I'm (we) are disturbing our neighbors. We have our eyes on a "new to us place". There are no neighbors, just a couple of cow pastures! Don't get me wrong - we aren't going to be completely secluded, there are people just across the road. But this new house seems to fit us better. There is a two car garage - a HEATED two car garage. The basement is finished and is just screaming for the attention of my husband and my kids! There is plenty of room for my chickens to be free-range, as well as our dog! And most importantly, all of the kids could have their own rooms if they so desired! It's in the same school district too!

I really do love our current house. Especially my kitchen which we designed ourselves!!

We've had one person come to look at it and they loved it! BUT they have a dining set that is a family heirloom that they just can't get rid of and it won't fit in our dining room :( We just had another call from a Realtor and someone is going to be coming tomorrow to look at it! YAY!!!! OUR SECOND SHOWING!!!! Here are some more pictures! And if by chance you are interested - let me know!!!!

My life - wouldn't have it any other way!

I couldn't resist snapping a picture of this! Please notice: the EMPTY toothpaste box, the EMPTY tube of the toothpaste and the trash can sitting about 1 foot away! Gotta love my family :) 

I guess these are the things that you deal with as a stay-at-home-mom! Or any mom......

Luscious Lemon Bars

Luscious Lemon Bars

2-1/4 cup all-purpose flour divided
1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 cup butter
4 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup lemon juice
2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix 2 cups flour, powdered sugar and butter; press into a greased 13"x9" baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes; cool. Whisk eggs and lemon juice together. Sift sugar, remaining flour and baking powder; mix with egg mixture. Pour over baked crust and return to oven. Bake for an additional 25 minutes. Cool and cut into squares. Makes 16

I made these last night and broke of a piece to try. They taste so YUMMY!!!! I let them cool overnight and this morning I tried to cut them. I found that they aren't coming out of the baking pan as easily as I would have hoped. I've put them back into the oven and I'm going to cook a bit longer to see if that makes a difference. I'll be sure to update!!

Brooklinn's 18 month check-up and SNOW

Brooklinn had her 18 month check-up yesterday! I can't believe that my little baby is already 1 1/2 years old! It seems like just last week she was waking up several times a night - oh wait....she was!!!! She has learned so much in the past 18 months and amazes me more everyday. I cannot believe how much she loves her big sissy JJ. I wish you could see how excited she gets when she hears the bus pull up out from at 3:24!! She starts screaming and running through the house, yelling JJ!! JJ!! JJ!!

She is starting to get a little too independent for me though and it makes me a little nervous at her lack of fear! Last night I left her in the well and capable (but not so watchful) eyes of her father - I had to run out to the chicken coop to put them to bed. In the 5 minutes (maybe) that I was gone, Brooklinn managed to go upstairs in her room and grab a handful of clothing. When I looked she was WALKING back down the stairs!!!! I hate kids and stairs - it's an accident waiting to happen and I don't want it to happen!!

We got about 6 inches of snow the night before last. It wasn't enough to close school but it was enough to keep Eian and JJ busy last night for a few hours. It was my plan to take Brooklinn out too but the wind started to blow and I deemed it too cold for her! We don't have any mountains on our property but we do have 1 very small "hill" and the deck stairs. The 2 of them kept busy sliding down the deck stairs for most of the evening. I overheard a discussion between the two of them when they came in to get warm. They were considering "sleigh riding" down the stairs in the house! Thankfully, I overheard this conversion and put the 2 of them straight! THERE WILL BE NO SLEIGH RIDING INSIDE THIS HOUSE!!! I posted about this on the Facebook wall and I was surprised to read about how many of my friends have actually done this! I don't know why I never about it when I was younger!!

1/12 My daily contest/giveaway entries - you can enter too :)

• A years supply of Downy Fabric Softener - things are smelling better already!!! Oh how I would LOVE to win this!!!! You can give it a shot too - check out Shibley Smiles for information on how to enter! This ends on: 2/12/11
• I've entered to win a HearthSong Art Table with Paper Roll! My girls would LOVE this!!!! To find out details on how to enter, just visit: Show Me Mama - this ends on: 1/24/11 
• I got my bonus entries in to win a $25 Amazon gift card supplied by joeshopping.com - giveaway details can be found at "Rachel's Reviews and Giveaways" the bonus entries are available until 1/17 and the main giveaway goes until 1/22
• I also got my bonus entries in to win a $25 gift card to the Outback!! Giveaway details can be found at "Rachel's Reviews and Giveaways" the bonus entries are available until 1/17 and the main giveaway goes until 1/22. 
• One lucky "ace and friends" reader will win a special Prilosec OTC gift pack, complete with a $100 AMEX giftcard for you to splurge on your favorite foods without the fear of heartburn!This ends on 2/3/11

Sweet-and-Sour Beef Stew in the Crockpot

This was SUPER yummy!!! Having no leftovers is always a good clue to a successful dinner!!

Sweet-and-Sour Beef Stew

1-1/2 pounds beef stew meat

1-1/2 cup sliced onion

1 cup carrot, peeled and cubed

8-ounce can tomato sauce

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/4 cup white vinegar

1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

4 t. cornstarch

cooked egg noodles

Place all ingredients except cornstarch and noodles in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on low setting for 10 to 12 hours, or on high setting for 6 hours. One hour before serving, stir in cornstarch. Cover again and cook for final hour on high setting. Serve with cooked noodles on the side. Serves 4

Changes: Jason suggested adding mushrooms to it. I didn't have a need to add the starch because it was plenty thick when we were ready to serve. I also didn't serve it over noodles and Jason suggested serving it over Rice! All in all, a good recipe - it was missing something in the "spice" department though!

