11-24-10

Rice Krispies Thanksgiving Drumsticks

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 3 tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1 package (10 oz., about 40) regular marshmallows or 4 cups miniature marshmallows
• 6 cups Rice Krispies®
• Peanut butter
• Cocoa Rice Krispies®

Preparation

1. In large saucepan melt butter over low heat. Add marshmallows and stir until completely melted. Remove from heat.

2. Add KELLOGG'S® RICE KRISPIES® cereal. Stir until well coated.

3. Cool slightly. Using buttered hands shape mixture into twelve small drumsticks.

4. Spread peanut butter on each drumstick, then dip in KELLOGG'S® COCOA KRISPIES® cereal. Refrigerate until firm. Best if served the same day.

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Rice Krispie Turkeys

.

Peanut Butter Rice Crispy Treats

Ingredients:

Rice Crispy Treats Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter
• 10 oz marshmallows
• 6 cups rice crispy cereal
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (omit if making classic flavor)

Turkey Decor:

• candy corn
• cashews (split in half, and then broken in two)
• Whoppers (or other round, brown candy)
• black frosting
• red licorice (I used Twizzlers “Pull & Peel”) – or a dried cranberry might work
• more peanut butter for “glue”

Method:

To Make Turkey Crispies

Melt butter in a pan over medium heat (with peanut butter if using). When melted, add marshmallows and stir until melted. Remove from heat. Add cereal and mix well.

While still warm, use your hands to form the mixture into small balls. Then use additional peanut butter for “glue” to tack on the candy corn (feathers), Whopper (head), beak (cashew), little red waddle (licorice), and then use black frosting to make the eyes. You may need to squish these down slightly so that there’s a flat part on the bottom, in order to help the “bird” balance.

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8:25am

I think I finally figured out a recipe to make
with rice krispies cereal for the contest
and might whip up a batch today.
This is my own recipe.
I just put the basic recipe
and will have more details later.


Caramel Coconut Krispies
my version of Somoa cookies
made with rice krispies.

Make rice krispies as usual.
Either press them into a baking dish
or divide up among mini muffin cups with cupcake holders
and press into bottoms.

Combine caramels with whipping cream
in saucepan and stir until melted.
Stir in toasted coconut & pecan.
Spoon this mixture over top the rice krispies.

In a microwavable bowl add 1/3 cup
cream and bring to a boil.
Stir in a bag of semi sweet chocolate chips
and whisk until chips are melted and smooth.
Pour or spoon over top caramel coconut mixture.

Refrigerate about 30 minutes until chocolate
has set.

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9:50am

So much to do. I got an early start this morning.

This is what I do to start preparing a couple
days before Thanksgiving.
I set out all my ingredients and place
them in their dishes that they will be made in.
This way I can take inventory and see that
I have all ingredients and baking supplies
needed ahead of time.
.Left to right we have:
Stuffing with apples,
Coconut caramel kripsies,
Creamed corn,
Green bean casserole,
Sweet potatoes &
macaroni & cheese.

---------------------------------------

10:43am

I made a list last night of everything I needed
to do so I wouldn't forget anything.

Now I feel like I just walk in circles
wondering what to do next with so much to do.
I do stuff then go to my list to cross it off
only to realize it wasn't on the list to begin with.
I feel like I'm making no headway.

----------------------------------------------------

11:30am

Taking breaks between different
chores of house cleaning helps out allot.
Got my exercise already by seeing how
many times I could run up and down
basement steps with boxes & bags of stuff.

Dollar General 3 Day Sale
good Thursday (open 7am to 6am yes am!)
through Saturday.
Is it just me or does it seem like allot
more stores are open on Thanksgiving now?

Buy 1 Get 1 Free 7UP 2 liters

50% off all fleece tops & bottoms, ladies, mens & kids.

Buy 1 Get 1 Free all Dollar General batteries.

Small appliances $10 (reg. $20)

Trac Cell Phone $9 (reg. $30)

GPX DVD player $20 (reg. $29)

Cuddle Delux (like a Snuggie) $5 (reg. $10)

Toys like Road Rippes and a
2 pack of princess "Barbies" $5.00

Thursday only!

10MP digital camera $35

Digital video Camera $20

Polaroid 4GB touch screen mp3 player $28

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REMEMBER: Cell Phone Numbers Go Public this month.
REMINDER..... all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.

.... YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone: 888-382-1222.
It is the National DO NOT CALL list It will only take a minute of your time.. It blocks your number for five (5) years. You must call from the cell phone number you want to have blocked. You cannot call from a different phone number.

HELP OTHERS BY PASSING THIS ON .. It takes about 20 seconds.
https://www.donotcall.gov/default.aspx

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TWAS THE NIGHT OF THANKSGIVING,

BUT I JUST COULDN'T SLEEP.

I TRIED COUNTING BACKWARDS,

I TRIED COUNTING SHEEP.

THE LEFTOVERS BECKONED -

THE DARK MEAT AND WHITE,

BUT I FOUGHT THE TEMPTATION

WITH ALL OF MY MIGHT.

TOSSING AND TURNING WITH ANTICIPATION,

THE THOUGHT OF A SNACK BECAME INFATUATION.

SO, I RACED TO THE KITCHEN, FLUNG OPEN THE DOOR,

AND GAZED AT THE FRIDGE, FULL OF GOODIES GALORE.

