PEANUT BUTTER SHEET CAKE- To Die For!

Ok...those who know me, know I am a ''sweets'' person...(notice the s..hah) and that I simply am addicted to anything peanut butter. Seriously...just to smell it makes my mouth water. I guess it is due in part that the most of any ''sweets'' I got as a child actually came more in form of peanut butter. So, when I saw this recipe, I KNEW IT WAS MEANT FOR ME!!!! lol...and yes...I am sharing it! Can't say I have yet to make it, but give me a day longer and I will!!! Just found it. I sure hope there are others out there who have this super love of the creamy stuff with me.....ENJOY!

Peanut Butter Sheet Cake 
(by Nina Jones) 
Mix in pan and bring to a boil: 
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter 
1 cup water 
1/2 cup butter 
Sift the following and add to the above mixture: 
1 cup sugar 
1 cup brown sugar 
2 cups flour 
1 tsp salt 
1 tsp soda 
Mix and add to the above mixture: 
2 eggs 
1/2 cup buttermilk
 1 tsp vanilla 
Stir well and pour into greased or parchment lined cookie sheet pan (jellyroll pan). 
Bake for 15 minutes at 375 degrees. 
Frosting Mix in pan and bring to a boil: 
3/4 cup butter 
6 Tbsp buttermilk 
1/2 cup peanut butter 
Take off stove and add: 
3 1/2 cups powdered sugar and 1 Tbsp vanilla.
 Pour over warm cake. 
AND INVITE ME OVER!!! I'LL BRING THE COFFEE!!! :)~

Help w/New Braces on Teeth

Wear A Mouth Guard For New Braces 
When you (or your child) get braces, be sure to ask the orthodontist for a sports mouth guard. It's a semi-flexible plastic bite guard they want the kids to wear when they play any kind of contact sports so if they get hit in the face, the braces don't get impaled on the inside of the cheeks.

Well, when you first get braces, the inside of the cheeks are SOOOOO tender - they get shredded just from talking and eating. Wax on the poky parts does help, but the bite guard REALLY helps at night. It gives the cheeks a real relief from the constant shredding action of the braces and lets them heal up some.

So had to share this: PUMPKIN-CREAM BREAD

I think we all have great pumpkin bread recipes. It's so easy to make and so perfect for the season.  Pumpkin mixed with cinnamon and spices and baked into a pie or bread is on the top of my list of favorite things in this world.

Which leads to the biggest problem I end up having with it: I could easily sit down and eat a half a loaf of a good pumpkin bread. Then, I could see myself taking a break for an hour and coming back to eat the other half.

I'm speaking from experience.

So my goal here was to play around with a recipe to make it so I could still wolf it down like a glutton but not feel so guilty about it.

Because I honestly believe that even though moderation is a wonderful thing in life, some things are meant to be exceptions.

Chocolate is one.

And a bread that I wait all year to make is the other.

So after tweaking some ingredients and getting rid of others altogether, this is what resulted. It's probably not as sweet as my favorite pumpkin bread (that can easily be fixed by adding more sugar which I don't want to do), but it was the perfect pumpkin texture and really quite good (especially the second day)!

The ribbon of cream cheese is a tasty addition. There are about 46 calories per slice.

Pumpkin and Cream Bread

Yield: 2 loaves (14 slices each)

Batter:

1-1/2 c. pureed pumpkin

1/2 c. unsweetened applesauce

1 whole egg

3 egg whites

1 c. all-purpose flour

2/3 c. whole wheat flour

1/2 c. Stevia Cup For Cup sweetener

1/2 c. granulated sugar

1 t. baking soda

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. ground nutmeg

Cream filling

8 oz. reduced fat cream cheese

1/4 c. granulated sugar

1 T. all-purpose flour

2 egg whites

1 t. vanilla extract

1. For the Batter: With an electric mixer, beat the pumpkin, applesauce, egg, and egg whites on medium speed until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine the flours, Stevia, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg. Slowly mix the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture.

2. For the cream cheese filling: Beat the cream cheese, sugar, vanilla, egg whites and flour until creamy and smooth.

3. Grease 2 8x4x2" loaf pans. Divide half of the batter between the two pans. Pour half of the filling in one pan and the other half in the second pan and smooth with the back of a spoon. Top with the remaining batter.

4. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Don't overbake or your bread will be dry on the edges. Cool and remove from pans. Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container.

One serving (2 slices) = about 100 calories

The Situation

THE SITUATION

In Washington, DC, at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work. After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule.


About 4 minutes later:

The violinist received his first dollar A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk.

At 6 minutes:

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again.

At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly. The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time. This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously. Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while. About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace. The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour:

He finished playing and silence took over. No one noticed and no one applauded. There was no recognition at all.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell , one of the greatest musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars. Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story. Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities .

This experiment raised several questions:

* In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty?

* If so, do we stop to appreciate it?

* Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?


One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made.

How many other things are we missing as we rush through life?


Enjoy life NOW... it has an expiration date!!!

Take the time to smell the roses and SMILE regardless of the circumstances.

(borrowed from my friend, Carlos A., thank you my friend.)

Budget Buying Hints

Become a sharp shopper:

We  noticed that while a purchase may be a ‘great deal’ in terms of dollar amount, it's only a deal if the food actually gets eaten. This is especially true for perishables like milk, eggs, and produce.

Don’t let the grocer tell you what you should be buying. The most expensive items are usually placed at eye level: 5 feet 4 inches from the floor, to be exact. If you're looking for less-expensive options, you're going to have to work for it, reaching high and bending down low to the less accessible shelves.
When you are at the grocery store, ask the butcher what time of day they mark down meat. My grocery store marks down everything that has to be sold within the next few days. I go about twice a month and stock up on meat.
Make long-term investments:Making a small investment can sometimes go a long way. We bought a small chest freezer with baskets and I am now able to buy bulk food and load up on great values when I see them.

Put a magnetic clipboard on the outside of the freezer and keep an inventory of what goes in and out.

Plan ahead:

I think the key is meal planning. If you can plan the meals and stick to them, you can use higher end ingredients and not spend a small fortune.

Gardening is a great hobby. My family freezes and cans all the vegetables plucked from the garden in summer. This winter I’ve been using the yellow squash, zucchini and onions Ifroze [in preparing] my breakfast egg stir-fry.

I suggest using cheap ingredients. You can make a couple of batches of stews, chili, and soups on the weekend and then freeze them in individual containers, then you're set for the week.

I’ve also found that using coupons can be a big help. Search online for coupons to print, also visit sites for the specific foods you eat, even the organics. I have gotten so many coupons with just a little searching online.

Every night, I set a budget food plan for the next day so I know exactly what I plan to eat and how much it will cost both calorie and money wise. If you keep track of what you spend, your budget will thank you, and calories are the same way. Lay out a clear path and it will help!

For those times when sacrifice is just not on the menu, instead of giving up steak, fish etc.; as an alternative to eating a whole steak per person, slice the steak and serve it over rice, pasta or salad.

Don’t cut meat out altogether: Use less meat in a dish and beef it up with veggies.

Big-picture improvements:

Spend a month tracking all of your expenses[Everything] from bills to coffee to lunches out, then at the end of the month take a look and  see where you spent your money and see where you can cut down or out.

I think that a strict budget belongs in the same category as a strict diet. It’s a bad idea because you'll never stick to it. I think the first few months should be a trial period. The budget will need to be reassessed and adjusted a lot."

Go for bulk on everyday items
I noticed that I wasted a lot of money on prepackaged foods. Buy the regular size packages and portion it yourself using plastic baggies or small plastic containers.
If you’re preparing school lunch boxes, Get the large cans of applesauce, peaches, etc and put it in one cup containers. I have 10 of them so I just fill them all up and use them in the  lunches.
But buying in bulk can sometimes encourage eating in bulk. so sometimes you can save a lot of money by sticking to the actual serving sizes. I've also found that I'm saving a lot by not snacking all day like I used to. At night when I start to get the munchies, I make a cup of tea instead.

