Cookies and cupcakes Dec.12 2012

Cookies and cupcakes.. frosting..

 The Frosting i use.. make is really good and the only frosting we make in my family now.. everyone loves it..                                 Its Cream Cheese Frosting..
Here is the Recipe.. 1  6oz package of Cream cheese
                              2 tsps Vanilla
                              1/2 cup butter
                             4 cups of sifted Powder Sugar
   Beat together  Cream Cheese, vanilla and butter until fluffy. Slowly add powder sugar 1/2 cup at a time until the frosting is the right thickness to spread on cake. Keep in the refrigerator until serving..   My family does not let me use any other frosting.. even the store bought. lol
              We used this frosting for the cupcakes and the sugar cookies... kids tasted it here and there. lol
                         
                                            Here we are making cookies... sugar cookies..
 Here is the recipe I used for the sugar cookies.. (the link.. sugarcookies)

3-1/4  cups all-purpose flour,  
1-1/2  tsp.baking powder
1/2  tsp.salt
1-1/4  cups unsalted butter, softened
1  cup sugar
1 egg
1  Tbsp. milk
2-1/2  tsp. vanilla
1/4  tsp. finely shredded lemon peel

directions

• 1.
  In medium mixing bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In large mixing bowl beat butter on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl as necessary. Beat in egg, milk, vanilla, and lemon peel. Beat in as much flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill 1 hour or until easy to handle.

  
  

  2.

  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Roll half the dough at a time, between sheets of waxed paper, to 1/4-inch thickness, sprinkling bottom sheet of waxed paper with flour if cookie dough sticks. Cut with desired cutters (if dough becomes too soft, return to refrigerator). Place 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are firm and bottoms are barely light brown. Transfer to wire rack to cool. Makes about 2-1/2 dozen (2-1/2- to 3-1/2-inch) cookies.

  
  

                       Here the girls have already decorated the cupcakes for church and have started
                                                on cookies.. we just added food coloring..

                                                   The girls having fun decorating...
                                                          we have artists... :)

Scrapping.. My Newest Hobby..

With me.. SIMPLICITY is Key.. A few month a go I got back in touch with a good friend.. well.. we have been having fun.. she got me into scrap booking.. Hey, i have tons of pictures.. so why not.. I love being behind a camera.. so.. to share with family and friends.. here are pictures thru the years.. Some with family and some with friends.. Click to see the fun.. there are over 50 here that's why i inserted a jump break.. lol

Baking for Christmas 2012

 So yesterday was a fun day. I got a lot of baking done and did some decorating for Christmas. So far for Christmas what we have is Potato candy, chocolate chip cookies, homemade, made muffins with a recipe that I will share the link for and the recipe for white cake also I have pictures and the recipe for. The potato candy can't wait to try it.
 Here we have Chocolate Chip Cookies..

 Homemade cake recipe... The kids love this recipe.. It is yummy.. Also i used whole eggs instead of just egg whites..
Make your own Cake mix..

Here we are using a bbq sauce bottle to put the batter in the cups.. 

 Above.. the baking i got done by 330p..
Below.. Potato candy.. (recipe: old-fashioned-potato-candy) Super easy.. Cooked one potato.. I used sweet potato.. ( thats what i had on hand) then you mash it up..I mixed and mashed 1/4 cup of powder sugar with the potatoe.. i continued adding the powder sugar

                                                Put it on wax paper..

Roll it out then spread a thin layer of peanut butter on.

                                                             Then roll it up

 Since you already have the wax paper.. well i just rolled it up in that..

                                            Here it is cut in half.. and folded.. looks yummy.

                                     Here is the Potato candy in a ziplock bag going in the fridge..

We don't have a lot of room in the  house we are renting.. so i have the village scattered.. here is part of it.. I love SIMPLICITY!!!

    Till later.. will be making more cookies today.. 

Update from Sept to Dec 2012

I am so bad at keeping up with things continuously. obviously here's proof because it's been since September since I've written on here, but I've been busy picking up scrapbooking, been ill and have been dehydrating up the Wazzooo. I've been dehydrating everything from herbs to vegetables and fruit the kids like it. next will be preparing ready-made soups that we make right in our own kitchen. that would be the next blog in the meantime I will get you all caught up with all the canning we have been doing and the little crafts here and there.

