Recipe Fail: Crock Pot Oatmeal

Ok so you know how Facebook has all these recipes that people post? Well I've seen this one for an over night crock pot oatmeal. I thought I would try it out and see how it was. I mean it sounded good and looked delicious, plus breakfast all hot & ready when you wake up what's not to love about that right? Ok so this is the recipe as it's listed on Facebook. 

Place 2 sliced apples, 1/4 cup brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, 

pinch salt in the bottom of the crock pot.

Pour in 2 cups of oatmeal, 2 cups of milk and 2 cups water.

Do NOT stir.

Cook overnight for 8 - 9 hours on low

I made it according to the directions, and well it was maybe one of the worst things I've ever tried! It definitely needs a little help! Here are the changes I plan on making:

Reducing the liquid by half, it was way too runny for me, however if you like your oatmeal a little runnier you might leave it as is, I however prefer my oatmeal a little a lot drier! 

I would also peel my apples, the recipe just says to chop them but leaving the skin on makes for a weird texture.

Finally I would add at least double the brown sugar, maybe double the cinnamon too! 

If you make this let me know how it turns out! When I make it again which will hopefully be this week I will let you know if the changes helped or if in my opinion this recipe is a complete loss!

Enjoy

Feeding Soldiers: Applesauce Cake

This recipe is really similar to one my Grandma used to make but it’s a little different. I couldn’t find hers and this is my Great Aunts recipe so I thought why not give it a try! Applesauce Cake to me screams Fall! Anything Apple does. I know every ones all about the Pumpkin stuff right now but for me September is Apples, October and November are for Pumpkins, and I promise I’ll be adding to every ones already over loaded Pumpkin recipe lists but for now I thought a little Apple cake would be nice. We are doing the dinner for Fisher House again and an Applesauce Cake just seems so homey to me. I hope the families staying there enjoy it!

Here’s what you’ll need:

2 cups Unsweetened Applesauce

2 scant tsp baking Soda

1tsp cloves, cinnamon and all spice

1TBSP Cocoa powder

2 cups Sugar

½ cup Butter

1 cup Raisins

1 cup Nuts

3 cups Flour


 
Here’s how you make it:

Cream Butter and Sugar well, add applesauce, spices, coco powder and baking soda. Mix in flour and add raisins slowly. Pour into a greased 9x9 pan. Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes, or until done.

Enjoy

 

Best Laid Plans

I totally have this great blog post for today, but of course it isn't finished its a really cool recipe for a DIY clay. But here's the issue, I made a bowl with the clay and I have all the directions and pics but the clay isn't dry yet! UGH! And I can't finish the post until I finish the bowl and I can't finish the bowl until it dries some more! You know sometimes this blogging world gets tough! So many posts so little time to do it all in! I need to get my stuff together I think! I would love to have like a months worth of post all done and ready to go! Wouldn't that be awesome? To be ahead of the game? Even though I've been doing this for a year I have yet to make myself a real schedule, and stick to it! 

For today since I'm behind schedule but I sill want you to have something to look at I thought you could maybe check out some older posts.

Like this one

                                                                        Twine Vase

Or this one

                                                            Pumpkin Pie Baked Oatmeal

Or even this one

                                                                      Bead Bowl

Thanks for stopping by today! Come back Friday for a new cake recipe!


Have a tip for being more organized share it in the comments!

Enjoy

The BEST DARN POT ROAST EVER!

It seems lately that most of my posts seem to start with “When my Sister was visting” and this one isn’t going to be any different! If she didn’t have such great ideas maybe I wouldn’t use her so much! So todays post is all about POT ROAST! OH MY GOODNESS! Ok so this recipe is all over Pinterest and maybe you’ve tried it and maybe not but if you haven’t I’m telling you give it a go! I was skeptical, I mean I have a pretty good roast recipe already and I thought can this really be any better, I mean it’s just a roast right? WRONG! This is so good and flavor FULL! Whoever would’ve thought that brown gravy mix, ranch dressing mix and Italian dressing mix would go together!? I mean seriously? That kind of sounds gross right? WRONG AGAIN, when you put all those packets together with a beef roast something magical seems to happen! It is so good! We cooked a huge roast that day, I forget how many pounds it was but I know it was enough that we figured we would get dinner, and lunch the next day out of it! Boy were we wrong, the KIDDOS ate this up!

