Happy Veterans Day!

To all Veterans : Thank you very much for keeping this country free! Thank you for keeping our voices free! Thank you for giving your life's for this great country! Thank you for keeping this country a safe place to live and raise a family!

Thanksgiving meals!

Thanksgiving is coming soon, it just doesnt seem possible. I love Thanksgiving meals, but I think my favorite is the left overs! Call me crazy, but after Thanksgiving we start to gear up for the Christmas holidays and cooking is in full bloom, but its nice to know that the weekend of Black Friday is fun to get in late, your tired from shopping and you dont have to cook!! Its time for some very wonderful tasting left overs. Here are a few recipes you can share or try after Thanksgiving. Who knows maybe this can be your new tradition for your family, to get together for some fun creating some great meals with Thanksgiving leftovers!! If you have a leftover recipe you would like to share please leave a comment!
Then after your leftover meal settle down with a hot cup of tea and watch a few Christmas movies and take a breath before all the exictment of the Christmas season starts!

Leftover Turkey Super Sandwiches

4 Tbsp. Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise
8 slices whole grain bread
1/2 cup prepared stuffing
1/2 lb. sliced leftover or deli turkey
1/2 cup cranberry sauce
1 small apple, cored and sliced
Spread It: Spread Hellmann's® or Best Foods® Real Mayonnaise generously on 4 bread slices.
Layer It: Layer stuffing, turkey, cranberry sauce and apple on bread slices.
Top It: Top with remaining 4 bread slices.

Free Recipe Book

Costco will have the 2009 cookbooks free in-store 11/19. Store employee told me that they are usually out of stock within 4 days. So make sure you get there early! http://www.costcoconnection.com/connection/creativecooking/#pg1

Old Navy Scarves fleece 1.00 11/07!!!

I found this on Slickdeals.com (thanks) It's an unadvertised sale on Sat. Nov. 7th Old Navy scarves will be $1, limit of 5. Call ahead to see if your store is participating. Opens at 9am. This is on Fleece scarves!! I think the regular price is $5. Cool Christmas presents!

It's Thursday time for the one pot meal!

Today the dish comes from Kraft, to me any one pot dish with rice is pure comfort food!

Enjoy! Have a wonderful Thursday!



Herbed Tomatoes, Chicken and Rice




What You Need!
1/4 cup KRAFT Light House Italian Dressing
4 small boneless skinless chicken breast halves (1 lb.)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (28 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 cup water
2 cups instant brown rice, uncooked
1 cup KRAFT 2% Milk Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
1 fresh tomato, chopped
2 Tbsp. chopped cilantro

Make It!
HEAT dressing in large skillet on medium heat. Add chicken and garlic; cover. Cook 5 min. on each side or until chicken is browned on both sides. Remove chicken from skillet; set aside.
ADD canned tomatoes and water to skillet; stir in rice. Bring to boil; simmer, uncovered, on low heat 10 min. Return chicken to skillet. Top with cheese; cover.
COOK 5 min. or until chicken is done (165ºF); top with remaining ingredients.

Kraft Kitchen tips: Add dried rosemary or thyme with the canned tomatoes.

Lets make some Pies!

What with Thanksgiving right around the corner, lets make some pies!! I know alot of folks try to get together when they can during the holidays, so each Monday I am going to try to add a new pie! Who doesnt like pie?

This first pie is from Pillsbury, hope you like it!

Orange-juice Apple Pie

INGREDIENTS
1 box (15 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated pie crusts, softened as directed on box
5 medium Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into small pieces
3/4 cup sugar
5 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/4 cup frozen orange juice concentrate, thawed
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
Pinch of salt

DIRECTIONS
1. Heat oven to 450°F. Place 1 pie crust in ungreased 9-inch glass pie plate. Press firmly against side and bottom. In large bowl, stir together remaining ingredients. Spoon into crust-lined pie plate. Top with second crust.
2. Crimp edges of the crusts together, removing any excess. Use a cookie cutter with serrated edges to cut holes in top crust to allow steam to escape.
3. Bake 10 minutes. Decrease oven temperature to 350°F. Bake 45 minutes. Cool on cooling rack 30 minutes. Refrigerate 2 hours before

Freebie Wednesday!!

