tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63966388445986350132024-03-04T22:58:40.380-08:00The Brainy Farm WifeRecipes, ideas and thoughts to feed your body, mind and soul.Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.comBlogger107125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-77594131322409192432013-01-17T22:13:00.002-08:002013-01-17T22:14:59.928-08:00Slow Cooker Beef Stew<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePFH5RMxlBaDZGhTfuueFZGzIfT5plneR-sIhcoy7HYq5sVLs8Dd3FSaKhXUwIGTWPYSt0fzQGjjlN14Lu3cok1tXn-2TbVAHAwZKJ_lXOXu_2xcHSCgcYriMTS-Xt3BMw_jdbvlVw4Zb/s1600/Beef+stew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgePFH5RMxlBaDZGhTfuueFZGzIfT5plneR-sIhcoy7HYq5sVLs8Dd3FSaKhXUwIGTWPYSt0fzQGjjlN14Lu3cok1tXn-2TbVAHAwZKJ_lXOXu_2xcHSCgcYriMTS-Xt3BMw_jdbvlVw4Zb/s320/Beef+stew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span id="goog_4080107"></span><span id="goog_4080108"></span><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></strong><br />
<br />
3 lbs stew beef<br />
½ cup flour<br />
1 tsp seasoning salt, to taste<br />
2T Olive oil<br />
2 cups diced carrots<br />
1 ½ cup diced celery<br />
3 – 4 cups cubed potatoes (I really like red!)<br />
1 large onion, diced<br />
2 T butter<br />
½ cup red wine<br />
1 package beef stew mix <br />
3 cups veggie broth (or water)<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Directions</strong> </span></o:p></div>
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Cut stew beef to size you prefer, I tend to always cut them
so they are more bite sized.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Place in
bag with flour and salt and coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coat rimmed
cookie sheet with olive oil and add stew beef to a 350 degree oven to brown,
stir once or twice.</div>
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Place potatoes, carrots and celery in crockpot.</div>
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Melt butter in saucepan and add diced onion and sautee until
soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add packet of stew mix and red
wine, blend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pour over veggies in crockpot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add meat and veggie broth, sprinkle with
pepper to taste.</div>
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Cook on high for 1 hour, then low for 5-6, until meat is
tender.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Take 2T of cornstarch and mix
with 1 cup water, add to stew and simmer on low for about 30 minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you like your broth thinner, add more
water.</div>
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Enjoy!</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">*Note* I do not add very
much salt and pepper to my soups as I know everyone has different levels of
preference and then it can be added when it is served to the person’s taste.</i></div>
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To can: process at 10lbs pressure for 90 minutes for quarts <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and 75 minutes for pints.</div>
Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-17684361040486031892012-12-28T21:38:00.001-08:002012-12-28T21:38:26.493-08:00Creme Brule Baked French ToastMy kids <em>LOVE</em> breakfast for dinner. And it gives me the opportunity to make things I simply do not have the time or energy to do most mornings. Here was one I made tonight, and they raved about it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqyRapNIKq2kVkW0PwmBY-XXoInrCTG-PxfQjSmkmwn7IeATnRTj1mqSqlgV2YqENjcWHZETzVH-09-EyoGaaG7Ivs4is4t4IscHQBUPqScAq4o3QmTWqDjfO5CMHeLRuf5AhPqenPsVy/s1600/bakedfrenchtoast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieqyRapNIKq2kVkW0PwmBY-XXoInrCTG-PxfQjSmkmwn7IeATnRTj1mqSqlgV2YqENjcWHZETzVH-09-EyoGaaG7Ivs4is4t4IscHQBUPqScAq4o3QmTWqDjfO5CMHeLRuf5AhPqenPsVy/s320/bakedfrenchtoast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><strong>Ingredients</strong></span><br />
<br />
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<o:p> <strong>French Toast</strong></o:p></div>
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1 loaf French Bread (best if a day or two stale)</div>
9 eggs<br />
½ cup Crème Brule Creamer<br />
1 T Cinnamon<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<strong>Carmelized Syrup Topping</strong><br />
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1 cup brown sugar</div>
1/3 cup light corn syrup<br />
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk<br />
2 T butter<br />
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<o:p></o:p><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Directions</span></strong><br />
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Pre-heat oven to 350.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Spray bottom of 9x13 pan.</div>
<o:p> </o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
Slice French bread to desired size.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it’s a little stale, it’s perfect – then
it won’t become too soggy!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Also, if you’d like to
stuff the toast with some type of fruit filling, cut them a little thicker and
cut a slice in the top and insert filling. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fresh fruits or jams work great</i>.<br />
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In mixing bowl combine eggs, creamer and cinnamon and whip
until well blended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can dip the
bread in the eggs to make sure each piece is coated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then pour remaining egg mixture over the
bread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<o:p> </o:p><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fun tip – refrigerate
this overnight and pop in the oven in the morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You will want to increase the baking time,
but YUM!</i></div>
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Place in oven.</div>
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In a saucepan, melt butter and add sugar, corn syrup and
condensed milk and bring to boil.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pull
out the pan in the oven, and pour over the top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finish baking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Total baked time
should be about 30-40 minutes.</div>
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<em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">ENJOY!</span></em></div>
Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-76736699077864600702012-07-27T11:00:00.000-07:002012-07-30T19:35:38.864-07:00Creamy Ranch Chicken<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=2012-06-27_13-26-07_255.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="2012-06-27_13-26-07_255, Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App" border="0" height="320" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/2012-06-27_13-26-07_255.jpg" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creamy Ranch Chicken</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I came up with this recipe after finding a similar idea on Pinterest. But then once I clicked the Pinterest link, the recipe was NOT to the picture. Uh Oh. I had NO idea how it would turn out, and I was having friends over for dinner. Guess they would get to be my guinnea pigs. According to them, it worked! And I loved it too. So, here you go!<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong>Ingredients</strong><br />
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts<br />
1 packet dry ranch dressing<br />
8 oz cream cheese, softened<br />
1 can cream of mushroom soup<br />
1 can cream of chicken soup<br />
1 cup diced sun dried tomatos<br />
* milk, as needed for consistency<br />
<br />
<strong>Directions</strong><br />
Spray crock pot with non-stick spray. Place chicken breasts on bottom so they don't overlap. Sprinkle ranch dressing. Mix together soups and cream cheese, pour over chicken. Cook on low for 4 hours.<br />
<br />
Shred chicken, return to crockpot. Add sun-dried tomatos and milk to get desired consistency. Cook another 30 minutes. <br />
<br />
Serve over pasta. (<em>I served it with a side of broccoli, and one of my guests decided that it was great as a topping OVER the broccoli. And I admit, I enjoyed it that was the next day for lunch)</em>.Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-43702078146644273322012-07-26T11:33:00.000-07:002012-07-27T10:03:12.699-07:00400 Fans Jam GiveawayWow! I can't believe we've hit 400 fans on Facebook! In celebration, I'm doing another fun giveaway. Since it's summer, and I'm jamming - I'm going to give away a selection of the jams I'm making and have made.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=2012-07-27_09-36-54_883.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App" border="0" height="180" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/2012-07-27_09-36-54_883.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />I'm working on some updates for the blog page, so I'd love to hear what you enjoy reading, and what you'd like to see more of in the coming months.<br />
<br />
Thanks for your fanship!<br />
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=2012-07-27_09-37-19_763.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Uploaded from the Photobucket Android App" border="0" height="112" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/2012-07-27_09-37-19_763.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<br />
Here's a fun pic of some of my canning shelf!<br />
