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Friday, March 6, 2009

Chocolate Chip Cookies

I have searched for the perfect chocolate chip cookie recipe and this is my favorite by far.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cubes of butter, soft-not melted
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
Bag of Milk Chocolate Chips

Mix ingredients together in a mixer. Use a small scoop and place a dozen on a ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 8 minutes until sides are starting to brown. Take out and transfer to cooling rack. Makes 3-4 dozen

Best Hamburger

Ok- I'm blogging about the best hamburger. Seriously, We live in America where Hamburger & fries are the most common fast food. You know everyone has their favorite burger. Whether it is smothered in onions or mustard. But for me I prefer the gourmet burger. I love grilled hamburgers with melted cheese. I Got to have lots of mayo and some ketchup with a very good tomato and fresh lettuce with a pickle. Oh and with Sams onion (this is the purple onion, we call them sams onion at our house from the movie Holes.)Just got to have one.

But when you think of great places to get hamburgers. I have to say Burger King, They put everything on that whopper. And Artic Circle has the Mushroom Swiss Burger that is great too. Village Inn knows how to serve a great burger. But some places make them to tall and hard to eat. They fall apart. Whats your favorite Hamburger?

Monday, March 2, 2009

Fixing XBOX 360 error code 73

Ok- I have the worst luck with xbox's. I have owned two. And I should have bought the extended warranty for the second one but no. So, We have had it about 7 months and one red circle appeared this weekend. So there it sits, not knowing what to do or who will fix it? So- knowing I gave the first one away. This really bites. All those games and cant play them. Well, Today when my son came home I asked him, what code it was throwing in error? It was error code 73.

Ok, I go on Youtube and see many silly things. Like, that will work. Poking toothpicks in it. They hit the fan. Yikes!

Well, another video suggested wrapping it in a towel and leaving it on for a few minutes. Well, OK that seems silly but I'm desperate at the moment. So, I get a bath towel and lift up the xbox and sit it down on it. Wrap it up with it turned on. OK. So I go to the kitchen talk to my son, pour a drink and finally go back to the machine. And take a peak at the light from the corner still blinking, "One red light." OK
So Now I unwrap it. Turn it off and turn it back on and I'm Yelling at my son come here. It has a green light it might be working. What happened I don't really know but the system is working again. For how long I don't really know but the kids are excited that its running again.

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Food Storage

Here is 52 weeks of the $20.00 food storage plan, all at once. (found in my notes) so you can make changes accordingly to better fit you.

WEEK ONE
5 lbs sugar $2.00
3 lbs. Crisco $3.00
5 lbs. flour $2.00
5 lbs. rice $2.00
6 cans tuna $2.00
5 lbs. beans $3.00
3 cans spaghetti sauce $3.00
5 lbs spaghetti $3.00

WEEK TWO
1 box oatmeal $3.00
5 lbs lentils $2.00
3 boxes saltines $3.00
1 case ramen noodles $2.50
1 can baking powder $1.50
1 can coffee/cocoa $4.00
5 cans condensed milk $4.00

WEEK THREE
10 lbs. complete pancake mix $5.00
1 gallon pancake syrup $5.00
12 cans cream of chicken or mushroom soup $6.00
2 canned hams $4.00

WEEK FOUR
beef bullion cubes $4.00
Chicken bullion cubes $4.00
Granulated garlic $4.00
Black pepper $4.00
8# brown sugar $4.00

WEEK FIVE
1 #10 can instant potatoes $3.00
6 boxes Little Debbie snacks $6.00
20 lbs chicken @ .49 lb. to home can
2 boxes salt $1.20

WEEK SIX
10# 15% fat (or less) hamburger to can $20.00

WEEK SEVEN
20 cans Progresso or other ‘no water added’ soup $19.80

WEEK EIGHT
two cans coffee $8.00
1 container poultry gravy mix $4.00
1 container brown gravy mix $4.00
2 canned hams $4.00

WEEK NINE
1 box powdered milk $16.00
1 box tea bags $4.00

WEEK TEN
10 boxes breakfast cereal $20.00

WEEK ELEVEN
25 lbs. Sugar $9.00
25 lbs. Flour $5.00
25 lbs. Beans $6.00

WEEK TWELVE
36 pack dbl. rolls toilet paper $10.00
10 lbs. Chicken quarters for canning $9.90

WEEK THIRTEEN
12 cans spinach $6.00
12 cans peas $6.00
12 cans green beans $6.00
2 cans spaghetti sauce $2.00