I’m hoping that between Man-Child and myself that we will have leftovers for lunch tomorrow cause I’m pretty sure this will make an AWESOME Roast Beef Sandwich!

Here’s what you’ll need:

Beef Roast

1pkg Brown Gravy Mix

1pkg Ranch Dressing Mix

1pkg Italiaon Dressing Mix

1 cup of Water

Here’s how you make it:

Place the Beef Roast in the Crock-Pot on low. Add all 3 mixes to ¾ cup of Water, mix until combined. Pour mixture over Roast. Add in a ¼ cup of Water. Cover and cook on Low for 4-6 hours.

Enjoy

Black Forest Cake

So My Birthday was yesterday! And I’m 29 again! Actually I don’t have issues (yet) with my age, I’m 36 and proud! Some days I feel everyone of those 36 years and others I’m like what 36 pshaw I’m still in my 20’s at least! Of course the Hubster is gone and it’s my birthday, I’m not sure but I think he may plan it this way he’s missed almost all of my birthday’s since we’ve been married! So I’ve gotten used to it at this point and I actually consider it an extra present if I get to have him home for my Birthday, but shh don’t tell him that or he might not get me anything the next time he’s home for my Birthday! Ok so, I think birthday’s are special and I think if your Spouse is gone or maybe you’re a Single Mom, whatever the case may be, if you have kiddos at home, when your Birthday rolls around, be sure to make a big deal out of it! We do it for them right? Well I really feel that we need to teach our kids that we are important too! So sometimes that might mean that you have to bake the cake for yourself! Go ahead and do it! Yes it’s slightly depressing but here’s the thing, it shows the kids that YOU matter too! If you don’t like to bake, go buy a cake, it doesn’t matter! If your kids are old enough maybe they bake the cake for you, however it has to happen it doesn’t matter! Just remember to CELEBRATE! I also, now that Man-Child is old enough, have him go and buy me a present! It’s not just because I like to get presents, which I mean I do, but it’s really about teaching him to think of others! This year I decided to make my cake and I LOVE Black Forest Cake! It’s soo good! I haven’t made one before but this turned out REALLY GOOD!

*Side Note: Traditional Black Forest Cake uses a cherry liquor that is brushed on top of the cake layers, and the cherries are also soaked in it over night. I chose to leave it out this time.*

Here’s what you’ll need:

Cake

1 Box Devils Food Cake Mix, make according to package directions

(You can make the cake from scratch but I decided to save myself a little time!)

Cherry Filling

2 (20 ounce) cans pitted sour cherries

1 cup white sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Frosting

3 cups heavy whipping cream

 1/3 cup confectioners' sugar 

 Here’s how you make it:

Cake:

 Grease two 9 inch, round, cake pans; cover bottoms with waxed paper. Bake according to package directions. Cool layers in pans on wire racks 10 minutes. Loosen edges, and remove to racks to cool completely.

Filling:

Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved juice, cherries, 1 cup sugar and cornstarch in a 2 quart saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 teaspoon vanilla. Cool before using.

Frosting:

Combine whipping cream and confectioner's sugar in a chilled medium bowl. Beat with an electric mixer at high speed until stiff peaks form.

