Garlic in Mashed Potatoes

Do you like fresh garlic in your mashed potatoes but hate peeling and dicing it? Well, here's a quick tip!
Place the desired number of cloves (cloves, not the whole head!) of garlic in the boiling water while your potatoes are cooking.
When the potatoes finish boiling, mash the garlic while you mash the potatoes.
Its a simple as that!!! And no smelly hands afterward!

Potatoes - To Peel or Not to Peel?

Ok, if you're like me, you hate peeling potatoes before you mash them, or make potato salad.... But, alas, I have found a solution!!!
Peel the potatoes ahead of time....
Won't they turn black, you say?? Oh no!
Just cover the potatoes completely with water in a cooking pot... add a dash of vinegar, cover, and leave in the refrigerator up to several days....
Now wasn't that easy???

Cheese Please!

Ever wonder how cheese is made? Well, its EXTREMELY easy, and you can make your own cheese with only two ingredients in your very own kitchen!
Here's how:
Bring 2 quarts of milk to 185 degrees. Slowly Stir in 1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice.
The curds will separate form the whey. Drain the curds through cheese cloth.
Voila! You've made your own cheese!

Kitchen Summer Fun For the Kids!

Kids bored for the summer?
Try This!
Place a fresh berry or small piece of fruit in each well of an ice cube tray. Add water and freeze.
Or
Use fruit juice instead of water for ice cubes. Its a great way to flavor your beverages, and a fun project for the Kids!

Butternut Squash Lasagna!

Too much squash, and you don't know what to do with it all? Well, I got this amazing recipe for Butternut Squash Lasagna from my mother in law. At first, I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical, but my husband convinced me to make it, and let me tell you, it's "melt in your mouth" terrific! I give it 2 thumbs up! Below is the recipe, with a couple variations I added that save you time, from the original recipe.
Enjoy!
1 (1 1/2 to 2-pound) butternut squash, baked, and seeds removed
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup water
1/3 Cup Seasoned Bread Crumbs
1/4 cup butter
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 1/2 cups whole milk
Pinch nutmeg
Dash of Italian Seasoning
12 lasagna noodles
2 1/2 cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup grated Parmesan
Directions
Mix Softened squash with Bread crumbs, salt, and pepper to taste.
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the sauce thickens slightly, whisking often, about 5 minutes. Whisk in the nutmeg. Cool slightly. Add the basil and mix until smooth. Season the sauce with salt and pepper, to taste.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
Butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish. Spread 3/4 cup of the sauce over the baking dish. Arrange 3 lasagna noodles on the bottom. Spread 1/3 of the squash over the noodles. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup of mozzarella. Drizzle 1/2 cup of sauce over noodles. Repeat layers 3 times.
Add 1/2 cup water to dish. (this helps the noodles steam and cook)
Cover the baking dish with foil and bake the lasagna for 40 minutes. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over lasagna. Bake 10-15 minutes more.
Serve and enjoy!

Free Downloadable Recipe Book to Fight Hunger

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(276) 957-1422 (home)

Dinner in a Dash? Look to the Microwave!

When I first heard of microwave cooking, I was a bit skeptical to say the very least. But, I got addicted to microwave cooking after I tried a mouth watering molten chocolate cake made in just 11 minutes! So, I invested in a Pampered Chef Stoneware Deep Covered Baker*. Since then, my cooking has forever been altered! I cook whole chickens in 30minutes, and I make gourmet desserts in about 10 minutes! My guests also rave when they hear that my dishes come from the microwave.

If you are pressed for time, why not get a microwavable dish and try your hand at microwave cooking! Its cuts lots of bothersome cooking time off the weeknight race for dinner.

*For more information, or to order your own pampered Chef Stone Cookware, call me: (276)957-1422, or email me kitkitwv@yahoo.com, and put "Pampered Chef" in the subject line. It can be shipped directly to your home!

Freezing-A Quick Alternative to Canning

Have you ever wanted to preserve your garden's harvest but not had the time to invest in canning? Well, an inexpensive and easy alternative is to freeze your food!
Just find some freezer safe bags, perpare your food as normal, and stick it in the freezer! Usually frozen foods from your garden, when packaged properly, will stay good for about a year. Its that easy!