<a class="rafl" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/8da26c5/" id="rc-8da26c5" rel="nofollow">a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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</script>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-88992349859789543262012-04-30T20:02:00.001-07:002012-04-30T21:10:29.488-07:00Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Bread<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<strong><span style="font-size: x-large;">Whole Wheat Sweet Potato Bread</span></strong></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfq-jz3fmg2_zdPO93plHwtWWh60r6sRd11zKU0r4UJtc4Wnn9RjroeGySsx4CT2IbAYTckafqsCnw6qDfwrKxaFTiujbit5qPf7AMuUqEomzL9LG8fftysc6YnCzo_ZOljmTuuQf2DJ9k/s1600/bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfq-jz3fmg2_zdPO93plHwtWWh60r6sRd11zKU0r4UJtc4Wnn9RjroeGySsx4CT2IbAYTckafqsCnw6qDfwrKxaFTiujbit5qPf7AMuUqEomzL9LG8fftysc6YnCzo_ZOljmTuuQf2DJ9k/s320/bread.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I made this bread, and my kids LOVED it. They helped me do the prep as well, as I'm trying to get them more involved as I make healthier foods. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Bread</strong><br />
1 cup mashed sweet potato*<br />
2 cups whole wheat flour<br />
1 tsp baking soda<br />
1/2 tsp salt<br />
1 tsp cinnamon<br />
1 tsp all spice<br />
1/4 cup canola oil<br />
2 eggs<br />
1 cup honey<br />
1 cup buttermilk**<br />
<br />
<strong>Topping</strong><br />
1/2 cup oatmeal<br />
1/2 cup brown sugar<br />
1/2 cup toffee chips<br />
1 tsp cinnamon<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zf-LIVdgke_zI1nCI4jxP2POk8aY0DuiB0SbEQfB9by63NmDEU2I97L34AAti1CKBEF76s74AQz8l4H9Z0hj3cUn3Q1kOFuRB23fHLYIz8MNn5y9bcPOk1hhZ-07fvDKzR3kG2uYZVEN/s1600/bread2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Zf-LIVdgke_zI1nCI4jxP2POk8aY0DuiB0SbEQfB9by63NmDEU2I97L34AAti1CKBEF76s74AQz8l4H9Z0hj3cUn3Q1kOFuRB23fHLYIz8MNn5y9bcPOk1hhZ-07fvDKzR3kG2uYZVEN/s320/bread2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong>Directions </strong><em>~ with my kids helping!</em></span><br />
<br />
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, adjust rack so that the top of the pan will be in the middle of the oven. Grease and flour bottom of loaf pan.<br />
<br />
Blend together dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and all-spice. Mix wet ingredients in seperate bowl: oil, eggs, vanilla, honey, mashed sweet potato and buttermilk. Blend untill ingredients are moistened. Pour into prepared pan.<br />
<br />
Mix topping ingredients, sprinkle over top of batter.<br />
<br />
Bake in oven for 90 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then cool completely on wire rack. Slice and serve. <br />
<br />
<br />
* I peeled and cut the potatoes. Then boiled until tender, drained and mashed.<br />
<br />
** Several bread recipes that I use call for buttermilk. But I never seemed to have it when I had I needed it. And when I'd buy it, part of it would go bad. Then I found this, and I LOVE it. It's a powdered buttermilk, and it works <em>fabulously!</em> I hope you can find it in a store near you.<br />
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<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxebsgR7gx_j9RbN08nTGzyYUR-LdTFkn9Cka8otst-JdNeMMeoqNRqT8a_jfwOSuoxwhuO5a1uvktwM5Jg2glUPBn6oFRiur9amRf8gBOss2YmrySSA1jMz5I1JojoTVIbHaVOZUIjzWU/s1600/buttermilk.png" /></div>
<br />Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-70618786743340371592012-04-13T11:16:00.003-07:002012-04-13T11:17:43.906-07:00Accuquilt Barn Quilt Contest - FINALIST<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhASTwgqytbmI5SzHskZc_auSqlYn3NFHHelyOYoQFnD9ADlad28ZVYTHo4ithj-koc0duDGyAE39YxqM_qe2dUPcQOD0Pw6sqE2YLaqGCyPzFiiithEgCBMDkq9GgcHzfWfplka-ZpgDR3/s1600/BQ045.png" /></div>
<br />
If you don't know it yet, I'm totally addicted to contests. For the second year in a row, I entered Accuquilt's Barn Quilt contest - and this year I'm a finalist!! The top 100 blocks are voted by YOU, then the top 20 go to a celebrity panel. It's a short term contest, public voting is only until Wednesday, April 18th! That's less than a week.<br />
<br />
So, I am shamelessly going to ask for your votes. PLEASE! :D And thank you. (Imagine how many more quilts I can make, maybe one for YOU if I win).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt/entry.html">http://www.accuquilt.com/barnquilt/entry.html</a> Quilt #45. Go. Vote. THANK YOU!Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-62462606118647619662012-04-02T17:42:00.000-07:002012-04-02T17:44:53.776-07:00Autism Awareness Month - GiveAwayApril is Autism Awareness month, and today (April 3rd) is World Autism day.<br />
<br />
My son is high-funtioning autistic, and I have a soft spot in my heard for all of those on the spectrum.<br />
<br />Today I'm going to give away a necklace so that you can show your support as well. <br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy6jJGkHKgda4LeRXYjQiVgTd_iTkfR8wI2UucEcJOWS7HSOzKqdbR7wpCvCEpXaz9-rYm4pDtJGmt8ugaXzMq4hAYCrk9RU9h5nPbPs4HEijtqreRtdnn2bWwvEBM27gvewUlZ6Ar1FS/s1600/necklace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy6jJGkHKgda4LeRXYjQiVgTd_iTkfR8wI2UucEcJOWS7HSOzKqdbR7wpCvCEpXaz9-rYm4pDtJGmt8ugaXzMq4hAYCrk9RU9h5nPbPs4HEijtqreRtdnn2bWwvEBM27gvewUlZ6Ar1FS/s320/necklace.jpg" width="128" /></a></div>
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<noscript><a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js">You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.</noscript>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-16590058486371744082012-02-28T10:08:00.000-08:002012-02-28T10:08:22.944-08:00For the love of BaconTrends have always interested me - it's amazing what can become popular and trendy.<br />
<br />
Well, Bacon seems to be a trend. You can find all manner of <a href="http://www.thinkgeek.com/brain/whereisit.cgi?t=bacon&x=0&y=0" target="_blank">Bacon-related products:</a> popcorn, lip balm, dental floss. Go to <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit=&q=bacon&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US" target="_blank">Etsy</a> and you'll find quite the assortment of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit=&q=bacon+scarf&order=most_relevant&ship_to=US&view_type=gallery" target="_blank">bacon scarfs,</a> <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade?search_submit=&q=bacon+jewelry&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US" target="_blank">jewlery </a>and clothing.<br />
<br />
My daughter, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, also happens to be a huge fan of Bacon. And so I decided to get creative and decorate her cake with bacon. <br />
<br />
No, not real bacon (although you can find <a href="http://www.etsy.com/search/handmade/plants_and_edibles?search_submit=&q=bacon+candy&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US" target="_blank">bacon candy</a>). I made bacon strips out of Gum Paste, and wanted to show you how you too can make bacon decorations!<br />
<br />
<strong>Makin' Bacon</strong><br />
I purchased some <a href="http://www.wilton.com/store/site/product.cfm?id=3E30D749-475A-BAC0-5FFDFF22D0E22988&killnav=1" target="_blank">Wilton's Gum Paste mix </a>and mixed according to the directions on the container. Just add water and powdered sugar. Easy Peasy.<br />
<br />
I divided the mix in half, and dyed it red, leaving the other white. Taking a small from each color, I rolled out two snakes of red, and one of white and laid them side by side (red, white, red). Then I pinched them together. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5i1p7tw_yAIYoITAeo7TAxRu5vHQpuEPhEwDilTZTmczrHwC2s71QlTiUsHlBVviVdwnoOyTieNeaIrQMjNbpDAOwObReZRuvw7u7jYDEhFmhyphenhyphenjR3s0WAEOVIovvYO3g0y89Fys3V1WQ6/s1600/Bacon1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5i1p7tw_yAIYoITAeo7TAxRu5vHQpuEPhEwDilTZTmczrHwC2s71QlTiUsHlBVviVdwnoOyTieNeaIrQMjNbpDAOwObReZRuvw7u7jYDEhFmhyphenhyphenjR3s0WAEOVIovvYO3g0y89Fys3V1WQ6/s320/Bacon1.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div>
The great part about this step is that you WANT it to be uneven! No worries if it's not "just so".<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgOyTCuqzyWFhn7VurTjTnYt1QPZTibCS8cLX-LpB7jH_9gWl6cW7ge97qs0k9YbNsS0Y6-BEQ-iDQtO9Nq_KJgJtYrakNleu05UoqAW2lcVrSVphRpS6Eu7OM8gBFP1pxRMwpFooI8O2/s1600/Bacon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYgOyTCuqzyWFhn7VurTjTnYt1QPZTibCS8cLX-LpB7jH_9gWl6cW7ge97qs0k9YbNsS0Y6-BEQ-iDQtO9Nq_KJgJtYrakNleu05UoqAW2lcVrSVphRpS6Eu7OM8gBFP1pxRMwpFooI8O2/s320/Bacon2.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div>
Then I rolled it flat - making candy bacon ribbons!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWx7FfkxmgAzJvXg240xPtaefwQCbvECF-g0wjNGrc_Ni-aV4wHDCGPM-trD8nsE7tpWjBIYFb4xzZqOCLPdEaYDO4JnCMpKON8nNF8cx_RBR76WLf8X60McPHcBu4LGvAz_EoGtrjerc/s1600/Bacon3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzWx7FfkxmgAzJvXg240xPtaefwQCbvECF-g0wjNGrc_Ni-aV4wHDCGPM-trD8nsE7tpWjBIYFb4xzZqOCLPdEaYDO4JnCMpKON8nNF8cx_RBR76WLf8X60McPHcBu4LGvAz_EoGtrjerc/s320/Bacon3.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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I wasn't quite sure how to decorate the cake with it, so I put a D on it for her name.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5w9N9p0oE-PQVnCnCRa5IDuhNmqlTTjJBJsS8vWGA1uqyM7kN-1jsVTmhGkaJlmpWZ9PKi4BIlpK5_xENSajDwX_bIe0Aoyy1m2MqWw2n8_Ml2XnjWaGrJSZmCS3ARVfDFqxDtvKZrZaJ/s1600/Bacon4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5w9N9p0oE-PQVnCnCRa5IDuhNmqlTTjJBJsS8vWGA1uqyM7kN-1jsVTmhGkaJlmpWZ9PKi4BIlpK5_xENSajDwX_bIe0Aoyy1m2MqWw2n8_Ml2XnjWaGrJSZmCS3ARVfDFqxDtvKZrZaJ/s320/Bacon4.jpg" uda="true" width="320" /></a></div>
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And then put strips on the sides.</div>
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She LOVED it!!! </div>