WEEK FOURTEEN
1 glow stick
assorted seeds

WEEK FIFTEEN
12 cans mixed vegetables $9.00
1 #10 can instant potatoes $3.00
4 canned hams $8.00

WEEK SIXTEEN
1 carton dehydrated hash browns $5.00
12 cans diced tomatoes $6.00
12 cans whole kernel corn $6.00
6 rolls 25 sf. aluminum foil $3.00

WEEK SEVENTEEN
1 #10 can sliced peaches $3.00
1 #10 can sliced apples $3.00
1 #10 can fruit cocktail $3.00
1 #10 can applesauce $3.00
12 cans mushrooms pieces $6.00
2 cans pink salmon $2.00

WEEK EIGHTEEN
16 rolls paper towels $11.00
9 boxes tissue $9.00

WEEK NINETEEN
25 lbs. sugar $9.00
25 lbs. beans $6.00
Large box of Bisquick $5.00

WEEK TWENTY
1 #10 can of cocoa powder $5.00
10 cans refried beans $8.00
10 cans of tuna $5.00
2 - 100 ct packs of paper plates $2.00

WEEK TWENTY-ONE
36 pack dbl. rolls toilet paper $11.00
6 cans spaghetti sauce $6.00
6 lbs of spaghetti $3.00

WEEK TWENTY-TWO
assorted sauces & condiments, 1 of each;
hot sauce
soy sauce
worcestershire sauce
teriyaki sauce
liquid smoke
gravy master
ketchup
mustard
mayo

WEEK TWENTY-THREE
assorted condiments, continued;
pickle relish
olives
pickles
salad dressings

WEEK TWENTY-FOUR
4 cans pink salmon $4.00
3 lbs Crisco shortening $3.00
5 lbs rice $2.00
12 boxes of asst cake mix $9.60

WEEK TWENTY-FIVE
2 lb pk pecan halves $6.00
2 lb pk walnut halves $6.00
12 cans pork & beans $6.00

WEEK TWENTY-SIX
10 lb bag of chocolate chips $9.00
2 cases ramen noodles $5.00
30 packs of kool-aid $3.00
6 lbs of pasta $3.00
__________________WEEK TWENTY-SEVEN
5 lbs sugar $2.00
3 cans pink salmon $3.00
5 lbs. flour $2.00
5 lbs. rice $2.00
6 cans tuna $2.00
5 lbs. pinto or kidney beans for
chili to home can $3.00
3 cans spaghetti sauce $3.00
5 lbs spaghetti $3.00

WEEK TWENTY-EIGHT
1 box oatmeal $3.00
1 bottle canola oil $2.00
3 boxes saltines $3.00
1 lg. pkg. egg noodles $2.50
1 can baking powder $1.50
1 can coffee $4.00
5 cans evaporated milk $4.00

WEEK TWENTY-NINE
1 gal. vinegar $3.00
5# split peas $3.00
1 can Nestle’s Quick $3.00
20 lbs chicken @ .49 lb. to home can
2 boxes salt $1.00

WEEK THIRTY
10# 15% fat (or less) hamburger to make chili to home can $20.00

WEEK THIRTY-ONE
16 cans Progresso or other ‘no water added’ soup $16.00
2 boxes salt $1.00
1 can Nestle’s Quick $3.00

WEEK THIRTY-TWO
2 cans coffee $8.00
1 bottle olive oil $6.00
1 box 48 apple cider drink mix $6.00

WEEK THIRTY-THREE
1 box powdered milk $16.00
1 box tea bags $4.00

WEEK THIRTY-FOUR
25 lbs. Sugar $9.00
25 lbs. Flour $5.00
25 lbs. Beans $6.00

WEEK THIRTY-FIVE
36 pack dbl. rolls toilet paper $10.00
10 lbs. Chicken quarters for canning $9.90

WEEK THIRTY-SIX
5 # stew beef to can $15.00
10 cans tuna $5.00

WEEK THIRTY-SEVEN
25 # rice $10.00
2 canned hams $4.00
6 cans salmon $6.00

WEEK THIRTY-EIGHT
12 cans spinach $6.00
12 cans peas $6.00
12 cans green beans $6.00
2 cans spaghetti sauce $2.00

WEEK THIRTY-NINE
12 cans mixed vegetables $9.00
1 #10 can instant potatoes $3.00
4 canned hams $8.00

WEEK FORTY
1 bone-in ham to can $8.00
12 cans diced tomatoes $6.00
12 cans whole kernel corn $6.00

