No Bake Cookies

No Bake Cookies

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar
1 stick oleo (which is 8 tablespoons or 1/2 cup)
1/2 cup milk
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cocoa (can use 2-3 spoons more if desired)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal (approx)

Bring sugar, milk, oleo, cocoa, and salt to boil. Boil one (1) minute or until a ball forms in cold water. Remove from heat, add vanilla, peanut butter and stir...then stir in oatmeal. Drop on waxed paper or aluminum foil and let them cool.

Makes approx 15 - 1/4 cup cookies.

YUMMY :)

From no bake cookies

Sugar, milk, oleo, cocoa, and salt mixing together and waiting to come to a boil.

From no bake cookies

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Bringing in 2010 with a Doggie Sleep Over

I decided that I wasn't going out to bring in the New Year, so I watched mom and Dawn's dogs, Tar Tar and Zachy. Scooby Doo was in heaven as his friends were here to visit with him for a couple of days. Sassy Frassy (my cat) on the other hand, wasn't so happy as he hung out in my bedroom window sill for most of the time (see the pics of him behind the pink curtains). Zachy is the little sandy tan colored dog and Tar Tar is black and tan!

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Christmas 2009

I spent Christmas with mom and Dawn. We had the traditional ham dinner that my mom made. It was really good. After dinner, we exchanged gifts and watched tv :) I didn't take any pictures as they really don't like their pictures taken. Overall, I had a great holiday with my family and friends :)

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Homemade French Dip Sandwiches

I had made a beef roast and decided to use the left over beef for French Dip Sandwiches. I made the French Bread dough in the bread machine and then shaped and baked them in the oven. Once, they were done, I put provolone cheese on the bread with the beef with a little bit of au jus (from a can...I haven't tried to make that homemade yet). Then, I put them in the oven until they were hot and the cheese was melted. They were awesome!!!

Failproof French Bread (Bread Machine)

This makes two loaves of long baguette type French bread that has wonderful flavor and is so easy to make!

35 min | 15 min prep
SERVES 8 , 2 loaves

Ingredients:

· 3 1/2 cups bread flour
· 1 teaspoons salt
· 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
· 1 1/4 cups warm water
1. Place ingredients in bread machine according to manufacturers directions.
2. Start machine on dough setting.
3. When dough cycle is complete, remove dough with floured hands and cut in half on floured surface.
4. Take each half of dough and roll to make a loaf about 12 inches long in the shape of French bread.
5. Place on greased baking sheet and cover with a towel.
6. Let rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
7. Preheat oven to 450°.
8. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown, turning pan around once halfway during baking.
9. Remove baked loaves to wire racks to cool.

© 2009 Recipezaar. All Rights Reserved. http://www.recipezaar.com

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Crafting for Christmas

I decided that I would do some crafting for a Christmas gift. I made everyone a homemade loaf of cinnamon bread along with a homemade sun catcher. I also bought some margarita glasses for my friends Kim and Tami to decorate with beautiful beads.

From sun catchers and eggnog

From suncatchers

From margarita glasses with beads

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Weaver Family Christmas, Dec. 21, 2009

It is always nice to get together with gma and my aunts and uncles, mom and dawn for Christmas dinner, exchanging of gifts, and chatting :) I was the only grand daughter that came this year :( Aunt Lorann is south for the winter so she was not at the gathering!

It sure was different this year without Uncle Harry (RIP)....Uncle Larry was sure to pick on Dawn though in his absence! Love you Uncle Harry and miss you!!!

Location: Grandma Rosalie's Home

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Christmas with my friend Cindy and her family, Dec. 22, 2009

Ho, ho, ho....Merry Christmas!!!! I walked in to Cin's home with a big bag of gifts and a Santa hat on and told her grand kids that Santa had stopped at my house for them...lol :)

What a wonderful day spent with Cin, John, Rach, Alex, Caitlin, Colten, and Logan!!! Spent time with mom too :)

Cin and I go back about 20 years (college years) and it is so great to have such a wonderful friend in my life!

People in the photos: Alex (Rach's son), Caitlin (DD's daughter), Cin, my mom, John (Cin's boyfriend), Rach (John's daughter), Logan (Rach's baby), Colten (DD's baby) and me!

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Easy Homemade Eggnog

Eggnog is a pretty simple drink to make. This is the perfect recipe for eggnog novices. It's non-alcoholic, so make enough to share with the kids.

Ingredients:

· 2 eggs, beaten well
· 4 tbs sugar
· 1 tsp vanilla
· 1/8 tsp nutmeg, ground
· ½ tsp cinnamon
· ½ tsp ground cloves
· ¼ cup half and half or heavy cream (I used half and half)
· 2 1/3 cups milk

Blend all the ingredients together in a blender and serve chilled. Add alcohol as needed.
Tweak the ingredients a little to taste but go easy on the cloves!

I like mine creamier so I will have to make this again and play with the creaminess of it :) It’s not yellow in color like in the store but still tastes good :)

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Easy Popcorn Balls

Easy Popcorn Balls
20 min | 5 min prep


SERVES 8 -10

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/8 cup white corn syrup
* 1/4 cup margarine (half a stick)
* 1/8 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract (or almond)
* 2 quarts popped corn (1 microwave will do)

Directions

1. Bring to a soft boil in a medium sauce pan over medium heat the sugar, white corn syrup, margarine, and salt (I added some food coloring while it was in a soft boil....add as much as you need to get the color you want).
2. Remove from heat and add vanilla or almond extract.
3. Mix sauce with popcorn in a large bowl.
4. When cool enough, but still warm, form into balls. (easier to eat).