Canning - A Money Saving Southern Tradition

Canning has been a favorite past time of southern women for years. Its also a great way to save money. And, as my favorite cook, Paula Deen says "Anybody who says you can’t bottle up sunshine and save it for a winter’s day hasn’t tasted my canned tomatoes."
An easy way to get started is to can some tomatoes straight from your garden! Is very easy, and you don't even need a pressure canner. Simply follow the instructions below!
5 pounds tomatoes, blanched, and peeled
dash of lemon juice
pinch of salt
2 (1 quart) Jars with lids
Boil tomatoes and salt, covered with water in a pan for 5 minutes
Add a little lemon juice to each sterilized jar
Fill jar with tomatoes, leaving 1/2 inch headspace
Add "simmered" lids to jars, and process in hot water bath for 10 minutes.
Remove from bath and cool on counter.
Its that easy!

Save Money, Grow a Garden!

When I was growing up, my mother was an avid gardener. Fruits, vegetables, flowers, plants. You name it, and she grew it. Maybe that's where I get my love of gardening from. Or, maybe its just because I'm thrifty and like to save money. Whichever the case, my husband and I save literally hundreds of dollars on our grocery bill every year by growing our own fruits and vegetables. Each day I get a basket full of veggies from our backyard.

I cook as many as possible in our dinner each night, and can the rest for the Winter time. (Waste no, want not, right??)

Gardening may or may not be for you, but why not try it out? Even if you just have a few of tomato plants in some flower pots on your porch. It will be well worth it!

Save Time and Money Making Lasanga

Are you tempted to buy those expensive "No-Boil" Lasanga Noodles everytime you visit the pasta aisle? Don't do it! Buy the cheaper regular Lasanga noodles instead. You still won't have to boil them! I'll tell you how:

Add some extra pasta sauce in the bottom of your lasanga pan before you add your uncooked noodles. Layer as usual. Cover while cooking, and remove the cover in the last 20 minutes of baking.

Your noodles will be tender, and you have just saved yourself time and the extra cash!

An Easy Crowd Pleaser

I have a great friend that I've known every since I was really little. She gave me this great recipe that is always a hit at gatherings and parties. Hope you enjoy!
Submitted by LeighAnn
Corn Casserole for a Crowd
1 can whole kernel corn, drained
1 14 3/4 oz can creamed corn1 8 oz package sour cream...
1stick of butter
1 8 oz package corn muffin mix -
1 1/2 cup shredded cheese - you can use cheddar or jack but I prefer the 4-cheese Mexican blendJalapenos are optionalPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. I like to use a 10 in cast iron skillet but you can use a casserole dish if you prefer. I melt the stick of butter in the skillet while the oven is preheating. In a separate bowl I mix the two cans of corn, sour cream, corn muffin mix and melted butter. This would be when you would put in the jalapenos if you so choose. I then put it in the skillet and bake for 45 minutes. I take it out and cover the top with cheese and bake for another ten minutes or until cheese is melted.I have taken this to lots of gatherings and I always come home with an empty skillet!!

A Healthy Dinner In Less Than 5 Minutes!

Ever been so rushed that you only have 5 minutes (or less) to get dinner on the table? Salmon and Cheese Enchiladas to the rescue! Your family will love them! Even the kids! All you need is 5 ingredients.
1 Can of Salmon (remove the skin and the bones before starting recipe)
1 cup cheddar or mozzerella cheese (whichever you like best)
3 cloves pressed garlic
a dash italian seasoning
4 fajita sized flour tortillas
Combine fort 4 ingredients in a lightly greased frying pan over med high heat. Heat til cheese melts.
Scoop into tortillas.
Bon Appetite!
Dinner is Served!

Vinegar, Vinegar, VINEGAR!!!

"What is so awesome about vinegar???" you may ask. Well, I know that I am constantly trying to economize, and let's face it, who isn't?! So I am going to let you in on a little secret... Vinegar is very inexpensive, and can be used to clean just about ANYTHING in your home.

Here are 15 practical and fun ways you can make your life easier with vinegar:

1 Clean stainless steel by wiping with vinegar.

2 Add 1/2 cup vinegar to water in your tea kettle and let sit overnight. No more build up!

3 Make buttermilk (the sour kind). Add a dash of vinegar to 1 cup of milk.

4 Add vinegar to your dishwasher to prevent water spots and soap scum on your dishes (this works also if you hand wash your dishes like I do. Just add a bit of vinegar to the rinse water).

5 Clean formica countertops till they shine with distilled vinegar.

6 Discourage fruit flies by sitting out a little distilled white vinegar near the problem area.

7 Remove soap scum from your bathtub, shower curtains, and tile with vinegar.

8 Brighten your clothes by adding a half cup or so of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. (apple cider vinegar may stain pourous surfaces)

9 Discourage your cat from any area by spraying with undilluted distilled white vinegar. (They don't like the smell.)

10 Get rid of weeds and grass in unwanted areas by pouring undilluted white distilled vinegar on them.

11 Clean your birdbath with distilled white vinegar, and rinse well.

12 Wash fresh veggies with distilled white vinegar and water

13 Distilled white vinegar and oil makes a great salad dressing

14 Add a dash of white vinegar to your water when boiling eggs to keep them from cracking

15 Vinegar and water makes a great facial toner!

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Galore!

