Enchiladas

Made some enchiladas yesterday. Used the recipe for Pineapple-Black Bean Enchiladas from the Pillsbury Bake-off, but I added chicken. My husband is not a huge vegetarian fan--he'll occasionally eat it, but it's not his favorite. I also used fresh pineapple, which was a huge hit with my kids.

In other news--we paid a deposit on a cruise last night! We're going over our 10th anniversary on a Carnival cruise to Mexico. It's actually the first annual "Believe in Marriage" cruise offered by Families Northwest, but we knew it was meant to be because it's actually over our anniversary (Valentine's Day) And my parents are free to come up and take the kids to school and activities, so we're going! We don't have passports, so I went to the post office and got the applications today so we can get going on those.

Today I'm doing a final test run for my Pasta with Tomatoes and Basil that I'm entering in the Southern Living Cook-Off. I'm going to have Kimber prepare the recipe according to my directions and see if I've left anything out or anything's unclear. I'll post a picture of the finished product tomorrow. Grace thinks I'm nuts taking pictures of food.

Still reading the Yada Yada book, after I get my errands done today I've got to get busy with it, because I have two others after it.

Apple Cranberry Bundt Cake

Here's a picture of my Washington Caramel Apple Cranberry Bundt Cake. It's really good...and even if I don't win (and I'm not really expecting anything) I am so happy. I have re-discovered how much I enjoy cooking and creating in the kitchen. It's fun to have something to inspire me to do it--thus a contest is a great thing. And my family is happy too!

I am going to enter something in the Southern Living contest as well...gotta work on that today because the deadline is next week.

I'm also reading up a storm. I'm currently reading The Yada Yada Prayer Group Gets Caught by Neta Jackson. Only two more books after this one, I should be doing well for this month.

We close on our house today! I am so excited to finally be done.

Changing the format a little

I am getting back into cooking more, so I'm going to start posting a picture of what I make each day. I've challenged myself to make something each day, no matter how small.

Yesterday, I made a recipe from the Pillsbury Bake-Off, Choco-Peanut Butter Cups

Here's the recipe:

1
roll (18 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated peanut butter cookies
1
cup Hershey®'s premier white chips (6 oz)
1 1/2
cups creamy peanut butter
1
cup Hershey®'s semi-sweet chocolate chips (6 oz)
4
Nature Valley® oats 'n honey crunchy granola bars (2 pouches from 8.9-oz box), crushed (3/4 cup)*

2 reviews
2 ratings
Preparation Directions:
1.
Heat oven to 350°F. Grease 24 mini muffin cups with cooking spray or shortening. Cut cookie dough into 24 slices. Press 1 slice in bottom and up side of each mini muffin cup, forming 1/4-inch rim above top of cup (dust fingers with flour if necessary). Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until edges are deep golden brown. Cool in pans on wire racks 5 minutes. With tip of handle of wooden spoon, press dough down in center of each cup to make room for 2 tablespoons filling.
2.
Meanwhile, in 2-quart saucepan, melt white chips and 3/4 cup of the peanut butter over low heat, stirring constantly. Divide mixture evenly into cookie cups (about 1 tablespoon each). Refrigerate 10 minutes.
3.
In same 2-quart saucepan, melt chocolate chips and remaining 3/4 cup peanut butter over low heat, stirring constantly. Divide chocolate mixture evenly on top of peanut butter mixture in each cup (about 1 tablespoon each). Sprinkle crushed granola bars over top of each. Refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. Remove from muffin cups before serving.
24 cookie cups
High Altitude (3500-6500 ft): Break up cookie dough into bowl; knead or stir 1/4 cup flour into dough. Divide dough into 24 pieces; press 1 piece in each cup.

I used homemade peanut butter cookies, because I'm too cheap to buy the refrigerated variety. They turned out really well, and the family is enjoying them immensely.

I'm going to enter the Nordicware bundt cake contest, so yesterday I made up a recipe for an apple cranberry bundt cake, and today I made it. I'm going to hold off on posting the recipe until after the deadline for the contest (I know, I'm paranoid) but I'll post a picture tomorrow.