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<br /></div>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-45855429320461746522012-02-27T03:27:00.000-08:002012-02-27T07:59:40.899-08:00Happy Birthday Giveaway!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_ZrX9fU1psrLSPSSm4uXl2Z5jOc3yje9NHQ1yXpMG9lvK3UMQDK6ChJkNWOxpUGN5x02vwEHnXXqUMadtShCfsFzjze59bS5WJlWpUneUeZaygEH0zmUPM5KYKhSL6uFkn5tcsEem8id/s1600/blessing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_ZrX9fU1psrLSPSSm4uXl2Z5jOc3yje9NHQ1yXpMG9lvK3UMQDK6ChJkNWOxpUGN5x02vwEHnXXqUMadtShCfsFzjze59bS5WJlWpUneUeZaygEH0zmUPM5KYKhSL6uFkn5tcsEem8id/s200/blessing.jpg" width="145" /></a>I'm in a little bit of denial. My sweet baby girl is turning 10 today. She told me that she is now officially a "Tween" and that in just THREE years she will be a teenager! *gulp*<br />
<br />
I call her my Little Miss Sassafrass. She is all that is sweet and spunky. She is the future of the Brainy Farm family. She loves to head outside with the animals, REALLY wants a horse but is taking care of the rabbits for 4H and hoping to compromise with a llama soon. <br />
<br />
She also requested that I print her off some math worksheets for FUN for when she comes home from school on her birthday as part of her gift. Weirdo.<br />
<br /><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In honor of my little girl, I'm doing a giveaway of a couple of items that remind me of her, and that she has enjoyed.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nbdSopGvqI6K8TntovBfWg3h7rAFKcV9eLe4xvemzF65ds4MNurqn5aM7ajMI0MMUBqERCt5AAX1aRrbt4bjl7zM7vD0MKAjGhuQz5TNeB2GeC9rtOWO0weqb3ZLFYPEdTxrXPLt9oBI/s1600/nellie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_nbdSopGvqI6K8TntovBfWg3h7rAFKcV9eLe4xvemzF65ds4MNurqn5aM7ajMI0MMUBqERCt5AAX1aRrbt4bjl7zM7vD0MKAjGhuQz5TNeB2GeC9rtOWO0weqb3ZLFYPEdTxrXPLt9oBI/s400/nellie.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /><em>here's the birthday girl this morning in her special birthday outfit.</em></div>
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There will be 2 winners - but the entry time is limited!!! So, you'd better hurry.<br />
<br /><strong>First is a copy of Book 1 of the Little House series: Little House in the Big Woods</strong><br />
My girlie got these last year and read them through so fast, she loves the books and the TV show!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHbee5T5acDJ6A0OQXvW9DKtc0-SuIulSfiP9TfqcXGjcGLLTTOF2k3SZPunycPdsDsKDFq3IA3yiqRRkEIO_mhN8IB2Agn_E0Qmht3Ch2Bu6Fjl4CZ6EbmG-qiEGj3CQ9r9pZkxSqNDQ/s1600/book.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHbee5T5acDJ6A0OQXvW9DKtc0-SuIulSfiP9TfqcXGjcGLLTTOF2k3SZPunycPdsDsKDFq3IA3yiqRRkEIO_mhN8IB2Agn_E0Qmht3Ch2Bu6Fjl4CZ6EbmG-qiEGj3CQ9r9pZkxSqNDQ/s1600/book.jpg" /></a></div>
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<strong>Next is the DVD <em>Wild Hearts Can't be Broken</em> </strong></div>
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My girlie was determined to ride a diving horse when she saw this and was very dissapointed to hear they weren't around anymore. She loves horses and adventure, and truly fell in love with this story.</div>
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<noscript><a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js">You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a>.</noscript>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-80865213211487807652012-02-23T07:00:00.000-08:002012-02-23T08:49:11.191-08:00Security BlanketsI have always loved giving people homemade gifts. I learned how to crochet in High School, and started making baby blankets when my cousins had babies. I always wanted to learn to quilt, but never had the opportunity.<br />
<br />
A couple of years ago a friend taught me the basic rag quilt - and I made my first one for a friend's new baby. I was hooked.<br />
<br />Another friend had seen a fun sock monkey quilt I had made and requested one for her nephew for Christmas, since his nickname is Monkey. <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwA7cO-l8n1Soopfh_q4xrlFsZ4JQcYHzbKDjTDwloJSyw1KyMrRNR35u47_ZWTqxwRZtSa_3LqifSpv7K_O1WxPImcgclnEiBTHzhYkGAX4ayW8DKNwV2y-YTCyj9l3iOkmunsxlAnvZ/s1600/Monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwA7cO-l8n1Soopfh_q4xrlFsZ4JQcYHzbKDjTDwloJSyw1KyMrRNR35u47_ZWTqxwRZtSa_3LqifSpv7K_O1WxPImcgclnEiBTHzhYkGAX4ayW8DKNwV2y-YTCyj9l3iOkmunsxlAnvZ/s320/Monkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwA7cO-l8n1Soopfh_q4xrlFsZ4JQcYHzbKDjTDwloJSyw1KyMrRNR35u47_ZWTqxwRZtSa_3LqifSpv7K_O1WxPImcgclnEiBTHzhYkGAX4ayW8DKNwV2y-YTCyj9l3iOkmunsxlAnvZ/s1600/Monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBwA7cO-l8n1Soopfh_q4xrlFsZ4JQcYHzbKDjTDwloJSyw1KyMrRNR35u47_ZWTqxwRZtSa_3LqifSpv7K_O1WxPImcgclnEiBTHzhYkGAX4ayW8DKNwV2y-YTCyj9l3iOkmunsxlAnvZ/s1600/Monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</a>Of course, I had to make a space one for his science-loving brother.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Rx-N9XBoYkoC7f8YiEfTUJlIT9se5fX11XdmUTggiqry3WeQIU11fWRRsYu_uGPiSawh-0cWkKLzmkTNZYxdoS3Am3snyVUdoBENCRnlTiYrpE91sg6ulGwc2XIqDWHBQ_Aeasg2ReRN/s1600/space1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Rx-N9XBoYkoC7f8YiEfTUJlIT9se5fX11XdmUTggiqry3WeQIU11fWRRsYu_uGPiSawh-0cWkKLzmkTNZYxdoS3Am3snyVUdoBENCRnlTiYrpE91sg6ulGwc2XIqDWHBQ_Aeasg2ReRN/s320/space1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Today I was reminded of the source of the great joy. My friend told me that the blanket has become a true security blanket for her nephew. He recently took it with him to an annual medical evaluation and it is one of the tools that they use when he has meltdowns and truly soothes him. It's what he uses to cuddle up in when he's sick.<br />
<br />So the next time you aren't sure what to give a child, a personal quilt or blanket is always a good option. You never know when something hand made with love is always a good gift.<br />
<br /><em>And I'm going to keep this as a reminder to always stock up when I find cute fabric because you never know when you'll need it! :D</em>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-28740186117565371132012-02-18T14:00:00.000-08:002012-02-18T14:00:51.435-08:00Cleaning made easy - with kids!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">so we have four kids aged 9 thru 13 (almost 14 - HOLY CRAP!). our house isn't huge - but it's decent sized. i do a "cinderella day" every monday. this means that i deep clean the entire house top to bottom. since all the kids are in school, it's not THAT big of a deal. it's a pitb, but worth it. it even stays clean for like 30 minutes or so. yay!</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">anyhow, my cinderella day includes:</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>basement:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">straighten</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">deep clean</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">sweep</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">mop</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">vacuum</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">garbages out</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">wash & dry basement linens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">vacuum stairs from basement to main level</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>main floor:</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">straighten</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">deep clean</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">sweep</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">mop</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">vacuum</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">garbages out</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">vacuum rugs</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">polish floor (makes it shiny - i do this once a month or every two weeks, depending on my mood)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">clean out fridge</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">run dishwasher</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">unload dishwasher</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">wash & dry main floor linens</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">refill meds & vitamins (every 2 weeks)</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>upstairs:</strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">straighten</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">deep clean</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">sweep</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">mop</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">vacuum</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">garbages out</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">wash & dry upstairs linens</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">vacuum stairs from upstairs to main floor</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>regular stuff:</strong></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">laundry</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">ironing</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">match socks</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">it sounds like a lot, but really, it's not. why? because my kiddos help keep up with the cleaning during the week. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">i divided the house into four zones: kitchen, bathrooms, basement, living / dining / family room (which includes picking up dog poo outside). each kid gets one zone to do for two weeks. at first, i thought they were doing a good job and i wasn't checking on the chores as often. DUMB MOVE on my part! when i finally did, the toilets were nasty (and i only have ONE boy - who can't aim to save his sweet little life!) and the sinks had gobs of toothpaste in them; bookshelves were messy; etc. what the heck? when i sat them down, they questioned, "you have to wipe down the toilet and sinks EVERY day when you have bathroom? i didn't know that!" egads ... </span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">thus, i decided to fix this little 'problem'. i put together lists for each room. each list included the following categories: "the xxxx is clean when ..."; "the xxxx is deep cleaned"; and "monthy to-dos for the xxxx". i went above and beyond and printed out each list for each person in the house. they were laminated (and put on pretty / handsome paper, of course!) and put them on d-rings. each family member has a copy of all the lists on these. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">now there is NO excuse for anyone to not know what is required and when! </span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCf9iXGZ2V8rseVXMW3zRcdpJ8DG50Pc3ITQA6MUE_h8NMFuXSs1NfGw0dKOtSd3YTTbY6ZElUoZy4JqJjvOCe3KNPlKjt_Rs3Huhpn8IpuLgLHc1FkeQgs1rpaNAfIPDiyScgT00SSjcK/s1600/chore+lists+002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCf9iXGZ2V8rseVXMW3zRcdpJ8DG50Pc3ITQA6MUE_h8NMFuXSs1NfGw0dKOtSd3YTTbY6ZElUoZy4JqJjvOCe3KNPlKjt_Rs3Huhpn8IpuLgLHc1FkeQgs1rpaNAfIPDiyScgT00SSjcK/s640/chore+lists+002.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">this is the 4 pages together - there is a list on both sides of the pages. they are laminated so things can be checked off as they are completed. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj9DaIRU3MU1I8ftsftL3LaH9HO49CiSIQNa5jFscwI7ZBlUJvAgM2RNIhyhwlWoiMIhXS6OGDpkU7MUJtoAdBjfYV5bugUOCW18mAJWBIGM4NgsvGa4J6KcJ1U79FitLkTURiX3FQaUk/s1600/chore+lists+003+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj9DaIRU3MU1I8ftsftL3LaH9HO49CiSIQNa5jFscwI7ZBlUJvAgM2RNIhyhwlWoiMIhXS6OGDpkU7MUJtoAdBjfYV5bugUOCW18mAJWBIGM4NgsvGa4J6KcJ1U79FitLkTURiX3FQaUk/s400/chore+lists+003+(2).jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">an example of one of the pages up close</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">oh this has been so great for our family! i know have a 'checklist' to look at when i check the kids' zones at night and in the mornings. if i'm in a nice mood, i tell them what still needs done. if i'm in one of THOSE moods, i tell them to look at their lists and figure it out. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">it's nice not having to do it all every day. just "cinderella day".</span> </div>the princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454865527049735587noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-27653256374746840792012-02-11T11:10:00.000-08:002012-02-11T11:10:53.554-08:00let's eat!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Menu Planning</em></strong></span></div>
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<strong><em><span style="font-family: Georgia;">Family Menu Board Tutorial</span></em></strong></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i've been seeing a lot of menu boards around 'town' lately. so many different ones to look at and so many different concepts - weekly, two-weekly (is that a word?), monthly, you name it. i fell in love with one i saw - made by <a href="http://www.kimboscrafts.blogspot.com/">kimbo</a> at a girl and a glue gun.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">her whole concept made me happy. EXCEPT i want my kids to be able to help more with meals around here. i don't like either having to recite the recipe to them (because i have it in my head) or let them use my precious laptop or ipad in the kitchen. near all of those liquids. liquids that don't stay where they're supposed to. just the thought of that makes me cry! (SO not a pretty picture)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">so i took kimbo's idea and ran with it. my idea was to type up all of my recipes, group them into categories (11, to be exact), and print the recipes so they can be easily accessed. i got all of my supplies together and got started. i was under the assumption that it wouldn't take much time. i was mistaken! big time. i had forgotten that i would need to type in every recipe. in all my 'spare' time.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUzHFPn-G8VHUf3kCB-AqNK1r0P0PmG-Y6feIRPkVT6lxEXFxC9vS1JRLcETKKSz3V5FsJF-JkqReaZu3dcDPqmFMDT9IO71InD1VHTXE_oJr20HlJgSno1jmVpzFAZxDMyzLJSyUX4Ep/s1600/feb+2012+download+009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidUzHFPn-G8VHUf3kCB-AqNK1r0P0PmG-Y6feIRPkVT6lxEXFxC9vS1JRLcETKKSz3V5FsJF-JkqReaZu3dcDPqmFMDT9IO71InD1VHTXE_oJr20HlJgSno1jmVpzFAZxDMyzLJSyUX4Ep/s320/feb+2012+download+009.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the supplies - gosh there were a lot of them! :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeHXO4O0L1OQllcWkqcj3YjX1y4kNtylnx1S0X5CsGNPgBYQpFg144kO-YwAYAGzFmXrCKJoE-9NLvlJOR3GmnqmKOXUncSrafYA91hLt-7_CvU5OqlFGKX2zh6pso9LQSH1MQgPF29FE/s1600/feb+2012+download+010.JPG" imageanchor="1"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeHXO4O0L1OQllcWkqcj3YjX1y4kNtylnx1S0X5CsGNPgBYQpFg144kO-YwAYAGzFmXrCKJoE-9NLvlJOR3GmnqmKOXUncSrafYA91hLt-7_CvU5OqlFGKX2zh6pso9LQSH1MQgPF29FE/s320/feb+2012+download+010.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">magnetic calendar, magnets, lots of rings, cardstock (it is SO hard to find 11 different colors in multi-packs!), hole reinforcers</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC61yaIxjZKx3hWZyQfWqlaA39jjeWhUO_8q1pUqDiybjJH7EEX2FFxuvpg34Vp2wgMa50j_lM7mA59qggWPZ_hrQxRx6LBnu0r3ToNZ2ecc8E7p-1jHmXco9Hnvv1s40a2XLKHb6aWYAC/s1600/feb+2012+download+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC61yaIxjZKx3hWZyQfWqlaA39jjeWhUO_8q1pUqDiybjJH7EEX2FFxuvpg34Vp2wgMa50j_lM7mA59qggWPZ_hrQxRx6LBnu0r3ToNZ2ecc8E7p-1jHmXco9Hnvv1s40a2XLKHb6aWYAC/s320/feb+2012+download+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i was able to find the calendar at walmart - it was about $10. sweet!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i polled the family members to find out their favorite meals. i gathered recipes for each meal, others 'i' love, and also some that my mom had made for us when we were kids. nostalgia and all that. i separated the recipes into 11 categories (the reason i needed 11 different colors):</span></div>
<ul>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">seafood</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">breakfast</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">mexican</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">italian</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pork</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">poultry</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">asian</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">side dishes & vegetables</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">breads & soups</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">desserts</span></div>
</li>
<li><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">beef</span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">it took more time than i had planned for to type everything up. of course, i had to use my own special logo (thanks to wonderful teresa!) - it's a cupcake with a tiara. it's a princess thing.</span></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">aalong with typing up each recipe, i typed each recipe title and a menu category title page. i also put a special page into each category with cooking measurements - 3 teaspoons equals 1 Tablespoon; 1 cup equals 8 oz of liquid ingredients and 16 T of dry ingredients.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiKbPRanckXO1orRZceXtw9NK8B2hgTLvc1_QSTIAC8d8Dv-_YXQ20Za_77kLeRPEMhaxyU-s8rD-B2E4Ey9btOLPK2mspXvfbUiRz51HJNt1oujUBgPbutX84TNICZx_qWceK3c2Fy3x/s1600/feb+2012+download+014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkiKbPRanckXO1orRZceXtw9NK8B2hgTLvc1_QSTIAC8d8Dv-_YXQ20Za_77kLeRPEMhaxyU-s8rD-B2E4Ey9btOLPK2mspXvfbUiRz51HJNt1oujUBgPbutX84TNICZx_qWceK3c2Fy3x/s320/feb+2012+download+014.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the 11 categories - recipes typed, title pages, recipe titles, and measurement pages in their respective colors.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsd9ywy2DPWML8TIHK9z1p1rYjqWbBPSN-qmVegOsuon8f4QzOwWEHw80XRaTtyFS0ckxKue1ljQVFD8KlUc32apwoNJRdSD5EqvBXa4D0u47l1MAR0VgsCVfZ5aZPnDg3jvcGcNyF6R5/s1600/feb+2012+download+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigsd9ywy2DPWML8TIHK9z1p1rYjqWbBPSN-qmVegOsuon8f4QzOwWEHw80XRaTtyFS0ckxKue1ljQVFD8KlUc32apwoNJRdSD5EqvBXa4D0u47l1MAR0VgsCVfZ5aZPnDg3jvcGcNyF6R5/s320/feb+2012+download+015.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">close-up. you can see the titles of the recipes. i also made quite a few empty recipe title cards for each category - in case i find more recipes we want to use or for new recipes we want to try. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UB1jBGTXLmW-yyY33iSbL326BvbuyCbt108CtHefeujZFJC_4tpUTK1gRV-mSmPQWRMkRSw_e6XzGyqUKdB7o1Z28o0F_RGFtZqmwy-iiPWXa9oNkVKoBqHYZ4HjfUyoYxwmhOEsGvkN/s1600/feb+2012+download+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1UB1jBGTXLmW-yyY33iSbL326BvbuyCbt108CtHefeujZFJC_4tpUTK1gRV-mSmPQWRMkRSw_e6XzGyqUKdB7o1Z28o0F_RGFtZqmwy-iiPWXa9oNkVKoBqHYZ4HjfUyoYxwmhOEsGvkN/s320/feb+2012+download+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">measurement pages - it made more sense for our family to have one measurement page per category rather than one for the entire menu board.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQykFpEDXyNkGCdsRTpG3HzMBlQbQCEMoniA-HYI8oaOGaU-k4PDI4f-7L0EfA7Wx1ek4EcT9NrRlCH52hViZgEyz0uo9UFNhVtOhmapFjCAM3Ea7tqk-5GxS_zVBGKw6OWhC3TgZbbdKv/s1600/feb+2012+download+017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQykFpEDXyNkGCdsRTpG3HzMBlQbQCEMoniA-HYI8oaOGaU-k4PDI4f-7L0EfA7Wx1ek4EcT9NrRlCH52hViZgEyz0uo9UFNhVtOhmapFjCAM3Ea7tqk-5GxS_zVBGKw6OWhC3TgZbbdKv/s320/feb+2012+download+017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i printed the recipes 2 to a page. i could have done 4 to a page, but with the kids using the recipes, i wanted to make sure the print was maximized and the readability was increased. i figured if i made it too small, i 'd get the excuses of "i can't read it, mom - it's too small!", etc.