Mississippi Mud Bars Recipe

One of the things I enjoy making for my family is homemade Mississippi Mud Bars...especially when I am pressed for time and can't spend 2 hours in my kitchen baking traditional cookies...that is why I love 'bar' type of recipes!

Mississippi Mud Bars

2 c. granulated sugar
1 c. butter
3 tbsp. cocoa powder
4 eggs
1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 1/4 c. coconut
1 1/2 c. nuts
7 oz. jar of marshmallow cream

Cream together sugar, butter and cocoa. Add eggs and mix well. Add flour, coconut and nuts. Blend thoroughly. Bake in a greased cookie sheet at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes. Remove from oven and spread with marshmallow cream.

Crock Pot Country-Style Spare Ribs Recipe

We love making spare ribs here at our home and we often make them using our crock pot or slow cooker. Here is one of our favorite spare rib recipes.

Crock Pot Country Spare Ribs

2 1/2 to 3 lbs. spareribs (pork or beef)
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1 (1 lb) can sauerkraut, drained
1 apple, cored & diced
1 tbsp. sugar

Cut spareribs into serving-size pieces. Sprinkle with salt & pepper. Place on rack in baking pan. Brown in a 400 degree oven for 15 minutes, turn andbrown on other side for 15 more minutes. Pour off drippings. Spoon sauerkraut into slow cooker pot. Top with apple, sprinkle sugar over the apple and put the ribs on top. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or until meat is tender and done. Makes 4 servings.

Easy To Make Cheesy Potato Wedges Recipe

One of my family's favorite side dish potato recipes is this easy to make cheesy potato wedges recipe. We like it as a side dish to steaks, fish and chicken breasts.

Cheesy Potato Wedges Recipe

6 med. potatoes
water
dash of salt
3 tbsp. oil
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of black pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. thyme
1/3 c. grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp. cheddar cheese

Scrub unpeeled potatoes. Cut into wedges. Boil 5 minutes in salted water. Drain and pat dry. Spread potatoes on lightly greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with oil, spices and herbs. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with cheeses. Bake for 10-12 minutes until golden brown.

Shrimp and Crabmeat Dip Recipe

My husband Sam makes this delicious shrimp and crabmeat dip for every party or family event that we host. It's really easy to make!

Shrimp and Crabmeat Dip Recipe

1 (8 ounce) pkg. cream cheese, softened
1 (16 ounce) container of sour cream
2 cans of tiny shrimp
1 can white crabmeat
1 envelope Ranch dressing mix
1 bottle of cocktail sauce

Mix cream cheese and sour cream together in a large bowl. Add in the Ranch dressing mix, stir until blended. Place bowl in freezer for 10 minutes. Remove from freezer and spread mixture into a serving dish (we use a rectangular glass baking dish). Pour cocktail sauce evenly over mixture. Drain crabmeat and shrimp, mix them together in a small bowl. Spread the seafood mixture over the cocktail sauce. Refrigerate for 4 hours before serving. We like to serve our dip with Tostitos or Taco Chips.

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How To Make A Classic Cheese Ball + Recipe

When it comes to making a homemade cheese ball, this is one of the recipes I like to use because its easy and everyone enjoys it when I make it for family gatherines or parties that I host here at my home.

Classic Cheese Ball Recipe

1 (8 ounce) pkg. cream cheese
3 c. shredded sharp cheddar cheese
2 tbsp. ground green pepper
2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. mustard
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. fresh parsley

Mix all ingredients together (except for parsley) in a large bowl. Roll into a ball. Place parsley in a pie pan and roll your cheese ball in the parsley until its completely covered. Chill your ball for 1 hour before serving. You can serve a cheese ball on a tray with crackers, toasted bread, party bread or fresh veggie sticks.

6 Healthy Banana Smoothie Recipes

Here are 6 delicious banana smoothie recipes which are perfect for those trying to be more healthy this year.