We even went out picking an apple orchards got a few pictures not too many because we Did more picking apples then anything. we made everything from applesauce, apple jam, apple jelly, cut up apples and not to mention all the apples up my son Joey ate. There was a lot of apples let me tell you We went with a couple of good friends when we went orchard hopping.

My eldest daughter Felicity had 14 inches of her dirty blonde with beautiful highlights hair and she decided that she was going to donated to locks of love. we have pictures. we braided it and cut it and sent off to locks of love.

We've even been fishing instead of going to Lake Isabella like we had been all summer long. we decided that we weren't catching any fish so we would try our own little Home Town Britelake. We had better luck at out town lake catching fish and seaweed. We all had fun and caught a few fish especially Jim when he went. the lake was very low. the water I think I've heard it was low all-around up-and-down California.

Crossing guards and kids safety

Crossing I ask that all who drive around the schools in the am before school starts and in the pm when the schools let out if everyone would please be cautious around the schools themselves and crosswalks. The crossing guards are there to keep all kids safe. Not matter age or grade. They are there for the safety of every child/ anyone who walks through.  It's not easy when u have a bunch of kids/teenagers or parents/drivers who all are in a hurry. They want everyone to be safe.. They do the best they can to make sure our kids are safe. If your kid( s) were out there in the hands of someone else... Wouldn't you want ur kid to get across safe.. To be safe..?!

Everyday is another day we have been blessed with..

Just when we thinks things could not get better.. Lol the Amazing Lord shows us they can..

You know for years I have been struggling with the fact I can not have any more kids.. That’s because of a decision I made long time ago after i had my son. Well now that my kids are teenagers.. I still feel the longing of having another child.. I feel incomplete so to speak..

Lake Isabella 8-30-12

Lol ok so this weekend has been interesting. We decided to head to the lake for a day or two. Unfortunately we left later then we wanted to. Like 5pm. So far tonite we got stuck at stine cove at lake Isabella. Was that fun. I wish it was light out so I could have taken pictures. Well we could have been stuck there for the nite.. But God helped us by sending a group of guys to help push the truck.. We dug out a channel from the tires.. And backed out the truck. Well after that Jim decided to go to camp nine. So off to camp nine to find a spot. O and by the way it's 8:44 pm at the moment. The truck getting stuck was at 8:20p.

Canning 9-8012 new recipes we tried...

  I love trying New recipes.. especially canning.. and since i have become addicted to pinterest.. there are so many recipes.. this has been fun because i have been finding recipes for everything.. I loveit when NO food goes to waste.. and for the past few months, between the lady hens, dehydrating, and canning.. next to no food goes to waste.. 

Good movies to see.. We have enjoyed these

Movies.. Instead of having cable.. we do Netflix.. (Gotta love netflix) and buy DVDs at thrift stores, yard sales, pawn shops, kmart and wal mart for way cheap.This way i know what we are watching..

this has become a favorite.. A must see..its about...A losing coach with an underdog football team faces their giants of fear and failure on and off the field to surprising results... All for God.. There is nothing that God Can Not Do.

Canning, visiting with the ladies, etc .. August 25...

Last nite i made .. well canned peaches and pears off our trees. well the ones the birds didn't get to.. This is our first year/ house having fruit trees.. so its a learning process all the way through. So yesterday i harvested some fruit and last nite i made fruit cocktail light syrup. i had a little bit in a container that didn't fit in the jars.. well this am when my son Joey found it.... it was gone.. literally.. he ate it and tried getting a jar.. So i know that is yummy..

Peach and Pear cocktail

A QUICK CATCH UP.. August 2012

A QUICK CATCH UP IN GENERAL...

• ·         Boy I am slacking.. it’s been a busy few weeks.. Kids started school and I started work. I’m am a part time crossing guard.. It happened to be the perfect job for me.. I have a few hours.. little extra cash, Time outside of the home, and helping others. Boy has it been hot the past week or 2. Not used to the heat either. On top of that i met someone today and they said.." did you those cross guarding vests you have are out of date by 6 Years?" all i could say was ooo. Her husband got her a new one that is not out of date and you can see a mile away.. well i got a new one and here it is... 

Me in my over sized vest.

it will fit amazing in the winter over my Jacket...

