Cheesy Bread

 

Good Morning Everyone!

I have a super yummy recipe to share with you all.  I came across this recipe online last year and it is soooooooooo good!  Granted it is a tad fatening due to the butter, mayo & cheese, but it is a nice treat once in a while and so easy to make.  It would be quite the hit at your next potluck or party.  It's even appropriate for Halloween due to its orange and black colors. 

Here's the recipe!

A Season of Change: Part II

Welcome Back!

Last Wednesday I introduced the topic of change and my personal story of how I’ve had to cope with change over recent years.  I must admit, the timing of this blog post couldn’t be more appropriate this week, as I am currently dealing with several huge changes in my life.  In order to fully explain, I need to pick up where I left off with my story on Wednesday’s blog post, A Season of Change: Part I.

A Season of Change: Part I

Well, it's official!  Fall is in full swing.  This past weekend, my sweetie and I kicked off the season by exploring a corn maze and picking out some pumpkins for the front porch.  Looking back, it’s good we went on Saturday because on Sunday a storm moved in providing us with the first heavy rainfall of the season. 

I love fall.  It's hands-down my favorite time of year.  I love how the weather suddenly cools off and the leaves begin to change from green to brilliant shades of orange, yellow and red. The drastic weather and visual changes that come with the season mirror life in many ways. 

Striking a Balance Between Hubby & Hobby

I’m a giver, which is great, but, at times, it can also act as my kryptonite.  I absolutely embrace my roll as a caretaker of family and friends, and more recently my fiancé.  I love taking care of others and making them feel loved through my actions and it feels even better when I receive acknowledgement and appreciation for my deeds.  Unfortunately, the problem with this scenario is that, often times, I’m left feeling exhausted, disappointed and even grouchy. 

Could You Embrace The Sister-Wife Life?

Since the goal of Traditional Gal Pals is to embrace the traditional female role in modern times, it is of utmost importance to discuss current events that effect women from time to time.  So this week, I thought it would be interesting to touch on the topic of polygamy. 

The Dish on Dirty Dishes

Good Saturday Morning Everyone!

Time for some more Cinderella Saturday cleaning tips!   There's nothing like waking up to a sink full of dirty dishes in the morning.  It's enough to put in anyone in a lousy mood.   That's why I want to review some great little gizmos & gadgets that can not only make washing dishes easier, but perhaps even enjoyable. I'm sick, I know.  Lol!

Here's my top 5 favorite must haves when I prepare to tackle the dirty dishes.

Emergency Preparedness Part II: Pets

Good Morning & Welcome to another Worry-Free Wednesday post!

I thought this Wednesday I would carry on with the Emergency Preparedness theme that I started a couple of weeks ago.  So, this time I'd like to cover an important topic that many of us might overlook, our pets.  I figure since they are like family to us, we should consider them in our emergency preparedness plan as well.

Tips for Bible Beginners

Hi Everyone!

Sorry my Sunday post is late.  I had a very busy weekend.  I'm sure you can relate.   Anyhow, being new to the bible study thing, I found it difficult last week (while reading Genesis) to keep track of who is who, which is why I found this link to be helpful: http://www.d.umn.edu/~jbelote/bible2.html  Check it out.  It's a nice visual guide and I found it helpful since I tend to be a visual learner.

Dog Treats

Howdy Everyone!

Glad to be back from the long weekend.  I hope you all had an enjoyable one.  Time for another Tasty Tuesday recipe & this time I’m dedicating it to the dogs.  Here’s the recipe for my dog’s favorite treat, Peanut Butter Puppy Poppers. They are so easy to make, dogs love them & they’re healthy too.  Just be sure to use all natural peanut butter.  I use Adams chunky style.

Peanut Butter Puppy Poppers

Ingredients

2 cups wheat flour

1 Tbls. baking powder

1 cup milk

1 cup peanut butter (natural)

Chopped cooked bacon or bacon bits (optional)

Directions

Combine flour & baking powder in large mixing bowl.  In separate bowl, combine peanut butter & milk with electric mixer.  Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.  Stir in bacon bits if desired. 

Coat baking sheets with non-stick spray.  Drop dough in tablespoon sized balls.  Flatten balls into flat cookies. 

Bake in 400 degree oven for 10 minutes & then flip cookies over and bake for 5 to 10 more minutes.  Cookies should be dark brown.  Let cool completely. 

 

Happy Birthday U.S. Army!

Good Morning & T.G.I.F!

Fun Friday is finally here!  I thought today I would share my fun experience I had this past weekend at the Army Ball in Monterey, California.  It felt like prom all over again, only with adults & happy hour, which made it way better!