6 Healthy Banana Smoothie Recipes

Banana Mango Smoothie

1 c. cubed peeled ripe mango
3/4 c. sliced ripe banana
2/3 c. milk
1 tsp. honey
1/4 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine all of the above ingredients in a blender and process until smooth.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Smoothie

1 medium banana
1 1/4 c. milk
1 c. chocolate ice cream
1/4 c. creamy peanut butter

Cut the banana into 1" pieces. Wrap pieces in foil and freeze. Unwrap the banana pieces. In blender container combine banana, milk, chocolate ice cream and peanut butter. Cover and blend until smooth.

Blueberry Banana Smoothie

5 oz. Frozen blueberries
2 bananas
2 c. ice
1 c. water

Put all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth.

Kiwi Banana Smoothie

1 c. milk
2 scoops vanilla ice-cream
1 ripe banana, sliced
2 Kiwi fruit, peeled and finely diced

Blend the milk, ice-cream, and banana together in a blender till smooth. Add the Kiwi fruit, blend briefly, then pour into glasses.

Banana Cantaloupe Smoothie

1/2 sliced cantaloupe melon
1 peeled banana
1 c. vanilla ice cream
1 tbsp. honey

Mix all of the above ingredients in your blender and blend until smooth.

Boysenberry and Banana Smoothie

3/4 c. boysenberries
1/2 c. low-fat boysenberry yogurt or vanilla yogurt
1/2 banana, sliced
1/2 c. grape juice

Add all ingredients to a blender and puree until well blended (about 1 minute).

25 Easy Appetizer Ideas For Your Next Party

When it comes to hosting a party, we are often at a loss as to what we can serve as the party appetizer.

What is an Appetizer? An Appetizer is a food or beverage that is served before the start of a meal, at a special party or at a business event. The purpose of an Appetizer is to stimulate your appetite, hence the name Appetizer.

When it comes to serving appetizers, they don't need to be fancy. They can be spreads, dips, cheese balls, seafood, caviar, party breads and other small foods to wet your appetite.

Listed below are quick appetizers that can be served anytime with crackers, thinly sliced toasted bread, a variety of party breads or potato chips. A few of them can even be served alone.

1. Caviar
2. Lobster tail moistened with lemon juice.
3. Lobster tail dipped in butter sauce.
4. Shrimp and crap meat spread serve with taco chips.
5. Cream cheese with chopped pickles.
6. Chicken livers minced and moistened with mayonnaise.
7. Cheese squares with olive attached by toothpick.
8. Sardines with caviar paste.
9. Flavored cream cheese spread.
10. Cream cheese and anchovy paste with grated onion.
11. Deviled ham with chopped onions and olives.
12. Shrimp served with cocktail sauce.
13. Sardine slices topped with chopped olives.
14. Pimento cheese mixed with a dash of horseradish.
15. Cream cheese with dash of Worcestershire sauce and chives.
16. Melba Toast spread with cream cheese and chives.
17. Party Rye bread served with grated cheese and onions.
18. Dry beef spread served with crackers.
19. Artichoke Spread served with Party Rye Bread or crackers.
20. Cheese ball served with your favorite crackers.
21. Meat and Cheese Roll served with crackers.
22. Salmon Cheese Ball served with crackers.
23. Chicken wings.
24. Sausage stuffed mushrooms.
25. Salsa served with Nacho's or Taco chips.

I hope this guide will help you when it comes to planning your next party. Just remember, your Appetizers don't have to be fancy, they just have to taste good!

Copyright © 2009 By Shelly Hill, all rights reserved. This article can not be reproduced without Shelly's permission.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bars Recipe

If you like peanut butter cups, I think you will love this recipe! They are super easy to make and taste great!

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Bars Recipe

1/4 c. shortening
2/3 c. peanut butter
1 c. granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
2 tbsp. water

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Grease a 9" square baking pan. Combine the shortening, peanut butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl. Beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each one. Add the flour and mix well. Spread the batter in your baking pan. Bake for 40 minutes or until center tests done. Remove from oven and let cool.

Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler with water or in the microwave. Spread the melted chocolate on top of the baked bars. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Cut into bars.