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlUhSjPn1yBN9Y5hBP-8lx7JhUqJwUGc_OzRPuxIbjQ2x5-xxf6oRIEpDpS5mbRcZsKpSk7mSC7O__x4-JsA2Jgk-z3DWlr163ZwFdWT8qUdHPGYorsWF-ddesCF-_72XVyfNFNmibPOT/s1600/feb+2012+download+019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQlUhSjPn1yBN9Y5hBP-8lx7JhUqJwUGc_OzRPuxIbjQ2x5-xxf6oRIEpDpS5mbRcZsKpSk7mSC7O__x4-JsA2Jgk-z3DWlr163ZwFdWT8qUdHPGYorsWF-ddesCF-_72XVyfNFNmibPOT/s320/feb+2012+download+019.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i cut each page in 1/2 - the original size of the paper was 8 1/2 by 11.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie77pJfCQSQ5sP4_iFrQg6TEFK9gVff4ucrrb-ePW5VqdoRvHHjLvRdqHrHf9s78Xbb5K6as4Bm1IuBBySn2B0v4B8ZPKlmGGLN5oj-wdePyfxNIZfQAeieltuJvAUqaEvKHQth9bvtxET/s1600/feb+2012+download+020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie77pJfCQSQ5sP4_iFrQg6TEFK9gVff4ucrrb-ePW5VqdoRvHHjLvRdqHrHf9s78Xbb5K6as4Bm1IuBBySn2B0v4B8ZPKlmGGLN5oj-wdePyfxNIZfQAeieltuJvAUqaEvKHQth9bvtxET/s320/feb+2012+download+020.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">after each card was cut, i punched a single hole in the top left hand corner. then i put a hole reinforcer on the BACK SIDE of the card. as you can see below, i tried putting it on the front of the card, but on the back, it was less noticeable. and that made me happy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">hint - after punching a hole in the first card, use it as a guide to punch the rest of the cards so that they are all laying quite nicely on the ring and aren't jabber-wocky.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe6d7vDTfQepnO3PTf4NcJAP0xnm7UU2mGgjb8SsSOtNwFC-6afpUT3CPVZoUZMOSeWfwkySb8ws_WhNvN7AWPLeU5L7ID4f2uyvP3iBE373K-l4bu05HAvTCu4_VjMzZX09Payc_Ijqj/s1600/feb+2012+download+021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKe6d7vDTfQepnO3PTf4NcJAP0xnm7UU2mGgjb8SsSOtNwFC-6afpUT3CPVZoUZMOSeWfwkySb8ws_WhNvN7AWPLeU5L7ID4f2uyvP3iBE373K-l4bu05HAvTCu4_VjMzZX09Payc_Ijqj/s320/feb+2012+download+021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i got everything cut, punched, organized, and ready to laminate. i love laminated things - they're washable. and we aren't neat cookers. i used to think we were, until i started looking thru cookbooks. wow. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i turned on the laminator and waited for it to heat up. and waited. and waited. i swear it takes forever for that sucker to heat up! at least it does when i'm dying to use it.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yENvhiD_MQEVN3TdcB4uBto_g96d7i9vmEzihTqBGMrx4_VHDIbJhdbwOrWSrQheQlh51-7Q1-FIClVGxtr1LML-n4t3EVelBOZ2GKviQn5Keg1Zqz6XPIEUhP7iGzS4g4LRBHJjYrGc/s1600/feb+2012+download+022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yENvhiD_MQEVN3TdcB4uBto_g96d7i9vmEzihTqBGMrx4_VHDIbJhdbwOrWSrQheQlh51-7Q1-FIClVGxtr1LML-n4t3EVelBOZ2GKviQn5Keg1Zqz6XPIEUhP7iGzS4g4LRBHJjYrGc/s320/feb+2012+download+022.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">still waiting ...</span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i got the green light. let's go!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i laminated everything at once - recipe cards, recipe titles, cover pages. basically, i sat at the laminator for three days straight. ok, not that long, but it seemed that way. i'm not laminating anything else for a while ... ;)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">after everything was laminated, i cut things apart and sorted it all. i then punched holes thru the recipe cards where the hole was that i had already punched. i did it this way because if you punch a hole in something that is already laminated, there is a greater tendency for it to get air in the laminated portion and make it look cloudy. then i put each category of recipe cards on a ring.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">at this point, i realized that the calendar needed numbers. and magnets to hold up the recipe titles. yeah, i could have written the numbers and put magnets on the back of the recipe titles, but that's not how i roll. so i typed up the numbers of the month, printed them out, and laminated them. i put magnets on the back of each number. i also found some sparkly little 'dots' that i fell in love with. i put magnets on the back of each of them and am using them to hold up the recipe titles. did i mention they're SPARKLY?!?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">the dates and one night of dinner on the board</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">up close - it's so SPARKLY!! i LOVE it!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i was just about ready to put the whole thing together. but i couldn't just write the names of the month out, could i? noooo! of course not! i needed to print out the name of each month with my sweet cricut (i LOVE scal - the coolest program ever). i got each month printed out, glued it onto a white sheet of cardstock. then glued THAT onto a black sheet of cardstock. for some continuity. just go with it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i laminated each of the month's names but they looked a wee bit plain. so i looked thru my stash of buttons and found buttons to 'represent' each month.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfnv0bd8pxkx990kT4mW8xZIZVQhVbvAOzQfQtHU2gDg9VH1VWjjsY0nQ96dO4wQQOw60SoFIUwQg8fOXHs1EHG4x04SVqTHu8QH5uIXHg-T9HP153SngdlhYn7kOww4qm6RRqJsSTfTo/s1600/menu+board+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfnv0bd8pxkx990kT4mW8xZIZVQhVbvAOzQfQtHU2gDg9VH1VWjjsY0nQ96dO4wQQOw60SoFIUwQg8fOXHs1EHG4x04SVqTHu8QH5uIXHg-T9HP153SngdlhYn7kOww4qm6RRqJsSTfTo/s320/menu+board+003.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">yeah, i know that october is usually signified by orange, green, or bats. but it's MY birthday month, so a crown it is. i am a princess, remember. my oldest freaked out (she is more <strike>anal</strike> ocd than i am)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i put the monthly menu together. the month of february was done! sparkly magnets and all.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">now to hang it on the wall ... we have the perfect spot! a wall in the kitchen. the menu board is now mounted there - complete with recipes hanging underneath.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3ndxD0xmwFJdO_kAejNCYpTSHj9mmkNar1XE4nQvsceUwUY6oGubXhjvsLfGeolYrEDuCbvOJwF8JIKIBxBueAswcPogazFbC9liwHUBWUNcAFr76LKm4RIhoG0hblkqgrSTNIYhvwIh/s1600/menu+board+012.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv3ndxD0xmwFJdO_kAejNCYpTSHj9mmkNar1XE4nQvsceUwUY6oGubXhjvsLfGeolYrEDuCbvOJwF8JIKIBxBueAswcPogazFbC9liwHUBWUNcAFr76LKm4RIhoG0hblkqgrSTNIYhvwIh/s320/menu+board+012.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCn7OQ9HeuYH7LuydSWW6B4zJHesTsib7bcAsx8rxx0x1KIJgQ_Ta1K1PbCMgxImvLOk4AE7faWtPXf513UVNSVqK0rZoWqWLWNJ-btKp1riwgli-C2Ffd6CkMa29Jx5HoIpg7yx-aBHb-/s1600/menu+board+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCn7OQ9HeuYH7LuydSWW6B4zJHesTsib7bcAsx8rxx0x1KIJgQ_Ta1K1PbCMgxImvLOk4AE7faWtPXf513UVNSVqK0rZoWqWLWNJ-btKp1riwgli-C2Ffd6CkMa29Jx5HoIpg7yx-aBHb-/s320/menu+board+013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">to store everything, i'm utilizing an index card storage box. it will hang out on top of the fridge - all the recipe titles that i'm not using will be stored in there - along with the other names of the month.</span> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyJDm-qn_L8RHHIifOKA5W5gB58YR7YSLDL8j5T92Ok2ENHkeepftSbAzUaaIByNiaAaLBocrB9g60ph2QBl3veyXmt2gPRtMKDHpK9bRLURzLNydvwHKU_iJEN_aGV5863bQzYScLukm/s1600/menu+board+016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjyJDm-qn_L8RHHIifOKA5W5gB58YR7YSLDL8j5T92Ok2ENHkeepftSbAzUaaIByNiaAaLBocrB9g60ph2QBl3veyXmt2gPRtMKDHpK9bRLURzLNydvwHKU_iJEN_aGV5863bQzYScLukm/s320/menu+board+016.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>the princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454865527049735587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-51395568540355149912012-02-03T11:24:00.000-08:002012-02-04T18:37:50.204-08:00sneak peek - what could it be?<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i am DYING to share this project with you guys - it's been a true LABOR of love (i.e. - it took longer than i thought it would). it will get used every day - by me and by the kids. YAY!! here's a sneak peek ... what do you think it is?</span></div>
<br />the princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454865527049735587noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-28369494411729704212012-02-02T09:55:00.000-08:002012-02-02T09:59:51.610-08:00Welcome The Princess - a new contributor<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em><strong>YEAH! My good friend Jannet (The Princess) is joining the BFW blog as a regular contributor. She's AWESOME, and I'm excited to have her join me as we work to bring you more frequent and regular content.</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em><strong>Here she is!</strong></em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">greetings, brainy farm wife fans! my name is jannet and i am so very excited to be a part of teresa's venture. :) she consistently amazes me at the things she comes up with and her insight. i call her my "dr. phaura" (dr. phil and dr. laura combined). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i've been married to my mr. wonderful for over 17 years and am continually impressed that he puts up with me. i'm crazy, a total <span style="color: magenta;"><strong>pink</strong></span> lover, a believer that i'm a princess, and love to have fun (and sleep). together, we had four goofy kids in less than five years. told you i'm crazy!! "roni" is almost 14; "bug" just turned 12; "weasel" is 10; and "boo" is 9. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">as for me, i'm an arizona transplant that now lives in colorado. before moving here 18 months ago, i had never really lived more than 15 miles away from the house i grew up in. so this was a h-u-g-e change. i'm the oldest of seven kids (5 boys and 1 girl) and love being <strike>the boss</strike> in charge of things. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i'm a stay at home mom to the kiddos - who are all in school ALL DAY LONG!! not that i don't love the kids, but it's nice to have me time and then be ready to enjoy them when they get home. or at least be prepared for the joy that will come when they arrive. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i love to try new things - from foods to crafts. i have my own playroom that i create in. i enjoy cleaning, organizing, sleeping (napping is my best talent!), and finding solutions to problems - total trial and error. i'm an anything but typical girly girl - anything <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><strong>pink</strong></span>, sparkly, glittery, or shiny gets my attention (have you seen up? instead of "squirrel", i'm distracted with "sparkles") but i also have a dream of owning a harley fat boy some day and i have my own gun; i save scary movies & tv shows for watching when mr. wonderful is out of town. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">i'm giddy with joy at the idea of sharing some of my thoughts with you ... i look forward to getting to know you all!</span> </div>the princesshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01454865527049735587noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-43500946930984272742012-01-23T10:00:00.000-08:002012-01-23T10:00:01.782-08:00Weekend Craftiness - UPcycling T-Shirts to YarnI've been having WAY too much fun on <a href="http://pinterest.com/brainyfarmwife/" target="_blank">Pinterest</a> lately and have saved so many wonderful ideas that I decided to share some ideas with my kids and get crafty with them. <br />
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So, we dug through our goodwill bag and pulled out all the old t-shirts and starting turning them into rags. It was fun to see them intense on the work and working together. <br />
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Best of all, we were able to sit around the table and work together on a common goal. We're working on some projects using recyled materials for their 4-H activities this year. <br />
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The final result!</div>
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Now to dig through Pinterest and their crochet patterns.</div>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-34274356865159482872012-01-20T09:02:00.000-08:002012-01-20T09:02:00.533-08:00THINK before you speakIn trying to actually give my kids some good visual reminders of the lessons that I am trying to teach them, I put together a couple of signs. It also gave me a good opportunity to try out a new digital scrapbooking software. (Stay tuned for a giveaway, too!)<br />
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Here are my final attempts, what do you think? <em>Guess which one I used?? ;)</em><br />
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<br />Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-13285749598787134632012-01-08T21:20:00.000-08:002012-01-09T08:43:01.746-08:00Unlikely Friendships - Book Winner!Thank you to all the new visitors and followers. I'm excited to see more people following us around.<br />
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We look forward to a new year with lots more to feed your <strong><em>body, mind and soul. </em></strong> The winner of the book is lucky post #5 - Megan! Congrats!! email me at <a href="mailto:brainyfarmwife@gmail.com">brainyfarmwife@gmail.com</a> with your address and I'll get this right out to you.<br />
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<br />Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-31436222097892821322012-01-03T09:42:00.000-08:002012-01-06T09:40:58.287-08:00Book Giveaway - Unlikely Friendships<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0761159134/ref=as_li_ss_il?ie=UTF8&tag=thehapfam-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0761159134" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://ws.assoc-amazon.com/widgets/q?_encoding=UTF8&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0761159134&MarketPlace=US&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&tag=thehapfam-20&ServiceVersion=20070822" width="175" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=thehapfam-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0761159134" style="border: currentColor !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />
I found this adorable book and knew that I just had to have it. It is a collection of stories about the unlikely friendships between animals. For example, the pig and the dachshund where the dog became a foster mom to a runty little piglet. Just makes your heart melt!
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I love stories of all sorts that discuss how things you don't THINK should work, do. Whether it's animal friendships, recipe adaptations or people beating the odds.
I especially liked this book because it appeals to me and this blog: <strong><em>Brainy</em></strong> and <strong><em>Farm Wife</em></strong>, the idea that two opposites can equally co-exist.<br />
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And now, to kick off the new year, I want to share a copy with you! <br />
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We will be focusing on our theme of <strong><em>Feeding the Body, Mind and Soul</em></strong> this year with posts such as:<br />
* Recipes & Menu ideas<br />
* Parenting tips and trick<br />
* Craft ideas and tutorials<br />
* Favorite reads<br />
* Product recommendations, favorite tips and tricks, organizing and planning<br />
* Self-sufficancy and sustainable living<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here are the contest details:</span><br />
<strong><em>Each comment counts as 1 entry</em></strong><br />
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* Leave a comment below and tell me what you most enjoy reading on the blog<br />
* Follow the blog, let me know you've done so, and what you'd like to see more of this year<br />
* <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BrainyFarmWife" target="_blank"><strong>Like<em> </em></strong>on Facebook</a>, let me know that you've done so <br />
* SHARE the contest with others, have them say that you sent them and you will both have the opportunity to win a copy!<br />
* <a href="http://pinterest.com/brainyfarmwife/" target="_blank">Follow us on Pinterest</a> and comment that you have done so, also state what you love pinning<br />
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There you have it! You can earn 5 entries (or more if you refer others) . Contest closes on Sunday, January 8th and the winner will be selected via a random number generator and announced on the 9th. <br />
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Ready. Set. GO!Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-74116510922661065732012-01-02T14:29:00.000-08:002012-01-02T14:29:27.935-08:00Granny's Legacy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBoLMMD5alIyYDGnB_MZqMIh3GdGhOhyphenhyphenKjRC2UvoOlgObAszUyTXdSdP3oAjjaCVlbC_t8ymyn0sATliHzJM_7r5jGVBNVkrfGlFYfrf2hzSHc03orxnQChpXSIIj-2m3RgYUjjTCtWbc/s1600/granny1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMBoLMMD5alIyYDGnB_MZqMIh3GdGhOhyphenhyphenKjRC2UvoOlgObAszUyTXdSdP3oAjjaCVlbC_t8ymyn0sATliHzJM_7r5jGVBNVkrfGlFYfrf2hzSHc03orxnQChpXSIIj-2m3RgYUjjTCtWbc/s200/granny1.jpg" width="151" /></a>My Granny is one of my heroes. When I was little, I was lucky enough to go and spend a week with them every summer. We always made crafts, sewed, cooked, went to the library, worked in the garden and went fishing. She was a city girl who's father worked for the Edison Company in Southern California in the 30's. She met my Grandpa, from a sheep ranching family in Utah when he was a door to door salesman selling portraits during the Depression. She adapted to the farming life, and they even owned a chicken ranch. She was very industrious. I remember one year when staying with her in the summer she bought me a cute top. She liked the style so much she traced it out and created a pattern to be able to make more! I remember once she made an apron out of trash bags so that layers of the bottom could tear off when they got dirty. I wish I could remember exactly how, time has clouded that memory a bit.</div>
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So many times while I'm in my kitchen, or out with my animals or crafting I feel her with me. And she is. All of the things that she has taught me, that she taught my Father and he passed down to me, are with me each and every day.<br />
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For Christmas I got a copy of this amazing cookbook that she had put together for her kids. I loved her letter in the beginning. And I wanted to share it as I kick off the blog this year.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1983<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear Children,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have
been teaching a mini-class in our <a href="http://lds.org/church/organization/how-the-church-is-organized?lang=eng" target="_blank">Relief Society</a> and I really enjoy it. It is
one thing that I like to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However I
am always changing recipes to suit my family, or what I have on hand. Sometimes
I get carried away telling them how to change things and get them a little
confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like the time I made
peach-apricot-pineapple jam last year and didn’t have enough, so I finely
grated 2 cups of carrots and added them, and it is good jam!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My
first exciting experience that way was in Bloomington. I had promised some child
a pink birthday cake and pink frosting. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Tragedy!
