Cheesecake Stuffed Strawberries

I made these for an after dinner treat this week and it was a huge hit with the family.

Ingredients:
20 whole large strawberries, hulled
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup confectioners' powdered sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla or almond extract
2/3 cup chopped pecans or crushed graham cracker (if using graham crackers, crush up and put a few crumbs and place in the bottom of the strawberry then add the cream cheese filling. It looks better that way then to have a bunch of crumbs on top of the strawberry).

Directions:
Cut a thin slice from the bottom of each strawberry so the berries stand upright. Place berries, cut side down, on a serving platter. Carefully cut the berries into 4 wedges, cutting almost to, but not through, the bottoms with a criss-cross cut. Fan wedges just slightly, taking care not to break them. Set aside.

In a mixing bowl, beat together the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until combined but still stiff. Using a teaspoon or pastry bag with decorative tip, fill the strawberries with the cream cheese mixture. Sprinkle chopped pecans on top of the stuffed strawberries. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

This recipe and the picture were adapted from FoodNetwork.com.

Community Helpings Co-Op

Over the past few months My Sweetie and I have been discussing joining a produce co-op. To feed our family with the freshest food available was our main reason that began our search to find a local co-op.

We were thrilled to find that the St. Louis Area Community Helpings Co-Op was right down the road from us.

This week we just ordered the typical fruit and veggie box that is pictured above. However, next time we will be ordering fresh eggs and other fresh food available.

If you live in the St. Louis area, click on the link above and check it out! The best part of being a part of the co-op is you never know what is going to be in fruit and veggie box from one week to the next. This week I was surprised to find little wonderful apricots! How fun!!

Meal Plan Monday

Good Monday Morning. I took a small break from blogging to tend to my sick little family. Our house should have been quarantined for at least a week. This weekend I started sanitizing everything so the sickness wouldn't continue to spread! Today's big chore will be to sanitize all the toys in the house. Oh the fun and joys of being a Mommy. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Here is the menu for this week:

Monday: Turkey Burgers on the grill with a chickpea salad with lemon and Parmesan

Tuesday: Tomato Bisque and Toasted Cheese

Wednesday: Beef Roast with Iceberg Wedges with Tomato Vinaigrette

Thursday: Turkey Legs and White Bean Mash

Friday: Macho Nachos

Saturday: Dinner out to celebrate my anniversary

Sunday: One-Pan Sage-and-Onion Chicken and Sausage

My Extreme Couponing

Here is the number one reason why I like to use coupons:



Everything I purchased in the above picture was FREE! You read that right, FREE!

Recently Similac had a $5.00 off any formula coupon. So I used several coupon clipper sites and ordered quite a few of these coupons.

The coupon was for $5.00 and the formula Missymoo uses only cost $3.84. Meaning Wal-Mart pays me to take it off the shelves! So that I don't get cash back, I used the remainder of the balance to purchase other items I need.

I also had a free coupon for the coffee creamer!

There is nothing like walking out the door and not having to pay anything for two cart fulls! LOVE IT!

What the Lady Loves this Wednesday

Years ago, the best cook in my church came up to me and handed me a knife. I thought to myself, well this is a strange gift. But then she went on to tell me that this is the best knife she ever used and that I would have to give it a try. I thought well if it is good enough for this fabulous cook, I should give it a try.

Nowadays, if there is one thing in my kitchen that I can not live without, it is my Rada Paring Knife. I use it for everything, everyday. So when several weeks ago my knife went missing, (I assume it is in the trash after I cut up oranges) I felt almost helpless in the kitchen. This knife is so easy to use, so light weight and do I dare, say a joy to use.

Not only is is light weight, super sharp the best part is, it is extremely inexpensive. At $5.10 per knife, I have now stocked up on several.

So if you are looking for a good everyday knife check out Rada Cutlery. I even have my Mom hooked on them.

Toddler Tuesday: Peanut Butter Play Dough

In my home, my kids love play dough. The problem however, is Double D always eats it! There is nothing I hate worse then looking over at him with a big mouthful of green play dough. While I know all kids eat it, I wanted to make my own edible play dough. This way it wouldn't hurt them if they took a bite or two or in Double D's case a handful.