Product Review: Nabisco Oreo Cakesters

Oreo Cakesters Soft Snack Cakes

Website: Oreo Cakesters Made By Nabisco

I received a coupon for the new Oreo Cakesters made by: Nabisco and since my family loves the regular Oreo Cookies, we decided to purchase 2 boxes from the grocery store.

We purchased the Original Flavor and the Chocolate Creme

Each Box: 6 individually wrapped packages each containing 2 snack cakes

Serving Size: 2 cakes (1 snack package)
Calories: 250 per serving size, Calories from Fat: 100

Our Evaluation:

Shelly's: I preferred the Chocolate Creme Cakesters because I am a chocolate lover and these definately hit the spot when I was craving some chocolate yesterday. What I really like is that they are soft and chewy which is a good thing since I can't have hard and crunchy foods at this time. Taste: I give them 8 out of 10 spoons, meaning, I will definately be purchasing them again.

Sam's: My hubby preferred the original flavor and didn't care for the chocolate creme. I think that is because he loves the regular Oreo Cookies. He rated the original flavor 9 out of 10 spoons.

So overall, we love this product!

Note: Package states: Manufactured on equipment that processes peanut, tree nuts. So, if you have nut allergies, these are not for you (even though, they don't have any nuts in them).

Note: I was not compensated in any way for this product review. We personally purchased and used the product.

Pork Filet Mignon and Oven Roasted Potatoes Recipe

Photo Courtesy of Tupperware.com

Here is another delicious recipe by tupperware! If you love pork filet mignon, you have got to make & try this recipe!

Pork Filet Mignon and Oven Roasted Potatoes

Serves 6

2 small pork tenderloins
Olive oil
1 tsp. Simple Indulgence™ Simply Garlic
1-2 shallots
2 lbs. small red potatoes
1 lemon
Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 400°F. Brush olive oil over pork filets and place in a baking dish. Rub with Simple Indulgence™ Simply Garlic and shallots. Squeeze lemon juice over the filets and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Using the Chef Series™ Pro Chef's Knife, quarter potatoes and coat them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Place in baking dish around meat; place in preheated oven for 15 minutes. Lower temperature to 350°F, continue cooking until meat registers 165°Fon an instant-read thermometer and the outside is golden brown. Add hot water to the pan as the meat cooks and turn potatoes, once or twice during baking.

Mocha Buttercream Frosting Recipe

This buttercream frosting recipe is really easy to make and it tastes just as good as bakery-quality frosting and it happens to be my favorite frosting to use on cupcakes and cakes!

Mocha Buttercream Frosting Recipe

2 sticks of butter (not margarine)
3 cups 10X sugar (confectioners' sugar)
1/4 c. cocoa powder
1/4 c. coffee
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Using a mixer on medium speed, cream the butter and sugar together for 5-7 minutes or until smooth. Sift the cocoa powder and stir it into the bowl. Add the coffee and vanilla extract. Mix until smooth and of spreading consistency, adding a bit more sugar if the icing is too thin. Makes 2 3/4 cups of frosting.

Crock Pot Chipotle Pork Chops Recipe

If you are looking for a great pork chop recipe with a little bit Southwestern flair then this Crock Pot Chipotle Pork Chops recipe is for you!

Crock Pot Chipotle Pork Chops

2 medium red or green sweet peppers, cut into strips
1 c. celery, sliced
1/2 c. onion, chopped
8 pork loin chops, cut 3/4 to 1" thick
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
1/4 c. reduced-sodium chicken broth
1/4 c. orange juice
1 tbsp. chopped chipotle chile peppers in adobo sauce
1/2 tsp. dried oregano, crushed

Place sweet pepper, celery and onion in your crock pot. Sprinkle pork chops with garlic salt and pepper. In a large frying pan cook chops, half at a time in hot vegetable oil over medium heat until brown on both sides. Add pork chops to crock pot. In a small bowl stir together chicken broth, orange juice, chipotle peppers and oregano. Pour over pork chops in the slow cooker.. Cover and cook on low heat for 6 hours or until done.