Assembly:

With long serrated knife, even up the layers cutting the “dome” off the top of each layer. Tear the dome pieces into crumbs; set aside. Reserve 1 1/2 cups Frosting for decorating cake; set aside. To assemble, place one cake layer on cake plate. Spread with 1 cup frosting; top with 3/4 cup cherry topping. Top with second layer of cake. Frost the side of cake. Pat reserved crumbs onto frosting on side of cake. Spoon reserved frosting into pastry bag fitted with star tip. Pipe around top and bottom edges of the cake. Spoon remaining cherry topping onto the top of the cake. Let cake chill until you are ready to serve.

Enjoy

Welcome Home Ideas

If you’ve been following my blog the past few months you know that the Hubster is deployed, but he’s coming home soon! HURRAY! YIPEE! I’m super excited and a little nervous. There are always the questions, how has he changed? Is he gonna be ok? Etc. even though we’ve been through this several times it’s always the same nerves! I know he has the same questions too. The transition home can be daunting especially if it’s your first deployment. But there are a lot of things you can do to make it go smoother!

These are the moments we LIVE for! 

The first thing I always do is make sure I have all of his toiletry items ready for him. His favorite Body Wash, Shampoo, Deodorant, Toothbrush, Shaving Cream and Razors. I do this for 2 reasons, first I don’t want him to have to dig through his bags to find it all, and second, it makes him feel more at home!

Next when he is still deployed I ask him what he is going to want to eat for his first meals! I have him choose Breakfast Lunch and Dinner, you never know what time they are going to make it in and I like to be prepared!

I also have some of his favorite things to eat or drink in the house, like Coffee and Creamer! Maybe some Beer & Vodka & Jack Daniels! Sounds like a lot right? But I want him to have choices! I will have his favorite chips stocked up and the lunch meat that he likes as well.

I would recommend that if you moved any of his stuff, for example his clothes out of the closet, that you share, put them back! I don’t do this because we don’t share a closet in this house! The closets are too small and well there isn’t room to share! I did use his pillows when we had guests this summer and I haven’t put them back on our bed yet, so I will need to do that!

I also suggest making sure the house is neat. Now I know if you have littles this is sometimes easier said than done, BUT it is nice for them to walk into a clean house, even though they are going to destroy it with all their Army gear just a few minutes later! If you want to decorate it for his coming home or if you just want a sign out front that’s a great idea! If you go to buildasign.com/troops you can have a Welcome Home sign made for free you just pay shipping!

It really is the little things that make up a good reunion. Remember to LOVE them! And be Understanding, and if your Service Member is having issues adjusting encourage him to talk to someone there are so many resources available to our Service Members! In our reintegration training, one speaker mentioned the Medal of Honor recipient SSG Carter. He is a Medal of Honor Recipient and he has PTSD, and he got help, so if he can than they can!

Above everything else Enjoy your Service Member being home again!

Gloria's Ham Green Beans & Potatoes

Whenever I go home to see my Mom in Pennsylvania, I always ask my Grandma to make Ham Green beans and Potatoes! There is something about it that is just so good and comforting. I am looking forward to having it next summer. Which maybe it’s a weird thing to have in the summer cause it cooks all day when it’s hot out but Oh MY GOSH it is so good! And I don’t think my recipe comes close but it’s as good as it’s gonna get without her here to make it for me! The funny thing is, is that I don’t even really like Ham, But I love my Grandma’s Ham and the Ham in this recipe is sooo good!

Here’s what you’ll need:

½ Boneless Ham

4-5 Potatoes, peeled

1lb Fresh Green Beans (frozen will work but fresh are better)

½ tsp Parsley

1 tsp Onion Powder

1 tsp Celery Seed

Salt and Pepper to Taste

Here’s how you make it:

Cut up the Ham, and Potatoes place them in a large pot or crock pot. Add in the Green Beans, Parsley, Celery Seed, Salt and Pepper. Cover with water and cook over low heat until Potatoes are fork tender. Scoop out the Potatoes Ham and Green Beans; serve with a small amount of butter on top.