GOBBLED UP TURKEY AND BUTTERED POTATOES,

PICKLES AND CARROTS, BEANS AND TOMATOES.

I FELT MYSELF SWELLING SO PLUMP AND SO ROUND,

'TIL ALL OF A SUDDEN, I ROSE OFF THE GROUND.

I CRASHED THROUGH THE CEILING, FLOATING INTO THE SKY,

WITH A MOUTHFUL OF PUDDING AND A HANDFUL OF PIE.

BUT, I MANAGED TO YELL AS I SOARED PAST THE TREES....

HAPPY EATING TO ALL - PASS THE CRANBERRIES, PLEASE.

MAY YOUR STUFFING BE TASTY,

MAY YOUR TURKEY BE PLUMP.

MAY YOUR POTATOES 'N GRAVY HAVE NARY A LUMP.

MAY YOUR YAMS BE DELICIOUS.

MAY YOUR PIES TAKE THE PRIZE,

MAY YOUR THANKSGIVING DINNER STAY OFF OF YOUR THIGHS!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL

Click on the Pumpkin Pie below.

PUMPKIN PIE

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12:45pm

Wouldn't if figure, I have to cook and clean
and the kids find a Ghost Hunters marathon
on tv, ahhhhh! This isn't helping me
get done any faster, lol.

Just got done eating lunch to give me a fuel
boost. I took my prednisone medicine after eating.
Let me tell ya, when trying to wash down
a pill with a drink make sure it gets down
the first time! YUCK that pill got stuck
in my mouth after drinking and now I have
a HORRIBLE taste in my mouth from it!
I have tried to drink something to wash
the taste out of my mouth and it isn't working!

-----------------------------------------------

1:45pm

Housework is done, YEAH!!!
Now time to work on some of the side dishes
for tomorrow. They shouldn't take too long
since I'm only putting them together and not
baking til tomorrow.
green bean casserole, sweet potatoes & rice krispies treats.
The only thing I will be completely making
today is the caramel coconut krispies.
Tomorrow will make the creamed corn,
stuffing, macaroni & cheese & turkey.
Mom's bringing all the other side dishes.

We do have to run to Krogers tonight
to get some pop for tomorrow.
Been working on making ice cubes all day.
Maybe I'll find something easy for supper
when there also. I really don't feel like
dirtying the kitchen with supper dishes.

---------------------------------------------------

3:35pm

Just got done making 30
caramel coconut krispies.
Whew that was allot of work.
I should've just made them all in one pan
instead of in individual cupcake papers.
Now if I can find a place to set them all
in the fridge til the chocolate hardens I'd be all set.

I'm getting tired.
Still have to get leafs in table (with Tony's help),
then measure out fabric and make a table runner.
Chairs still need brought up from basement
& out of kids rooms.
Still need to make green bean casserole
and sweet potatoes.
Go to Krogers tonight and after supper
color my hair.
Then I can pass out til tomorrow.
Getting up around 6:30am to get turkey in oven
and start making the other side dishes
and setting up the buffet area.
I set up a card table in the middle of my kitchen
to act as an island and provide more
space to put all the dishes to be served.
Not the prettiest thing, one of our finds, so I will
cover it with a flat sheet.
We're having dinner at 1pm.
I like my dinners early and don't like
to starve everyone too long.

----------------------------------------------

3:35-9:00pm

This afternoon I let a couple of the boys
friends in the house to play since it was cold
and rainy out. And ever since they played in the
bedroom around the modem the internet
has not been working too well. I tried
rebooting a couple times with no luck.

Anyway I got a dish of cut up celery,
apples, onions, carrots with basil &
thyme all chopped up and ready to put
in the turkey tomorrow.

Got the leafs put in the table
and that all arranged. Meaning we had to move
the entire table so I could adjust the area
rug underneath it to be centered.

And more last minute crafts.
I printed out 5 sheets of assorted leaves
on different colored construction paper.
Got all those cut out and placed on the card
table that is covered with a brown flat sheet.
In the center of the card table I also made
a hot pad to put the turkey on.
Also made a runner for the dining room table.

And that's all that I've done for today.
No I didn't get any side dishes made
and will have to make them all tomorrow
morning. It's now 9:05pm and I still
have to color my hair before going to bed.

Tony keeps saying I should just order
a Thanksgiving meal from Kroger one year.
I said that's not what Thanksgiving is all about.
I want homemade fixin's not store bought!!
Now maybe if it is just me and him one day
when we get older, kids grown, a store bought meal would
be ok or maybe going out for dinner.
Even though I haven't felt the greatest I
have been determined to still have this
Thanksgiving for everyone. Now darn it I missed
out on dinner at mom's for my birthday and
I missed out on going to Golden Coral for
my birthday. So inside, even though it's 10
days after my birthday, I feel like this homemade
meal will make up for it all!!

We went to Kroger earlier and I thought
it would be such a hassle with last minute
people shopping for Thanksgiving.
I dreaded going there. But ya know it wasn't
too bad. Yeah there was allot of people there
but they had every check out lane open
and there really wasn't a wait in line.
At the time of going to Kroger I wasn't feeling the
greatest and hurried through the store.
You ever get cramps in your muscles after running.
Well I hadn't been running but I felt like
my muscles under my ribs were cramping up.
I didn't even feel like talking for a couple hours, which
I don't think the boys minded, because it used
stomach muscles with hurt and kind
of made me out of breath. So soon after
getting home I did my inhaler and felt a little better.