Easter Brown Sugar Glazed Ham Recipe

Last week I found a fantastic recipe online and decided to try it out with our Easter Dinner Ham and I must say, it was totally delicous! I received compliments from all of my dinner guests.

I got the recipe at the Recipezaar Web Site.

The only thing I altered from their recipe was the mustard, I used creamy dijon style mustard.

Stop on by the Recipezaar Web Site to grab the recipe!

How To Clean Your Barbecue Grill

How To Clean Your Barbecue Grill

We like to use our grill a few times every week during seasonal weather, so once a week, we devote 20-30 minutes cleaning it.

There are several ways that you can go about cleaning your grill.

Supplies Needed:

Wire Grill Brush
Steel Wool Cleaning Pads
Oven Cleaner
Non-Stick Cooking Spray
Garden Hose or Bucket of Water
Liquid Dishwashing Soap

1. Clean your metal grate with a wire grill brush, loosening particles of food from past use. Rinse with hot soapy water. Make sure you invest in a good quality grill brush so that it holds up over time.

2. For stubborn food particles, spray your metal grate with oven cleaner and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Use a wire grill brush to loosen the particles. Rinse with hot soapy water.

3. After you've taken everything off your grill, place aluminum foil over the metal grate. Using the aluminum foil will attract the heat to the metal, burning off any food particles. Turn off your grill and let it cool down. Remove the aluminum foil. If any food particles remain, use your wire brush to remove them. Rinse the metal grate under hot soapy water.

4. After grilling, let your metal grate cool down enough to handle. Use a wet steel wool scrubbing pad (the kind with the soap embedded in it) and scrub the food particles off of the grate. Rinse under warm water.

Additional Tip: Before turning on your grill, spray the metal grate with non-stick cooking spray. This will help to keep food from sticking, making clean-up easier.

Keeping your barbecue grill cleaned will help your food to taste better and will also help to cut down on any food bourne bacteria.

Macaroni Grill Chicken Penne Product Review

Product Review: Romano's Macaroni Grill Garlic and Herb Chicken Penne

I am usually not a fan of boxed mixes or boxed dinner kits but I must say, this one was great!

I recently purchased this item at the grocery store to give it a try at home. The boxed dinner kit needs no refrigeration. It took less than 30 minutes to make from start to finish.

The boxed dinner kit includes: Penne Pasta, Grated Parmesan and Romano Cheese Blend, Garlic and Herb Seasoning Packet, Tomatoes with Mushrooms and Onions Sauce.

Yields: six 1 cup servings.

You will need: 1 lb. uncooked boneless skinless chicken breasts and 2 tablespoons of olive oil

The directions were easy to follow, all contents in the kit were nicely separated. Box states its ready in 20 minutes but it took me 30 minutes.

This dinner kit is prepared on the stove top.

Alternative: Instead of chicken, cook 3/4 lb. Italian sausage (omit oil). Stir in 1-3 teaspoons chopped roasted garlic, the seasoning packet and tomatoes.

Nutrition Facts: Serving size 1/3 cup as pkgd. (1 cup prepared)
Servings per box: 6
Calories: 240
Calories from fat: 70

Our Rating: My husband and I both enjoyed this! I was surprised at how great it tasted and how easy it was to prepare. We give it 8 out of 10 spoons, meaning that we will definately purchase it again.

Web Site: Restaurant Favorites At Home





NOTE: I was not compensated in any way for reviewing this product. I personally purchased it and used it so my opinions are unbiased and soley mine. You might end up with different results.

Delicious Sweet Potato Biscuits Recipe

I made these for Easter to go along with our Easter Meal. Instead of using a round biscuit cutter, I decided to use a heart shaped one. My daughter likes putting gravy over top of her biscuits, but I just like them plain with a little butter.

Sweet Potato Biscuits Recipe

3 c. flour
6 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. mashed sweet potatoes
4 tbsp. shortening
1 c. milk

Sift together flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Stir in cinnamon. Add the mashed sweet potatoes and then the milk. Cut in the shortening. Mix into a soft dough, I find it best to just use my hands. Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface. Use a biscuit cutter and cut out your biscuits. Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Do not over-bake them!

