Contest – Tate’s Bake Shop…YUMMY!

When I first started this contest I wanted to pick products that I believed in such as: homemade, enviornmentaly safe, mom made, belief centered, etc.  I picked some dream products and Tate’s was one of them.  I never thought I could Tate’s Bake Shop as I thought they would have too many requests and I would just be a drop in the water.  Well they pulled through and went above and beyond for me!!! 

Tate’s not only is offering a Cookie Gift Pack for the winner, but they sent me a whole one as well to sample!!!!  Can you believe it?  I enjoyed my sample, as did my family!  YUMMY!!!  There is a reason they get so much press!  And you can see it here (we are talking Rachel Ray, Newsweek, The Washington Post, ETC) http://tatesbakeshop.com/store/TatesBakeShopPublicity.asp?s=6e46Yc105595&

From my taste buds, these are quality ingredient cookies.  They tasted wonderful and held up longer than anticipated.  When most cookies last a couple of days, and then don’t taste fresh, these taste the same and I don’t know how!  Although, you usually don’t have them around very long!

Whoever wins these is going to have a tasty treat!!!!

They also have a recipe of the month on their website and you can order their products there as well.

http://tatesbakeshop.com/store/

To the winner goes a Cookie Gift Pack:

Three 7-oz. boxes, one each of chocolate chip, white chocolate macadamia nut, and oatmeal raisin. Approximately 14 cookies in each 7-oz. box.

What a perfect way to entertain over the holidays!

Have a “Cookielicious” Day!

 

Waffle Sandwiches…YUMMY!

W = Waffle Sandwiches in our house.

Here is what you need:

Eggo Whole Wheat Waffles, Peanut Butter, Honey, and Apples

We slice our apple slices pretty thin.

 (Sorry for the bad pic.)

Toast your waffles and spread your favorite peanut butter on both sides.

Squirt a little honey on but not too much or it will pour out when you go to take a bite.  Add the thin apple slices to one side, slap them together, and call the troops!

 

This is a great way to start the day!  It stays with you.  In fact we won a school recipe contest with this and won an IPOD shuffle!

You can also add banana slices to this as well.

Have a “YUMMY” Day!

CONTEST COUNTDOWN – I am in the final strech of my tips.  To enter the contest link any of my A-Z tips on your blog and let me know.  I will enter you for a chance to win some really wonderful prizes. 

 

 

Potato Soup

Now if you have come here for a Martha Stewart type recipe you better move right along.  If you would like to here a recipe from a Mom who doesn’t like to waste things and is trying her best; I’m your gal.

Potato Soup

• 1 potato
• olive oil
• salt and pepper
• cheese
• salsa
• chicken broth

(Make sure you do this in a hurry to replicate the original recipe.)

Take your potato and stab multiple fork holes into it.  Pour some olive oil and freshly ground salt and pepper on it.  Microwave for 4 minutes and check.  Didn’t seem done so press the 3 minute button.  Now I know this may seem like a long time to you, and everyone else in the planet, but you must do this to follow the recipe.

Take out what use to be a potato and look at the now petrified piece of wood food.  Try to mash it up with a fork.  This will not be easy as it’s texture is much like a rubber tire.

Lick the yummy fresh ground pepper and wonder now what will I do with this.

Decide it will not be thrown away and get out the blender.

Add salsa and cheese and blend.  At this point the blender will not have enough liquid to chop the dehydrated potato so you will need to add cold chicken broth.  You will have a foamy texture if you are doing this right.  Keep adding liquid until it appears soup like.

Pour into bowl and taste.  Now it needs to be microwaved because it got cold from the cold liquid ingredients.  Put back into the microwave and put in for a minute.  It will have now have a crust on top.

Take your spoon and enjoy thinking the whole time maybe I should have just started over.

Have a Cookin Day! 

 

30 minutes to Dinner

I have to admit that I love cooking shows, or segments, and have a deep fondness for the Rachel Ray talk show that’s on TV (since we don’t have cable).  Of course the popular notion is that you can cook dinner in 30 minutes.  I love most of the recipes and generally try them with whatever ingredients I have on hand.  I am a let’s try this and when it works don’t ask me if I can repeat it again as I won’t be able to remember what when into it.