I saw the doctor's office called today but I didn't
get to the phone in time. I tried to call the number
that came across the caller id but it didn't work
or go through. It's bugging me that the doctor's
office would be calling me a day after my appointment
and xrays. It was about 5pm so I knew the
doctor's office was closed. So now I sit
and worry.

I finally got my caramel coconut krispies
in the fridge so that the chocolate could harden.
Tomorrow I will remove the wrappers and
out them out on a cupcake tree.
.Here are my veggies to put inside the turkey.
.I had to jazz up the blah looking card table
that is sitting in the middle of my kitchen.
I added a brown sheet, a homemade hot
pad and several colorful leaves I cut out.
.I found some brown satin ribbon with
gold edges and hung them off all the door knobs.
.
Table is ready for tomorrow to be made up.
You can see my table runner and place mats
I made ready to decorate the table.
I have about 5 scented jar candles mom got me
for my birthday I'll be lighting
and putting down the table runner.
Might use the basket for rolls.

I fear the boys scratching the top so left the
pads on until the last minute.
Well I'm gonna go color my hair
then pass out because I'm exhausted
and have an early wake up call tomorrow morning.

11-23-10

7:30am

I've already told ya that I was considering
soaking my turkey in a brine. Then I got to thinking,
where in the world am I gonna find a pot big enough
to do so let alone find a space in the fridge to do it.
Then it dawned on me to use a cooler.
Just make sure to put ice in the cooler
along with the brine and turkey and let
sit overnight. And also make sure to wash your cooler
out very good with hot water and soap and possibly
some bleach to clean and sterilize it.
One recipe said to soak it in water with
2 cups of kosher salt while another
recipe that was on the food channel yesterday
said you should also put 1/2 to 3/4 cup
brown sugar in with it also.

-------------------------------------------

Let's see what's on the agenda for today.
Doctor's appointment.
Carpet clean living & dining room (today or tomorrow)
Mop kitchen floor.
Floors are always done at last minute
due to them getting dirty so fast.
Dig out 2 table leaves and put into table.
Find some place mats to use on table
to keep from scratching it. I plan to remove
the table cover and expose the table for
holiday dinners. Hmmm wonder if I have
time to make 8 of them if I can't find any.
Also need to bring up the 2 captain
chairs out of the basement and 2 chairs from
kids bedrooms.
And to think I am cleaning house for Thanksgiving
only to have it wiped out Friday by getting
out Christmas decorations. Ahhh!

I'm hoping Tony won't have the pager after today
and hope since this is an unexpected absence of
a person at work that they divide up the week among
the maintenance men there instead of
pawning it off on one person.
Tony's supposed to have Thursday through Sunday
off work for the holiday.

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8:30-9:00am

Don't know how I did it in a half an hour
but as soon as the kids got on the bus I hurried home
and cleaned my carpets. Looks good, smells good
so one less thing I have to worry about.

Chillin for the moment then gonna get ready to
go see doc.

I found a roll of fabric in the basement
that looked to have batting in the middle of it
with fabric on both sides.
I might use this to make some place mats,
a table runner and some matching
hot pads out of. I know, only I could
think of even the darndest things to do
or make in the middle of doing everything else.

----------------------------------------

Was thinking more of ways to use cereal
to make things with and came up with this next idea.
What about a Dutch apple pie made with
a crushed frosted flakes crust and topped
with crushed frosted flakes???

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9:45-2:55pm

I hate those days you think you're gonna pop into
the doctor's office then go home. Well this wasn't one
of them again. I ended up with 3 more prescriptions
and a chest xray. I told doc all about what
happened at the ER and about this cold/ congestion
that has been lingering since I've had my toe infection.
I'm not sure what caused everything-
cold, congestion, diarrhea, vomiting & dehydration.
It's either 1. from being on the antibiotic,
2. being the last one in the family to get the stomach virus
which he said as it's passed from one person to the next
the virus can worsen and the last person to get it
can feel the most effect from it.
or 3. having an infection to start with
could have made things worse.

He checked my lungs and said he could hear
the congestion and wheezing. He put me on an
inhaler with a spacer for asthma which I haven't had a problem
with in quite awhile. Then he also put me on
prednisone which is a steroid. He couldn't
do another antibiotic because I had recently been
on one. Then after the doctor's office I had to go
get a chest xray to check for fluid or whatever in
my lungs for the possibility of pneumonia.
I won't know those results right away.
You can have pneumonia without a fever
which I did not know. But at times I have
run a low grade fever between 100 to 101.

Somewhere in all this running me and mom
found time between the doctor's office,
radiologist, 2 visits to Kroger,
to get some lunch at McDonalds.

Then on the way home around 2:30pm
we stopped in the car lot.
And ya know I have been calm up until this
point. The guy I had been dealing with was not
there and another guy was. There was also
another customer in there. My car was not fixed
and I was pissed for getting the run around.
The one guy called the other guy on the phone
and told him "I was in a mode".
Mode huh? LOL! Be lucky I've had
the patience to have lasted this long!
I said 16 days of getting the run around and
not having my car, I'm getting tired of waiting
and I am taking the car today!
Call me when your mechanic is actually standing
on your lot and is ready to fix it.
I don't think it would have been so bad
had these people called me to let me know
what was going on rather than me making
3-4 trips up there to hear excuses every time.