I must admit, prior to being invited, I had no idea that this annual celebration existed.  Guess that’s just the way it is when you’re living the civilian life.  However, it was interesting to learn that the first army was established during the Revolutionary War on June, 14 1775.  As far as army life goes, it is considered to be “The Event of the Year".  In fact, every June soldiers across the country celebrate this special occasion with formal balls and plenty of pomp & circumstance along with it.

My first time at the Army Ball was a great experience.  Not only  was the food excellent and the music & dancing fun, but more importantly it gave me a better idea of what our army is all about & the sacrifices that the soldiers make for us each day, especially during this time of war.  I felt proud of my soldier (well actually, I guess I should say Major in case he reads this Lol!) and proud to be an American.
For more information on the history of the U.S. Army & birthday festivities please check out this link: http://www.army.mil/birthday/235/

This week I encourage each of you to thank a soldier for serving during this difficult time in our nation's history.

Happy 235th Birthday U.S. Army &

God Bless America!

Special thanks to Major Fuoco who not only invited me as his date, but also served as head of the Army Ball Planning Committee for the 229^th Military Intelligence Battalion.

Job Well Done Major!

  

 

Emergency Preparedness Part I: Vehicle Kits

Hi Everyone!

I've been thinking a lot lately about emergency situations & the importance of being prepared.  Over the next several weeks, I've decided to devote my Worry-Free Wednesday posts to this topic.  So today, I'd like to discuss the topic of creating an emergency supply kit for your vehicle.

Have you ever considered what might happen if you were to break down in a remote area far away from goods & services?  Would you have enough emergency supplies to last you for several days or even a week?   Some things that should be taken into consideration include protective gear/apparel (depending on the elements where you live), food, water, first aid supplies, etc.   For example, if you were to break down in the middle of a snow storm, you'd probably like to have some emergency blankets &  heating pads on hand.  Right?  Likewise, if you had to hike in warm weather to the nearest town, you'd probably want to have sunscreen & a baseball cap among your supplies.

 Here's a list that I compiled when I served on an office safety committee once.  The list includes the basics.  If you have pets or small children who regularly travel with you, you will definitely want to add to this list to account for them as well (i.e. extra water, food, formula, diapers, etc.).

VEHICLE EMERGENCY KIT

1. Food (i.e. granola bars, dehydrated fruits, nuts, juice drinks, etc.)
2. Water (at least a couple of gallons & possibly a water filter)
3. Warm clothing (i.e. fleece sweater, socks, blanket, etc.)
4. Comfortable shoes (Women!!!   I cannot emphasize how important this one is.  You definitely would not want to hike several miles in your heals or bare feet!)
5. Baseball cap/warm snow cap
6. Rain poncho
7. Latex/rubber work gloves
8. Plastic bags
9. Paper & pencils
10. Flash lights,. flares & matches
11. Small pocket knife
12. Personal hygiene items
13. Sunscreen
14. Sunglasses
15. First Aid Items (see Red Cross weblink below)
16. Pocket change
17. Emergency contact list
18. Radio/batteries

You should also always have a first aid kit stored in your vehicle.  Here’s a link to the American Red Cross website.  They have compiled a list of first aid items that every kit should include.
http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/lifeline/fakit.html

Additional  items to put in your first aid kit include: aspirin, antihistamine, prescription medications & Q-tips, lip balm & eye drops

REMEMBER: IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN YOU PLAN TO FAIL.  :(

ALWAYS BE PREPARED! :)

Dutch Baby Pancake

Good Morning & Welcome to Tasty Tuesday (arguably my favorite day of the week)!

So today I want to share with you a fattening family favorite, the Dutch Baby.  Don't know why it is called that, but it is basically a huge fluffy pancake that is to die for!  Yummy!  It is one of the easiest breakfast you will ever make & it is sure to impress your house guests when they awake to this awesome fluffy pancake pillow covered in a generous dose of powdered sugar.  So decadent!

Dutch Baby Pancake

Ingredients

6 eggs

1 1/2 C. milk

1 1/2 C. flour

1/4 C. butter

powder sugar for dusting

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  With an electric mixer on high speed, beat eggs for 2 minutes.  Mix in milk and flour until a smooth batter is formed.

 

Melt butter in a large caste iron skillet or two medium glass pie dishes. When butter is melted, gently swirl around dish/pan to coat all sides.  Pour batter into buttered dish/pan and cook for about 20 minutes until puffy & golden.  Remove from oven and dust with powder sugar.