Tortilla Soup Recipe

Photo courtesy of Tupperware.com

Tortilla Soup Recipe
Serves 4

1 tbsp. olive oil
1 medium onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 can (14½ oz.) fire roasted tomatoes, drained
1 carton (32 oz.) chicken broth
1 tbsp. Simple Indulgence™ Southwest Chipotle

Garnish: 4-6 corn tortillas, or crushed tortilla chips
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup Mexican Blend shredded cheese
Sliced avocado
1 lime, cut into 4-6 wedges

In a Chef Series™ 4 Qt./4 L Sauce Pan; heat 1 tbsp. of oil over medium heat. Add onion and garlic sauteing until golden brown. Add tomatoes and cook for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and place vegetables in Quick Chef with blade attachment. Cover and process until finely chopped. Return vegetables to saucepan, add broth and Simple Indulgence™ Southwest Chipotle, cover and simmer for 30 minutes over medium to low heat.

Slice tortillas into thin strips and cut in half. Heat 1/3 cup vegetable oil in a Chef Series™ 8"/20 cm Open Nonstick Fry Pan over medium-high heat; add tortillas to oil, frying until crisp. Drain on paper towels. Ladle soup into bowls. Top with tortilla strips, 1 tbsp. of cheese, slices of avocado, and a squeeze of lime juice.

Creating The Perfect Vegetable Tray

Creating The Perfect Vegetable Tray

If you are hosting a party, you will need to create a presentably appealing vegetable tray. Creating a veggie tray is really easy if you plan ahead and gather everything that you will need before you begin to assemble your tray.

You will need a round serving tray or a specially designed veggie tray that has divided cavities for placing your vegetables in. If your tray doesn't come with a vegetable dip container, you will need to supply one.

It is recommended that you choose 5-7 vegetables to present on your party tray.

Pre-Preparation:

Wash and pat dry all of your vegetables. Cut off any roots, stems or unwanted leafy portions.

Vegetable Selection:

Leafy Lettuce: Separate the lettuce leaves and use them to line your vegetable tray.

Broccoli: Cut florets off the stalk into individual serving-sized pieces.

Cauliflower: Cut pieces from head of cauliflower into individual serving-sized pieces.

Cherry Tomatoes: Remove stems. Wash and pat dry.

Cucumbers: You can remove the skin or leave it, that is entirely up to you. Slice cucumber into 1/4" thick round slices.

Carrots: If using baby carrots, you will will not need to slice them down. If using full-sized carrots, you will need to slice them down into sticks measuring approximately 1/4" by 4" in size.

Celery: Cut off leafy portions. Cut celery stalks into 4" long pieces.

Radishes: Cut off top portion of radishes and any roots that might remain. It is best to use radishes that are less than 1 1/2" in diameter.

Mushrooms: If you are using baby mushrooms, leave just a 1/4" of the stem remaining. If using larger sized mushrooms, slice them down into individual pieces.

Green Pepper: Remove the stem and seeds. Cut down into sticks measuring 1/4" by 4" in length.

Assembly:

Arrange the lettuce leaves on your tray, covering the entire bottom of the tray. Take your prepared vegetables and arrange them around the tray in sections. Try to keep your colors separated and spread out the green colored vegetables. I like to use a green vegetable, then a colored vegetable and then another green vegetable and so forth as I go around my tray. Leave an opening in the center of your tray for your vegetable dip.

Once you have all your vegetables onto the tray, its time to garnish the tray.

Garnish Ideas:

If you are using a flat serving tray, you can separate your vegetable sections by laying a celery stick between each section. I like to add some additional color by garnishing with green and black olives, purple cabbage curls, radish shaped flowers or even a few green and red grapes.

Here is a great dip recipe.