The thing that makes me laugh if when people get on TV and say this is so simple.  So I would like to announce that for those who like to cook, it’s not the cooking that is the problem.  The meal planning, shopping with two children, that are hungry and crabby, with 25 coupons in hand on a budget, the prep work including cutting, opening, organizing, and the cleaning up the noodles that were thrown across the room, and not to mention the 15 pots and pans that are now sitting in my sink.. that’s the issue.  I think anyone who even comes close to enjoy cooking would attest that we don’t have the problem with coming up with a meal in 30 minutes. 

Next reality show for the Food Network:   REAL WORLD COOKING

Concept:  Chef who takes on shopping for a family of four (with the kids in tow) for $70 a week.  Chef  does all  meal planning and pantry organizing as well as chopping and prepping all food; no sous chef allowed!  Each person at the table will, I’m sure, say “yummy”!  And the kitchen now gets cleaned up (even the sauce that hit the wall in a spontaneous ovation to your food).  After the show is all done the chef gets to lift up their wine glass and must declare “Now that was easy.  Anyone can do that!”

I am waiting for that to be on…are you?  Heck I will host the event at my house.

 

Gift Basket Ideas

OK, I have promised you some ideas for gift baskets.  I use to own a gift basket business so I feel like I have a few ideas but try whatever works for you:

                                                  

• Local Products – Give products that are made only in your town or state.  This can be a great way to support local businesses and show off your town/state to those you love.
• The Best of the Best – Oprah does it and so can you.  Gather up a few of your families favorite things and put them in a basket.  “These are a few of our favorite things.”  Think favorite movie, snacks, music, shampoo, etc.  Anything can be fun when they know it was the best you’ve tried.  Just make sure that it would be something that person would use.  This can be great to make several and give as a family gift.
• Favorite Products– If you know someone really well try to include all their favorite items.  Favorite soda, candy, etc.  I have done an inexpensive basket with just a 6 pack of favorite soda and their favorite snacks for under $10.
• Homemade Products– Have each person in the family make something and put them all together for a gift.  Picture frames, ornaments, beauty products (see my blog on homemade ones), etc.
• For the Reader – Pack up any of these items blanket, slippers, gift certificate, coupon for reading time (good for Mom) book, gift certificate, magazine, coffee, coffee mug tea for a wonderful gift.
• Beautiful – For someone into beauty take a list from a magazine of top beauty products and give the article as well as the products.  This is great for any lady but also works well for most teenage girls.
• Off to College– If you know someone who just went away to college for the first time they might enjoy stamps, quarters, laundry detergent, sewing kit, hangers, coupon for an oil change, etc.  Think practical as they usually don’t have much money.  Put it in a container that they can use (Rubbermaid or such) or a laundry basket and make it look terrific with a big bow and great tissue.
• Save the Planet– If you know someone who is wanting or starting to change their habits to protect the environment try a basket (from Goodwill) with a reusable cloth napkin, energy efficient bulbs, a plant, etc.  Check for Planet Friendly Products at www.goodhousekeeping.com (The best of Everything article had a list of options).
• Cooks Unlimited – Give your favorite recipe and the tools and non-perishable items to make it.
• BBQ Chef– In a Large oven mitt place some standard BBQ supplies like ketchup, mustard, wooden skewers, BBQ rubs or sauce, outdoor utensils, etc. 
• Beach Bum– Is someone going to a tropical location for the holidays or soon?  Give them sunscreen, reading material, aloe-vera lotion, and a photo album in a beach bag.
• Health Nut – This is very inexpensive but can’t be done ahead of time.  Gather a bunch of seasonal fruit along with some packaged or homemade granola and some nuts for your health nut!
• Christmas Morning Basket – Fill a mixing bowl or Christmas basket with goodies to eat Christmas Morning.  Prepackaged or homemade muffins, cookies, pancake mix, jam, wassail mix, syrup, fruit, coffee, tea or whatever you can think of to make sure Christmas breakfast will be fun and easy.  Don’t forget to write on the tag to open on Christmas Eve.

Remember the key is to keep a theme and think inexpensive items to go with it.  Don’t forget the packaging!  You can always use a standard basket (some of which you get via resale stores) but use other items as well such as pretty boxes, useful items, bowls, reusable plastic containers, colander, platter, cloth shopping bag, cookie sheet, pot for plants, metal bucket, etc.  Use tissue paper, towels, napkins, bandannas, etc for lining. 

