January Foodie Penpals Reveal Day

When I took part in the Great Food Bloggers Cookie Swap during the holidays, one of the bloggers who sent cookies to me was Hannah  of Hannaviolin.  I started reading her blog.  At the end of December she posted about being a part of Foodie Penpals and what she had received from her penpal that month.  I thought that being a part of that group sounded like fun so I signed up for January. 

I was partnered to send a package to Ashley at Simple Food Healthy Life and Annica at Annicanicole was to send a package to me.  Today is  the day that I get to share all the lovely things she sent to me.
  

My package was full of many goodies.  There were chocolate covered crackers and mint tea.

Of course, I had to try these right away.  See the cute little designs on the crackers.

These did not last long at my house.

There were these wonderful nut clusters.

Using extreme willpower, I actually have a few of these left.

There was a wonderful chicken enchilada soup mix.  I had never made this kind of soup before.

I am a wimp when it comes to spicy food so this was a bit spicy for me, but I added some extra water; and hubby and I enjoyed this very much.

There was a great no-salt seasoning mix.

Annica said that this is her favorite seasoning.  I used it in a meatloaf I made and have been sprinkling it on my veggies.

There were three other items in the box that I have not eaten yet. 

I am sure they all will be wonderful.  Except for the brownie mix, most of these brands are ones that I have not seen before.  This is one of the nice things about taking part in this exchange.  Annica lives in Missouri so can purchase items that I cannot where I live.

Because this is called Foodie Penpals, one of the requirements is that something hand written be sent.  Annica’s note was in this pretty envelope.

Ashley will be writing about what I sent to her on her blog.

This was so much fun, I have signed up to do this again in February.  To find information about joining the group, visit The Lean Green Bean.  Sign up by February 4th is required to participate in February.

I am linking to Foodie Penpal Reveal Day.

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Lady Bug Cake Favors

I sat down this morning to write my post and got completely distracted by the thought of this cute ladybug!

She "slammed" into my thoughts and I just had to spend the day making her.  And despite the time, effort, and learning curve to design...I LOVE how she turned out!

This Lady bug is a set of 12 party favor boxes when set together correctly form a fun design to match your lady bug party theme.

And do you not just LOVE the way the side of the cake turned out?  I can't get over how cute the little bugs and different sized red and black dots look together.  So fun!

Okay, so I guess I'm done "patting myself on the back" and thrilling over this fun design...here's how to make them.

Print out each of the 12 different boxes onto card stock.

Cut around the outside solid edges to make your cake pieces.

Using a dull knife and ruler, score along inside edges of slice and along dotted edges and tabs.

Be sure to cut slit in the back tab along the solid line.

Fold edges and cake pieces along scored lines.

Glue front tab and fold cake pieces together to form the front of the triangle.

Glue bottom tag and fold bottom together to form cake slice.

Fill each cake slice with candy or party treats.

Fold back tab into slit to close cake pieces.

Arrange cake slices into a circle shape with design showcasing a cute cake perfect for your next party!

Now each guest can take home a piece of the cake as a party favor!

Pretty easy with ALOT of impact.

You can purchase the cake download HERE

or have us do the hard work and purchase them to be mailed to your party HERE.

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Slow Cooked Ranch Pork Roast

This week Safeway has pork shoulder roasts on sale buy one, get one free.  Well, this sale makes the meat $1.75 a lb.  Now tell me, where can you get pork or beef for $1.75 a lb. right now.  Of course, I bought some.

I planned to have one for dinner on Saturday night and wanted a new recipe.  I did a search and found a recipe I decided to try at Recipe.com.  The challenge was that it was a slow cooker recipe.  Hubby and I are not particularly fond of beef or pork cooked in the slow cooker.  I do have a recipe or two that I like: but for the most part, slow cooked meat is too overdone for us.  I was, therefor, a little concerned about making this recipe.  I thought that the recipe sounded good so I forged ahead.  It turns out that this one is a Keeper. Hubby said it was very good, and I will make it often.