This recipe was given to me by my aunt. Someone brought these delightful Peanut Butter Gooeys into her workplace, and she just had to have the recipe! Try it out for yourself. Your taste buds will thank you!

Submitted by: Aunt Susan

Peanut Butter Gooeys

1 Chocolate cake mix
1 egg
1 stick butter, melted

Combine and spread in pan over parchment paper.

Blend the following:
1 cup peanut butter
1 8 oz. cream cheese
3 eggs
1 box (1 lb.) powdered sugar

Blend and spread over the chocolate mixture.

Top with toffee, chocolate chips, nuts or your choice.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Do not overbake - the top needs to be gooey.

Enjoy!

Make Your Own Butter! (and buttermilk!)

This is such a fun idea! Kids will enjoy this too! There is something delicious about homemade sweet cream butter. But, who has the time and space to churn it themselves??? You do! All you need is a jar and a marble. Fill the jar half full with heavy whipping cream. Drop in a clean marble, and replace the lid on the jar. Shake until the milk separates from the butter (usually about 45 minutes). Refrigerate the buttermilk until needed. Drain any excess milk from the butter and store in the refrigerator until needed. Wasn't that fun?

The Weekend is Here!!!

After such a long week at work, there's nothing like coming home to some comfort food. I have a delicious, quick and easy recipe that will make them think it took hours to prepare! Its called:

Chocolate Eclair Cake

Submitted By Kristin

All you need is:
2 boxes instant vanilla pudding & enough milk to prepare
1 box graham crackers
1 canister whipped topping
1 canister chocolate frosting

Layer a 13x 9 baking dish with grahams. mix the pudding as directed on the box, and let sit 5 minutes. Fold in whipped topping. Place half pudding mixture over graham crackers. Layer grahams over pudding mixture. Layer remaining pudding mixture, and layer with grahams. Place in fridge for 2 hours. Frost top with chocolate frosting. Refrigerate overnight. ENJOY!!!

Mom's Dirt Cake!!!

This is one of my family's favorite desserts. When I was 6, I'd sit at the kid's table while my Mom served us her awesome Dirt Cake!!! This cake can be made in a new clean flower pot, and seved with a new mini garden shovel to make it "authentic".

All you need is 1 pack crushed chocolate & creme cookies, 18 oz cream cheese, 3 cups milk, 1 tsp vanilla, 1 cup powdered sugar, 2 boxes vanilla pudding, and 1 large canister whipped topping. Blend wet ingredients, + sugar and pudding. Spread 1/2 crushed cookies into bottom of pot. Layer on the cream cheese mixture. Add the rest of the cookies. Top with whipped topping. You can add gummy worms for an additional GROSS factor for the kids. ENJOY!!!

Peanut Butter and Jelly Solutions!

How many times have we packed our pb & j sandwiches in the morning, just to find that at lunch the bread had soaked up all the jelly? Well, my friend Hazel from NJ has come up with a solution! Put the peanut butter on both pieces of bread, and put the jelly in the middle... Why didn't I think of that? Well, thanks to Hazel, I will have no more soggy pb & j's for lunch at work!

From Pat's Kitchen

Meet my mother-in-law Pat. She's a great cook from Southern Virginia. Anyone that comes into her home feels like family. I have managed to get my hands on a delicious seafood recipe from her cooking stash. I hope you enjoy it! Crab Quiche Bake (Makes 8-10 Servings) 8 Eggs, Beaten 2 Cups Half and Half 1 jar of fire roasted red peppers 1 Package (8 oz) imitation crabmeat, chopped 1 Cup bread crumbs 1 Cup (4 oz) Shredded Swiss Cheese 1 Cup (4 oz) Cheddar Cheese 1/2 Cup chopped green onions 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp pepper In a bowl, combine all ingredients. transfer to a greased 13 x 9 x 2 baking dish. Bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees F for 30-35 minutes, or until knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Welcome! In this crazy, fast paced world we live in, so many of us have no time to make our homes and our lives as comfortable and cozy as we'd like to. That's why I've created this blog. Just for people like you and me!
So, sit back and relax! I'm here to bring you some of my favorite "comfort" recipes, easy home projects, and easy fixes to little "issues" that pop up in all of our lives.