I am so glad I was able to get my carpets
cleaned this morning. By the time I got
home, heck I felt like most of the day
was over with. Time for kids to get off the bus soon,
time to fix supper and so on.
The day has flown by.

-------------------------------------

3:30-5:00pm

I managed to get 8 place mats made
for Thanksgiving.
I even sewed lace along the edges of them all.
I didn't make them just for looks,
I made them because I didn't want my table
top scratched up.

These can be used for Thanksgiving
and Christmas due to their coloring.
Also if you flip it over the pattern and colors
on the back look like the center cream colored
stripe on the front and could be used
for Easter or Spring..-------------------------------------------

7:45pm

Got the turkey in the brine water.
I added 2 cups kosher salt
and 3/4 cup brown sugar to a large
canning pot. Then added the turkey
and filled with water.
When I get up tomorrow morning I will
rotate the bird in the brine.
Then tomorrow evening I will remove
the bird from the brine and rinse it then
set it back in an empty pot to rest in
the fridge til ready to bake Thursday.
I have an almost 19 pound turkey.
When I bake it I will coat/rub it with
some olive oil and add some apples,
celery, onions and carrots & seasoning to the inside.
..-----------------------------------------

9:00pm

Wearing thin. Just took my meds
and are ready for bed. Got a long list
of things to do tomorrow along with things
that didn't get done today.
Here's my inhaler I got today.
It included a spacer which gets more
medicine into your lungs.
Doc must think I really need this thing
because I'm supposed to take 2 puffs
every 4 hours as needed and I have 17 refills
for the next year!
Awhile ago doctor's wanted me to get
an in home breathing treatment machine
but I never got, probably due to costs
or feeling like I didn't need it that much.
.Still taking it slow and easy.
Got to because if I get upset or flustered
at something or someone then I start having coughing fits
if I start to raise my voice.
And I see this in the near future as I told
the kids they were spending their first day
off cleaning up their rooms!

Well I'm going nighty night early.
Didn't get a nap in today so am feeling
it at the moment. Plus inhalers can
make you feel a little shaky.

11-22-10

7:50am

Can you believe about 10 minutes before heading
out to the bus stop I decided I wanted to wear
one of those pair of jeans I had in the tote from yesterday.
They were too long so I measured and cut off the excess
length then hot glued a hem on them.
Nothing like custom tailored pants right before
walking out the door, lol.
I don't sew hems into pants anymore. It is so
much easier to hot glue them!!
I've been doing this for years and they wash
and dry just fine without coming apart!!

11:45AM

While I am feeling better I am still
not in a shopping mood. I didn't even have
coupons today and still got flustered. Maybe it was
because of shopping for Thanksgiving along
with every other person doing the same.
Started out at Meijers. First off the turkey deal
kind of sucked. They didn't have any of the larger
turkeys. They did have the smaller turkeys that
if you bought $20 worth of stuff they gave you $9 off
them. Even with the $9 off it still made these
turkeys $10 or more so I didn't get any.
Today is the second day starting their sales
for this week. Some things were out of stock.
I needed these things and didn't want to feel
forced to buy higher dollar items for smaller amounts
of food. I got to the point I put half my cart away
and only got a handful of things. Me and mom then
went over to Kroger to finish our shopping.
At least their items were in stock and a little cheaper.

Then from Kroger we went to Dollar Tree.
I wanted some canned pie filling and wasn't ready
to pay the almost $3 a can price in the other stores.
I found it for $1.00 a can at Dollar Tree.
Also while there I picked up some bags of
dried tropical fruit, dried banana chips,
caramels and a package of assorted nuts all for
a buck of piece. I would of hated to see
how much these would have been in Meijers
or even Kroger.
I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to make
my rice krispie granola bars, banana bread bars
or somoa bars after seeing the prices at Meijer.
So after finding the ingredients at Dollar Tree
I was a happy camper!
Now the only thing I didn't find at any of the stores
was the coconut marshmallows which was a bummer.

Well I need to run down and pull my turkey from
the freezer before I forget.
I got some kosher salt today. So Wednesday morning
I will rub the turkey with the kosher salt
and then put it into a pot of water and let
it sit overnight before baking Thursday.

-------------------------------

When heading out this morning I saw
Speedway's gas had dropped to $2.59 overnight.
I'm thinking woo hoo.
That was until I returned home from grocery
shopping about an hour and a half later
to see it jumped up .30 cents to $2.89
in the blink of an eye.
CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY!!

--------------------------------------------

I just saw a black friday ad for Pep Boys.
Those jump start boxes I just got
are going on sale for $22.95 then
the $10 rebate to make them $12.95!
I'm thinking about taking mine back
or having them adjust the price of the one
I bought and getting another $10 back!!

They will have Peak 50/50 antifreeze for $6.00
then a $5.00 rebate to make them $1.00 each.
Limit 2
regular $11.99

Castrol 5 quarts motor oil + filter
$16.00 sales price
$10.00 rebate
makes it $6.00!
Limit 2

All ProStop brake pads will be $10.99 a set!
Limit 2
I priced our car and regular price is
$34.00 for front pads
$22.00 for rear.
So for 2 sets sale price $22.00
regular price for 2 sets $56
savings of $34.00!