The directions called for cooking the pork 9 to 10 hours on low or  4 1/2 to 5 hours on high.  Because I got a late start, I cooked my roast on high.  It weighed almost 4 lbs. and was done in 3 1/2 hours.  I didn’t have the rest of dinner ready, so I turned  the slow cooker down to low, and it did cook another hour.  I should have turned the slow cooker to the warm setting, but I forgot I have that available.
 
The recipe calls for cream cheese, cream of chicken soup and ranch dressing mix.  Commercial products or homemade products can be used.  I prefer the homemade substitutes, but I am not a purist, and do keep the commercial products on hand.  This time I used them.  I used a pork seasoning salt when I browned the meat hoping to give the pork more flavor.  This addition made the sauce/gravy a little too salty tasting for me so next time I will leave that out and also use low-sodium soup if I use commercial soup.

The recipe calls for red potatoes to be added and cooked with the pork.  I am sure that this makes a nice, almost one-dish meal.  I chose to make mashed potatoes instead.  I also served green beans with bacon and pickled beets.

There are a number of recipes for homemade ranch dressing mix on the net.  Here is one that I use that came from a Gooseberry Patch Cookbook, Gifts for Giving.

Ranch Dip and Dressing Mix
Gooseberry Patch, Gifts for Giving
2 t. celery salt
2 t. garlic powder
3 T. dried minced onion
2 t. pepper
2 t. sugar
2 1/2 t. paprika
2 1/2 t. dried parsley
Mix ingredients together and store in an airtight container.  Makes 1/2 cup mix.

For Dip:  Blend 1 T. mix with 1 c. sour cream.  Chill in refrigerator at least one hour before serving.

For Dressing:  Blend 1 T. mix with 1 c. mayonnaise and 1 c. buttermilk.  Chill in refrigerator at least one hour before serving.

Slow Cooker Ranch Pork Roast
from Better Homes and Gardens
1 (2 1/2 to 3 lb.) boneless pork shoulder roast (mine was bone-in and almost 4 lb.)
1 lb. small new red skinned potatoes, halved
1 (8 oz.) pkg. cream cheese, softened (I used low fat)
1 (10 3/4 oz.) can cream of chicken soup (I would use low sodium)
1 envelope dry ranch dressing mix
freshly ground black pepper (opt.)

Trim excess fat from roast.  Spray a skillet with non-stick cooking spray.  Heat skillet, add roast and brown well on all sides.  Place potatoes in the bottom of a 3 1/2 to 4 qt. slow cooker.  Place roast on top of potatoes.  Combine cream cheese, soup, and dressing mix.  Spoon mixture on top of the roast.  Cover and cook on low 9 to 10 hours or on high 4 1/2 to 5 hours.  Remove pork and potatoes to a serving platter.  Pour sauce/gravy into a container to spoon over the roast.  Garnish roast and potatoes with freshly ground pepper if desired.  Makes 6 servings.
 
Linking to:  Hunk of Meat Monday
Mingle Monday
Mangia Monday
Newbie Party
Made by You Monday
Melt in Your Mouth Monday
A Marvelous Mess
Making Monday Marvelous
Homemaker Monday
What Makes You Say Mmmmm?

 

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Perpetual Green Onions and a Dip Recipe

Back in November, one of my Friday Finds was a tip about keeping green onions in water from Homemade Serenity.  She indicated that the onions would last indefinitely.  I was anxious to try this out.   As I said then, I never seem to have green onions when I need them.  We live a long way from town so I don’t just jump in the car and go buy some.  Most of the  time I would just sub regular onions, but the taste is not quite the same.

Around Christmas, I finally remembered to buy a bunch of onions.  I put them in a little jar with water to see what would happen.  Well, the onions just keep growing and growing.  I have cut some off and used them many times.  They grow fast as I will show here:

This photo was taken on Sunday, January 22, 2012.  I had just cut some onions off to use in a recipe.