These are just a few ideas.  I should have one more blog with ideas before the holidays are here so please check back.  If you need help with a person and want an idea, please leave a comment and I will do my best to see if I can come up with an idea.  Also, if you have some unusual ideas for people that are hard to buy for please leave your ideas for all of us to try.

Debbie aka The Real World Martha

 

Who am I????? Where am I???

Here is my profile from Divine Caroline http://www.divinecaroline.com/

Some just for fun, true, and really true.

The 5 things always on my to-do list

• 1: Cleaning
• 2: Cleaning
• 3: Cleaning
• 4: Cleaning
• 5: Oh, and cleaning

If I could donate $1 million to charity, it would go to

• KLOVE

My Favorite Quote is

• Jeremiah 29:11 (you’ll have to look it up)  Bible

3 things I would take on a desert island are

• 1: hubby
• 2: tan cream/spray (white as white)
• 3: sand toys

5 unnecessary things in my purse right now are

• 1: everything (except what I use of course)

My first word was

• I can’t remember that!

The last belly laugh I had was

• Thou Shalt Laugh Video with the puppets (we had to stop the DVD so many times)

The last thing I do before I go to bed is

• close my eyes

Childbirth felt like

• I think my exact words were “dljfkdjaljfdklsjlfjsdalk” as I couldn’t speak real words yet. 

2 people I would love to invite to dinner

• 1: Beth Moore
• 2: Billy Graham
• and Michael W Smith (hey I have room at my table for 3 ok)

My dream vacation would be to

• travel everywhere in a RV for a year!

The recipe I can prepare with my eyes closed is

• cereal

I take my coffee

• orange

My biggest pet peeve is

• this question

I love my pet named

• Whisper (who just passed), Brody, and Courage

Those closest to me know that

• I rock! 🙂 I am sure that’s what my kids think when they are being disciplined that’s for sure!

 

Unbeatable Banana Bread

This is my favorite banana bread recipe ever.  I thought I would put it out there as some of us do like to give food as gifts.

ENJOY!

                                                                    

(from: http://jas.familyfun.go.com/recipefinder/display?id=50117)

s Unbeatable Banana Bread s

Ingredients 2 cups flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup Unsalted butter (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened 1 cup sugar 2 eggs, at room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 3 medium-large very ripe bananas (1 cup mashed) 1/2 cup sour cream
Instructions Step 1 Heat the oven to 325°. Line a 5- by 9-inch loaf pan, preferably one with a light interior, with enough waxed paper to drape over the long sides. This will make the baked bread a cinch to remove and the pan easy to clean. Set the pan aside.Step 2 Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl. In a large bowl, cream the butter using an electric mixer. Gradually add the sugar, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Next, add the vanilla extract and blend briefly. Set both bowls aside. Step 3 Peel the bananas and place them in a separate bowl. Mash them with a fork or a potato masher and measure out 1 cup. Add the sour cream and stir to blend. Set the bowl aside. Step 4 Using a wooden spoon, blend a third of the dry mixture into the butter-sugar mixture. Add the rest of the ingredients in this order, stirring well after each addition: half of the banana mixture, half of the remaining dry mixture, the rest of the banana mixture, the rest of the dry mixture. Next, add mix-ins if desired (see below). Step 5 Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a spoon. Bake on the center oven rack until a tester inserted deep into the center of the bread comes out clean, about 70 to 75 minutes. Step 6 Transfer the bread to a cooling rack and cool it in the pan for about 20 minutes. Using the waxed paper, lift the bread from the pan and place it on the rack. Pull down the sides of the paper and allow the bread to cool thoroughly before slicing. Makes 10 or more servings.
For a light, quick bread, handle the batter gently, mixing it just enough to incorporate wet and dry ingredients. Overmixing strengthens the gluten, the protein in flour that gives yeast bread its chewy texture — which you don’t want in a quick bread. Finishing up with a wooden spoon helps ensure that the batter isn’t overmixed.

 

Taco Herb Mix Gift

This is a great mix to put together in some bags for gifts.  Tie a nice bow and the instructions and you have some wonderful last minute gifts.

                                                                                  

• 1 tbsp instant minced onion
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp cornstarch
• 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
• 1/2 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tsp chili powder

Instructions For Your Gift Tag: 

Outside:  May your Holiday Season be HOT, HOT, HOT!

Inside: Mix taco seasoning with one pound of meat and enjoy (from your spicy friend…..).

Many Blessings,

 Debbie aka The Real World Martha

(recipe adapted from Arizona Republic)