Sunshine Cake

Ok this is from the pampered chef

Sunshine Cake

1 lemon
1 orange
1 small carrot
3 eggs
1 16 oz. sour cream
1 yellow cake mix
powdered sugar
another orange

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray bundt pan with cooking spray.
Juice lemon & orange and use 1/4 cup of juice. Grate carrot and use some
zest of the orange as well. Combine Eggs, sour cream, grated carrot and both
zests. Add cake mix. Mix well. Pour batter into pan. Spread evenly. Cook for 38-43 minutes. Let cool ten minutes. Loosen cake from sides of pan. Invert onto platter.
Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Cut orange into wedges and sit around platter. Serve & Enjoy.

Homemade Refried Beans

Refried Beans

2 cups pinto beans
6 cups water
2 cloves garlic
1 tsp. chicken bouilon
1 tsp. veg. oil

Rinse beans. Place in crock pot. Pour water over beans and add all ingredients. Cook for 8 hours.

Puree with masher. Add 1 tbsp. flour. Add beans and stir over moderate heat until beans are dry. Add a little salt. Add 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese. Stir in and put in container and refrigerate until ready to use.



So far, I made tacos and added it to the meat, and layered taco dip.

Raisen Bread

Raisen Bread

1 1/2 cups water (warm)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
Add these ingredients to a mixer. Mix gently on low. Let it rest while you are measuring your flour.

4 cups flour
2 teaspoons cinnamon

Add to mixer using dough hook on low setting until well kneaded. Let rest 20 minutes
Then add raisens about 3/4 cup and knead some more. Shape into a prepared bread pan.
Let rise 30 minutes and bake at 350 for 50 minutes.






My son needed to make some bread for his Home Tech class.
So, I had him make some Raisen Bread. This is his favorite
bread so he was happy it turned out well.

25 random things!

1. I love to cook. I like trying new things and like gourmet cooking. One of my pickey eaters loves to eat now.

2. I have been a cub scout leader and enjoyed it, got to do lots of things I always wanted to do with that group. At Christmastime we made Solo Christmas balls with christmas lights. We even invited the other groups to join our activity and it was way fun.

3. I collect Geppedo dolls that are numbered. Still looking for them. The company shut down years ago.
They had the doll stands in the mall which got me started.

4. One day, I had a dream while laying down and resting on the couch that all these children came running in. Then I woke up, 20 years later and found out that they were my children. LOL!

5. My favorite disney movie is: Beauty & the Beast. I bought this movie for me even though I just had boys at the time.

6. My favorite movie is Titanic. You just got to love Jack & Rose. I use to watch this every night rocking my daughter to sleep. (OK it was the only movie up in my room) My favorite part was when Rose & Jack were running through the boiler room.

7. I love singing Karaoke in the car. Dont Laugh! I think I'm pretty good.

8. I made scrambled eggs for a brunch at a neighbors house and was asked for the recipe. LOL!

9. I'm an only child. So watching my children get into each others stuff and making each other mad would have made me sycotic. I like my stuff left alone and where I put it. Solution, buying a bigger house, each child gets there own room and they will respect each others space.

10. I have been looking for a Balinese (long haired siamese cat) my whole life. I finally gave up and then I found him. He's a good cat but has his quirks. Like- Let me out, Let me in!

11. My husband & I own our own business. And its been a learning experience the whole way. We pulled through 9-11 and still going.

12. I'm a Johnny Depp fan! I have most of his movies and his tv series 21 jump street. (they are so 80's)
I hope I get to meet him someday. I'd stand all day in a parking lot to greet him. Looks like others do.

13. I have great children. It's fun having a teenage son. The other two boys are still into legos. And the girls love to dress up everyday. And change their clothes too often.

14. I have always wanted to go to Florida. We took the whole family three years ago for a whole week.
Planning on returning this year.

15. I love brownies. I have over 25 recipes and still looking for that perfect recipe that not a box mix.

16. I love crocheting when I have time. I like creating things. I love looking for patterns on the internet and challenging myself to try something different. I have created my grandmothers hand crocheted baby dress. Was real pleased with the result. I have made allstar baby booties. And have mastered Hello Kitty and selling them on Ebay.

17. Ok- For some strange reason I got Brittany Spears three ring circus tickets. I have seats that are ten rows from stage. I got them for a great price and I could triple my money selling them. but I think I really want to go! LOL! I'm dragging my husband there.

18. I love chocolate chip mint icecream. Especially the Aggie brand. I'll even settle for the Oreo one. Yum!

19. I never could swallow pills. I have to crunch them up and take them. Not big on medicine, I endure pain.

20. I don't really like water, but my kids do so they have had swimming lessons straight through since May and still going. I'm not so nervious about them in water anymore.

21. I love the smell of Lilacs (Probably, because growing up they lined the fence outside my window. And the smell blows through the window and it was wonderful!

22. My childhood nighmare, my parents taking me up to the canyon for a picnic and getting back into their car and leaving me. I woke up every time.

23. My favorite flower is the Iris. It's absolutely beautiful, delicate and elegant and can have the strength to stand alone.

24. My chinese cookie on Chinese New Year read, "You long to see the Great Pyramids of Egypt."
So, I got to plan that trip with my daughter. She was so excited she thought we had won the lottery!

25. We love to BBQ! Even in the winter. I just got to have some steak sometimes.

7 up poodles!

Ok- Here they are The 7 Up Poodles!
I am making these for my daughters preschool. I found the pattern on the internet and thought I'd give them a try. They go over a can of pop. The preschool class is very small. I hope they enjoy them as much as my daughter is about taking them to school.

Cucumber Shell Salad

Ok- Here is one of the best salads.

Cucumber Shell Salad

1 pkg.(16 oz.) med. shell pasta cook as directed on package
1/2 pkg. frozen peas, thawed
1 med. cucumber, halved & sliced
1 small red onion, chopped
1 cup ranch dressing (I perfer making it myself hidden valley ranch)

Drain and run cold water over pasta to chill it. In large bowl combine pasta, peas, cucumber & onion. Add dressing, toss to coat. Cover & chill at least 2 hours before serving. yields: 16 servings

Better Late than Never!

Before Christmas I bought one of those ginger bread house kits. Each child got to do a section. I bought more candy and they really had some fun with this. I'm glad I got a picture because after a few days they couldn't leave it alone.