Todays lesson...Aug 24,2012

Today I have learned a valuable lesson from one of the students I cross everyday for the past 3 yrs.. Today I decided to start talking with him and have a conversation. I asked his name. You know what he said to me?!" After 3 years... " Is all he said. I couldn't believe he remembers it been 3 yrs. He just stood and looked at me.. I was stumped. All I could say to him was..." This is only part time and I was under the assumption that my boss who normally has this spot would be back. So I have just stayed distant. " that's all I could say. And for that I'm sorry. I've always said hi to all the kids and made short talk. Very short.. Cause when things are temporary I try not to get to friendly or knowing names unless I need to.
Now all I can do I pray to God to help me change that. Know now matter how temporary something may seem its important to always have that Christian heart and to be less reserved.. More open.. Friendly... And well caring. Do Not Judge Or Add Do Not Assume.!!

Thrifty Findings on 8/6/12

Today I went to go and pay bills.. i ended up stopping by a thrift store or 3. Hahaha...

Add caption

 Sweater dryer rack.. guess what i'm gonna use this for?? Im gonna use this to dry fruits and veggies. Stay tuned to see the final product.

Did You know?? Health.. drinks and foods..

Barley..  Water Did you Know... I know i didn't..
Ok so i have no idea why i started to look up barely water. I just did. It says its refreshing.. So i decided to make some up after doing research. Did u know that barly water helps with dehydration? it replaces electrolytes. :)  expelling various harmful toxins from the body? Did you know it helps the skin slow? It is also been used to treat cough, tonsils and throat inflammation like pharyngitis.. well helps with digestive system?

Monthly Menu, Recipes, My New Journey

So This is where it starts.. A week ago today i decided to follow a menu. Here we start my Journey and my New Goal.Trying new recipes and sticking to the monthly menu. Ill do my best to keep you updated.   First of all i started on July 29, 2012 with ...

Sunday July 29

SUNDAY CHICKEN LEGS

8 to 12 chicken legs

1/2 c. whole wheat flour

1 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. seasoned salt

1 tsp. salad herbs

2 eggs, beaten

3 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. teriyaki sauce

Wash and dry chicken legs; remove skin. Mix flour, salt, seasoned salt, and herbs. Roll chicken pieces in the flour mixture, then in the beaten eggs, then in the flour again. Place coated pieces into a buttered, shallow baking dish. Sprinkle with melted butter. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Reduce heat to 350 degrees and bake 25 minutes longer. Sprinkle with teriyaki sauce and bake another 5-10 minutes or until chicken is done. Remove chicken to hot platter.

Scentsy into Candles.

What do You do with your old Scentsy Wax?? I used to just put it in my freezer when i i thought the scent was all gone. and it just built up. Then i got on pinterest and well decided to make candle. Here is a wonderful idea and u can even put it in jars with lids for an emergency candles. Here is the site that inspired me...  tiffkeetch My kids even love how colorful the Candles get.. For the wick i even used a cotton tight knit shoe lace.  They really work too.

My Fun Findings at a Yard Sale 8-4-12

Today my Wonderful husband Came home after getting some wire to fix my truck. He comes in and says i found something for you.. for the microwave.. (I get all excited) but why don't you come with me to look at it. So we went.. I looked at the cart and Loved it.. well i also found a few other items..

Meal Calender's.. Menus 2012

I have started what might be easy for others but for me is a challenge.. To start something and follow through.. I can't tell you how many knitting and crochet projects i have going cause i get board fast.. Always have. I am getting better though. As you see with all the projects i have posted that are all inspired by Pinterest. I love that site.
    Anyway..I found 2 different calenders that i wanted to try and work with for supper. I found a weekly calender and a monthly calender. My kids and i are enjoying it.  here are the sites i got the print's from... anythingbutperfect and artsyfartsymama    They have good ideas on them.

Family Pictures At Wedding 7-7-12

Here are some pictures of my husband, girls, son and I. These were taken at a friend of my Husbands wedding 7-7-12. It was a beautiful Wedding. I am Blessed to have a Beautiful Family.The Bergman's Clean up very well.

Lets Get Organized... Mostly inspired from Pinterest

Organizing ideas i got off pinterest.. then are some of my own ideas. I'll be adding as i get to doing more.. These have made a difference in mine and my families life.. I hope you find them useful.
Hanging Scarves
Original idea came from...bedifferentactnormal
First i have the hanger to hold scarves.. here is a picture of my silk scarves on shower rings on a hanger.. i used a pant hanger.. then come winter.. my knitted and crochet scarves will go on..