Dill Weed Vegetable Dip Recipe

1 c. sour cream
1 c. mayonnaise
1 tbsp. dill weed
1 tbsp. parsley
1 1/2 tbsp. lemon juice
1 tbsp. minced onion

Mix all ingredients together until well blended. Chill for several hours before serving. Serve with raw vegetables. Makes 2 cups.

Shelly Hill has been working from home since 1989 in Direct Sales and is a Manager with Tupperware. This article is copyright 2009 by Shelly Hill.

How To Make Beer Battered Onion Rings + Recipe

When it comes to making homemade onion rings, we like to use this beer battered onion rings recipe to make them.

Beer Battered Onion Rings Recipe

peanut or vegetable oil
1 sweet onion, peeled and sliced
1/2 c. flour
2 eggs
1 tsp. celery salt
2 c. bisquick baking mix
1 c. beer

In Dutch Oven, heat 4" of oil over medium-high heat to 375 degrees. In shallow pan, dredge sliced onion in flour; set aside. In large bowl: whisk together eggs and celery salt. Stir in bisquick and beer. (Batter will be lumpy). Shake excess flour from onion slices and coat in beer batter. When oil is ready, carefully slide battered onion slices into the oil. Fry for 4-6 minutes, turning occasionally. Drain on 2 layers of paper towels. Serve immediately.

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies Recipe

This is one of my family's favorite cookie recipes and I seem to make a lot of them in the summer time when I don't want to heat up my house by using the oven. These are stove-top cookies and really easy to make.

Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies Recipe

2 c. sugar
1/2 c. cocoa
1/4 c. margarine
pinch of salt
1/2 c. milk
3 c. quick oats (oatmeal)
1 c. creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Combine the first 5 ingredients in a large pan and boil for 1 minute, stirring often. (I find it best to use my Tupperware Silicone Spatula so the chocolate doesn't stick to it).



Turn off the heat and stir in the oatmeal, peanut butter and vanilla. Drop by the tablespoonful onto wax paper. Let them cool and they will harden as they cool. Store in an air tight container.

Turkey Breast With Roasted Vegetables Recipe

Photo Courtesty of Tupperware.com

Here is another great recipe from Tupperware and this one uses a turkey breast. Great for a special dinner or a holiday dinner.

Turkey Breast with Roasted Vegetables Recipe

1 bone-in whole turkey breast, about 5 pounds
4 tbsp. (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
1 tsp. Simple Indulgence™ Simply Garlic
½ tsp. each salt and freshly ground pepper
1 yellow onion
6 carrots
1 pound Brussels sprouts
8 red new potatoes
¼ cup olive oil

Peel carrots using the Twistable™ Peeler. Cut carrots into 2-inch chunks using the Chef Series™ Pro Chef's Knife. Preheat oven to 325° F. Mix 2 tablespoons butter, Simple Indulgence™ Simply Garlic, salt and pepper together. Spread mixture over the turkey breast. Place breast on a rack in 13" x 9" baking pan. Roast the turkey for 1 hour. Toss the vegetables with olive oil and scatter the onion, carrots, Brussels sprouts and potatoes around turkey and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Return the pan to the oven and continue to roast for about 1 hour more until breasts are well browned and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the breast registers 165° F. Remove the turkey to a cutting board, cover and let rest for 20 minutes. Stir the vegetables and return the pan to the oven. Continue to cook the vegetables while the turkey rests. With Chef Series™ Pro Carving Set, slice the turkey and serve on a platter with the roasted vegetables.

Attitude of Gratitude Award!

I would like to thank Denise Willms for nominating me and my blog for the Attitude of Gratitude Award! I feel totally honored to have received this award. You can visit Denise's blog at Wahm-Articles Blog.

Years ago when I first decided to work from home I felt totally alienated by the outside world. Don't get me wrong, working from home is great but I needed to be around other women who were also working from home. I found wonderful support online within the wahm (work at home mom) community. I have learnt so much from my online friends and business associates and without them, my dreams of working from home would of never been possible. The ladies that I associate with online (and proud to call them my friends) have been a wonderful support system and are the smartest bunch of ladies around!