Here is a recipe I found for peanut butter play dough:

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
2 cups powdered sugar

Mix together and let them have at it!



The play dough looks sticky and gooey, but it doesn't stick to anything.


Here is Double D, doing what he does best! Eating the play dough!

Meal Plan Monday

(This is one of the gorgeous tulips I purchased for my Easter table centerpiece.)

What a wonderful warm and sunny weekend we have had here in the St. Louis area. We were finally able to get out doors and work in the yard and gardens. I was able to plant my tomato plants and one rogue eggplant. Sissyboo was helping me pick out vegetables at our local nursery and she put an eggplant plant in my cart. So in the midst of quite a few tomatoes will grow one lonely eggplant.

My Sweetie picked the entire menu this week which includes some of his favorite meals.

Monday: Cream of Chicken Soup

Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner which includes Ham, Eggs and Biscuits with hollandaise

Wednesday: Chipotle Tamale Pie

Thursday: Oven Roasted Chicken Wings

Friday: Cobb Salad with homemade Ranch Dressing

Saturday: P.F. Chang's Lettuce Wraps

Sunday: Beef Mushroom and Onion Tart

Have a glorious week.

Will You Be Watching?

I have to admit that I am a little bit obsessed with the Royal Wedding taking place tomorrow. My husband just rolls his eyes at me when I say that I am going to get up at 3 in the morning to watch, but I just can not help myself.

Maybe it's my love for all things English (my Great Grandmother Elsie Attwood came to America from England to be a governess in 1906). Maybe it's my love for fairy tales and princess. Maybe it's my love for hats and formal wear. I am not sure exactly what it is, just know that at 3 am tomorrow morning, I will be sitting on my couch with a hot cup of tea (with my tea cup made in England of course) watching the ceremony.

Will you be watching?

Meal Plan Monday: April 25, 2011

Wow, it has done nothing but rain lately. Taking a look at this weeks forcast doesn't show any improvement either. While I am dying to get my hands in the garden and start my spring planting, I long to have my kids playing outside more. It has been a long winter and the kids need to be outside as much as possible.

Here is this weeks menu. Most of this menu is gluten-free as I am trying to stay away from gluten as much as possible these days.

Have a joyous week friends.

Monday: Bourbon Chicken

Tuesday: Ham and Bean Soup

Wednesday: Pork Tenderloin with Sweet Potatoes and Salad

Thursday: Baked Potato Bar with a Spring Salad any my favorite Balsamic Vinaigrette

Friday: Chicken Lime Taco's

Saturday: Spanish Chicken with Chorizo and Potatoes

Sunday: Oven Roasted Beef, Corn on the Cob and Roasted Tomatoes

Oops ...I forgot to post this last week!

Toddler Tuesday: Shaving Cream Painting

I have been wanting to try this project out for years but never had the right materials on hand. So with Easter upon us, I ran out and purchased the supplies to make Easter Egg cards for family.

The project is simple, but very messy. We first started by spraying a cookie sheet with sensitive shaving lotion. Next we dropped globs of acrylic paint onto the shaving lotion.

I then had the little ones mix it up using their hands.
Notice Double D used more then just his hands. He also mixed the paint with his face and hair and what ever body part was available.

Then we dipped card stock that I had cut in egg shapes into the shaving cream and paint mix. After that was complete, I used a squeegee and scraped off all the shaving cream and paint mix to reveal a beautiful mix of colors and textures.

Here are all the egg cards hanging in a row to dry. I think they turned out rather nice. It was a fun project, but VERY messy. As soon as we were finished I stripped down Double D and stuck him in our dump sink to be hosed down.

I hope everyone enjoys these cards as much as we enjoyed making them.

Meal Plan Monday

Well, here it is Tuesday again, and I am just blogging about my Monday meal plan. It seems like my Monday's are always so busy. I usually clean house during the day on Monday and finish up the laundry. Then the afternoon is spent meal planning, couponing and preparing my grocery list for my trip to the grocery stores on Monday evening after the kids go to bed. So blogging is usually the last thing on my mind.