Champion Platinum spark plugs
sale price $1.50
with $1.50 rebate
to make them FREE!
Limit 12
regular $2.99 each

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Tonight's supper

BBQ Chicken Leg Quarters

Mom gave me half a 10 pound package of chicken.
I still have 2 more 10 pound packages of chicken
in the freezer.
I cut the skin off the chicken then coated
it with some leftover bbq sauce found in the fridge.
Then Jonathan had drank only a half can
of pineapple juice this morning so I poured
the remaining juice over top.
Might make up some baked potatoes in the
microwave to go with it.
5 pound bags of potatoes were $1.00 at Kroger this week.

chicken $1.30
leftover bbq sauce free
pineapple juice free
4 potatoes .50 cents



TOTAL COST FOR SUPPER $1.80

----------------------------------------

Still working on cleaning house
and putting things away.
I got most everything set out on the counter
that is an ingredient for Thanksgiving dinner.
Got the turkey out of the freezer to start thawing.
I went through and wiped down my entire
couch and currently have a fan sitting
beside it drying it.
It's microfiber so to clean should be
a matter of wiping with a wet rag.

Oh here's the kicker, Tony has the pager
unexpectedly this week and I don't know for how long.
One new guy at work claims, out of the blue, that
his doctor told him he had a hole in his stomach
and needs surgery. He recently got the stomach virus
and missed work due to that last week. So that's the reason for the pager.
So stayed tuned to see the results of this
and if the guy shows documentation to work
for his sudden absence.

------------------------------------------

6:20pm

Got done cleaning out the fridge. I bet some
people wouldn't think to clean out the fridge during
the holidays. But think about it, how many others
are going to be getting in and out of your fridge to get things?
Ain't it amazing what kind of gunk will accumulate
underneath that crisper bin?! Yuck!

Tomorrow I have a doctor's appointment to
check up on my toe. I will also fill him in
on the ER visit and congestion. Why not
get it all done on one visit is my thinking rather
than making several appointments and forking
out more money!
Oh yeah and tomorrow is the day we go pick up
our fixed car. But I have said that how many times
already? It's for sure coming home fixed or not
to be able to show it off to the in-laws
on Thanksgiving.

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Haven't even had Thanksgiving yet but
I'm thinking about leftovers.
This is Tee Jayes Split Roast Beef.
I'm so doing this with leftover turkey!

Click on people's faces in the photo to tag them.

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I am starting to get into the holiday baking mood.

I was thinking about apple pie filling and
what I could do with it.
How about apple pie filling on a folded tortilla
with a mixture of cream cheese & sugar,
fried in a skillet.
Then pour this sauce over top.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine butter, white sugar, brown sugar and water. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly; reduce heat and simmer 3 minutes. Pour sauce over enchiladas and let stand 30 minutes.

11-21-10

MEIJERS

This week if you purchase $20 worth
of stuff at meijer you can get

$9 off grade A hen turkey 10-15 pounds
or
$16 off 16 pounds + turkey

makes it about .25 cents a pound.

I was thinking about getting a turkey when
doing my shopping for my Thanksgiving dinner.
Then when I asked mom if she was going
to get a turkey also she said no. So maybe I can
have her get me another turkey at that price
and pay for it. At .25 cents a pound I have found
that is the cheapest turkey to get at any store!!
We didn't get any deer this year so guess
I'll stock the freezer with a couple turkeys :0)

The best part of Thanksgiving other than
bringing family together is all the leftovers!
I won't have to cook for about a week!

--------------------------------------------

Went over to the vacated, eviction apartment
this morning with Kendra to get the remaining
stuff we wanted. Kendra ended up with a truck
full of clothes!
I asked Tony when leaving there if they had a
cat. He said yes. I knew they did because
now I have to deal with allergies on top of
everything else. Runny & itchy nose, sneezing
and puffy & watery eyes. I came home
and scrubbed my arms and hand and then
changed my clothes.
Well it's 12:15pm and I have to work on tidying
up the living and dining room. Tony has the kitchen.
Then I'll go back through and scrub kitchen floor and vacuum the rest of the floors in the house.
Maybe tomorrow if I feel up to it I will
clean the carpets.
For now I have to get laundry changed over
and stay on top of that.

----------------------------------------

More ideas for Christmas treats.
Today I am on a rice krispies kick.

Rice krispie bars topped with
marshmallow fluff then topped
with mini marshmallow then drizzled
with chocolate.
..

I have a box of granola cereal and was thinking
what to do with it because I don't think the kids
will eat it. What about some rice krispie granola
bars? Throw in some mini chocolate chips or
raisins or cut up dried fruit.
..

You could make bars and wrap the outter
edges with fruit roll ups or fruit by the foot.
Or cut pieces and make it look like a present
with ribbon.
.

Hmmm, trying to think up a
rice krispie treat that tastes like
banana nut bread.
Ok I admit it, I found another contest
where you have to use Kelloggs cereals
or products. BUT you have to be original
and can't use someone elses recipe.
Here's a recipe for Banana Nut Rice Krispies
BUT it is not what I wanted to do.
I want to add the banana pudding but
also some dried banana chips, maybe
some actual walnut pieces and spices like what you
would find in banana bread.
Then maybe top it like the first picture
with fluff and more marshmallows.
Ooh don't they have coconut marshmallows?
That would sound good to add to the top.
..
As long as you can change someone's recipe
allot then you can claim it as yours.

ooh oooh what about a rice krispies
treat like somoa's???
And use the coconut marshmallows?
That's it. Might have to make some of these
for Thanksgiving as well since I will have
lots of guinea pigs to test them out, lol!