Enjoy

Deployment Cookies

I mentioned in Wednesday's Post  that we are getting closer to the Hubster coming home! (I am so excited!) I sent out one last care package to hold him over until he gets home! Which I just realized is the perfect time of year for him to be coming home because it is BAKING SEASON in our house! I decided to include these cookies in his box. They are reported to stay moist and I am hoping they will keep for awhile! Mail is taking a little bit longer to get Down Range these days, at least where the Hubster is and I want to make sure the cookies wouldn't be stale! So I thought I would give these cookies a try. They are a traditional Monster Cookie dough but instead of chocolate chips I added m&m’s and Reeses pieces!

*UPDATE: It took almost 2 weeks for the Hubster to get his box and he said the cookies were still good! :)*

Somethings Missing in this Photo?

Yep the Peanut Butter which is the main ingredient!  

Here’s what you’ll need:

1/2 cup M&M’s

 1/2 cup Reese’s Pieces

 1 stick Butter, softened

 1   12-ounce jar Creamy Peanut Butter

 1/2 tsp Vanilla

 1/2 tsp Salt

 1 cup Sugar

 1 1/4 cups packed light Brown Sugar

 3 Eggs                         

 2 tsp Baking Soda

 4 1/2 cups Oats

Here’s how you make it:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine the Eggs and Sugars. Add the Salt, Vanilla, Peanut Butter, and Butter stir until combined. Stir in the M&M’s, and Reese’s Pieces, Baking Soda, and Oatmeal. Scoop dough onto the baking sheets about 2 inches apart. Bake for 8-10 minutes. Do not over bake. Let stand for about 3 minutes before transferring to wire racks to cool. When cool, store in airtight containers.

ENJOY!

Homecoming Care Package

~I didn't realize it when I was planning this post that it would come out on September 11. It seems maybe a little ironic to be talking about my Husband coming home from a war, on the anniversary of the day the United States was attacked. I just wanted to take a moment on here and acknowledge and remember what happened and why we have been without our Soldiers. Take a moment today and say a prayer for the Families who lost loved ones on September 11, 2001, the families who have lost their Service member in the Wars since, and for our Country to never forget the sacrifices that were made that day! Gone but NEVER Forgotten~

Our Deployment is almost over. Just over a month or so left and I for one am so glad! I can’t wait to have the Hubster home again! To snuggle and cuddle with, to mow the lawn and rake the leaves! But seriously so glad they are coming home safe and sound! It’s really what I think every Military Spouse prays for every single day! I decided to put together one last care package. This one is kind of what you can expect when you get home/ what we want to do when you get home!

It can be hard for a Soldier to transition back into the routine of home life especially when things are different. For instance if you bought all new living room furniture or even rearranged things it make take him awhile to get used to it all! I didn't do any of that, and I usually don't, which is just my personal preference.  If you do and you haven't already you may want to include photos of the changes so he know what to expect! For us the Hubster has seen any changes to the house while we are face timing! For us one of the biggest changes is how much Man-Child has grown! 5inches in 9 months! I think that will be the Hubsters biggest thing to get used to!  :)

Next Man-Child and I both made lists of the things we are looking forward to doing when he gets home! I think this is a great way for your Soldier to have things to look forward to! I mean they usually are already excited to have a nice comfy bed to sleep in and a good hot meal. But I wanted to take it another step! We each did one thing for every month that the Hubster has been gone! Keep the list simple too though; you don’t want to overwhelm them with too many things. So some of the things are simple like watching a football game (GO BIG RED) and snuggling on the couch!

I also included things to make his long trip home more enjoyable! Like an iTunes gift card, so he can download a few new movies. Gummy Bears because well you he LOVES those, and a few other snacks to get him by.A couple magazines, notice the WOOD magazine? Yeah I'm hoping it'll get him motivated to want to build me something when he gets home! ;) Check back for Friday's Post, to get the recipe for Deployment Cookies!

This deployment has flown by and I for one am glad about that! I look forward to getting to know my Soldier all over again!

Enjoy