This photo was taken on Friday, January 27, 2012.  You can see how much growth there has been with some of the onions. 

I do not have a particularly sunny place to leave these and just set them on my kitchen window sill during the day.  You can almost see them grow.  I pour the water out of the jar and put in fresh every three or four days.

Here is a picture of one of the onions.  You can see the new growth growing out between the old growth that was cut off.  I have no idea how long this bunch will last; but, at this point, it has been a month.  A pretty good return on a .44 investment, I think.  Green onions are on sale this week so I am going to purchase one more bunch and add them to my jar.

Of course, now my challenge is that I have lots of green onions so they go in almost anything I can think of.  We don’t eat green peppers so I use the onions in recipes that call for green pepper so I at least get the color.  If I want some of the white part, I just take a whole onion out of the jar and use it.  There is an outside layer that forms on the white that needs to be stripped off as well as the root removed.

One place that I use the onions is in this dip recipe.  You can play around with the basic recipe and add cheese, bacon, seasonings, etc.   I often use Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.

Green Onion Dip
from Best Foods Mayonnaise

1 c. mayonnaise, low fat or fat free is OK
1 c. sour cream, low fat or fat free is OK or use Green yogurt
1/2 c. sliced green onions
1/2 c. parsley sprigs
1 t. Dijon mustard
1-2 cloves garlic, crushed

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or food processor until almost smooth.  Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours.  Makes 2 cups.

Laura over at Real Mom Kitchen recently posted a recipe for Bacon and Green Onion Cheese Ball that I am going to try very soon.

This idea seems to really work.  If you like green onions, you might want to give it a try.

Linking to:  Strut Your Stuff
Weekend Potluck
Weekend Bloggy Reading
I'm Lovin' It

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Why I Am Not a Home Décor Blogger

I have a number of interests beside cooking, and I love to visit some of the home décor blogs and see what wonderful things those bloggers are up to.  They have so many good ideas, and I come away impressed, thinking, “I could do that, too.”

Then I look around and see my special and unique decorating and realize, probably NOT.  I am pretty much “stuck” with what I have.

Here is my mantle decoration:

Sunday thinks that she is the only thing that belongs on the mantel and will push off onto the floor anything else that is put there.

Here is my bed decoration:

Cally spends most of every day hanging out on the bed.  No, the bed is not made.  She usually gets there before I have a chance to make it and likes to be right in the middle.

Here is my houseplant:

This is the only thing I seem to be able to keep alive.

No matter how much I admire the home décor bloggers, the above are a few reasons I will not be joining them anytime soon. I think I will just continue to blog about food, so I will be back later to write about those green onions.

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Shindig Saturday Weekly Linky Party #41

I must have REALLY jinxed myself last week, because this week I've done NOTHING when it came to my resolutions and plans.

Bummer.

I went to church Sunday morning and by the time it was over, I was not well.

And I've been fighting it all week.

So no walking this week.

No reading this week.

No eating healthy this week.

Just sick.

And when I'm sick, it's hard to want to do anything...

Like pick up my kids from school because they missed the bus walking around the halls.

Or make an elaborate dinner for the whole neighborhood.

Or clean house.

Or even be nice sometimes.

I'm a bit of a grump when I'm sick because, I do all those things I normally do, and feel picked on the whole time because I'd rather be lying in bed feeling sorry for myself.

So this week's printable is one I REALLY needed to remember this week and is from the blog

Sweet Blessings

Go visit her HERE to download your own copy!

While I was dreaming of laying in bed all week, what did you do?

Show us your newest party or fun creations by sharing your favorite party themed craft, table scape, photo, favor, or whatever! I'm pretty flexible since just about everything can be used at a party...that's the great thing about us moms! We can see the potential in ANYTHING!

Linky Party Guidelines:

* Link up to your OWN project post, not just your blog, but your actual post. (We want to see it!)
*Grab a Shindig Saturday button for your post or blog page. (Hey, it benefits us all!)