Please don't forget to vote daily
for my Pop Tart Tiramisu!
(first row, fourth from left)
This contest ends 11-26.
Only 5 more days.
The top 20% with most votes goes onto round 2
where actual judges will pick winner.
..

----------------------------------------

3:20pm

Kitchen is 90% cleaned up along with
the rest of the main living areas.
Only 2 more loads of laundry then I'm done.
1 in washer 1 in dryer.
Just lugged in 4 totes of stuff from the
apartment to go through then
loaded up the truck with our bags of yard waste
that they never picked up this week.
And I just did up a small grocery
list for Meijers tomorrow.
I'm still taking it slow and easy and trying
not to rush anything.

-----------------------------------

Tonight's supper:

Stuffed Pasta Shells from freezer.
I put them in a casserole dish
then mixed together a can of basil diced tomatoes
with a can of tomatoes soup and added a
little garlic powder.
I poured this over top the pasta shells
and topped with slices of white cheddar cheese.
.--------------------------------------------

8:25pm

Got all my laundry done. Boy it sure
seemed like allot. Everything's going as planned
and the best part is I'm not rushing to get
things done like usual. I got through all the totes
I brought home from the apartment except one
that had nothing but pants in it. I started it
but grew tired as there was so many pants in it.
Some fit me while others I have to think about
altering as they have these bell bottoms
on them and are too long. I would have to cut the bottoms
off and hem up or cut them off to make shorts.
Shorts I could use so it's a thought. Some the boys
might even be able to wear but it will be another day
when I find more to have them try them all on.

Next I have been trying to research a couple
items found in the apartment. While some
things are easy to find, others I have a little bit
more difficult because I can't find them on Ebay
or elsewhere.
Here is what I have:
Diesel black & white small purse.
&
A velvet type box with some type of collector
set of U2 in it. There is a cd, guitar pick,
zippo lighter and another cd which says from
England.

I'm getting flustered with them and might put
them aside til another day.

11-20-10

Finally got a Thanksgiving menu planned.
Here is what we are having:

Turkey
Creamed Cheese Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Apple Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole
Macaroni & Cheese
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Cranberry Jello
Rolls
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie

---------------------------------------------

.
I have never made sweet potatoes
nor do I think I like them. My taste buds
may have changed since way back when I took
my first bite of them. I was in about 2nd grade
and was eating lunch in the school lunch room.
I took a big ole bite of what I thought was carrots
and it turned out to be sweet potatoes.
I don't think to this day I ever ate another
sweet potato again.
This year I will attempt for the first
time to make sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving Sweet Potatoes

Ingredients

• 2 (15 ounce) cans sweet potatoes
• 1/4 cup orange juice
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 pinch salt
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Place sweet potatoes in a 10x6 inch shallow baking dish and pour orange juice over.
3. In a small bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt; mix together and cut in margarine. Sprinkle over sweet potatoes.
4. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, sprinkle with marshmallows and broil until browned.

----------------------------------------------------------------------


Brown Sugar-Glazed Sweet Potatoes with Marshmallows
(adapted generously from Bon Appétit, November 1994).

4 pounds red-skinned sweet potatoes (yams), peeled, cut into 1-inch pieces
1 cup packed golden brown sugar (plus a bit more to sprinkle on top)
6 tablespoons butter
1 bag marshmallows or miniature marshmallows (feel free to strike out on your own here, just ensure that when they melt the potatoes will be nicely covered – my imported marshmallows came in small bags, but I recall watching my mother wing it and dump handfuls of mallows from a bag of Kraft jet-puffed marshmallows on top of the potatoes. How I miss the wonder of jet-puffed mallows.)

Preheat oven to 375°F. Cook potatoes in a pot of cold, salted water until boiling, then simmer until tender (about 15 minutes). Mash potatoes with a hand masher. Mix in 1 cup of brown sugar and butter until butter has melted and brown sugar is completely incorporated. Arrange potatoes in 13 x 9 x 2-inch baking dish. Bake potatoes 20-30 minutes or until heated throughout. Top potatoes with marshmallows and return to over for 10 minutes or until marshmallows melt and begin to brown.

Yield: 8 .

------------------------------------------------------------------

2:00pm

Today starts my Thanksgiving cleaning.
That means I thoroughly clean the house from
floor to ceiling. Maybe I can burn off this virus
or bug that I have. I have 4 days to clean
and the earlier I get it done the better
because I am doing something everyday this week.

As for our car, don't ask and I won't tell.
Let's just say by the time it's done it will
have been more than 2 weeks!

-----------------------------------------------

I'm hungry. Don't this homemade
mac n cheese look good.
Might have to figure out a way to make
this also for Thanksgiving.
But, use my choice of cheese as I have
never heard of the one listed in the ingredients.
I think this would be good with some
bread crumbs mixed with a little melted butter
and sprinkled over top maybe with
some parmesan cheese mixed in it.

--------------------------------------

. .

Every year I use an oven bag to put my turkey in.
While I still plan on using one this year I have
been reading about brining the turkey first
which is supposed to make it super moist.
Brining is letting it marinade or soak in
liquid with kosher salt. Then you remove it
and rinse and pat dry and bake as usual.
Might even add in some liquid smoke.
Anyway here is a recipe I've been studying.