I am a firm believer of 'paying it forward' so now that I have a firm grip on what it takes to work from home, I am paying it forward by helping other women to do the same.

Here is my top 10 list of fellow wahm blogs that I feel are deserving of the award:

1. The Green Tip Of The Day Blog: Managed and Owned by: Tara Burner, who graciously teaches us all what we can do to help save our environment.

2. Watkins Recipes and More Blog: Owned and Managed by: Darlene, who I have known online for around 7 years. Darlene will always go out of her way to help a fellow wahm and friend. I feel very blessed to have called her my friend for 7 years.

3. The Beauty Geek Blog: Managed and Owned by: Amy Jo, who I met online via the Classy Chic Ryze Business Network. I admire Amy Jo's wit, wisdom and writing ability.

4. Direct Sales Talk Blog: Owned and Managed by: Chris Carroll who knows the inside and outs of the Direct Sales Industry and I am proud to call her my friend.

6. Island Girls Bags Blog: Owned and Managed by: Marybeth, who is the most talented seamstress that I know! I have known MB for 5 years and I am amazed by her sewing skills and she was gracious enough to sponsor my blog contest this month.

7. Working WAHM Blog: Owned and Managed by: Val, who is a great multi-tasker and a great article writer. I am not sure how Val manages to get everything done that she does, but I really admire her!

8. A Tale of 2 WAHMS Blog: Owned by: Kara and Anita. I don't know Kara very well but I do know Anita and that woman has some strength to be admired! She is a real go-getter and tells ya like it is. She is my type of person!

9. Family Traditions, One Story At A Time Blog: Owned by Tara. I am a big time scrapbooker and I love visiting her blog for some creative ideas! If preserving your memories is important to you, I recommend visiting her blog.

10. Tara Burner's Blog (yes I am nominating a second blog by Tara! I admire Tara's business sense as she is a very successful business woman. She tells ya like it is with no sugar coating or fluff. This woman succeeds at everything she does. Her blog is both educational and fun.

The Rules of Accepting and Sharing this Award

1. Put the logo on your blog or post
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs that show an attitude of gratitude
3. Link to your nominees within your post
4. Comment on their blogs to let them know they’ve received this award
5. Share the love and link to this post and the person who nominated you for the award. Tell us how you’ve come to have an attitude of gratitude.


http://my.tupperware.com/Ravish30

Easy Chocolate Brownies Recipe

If you are looking for an easy homemade brownie recipe, then I suggest you give this one a try!

Easy Chocolate Brownies Recipe

12 Tbsp. Cocoa Powder
2/3 c. shortening
2 c. granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. milk chocolate chips

Mix chocolate, shortening, eggs, sugar and vanilla in a large bowl. Add in the flour, baking powder and salt. Stir in the milk chocolate chips and mix until well blended. Grease a 9x13" baking dish. Pour brownie batter into baking dish and bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees F. Do NOT over bake! You want them to be moist and chewy.

Crock Pot Fruity Pork Chops Recipe

Summer is coming and the weather is getting warmer, pretty soon it will be too hot to run our kitchen ovens so I will be using my crock pot (slow cooker) even more than what I do now.

A few nights ago, I found this recipe in one of my vintage cookbooks. Hubby rated the recipe 8 out of 10 stars so he really liked it.

Book Name: Crockery Cookery by Mable Hoffman and it was published in 1975.

Crock Pot Fruited Pork Chops Recipe

4 lean pork chops
1/2 tsp. salt
dash of pepper
1 tbsp. prepared mustard (we used dijon mustard)
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/8 tsp. dried dill weed
1 (17 ounce) can fruit cocktail
2 tbsp. cornstarch
2 tbsp. cold water

Sprinkle the pork chops with salt and pepper. Place in your slow cooker pot. Combine mustard, vinegar and dill. Drain fruit cocktail; add 1/2 cup of syrup from fruit to mustard mixture. Pour over chops in crock pot. Cover pot and cook on low for 4-6 hours. Remove pork chops from the pot and turn control to high. Dissolve cornstarch in water; stir into pot. Add drained fruit cocktail, cover and cook on high for 15 minutes. Spoon fruit sauce over the pork chops and serve. Makes 4 servings.