WEEK FORTY-ONE
1 box powdered milk $16.00
1 3 pk cornstarch $4.00

WEEK FORTY-TWO
1 #10 can sliced peaches $3.00
1 #10 can sliced apples $3.00
1 #10 can fruit cocktail $3.00
1 #10 can applesauce $3.00
12 cans mushrooms pieces $6.00
2 cans pink salmon $2.00

WEEK FORTY-THREE
25 lbs. sugar $9.00
25 lbs. beans $6.00
large box of Bisquick $5.00

WEEK FORTY-FOUR
16 rolls paper towels $11.00
4 boxes asst. hot cereal $9.00

WEEK FORTY-FIVE
1 #10 can of cocoa powder $5.00
10 cans refried beans $8.00
10 cans of tuna $5.00
4 # brown sugar $2.00

WEEK FORTY-SIX
36 pack dbl. rolls toilet paper $11.00
6 cans spaghetti sauce $6.00
6 lbs of spaghetti $3.00

WEEK FORTY-SEVEN
1 large jar peanut butter $4.00
1 can Tang instant drink mix $4.00
6 boxes cake mix $6.00
2 jars jelly or jam $6.00

WEEK FORTY-EIGHT
8 boxes breakfast cereal $16.00
1 can or jar honey $4.00

WEEK FORTY-NINE
20 cans tuna $10.00
16 rolls paper towels $10.00

WEEK FIFTY
1 large jar peanut butter $4.00
2 jars jelly or jam $6.00
5- 100 ct. paper plates $5.00
10 # powdered sugar $5.00

WEEK FIFTY-ONE
6 cans spam or luncheon loaf $9.00
10 # box baking soda $3.00
large pkg. or jar yeast $8.00

WEEK FIFTY-TWO
baking powder $1.50
2 jars or cans honey $8.50
12 cans evaporated milk $9.60 repeat list or focus on what you really need

Cheesy Ham & Potato Soup


Cheesy Ham & Potato Soup

Boil Ham Bone (put in crock pot for 6 hours)add 1 med. onion, chopped & 2 bay leaves

Use chunks of ham about 2 cups discard the rest of bone after cutting meat off
3 large potatos diced up into bite size pieces
1 large carrrot, grated
1 med. Zucchini, grated
Boil in water potatoes til almost done and add carrot & zucchini
Use 1 small pkg of Monteray Jack & Cheddar, (shred it yourself melts better)
1 jar cheese whiz
1/2 cup flour

When vegetables are done add to the ham chunks and broth. Add shredded cheese and
salt & pepper to your taste. Add flour (Use a cup and take some broth out and add the flour to it and mix well and pour back into pot.) Add the Cheese Whiz. Stir Simmer and serve.

Note: Serve with hot fresh baked bread. Use other ham for ham sandwiches in rolls.

Saturday, February 21, 2009

Chinese Cooking



General TSO's Chicken

1lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (cut into 1” chunks)
5 dried red chili peppers
3 green onions (sliced)
3 eggs (beaten)
½ cup cornstarch
oil (for frying)
Sauce-
1 ½ tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons rice wine
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons soy sauce
2 teaspoons cornstarch

Cooking Instructions:

Step 1: In a large mixing bowl combine cornstarch and beaten eggs. Mix well to create a batter. Add chicken bits and coat thoroughly.

Step 2: To make the sauce- in a small bowl combine rice vinegar, rice wine, soy sauce, sugar and cornstarch. Mix well and set aside.

Step 3: Heat deep fryer or wok to 375 degrees and deep fried chicken bits in batches. Drain on paper towels.

Step 4: Add 1-2 tablespoons of oil to your wok. Add dried chili peppers to your wok and stir fry for 30 seconds. Add chicken bits to the wok and stir fry for a couple minutes.

Step 5: Add sauce mixture to the wok and cook stirring until the sauce becomes thickened and bubbly. Garnish with green onions and serve.


Eggrolls

1 pkg. spring roll pastry
1 lb. chicken, cut into tiny pieces
2 carrots, grated
2 small onions, thinly sliced
1/2 head of cabbage, shredded
2 cups bean sprouts
2 Tbs. soy sauce
1 tsp. sesame oil
1 egg

Cook chicken in the sesame oil & when done add vegetables. Cook til vegetables are done. Add Vegetables. Cook til vegetables are tender. Crack an egg in a dish and set aside for sealing eggrolls.