This week we have a lot of things planned this week. Shaving cream finger painting with the kids, coloring Easter eggs, trips to the park, preparing for Easter during this Holy Week and celebrating my 37th birthday which includes a date night with My Sweetie.

Here is the menu for this week:

Monday: Brenner (Breakfast for dinner) waffles and turkey bacon

Tuesday: Cobb Salad with Homemade Ranch Dressing

Wednesday: Dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and then going to Busch Stadium to watch a Cardinals game

Thursday: Bowtie Lasagna

Friday: Brats and sauerkraut

Saturday: Bourbon Chicken

Easter Sunday: Meal Plan to come



As we prepare for Holy Week, I would like to leave you with this prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ,
in this sacred and solemn week
when we see again
the depth and mystery of your redeeming love,
help us to follow where you go,
to stop where you stumble,
to listen when you cry,
to hurt as you suffer,
to bow our heads in sorrow as you die,
so that, when you are raised to life again,
we may share in your endless joy. Amen

What the Lady Loves Wednesday

After a long and freezing winter, warmer weather is starting to make an appearance here in the St. Louis area. Along with warmer weather comes the thoughts of summer clothes and sandals. Oh how this girl loves her sandals.

After wearing socks and boots for the last few months, it's time to break out those piggers and get them buffed and polished and ready to wear sandals (I always have my toes painted but in the winter, I usually wear a dark color nail polish). For me, heading out to the salon every couple of weeks to get a pedicure is kind of out of the question, so I found a great little tool to do my own french tip pedicure. I love the lighter colors which are perfect for spring and summer.

Sally Hansen makes a French Manicure White Tip Pen that makes doing your own mani or pedi quick and simple. Just use the pen and paint on a white tip on your toes or fingernails and then top with a light pink coat of nail polish. Easy peasy!



Now everyone can have that fresh out of the salon look, right from home.

Toddler Tuesday: Homemade Finger Paints

What is there to do on a rainy day with two toddlers? Whip up some homemade finger paints of course!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup water
1 tbsp. liquid detergent
Food coloring or powdered tempera paint

1 Combine flour, water and detergent in a mixing bowl.

2 Stir until the mixture reaches a paste-like consistency.

3 Divide the mixture into several bowls and add different colors of food coloring or powdered tempura paint to each bowl. Alternatively, blend the color into the paste as you paint with it.

4 Experiment with different types of paper.








Because of the detergent that is incorporated in the mix, it makes for an easy clean up.

Meal Plan Monday

Good Morning! Even though it's Tuesday, I still want to post my meal plan for this week. If for nothing else, to retain the new recipe I am using.

My hubby and I are quite taken with the chef Nigella Lawson and have incorporated one of her *recipes in this weeks menu. So far, every recipe of Nigella's that I have prepared has been amazing!

Monday: Roast Chicken and Pasta Con Broccoli

Tuesday: Cream of Chicken Soup (using leftover chicken)

Wednesday: Grilled Hamburgers and grilled asparagus

Thursday: Roasted Scallops with lemon and thyme

Friday: *Crunchy Pork Chops with Garlicky Spinach and Tomato Salad

Saturday: Black Bean Soup

Toddler Tuesday

What do you do with a toddler who refuses to keep her diaper on during nap time and bed time?

I have been going out of my mind trying to come up with a solution on how to keep Sissyboo from taking off her diaper during bedtime. I would put her to bed like normal only to go check on her later and find her asleep with no clothes on and no diaper.

After having to change the sheets multiple times during the day and night, I had to come up with a way that would keep Sissyboo from undressing and getting the diaper off.

After reading several solutions online including one that used duct tape, I came up with the following:

Cutting the feet off of footie pajamas and then turning them around so the zipper is in the back.

We have been free of night times messes now for several weeks!

Extreme Couponing

I have been looking forward to this day for sometime now. Tonight is the premier of TLC's Extreme Couponing Show. In my house, we love our coupons and any type of show that teaches us how to save more money is a show for us.

I started using coupons last year, but really started getting serious about it this past Fall when I started stocking up for baby number 3. While most extreme couponers have large stockpiles, I have limited mine to things that I know my family will use which is mainly cleaning supplies, laundry products, baby products and cereal.