  

Serve with syrup, lemon juice or your favorite jam. 

Enjoy!

My niece, Angelina, enjoying her Dutch Baby

Bible Study: Genesis Ch. 1 - 28

Hi Everyone!

My first week of bible study was not as easy as I had originally anticipated.  Go figure!   I've quickly learned  that when someone like myself, who has never set out to read the bible in its entirety,  finally sits down to do so,  it is not like reading any other book.  I've found that to truly understand God's word, requires both thorough  reading and thoughtful reflection.  Many times I find myself re-reading what I've just read in hopes of  finding the message that I am suppose to take from it.   Sound familiar?

So, I set out at the beginning of last week thinking I would already be on Exodus by now, after all it's not like I'm completely unfamiliar with the stories of the bible.  Boy was I wrong!

To date, I've successfully made it through Ch. 28 of Genesis.  I'm not going to be hard on myself though.  After all, I know that there are biblical scholars out there who probably spend half of their lifetime or more trying to decipher God's word.   It is simply not something that can be rushed, especially if you've never read the bible before.

That being said, I've absorbed a lot in the 18 or so pages that I've read through so far. I've also noticed a couple of common themes in quite a few of the stories.  The first being that God seems to be quite angry and has no problem whatsoever dishing out the punishments.   In Genesis an image of an angry God is continually painted & He is not a force to be reckoned with.   If you are not entirely sure about what I mean, just read the stories of Adam & Eve, Tower of Babel, Noah's Ark, Sacrifice of Isaac, Sodom & Gomorrah, etc...

The second common theme I noticed is  how unfair things appear at times.  To give a couple of examples, there is the story of Jacob and Esau (Ch. 25-27).  Jacob repeatedly deceives his family (taking from his brother, Esau, the eldest son ranking with all of the fringe benefits to boot & his father's blessing) & yet Jacob seems to come out ahead, or at least so far that seems to be the case (I will have to see if any of Jacob's high jinks catch up with him when I continue my reading tonight).  So for the time being, I'm left to ponder why this is?  Kinda makes me angry when I think about it.  Reminds me of the kids in school who use to constantly cheat & never got caught.  They just always appeared to cruise through life with ease & very little repercussions or remorse.

Also, there is the story of Sodom & Gomorrah (Ch. 18-19).  Lot & his family are spared from God's wrath & destruction, but Lot's wife is turned into a pillar of salt for gazing back at the city.  Seems a little harsh.  Doesn't it?  What gives?  Perhaps some of you out there can help shed some light on these story lines and/or common themes & what it all  means since I am new to this.

Until then, I'm going to keep on reading & reflecting.  Thanks for stopping by!

20 Minute Power Clean

Happy Saturday Everyone!

I don't know about you all, but I live for my Saturday mornings.  Nothing like a strong cup of coffee and a leisurely morning watching television with my puppy at my side.  But as soon as 9 AM rolls around, I start to get antsy just looking around the house at the messy aftermath the work week has left me with.  It can be somewhat overwhelming.  I always find myself asking: "How did it get so messy and where do I begin?"

Well, I came across this excellent tip yesterday on a blog that I follow from time to time, Women Living Well.  In her blog entry, "My Cell Phone Is a Cleaning Tool", Courtney suggests setting the alarm on your cell phone for no longer than 20 minutes and cleaning up as much as you can during that time.  It is truly amazing how effective this actually is.  The other evening I had a guest coming over for dinner and had quite a bit of tiding up I needed to acomplish in a short amount of time.  So, I set my cell phone alarm for 20 minutes and when the alarm sounded off, it was amazing to see the transformation that had taken place in my living area.  I think it really helps to give yourself a set amount of time to clean.  When you know that it is only 20 minutes, you really don't mind doing it because you know it will be over soon and you also move quickly as though you are trying to beat the clock.  Kind of a fun challenge in a way.  Okay, so maybe "fun" is taking it a little far, but it works!

Next time you don't know where to start, set your timer for 20 and see how quickly your house goes from disaster zone to tidy home.

Cleaning Tip: Wear an apron while cleaning.  Not only does it keep your clothes clean and protects them from harmful cleaning products, but it also puts you in the right frame of mind.  I just started to do this recently and it is quite effective.  Gets me more motivated to clean when I put on my "uniform".  As soon as I tie those apron strings, it's game on.  No one gets in my way.  I become a lean, mean, cleaning machine.  Ha..ha..

Creative Cakes

Friday is finally here everyone!

Time to have a little fun & what could be more fun than cake?!  I have such fond memories from my childhood of the custom cakes my mom would make each of us kids for our birthdays.  So fond that cake decorating has become one of my favorite things to do.