Side Dishes That I made: Baked Potatoes with sour cream, cheese sauce and crumbled bacon topping along with frozen peas in butter sauce.

Making Homemade Popsicles With Recipes

Do you know how easy it is to make your own popsicles for your family?

You can make your own freshly made popsicles for pennies on the dollar compared to all of those pricey store brand popsicles. A positive benefit of making your own homemade popsicles is that you control the ingredients that go into them.

The following recipes take less than 10 minutes to prepare and within a few hours, you will have some great tasting, freshly made popsicles for you and your family.

Here is what you need to get started:

1. mixer or blender
2. large bowl
3. mixing spoon
4. funnel or ladel
5. popsicle molds (Tupperware makes Ice Tupps Popsicle Molds but other companies also make them).

Your popsicle mold set should include: a tray, plastic popsicle molds, popsicle sticks and seals. If you invest in a good quality set of popsicle molds, they should be dishwasher safe, making clean up a snap.



Now let's get started with some recipes.

Homemade Fudgesicles

1 4 oz. pkg. instant chocolate pudding
2 cups milk
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup canned evaporated milk

Combine the pudding and 2 cups milk. Beat for 2 minutes. Stir in sugar and canned milk. Pour in to popsicle molds. Freeze.

Banana Chocolate Pudding Pops

1 c. milk
1 box Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix
2 Bananas

In a blender combine the milk and box of Instant Chocolate Pudding Mix. Blend until smooth. Unpeel banana's and add them to the blender and puree until all of the mixture is mixed smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and insert sticks and freeze for 6 hours before serving.

Banana Pudding Pops

1 box of banana cream instant pudding mix
2 cups of low-fat milk
1 banana sliced

Mix up the banana cream instant pudding in a bowl with the 2 cups of milk. I used a wire wisk and then stir in the sliced banana once mixture is starting to thicken. Pour into the Ice Tupps popsicle molds and freeze for 3-4 hours.

*note* if you like your pudding pops really firm, cut the milk down to 1 3/4 cups.

If you need a good popsicle mold, I highly recommend getting one from Tupperware.

This article is copyright 2009 by Shelly Hill, all rights reserved. This article can not be reprinted without Shelly's permission.

San Giorgio Oven Baked Lasagna Recipe

Like Lasagna? Our family loves it! We were in the mood for some oven baked Lasagna and luckily for me, I had all of the ingredients on hand to make some. This recipe is fairly easy to make.

This recipe is from San Giorgio.(tm)

Oven Baked Lasagna Recipe

1 lb. ground beef (we used lean ground beef)
3 c. spaghetti sauce (or 1 jar)
1 c. tomato sauce
1 3/4 c. ricotta cheese
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 tsp. basil
1/2 tsp. oregano
12 pieces San Giorgio (tm) Oven Ready Lasagna Noodles, uncooked
4 c. shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 c. grated Parmesan Cheese

Remove 12 pieces of pasta from the package. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. In a large skillet, cook meat until browned, remove from heat. Drain. Stir in spaghetti sauce and tomato sauce. In a small bowl, stir together ricotta cheese, egg, basil and oregano.

In a 13x9" baking dish, spread 3/4 cup of meat sauce. Place 3 pieces of uncooked pasta crosswise over sauce. (pieces should not overlap or touch side of pan since they will expand when baked). Spread about 2/3 cup ricotta cheese mixture evenly over pasta. Spread 3/4 cup meat sauce evenly over ricotta covering pasta completely. Sprinkle with 1 cup mozzarella cheese. Repeat steps 2 and 3, TWO more times. Top with remaining 3 pasta pieces. Spread remaining meat sauce completely over pasta; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Cover with foil. Bake for 30 minutes; remove foil. Bake 10-15 additional minutes or until hot and bubbly. Let stand for 5 minutes before serving.