No red food coloring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was quite a ways
from the store, no car, and I had to figure out what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked around and all that I had that could
be pink, was beets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Viola! I cooked a
few beets in a little water, cooled it, and added it to the cake and then the
frosting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It worked just fine. Nobody
even knew it until I told them later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then they laughed and laughed, but it worked.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’ve
been “fixing up” recipes ever since, sometimes with success, sometimes
not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to me cooking is a creative
activity and I have enjoyed experimenting. Luckily, with five children, someone
was always hungry enough to eat whatever I cooked, successfully or not!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">My next
big exciting event happened in Highland. I had bought a large bag full of
bananas because they were really ripe, and cheap. But so everyone wouldn’t eat
them all at once, I hid most of them in the bottom of the trash sack. I was
going to make some banana pie. That was Floyd’s (my grandpa) favorite pie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I told
some child to take it out and dump it on the smoldering <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>trash fire, out by the egg room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as they dumped it I remembered my
bananas and ran out yelling, wait! Wait! </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>When I
told them what had happened, everyone grabbed sticks and the rake and got most
of the bananas out and ate the ones that were edible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t save any money on that deal and
Floyd didn’t get any pie!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The
<a href="http://www.providentliving.org/" target="_blank">leaders of our church</a> have told us to use what we have, use it up, and not to be
wasteful. I have tried to do this, especially in the kitchen. In Yucaipa, I had
a large peanut butter jar in the freezer and I would put in the left over
vegetables, roast bones, gravy, rice, etc <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and when it was full I made soup. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
purchased a large T bone roast, browned it and cooked it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then cut off the bone, added more water, my
thawed out jar of whatever, some extra seasonings and there was supper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I usually heard, ‘What ?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom’s soup again?” But everyone ate it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Last
year I was teaching a class on Favorite Old Recipes and found out that a lot of
women had never cut up a chicken, make soup or cake from scratch or used
leftovers, so we had some lessons on those subjects.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had
some recipes that I had written down that my mother had told me and some that I
remembered from when I was young.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
had a few old cookbooks that we had used at home, and some I’ve had since we
were married. Floyd used to give me a new appliance every year for my birthday
or Christmas and they all had booklets with good recipes in them and I used
them a lot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">After
doing those lessons, I thought my children might like to have them. I started
to write down a few more and each recipe had a memory about my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally had to stop, my “booklet” was getting
too heavy, and wouldn’t fit in the cover. I made the cover to suit each girl, I
hoped, and I hope you enjoy looking at them. Xeroxed some recipes out of my
books, most of my memories of food are happy ones – maybe that’s why I’m not
skinny. From having Dad make ice-cream (with our help), to eating chicken legs
in bed at night, under the covers, while reading with the flashlight, and being
just a little “ant-y” in the morning, to learning to cook without salt , it’s
all been fun. Now I try to use up all the vegetables and fruits we raise and
use them in different ways.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><strong>I hope
you all enjoy this booklet, and learn to have fun in your kitchen – or teach
your children to! And I hope you pass on a few of your favorite recipes to your
children.</strong></em> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
thought it would be nice to include something from the “other side” of your
families and the recipes in the back are from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have included some of Floyd’s mother’s
recipes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was a wonderful cook and I
learned a lot from her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had real
butter cream, fresh eggs and vegetables and fruit she put up herself. She made
her own bread and was a good seamstress. She was president of the Relief
Society when we first went back to Utah and I thought then that it was great. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It took
me quite a while, before I joined the church and became a real member of Relief
Society, and there were many times during the years that I have been unable to
go. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I had
children of <a href="http://lds.org/church/organization/how-the-church-is-organized?lang=eng" target="_blank">Primary </a>age and I always seemed to be teaching them. I know,
though, that the Relief Society is an inspired program, and I have learned so
many things there that have benefited myself and my family, and the sisters
have always been ready to help me in any way possible. Primary and Relief
Society were an educational and also a social experience for me for many years,
Relief Society still is. And I am still learning new skills and absorbing new
ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am
thankful that I have a husband who was willing, and able, to work hard and long
to raise food and earn money so our children could have the food and
necessities that they needed to grow up healthy and able to take care of
themselves and their families. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now I
really enjoy watching the grandchildren eat what I cook and bake and Floyd
enjoys so much sharing what he has grown with children and grandchildren.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Love, Mom<o:p></o:p></span></div>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-6125309253612438142011-10-18T22:09:00.000-07:002011-10-18T22:09:28.940-07:00Pumpkin Cinnamon Pull-Apart Muffins<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Pumpkin Cinnamon Pull-Apart Muffins </strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><strong>with a Chocolate
Orange Glaze</strong></span></span></em></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><em><span style="font-size: x-small;">I’ve realized that I like to do
some very eclectic flavor combinations that don’t exactly make for the simplest
names.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This hit me today at work when I
told people I brought treats, and they’d ask what and I’d have to pause and say
something like, “Um, it’s like a cinnamon roll but with pumpkin. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And chocolate.”<o:p></o:p></span></em></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvV2wl5gEPVOLjvE-M3nnD8rICD3Io5fvp9MwQ6enwi7fmV8_WT75YnEqClXDOSybcgU-hzRh41oYogVM9fH-AL5qqFSXvkfepHEOz7RH3vr73tkEo06OzGMChI7ocB8lDcaWylypDYE-m/s1600/PumpkinMuffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvV2wl5gEPVOLjvE-M3nnD8rICD3Io5fvp9MwQ6enwi7fmV8_WT75YnEqClXDOSybcgU-hzRh41oYogVM9fH-AL5qqFSXvkfepHEOz7RH3vr73tkEo06OzGMChI7ocB8lDcaWylypDYE-m/s640/PumpkinMuffins.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ingredients</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4T butter</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 cup milk (for sweeter bread, use sweetened condensed or evaporated
milk)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 envelopes (4 ½ t) yeast</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>29oz can pumpkin pie mix</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 ¼ cup sugar, divided</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2t salt</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">6 - 7 cups flour</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 cups mini chocolate chips</span><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Directions</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proof yeast with ¼ cup warm water
and ¼ cup sugar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait until frothy. While
proofing, warm milk and melt butter together in a small pan on the stove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add pumpkin to yeast mixture with 3 cups
flour and salt and then add the milk and butter mixture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add flour 1 cup at a time until smooth and
consistent and elastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Allow to rise in
warm place until double.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Roll out like you would for
cinnamon rolls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spread melted butter and
sprinkle with a cinnamon, sugar and nutmeg mixture. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>1 cup sugar, 2 t cinnamon, ½ t nutmeg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sprinkle with mini chocolate chips.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of rolling, cut into equal strips and
stack strips on top of eachother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cut
into pieces and place in greased muffin tins.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Allow to rise in warm place until
double.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Preheat oven to 350, bake for
20-25 minutes, until golden brown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cool
in pan for 10 minutes, then move to wire rack.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><em>Glaze</em></b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">4t butter</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">¼ cup packed brown sugar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3T milk</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">½ cup cocoa powder</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2T light corn syrup (this allows the glaze to harden instead of