Cake decorating does not have to be difficult. (Disregard the above photo.  I just couldn't resist including it because I thought it was such a beautiful cake).  In fact, I think some of the cutest cakes are those that require very little effort at all.  The possibilities are endless with a little imagination.   Even if you are not a professional cake artist, don’t let that stop you.  It’s amazing what you can do with very little skill.  Items such as plastic figures, toys, candy, candles and flowers can do wonders for any cake!  Check out some of the simple cakes my sister & I have created over the years.   (The two bottom photos are grocery store cakes, but you can easily recreate these simple cakes on your own.  See the two weblinks included below for edible photo printouts).

BABY SHOWER RUBBER DUCK CAKE

ELMO BIRTHDAY CAKE

TINKERBELL BIRTHDAY CAKE

SCOOBY DOO BIRTHDAY CAKE

 

HALLOWEEN SPIDER CAKE

GRADUATION CAKE (EDIBLE PHOTO)

 

                BRIDAL SHOWER LUAU CAKE 

(plain sheet cake with flower makes for an elegant decoration)

For further ideas and inspiration check out these websites (the last two links are for ordering edible photos & printing supplies):
http://www.ehow.com/topic_2899_kids-birthday-cakes-basics.html
http://www.wilton.com/
http://www.easy-cake-ideas.com/
http://www.jollybebakery.com/
http://www.orderediblephotos.com/
http://www.icingimages.com/

So next time you have a special occasion, don’t be intimidated by the thought of making and decorating a cake at home.  With a little imagination and some store bought props you can impress your guests with your own confection masterpiece & save some money while your at it.

HAPPY BAKING! 

Helpful Hint: Here's a little trick I learned in a cake decorating class I once took.  Remember, there is always a backside to a cake.  If you make a mistake, that side of the cake can always face the wall.  If all else fails, flowers can do wonders for covering up an unsightly icing mishap. 

Personalized Photo Gifts

 

  

Good Morning Everyone!

Today I’d like to share one of my favorite hobbies/gift ideas with you all.  These days, with digital cameras and handy online photo applications, the possibilities are endless when it comes to making a nice personalized gift for that special someone.  With websites like Shutterfly & Vista Print (and many more for that matter), you can create great photo gifts (as well as beautiful invitations & announcements) with just a few clicks of the mouse.  Welcome to the wonderful world of personalized photo gifts!

From coffee mugs to calendars and stylish totes to beautiful photo books, the possibilities are endless.  I especially love creating a memorable photo gift for those hard to shop for types.  It’s my old steady stand-by when I have no idea what to get the person who has everything. (aka Grandma & Grandpa – HA!  HA!)Here’s a few samples of some of the great little photo gifts my family members & I have made as gifts over the years. 

(Following Photos: Sepia print was Father's Day Gift for my brother-in-law; Sample of an office calendar that I make each year for employees; Aloha Invitation I made using Vista Print for my sister's bridal shower; coffee mug my sister made as a Father's Day gift)

I especially love using the cropping tool, red-eye removal tool and sepia/black & white formatting options.  You can take what might seem to be a somewhat ordinary photo and practically make it look like a frameable piece of art. (Well, okay, obviously somewhat amateurish with my examples above, but you get the point!  I appologize for the poor quality of the photos I included in this post.)

So what are you waiting for?  Surprise that special someone with a personalized photo gift.  It is so easy, inexpensive & it will surely warm the heart and bring a big smile to the face of the recipient.

Helpful Money Saving Tip:  Always select the standard or slow delivery option and save money.  I speak from experience.  Any item I’ve ever ordered from these websites seems to show up at my doorstep far ahead of the estimated delivery date. 

Serenity Prayer

Let me first start by saying that I am so happy to be back online blogging again!  I can’t believe it has been almost seven months since my last entry.  Wow!  I guess things got a little chaotic there for a while.  Well, that’s life for ya!  Just when you think you have every thing under control, life just sort of happens & you gotta just roll with the punches.

So let’s see…what I have I been up to the past several months that kept me from one of my favorite past times.   Hmmmm…Well for starters the holidays rolled in and that’s always a great way to get off track.  Then there was the move to San Jose, followed by my many adventures with online dating & my recent unexpected traffic accident (not any fault of my own & no one was injured.  Thank Goodness!).  So there you have it, I’ve been a little busy these days, but I’m back and can’t wait to dive right back into the blogosphere again.  Hooray!!!