Eating out is expensive...even fast food. Cooking at home usually results in a savings, even if you buy some leaner, higher priced meats. Eating more reasonable sized portions of meats and higher calorie foods makes a little go a long way. I'm working on losing weight, so this is helping, and is also helping lower hubby's cholesterol.  Check farmers markets for fresh veggies. Or choose frozen veggies at the grocery store. Plan ahead so that you can freeze leftovers to have for meals later, rather than throwing away food.

I hope this helps....with things the way they are today....saving any little way we can goes a long way sometimes. Maybe a movie date, or a trip to get an ice cream. FAMILY TIME! 

When they ask, "Moma, is Santa for Real?"

As a Mom, this is the hardest question to be asked from your child. It not only is affecting your child, but that also of the tradition you have created inside the special magic of Christmas morning. It was on memorable and heart-wrenching day when Larry & I had to break the truth to Eric. And, it was on Christmas night.

Reading online in one of my other blogger friends post this morning of her ''time to tell'' and I just had to share her answer to daughter, Lucy's question. I loved it, wish I had been the one to do this nearly 25 yrs. ago. Here it is for you to keep, share and have for when you are asked the questions of tooth fairies, Santa, and the fun of make-believe. Enjoy.

Lucy:

I NEED TO KNOW, she wrote, using capital letters for emphasis. ARE YOU SANTA? TELL ME THE TRUTH.

What do you do when your kid asks for the truth? You tell it, of course, doing your best to figure out a way that keeps at least some of the magic intact.

Here’s what I wrote:

---

Dear Lucy,

Thank you for your letter. You asked a very good question: “Are you Santa?”

I know you’ve wanted the answer to this question for a long time, and I’ve had to give it careful thought to know just what to say.

The answer is no. I am not Santa. There is no one Santa.

I am the person who fills your stockings with presents, though. I also choose and wrap the presents under the tree, the same way my mom did for me, and the same way her mom did for her. (And yes, Daddy helps, too.)

I imagine you will someday do this for your children, and I know you will love seeing them run down the stairs on Christmas morning. You will love seeing them sit under the tree, their small faces lit with Christmas lights.

This won’t make you Santa, though.

Santa is bigger than any person, and his work has gone on longer than any of us have lived. What he does is simple, but it is powerful. He teaches children how to have belief in something they can’t see or touch.

It’s a big job, and it’s an important one. Throughout your life, you will need this capacity to believe: in yourself, in your friends, in your talents and in your family. You’ll also need to believe in things you can’t measure or even hold in your hand. Here, I am talking about love, that great power that will light your life from the inside out, even during its darkest, coldest moments.

Santa is a teacher, and I have been his student, and now you know the secret of how he gets down all those chimneys on Christmas Eve: he has help from all the people whose hearts he’s filled with joy.

With full hearts, people like Daddy and me take our turns helping Santa do a job that would otherwise be impossible.

So, no. I am not Santa. Santa is love and magic and hope and happiness. I’m on his team, and now you are, too.

I love you and I always will.

Mama

Outside Lighst when Storms Hit!

When storms are about to hit, and there is a possibility of electrical outage, remember your lawn lights that are solar!!! Bring them in for indoor lighting during this time!!! (can't take credit for this....shared from friend, Marcia W. Williams) THANKS GIRL!!! We all will def. love this, I am sure!!! :)

Printer Cartridge Expiration Dates

Check Refurbished Printer Cartridge Expiration Date

There is a date on each printer ink cartridge. There is evidently a microchip in the ink cartridge that tells the printer when that date has arrived. When that date gets here, it is considered to be an expired cartridge and will no longer work.

I no longer refill them close to or past the expiration date, and I will open the box and check the expiration date of refurbished ones at the cash register before I drive all the way back home.
Source: HP customer service rep

CROCK POT BREAKFAST BRUNCH...UMMM..

When I found this recipe I was so amazed and excited at the same time.  Why hadn't I ever thought of this before???  A recipe for a breakfast casserole that you put in your crock pot.  Genius!!  Simply put all the ingredients in your crock pot before you go to bed a wake up to a perfectly cooked breakfast casserole. 

 AH...how wonderful to wake up to this...no fuss....especially if you have guests, or running late on Sunday before church.....LOVE IT...AND HAD TO SHARE IT...VC

just print it out to use. click to make it larger....