*Stay and enjoy the party by visiting and commenting on other's projects. (It's fun to mix and mingle!)

<a border="0" href="http://kimskandykreations.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i941.photobucket.com/albums/ad259/kimskandykreations/KimsKandyKreationsSS2.jpg"/></a>

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Lady Bug Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookies

Since it's Cookie Friday in my house, I spent the day making chocolate covered oreos.  (My kids think I'm the best when I actually let them eat some!) 

But I didn't make just any oreos today, I had to try my new Lady bug mold.

I think they turned out SUPER cute!

You can now find these HERE in my online shop at Kims Kandy Kreations.

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Friday Finds

I found so much good stuff this week that it was very hard to narrow it all down to just a few items to post.  Even then, this is a longer list than usual for me.  Here we go:

French Dip Burgers

Blogchef

Although these do look very good, the main reason I included these is that she made her own au jus from Better than Bouillon, water, and some veggies.  I do not like to buy the commercial product, but just plain beef broth leaves something to be desired.  I am going to give her version a try and see if it is better.  Blogchef always has wonderful recipes, so I bet it is.

Blanched Cabbage with Butter and Caraway Seed

Simply Recipes

Cabbage is not a favorite veggie with some, I know, but I like it.  Hubby will not eat cooked cabbage, but I think that I will make this just for myself.  Be sure to read the comments, there are some other great ideas for cooked cabbage there as well.

Chili Cheese Crackers

Bakeaholic Mama

When our wonderful hostess Sno White posted her recipe for Ranch Crackers, I remembered how much fun making homemade crackers was.  I have made a couple of different flavors which I will be posting soon.  Although I did not find a lot of crackers recipes when I did a search I did find some.  This week I ran across these, and they sound yummy.

Chicken Enchilada Soup

Accidentally Wonderful

This soup is made with rather simple ingredients which I think I can get by my hubby who doesn't care for some of the ingredients in most enchilada soups.  I probably will, however, use my Do-It-Yourself Cream Soup Mix in place of the Cream of Chicken Soup and the recipe linked below in place of the can of enchilada  sauce.

Easy Enchilada Sauce 

Little Mommy, Big Appetite

I have a recipe for homemade enchilada sauce which I have used a lot, but I want to try this one.  She gives it big raves. 

Roasted Broccoli with Balsamic Sesame Glaze

Squiggy Spice

I can't have too many way to fix broccoli.  This oriental inspired recipe looks like a good one.  I am going to do this one soon.

Butterfinger Cookies

The Farm Girl

Of course, I must include some sweet goodies in this list.  Cookies that contain candy are a extra special treat for this Cookie Monster's grandmother.  Here is one more using Butterfingers.

Raspberry Cheesecake Cookie Cups

Alli-n-Son

Here is one that uses Raspberry Hugs candy and instant cheesecake pudding mix.  Those two items are going on my grocery list for my next shopping trip.  I love cookies with a little hidden surprise in them.

As usual, the photos were taken by and are the property of the owners of the respective blogs represented.

It is always so much fun to see what other bloggers have found in their travels around the net this week.  I am linking up at Friday Favorite Finds.  Pop on over and see what other have found.

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Lady Bug Cake Pops

I will never be Bakerella. 

Well, okay, I admit, I'm her every night in my dreams.

But in reality, it will probably never happen.  It's just not where my skills lie.  But, I do have a good time trying.  And these Ladybug cake pops were no exception.

I started these cake pops the regular Bakerella way.

Bake the cake.

Add the frosting.

Mix.

Form balls.

At this point, I gently squished the ball into the plate to make it flat on the bottom side.

Then I dipped them into chocolate melts.

Using the red candy melts, I dipped one side at a time.

I dipped them at an angle to allow the chocolate to shine through in a "V" shape.

Using melted chocolate, I added a face and dots to my lady bugs.

To finish off the lady bugs, I added green food coloring to a bag of coconut and shook it up to color it.  Then I placed my lady bug cake balls on a bed of "grass".

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