Well, since today happens to be a Worry-Free Wednesday, I thought I would put the past 7 blog-less months behind me & not worry about the fact that I fell of the face of the earth so to speak.  Instead, I thought I would share with all of you a great little worry-free prayer that is so simple and has always provided me with a real sense of comfort during all of life’s ups & downs.  It helps me keep things in perspective &  provides me with a sense of peace after slowly reciting it to myself.  Here it goes.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

I hope that this prayer proves to be a comfort to you all as much as it has been for me over the past few years.   

You've Been Boo'd!

Here’s a fun & thoughtful idea to get the Halloween spirit going.  Play the Boo Game.  This is fun.  I’ve done it with my coworkers at the office before & I’ve had friends who have played in their neighborhoods.  Here’s how it works.

STEP 1. 

Purchase Halloween candy/goodies and put in festive bucket, basket, etc.  Include a simple picture of a ghost (you can find this online) and the following Letter:

The air is cool, the season fall,

Soon Halloween will come for all,

The spooks are out, without a doubt!

In fact, a secret spook brought this just for you!

So enjoy your special treat while pondering, WHO???

The excitement comes when friends like you,

Will copy it & make it two,

We’ll all have smiles upon our faces,

No one will know who “BOO”ed whose places!

Just a few days to work your spell,

Remember keep it a secret, hide it well.

Please join the fun, the seasons here.

Just spread these “BOO’s” & lots of Halloween cheer!

Include these directions:
Enjoy your treat.
Place a picture of your BOO on your front door/office cubicle.
Now you have 24 hours to copy this twice, make two treats and two Boo's and secretly deliver them to two neighbors who do not have a BOO on their front door.  Then watch how far this spreads before Halloween!

STEP 2.

Now it's time to deliver your Boo's. Sneak up to two of your neighbors/coworkers houses/cubicles and leave their treat buckets in front of the door. Knock and RUN!  Hide someplace and you'll hear the giggles and "We've been booed!"

STEP 3.

Now it's your neighbors’/coworkers’ job to keep the fun going.  So sit back, relax and wait for your Boo to arrive. 

This game is especially fun for the kids & is a great way to teach them the concept of giving.  They will also be excited to go for a walk around the neighborhood to see who has been “boo'd”.

So what are you waiting for?  A knock at the door?

Get out & have some fun before the spooky season is done.

After all, there is nothing more dandy than a bucket full of candy.

The fall season is here & what better way to spread some cheer?

Truly a fun way for neighbors to unite before the long-awaited Halloween night.

BOO!

Pumpkin for Breakfast

Good Morning!             

Since I haven't done a post on breakfast foods yet, I thought I would touch on the topic today.  Over the past two weeks, I have been trying to find ways to use up some of the canned pumpkin that is in the fridge.   I figured one good way to do that would be to incorporate it into some breakfast baked goods.  Below are two new recipes I recently made that call for pumpkin.

Pumpkin Scones

• About 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4  cup  firmly packed brown sugar
• 1  tablespoon  baking powder
• 3/4  teaspoon  ground cinnamon
• 3/4  teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2  teaspoon  salt
• About 1/2 cup (1/4 lb.) butter or margarine, cut into chunks
• 3/4  cup  canned pumpkin
• 1/2  cup  plus 1 tablespoon milk
• 1  large egg yolk
• 1  tablespoon  granulated sugar

1. In a bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, baking powder, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg, and salt. Add 1/2 cup butter and, with a pastry blender or your fingers, cut or rub in until pea-size crumbs form.

2. In a small bowl, whisk pumpkin and 1/2 cup milk until well blended. Add to flour mixture and stir just until dough is evenly moistened.

3. Scrape onto a lightly floured board, turn over to coat, and gently knead just until dough comes together, 5 or 6 turns. Pat dough into a 6-inch round 1 1/2 inches thick; cut into 6 equal wedges.

4. Separate wedges and place on a lightly buttered 12- by 15-inch baking sheet. In a small bowl, beat egg yolk and 1 tablespoon milk to blend; brush lightly over tops of scones (discard any remaining egg wash). In another small bowl, mix granulated sugar and remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon & nutmeg; sprinkle evenly over scones.

5. Bake in a 375° regular or convection oven until scones are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes. Transfer to a rack; serve warm or cool.  (Makes 6 scones)

Pumpkin Pecan Muffins

1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. canned pumpkin
1/4 c. butter, melted
1 egg
1/2 c. raisins or nuts (I used chopped pecans)

Mix all ingredients just until flour is moistened. Batter should be lumpy. Grease bottoms of muffin pan. Bake in a 400 degree oven for 12-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Enjoy!