UMMMMMMMMM,.........CAN YOU SMELL IT COMING FROM THE KITCHEN? MOUTH WATERING? OK.....
I'm eyeing a bag of sweet potatoes and another of beets, thinking of the warmest, coziest thing to do with these bright vegetables. I crave warmth and color and soft, gooey things to eat this time of year. What about you? What are you craving? What do you wish with all your heart you were eating tonight in this chilly weather?
It's TIME TO EAT! 

Hi!! Did you know this about Peroxide?

This simply a ''must read'' as I went to get teeth cleaned the other week, and the dentist told me this about the whitening, and the toothbrush!!! Most of the time(and she did, too) they say, NEW ONE every 3 MONTHS....these hints make so much sense and I would rather spray or spritz this than the vinegar I do most of the time. Hope you like today's helpful hints, Vicki 

The many benefits and uses of Hydrogen Peroxide 1. Take one capful (the little white cap that comes with the bottle) and hold in your mouth for 10 minutes daily, then spit it out. No more canker sores and your teeth will be whiter without expensive pastes. Use it instead of mouthwash. (Small print says mouth wash and gargle right on the bottle). 2. Let your toothbrushes soak in a cup of "Peroxide" to keep them free of germs. 3. Clean your counters with peroxide to kill germs and leave a fresh smell. Simply put a little on your dishrag when you wipe, or spray it on the counters. 4. After rinsing off your wooden cutting board, pour peroxide on it to kill salmonella and other bacteria. 5. One man reports, “I had a fungus on my feet for years - until I sprayed a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water on them (especially the toes) every night and let dry. All gone.” 6. Soak any infections or cuts in 3% peroxide for five to ten minutes several times a day. A nurse reports that she has seen gangrene that would not heal with any medicine, but was healed by soaking in peroxide. 8. Fill a spray bottle with a 50/50 mixture of peroxide and water and keep it in every bathroom to disinfect without harming your septic system like bleach or most other disinfectants will. 9. Tilt your head back and spray into nostrils with your 50/50 mixture whenever you have a cold, or plugged sinuses. It will bubble and help to kill the bacteria. Hold for a few minutes then blow your nose into a tissue. 10. If you have a terrible toothache and cannot get to a dentist right away, put a capful of 3% peroxide into your mouth and hold it for ten minutes several times a day. The pain will lessen greatly. 11. If you like a natural look to your hair, spray the 50/50 solution on your wet hair after a shower and comb it through. You will not have the peroxide burnt blonde hair like the hair dye packages, but more natural highlights if your hair is a light brown, reddish, or dirty blonde. It also lightens gradually so it's not a drastic change. 12. Put half of a bottle of peroxide in your bath to help rid boils, fungus, or other skin infections. 13. You can also add a cup of peroxide instead of bleach to a load of whites in your laundry to whiten them. If there are protein stains on clothing, pour it directly on the spot, let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with water. Repeat if necessary. 14. I use peroxide to clean my mirrors with, and there is no smearing which is why I love it so much for this. 15. Use 3% Hydrogen peroxide for removing blood stains – especially if they are fairly fresh. Pour directly on the soiled spot, let it sit for a minute, then rub it and rinse with cold water. Repeat if necessary. It is a great bleaching agent for stubborn stains on white clothes. Combine ½ c. hydrogen peroxide and 1 t. ammonia for a great stain removal combination. 16. Use hydrogen peroxide to bleach delicate items such as wool or wool blends. Soak them overnight in a solution of one part 3% hydrogen peroxide to eight parts cold water. Launder according to care instructions.

more ''DID YOU KNOW?''

Problem: Musty Clothes
Your vintage woolens are back in style, but they bear stale odors picked up during their stint in fashion purgatory.

Solution: Spritz garments with a small amount of vodka (spot-test first). Straight vodka kills bacteria, but it doesn't leave a scent. Hang clothes to dry in a well-ventilated area. 

Problem: Stinky Sink
The garbage disposal is great for keeping the dregs of dinner from lingering, but the resulting odors are more stubborn.

Solution: Give the disposal something nicer to chew on. Run hot water, drop orange peels down the hatch, and turn on the switch. Lemon, lime, and grapefruit rinds also do the trick.