Take a pastry fill with 1/2 cup of filling and wrap up corner over the filling. Dip finger into egg white and wet corners of pastry fold sides like a envelope and roll it up. And set aside. Do not stack or they may stick together. Deep fry in a deep fryer until golden brown. Serve with Sweet & Sour sauce.

Egg Drop Soup

4 cups chicken broth or stock
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 -2 green onions, minced
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Salt to taste
A few drops of sesame oil (optional)
Preparation:
In a saucepan, bring the 4 cups of chicken broth to a boil. Add pepper and salt, and the sesame oil. Cook for about another minute.
Very slowly pour in the eggs in a steady stream. To make shreds, stir the egg rapidly in a clockwise direction for one minute. To make thin streams or ribbons, gently stir the eggs in a clockwise direction until they form.
Garnish with green onion and serve.

Fried Rice

1 cup Jasmine white rice (makes three cups when cooked)
1 white onion, sliced
1 small carrot, chopped
2 eggs
2-3 cloves of garlic, minced
3/4 cup ham, diced
1/2 cup soy sauce
Canola oil
Salt & Pepper

Prepare one cup of Jasmine white rice. Put vegetables into a wok with a little canola oil. Cook til tender. Push vegetables over to one side. Crack eggs and lightly scramble til light and fluffy. Add Ham and cooked rice. Stir together add soy sauce, garlic cloves, Salt & pepper. Cook alittle longer and stir. Ready to serve.

Friday, February 20, 2009

How to make a diaper castle cake



Ok- I see I have a lot of hits for the diaper castle cake and Thank you! That was the first blog I posted that inspired me to start this blog. (Thanks Jill! for inspiring me I love your blog.)

I have just made a new diaper castle cake and took pictures step by step so it won't be confussing to you. So lets begin!

Diaper Castle Cake (take 2)

I bought 2 bags of Luvs size two diapers that is a total of 100 diapers. You will use them all. And a package of mixed sized rubber bands.



Bottom layer is consisted of 3 rows of 20 diapers folder.
Remember to keep the printed edge folded toward the inside and zig zag them back and forth like this...







Use the large rubber bands to secure them like this...


Ok do the other two rows for the bottom layer the same way.



Ok you will need three spools of ribbon. (I suggest to wide ones and one thinner one for fastening together.) I usually like pink or blue but for the neighbor I'm making this diaper castle cake for doesn't know what she is having so I picked gold star printed ribbon and other gold ribbon. (Really like the ribbon to be the same and yes you do need three spools so you don't run out.

Tye the bottom layer together with the ribbon to secure the bottom layer together. Tye with a bow. I also like another bow made on the other side to keep it uniform.

>



Now lets do the second row. You only need 20 diapers folded and done just like the first row. Secure with rubber band and tye with ribbon. Remember to put a bow on the other side as well.




Using the thinner ribbon for fastening, take a look at picture I tye it to the rubber bands and leave a good 12 inches (one in each corner about two inches in and one in the center making it longer for it needs to go through the third layer to fasten.



Now lets make our towers ( 6 diapers rolled up individually and smaller rubber band to secure each



Lets do the top layer it is 16 diapers (that should be all you have left) folding them the same way secure with rubber band. And fasten with ribbon (I didn't use ribbon here on this one (ran out!)



Tying layers together. set second layer on and string ribbon straight through layer. Becareful not to pull diapers fastened together apart. You can do this carefully.
Pull each end up (the corners just need to go through the ribbon on each side.
Take one of the towers and fasten ribbon around them and tye with a bow. set on each corner side and bring ribbon from underneath and tye around each pillar and curl ribbon.
Do each corner tower the same way.
Wow- need a picture!



Ok the top layer pull string up through the middle



Now take the last two towers and fasten to each end of the top layer with ribbon.
Do each end like this...





Now take the ribbon from the top and separate left and right and pull down through diaper on each side and fasten to the middle ribbon with the bow and tuck behind so it won't show.






Ok Easter time I like easter grass just setting on top of the second and first layer.
But I'm using the star wire to tie in with the star ribbon. I bend it around a large glue stick and bend it where I want it to go and tuck it under the diaper layers to secure it.



You will need 2 craft foam sheets in colors.(found at JoAnns) I divide it into quarters. And one sheet makes four so you will have extra.
I cut it into cone like shapes... Cut trim and staple together and set down on each pillar.



Here they are cut into 6 equal sections




Now roll into a cone and staple and trim bottom so its smooth.



Assemble ontop of pillars. And the fit securely. Castle is finished and should look like this...