The Perfect Turkey
for those that don't have dry white wine
try apple juice instead.

6:15pm

I've been working on laundry which is
about 1 1/2 times of what it usually is due
to sickies last week. I got my bathroom cleaned
topped to bottom. It was a mess as you can
imagine with sickies.

Then I'm gonna start on a shopping list
for my Thanksgiving menu. Got my sales
ads today on my step. Really thinking about
adding homemade mac and cheese to the menu.

11-19-10

Trying to get ideas of simple things
to make for Christmas gifts using
mugs or canning jars so will be posting
recipes or pictures of interest.

Cake In A Jar
These look like small jam jars.
You could bake up some cupcakes.
Slice cupcakes. Insert slices of cupcakes
into jar and top with frosting and keep stacking
this way tip top of jar.

You could make pumpkin cupcakes
with store bought cream cheese frosting
and crumble gingersnap cookies on frosting
in between layers.

I have been saving small peanut butter jars.
I think they would be the perfect size
to make cupcake jars.

These would make great gifts to make
and send someone who is celebrating a birthday.


Chocolate Fudge Cupcakes in a Jar

Pie In A Jar

Make sure to add a plastic spoon to your gift.

-----------------------------------------------

Make Your OWN Inexpensive Candy/Cookie Coating!

You can make your own candy coating to cut down on costs when making Christmas gift goodies. Walmart has their own brand of chocolate chips on sale at Christmas for approx. $1.50 or so, depending on where you live. You can use the following method with the white chocolate chips, as well.

Mix 2 tablespoons of shortening per 2 cups of chocolate chips and melt in the microwave at 30 second intervals. Stir in between. Just dip and allow to harden. This will make a perfect candy or cookie coating! Don't use the "reduced fat" shortening, or it won't come out right. Use the regular old shortening. This is a big cost cutter when you consider Wilton candy melts and the chocolate almond bark run over $3.00 per package at Walmart.

from happybirdscraftinghaven

----------------------------------------------------

Toilet Paper Roll Ornament

-----------------------------------------------------------

Cute Idea For Co-Workers...Give Cookies Wrapped To Look Like A Large Piece Of Candy

Do you need a "little something" to give to co-workers, church members or club friends? Try wrapping a couple of nice sized homemade cookies to look like a large piece of candy. I took a couple of large Snickerdoodle cookes and wrapped them snuggly in plastic Saran Wrap. Take a half sheet of printed tissue paper and place the cookies at the end of the paper. Roll the cookies up in the tissue paper, tape the back and then tie both ends with organza ribbon. Bunch up the ends with your hand and use pinking shears to cut the very top. Now fluff up the ends and add your own little embellishment. I had quite a few 3-D dimensional stickers that I picked up in the Michael's dollar bins during Christmas, so I used those. If you can find the candy striped tissue paper during Christmas, it would be really cute! Unfortunately, I only had green on hand.
by HappyBirdsCraftingHaven

------------------------------------------------------

Chocolate Mint Truffles

with Chef John Mitzewich

Truffles may taste rich and decadent, but they are surprisingly easy to make at home. Try your hand at these chocolate mint truffles, the perfect gift for any chocolate lover.

---------------------------------------------------

11:00am

Went over to the car lot to see what was up with
our car. The guy said he got the part in but is awaiting
for his mechanic to put it on.
He knew I was getting irritated but I didn't get upset with him. I told him he had both
our cars (one of which was our trade in) and I have
been without a car. I also told him this past weekend
there was a mishap and I didn't have a car and had
to call an ambulance to go to the hospital.
Not really the truthful story but close enough
for him to get my drift. I said I REALLY need my car
and that he needed to light a fire under his mechanic's
ass. When asked how long to install the part he
said about an hour. I told him I have not felt well
so he would see that even sick I came over to the
car lot. Then before leaving I said I would be back
over tomorrow around noon to get the car and
hopefully it was fixed and told him I was
going back home to go back to bed.
I have a raspy voice so he knows I don't feel well.
He said he would do whatever it takes if that
meant and I quote, "if he had to get his fat ass
under the dash of that car to fix it."
So hoping to have our car fixed and back home tomorrow!
Tomorrow will be 12 days they've had it!

I'm gonna go lay down. I have a doctor's appointment
next Tuesday for a checkup on my toe. And during
that appointment I'm gonna see what he can
do about all this congestion that won't go away.
Will tell him the whole family has it so maybe
he can give us something we all can take without
having to bring everyone in on different visits!

-------------------------------------

From Hip2Save

Kendra-if you don't use this I
would love to have the coupon :0)

Yippee! Hurry on over here to snag a FREE box of Garnier HerbaShine Hair Color! Just complete the form found here, click on the “Get My Free Box” coupon, and you’ll snag a free product coupon in the mail soon.

-------------------------------------------

5:20pm

Tonight's supper Cabbage Cups.
I boiled up whole cabbage leaves, drained,
then put them into bottoms of a cupcake pan.
Next spooned in corned beef hash and topped
with shredded cheese.
I then folded the leaves over the top and
inserted a toothpick to hold it together.
Then baked.
.
..

------------------------------------------

.
Recently I've had a bunch of free Tic-Tacs.
Now wondering what to do with the
empty Tic Tac boxes.