Problem: Odor on Ice
Those UFOs (unidentified frozen objects) in the freezer make your piecrust smell like a substance from another planet.

Solution: Wipe the freezer with a cotton pad dampened with pure vanilla extract. Refrigerator shelves will benefit from a wipe-down with a 50-50 mix of white vinegar and water.

Problem: Car Fumes
Your car has been there for you through every trip to the vet, the recycling center, and fast-food joints, but you don't want to be reminded of that every time you get behind the wheel.

Solution: Drop a potpourri wax tart into a cup holder. The tarts, used in fragrance burners, are sold by candle makers.

Problem: Storage Stench
Saving leftovers for lunch is virtuous; chucking containers because you can't get rid of the smell of vegetable curry isn't.

Solution: Soak plastic containers in warm water and baking soda overnight. Bathe glass jars in a mixture of one teaspoon powdered mustard and one quart warm water

Problem: Scents Underfoot
Carpets can collect unpleasant odors, particularly in high-traffic areas and in spots where pets like to nap.

Solution: Cordon off the zone and sprinkle liberally with baking soda, then vacuum up a few hours later. Can't keep everyone away that long? Do a quarter of the rug at a time

Problem: Essence of Rover
Your dog may be able to tell you're cooking hamburger from across the room, but you shouldn't be able to smell his favorite blanket from the same distance.

Solution: Toss it in the dryer (for 30 minutes, set on medium heat) with a home-dry-cleaning bag and cloth from Dryel

Problem: Subterranean Smells
Guests wouldn't know that your beautifully appointed basement used to be a dank concrete bunker―until they take a whiff.

Solution: Cut an onion in half, place it on a plate, and leave it in the basement overnight. Once the initial salad-bar aroma dissipates, you'll have fresh (non-oniony) 

• Decorating Ideas: Curtains, rugs and furnishings in cool teal and peridot lend a fresh, uplifting look to dark hallways. For an extra burst of color, add high-gloss citrine frames. In the living room, create a warmer mood with a primary palette of fuchsia, ruby and citrine and small pops of peridot and teal.
• • Decorating Ideas: Dining room, vanity or entryway, sapphire and gold are an exquisite pairing. Try a gilded mirror beside a sapphire tapestry. Touches of aquamarine or amber will keep it from feeling too formal, and a little dose of emerald green glassware has a natural elegance that brings it all together.

10 New Uses for Lemon

“Lemon juice is the strongest food acid in our kitchens, strong enough to make life unbearable for most bacteria,” says Robert Wolke, professor emeritus of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh.
 
 

Use Lemon to:

1. Sanitize a chopping block. Run a slice of lemon over the surface to disinfect.
 2. Eliminate the browning that occurs when food sits out too long. Sprinkle apple or pear slices with lemon juice before serving, or squeeze a bit into guacamole and give it a stir.
 3. Remove tough food stains from plastic and light-colored wooden cutting boards. Slice a lemon in half, squeeze the juice onto the soiled surface, rub, and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with water.
 4. Fade tea stains on cloth. Dilute lemon juice with an equal amount of water. Use an eyedropper or a Q-tip to make sure the juice targets the stain. Thoroughly flush with cool water.
 5. Decorate on the cheap. Fill a glass bowl with lemons for a sunny centerpiece. Or display a row of them along a windowsill.
 6. Relieve a sore throat. Cut a lemon in half. Skewer one half over a medium flame on a gas stove or an electric burner set on high and roast until the peel turns golden brown. Let cool slightly, then mix the juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Swallow the mixture.
 7. Whiten fingernails. Rub a wedge on the surface of your nails.
 8. Shine the interior of copper cookware. Sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub.
 9. Brighten laundry whites. Add 1/2 cup lemon juice to the wash cycle of a normal-size load.
 10. Remove soft cheese or other sticky foods from a grater. Rub both sides of the grater with the pulp side of a cut lemon.

Justina Blakeney: The Multi Talented Mason Jar

Justina Blakeney: The Multi Talented Mason Jar: Hey blog homies! I hope you all had a good weekend. I was a bit under the weather but I'm feeling much better today, feeling ready to atta...