Lemon Twist- Blast From The Past Toy

                                                       Childhood memories! Loved this toy!!

Sundae Cupcakes for School Party!

                                                     Cupcakes for the school party!

Heart Shaped Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls

We started Valentine's day off with fun heart shaped cinnamon rolls-just unwind each roll and roll the ends toward each other. I also used red food coloring to make the icing pink :)

Disney Baked Potato Soup

Loaded Baked Potato Soup
Serves 6
1 pound bacon, roughly chopped
1 medium yellow onion, diced
1 large carrot, peeled and diced
3/4 cup diced celery
4 large Russet potatoes, peeled and diced
4 medium red potatoes, diced
1/4 cup flour
2 cups chicken or vegetable stock
Coarse salt, freshly ground pepper, to taste
4 cups heavy whipping cream
Optional garnishes: chopped chives, bacon bits, sour cream, shredded cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese

1. In a 6- to 8-quart stockpot over medium heat, fry bacon until crisp.
2. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels, reserving half for garnish. In bacon fat, cook onions, carrots, and celery until the onions are translucent. Add potatoes and cook for 4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
3. Whisk in flour and stir constantly over low heat until the flour is cooked and the mixture has thickened slightly, about 5 to 7 minutes. Add chicken stock and half of the bacon. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Over medium-high heat, bring the soup to a simmer and cook for 25 minutes or until the potatoes are soft. Mash some of the potatoes for thicker, creamier texture. Add whipping cream and simmer for 5 minutes.
5. Adjust thickness by adding water or stock. Soup should have a creamy consistency.
6. Season to taste, and garnish with toppings.

Cooks’ notes: Soak diced potatoes in cold water until ready to use to keep them from turning brown. To make bacon easier to chop, lightly freeze.

Found at http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2012/01/carnation-cafe-closes-thursday-for-renovations-at-disneyland-park/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+DisneyParks+%2528Disney+Parks+Blog%2529&utm_content=Google+Reader

Funny Cookie Monster Trash Can!

                                                                      This cracks me up!!

Most Amazing Cake I Have Ever Seen! Zebra!

This is amazing!
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2139546/zebra

Birds Create a Happy Face!

                                           This makes me smile!

Random acts of kindness-Valentine's Day

Random Act of Kindness:  Show appreciation in your community to firefighters, police officers, postal workers, sanitation workers, etc. by dropping off bags of chocolate hearts or Valentine candy to let them know you "love" what they do for the community!

Bubble Pop Perfectly Captured!

Wow-love this picture!

Fun Superbowl Appetizer!

By: Rachael Ray (found on rachaelraymag.com)

Pizza Puffs

4 servings Prep: 15 mins(plus standing) Cook: 25 mins

• 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 4 ounces cheese, shredded (about 1 cup)
• 4 ounces pepperoni, cut into small cubes (about 1 cup)
• 1/2 cup store-bought pizza sauce
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees . Grease a 24-cup mini-muffin pan. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour and baking powder; whisk in the milk and egg. Stir in the mozzarella and pepperoni; let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Stir the batter and divide among the mini-muffin cups. Bake until puffed and golden, 20 to 25 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, microwave the pizza sauce until warmed through, then stir in 1 tablespoon basil. Sprinkle the puffs with the remaining 1 tablespoon basil. Serve the puffs and red pepper slices with the pizza sauce for dipping.

Fun Idea: When ordering a pepperoni pizza, have the store arrange the pepperoni in a smiley face to add some fun and interest! I have done this as well when ordering a pizza to be delivered to someone for their birthday-they loved it!

Random act of kindness: When in line at a store, coffee shop, fast food restaurant, etc. pay the bill of a person in front of you when you hear their total (according to what you can afford!). You can also do this in a drive-thru line-just ask the cashier what the total of the person behind you is, pay for their meal and give them a wonderful surprise!

Quick Sausage Gumbo

I  was very excited and wanted to post something right after creating my blog but got really hungry and had to eat first! So, I thought I would share this VERY easy and quick recipe I made from FamilyFun.com last night that reheated perfectly!

http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/quick-sausage-gumbo-676354/
 

A New Orleans quickie that your family will love!

Ingredients


8 oz. cooked smoked beef sausage, in 1/2" thick slices
One 14-1/2 oz. can stewed tomatoes
One 10 oz. package frozen cut okra
1 tsp. dried thyme
1/4 tsp. garlic pepper
1-1/2 tsp. hot pepper sauce
1 cup hot cooked rice

Instructions

1. In large saucepan, combine sausage, tomatoes, okra, thyme, garlic pepper and 1 1/2 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Cover and simmer 6 to 8 minutes or until okra is tender, stirring occasionally. (Do not overcook okra.) Stir in pepper sauce.
2. Place 1/4 cup rice in each of four soup bowls. Ladle equal amount of soup into each bowl; serve immediately. Makes 4 servings.

Hi! I have thought about blogging for a while now ( it allows me to "talk" even more! lol) and I am so happy that I have finally started. It is a little overwhelming though at first thinking "Do I really have things to say and share that anyone else would be interested in?"! We all look for positive ways to enhance our lives (in a sometimes crazy and negative world! ) and I think that sharing ideas and thoughts in a blog is a great way for all of us to connect and help each other!