-Put medicines in to carry in purse. Be sure to label.
-Refill with other small candies to have in purse.
-if your a crafter, use them to store beads.
-sewer, use them for your needles.
Or make an emergency sewing repair
kit and keep needles, thread & buttons in.
-put an eye glass repair kit in it.
-put paper clips in.
-toothpicks.
-put sugar substitute in them like Splend
to carry in purse.
-save seeds in them from the garden.
-put sinkers & fish hooks in them.
-store childs lost tooth or locks of hair in.

----------------------------------------------

This morning Tony stopped in Speedway
to get a coffee. While in there he happened to
look down and found a $10 bill on the floor!

Later on today a scrapper rolled through
the apartment complex at Tony's work.
Tony saw that he had a Mongoose biycycle
in the back of the truck and stopped him
to see if he could have it. The scrapper
sold it to him for $10.

So all in all we got a free bike.
free $10 = free bike.


--------------------------------------------

6:15pm

I finally was able to get 2 XBox 360
controllers from Ebay.
I paid $41
($35.00 + $6.00 shipping)
And the person is located in Ohio
so hoping it will get here sooner.
It saved me about $10+.
This auction had one wireless
and one wired controller.
Really wanted 2 wireless but
got what I could afford.

Microcenter has about the cheapest ones.

New
$40 wired
$50 wireless

Refurbished $25 wireless
no refurbished ones for wired so $40 new
so it would have cost $65 + tax for both wired & wireless.
or $50 + tax for 2 wireless.

--------------------------------------

6:50pm

Still am not feeling the greatest. I don't know
what it is that is lasting this long.
I am so tired of feeling like crap.
Tonight again I feel like my head is in a vice
grip. I had Tony feel my head and he said
it felt a little warm. I'm trying really hard
to hobble along til next Tuesday morning
to see the doc. So much to do.
Saturday I'm gonna work on cleaning
house and laundry and maybe carpet cleaning
with Tony's help.
He also has plans up cleaning up the yard
of fallen leaves.
Oh and also picking up our car Saturday.
Then Sunday going to
get the rest of the stuff out of that apartment.
Which by the way Kendra please bring some
extra muscle with you like Dewaine to help
carry stuff. Tony's back hasn't been feeling to swift.
Monday me and mom are doing a little grocery
shopping to get stuff for Thanksgiving dinner.
Then Tuesday is my doctor's appointment.
Wednesday I'm gonna start making
some things for Thanksgiving and then I can
just put it in the oven Thursday to heat up.
The kids have Wed, Thurs & Fri off.
Tony has Thurs & Fri off.
Thursday we will have Thanksgiving
with my parents & in-laws.
Then Friday as a yearly tradition we
get out and decorate the Christmas tree.
I swear no rest for the weary, weak or sick!

11-18-10

9:15am

Here's the stuff we got last night
from the vacated apartment.
There's still more but have to wait
til this evening or tomorrow to show ya.
I am not currently giving anything away
other than the clothes. We basically grabbed
things that we could use.
So early Merry Christmas to those
that can use the clothes!
Oh I would like to know who likes
Hello Kitty? Anyone?

....
Vera Wang Doctor Style Patent Purse

........-------------------------------------------------

11:30am

Just don't feel with it today so
ain't doing much of anything
til maybe later on. Feel tired and cold
so might just go lay down.
Yesterday I had been putting "vick's"
on my chest and inhaling those vapors
to help my cough and congestion.
It seems to be helping so I'll
continue it for another day.

----------------------------------

3:50pm

Kids are due to be home soon.
My honey just called and has to work late.
I guess they had an underground gas leak yesterday
and had to shut off the gas to a whole apartment
building for an entire day. That meant no hot water
or heat for all those people. Gas company
came out today to fix it and he has to stay
late to wait for them to finish up and go
around and make sure furnaces and
hot water heaters are lit and running.
Oh goodie.

I need to sometime soon sit down
and figure out a menu and grocery list
for Thanksgiving.
1 week before Thanksgiving and all
I have figured out is turkey, sweet potatoes
and corn, lol. A year or two ago
I started a family cookbook. In this cookbook
I have been writing down any recipes
I use for holidays or any recipes I use all the time.
So instead of searching every year for
those recipes I have them compiled in one book.

-----------------------------------

Another thing found in this one apartment
was a bunch of Christmas mugs.
I was thinking about making Gifts in A Cup
for maintenance workers or teachers with them.
--------------------------------------

I've seen it all.
A commercial came on for something
called Train & Play Pup.
This thing poops.

---------------------------------------

8:00pm

Didn't do too much this eve.
We decided to get the other stuff
from the vacant apartment this weekend
due to Tony being so busy at work.

Had to stop in Kroger to get me some pop.
Still looking for that darned canned
corned beef. Had employees and even the
store manager looking for it. No luck.
I did find some white cheddar cheese slices
marked down to .79 cents a pack. I got 5 packs.
2 packs for Thanksgiving's veggie, cheese, cracker & dip tray.
2 to put in freezer for Christmas dinner
& 1 to eat now.

I just turned in some of my survey points
to get a couple magazine subscriptions.
Wish they'd of had more of a selection
of magazines to choose from.
I got:
Whole Living by Martha Stewart (worth $15)
& PC World (worth $15).
And I already got 2- $25 GameStop
gift cards from them.
I still have many more points to use
for more things but will wait to see
if they ad something new and of interest.