Here is a recent picture of my stockpile:

If you are new to the whole couponing craze, check out the show tonight. You will be amazed at how collecting coupons will save you money.

Celebrating April Fool's Day with a Blackerry Fool Dessert

The fool is an old fashioned British dessert which dates back to the 16th Century. The term "fool" is believed to derive from the French word "fouler", to mash.

Fools can be made with different types of fruit however berries are preferred and are super simple to assemble.

Ingredients:
2 cups blackberries (8 ounces total), plus more for garnish
1/2 cup sugar
1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
2 cups heavy cream
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:

1. In a blender, combine berries, sugar, and lemon juice; blend until smooth. Pour mixture through a fine-mesh sieve, pressing with a rubber spatula to push through. Discard seeds; transfer 1/2 cup berry puree to a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate; reserve for topping.

2. In a large bowl, combine cream and vanilla; whip until stiff peaks form. Gently fold remaining berry puree into cream. Spoon mixture into custard cups. Cover loosely and refrigerate 1 hour (or up to overnight). To serve, drizzle blackberry fools with reserved berry puree, and garnish with blackberries.

Meal Plan Monday

After having been off my typical schedule for the last two weeks, it is nice to get back into my normal routine again. I have missed planning my weekly menus and going grocery shopping. However, since I did just have a baby a little over a week ago, the only thing that I am not doing is the grocery shopping. So this evening, I sent My Sweetie to head out and conquer the grocery store with my weekly shopping list. I always love when he goes shopping for me because he buys snacks that I typically wouldn't purchase. Here is the menu for this week: Monday: Grilled Beef Taco's Tuesday: East Meets West Sushi Salad; steamed edamame Wednesday: French Chicken in A Pot; roast carrots Thursday: Cacio e Pepe Pasta Friday: Simply Sour Cream Chicken Enchilada's Saturday: The Best Easy Beef and Broccoli Sunday: Clam Chowder and French Bread

The First Time, Ever I Saw Your Face

March 18, 2011

After getting very little sleep the previous night, we headed to the hospital, leaving the house around 4:45 in the morning to be at St. Luke's Hospital by 5:30. I was filled with excitement, anxiety with a twinge of sadness having to be away from my other babies for several days.

After being checked into the hospital and finding out the my anaesthetist was the lady who had preformed my first one, I was filled with relief knowing what a great job she had done when Sissyboo was born. Sure enough, no pain with this epidural!

At 7:46 this little angel was held over the curtain and presented to me:

Missymoo 2011

I was full of joy! She was so tiny and had these tiny little features. Even though she weighed in at a hefty 8 pounds, 3 ounces.

I often think about the first time I ever saw my children. What my first thoughts were, what was going on in my head when I first layed eyes on them. How was I feeling at the time of their births.

With Sissyboo it was love at first sight. I had waited my whole life to see her and my first thought was so that I was so blessed and full of joy. I often regret not giving her the middle name of Joy because she has filled my life so full of it.

Sissyboo 2008

With Double D, I remember my first thought upon seeing his little face was, I am so in love with him and then thinking, oh my word, he looks just like his Grandpa Larry!

Double D 2009

With Missymoo my first thoughts were she was perfect and tiny. Then I basically passed out because they gave me Benedryl because I have allergic reactions to the anesthesia.

Missymoo 2011

We are home relaxing now, and finding our way back to our daily routine. I am looking forward to getting back to blogging once again.

Thank you friends and family for all your thoughts and prayers.

Taking A Break

With my new little one due to arrive in just a few short days, 17 to be exact, I have decided to take a break from blogging. I want to focus on getting the house ready as well as spending as much time with my two little ones as I can.

We have a few fun day trips planned (if my body will hold out) and one very special day that My Sweetie and I have devoted entirely to the kids.

Please pray for me. I get a bit nervous before each C-section. While I am up right away afterwards and usually doing things I am not suppose to be doing, I still get nervous. The thought of Sitting in the operating room while they give me my epidural makes me queasy. (Last time they hit a nerve.)

I look forward to being with you all again soon and showing off our new edition.

God Bless You, Lori