11/10/09 - Orange Night !! Well, here's a great chance for you to prove yourself as part of that crowd. On Tuesday, November 10th from 5-8 pm, we invite you to get decked out in orange from head to toe for an Orange Night Out. So dress up, dine in, show us how much orange spirit you have and get a Free Whataburger®.

Join a-list at Aerie and you will get gifts each month on Thursday! November has free Cologne!

AMISH CAKE

I have been looking for a new cake recipe. This one sounds just right, it has a bit of sweetness, crunchiness and I love the frosting!

Amish Cake

Cake
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 (20 oz can crushed pineapple, (undrained)
1 cup chopped pecans
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extra
2 cups sugar
Mix all ingredients and pour into 9 x 13 ungreased baking pan. Bake at 350 for 35-45 minutes. Cool and frost with the following.

Frosting
1 (8 oz) package cream cheese
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 cup margarine
Cream ingredients together and frost cake
ENJOY!

Family Picture time!!

I have been so busy lately I haven't taken the time to post some new family pictures! Here are a

few. Below is Bella, (yes she has grown alot), Lauren and Mom took her to an event here in town called Bark in the Park! My hubby said she looked miserable in this dress, but he was at a Georgia game, so she became a princess and can u believe she didn't win! :( but it was a beautiful day and we had fun!

Lauren did make it in the local paper with this picture! I think Bella is ready to go home!

Here if I could read her mind she would be say, Mom why don't I have a stroller! Why am I walking and this dog rides!

This is Pebbie, Bella's partner in crime! As you can see she was extremely relaxed with Bella gone for the day!

Nature Valley Nut Cluster's GiveAway!!

Its a Give Away made possible by MyBlogSpark! I am very happy to be chosen by this company! (Sorry about the picture quality. My camera was acting up.)
When I received my package I was amazed at the regular size packages that was sent, it wasn't samples sizes, which many times when you receive a new product in the mail this is what you normally will receive.

I have enjoyed using my new water bottle, it does keep things cold. My daughter has claimed the flashlight for her car, pretty neat since it's not ran on batteries!
Read below for a breakdown of things you could win!
You will win a really cool side shoulder back pack, 4 packages of Nature Valley Granola nut clusters, a metal water bottle, flash light (not battery ran, its the windup kind, really neat for your car in case of emergencies) and small binoculars!
The NutClusters we all enjoyed, my husband preferred the Almond package, but my favorite was the Cashew.
My daughter liked the Peanut one, which is amazing, she doesn't like any kind of nuts, but she liked the granola mixed in which gave it a special flavor and texture.
All you need to do is tell me why you like to be outside in the great outdoors. What makes it so special to you and your family. The best story will win!

Deadline is November 14, so start commenting now! The give away package will be sent directly from Blog spark once a winner is chosen.

Spicy Skillet Chicken! ( One Pot Meal)

Welcome to Thursday One Pot Meal! Today enjoy Spicy Skillet Chicken!

1 to 2 teaspoons chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 1 1/4 lb)
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 can (15 oz) Progresso® black beans, drained, rinsed
1 can (11 oz) Green Giant® Mexicorn® whole kernel corn with red and green peppers, undrained
1/3 Old El Paso® Thick 'n Chunky salsa
2 cups hot cooked rice

1. In small bowl, mix chili powder, salt and pepper; sprinkle evenly over both sides of chicken breasts.
2. In 10-inch nonstick skillet, heat oil over medium heat. Add chicken; cook 8 to 10 minutes, turning once, until juice of chicken is clear when center of thickest part is cut (170°F).
3. Stir in beans, corn and salsa. Heat to boiling. Reduce heat. Cover and simmer 3 to 5 minutes or until vegetables are hot. Serve with rice.

Variation
Make a quick chicken tortilla sandwich by cooking just the chicken breasts as directed. Spread 4 tortillas each with 2 tablespoons salsa and sprinkle with 1/4 cup shredded Cheddar cheese to within 1 inch of edge. Place chicken breast in center, and fold sides of tortilla over chicken. Microwave briefly to melt cheese.

This is great served with Mexican cornbread!