remaining gooey)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2T orange extract</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 ½ <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>cup powdered sugar<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Melt butter, brown sugar, milk,
and extract together on stove top until boiling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remove from heat and stir in powdered
sugar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Drizzle on top of muffins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Serve warm or save for later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><em><strong>ENJOY!<o:p></o:p></strong></em></span></span></div>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-20026846997491477782011-09-26T11:30:00.000-07:002011-09-26T12:17:11.157-07:00Bringing home the baconand sausage, and porchops, and ham, hamhocks, pork steaks and ham steaks.<br />
<br />
One thing I LOVE about the farm life is that this:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/?action=view&current=link.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="277" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/link.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/?action=view&current=link2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" height="230" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/link2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Turns into this:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovW951bf4aj3lxyrXbSv2nP9kRa-Ps-0wSXOM8YqH18L0FRjruP_GTdlK6D-ZUBUiRtUC3XxhwsVcSLoPlyIy4YCnVa42d2bIIAtAMgvHhdA6EOIHt0JPpd9NdCpgHUHJsQDnEjIm1LYl/s1600/Meat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" kca="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiovW951bf4aj3lxyrXbSv2nP9kRa-Ps-0wSXOM8YqH18L0FRjruP_GTdlK6D-ZUBUiRtUC3XxhwsVcSLoPlyIy4YCnVa42d2bIIAtAMgvHhdA6EOIHt0JPpd9NdCpgHUHJsQDnEjIm1LYl/s640/Meat.jpg" width="417" /></a></div>
<br />
That's a 350 lb pig, turned into 245lbs of hanging weight of meat! I think we'll be good this winter.Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-10151677341186361252011-09-24T21:34:00.000-07:002011-09-26T09:54:38.003-07:00Forget Not...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sometimes when you hear a speaker it just speaks to your soul. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The talk tonight given by President Dieter F. Uchtdorf at the General Relief Society Meeting of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was one of those.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Being the visual person that I am, I had to put together a little reminder of his five main points, and I wanted to share it with you. You can find some <a href="http://lds.org/pages/general-rs-meeting-2011?lang=eng">highlights of his talk here.</a> </div>
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I highly recommend it.</div>
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<br /></div>
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</div>
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=forgetnot.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="lds,president uchtdorf,forget not,forget-me-not" border="0" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/forgetnot.jpg" /></a>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-10904002585522833852011-08-30T07:57:00.000-07:002011-08-30T07:59:04.804-07:00Individual Coffee CakesA little note about this recipe. I used honest-to-goodness REAL butter for this. Not because I thought anything special about it, but because I had it and wanted to bake with it. And OH HEAVENS! It's good. Now, I haven't made it without and taste-tested it with margarine. But if you'd like to splurge and make it extra rich and buttery, try real butter!<br />
<br />
Oh, and I've decided to make these as mini loaves for gifts. This may be one of my new signature breads!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfTUPqG-RF78mqRkeWpeHGwsPx_2igYtyEyDjgD6hzP_GayVt8eCz9IhBMPRo2noGv1UO4ggAeDAVhJ2WcnCwCk0Vzz_Jq5VbvC9wC-NU6WnR2v-xZmdEgki0EeCKgcKPbTYtKZ5z0tMq/s1600/coffeecake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfTUPqG-RF78mqRkeWpeHGwsPx_2igYtyEyDjgD6hzP_GayVt8eCz9IhBMPRo2noGv1UO4ggAeDAVhJ2WcnCwCk0Vzz_Jq5VbvC9wC-NU6WnR2v-xZmdEgki0EeCKgcKPbTYtKZ5z0tMq/s320/coffeecake.jpg" width="320" xaa="true" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></strong><br />
1 cup butter, softened<br />
1 cup sugar<br />
3 eggs<br />
4 cups flour<br />
2 3.4 oz package instant vanilla pudding mix<br />
2 T baking powder<br />
1 t salt<br />
3 - 3 1/2 cups milk<br />
<br />
TOPPING<br />
1 cup packed brown sugar<br />
8 T melted butter<br />
1 t cinnamon<br />
1 cup chopped walnuts<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Directions</span></strong><br />
Preheat oven to 375*. <br />
<br />
Cream together butter and sugar, beat in egg. Add dry ingredients (flour, pudding, baking powder, salt) and mix. Slowly add the milk until creamy. Place in paper-lined muffin tins 2/3 full (or I also used the Pampered Chef mini muffin pans and small scoop - as it gave me just the right amount).<br />
<br />
Mix together the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and nuts, place a small amount on top of each muffin. <br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*<em><strong>Note:</strong> The melted butter will create a more more glaze over the muffin than a streudel type topping. Just use softened butter, and a little less of it and mix it w/ a fork for crumbles if you prefer.*</em></span><br />
<br />
Bake regular sized muffins for 20-25 minutes, and mini muffins for 15-18 minutes, until it passes the toothpick test.<br />
<br />
Cool briefly, then remove from pan and place on wire rack and let them cool. If you can wait that long...<br />
<br />
Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-48512719364820466172011-08-17T10:47:00.000-07:002011-08-17T10:47:28.522-07:00Delightful Indulgence - Baked Brie<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3_j2vQc9X2qZRFzI48QtHDg2_D4ohZmwthpBCHznl80UCNFv6UYEd0uIOQ5sjiOdcK8u_WOGqABARytUgRYIFEwXZyc7vxmDMvgYlCAB9M86cwheL-tpt-_s7RpHpCqHVgtFZtwunE8I/s1600/brue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3_j2vQc9X2qZRFzI48QtHDg2_D4ohZmwthpBCHznl80UCNFv6UYEd0uIOQ5sjiOdcK8u_WOGqABARytUgRYIFEwXZyc7vxmDMvgYlCAB9M86cwheL-tpt-_s7RpHpCqHVgtFZtwunE8I/s320/brue.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
Brie is a soft, creamy cheese that is rich with flavor. It is often used as a dessert cheese and can compliment breads and fruit. You won't find this near your every-day cheeses at your grocery store, so check in the deli area.<br />
<br />
<strong>Ingredients</strong><br />
1/2 green apple, diced<br />
1/4 cup craisins<br />
1/4 cup chopped walnuts<br />
1T packed brown sugar<br />
1/4t cinnamon<br />
1T melted butter<br />
<br />
1 cup diced mushrooms<br />
1 green onion, diced<br />
1T oil<br />
<br />
1 round of Brie<br />
<br />
<strong>Directions</strong><br />
Pre-heat oven to 375.<br />
<br />
Sautee mushrooms and onions in small saucepan. Mix apples, craisings, walnuts, brown sugar and cinnamon. Add melted butter and mix until just moistened.<br />
<br />
Slice brie in half lengthwise so you have two rounds. Place one half in a small baking dish, rind side down. Place half of the apple mixture, and then half of the mushroom mixture on this half and cover with the other half of brie, rind side up. Place the other half of the apple mixture, then the mushroom mixture over the brie.<br />
<br />
Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese starts to soften and melt. Serve with all kind of deliscous breads, crackers, etc.<br />
<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Topping variations</em></strong><br />
Personally, I like a mix of sweet and savory, so I love this blend. You can always go without the mushrooms if you prefer a pure sweet version. Or double the mushrooms, add a couple of cloves of garlic and maybe toss in some pesto for a more savory version. I've seen the use of raspberry jam and almonds as well. The ideas are endless, you know what you love - so experiment and find the right blend for you.<br />
<br />
Or don't. Because really, it could be dangerous.Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6396638844598635013.post-5497814130359386842011-04-07T20:36:00.000-07:002011-04-07T20:36:31.942-07:00Oven Baked Orange ChickenAfter much request on my facebook page, I think I've finalized the receipe - I'd love to hear your thoughts after you try it.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=OrangeChicken3.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="Brainyfarmwife" border="0" height="238" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/OrangeChicken3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Ingredients</span></strong><br />
<b></b><br />
4lb Boneless, skinless chicken breasts<br />
Flour & seasonings for breading <br />
(I used garlic salt, asian seasoning, curry and pepper)<br />
Eggs for batter<br />
<br />
<strong>Sauce</strong><br />
1 can orange juice concentrate <em>(the type of orange juice you pick will affect the flavor)</em><br />
1 Tbs corn starch mixed with 1 cup cold water, to disolve<br />
1 Can pineapple chunks <em>(add the pineapple to the veggies below, the juice to the sauce mis)</em><br />
3 Tbs Soy Sauce<br />
1 packet onion soup mix<br />
<br />
2 peppers<br />
4 carrots<br />
(other veggies as desired)<br />
<br />
Cut chicken breasts into bite-sized pieces. Dip in egg wash and then in flour mixture. I put them in our deep fryer for 2-3 minutes to brown them up as I have found that it allows the batter to stick better, but you can pan fry in vegetable oil or Crisco. Fry and allow to cool on plate with paper towel, pat to remove excess oil.<br />
<br />
<em>For a healthier (*patooie*) version, you can skip the breading, and just bake with the chicken.</em><br />
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=OrangeChicken1.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="brainyfarmwife" border="0" height="238" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/OrangeChicken1.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Slice peppers, carrots and other desired vegetables (mushrooms, water chestnuts, celery, etc) and toss with chicken pieces and place in 9x13 pan that is sprayed with non-stick spray.<br />
<br />
Mix sauce ingredients in small bowl. Pour over chicken and veggies, cook at 350 for 45 min to an hour, depending on how thick your pieces of chicken are. Serve over rice. <br />
<br />
<strong><em>Enjoy!</em></strong><br />
<a href="http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/?action=view&current=OrangeChicken2.jpg" target="_blank"><img alt="brainyfarmwife" border="0" height="149" src="http://i1014.photobucket.com/albums/af268/brainyfarmwife/Blog%20Photos/OrangeChicken2.jpg" width="200" /></a>Teresahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17864360076481060378noreply@blogger.com2