Very easy to make and they are yummy :) I recommend taking out the unpopped kernels...I didn't do it but next time I will!!!

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Christmas Decorations 2009

Another holiday that I love to decorate for is Christmas :) The tree inside my home has red and white lights with burgundy decor on it. The tree on the porch has pink and white lights with pink and silver decor!

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Winter 2009

Few pictures of our first snow and Sassy Frassy checking out that white stuff...lol :)

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Chicago Trip with Kim, December 4, 2009

Kim invited me to go on a bus trip with her and some students from Muskegon Community College. It was a one day trip and boy was it a great time!!! We had hot spiced wine, went to the Navy Pier, Water Tower Place (mall), and a couple different restaurants...even saw a fight...lol :)

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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

I started out with a batch of Grandmother's Bread (made in bread maker)-- the best, softest, simplest ingredient bread I have found! And it's just like the bread Mom used to make!

Roll out into a rectangle, and from here on out, I DO NOT HAVE AN EXACT MEASUREMENT OF ANYTHING!!

Spread 1/4c - 1/2c butter, margarine, even tubbed butter; grab a handful of brown sugar, spread it all over; sprinkle on cinnamon until it looks coated, and my secret ingredient --- nutmeg!! Sprinkle that over, but not as much as the cinnamon!

Now roll up into a roll lengthwise

Chop the log of cinnamon roll into an even amount of chunks

Place into a 9x13 pan, or if yours still has chocolate cake in it like mine (!), use your pie plates!


Now, cover with a towel -- this is my "Bread Raising Towel". I use it always, just fold up and put in my bread raising bowl.

Let it double in size
Preheat oven to 350 F....Bake for about 25-30 minutes, taking out when top is golden brown.

Okay, now they are baking! I make up a frosting to put on them as soon as they come out of the oven, so it melts all around.....
2 c powdered sugar
1/3 c butter
2 T milk
1 t vanilla or a drop of cinnamon oil (foodgrade)

Beat together with mixer until it's creamy and tastes mmmmm mmmmm good !

Now!! It's Done !

Recipe from my friend Cindy :)

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My 40th Birthday, November 19, 2009

Yikes, 40 years old!!! I celebrated my birthday with my mom, grandma, and a family friend, Jeannie. Mom made my favorite cake: Texas Sheet Cake :) Received many gifts! Also, went out to dinner!

Only a few pictures!

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Lisa Home, November 2009

My cousin Lisa came home from WA to visit with the family. We met up with her parents, grandma, and my mom for dinner. Also, a couple pictures of Sassy enjoying the Fall leaves :)

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Halloween 2009

I love dressing up and decking out my home for Halloween. Despite only having 7 kids that stopped by...I still enjoyed the holiday :)

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Fall 2009

Just a few Fall pictures :)


October 25, 2009, Montague, MI area


November 16, 2009, Ludington, MI area (look at the rainbow in the sky) :)

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Homemade Pie Crust & Apple Pie :)

How to make Foolproof Pie Crust:

4 cups all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cups shortening (crisco or lard)
1 tablespoon sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1 tablespoon vinegar
1 egg
1/2 cup very cold water

Add flour, shortening, sugar, and salt to a large bowl.

Mix flour and shortening with a pastry cutter until it looks nice and crumbly.

In a small bowl, whisk together the vinegar, egg, and water.

Add to the flour mixture, stirring in till well-moistened.

Stick your hands in there.

And shape it into a great, big, wonderful ball of pastry dough. (Don’t overhandle.)
Divide the dough into four equal-size balls.

Wrap each ball with plastic and refrigerate for at least 15 minutes before using. Or, if you want to use it faster, stick it in the freezer for 5 minutes. (You can keep this pie crust dough in the refrigerator for a week before using, or in the freezer for a couple of months. It freezes well–place dough balls in sealed freezer bags for long storage.)
To use, sprinkle some flour on waxed paper. Sprinkle some more flour on top then roll out, adding more flour if necessary to keep from sticking to your rolling pin. Place in a greased pie pan. I like to just up-end the rolled crust right off the waxed paper on top of the pie pan. Peel off the paper then crimp the edges.

For double-crust pie, repeat the same procedure, venting the top.

This recipe make two 9-inch double-crust pies or four single-crust pies. If you’re planning to use large deep-dish pie pans, you may want to divide the dough into thirds instead of fourths. This is a great pastry for tarts and pot pies, etc, as well as standard dessert pies.



Apple Pie:

6-8 apples, peeled and sliced (depends on the apple size, you want it heaped up)
2/3 of a cup sugar
1/3 of a cup all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cinnamon
A pinch of salt and a dash of ground cloves enhance the cinnamon flavor (don't have to use if you don't have)

Mix all together. Put into bottom crust. Top with crust, cut vent holes into top crust.

Cook in microwave on high until all bubbly. Put into a 350 oven until crust is browned to your liking. (The microwave cooks the apples and tenderized crust, the oven just browns the crust)

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Deer, Oct. 1, 2009

The deer were hanging out pretty close to my home. I had enough time to run into the house to even grab the camera and they were still staring at me! Here are a couple pictures!

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Muskegon Bike Time 2009, July 2009

I went to hang out with a few friends today....I didn't get any pictures of Sharon though :( But, we did have a good time hanging out at Bike Time in the afternoon and a good lunch :)

Then, I went to visit my friends from college, John and Steve. We went to Mango's, Bike Time, back to Mango's (where we met up with Nug from college) and then to their boat.

What a great day and night everyone...thanks :)

Location: Muskegon, MI

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