GOOSEBERRY PATCH - "Dinner$ on a Dime" review!

I love to cook! But I especially love to cook when the recipes are easy and come out tasting yummy too! I recently found a Gooseberry Patch cookbook at a local store. I've always been a fan of the company, but never had bought any of their cookbooks. I've always been more of a "search the Internet and see what I find" kinda cook! Don't get me wrong, I have lots of cookbooks sitting over in the corner of my counter looking all pretty and organized. But for some reason, I just never feel the urge to pick them up. But so far it has been different with "Dinner$ on a Dime". In the last week I have cooked 3 of the recipes included in the cookbook and I have another in the crock pot for tonight!

One of the things that I love most about this cookbook is all of the Tips & Tricks that are included. As well as all of the money saving techniques that everyone could benefit from! As I look at the recipe for "Picnic Hot Dog Surprise" (located on page 26) I notice a note at the bottom of the page which says: "When the weather is nice, carry dinner outdoors to the backyard for a picnic. You'll be making memories together...and just about anything tastes even better outdoors!" Other Tips & Tricks:

I've made several recipes already from this cookbook but for the purpose of this review I made:

Stuffed Cabbage Soup (page 46)

Carolyn Helewski

Arcadia, FL

We just loved my mom's stuffed cabbage, but it took so long to prepare. I took all of the ingredients she used and turned it into a soup that is a lot quicker and tastes just like the original!

1 pound ground beef

garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste

2 14-1/2 ounce cans beef broth

3-2/3 cup water

2 10-3/4 ounce cans tomato soup

1 4.4 ounce can sauerkraut

1/2 head cabbage, chopped

1 cup cooked rice

Brown beef in a large soup pot over medium heat; drain. Sprinkle with garlic powder, salt and pepper.

Add broth water, soup and undrained sauerkraut; stir until mixed well. Mix in cabbage and rice; bring to a boil. Lower heat and simmer for one hour. Makes 10 servings.

A splash of cider vinegar adds zing to any cabbage dish.

Over all I find the cookbook very easy to use and very easy to understand. The recipes are straightforward and so far have proven to be accurate and correct! I love all of the extras that are included and enjoy reading them too. I can't wait to continue to try more recipes. This cookbook will be sitting nicely next to my stove for some time to come!

If you would like to find out more about Gooseberry Patch and their other cookbooks and/or products available, you can go to their website. They can also be found on Facebook (please let them know that I sent you)!
 

1/11 My daily contest/giveaway entries - you can enter too :)

• I entered to win a $75 gift certificate to Plow and Hearth - this is from "The Thrifty Things" and end on 1/25/11 
• One LUCKY *ace and friends* reader will win a cozy "Change of Plans" Fleece Blanket and three (3) P&G/Walmart family movies: "Secrets of The Mountain", "Jenson Project" and "A Walk in My Shoes". This ends on: 1/26/11
•  

Today is Tuesday.......

Don't really have too much to write about this morning. Brooklinn slept really well again last night and my chickens laid me an egg yesterday! I saw this quote on Facebook the other day and found it fitting with a lot of things going on in my life right now:

There comes a time in life, when you walk away from all the drama and people who create it. You surround yourself with people who make you laugh, forget the bad, and focus on the good. So, love the people who treat you right. Forget about the ones who don't. Life is too short to be anything but happy.

Another quote I really like:

Expect nothing - Appreciate everything!

Have a good day!!!!

1/10 My daily contest/giveaway entries - you can enter too :)

• I entered to win a Vitalicous sampler pack from Ace and Friends co. The mission of Vitalicious is simple: to make healthy and delicious baked goods that are fortified with essential vitamins and minerals. This ends on: 1/31/11
• 2 Boys + 1 Girl = 1 Crazy Mom is having a thank you giveaway. She is giving away $50 in Paypal Cash! This ends on 1/31/11
• I love kitchen gadgets - if I keep getting new ones, I might have to remodel my remodeled kitchen!! I found a giveaway for 2 Wilton Tasty-Fill Cake Pan Sets. They look pretty cool too. I'm sure I could make some beautiful cakes with this set!! I found the giveaway at: Mommy D's Kitchen - this ends om: 1/30/11
  

Weekend Away!

We spent the past weekend in MD/DE visiting Jason's family to celebrate a late Christmas with them. Traveling this year is always tricky! This is what I drove in for over 2 hours:

We eventually made it safe and sound. It just took a little longer! I've always wanted to go to the Ocean in the Winter. So I made Jason humor me and we paid a quick visit to Ocean City. I even managed to talk him into walking out on the Jetty with the girls and I. It was cold but the look on Brooklinn's face was priceless! Thank goodness I was holding her or I think she would have jumped in!!!

We stayed in hotel while there. The bigger kids mostly stayed at Jason's sisters house but Brooklinn stayed with us. Most of you already know about my previous experience letting her CIO. If you don't know about it you can read about it in my earlier posts. We didn't have enough room in our room for a crib so I was really hoping she would just curl up on the floor, maker herself a bed and go to sleep. Wishful thinking! In order for the entire hotel to get some sleep I had to put her in bed with me. All I kept thinking was how the entire first night of her yelling and screaming during sleep training was going to be for nothing and how I was going to have to endure another night just like that one.
WELL, I was pleasantly surprised last night. I put her in her crib and she cried for not even a minute, laid down and went to sleep and that is how she stayed until this morning! I can't even begin to tell you how relieved I am that she did that!!!!