Recent review posted (still in the middle of my RT books, six down, three to go)

Saved Folk in the House

So I should be posting a bit more regularly and a little more variety!

Forgot a couple! Plus a link

Forgot these two reviews!

Lime Ricky

Princess Izzy and the E Street Shuffle


This is such an interesting blog...check it out
http://postsecret.blogspot.com/

More Reviews

I have been busily reading as my RT deadline is again quickly approaching. Here are my latest reviews:

Violette Between

Authority in Prayer

Better Dads, Stronger Sons

Weird Planet: Lost in Las Vegas

I'm currently reading Reluctant Burglar by Jill Nelson, who used to be the head inspirational reviewer at RT. I'm intrigued so far, it's a good book. I'm listening to Digging to America by Anne Tyler.

Back to the reading, I never seem to get caught up!

This week's reviews

Here are my latest reviews:

I Can't Do It All

When Crickets Cry

Alaska Twilight

I'm currently in the middle of Karen Kingsbury's Redemption series. I have the latest to review and I wanted to refresh myself. Haven't had much reading time, so it's slow going. I need to get busy because I have a slew of RT books this month.

And another one!

Here's another review:
A Year in the World

Currently reading Violette Between by Alison Strobel. It's a strange book, but I just started so I'll reserve judgment for a little while.

Sunday Update

Reviews posted this week:

Religiously Transmitted Diseases

Goodbye, Jimmy Choo

Zoe Sophia in New York


I'm currently reading Lime Ricky by Jill Winters and listening to Don't Say a Word by Barbara Freethy

We did a huge amount of painting today, painted Kimber's entire bedroom. Now to get it put back together tomorrow.

More quotes

"I'm never bored and I never mind waiting--anywhere. Unless, of course, I've forgotten my book, in which case I just run off and buy another one. I read at the DMV, in movie lines, in bank teller lines, or when the shuttle from L.A. to San Francisco is four hours late. Layovers in unfamiliar airports are a treat, as are jury notices that arrive at my home and give me license to sit around and read all day, knowing that I'm doing my civic duty."

"Books teach you how other people think, and what they're feeling, and how they change from ordinary beings to extraordinary ones. Often they are so appealing and intellignet, you'd rather spend time reading aobu them than doing anything else. And unlike life, if you don't like what you're reading, you can slam the book shut and...peace. "

More later!

My April Reads

Two Little Girls in Blue by Mary Higgins Clark (B-)
House by Frank Peretti and Ted Dekker ( C)
Pink by Marilynn Griffith (C+)
A Girl’s Best Friend by Kristin Billerbeck (C+)
A Year in the World by Frances Mayes (B+/A-)
The Notebook Girls by Julia Baskin et al (B-)
Uncharted by Angela Hunt (B+)
Waking Lazarus by TL Hines (B)
Goodbye, Jimmy Choo by Annie Sanders (B-)
Sandpiper Drift by Vanessa Del Fabbro (B-)
Sisterchicks in Gondolas by Robin Jones Gunn (B)
Journey to Love by Charlotte Hubbard (D-)
Relentless by Robin Parrish (C-)
Last Light by Terri Blackstock (B+)
Night Light by Terri Blackstock (B)
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld (audio) (B-)

Wednesday!

Haven't had any reviews posted this week. Finished up my Romantic Times books so I haven't had much time for any other reading.

I did finish Literacy and Longing in L.A., and while it was pretty good, I wish it had been a little longer. It seemed really short. I had many quotes I marked, here is one:

" I collect new books the way my girlfriends buy designer handbags. Sometimes, I just like to know I have them and actually reading them is beside the point. Not that I don't eventually end up reading them one by one. I do. But the mere act of buying them makes me happy--the world is more promising, more fulfilling. It's hard to explain, but I feel, somehow, more optimistic. The whole act just cheers me up."

I'm currently reading Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble. I'm listening to Don't Say a Word by Barbara Freethy. Both are decent so far.

Gotta go make dinner!